Pairing: SKZ & Felix

Genre: Mafia AU - A/B/O AU

!!TW!! : referenced violence, very, very mild mention of blood, sexual humor, sexual tension, scenting, heat, actually pretty sweet despite the intro

.

.

.

"Ugh, talk about a messy job..."

Seo Changbin, twenty-four, Alpha. His strong stature made up for his unusually short height, and he was quick to throw a punch. Officially a representative of Seo Enterprises, he was actually the heavy hitter of the group, and he took pride in that fact.

He was currently wiping away the blood now drying on his favorite pair of brass knuckles with his nose scrunched up in disdain.

"It was only messy because you don't know how to hold back."

Kim Seungmin, twenty-one, Alpha. Looked positively harmless at first glance, but his gentle and unassuming features hid the hardened determination of someone completely apathetic about death. Officially known as a graduating Law student and a simple intern, he was actually one of the best info-brokers the world had to offer.

He was currently reading through his school notes yet again because he had an exam the next day, and it couldn't hurt to be prepared.

"Yah!"

"Seungmin, don't provoke him. You know he can't help it."

Hwang Hyunjin, twenty-two, Alpha. Most assuredly one of the most beautiful people anyone could ever meet, he was as handsome as he was skilled, his tongue loose, his wit sharp, and his acting able to match his dramatic tendencies. Officially the sole heir of Hwang & Co. and also the Communications Director, he was actually the best grifter of their group and the one usually in charge of cover missions.

He was currently scrubbing his perfectly polished nails to get rid of the blood and flesh presently stuck underneath them.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. Changbin's hot when he goes feral."

"We're all hot when we go feral. Or at least, that's what Lix told me."

Han Jisung, twenty-one, Alpha. He wasn't as buff or as tall as others of his classification, more on the petite and lithe side. He was stronger than he looked, but he rarely got the chance to put that strength to use. Officially, he was a music major and also the IT Director, but he was actually a top-tier hacker who always had their backs during a mission.

He was currently on his computer, hacking away as if their lives depended on it—because they did. He was the one currently ensuring that no camera in the city caught side of their van on the way back home.

"Did he, now? Hmm, I miss my shy little kitten~."

Lee Minho, twenty-three, Alpha. Tall, with dark tousled hair and sharp, almost feline-like features, anyone who crossed paths with him was always intimidated. Some would say his eyes are always focused, yet empty, but his pack knew better. Officially the Captain in charge of Security, he was actually the marksman and the weapon specialist of the team.

He was currently sharpening his butterfly knives, after having just finished cleaning the blades, a rag soaked with blood now lying at his feet. A small smirk had also settled on his lips as he spoke.

"His heat will hit soon, right? We'll have to clear the incoming weeks, we can't have a mission popping up when Lix needs us."

Yang Jeongin, twenty, Alpha. The youngest of the group, he had truly grown into his classification, bulking out and becoming more confident. To any stranger, he was sweet and charming; to his packmates, he was a real wolf in sheep's clothing—but they wouldn't want him any other way. Officially a chemistry student working as a secretary for the company, he was actually the medic of the team (because had had basic knowledge in biology) and also the one in charge of making poisons and the likes.

He was currently flipping the pages of the new manga he had managed to get his hands on, scrunching up his nose as the scent of blood mixed with the scents of his packmates. Why did they always have to make such a mess?

"Already done. The next contract starts in three weeks, meaning we'll have our usual down time, then a week off for Lix's heat, and then a few extra days to get back to normal. Everything is ready, we know what to do—everything will be fine."

Bang Chan, twenty-four, Alpha. Broad shoulders, toned abs, strong presence—truly the definition itself of his classification. His dimpled smile that could charm any individual covered the face of a cold-blooded Leader of the Underworld. Officially the CEO in charge of Bang Enterprises, he was actually the one in charge of their team. He handled the contracts, the planning, and the payouts, and they could always rely on him no matter the situation.

He was actually a jack-of-all-trade, and master of all. He dabbled in everything, from grifting to hacking, and everything in between. He usually let his packmates handle their own specialties, but there was always a second pair of hands ready to work and support them if need be.

