And then, I met you. || Jeongcheol ||

55

Cheol stood in the hallway, his heart racing as he realized he couldn't find the rut-suppressing injection anywhere. He knew he had to have that injection-he couldn't let his rut take over, especially with Jeonghan carrying their child. He couldn't stay here; he needed to get out before he lost control. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door to the living room where Jeonghan was still seated, looking adorably confused.

"Uh, Jeonghan," Cheol started, his voice slightly shaky. "I need to run to the pharmacy to grab something. It'll just take a minute, okay?"

Jeonghan tilted his head, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you need? Is everything alr- "

"I'll be quick! Just hang tight, okay-make sure to close the door properly." Cheol called back to Jeonghan, trying to sound casual despite the tightness in his chest.

Jeonghan's eyes searched Cheol's face, trying to decipher the tension in his voice. "Cheol, wait-"

But before Jeonghan could finish his question, Cheol slipped out the door, closing it behind him. He took a moment to lean against the wall outside, breathing deeply as he tried to calm his racing heart and the hardness in his pants.

Inside, Jeonghan sat in silence, his mind racing. He could feel something was off. The sudden absence of his Alpha left a sinking feeling in his stomach, and he was left stranded in equal confusion and hardness between his legs, wondering what had just happened.

**

As Cheol quietly stepped back into the house, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relieved to have taken the suppressant. The tension from earlier was now dissipated, but as he made his way to the bedroom, a new sense of uncertainty was waiting for him.

Pushing the door open, he found Jeonghan lying on the bed, his back turned against Cheol. Jeonghan seemed so still, yet Cheol could instinctively tell that he wasn't truly asleep.

"Jeonghan?" he called softly, taking a cautious step closer. There was no response, just the gentle rise and fall of his partner's back. Cheol knew Jeonghan well enough to recognize when he was pretending.

"Jeonghan, are you awake?" he tried again, his voice laced with concern. Still, there was only silence.

He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should press on or let it go. He decided to respect Jeonghan's space, sensing the turmoil in his mind. With a heavy sigh, Cheol walked over to the lamp and switched off the light, casting the room into a comforting darkness.

Cheol climbed into bed, carefully positioning himself behind Jeonghan. He wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close, hoping the warmth of his body would provide some comfort.

As he settled in, he felt Jeonghan relax against him. "I trust you," Jeonghan whispered, his hand resting softly over Cheol's. The simple statement was enough, dissipating all the doubt that had plagued him since earlier.

Cheol tightened his embrace, burying his face into the nape of Jeonghan's neck. "I won't let you down," he murmured. He said kissing Jeonghan's nape gently, grateful for his love.

**

The Omega's sleep was abruptly interrupted by the door alarm's voice echoing through the room. He rubbed his eyes, gradually waking up to the sight of Seungcheol sleeping peacefully, totally relaxed and carefree opposite to the careful and attentive Alpha he usually knew. With precise movement, the Omega leaned over, placing his hand on Cheol's chest, nudging him slightly to rouse him.

"Cheol," he whispered, pushing him a bit more, "wake up. Someone's at the door."

Seungcheol stirred, blinking against the morning light finding it's way through the curtains. "What happened?" he mumbled, groggy.