Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Suguru called Shoko, heartbroken and alone in his empty house. Shoko knew from the tone of his voice that he needed her company. She said his name softly with a promise of coming over and bringing alcohol and menthols since he stopped buying them a while back when he had an omega. Had as he was a single alpha again tonight. This was the third time, and he felt more broken than the last time. 

Shoko had reassured him he wasn’t broken. But who wanted an alpha that couldn’t knot or mark an omega to bond? He couldn’t get anyone pregnant without a bond. He was useless. What was the point of his money and house if he couldn’t spoil it on his omega and pup? Emi was the third omega who left him to return home. Her family reclaimed her when he didn’t fulfill his alpha duties. She lasted the longest: three months. Suguru was hopeful. He felt that he could love her, that she was the one. She was so sweet and kind. And beautiful. Fit right snug in his arms. 

He spiraled hard and curled himself in a fetal position on the couch unknowingly. That’s how Shoko found him when she used the code to enter his three bedroom house. He purchased the house with the hope to have at least two pups. It was a beautiful, modern house nestled in a quiet neighborhood that was close enough to the city by car but far away from the cacophony and light pollution. 

“Suguru,” Shoko coaxed, “come on. You have to sit up. Let’s get you some fresh air.” A slim hand shook his shoulders. On autopilot, he uncurled and stood him obediently. 

She guided him out to his beautiful terrace with white railings. She sat them down under the canopy and on the gray couch. The female alpha took out a cigarette from a brand new pack, babying him, and put it up to his lips. Suguru opened his mouth. He put the stick between his lips while Shoko lit it. The small flicker of flame ignited the cigarette. Shoko took another cigarette for herself. 

Shoko waited patiently for him while Suguru drank in the bitter taste tinged with mint in silence. His eyes pricked and suddenly he was crying quiet tears. They rolled down his face quickly. His breath hitched softly, and he feebly accepted the wet face and choked feeling in his voice.  

“She left me,” he finally let out. “Emi broke up with me, and her family took her back with such vivid ferocity towards me. They are never letting me see her again. I don’t deserve her anyway.” He laughed cynically. “I’m just a broken lonely alpha.”

“Suguru, there is noth—” 

“It’s not nothing, Shoko!” Suguru’s voice crawled higher. “I know the tests say that I’m a perfectly healthy alpha, so I shouldn’t be having any problems, but the evidence says otherwise! I literally cannot have a family. It’s been my dream since I presented as an alpha. And…fuck…” Suguru quieted to a broken whisper. “I want someone to be my one and only. Is it too much to ask?”

Shoko knew Suguru was at the end of his rope. She knew clinically that he was physically healthy, but she feared for his mental state. Having friends helped with the loneliness. But as a fellow alpha, she knew what he meant by the desire to have a mate. It was so instinctual and buried in the hindbrain to care for another person. She couldn’t imagine her life without Utahime. Most people found their mate young. In their society, it was easy to get an omega. Families usually paired their omega with a mate young. It was unheard of to be mateless at Suguru’s age. 

A thought popped up in Shoko’s head. Something Suguru hasn’t tried even though it was so obvious. 

“Why don’t you try the omega sanctuary?” Shoko suggested. “I mean, that’s how I met Utahime years ago. It’s just been so long that I’ve thought about it. It slipped my mind.” 

Suguru laughed humorlessly. “What would even be the point?” 

“Once you sign the paperwork for the omega, they're yours. No one can take them. The families that relinquished the omegas don’t have rights to them. Only their mate does.”

“So I’ll just disappoint another omega, but this time, the omega can’t run away from me?” Suguru spat out, bitterness tainting his words. 

Shoko hated how defeated her friend sounded. She was unbearably frustrated for him. He was a sweet, caring, and devoted alpha. Even if he can’t impregnate anyone, he was still a good mate. 

“You would have time, Suguru,” Shoko said, putting out her cigarette on the portable ashtray she always carries. “I know you are going to bond with someone and have a hoard of children one day. This way, you would have time with your omega instead of feeling like you are on a time limit.”

“And if the bite never takes?” 

