"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"In heat??"

"What does that even mean?"

"I'll explain later, but we need to get out of here."

"But the competition! We can't just give up on that now!"

"So what, we split up??"

"That seems like a bad idea, especially after what just happened."

"You have us, we can go with whoever stays, no everyone has to participate in the whole event."

"Yes, we will help you."

"So what do we need to do?"

"Wooyoung needs to get home."

"So who stays."

"I'm going too, I'm not leaving him."

"Then both Mingi and Jongho need to go home. The rest of us stay?"

"No, Yeosang will go too since he seems to know what's going on."

"Fine. We will finish this as fast as we can."

The voices swirled through Wooyoung's mind. He did his best to follow the conversation, and while he heard most of it, he couldn't pick out who was speaking.

All the voices blurred together within the haze of his mind.

What was happening to him?

He felt hot... His body ached... His stomach twisted into knots, and he felt like he wanted to claw at his abdomen until the pain went away.

A wave of heat shot through him again, and he doubled over, groaning and wrapping his arms around himself.

Another pair of hands gripped his shoulders.

He knows those hands.

He would always know those hands. They brought him so much comfort and he felt himself tilting his body to try and seek more contact.

"We are running out of time; we need to go."

A different set of hands started to manipulate Wooyoung's body, twisting him around to pick him up off the ground and cradle him against their own body.

Cinnamon filled his nose and he whimpered, turning into whoever was holding him to breathe in the wonderful scent.

"Oh, fuck." A deep voice whispered in his ear. "Young-ah..."

Wooyoung's eyes fluttered open when they started moving and he tried to focus on who was carrying him.

It took a moment for his vision to clear, but when he started speaking again, he knew it was Mingi. "I've got you."

He tried to open his mouth to say something, but all that came out was another whimper of pain.

"What the hell is happening, Yeosang-hyung?" Jongho's voice came from somewhere in front of them.

They were running now, Wooyoung could tell that much based on the labored breathing he could hear and how much his body was being jostled.

"I don't know if we should do this now."

"Yes, we are doing this now!" Jongho snapped. "You've been acting weird, saying confusing things, and now you seem to know what's wrong with Wooyoung-hyung."

There was a long pause, then Yeosang said, "Let's get him home first. I... I don't want to talk about it where we might be overheard."

A low growl answered him, but they never stopped moving.

Despite all the jostling, Wooyoung still felt himself leaning into Mingi, especially when part of his shirt was pulled to the side and revealed part of his shoulder and collar bone.

An instinct took over, one that should have embarrassed him, but he just couldn't help it.

Wooyoung lifted his head up just a bit and inhaled deeply. Heat rushed through him again and this time...

This time he moaned.

It was so good.

Then, before he even remotely understood what he was doing, Wooyoung started to run his tongue over the crease where Mingi's neck met his shoulder. The salty yet somehow sweet taste made Wooyoung moan, and he strained to hold himself up so he could keep doing it.

And Mingi tried to pull away, swearing softly under his breath, but since he had Wooyoung in his arms, there really wasn't anywhere for him to go.

"Y-Young-ah, what are you doing?" He hissed between breaths, for he was still running while this was happening.

"M-Min..." Wooyoung panted, still lapping at his neck. "N-Need..."

A low rumble started to resonate from Mingi's chest and his grip on Wooyoung tightened. "F-Fuck..."

"Sir! We have fifteen confirmed cases starting."

"Excellent, bring them up."

Several screens flicker to focus on fifteen different men and women. All of them look to be in distress. Sweat coating their flushed skin, panting, crying, all the signs are there.

"Alright, all from different packs, yes?"

"Correct. Seven of them started during the scavenger hunt. The others were in their cabins."

One camera zooms in on where a man is running through the trees carrying another.

"Any reactions from the others yet?"

"There are signs, but I think we need to wait for the full change to happen before- "

A door opens and the familiar sound of clacking heels against cement floors fill the room.

"It's started?!"

"Yes, Madame Curator. We are seeing successful signs of heats throughout the compound."

The woman leans forward with a satisfied smile. "Excellent. Make sure all information on who is affected goes to the appropriate teams so they can monitor everything."

"Already done. They are prepared to take notes on each of them."

The woman gives a satisfied hum and clasps her hands behind her back. "And how many have we taken from the game?"

Another man in the corner of the room turns to face her. "So far five teams have contacted us to forfeit. Eight other teams have shown adverse reactions to the serum and have either been taken from the arena or are talking about leaving."