He was currently at the wheel, driving as fast as he could without attracting the attention of the authorities. Like every time they step foot outside, his attention was spread thin—on their environment, on the individuals that walked down the sidewalks, on his pack.

He was a dedicated and protective leader, and the best his pack could have asked for.

"Nervous?" asked Hyunjin, half-teasingly.

Jeongin shot him a glare. "Don't act as if you haven't been fretting for days about the already full cabinets."

"Everyone is a little nervous," cut in Seungmin, not wanting a fight to break out. They were still high on adrenaline, their pheromones hadn't entirely disappeared, and as such they were more prone to starting pointless arguments. "It's Lix's first heat with us, so it's only natural to be. However, we're as prepared as we can be. There truly is nothing more that can be done at this point."

"All that matters is that our kitten is comfortable and has a good time," stated Minho, the firmness of his tone diverging from his usual playfulness. "And no one is to take offense or get jealous if he asks for only one of us, too. It's his first heat with a pack, and you know he gets overwhelmed easily, so he might not want all of us around at the same time."

"As long as we don't leave him alone, he'll be fine," assured Changbin, finally putting away his now clean brass knuckles. "And even if he only asks for one of us to stick around, the others will be nearby just in case."

"In any case, nervous or not, don't bring it up with Lix," then ordered Chan, driving the van into the underground parking lot. They were almost home, now, and he was growing a little antsy with paranoia. "Even if he tries not to show it, he's nervous too, so let's not add to that and let's just act like we usually do."

They all nodded and mumbled in agreement, everyone falling silent as the gates closed behind their vehicle. Their job was done, and now all they wanted was to get home, relax, and most importantly: be with the most cherished member of their pack. They always grew a little restless after a mission, but with Changbin going feral, they were now all a little high-strung, and eager to be complete again.

.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the doors slid open and everyone rushed outside, Hyunjin and Jisung yelling a bit as they tried to shove each other to get in the elevator first - only for Jeongin to beat them both and send the entire group a cheeky grin as the doors closed behind him.

"Aww, I wanted to see Lixie first," pouted Jisung, holding his computer protectively against his chest.

"Yah, Innie's grown really cheeky lately," huffed Hyunjin, both amused and displeased.

"Well, maybe if you and Ji stopped arguing, he wouldn't get the best of you every time," snorted Changbin, shaking his head.

Seungmin snorted. "You say all that as if you didn't know Jeongin is his favorite."

"Yah! I'm the favorite!"

"Not true! I am!"

Chan sighed as the two started bickering once again, flicking Seungmin's ear. "Must you always provoke them?"

Seungmin grinned unrepentantly. "It's funny."

Well, there was no denying that the duo's daily arguments were always a bit entertaining to watch, if only for the free drama—

"Hey, who's that?" suddenly asked Jisung, pointing behind them.

The entire group instantly spun around, tensed, hands flying to their hidden weapons, and ready to handle any single threat. It took them a few seconds to realize that there wasn't anyone there and, when they all turned around to face the dup again, it was only to see them waving with matching, mocking grins as the doors of the elevator closed behind them.

"... did they just work together to trick us?" asked Changbin, a tad impressed.

"Wow, never thought I'd see the day," mused Minho, though his smile was twitching a fair bit. "Too bad it'll be their last."

"Please don't kill the younger ones," sighed Chan, rubbing his temples.

"I want to see my precious kitten!!!"

Seungmin groaned, pinching his nose. "Please tone down the pheromones? A little more and you'll be going feral too - and that might trigger his heat, just saying."

Almost instantly, Minho calmed down. As annoyed as he was - and maybe a little needy, too - the last thing he wanted was to accidentally trigger the heat of his precious little kitten. It wouldn't be harmful if it did happen, but it'd definitely make said kitten uncomfortable, and Minho didn't want that.

After a few more minutes that felt like hours, the single elevator finally came down again and, this time, all four alphas crammed inside. It's not like their entire group could have fit in the cabin anyway, it had been set up in a way that would stop any attempt of invasion or break-in by a big group, but they always bickered about who could go first.

Once the doors were closed, Chan entered their respective passcodes, after which each member pressed their little finger to the scanning pad. Once the system recognized them, the elevator got moving.