“You’ll still have a mate, and you can always adopt.” 

It sounded like the answer to all of Suguru’s problems. But he was too raw and wounded to feel any hope. He took the tissues Shoko prepared with her and patted his face dry, blew his nose, and tossed the used tissue into the trash bin. He leaned on Shoko and finished his cigarette and drank himself to sleep. 

It didn’t leave his mind even after waking up dreadfully hungover on Saturday with Shoko graciously making him breakfast. It didn’t leave his mind the next week. Or the next. And by the third week of vacillating thoughts, he decided to google the nearest omega sanctuary. There was one forty-five minutes away by car. He got into the white Toyota Corolla with slightly sweaty hands. He wore business casual clothes, wanting to make a good impression on potentially his future omega. 

The omega sanctuary was a big gray brick building with a simple rectangular design. The entrance was centered in the front with a well cared trimmed garden surrounding the building. It looked lively with tall glass windows and white curtains flowing from the open aperture. 

He read up on the process of adopting an omega at a sanctuary. The expectations for the transaction were pretty simple: he chooses an omega, signs paperwork, and donates some money to the sanctuary. Sanctuaries were funded by donations and government funding. The Panda Sanctuary had excellent reviews. The testimonies from people who have adopted omegas raved positively about the conditions, omegas, and easy process. The owner Yaga Masamichi named the sanctuary after his omega pup. The history of the Panda Sanctuary was that Yaga had adopted an omega child from a badly run sanctuary and was inspired to create his own sanctuary that would provide a good environment for omegas. He gave them an education and plenty of leisure activities to enjoy. 

Suguru felt good about choosing this place. He was just incredibly nervous about making this work. What if he didn’t find an omega he wanted to take home? What if he had to keep searching over and over at different sanctuaries to never find the one for him? Suddenly, he wished he asked Shoko to come with him for moral support. But the day he worked up the courage to visit the sanctuary was the day she got called in for a hospital emergency. 

He tried taking deep breaths to shake off the nerves. When he felt marginally better, he walked into the sanctuary. Suguru was assaulted with a mix of sweet scents and a soft, fuzzy feeling that accompanied omega pheromones. He felt soothed by the happy omega smells. The alpha relaxed, and his nerves evaporated. 

“Hello, how can I help you?” the receptionist asked. Her name tag read Misa. She had a bubbly voice and buoyancy cheer. She was clearly a beta with a muted scent. 

“Hi,” Suguru greeted. “I’m looking to adopt an omega.”

She nodded with a smile. “Of course. Are you intending on adopting a mate or a pup?” 

“A mate.”

Suguru saw a few young omegas peeking around the corner of the hallway to look at him. He smiled reassuringly. Two blond girls giggled before running off. 

“Wonderful. I will lead you to each omega we have currently unadopted. We have some that have already been claimed, so I will skip over introducing them.” 

Misa grabbed a slim, unprotected tablet from the desk and took it with her. She took him to the common room.

She beckoned an omega who was reading on a cushy armchair to meet Suguru. “Come over here, Shota.”

The omega turned around to look at them. Suguru’s eyebrows raised high. His head whipped around to stare at her. “I-I’m looking for a mate. Not to adopt a child.” 

Misa made an ‘oh’ sound. “Do you have an age preference for your mate?” 

“Yes! Someone older than ten!” He gestured wildly to the young omega, completely flabbergasted. 

“Hmm, I believe we have some teens. Is that your preferred age range?” Misa waved the omega child back to his reading. The young omega was happy to get back to his reading. Naruto’s twelfth volume was back in his hands. 

Misa pulled out the tablet. She opened the tenants of the sanctuary and filtered out the omegas under twelve. Suguru peered over at the screen and felt sick to see the young faces. Misa saw his expression and set the filter to only view the omegas over fifteen. Sixteen was way better than ten, but Suguru was hoping for someone closer to his age. That was nigh impossible though. Suguru was nearly thirty; most alphas were mated by twenty. 

“Follow me, please.” Misa said politely. 

Suguru met pretty and good smelling omegas, but not one of them was for him. Something little was not quite right with each one of them: the way they smelled, looked, or the personalities didn’t work out. 

