➣ Pre-Heat
-Forever, Spent With You-
➛ Poly! OT8! Skz, Hyunlix & Chanlix centric
➛ Felix’s pre-heat hits a little differently, and his mates are terribly worried.
➛ wc: 4k
➛ Warnings: mdni, ABO, omegaverse, non-traditional abo dynamics, omega! Felix, alpha! Hyunjin, pack alpha! Chan, pre-heat, heat mentions, fluff, worry, hand feeding, finegr licking, no smut (until I make a part 2), yearner! Hyunjin, protective pack, pack dynamics, suggestive, non x reader, character x character, ship fic
➛ Note: back on my yearner! Hyunjin agenda
➛ this is a fictional characterization of all people/characters meant purely for fictional purposes
➛ Forever, Spent With You Masterlist
➛ taglist: @aiyanotfound
Chan knew something was different the moment he entered the house.
For one thing, it was far too quiet. There were no sounds coming from the kitchen. Usually at least one of his mates was in there, making or eating something. No laughter filtered through from the living room, either. Not even the low buzz of soft spoken conversation. No, the only sounds Chan could hear were the whir of the air conditioner and the hum of appliances.
For another thing, there seemed to be a certain…tension in the air. It was palpable but quiet, and it made the hairs on Chan’s arms stand on end.
Chan carefully toed off his shoes, holding his breath as if making any noise would shatter the precarious balance the household seemed to be holding. Then he breathed in as slowly and deeply as he could without making himself cough.
As he breathed, Chan closed his eyes and focused on his bonds. He could feel the connection, the constant pull that tugged him towards his mates. Chan felt his connections with his entire being. It didn’t take him long to identify exactly how each of his mates were feeling.
What took Chan by surprise was that six of his seven lovers were feeling almost the exact same way. Chan sensed a mixture of worry and anxiety. Six of the seven. Chan realized immediately that Felix’s emotions were much different. Annoyance, edginess, and restlessness, with an underlying haze of something deeper.
Chan moved swiftly, following the connections deeper into the house. He knew where his mates were and wasn’t surprised to find six very worried men standing outside the closed door to the nesting room.
They looked up when Chan approached, and relief was evident on their faces at the sight of their pack alpha.
“Channie-hyung,” Jeongin breathed out. The young alpha’s posture was rigid, and he was shifting on the balls of his feet.
Chan stepped closer and his protective instincts had him emitting calming pheromones. “Pre-heat?” Chan asked.
Jeongin nodded, but it was Changbin who spoke.
“It’s a bad one, Hyung,” Changbin said. Changbin’s only outward sign of stress were his clenched fists, but Chan sensed the worry.
“He won’t let anyone see him,” Han said, his hand resting securely on the small of Minho’s back. “The omega’s can’t get through to him.”
Minho’s brows were furrowed and Chan saw the ways his fingers twitched. It wasn’t often that Minho allowed his emotions to be so blatant. He must be out of his mind with worry.
“Nobody can,” Minho murmured. “Not even Hyunjin.”
Chan’s eyes snapped to Hyunjin. The alpha was locked in a stare down with the door. His hair was disheveled, as if Hyunjin had been unable to keep his fingers from carding through it in frustration.
It was extremely unusual that Felix would deny Hyunjin, his first mate, admittance into the nesting room. Hyunjin’s connection with Felix was as deep as a connection could go. Each pack member had one such connection with their own firsts. Even now, Chan could feel Jeongin’s emotions clearer above the rest.
Chan could imagine what not being with Felix was doing to Hyunjin. His inner alpha was probably clawing at his insides, whining to get to his mate and soothe the distress of pre-heat.
Everyone knew what pre-heat did to Felix. His body acted like it was sick, with intense temperature fluctuations, aching joint pain, and cramps that seized up his muscles.
Along with physical symptoms were the emotional burdens Felix carried during pre-heat. The omega could be dozing contentedly one minute, then growling in aggravation the next. Felix had once described it as if there was something inside his body that was fucking with his internal connections. Like a child unplugging electronics at a store and plugging the cords into wrong places.
In pre-heat, Felix—usually the most easy going of all the pack—became fussy. He was repulsed by the idea of most food. Only succulent fruits seemed to tempt him. Felix would also demand the closest physical touch possible short of crawling inside someone’s skin. But then it would shift on a dime, and the omega would shove the poor sap out of his nest and onto the floor.
But Felix had never, not once, refused any of his mates entry to the nesting room. He might not allow them into his actual nest, but he always allowed someone to sit on the floor outside his nest.
It was extremely worrying.
The pack never held any of his behavior against Felix. The omega couldn’t control what pre-heat did to him, and all of them felt incredibly sorry that their omega had to suffer so much. They knew how to take care of Felix during this sensitive time.
But none of them knew what to do in the face of this new development.
Chan had to do something. Maybe Felix would be more receptive to the pack leader. Chan looked at the door, gathering his thoughts and stealing his mind.
The door was scent proof, but Chan knew that even a crack of its opening would reveal a heady musk that clouded the mind if one wasn’t careful. Felix’s pre-heat scent wasn't quite designed to drive an alpha crazy with want, not like his heat scent. But it was still strong and alluring.