It's only once the doors opened again on the familiar hallway and that all of his packmates had stepped out that Chan allowed himself to breathe freely again - and it's only once all of them got through the door of their penthouse that he finally relaxed.

We're finally home.

.

"Oh, welcome home, Innie!"

Lee Felix, twenty-one, Omega. Like any other of his subgender, Felix was rather small in stature, with smooth, barely noticeable curves, and lightweight by nature. His soft features were splattered with freckles that only added to his gentle aura, and his sparkly eyes always drew everyone in.

He looked like an angel, but he had the voice of a demon. Deep and smooth, it soothed even the most restless hearts in their pack, and they were completely whipped for it—whipped for him, really.

Officially, he was a dance major, and also a secretary. And actually... well, he was exactly that. While Felix was aware of the more unsavory dealings of his pack, he had decided to not have any part in that particular business.

They had found Felix a little under a year ago. He was a foreign student struggling to make ends meet on his own, which led him to become tangled in an illegal fighting ring where he almost lost his life. He had been passing off as a Beta at the time, since his status as Omega would only draw trouble, but he had been pretty damn good at it.

Felix knew of Seungmin, Jisung, and Jeongin by face, because they went to the same university but never directly interacted. So, when Chan's pack suddenly broke into the arena with the intention to take down the fighting ring along with everyone involved, well, there were some surprises to be had.

Felix was a living duality. His harsh circumstances had led him to lose a part of himself and he absolutely loathed it. As good as he was at fighting, he felt absolutely disgusted with himself when he started no longer caring about the people he hurt. He knew he needed the money, and he knew said people hurt him too, but still.

It killed him inside, to no longer care about hurting people. But then, Chan and his pack took him in, and suddenly he was at a loss because he was now free to return to who he was before, but he could no longer remember the way back. Thankfully, with the help, care, and love of the pack, Felix eventually found back that piece of himself he had lost.

Felix didn't want to hurt people anymore. As such, as much as it killed him to let his pack leave for dangerous missions without him, he knew it was for the best. Plus, having their omega out on the field would only distract them and might end up getting them hurt, and that was the last thing the freckled Omega wanted.

"I'm so glad to be home," groaned Jeongin, kicking off his shoes.

Felix chuckled lightly, taking off his oven mitts to go greet him properly. Jeongin eagerly met him halfway, instantly wrapping his arms around him as he leaned down, Felix instinctually tilting his head in a submissive manner. A pleased rumble climbed up Jeongin's chest as he started heavily scenting his Omega.

Mine. Mine, mine, mine...!

Felix was gentler in his ministrations, but just as thorough. At first scenting him with abandon, Jeongin eventually relaxed, finally unwinding and taking the time to enjoy Felix's own scenting.

'Welcome back. I missed you. I love you' and more could be felt through their bond.

Calm again, Jeongin finally pulled back, though he quickly leaned back down in to press his lips against Felix's. The Omega let out a happy little sound that instantly smoothed the remaining edges of restlessness and adrenaline, and Jeongin sighed contently when they pulled away.

"Well, someone was eager," teased Felix, his usual, bright little smile on his lips.

Jeongin could only smile back. "Everyone was a little on edge on the way back, is all. Also, Minho is probably going to suffocate you tonight - just a warning."

Felix laughed at that. "Doesn't he always?" Jeongin chuckled, giving him reason - Minho always made a point of hugging Felix until he could hardly breathe whenever they came back from a mission. "Anyway, there's still a bit to go before dinner. You have time for a shower or a quick nap if you feel like it."

"Nap it is," he nodded, cracking his neck a bit. "I didn't get much action today."

"You say that as if you were disappointed to have more free time to finish your manga."

Jeongin laughed at that, because Felix knew him well enough to be right. Kissing the Omega one last time, Jeongin then retired to his room, wanting to rest a bit before supper, and also because he knew that Hyunjin and Jisung would start yelling at him the moment they got upstairs.

As if on cue, the moment Jeongin closed the door behind him, the two loudmouths made their grand entrance.

"Did you see their faces!?"

"Oh man, Minho is going to kill us!"