When Suguru was done meeting with the last omega, he was tired. Misa encouraged him to think it over and went to assist another alpha who entered the sanctuary. Suguru dropped down a bench outside. He sat under the shade and watched omegas run around the playground behind the sanctuary. He couldn’t imagine a future with any of the omegas he met today. He sighed and accepted that he was going to be alone forever. The thought caused a strong ache in his chest. 

“Satoru, Satoru! Carry me! Carry me, pretty please!” 

“Okay, okay, Miwa-chan,” a cheerful voice agreed. 

Suguru watched as a tall omega walked by with a small omega on his shoulders, laughing together. Suguru noticed immediately a honeysuckle and milky scent wafting from the older omega. It was somehow more sweet and thicker than any of the omegas he smelled from the sanctuary. The omegan pup plucked this Satoru’s sunglasses off his face and plopped it on the bridge of her nose. Satoru made an indignant squawk before accepting it. Miwa giggled. The older omega has snowy white hair, and his eyes caught the alpha when the omega casually glanced over. 

Suguru’s breath was taken away by those cerulean crystalline eyes and long eyelashes. The omega’s face was sculpted with prominent features but soft at the edges. His pink tinged lips were pulled in a big toothy grin. Suguru’s heart shook like an earthquake in his chest, threatening to topple all the other organs in his body. He couldn’t stop staring at omega, who was probably more beautiful than God. 

The omega’s eyes turned away from him, and Suguru immediately missed those eyes on him. 

“Okay, give them back, Miwa-chan. I’m sensitive to the light, remember,” Satoru said, already plucking the sunglasses off Miwa’s small face. He fitted them back over his eyes and carried on while a crowd of tiny omegas surrounded the man, all begging for his attention, pulling on his pants. 

“I want a ride next!” 

“No, me!”

“Pick me up, Satoru-nii!” 

Satoru laughed, and the sound was so lively and happy that Suguru wanted to laugh alongside him. Suguru closed his eyes. A vision of the two of them at home laughing on the couch, kissing each other, and those blue blue eyes smiling at him. Suguru knew what he wanted now. 

Suguru found Misa watching over another adult alpha engage with a young omega. She turned around and smiled when she saw him. “Did you think it over?” 

“Yes,” Suguru nodded. “I would like the omega, Satoru.” Misa blinked. Her smile paused. Suguru felt a trickle of unease. Shit. Was Satoru already claimed? She didn’t introduce the omega to her. Oh god. He was already claimed, wasn’t he… “Is he already claimed?”

Misa shook her head. “No…but..”

“But what?” Suguru pressed hard. 

“Well, he’s pregnant,” Misa said as if that explained everything. 

Suguru’s eyes widened. Actually, that made sense. Satoru’s sweeter and milky scent was alike to those pregnant omegas he’s met throughout his life. 

“I’m fine with that.” Suguru imagined a rounder belly and caressing the bump while Satoru was in his arms. “More than fine.”

“You want to raise a child of another’s alpha?” 

“Is his alpha around?” Suguru asked, realizing it was quite bizarre that there was a pregnant omega in a sanctuary.  

“No,” Misa said. “Satoru’s previous alpha died.”

“That’s perfect,” Suguru smiled. Then he realized it was a bad thing to smile at. It meant Satoru lost his mate. Suguru’s thoughts were polarized. It was a good thing for him but a bad thing for Satoru. 

“I’ll get Yaga,” Misa said, ready to hand the unusual situation to a power above her. 

Yaga was a bulky alpha with a habit of wearing dark shades inside. He had a mossy forestry scent. The older alpha listened to Suguru’s request for Satoru. 

“How unusual,” Yaga commented. “I’ve never met an alpha that seeks for a pregnant omega. This better not be a kink. I have the power to deny the requests. This is not just any omega sanctuary. I will not be handing my tenants to unscrupulous alphas and betas.”

Suguru could see why Panda Sanctuary was a well respected place. It cared for its omegas. 

“No, sir,” Suguru said. “I simply want to cherish Satoru and his baby. I’ve been wanting a pup and a mate for a long time now.” 

