The Alpha in His Corner

Chapter 10

Dan somehow managed to make it through all three of his classes without any of his textbooks or notes, which were all back at his apartment. After several hours of sharing textbooks, borrowing notebook paper and pens, and doing his best to sit normally despite his sore backside, classes ended and Dan hurried to the front gates to meet Yoongu.

Luckily, the security guards had no interest in checking the identification of students leaving campus, so he passed through the gates without issue.

Yoongu was pacing the sidewalk with his arms crossed behind his head. His face lit up with at least three different emotions when he saw Dan and instantly bolted toward him.

"Hyung!!" he yelled, throwing his arms around Dan and nearly tackling him to the pavement. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Dan couldn't help but smile despite being slightly strangled. He patted Yoongu's back. "I'm glad to see you, too, Yoongu. I'm so sorry about everything—"

Yoongu grabbed his shoulders and thrust them apart, shaking his head furiously. "No, hyung! You don't have to apologize for anything! It was my fault. I made you come to the fights and I should've stuck by you, but I got too caught up in the excitement." He ducked his head in shame. "I should've kept a better eye on you."

Dan's heart panged. He patted Yoongu's arm. "Come on, you don't have to blame yourself like that. I should've been more careful. I'm a grown man, after all."

Yoongu's big, concerned eyes snapped up to his. "Yes, but you're—" He stopped himself, pressing his lips together, then looked away. "Nevermind. I guess you're right."

Dan knew exactly what he'd been about to say.

Yes, but you're an omega.

Something inside Dan shriveled a little, even though he knew Yoongu was right. Being an omega made him vulnerable. All the suppressants in the world couldn't change that fact.

He forced a smile onto his face, refusing to allow such depressing thoughts to ruin his reunion with his friend. "Thanks for worrying about me, Yoongu. If you're that desperate to make it up to me, how about you buy me a drink?"

Yoongu's glum face perked up. "I'll buy you all the drinks you want! That'll give you plenty of time to tell me everything that happened."

Dan laughed, but it was fringed with nervousness. "Yes, well, you might need a few drinks in you before you believe what I'm about to tell you."

Yoongu laughed, too. "Try me, hyung!"

* * *

Yoongu slammed his drink down on the table between them. "Hyung," he said, his serious face slightly flushed from the alcohol. "You have to be making this up."

The tiny barbecue shop they were sitting in was one of their favorite spots to grab a drink. They'd arrived just in time to snag a table by the window before the evening crowd swarmed in and filled the place with comfortable chatter.

Dan sighed, twirling his own drink in one hand. "I only wish I was. I kept hoping I would wake up to find the whole thing was a dream, but..." The memory of being cocooned in Jaekyung's embrace occupied his senses momentarily. He took a hasty gulp from his drink.

Yoongu shook his head, running his fingers through his short black hair. He watched Dan with a troubled expression. "And you're sure he didn't...force you?"

Dan gave a shake of his head, his cheeks tinting with pink. "I was the one coming onto him. It's so embarrassing to remember..."

Yoongu leaned forward. "Yes, but that was because of your heat, hyung. Would you have done those things if you hadn't been in heat? Would you have wanted him to...you know...?"