The two shared a laugh at that, already a little breathless from the laughing fit they had just gone through while on their way up. While the two Alphas often bickered pointlessly, they also got along quite marvelously when the situation called for it, and they knew each other well enough to know when to stop before taking things too far, anyway.

"Welcome back!" greeted cheerfully Felix.

"LIXIE!"

The Omega let out a "oof" as his two boyfriends suddenly lunged at him, squeezing him on both sides as they started scenting him. He chuckled, a bit ticklish, but let them get it out of their system. All of his packmates were always like this whenever they got back from a mission, so Felix had grown used to it by now - even if, the first few times, he had been greatly embarrassed.

"Mmm, Innie tricked us," then whined Jisung, obviously noticing the coffee scent of their youngest already clinging to the Omega. "He's not your favorite, is he?"

"I love all of you equally, Sungie, you know that," chuckled Felix, patting his head in comfort. "What, did Minnie say something again?"

"He said Innie's your favorite," huffed Hyunjin, lightly nipping at the soft skin of Felix's shoulder.

Felix hummed, gently running his hand through the long, black strands of his tallest boyfriend. "You know he likes to rile you up. Don't mind him too much."

They eventually pulled away, but Jisung was quicker in claiming his Welcome Back KissTM, much to Hyunjin's growing annoyance. Whatever hatchet they had managed to bury, it was now back sharper than ever. As soon as Felix and Jisung finished, Hyunjin was quick to shove the younger to the side to get his own.

"Yah!" protested loudly Jisung, though he didn't stop them.

They could mess with each other as much as they wanted, as long as Felix didn't get caught in the crossfire. As such, no matter how possessive or jealous they could sometimes get, they never directly interfered with Felix's display of affections towards other members. Plus, they knew that the Omega always did his best to divide his attention between all of them equally, so they usually managed to keep their instincts in check.

Hyunjin kissed the small Omega with a little more strength than usual, obviously winded up by all of the waiting he had had to endure. Felix simply replied in kind, though, pliant and eager to please. A small noise escaped him when Hyunjin's hands found their way around his waist and squeezed, and a small growl escaped Hyunjin as he squeezed just a little more, his fingers almost touching—

"Err, Jinnie? The elevator's almost here," cut in Jisung, suddenly fearful.

Hyunjin almost didn't hear him, too lost in Felix—Felix, Felix, my Omega, my Omega, my Omega—but the distant 'DING' of the elevator caught his attention. He pulled away, his wide eyes meeting Jisung's and, without wasting any more time, the two of them quickly pecked Felix on his cheeks before taking off without another look back.

Barely a few seconds later, the door of the penthouse flew open, and a very-angry looking Minho made his entrance.

"YAH! Hwang Hyunjin! Han Jisung! Remember the hair fryer!?" he shouted, his voice easily carried throughout the entire penthouse.

Felix giggled a bit as he heard a door slam shut further inside their home, Hyunjin and Jisung obviously taking cover in hopes to escape from Minho. Deciding to give them a hand, the boy walked up to the Alpha. As soon as his hands gently slid up his cheeks to cradle his face, Minho's sharp eyes were on him.

"Welcome back, Minho."

Instantly, the man's eyes softened, and he took a brief moment to lean into Felix's gentle touch. Then, wrapping his arms around the Omega's waist, he leaned down to start scenting him. Felix returned the favor, gently petting his messy hair until Minho eventually pulled back. He had better control over his instincts than most of his packmates, but he was just as needy - and Felix knew he'd probably end up spending the entire evening being cuddled by the dark-haired Alpha.

"I missed you, kitten," murmured Minho, only this strangely subdued when he was serious. His eyes then glinted mischievously as he leaned in, his lips brushing against the shell of Felix's ear. "A little birdie let slip that you find us hot when we go feral, hmm? Is that why you always get so hard when one of us growls?"

Instantly, a red flush spread all over Felix's face, creeping down the back of his neck and even up to the tip of his ears, a small squeak escaping him as Minho playfully nipped his lobe. The Alpha then pulled away, giving him a quick kiss before walking away with a smug smirk.