Yaga searched for sincerity in Suguru’s words. He must have found it because he said, “Follow me.” Suguru eagerly followed the owner. “Satoru usually plays with the children in the afternoon.” 

“I saw him outside playing with them,” Suguru affirmed.  

Yaga nodded and led them outside the back. There was Satoru alone on the bench that Suguru was sitting before under the tall cherry blossom tree. The omega was curled up on the bench, very obviously taking a nap. Suguru felt a tinge of guilt when Yaga called Satoru awake. The omega yawned cutely and stretched his arms above his head. The action caused the white T-shirt to showcase a tantalizing strip of creamy skin that Suguru’s eyes honed onto. 

“What is it?” Satoru asked Yaga. He glanced at Suguru with curiosity. Suguru was glad he wore a shirt that showed off his biceps while the omega looked up and down at him. 

“Hi, I’m Suguru.” Suguru smiled gently. “I am hoping to claim you.”

Satoru raised one pale eyebrow. “I’m pregnant.”

“I know.”

“I’m twenty-five.” 

“Perfect, I’m twenty-nine,” Suguru said.

“I like to be spoiled-rotten.” Satoru stared down at the alpha, challenging his stance.  

Suguru laughed inside. This cute omega was trying to deter Suguru from choosing him by saying things that Suguru was perfectly happy to provide. “I like to spoil my mate.” 

“Okay,” Satoru agreed. 

“Okay?” Suguru asked.

“Okay.” Satoru looked towards Yaga. “I’ll go home with him.” Yaga was pleased to see both parties were in agreement. Suguru was over the moon. “But not today.” 

Suguru’s happy thoughts stopped like a trainwreck. 

“Come back tomorrow,” Satoru said. “I’ll go home with you then.” 

Suguru’s anxiety escalated. “Is there something wrong?”

“No.” Satoru stood up and started to walk away. “It has nothing to do with you. See ya,” the omega winked as he tranced away back inside. 

Yaga sighed. “Forgive me. I should have told you he is a whimsical omega.” 

“It must be part of his charm,” Suguru said. 

“It’s a headache,” Yaga said, half annoyed and half fondly. “I can get you the paperwork for his rights today, so that way, you can take him home tomorrow.” 

Suguru followed the alpha to his office. 

Suguru did not sleep well. His dreams were plagued by Satoru. He dreamed of those sky eyes and creamy skin. The dream oscillated between innocent scenes of Satoru holding a baby to passionate ones with the omega split on his cock, crying his name, begging for more.

 Suguru woke up upright, panting with the hardest morning wood he’s ever had. He pulled off the blankets and his underwear to bring a hand to his aching hot member. The summer air felt cool to the burning touch of his cock, angry at the tip with precome beading down the shaft. Suguru reached the nightstand for the silicone lube. He liked it extra wet and messy. He put a generous amount on his hands before making a tight fist around his leaky cocky. There was no finesse in his rhythm; he just desperately needed to come. And it was so easy thinking about the omega he met yesterday. Suguru pumped his fist with the thoughts of that lean body and sweet scent. Satoru had the pinkest lips and imagining them around his cock sent a tantalizing sensation through Suguru’s body. He groaned deeply and wished he had something of the omega’s to breathe in. He felt himself close to the edge; then a picture of Satoru with a big round belly appeared behind his eyelids, and he climaxed hard. 

Suguru spent time catching his breath after his orgasm with the realization that he did indeed have a pregnancy kink. But specifically for his omega. Wow, the thought was mind blowing. His omega. No one could take him away from, no family to claim him back. The thought spurred something possessive in Suguru. He was Satoru’s mate. Satoru belonged to him. 

He cleaned up and made his bed. Despite the lack of sleep, Suguru felt rejuvenated from the thought of taking home his omega. He drove fifty kilometers over the speed limit on the highway. Anticipation ran through his body in waves. He parked perfectly in the white lines and strode inside the sanctuary. A different beta was present at the reception desk. 

“How can I help you, sir?” 