"And we've got everything squared away for those teams?"

"Yes, Madame. Everything is set for us to continue studying them."

"Good, we need all the data we can get. Especially what it is about those people that caused the serum to not work. The ones who forfeit, run tests on them too and monitor the change as it happens. Note any differences between it happening here versus out there."

"Yes, Madame." Several people say at the same time.

She surveys the screens again, watching the ones highlighted that showed signs of heat with a smile on her face. "Now is the time." She says to herself. "Now we will see if this is the best choice for our world."

Wooyoung wasn't sure how long it was, but he nearly cried out in relief when he was set down on a bed covered with own scent.

It was so comforting, and he rolled over and started nuzzling his pillow.

Hands found his waist and back and the familiar, intimate touch made him whine and he started to roll over.

But the direction he rolled made his crotch brush against the bed. Arousal shot through him, and he cried out with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

When did his dick get hard?

When another wave of heat came, he arched his back and started grinding against the bed. The pressure on his now aching cock was the only relief he seemed to get, even though he had no idea what was happening to him.

"Young-ah..." San's strained voice reached his ears, and he turned his head to try and find him. That voice... He loved that voice so very much.

"What's wrong with him?" He thought he heard a growl in Mingi's voice when he spoke, and it set his body onfire.

Wooyoung whined, one arm reaching out for contact. "Pl... Pl... Please!" He begged even though he didn't know what he was begging for.

But he knew that he needed something.

Anything.

Anything that would tame the raging fire quickly consuming him.

.

.

.

.

Mingi's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. Lilac. All he could smell was lilac and it was so strong.

Every fiber of his being was telling him that he needed more.

But as he watched his friend start to twist on the bed, whining and whimpering repeatedly while San did his best to comfort him, Mingi did his best to push that thought aside.

Instead, he turned to focus on Yeosang, who was looking extremely pale as he too watched the scene in front of them.

Jongho seemed to be the only one who could fully function. He tore his gaze away from Wooyoung and moved so he was standing directly in front of Yeosang. "Alright, Hyung, explain." His voice was strained, giving away that he too was struggling with something.

For a few seconds, Yeosang just stood there. His body trembled a little and he looked like he might pass out. But just as Jongho opened his mouth to say something, Yeosang spoke instead. "They lied to us."

Mingi and Jongho exchanged a quick, confused look. "Who lied? About what?" Mingi asked.

"The competition... I think it's all a lie. Or... Most of it at least." Yeosang closed his eyes before continuing. "Have you not noticed the changes in all of us the past few days?"

Even San looked at them now, concern swimming in his eyes. "What do you mean, Sangie?"

"More sensitive to smells, our surroundings, how we are suddenly able to survive in nature like we have been, how we've been acting like and thinking of each other as a pack? Or how about how both Jongho and Mingi have suddenly bulked up even though we haven't been to a gym in weeks?" Yeosang spoke faster more he talked. "And now Wooyoung getting sick, and even though you haven't been showing as many signs, I can tell you're feeling it too, San. Can you guys really not see it?"

Silence followed his words as the rest of the room tried to process what he was saying.

Yeosang sighed and fell back against the wall. "I think they put something in the champagne our first night here. Remember how each one was labeled? One for each of us? I think they added something in there to change us."

Everyone held their breaths, even Wooyoung, blanketing the room in a silence so complete, it was stifling.

There was no way that could be true.

How could that even be possible?

Yet... something inside Mingi told him that Yeosang was right... and when Jongho looked at him, he had the same strange acceptance in his eyes.

"So..." Jongho said slowly. "What you're saying... is that they gave us something that's turning us..."

Yeosang nodded when he couldn't continue. "Yes... I think they are changing our biology. We are each turning into the sub gender they assigned us."

"No. No!" Mingi threw his arms up and started pacing. "That's ridiculous! No one in their right minds would do this!"

"Look at this place, Mingi. They've given us everything we need to stay here! Look at the size of the lake we were at today! Just how much bigger is this place?!"

"But why?!" Jongho and Mingi said at the same time.

"Who knows!" Yeosang yelled. "I don't have all the answers! All I know is my best friend is in pain right now because he is getting his first heat, and I don't know what to do!" Now he started pacing, then he started mumbling more to himself when he spoke again. "Well, no I know what will help, but that's absolutely crazy. We've never really discussed, but who's to say it would actually work. Could everything be like- "

"Yeosang." Jongho growled, claiming everyone's attention again.