Still greatly embarrassed, Felix didn't notice Changbin until he was upon him, but he instantly relaxed as the familiar scent of sandalwood washed over him, thick arms wrapping around him as the older started gently scenting him. Despite his impressive bulk and his classification, Changbin was always gentle with Felix, and the Omega loved him all the more for it.

As soon as Changbin pulled away, a small chuckle escaped Felix.

"What?"

"You have blood under your ear, silly," replied Felix, rolling his eyes a bit. He grabbed the wet rag hanging in the pocket of his apron, and started gently scrubbing the skin. "I sincerely hope you didn't make any stop before coming back, because someone will have definitely noticed."

"No, we came straight back home."

'Straight back to you' went unsaid, but certainly not unheard, and Felix's smile widened a little more at that. Changbin smiled back, before pressing a kiss to Felix's forehead - he didn't want to kiss the Omega until he had taken a shower and brushed his teeth, because going feral always made him feel a little dirty.

Thankfully, Felix was used to it, so he simply ushered the alpha to the shower, before turning around to greet the next member.

"Welcome back, Minnie."

"Hi, Lixie."

Felix was probably the only person for whom Seungmin could smile so effortlessly. The boy wasn't the type of person who smiled simply for the sake of it, and he could grin or smirk if the situation called for it, but smile? His soft smiles were for Felix only.

When Seungmin finished leaving his fresh eucalyptus scent over all of the others already clinging to the Omega, Felix lightly flicked his nose.

"Hey!"

"That's for riling up Sungie and Jinnie just before they came up."

Seungmin smirked at that. "You know you liked it."

"You—!"

But Seungmin was already walking away with a short cackle. Red spreading over his face all over again, Felix huffed under his breath.

"Maa, maa, no need for that adorable pout, little one."

Felix let out a small yelp as he was suddenly picked up, his legs instinctively closing around Chan's waist as the Alpha pressed him into the wall. Felix's blush only deepened as their eyes met, the intensity of the Alpha's gaze sending a shiver down his spine. Then, slowly, Chan leaned in and started rubbing his nose over his scent glands.

Chan was always in control, always slow and eager to tease. So, it really shouldn't have surprised Felix when the man suddenly squeezed his ass while gently nibbling at the skin of his neck, just hard enough to make it redden. Then, before Felix could say anything, Chan's lips were pressing down on his own.

They kissed, Chan squeezing his ass again to make him gasp and therefore letting his tongue slip in. A small moan escaped Felix as Chan's winter pine scent grew thicker, completely engulfing his senses and, by the time he pulled away, Felix was not only breathless, but also a little dizzy.

"We- welcome back," he finally stuttered out.

Chan smiled, happy yet smug. "I'm back."

And then he was leaning down to taste some more of Felix's skin, and whatever Felix had been about to say was forgotten, another small moan escaping him as Chan bit down just a little harder. The Omega was always responsive to his mates, pliant under their attention and affection and teasing—

"Yah, no making out in the hallway! There are rules, people!!!"

At Jisung's screech, almost the entirety of the pack peered into the hallway, and Felix shivered a bit under the intensity of their stares. He whined a bit, embarrassed, and hid his face into Chan's neck. The man simply chuckled, gently putting him back down.

"Sorry, got a little ahead of myself here," he apologized, half-sincere. The others were quick to return to their previous activities, leaving them alone. "How was your day?"

Still a little flushed, Felix smiled. "Productive. I've managed to finish all of my assignments, and I finally got permission to take a leave for... well, for my heat, so that's good. Everything's done, so I guess all that's left to do is, um, wait. Right."

Chan's expression softened a bit at that, and he pressed their foreheads together. "Everything will be alright, my love. You don't have to be scared. Everyone will be here with you, for you—whatever you want, whatever you need, and everything in between, okay? We're here."

"I- I know," exhaled Felix, his voice a bit shaky. "And I- I trust you—all of you. I know you'll take good care of me."

A pleased rumble escaped Chan at that. "I love you, Felix."

Felix could only smile again, relaxing. "I love you too."

.

It hit as Felix was finishing up with the dishes (he always insisted on doing the chores when he could, since the others were usually tired out from their missions).