“I’m looking for Satoru,” Suguru said. “I already signed the paperwork for him yesterday.”

Alex, the beta, smiled. “He is outside in the back with Yuta.” 

Suguru wanted to ask who Yuta was, but it wasn’t a priority at the moment, so he carried on his way. When he entered the yard, he saw a crowd around the tallest omega. Satoru had a young omega held on his right hip. The older omega was carding the spiky black hair with his free hand. The young pup's eyes bubbled with tears. 

“Shh,” Satoru said softly. “You’ll be alright, Yuta-chan. You have Rika-chan. Your alpha will take care of you from now on.” 

“But, but I’ll miss you,” the small omega cried, tightening his arms around Satoru. “I don’t want you to leave!” 

A young alpha with long brown hair and two men in black behind her made a rumbling sound meant to calm omegas. The girl reached for Yuta, and Satoru set the boy down, but the boy clung to Satoru’s white jeans. 

The female alpha pouted. “So mean, Yuta. You care more about Satoru than me, your alpha?” 

Yuta sniffled and rubbed at his eyes. “N-no, of course not, Rika. B-but I’ll miss him so much. And we’ll never see each other again.” 

Rika sighed fondly. She looked towards Yaga who was present and said, “I’ll take Satoru too; that way Yuta can have a friend with him.”

Yaga shook his head, “Orimoto-sama, that’s—”

 Holy shit. The Orimoto heiress to a billionaire conglomerate? But first, she needed to fuck off. 

“He’s already claimed,” Suguru cut in. He took long strides to step beside Satoru and wrapped an arm around the omega’s waist. The omega’s eyes looked at him with mirth dancing in those gems. Despite feeling ridiculously dumb for staring down an alpha that probably wasn’t even ten-year-old, the warmth of Satoru beneath his white shirt felt just right. 

“Oh!” Rika clapped. “That’s even better. Let’s trade contacts then. We can set up playdates for our omegas.” Rika took out her phone, a colorful decoden case with various fruits on the back. The alpha unlocked the phone and pulled up new contacts. “Here, put your number in.” 

Suguru was perplexed with the turn of events. He looked at her expectant face. Then he felt a hand slip into his khaki pocket and pull out his Samsung Galaxy S25 with a clear phone case. His right thumb was pressed against the protected screen.

“Here you go, Rika-chan.” Satoru passed Suguru’s phone over while placing Rika’s phone into his hands. Satoru nudged Suguru to put his number into her contacts. He was compliant and inputted his information. Suguru took his phone back. Satoru squatted down to the pups’ eye level. “Be good for Rika-chan, Yuta-chan.” The older omega placed a gentle kiss on top of Yuta’s forehead. “We’ll see each other again.”

“Promise?” Yuta asked, happier at the prospect of having a playdate. 

“Promise.” Satoru held out his pinky. Yuta entwined their pinkies and sealed the pact with a thumb kiss. “Now go with Rika-chan.” 

Yuta smiled as he buried himself into Rika’s arms. “Bye, Satoru.” 

Rika grinned and waved to Suguru and Satoru goodbye. The men in black parted the crowd with expertise and walked the heiress and her mate to the exit. 

Suguru wanted to bring his mate home immediately, but Satoru took his time saying goodbye to all the omegas he bonded with over his time at the sanctuary. Yaga had shared Satoru had been with the sanctuary just shy of three months. Suguru was charmed by how many omegas were tearful and reluctant to part with the oldest omega. Satoru must have been loved by the pups. He will make a good mom. 

When Satoru fit the last of his things into just two suitcases, they were ready to leave the sanctuary. Satoru hopped into the passenger seat with a spring to his steps. Never in his mind could he have imagined being claimed by another alpha while pregnant. This was the best outcome for his baby. His hand circled his belly mindlessly. There was no bump showing yet. But Satoru knew she was going to grow big. He knew in his heart that it would be a baby girl. 

“Satoru,” Suguru said warmly. His iridescent purple eyes shone in the sunlight. The alpha’s big hand reached for Satoru’s free hand. “Let’s go home, love.”  