Except Wooyoung, who almost seemed to howl with need and lifted an arm to reach for Jongho.

Yeosang looked at the younger and pressed his lips together.

"If your theory is correct, do you know how to help Wooyoung-hyung?"

"I do... but it's not pleasant."

Now San gave a little whimper and moved to hover over Wooyoung. "You can't be serious."

Yeosang's eyes fell to the ground. "It's the only thing that makes sense, San-ah..." He whispered.

"No! It can't!"

"What are you two talking about?" Mingi asked, not liking how distressed San looked.

They all knew San and Wooyoung's relationship was more... complicated... than they let on, but everyone else respected them enough to not ask.

"If this is anything like the omegaverse they stated the game is based off of..." Yeosang said, still staring at the floor, "Then when an omega goes into heat, they only way to give them any relief... is if..." He took a deep breath and clenched his fists at his sides. "Is if the pack's alphas knot them."

Mingi blinked a couple of times and tilted his head, but he didn't understand. "What does that mean? And how do you know this??"

He watched as Yeosang's entire face and neck started to turn red. "It's called reading, Mingi..."

"Reading what? The rules said nothing about this!"

"Fanfiction!" Yeosang turned to him and snapped. "They based this entire thing off fanfiction! They even said that in the beginning! Some stupid show because the trope has become so popular. And yes, I have read some! Just like I know at least Yunho, Wooyoung, and San have. We all know it's out there anyway! So yes, if they are basing this off the fanfiction genre of omegaverse, then I'm assuming they figured out a way to give us all of the traits of being an Alpha, Beta, or Omega! Which means that you two are going to have knots at the base of your dicks any time now and unfortunately, you're going to have to fuck Wooyoung in order to help him or he's just going to get worse!"

They were all stunned... Either from what they just heard or because that was the most they'd ever heard Yeosang speak at one time, on top of the fact that he never raised his voice to any of them.

Except for Wooyoung. He was wreathing on the bed now, panting heavily and clutching at the sheets which were already soaked with his sweat.

San leaned over him and whispered in his ear, a few silent tears rolling down his cheeks as he tried to soothe the younger.

But none of it seemed to work.

"Hyung..." Jongho whispered.

For the first time Mingi could remember, Jongho looked scared. His gaze was fixed on Wooyoung and even though his face was twisted with terror, his pupils were dilated, and his nostrils flared, as if scenting the air.

Which Mingi knew he'd been doing too.

Somehow the lilac smell was getting stronger and... if Yeosang was right...

It was Wooyoung that smelled of lilacs now.

He may not have read any personally, but Yunho had told Mingi about some of the fanfics he'd come across when he was perusing Twitter.

Mingi blushed a little at the memory, now realizing that...

That Yunho had only ever talked about ones involving the two of them.

"I can't..." Mingi whispered. "Sangie... I can't do what you're implying."

Jongho started to shake his head too. "No. No. No! I can't- You can't expect- No!" He pushed his way out of the room, and they heard his panicked steps pounding down the stairs before the backdoor slammed open.

As soon as he left, Wooyoung cried out as if in pain, rolling over so he could look at the open door. He lifted a trembling, reaching after him, calling for him.

Mingi's heart ached when he looked at his friend and almost didn't recognize him... Seeing the agony in his eyes, the longing, the pain, the confusion, the... the change... For some reason it made him believe what Yeosang was saying.

But he still couldn't accept what he said needed to happen.

And the possessive way San was leaning over Wooyoung and trying to calm him, Mingi had a feeling San didn't want to accept it either...

A gentle touch on his arm drew his attention and Mingi turned his head to see Yeosang looking up at him, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Mingi-yah, I know... I know this is a lot to take in, but if I'm right, this could get a lot worse. He needs you. And Jongho."

Mingi felt his stomach twist in knots. Sure... maybe they'd helped each other with a hand job here and there when they needed to blow off some steam, but he personally had never done anything more than that.

What Yeosang was asking...

He took a step back and shook his head. "I... I can't." He felt Wooyoung's eyes on him now and something, like an invisible string, tugged on him.

He could feel something inside him urging him to go to the younger. And for a second, he lifted his foot, fully intending on moving forward.

But then he retreated instead. "I'm sorry." Mingi whispered before he too fled from the room.

Running away from the howl that begged him to come back.