He felt his insides constrict on themselves and crush each other, the pain reverberating up his spine and making him fold in two with a gasp. The now clean plate he was holding fell on the floor and instantly shattered. Another cramp made him stumble, and he whimpered when pain - this one sharp and piercing - flashed underneath his foot.

"Felix!"

Jisung was the first to get there. His eyes widened at the sight of the shattered porcelain on the floor and Felix practically folded in two over the counter. Thankfully, he had just put on his shoes (he had been about to leave for a quick grocery run, hence why he was the closest to the kitchen), meaning he could get to the whimpering Omega without too much trouble.

Distressed pheromones filled the air as he picked up the Omega, and a small growl escaped him when he noticed the few drops of red falling on the floor. It was quickly forgotten as Felix let out a choked sob, his back arching because of the cramps.

Cramps were the first symptoms of pre-heat. Sometimes it got worse and the Omegas got sick enough to throw up or start a fever, too. Then, there would be a steady increase of pheromones, and the scent would thicken - an instinctual reaction to attract unmated Alphas. Hot flashes, momentary weaknesses, and sometimes even black outs were also rather common symptoms.

An increase in neediness, the constant craving for physical contact and scenting, and a burst of incontrollable emotions would also make their apparition later during pre-heat, usually a day after the first cramp. And, when the scent of the Omega finally broke out, it would announce the start of their heat, which would then last - in Felix's case - until he had been claimed by every single one of his packmates.

However, claiming an Omega through a mating bite always resulted into a very intense high that sent the Omega into a subspace, and claiming them again before they completely came out of said headspace could be dangerous, hence why it'd take them a week to deal with Felix's heat.

Thankfully, once he'd been marked by everyone, it would help settle his cycles and would sync them up with their ruts, and they wouldn't last as long anymore.

They entered the living room, everyone clustering around the pair as Jisung settled down on the biggest and comfiest couch, still holding Felix. The poor boy kept on whimpering softly, tensing up every thirty seconds or so as his cramps became less violent, but also less spaced out.

Cramps were a sign that an Omega's body had started rearranging itself for the prospect of carrying pups. As such, the rest of his packmates were ready.

"Here, baby," murmured Hyunjin, sitting down next to the pair and holding a glass of water and two small, round, blue pills. "You need to take those, and Seungmin's heating up a pad for you. You'll feel better in no time, alright?"

A choked sob as his only answer as another cramp, much more painful than the previous ones, made Felix curl up on himself. Jisung instantly started shushing him, pressing gentle kisses all over his face while he rubbed his back in comfort. Hyunjin gently carded his fingers through the boy's hair, frowning at the heat emanating from the skin. It wasn't a fever, he knew it was a natural biological process, but it still pained him to see Felix in such a poor state.

"Alright, we're going to wait for the next one, baby," he informed slowly, gently pushing away the blond strands that had started sticking to his forehead because of the sweat. "As soon as it passes, you're going to swallow the pills, okay? Can you do that?"

"Y- yeah," choked out Felix, letting out a shaky exhale as he braced himself for the next wave of pain.

He didn't have to wait for long. Barely a few seconds later, another powerful cramp shot through his entire body, and it took him a few seconds to get over it, though there was still a lingering, painful throb in his guts. However, with the help of Hyunjin and Jisung's gentle encouragements, he managed to swallow the pills and drink half of the water before another cramp hit yet again.

"You're good, baby, you're doing great," assured Hyunjin, relieved. The birth control pills could only be taken once the cramps started, and he had been afraid Felix wouldn't be able to take them - that would have rendered the incoming week a lot more complicated. "You're so good, baby, so good."

A low whine bubbled out of Felix's mouth, appreciating the praises, but not in the right state of mind to express it properly. At that moment, Seungmin came back with a heating pad and promptly slipped it between Jisung and Felix, rearranging it until it was firmly in place over Felix's stomach. The freckled boy almost instantly relaxed as the warmth spread through his lower body, alleviating the intensity of the cramps. He would still feel the most painful ones, but the warmth definitely helped.

As soon as he stopped squirming as much, Jeongin got to work on his injured foot. It was a small cut, the shard he had stepped foot on hadn't even stayed stuck inside, but it had still been enough to draw blood, and the sight made him growl slightly. Thankfully, Felix was a little too out of it to notice at that moment, else he'd have thought the Alpha was angry at him - which was the furthest from the truth.