Chapter Text

When Suguru parked in the driveway, he realized he didn’t have anything at the house for the omega. He felt so ashamed that he didn’t prepare anything. He turned towards Satoru with an apology on his lips, but Satoru already jumped out the car door. Suguru opened his car door, and Satoru was already asking for the trunk to open. The omega pulled out the two suitcases with wheels and made his way to the house. 

“The house looks so nice,” Satoru complimented, circling the modern home. The paint outside was a taupe with a gray rooftop. There was a plain green bush and mini tree in the front. Satoru peeked in the back of the large yard and terrace where a giant cherry blossom tree stood tall, casting shadows over the house. “Wow, it’s big. What do you do for a living?” 

“I’m a writer,” Suguru responded. He didn’t want to brag, but he was quite a successful mystery author with six published books and two movies based on his works.  

Satoru’s head whipped around with eyes full of awe. His impossibly blue eyes sparkled with clear admiration. “That’s so cool!! What type of books do you write?” 

“Mystery,” Suguru answered with pride. “I’m a well known author under the pseudonym Kenjaku.”

“Why did you choose to publish under a pseudonym?” Satoru tilted his head. 

“I didn’t want the fame,” Suguru shrugged. “I just wanted to share my stories with the world. And I’m really humbled that people enjoy my stories.”

Satoru smiled at Suguru, and the alpha felt all warm and fuzzy inside. It made him happy that his omega thought he was impressive. 

“Okay, show me the house,” Satoru demanded with excitement in his voice. Suguru felt like he could see the atoms of the omega vibrating with energy. 

Suguru chuckled and proceeded to show the omega all the rooms in the house. He showed him pale blue and eco green spare rooms. When Satoru asked why he had all those spare rooms, Suguru said with tension in his shoulders, “For guests…and for future children.” He still hasn’t told Satoru about his inability to impregnate an omega. Satoru didn’t seem to notice the strain in his voice. Satoru moved onto the next room with curiosity. 

It was a room of books with a tangerine chaise lounge in the center of the room with a reading lamp. The library had a built-in soft window sill seat with textured paisley pillows at the corners. The cloudless blue flat roman shade matched the cushion. It was cozy and sophisticated. The room was quiet, and the bird feeder attracted some chirps and song noises.  

“Ooh,” Satoru gasped. He looked around the books in the library. The omega ran a finger down the spines of the books. Satoru looked at Suguru. “Is this where you write?” 

Suguru shook his head. “I like to write in the living room. I have a space carved out with a big desk for inspirational materials.” He led Satoru to the living room. He pointed to the rectangle desk by the window and a bookshelf of nonfiction and fiction works for references. The light was soft and bright through the white curtains. There was plenty of light in the room through the multiple floor windows without turning on the ceiling fixtures. 

“You have a beautiful home,” Satoru praised, spinning around the room. 

“ We have a beautiful home,” Suguru corrected. He looked fondly at the tall omega. “It’s yours now too.” 

Satoru’s eyes landed on Suguru before flickering to the kitchen. “I’m hungry.” 

“What would you like to eat?” Suguru asked. 

“I’m craving pancakes.” 

Suguru walked to the kitchen and browsed through the cabinets and fridge. “I happen to have the ingredients already in the house.” Suguru turned towards Satoru with an apologetic countenance. “But I didn’t prepare anything for you in the house. Do you want to shop after lunch here or eat out and get things then?” The alpha’s thoughts were so preoccupied by the omega all yesterday that he forgot to shop for nesting items and toiletries for him. 

“Hmmm,” Satoru contemplated. “Let’s go out. I didn’t get out much except for when Yaga took us out on field trips.” 

“What about with your previous alpha?” Suguru asked, deathly curious about Satoru’s past mate. He itched for more details while dreading the reminder that Satoru once belonged to someone else. 

Satoru snorted. “Not really. He was an asshole.” The omega made an irritated expression. “I don’t want to talk about him.” 

Suguru worried for Satoru. What kind of asshole was his previous alpha? “Did he ever hurt you?” Oh, the thought boiled Suguru’s blood. 