Once the small wound had been properly disinfected and bandaged, Jisung started shuffling around a bit. Felix whined again, thinking the Alpha was trying to leave him and tightening his hold around him to stop him from doing so.

"Shh, angel, I'm just helping you get more comfortable," he murmured, petting his hair as he helped him lay down. "There, that's it, just like that. It'll make the pain go away faster, okay? Just relax, baby."

It was easier said than done, but Felix eventually stopped fussing once he realized his Alpha truly wasn't going anywhere, Jisung lying down beside him and gently rubbing circles over the heating pad, the gentle massage helping the Omega relax.

Felix didn't really know for how long they stayed there, drifting in and out of a semi-conscious state as he pushed through the first stage of pre-heat. Jisung stayed with him the entire time, the rest of their packmates silently coming and going. Some would stroke his hair or give him gentle kisses, others would offer him more water or take away his pad to heat it up again before giving it back.

.

He must have been really out of it because, when he opened his eyes again, now free of the painful cramps, he was no longer in the living room. Instead, he was surrounded by his packmates, everyone having gathered up in the den. He smiled softly at the sight of his sleeping Alphas. He was still a little nervous about his heat and the claiming process, but seeing them like this only reinforced what he already knew: he loved them with all of his heart and wanted to stay with them forever.

He felt the arms around his waist tighten a bit, and he looked back at Jisung, his smile widening a bit when he noticed his scrunched up face. Laying back down, Felix promptly snuggled up to the Alpha and started gently scenting his neck. A low rumble akin to a purr escaped Jisung at that, and Felix kept going, pleased.

Then, a groan, somewhat louder than any previous noise, echoed. Felix instantly stopped his ministrations, belatedly realizing that he had started mouthing at the bare skin at some point. He hadn't left a hickey, but the Alpha was now wide awake, and definitely worked up, if his blown-up pupils were anything to go by.

"You're going to kill me, Lix," he mumbled, his hold tightening some more. Felix simply purred in answer, nuzzling his neck again. "Ah...!"

"Someone's feeling a little playful this morning," teased a voice, a hand coming to card through Felix's hair. The Omega looked up, smiling when his eyes met Minho's. "Good morning, kitten. Are you feeling better?"

Felix hummed under his breath, leaning into Minho's touch. "Mmm. Doesn't hurt anymore." He then scrunched up his nose as the lingering haze of sleep finally disappeared. "I need to take a shower."

"Are you alright with going on your own, or do you want one of us with you?"

Felix paused for a moment, thinking it over, before slowly disentangling himself from Jisung and sitting up.

"I'll be fine. My instincts aren't going haywire yet, so I might as well make the most of it."

"Alright," chuckled Minho, kissing his temple. "Just give us a shout if you need anything. Also, don't bother picking clothes - Hyunjin insisted he'd pick you some."

Felix nodded, carefully getting up. Walking felt a little weird, partly because of the phantom pains left behind by his cramping fit, and partly because the insides of his body felt a little all over the place because of the heat shift.

He cringed a bit when he took a shaky step, having forgotten about his injury, but it was more of a sting than an actual pain, so while Felix did his best not to aggravate it, he still walked to the bathroom connected to the den on his own.

Taking a shower had been a good idea. He felt a lot cleaner, his body no longer felt estranged, and his mind was clearer. He knew it wouldn't take long for it to become all fudgy again once he was surrounded by his alphas, but it was still nice to be able to think straight again, if only for a little bit.

As told, clothes were waiting for him when he stepped out. He rolled his eyes a bit when he noticed how big they were, easily guessing they weren't his. However, he did take comfort in the fact that they all carried his packmates' scents. He couldn't tell which clothes belonged to whom, so he guessed they had been planning these for a while and switching them around so all of their scents could take to them.

It did help settle his nerves, which had become a little more frazzled the longer he stayed separated from his pack.

When he returned to the den, everyone had already left, saved for Changbin.

"Everyone left to prepare breakfast," he said, answering his silent question.

"Pancakes?" Felix asked hopefully.