“No,” Satoru waved off. “He never laid a hand on me. He was just…never there. I guess you could call it neglect.” Suguru was about to pry more information when Satoru rested a slender hand on his chest for a brief moment. “Enough about him. You’re my alpha now, and I want to know more about you, okay?” 

Suguru preened with happiness at how Satoru was cemented in their future and not about the past. 

They went out to eat at Suguru’s favorite cafe with the best comfort foods. Satoru ordered a huge stack of souffle pancakes with ripe berries, extra whipped cream, and he still added more maple syrup than Suguru has ever seen another person do. The violet eyes widened with how much sugar was on that plate. 

“What?” Satoru asked when he dipped his pancakes in the syrup. “Don’t judge me.” 

“I-I am just amazed,” Suguru answered honestly. He had a humble coffee with a splash of milk and a plate of chicken katsudon. “That’s a lot of sugar.” 

“I like sweet foods,” Satoru said with a casual shrug. “My favorite is daifuku. What is yours?” 

“Zaru soba,” Suguru responded as he watched the omega devour the food with gusto. Satoru’s cheeks were stuffed like a hamster. The sight was messy and yet so adorable. The alpha loved the happy scent drifting from the other. It surrounded their table with sweetness and savory smells. Suguru ate at an even pace. He watched Satoru order a Japanese style cheesecake with incredulity. How did he even have more room? 

After Suguru paid for the food, they headed to an omega speciality store. Suguru had the furniture and dressers, but he didn’t have the soft things, the specific comforts that an omega needed. His previous omegas brought their things from home. The new stuff they had bought together was either taken with the omega when they returned home or had to be thrown out for Suguru’s sanity. 

Satoru let Suguru push the cart around while he browsed the store. The omega used his tactile senses to determine if the item stayed on the shelf or went into the cart. The tall omega placed down baby soft blankets and heat necessities. Satoru made long eye contact with the alpha as he put in heat toys and sizable dildos. Suguru didn’t bat an eyelash. He supported his omega in getting toys to pleasure himself. Suguru held the eye contact as he put in a knot dildo with advertised fake cum into the pile of items. Satoru looked surprised, but all Suguru felt was guilt as he could never knot the omega. Hopefully, the big knot would satiate that need for the omega. 

Satoru's eyes were perplexed before he caught sight of the maternity sections. The omega hopped to the male section of the maternity clothes. Suguru didn’t forget Satoru was pregnant but standing in the aisles solidified that Suguru was going to be a father. He was absolutely floored by the realization that his mind went blank. 

“Alpha.” Satoru waved a hand in front of his face. “Hello??? Help me choose baby stuff.” 

Suguru blinked into awareness to see electric eyes peeking over the sunglasses. He nodded dumbly. He approved and rejected the things that the omega held up. Satoru seemed to have fun through the process. He was so effortless and casual about the affair while Suguru couldn’t help ponder over every little detail. Would the clothes be gender neutral enough? Were they going to be soft? Which baby bottle was going to be the most soothing? 

“You worry too much, dummy,” Satoru laughed when Suguru’s eyebrows knitted so tight a pencil could be held between the space. “She’s going to be fine with all the stuff we choose. It’s not like she’ll really care.” 

“She?” Suguru tried to smooth over his eyebrows and only ended with shifting them to one brow raised. 

“Yeah, she,” Satoru stated. “Our baby is going to be a girl.” He tossed a set of yellow and blue binkies in the cart. 

“And you know how?” Suguru asked.

“I just do,” Satoru said absolutely. “We better start picking out girl names.” When Satoru spotted Suguru’s dubious look. “Fine. Wait till the next ultrasound. You’ll see.” 

Suguru had no clue how the omega was so certain, but he needed proof over intuition.

When the two checked out of the superstore, Suguru had to arrange everything pragmatically to fit the purchases in the trunk and the backseats. Suguru was exhausted from the trip. Satoru seemed to be as well because he took a light nap on the ride home. The alpha and omega put away the purchases immediately when they got home to avoid procrastination before collapsing on the couch. 

Satoru laid on his belly, taking up the majority of the couch with his long limbs. “I don’t want to move anymore. I’m tired, ‘Guru.” 