The Alpha chuckled, patting his head. "Pancakes. That is, if Seungmin doesn't burn down the kitchen again."

"Ack! Quick, let's go—OO!"

He let out an ungraceful yelp when Changbin suddenly picked him up, cradling him like one would a baby. He instantly flushed red, weakly hitting his chest in retaliation.

"What was that for!?"

"You're hurt," he simply replied, already walking out.

"I can still walk!"

"No."

Changbin obviously wasn't about to let him down any time soon, and Felix internally cursed the innate stubbornness of Alphas. He didn't try to fight it, though, the hold of his Alpha already mellowing his own stubbornness. When they finally made it to the kitchen, Felix shifted around so he could hold onto Changbin, unwilling to let him go. Chuckling a bit, the man simply sat down in an empty chair, letting Felix settle on his lap.

The Omega nuzzled his neck happily but, before he could get carried away by his urge to scent, a plate of pancakes was placed before them.

"Don't worry, nothing and no one was burned," assured Chan upon noticing the worried glance Felix shot around them. "Eat your fill, but don't worry if you can't finish them, alright? Don't want you getting sick if we can help it."

Felix nodded in agreement, before opening his mouth. At first surprised, Chan then laughed, shaking his head fondly, but picking up the fork anyway. Felix rarely asked to be babied or taken care of, his naturally independent nature and his rough upbringing making it hard for him to ask for help or attention sometimes.

However, it would seem his heat had lowered all of his inhibitions, and his packmates were more than happy to seize the opportunity.

As it turned out, Felix's heat came quicker than expected. They had spent the day pretty much swapping him around, letting each member have their cuddle and scenting time with the needy Omega - who had outright burst into tears when Hyunjin made the mistake of leaving him alone for a brief bathroom break - and, shortly after supper, Felix's thickened vanilla scent suddenly broke.

The sweet and thick scent made more than one head spin, and Felix let out a small whine as he felt his body warmth slowly but steadily building up.

"Alright, time for nesting," remarked Minho, the one who was currently holding him. The others were now watching the Omega with rapt attention. "Do you want everyone to stay with you? Or would you rather we go in order?"

When Felix had been lucid, they had determined the order in which the alphas would take care of him and claim him. However, they were all aware that the plan didn't actually mean anything when Felix's instincts would take over, it had been more of a precaution, and a way to help calm everyone's nerves by covering all of the bases.

"You," mumbled Felix, tightening his hold around the Alpha's neck. He hesitantly lifted his head, his eyes meeting Jisung's. "And- and Sungie."

The younger Alpha smiled brightly at that, while the others grumbled a bit, but it was all good-natured. They knew their turn would come eventually. Plus, outright complaining would only make Felix feel bad, and that was the last thing they wanted.

"Alright, let's go, then," urged Minho, getting up. Felix let out a startled squeak as he was lifted along, a deep shade of red settling on his cheeks as the Alpha unashamedly groped his ass. "Mmm, you smell delicious... Can't wait to eat you out..."

"Mi- Minho...!"

"Yah, at least wait until we actually get started before teasing him," scolded amusedly Jisung, coming to pat Felix's head.

They quickly bid goodnight to their packmates, before finally retiring to the den.

The moment they stepped foot inside, however, Felix scrunched up his nose in distaste. The nest was an absolutely mess: the sheets were all wrinkled, the pillows were out of place, and the blanket walls were on the verge of collapsing.

Wriggling a bit until Minho let him down, Felix then quickly set to work. The two Alphas respectfully stayed back and let him work at his own pace, aware that an Omega's nest was an extremely intimate process. So, they simply watched while Felix spent the next twenty minutes or so fussing around and rebuilding his nest.

He folded the blankets together again, fluffed out the pillows, flattened the sheets. It was all in the details, and as much as he wanted to go back to his Alphas, Felix absolutely loathed the idea of his packmates settling into an ugly nest.

Once done with his work, he carefully settled down into the fluffy nest. He spent a few seconds checking everything one last time, before nodding firmly, satisfaction and pride swelling in his chest. Finally happy with his nest, he looked back at his Alphas and offered them a wide grin.

"It's ready now! You can come in!"