The nickname melted Suguru’s heart. He loved hearing how natural Satoru talked with him. There was something easy going and effortless in their interactions that felt like they’ve known each other for a long time. It helped that Satoru took everything in stride. He accepted Suguru as his alpha with no hesitation.  

“Okay, love,” Suguru said in a gentle voice, his hand carding through the white locks. “Do you want to watch some TV?” 

Satoru mumbled something unintelligible into the couch. Then realizing what he said was muffled, Satoru climbed closer to Suguru and laid his head on the toned legs and repeated, “Mmmhm.” Satoru took off his glasses and put them on the wooden coffee table. “I want to watch anime.” 

“Netflix okay?” Suguru asked, reaching for the remote. “I have Hulu too if not.” 

“Netflix works,” Satoru said, settling into a more comfortable position and turned on his side. “Can we please watch Digimon?” 

Suguru scrolled through the app to find multiple seasons of Digimon. “Which one?” 

“Have you ever watched the show?” 

“No,” Suguru admitted. “I don’t watch much anime.” 

“Then let’s start at the beginning with season one. It’s an amazing, fantastical, epic show. I can’t believe you don’t watch Digimon!” Satoru exclaimed indignantly. “You’re going to be sooo blown away by the awesomeness that is Digimon.” 

Suguru chuckled and said, “Okay, if you say so.” 

“You will!” Satoru grinned. 

For all the excitement Satoru had before the show began, he was out cold by the second episode, all snuggled and quiet by Suguru. The alpha turned the show off. Suguru basked in the warmth of his mate and caressed the omega’s bare neck. The mark from the previous alpha had already faded. It was a new canvas to be bitten. But who knows if it would take? Suguru was low on hope at this point. Disappointing himself and another omega by failing to succeed in the claim mark yet again would crush him. 

Suguru ordered delivery and gently woke Satoru up for dinner. Satoru was still sleepy so dinner was a quiet affair. The omega rubbed his eyes and said he wanted to sleep early after eating. Suguru told him he would do some work before getting to bed. 

“It’s my seventh book,” Suguru explained. “I need to have a good chunk of it done for my editor by the end of the month. She’ll review it and make sure everything is consistent before I add more. So go ahead. I’ll join you in a bit, okay, love?”

“M’kay,” Satoru acknowledged with a yawn. 

He was shown the bathroom and the bedroom. Satoru changed and brushed his teeth. The omega fluffed up the bed with a soft warm-toned taupe blanket under the navy blue duvet. He crawled into bed and promptly fell asleep. 

Suguru did some drafting for the next chapter and wrote a good twelve pages before calling it for the night. He turned off the lights and did his daily nighttime routine. 

When he heard the shallow breaths from Satoru and saw the white hairs laid out like a halo on the pillow with the most relaxed and tender lips, his heart squeezed. There was something warming about having someone lay next to him in bed, knowing that their body heat will be pressed to his, and someone who will be there when the light illuminates the room with sun rays. 

He smiled to no one but himself. The bed was inviting for once after so long of lonely nights. He slipped in, careful not to touch Satoru. Suguru wasn’t sure where they stood on the matter of physical intimacy. Satoru seemed to be very touchy, but Suguru didn’t want to overstep. Suguru wanted to touch Satoru everywhere; he was addicted from when he first wrapped a possessive arm around the omega’s waist. His waist was slim and soft to the touch. The omega had a slight curve to his figure from early pregnancy changes. Suguru knew that the curve would get more voluptuous and rounded over time. Oh, how he wanted to touch, but he would first let the omega come to him and set the pace. 

It was like the omega could sense Suguru’s desire because Satoru rolled over to the alpha’s side and wrapped his legs and arms like a koala to him. Suguru suddenly had white tufts of hair beneath his chin and tickling his face. Suguru took this as a sign and tenderly rearranged them to fit more comfortably. Though Satoru was unlike his past lovers, being quite tall and lithely firm, he somehow carved a space so perfectly in Suguru’s arm. Suguru breathed in the sweetness and potent smell of the omega. It lulled him to sleep.