Chan drew closer to the door as the rest of the pack stepped back. Chan raised his hand and rapped his knuckles softly on the wood.
“Lix,” he called softly. “Felix?”
All he heard was a weak groan. Concern overrode his desire to be wary, and Chan opened the door.
Chan tasted Felix’s scent on the back of his tongue, and his tastebuds ached with the desire to taste. Sharp, the slightest bit flowery, and a tanginess that bordered on sour. Normally vibrant, Felix’s scent was clouded with an intoxicating bite. Even with his preparations, Chan struggled to resist the pull of bright, natural lemon and mineral rich sea salt.
He gingerly stepped into the room, his eyes zeroing in on the nest.
Felix’s nest was carefully crafted out of items given (and stolen) from the pack, and the high quality nesting materials the pack had purchased when they’d bought the house. Cushions and pillows made a circular wall around the giant, round nesting mattress. The walls were draped with clothing from each of Felix’s mates, the items drowned in their scents. Chan spied a sweater he had been looking for that morning tucked underneath a pillow alongside what looked like one of Jeongin’s shirts.
All of the omegas were little thieves when they entered pre-heat. No one minded in the slightest.
Felix wasn’t visible in his nest. His form was covered by several thick blankets and throws. Chan stood in the doorway, unsure if Felix knew he was there.
“Baby?” he whispered.
The blanket mound shifted and Felix’s face was unearthed. Brows furrowed and nose wrinkled, Felix looked like the sweetest thing. But his eyes were narrowed like an angry cat’s, and his teeth were bared in a tiny snarl.
“Hey, sweetie.” Chan tried to keep pouring out his soothing pheromones in an attempt to keep the omega’s obvious aggravation at bay.
But Felix wasn’t having it. A growl rumbled in his throat, small but deep enough to halt Chan’s steps.
Chan held his arms out to the side, palms up. “It’s just me, Lix,” Chan said gently. “Can I come closer, honey?”
Felix shook his head and buried his face in a pillow. Chan longed to sooth his hand down the back of Felix’s flushed neck. But his omega clearly didn’t want him any closer.
“…be ‘lone,” Felix’s muffled voice said, hardly audible.
“I know you want to be alone,” Chan said, keeping his body still. “But you’re in pre-heat. Can you let us take care of you?”
Once again, Felix shook his head. “Go ‘way,” he muttered.
Chan’s concern was steadily rising. This wasn’t like Felix at all. “Baby,” Chan said, almost pleading. “It’s just us. We want to help you.”
The growl Felix made was louder now. “Go away!” The words were still muffled but the message was clear.
“Alright, alright.” Chan tried to keep his own tone calm as he took a step back. He walked backwards until his back pressed against the doorframe. “We’ll be right outside, ok Lix? If you need us.”
Felix merely let out a softer growl, like a huffy kitten.
Chan stepped back into the hallway and closed the door. He already missed the fading crispness of lemon in the air.
Chan looked at each of his mate’s fallen faces. He let out a sigh and his shoulders dropped. “I have no idea what to do,” he admitted helplessly. He looked at Minho. “Did he growl at you, too?”
The omega shook his head. “No, nor at Seungmin. He did growl at Hyunjin and Jeongin, though.”
Chan looked to the side to see each alpha looking as distressed as he felt. No alpha liked to be pushed away by one of his omegas. Especially when Felix needed so much support.
“Maybe you should call the doctor,” Seungmin said. The young omega looked like he was about to cry. The strong emotions emanating from Felix and the others had to have his own emotions like haywire.
Changbin moved to his side and pulled Seungmin into his chest. Seungmin, who would have normally put in at least some resistance, melted into the hold. His hands came up to grip Changbin’s jacket, holding onto the beta for support.
Chan hated seeing his pack like this. They were all worried, and the tension would only climb higher if nothing was done.
Chan forced his features into a comforting expression and he reached out to run his hand over Seungmin’s hair. “Good idea, Minnie,” he said with soothing praise. “I’ll go call right now.”
Hyunjin caught his eye and Chan gave a subtle nod. Chan set off for the office while Hyunjin murmured something into Jeongin’s ear. The younger alpha nodded in understanding and shepherded the rest of the pack towards the living room.
Hyunjin met Chan in the office and both alphas stood near the door, too tense to sit. Chan pulled out his phone and looked up the number for the omega specialist his pack preferred.
The phone began to ring and Chan felt Hyunjin’s hand grip his shoulder. His own hand fell on top of Hyunjin’s and squeezed.
“Park Omega Specialists Office! How may I help you today?”
Chan took a deep breath, and began to talk.
—
“It’s likely just a different pre-heat than normal,” Chan said, reciting the words the nurse practitioner told him. “It’s not concerning unless his pre-heat goes for longer than usual.”
Hyunjin sat in Chan’s right, eyes stony and hands clasped tight. He wasn’t happy with the results of the phone call. His alpha demanded an immediate solution to this new problem of Felix’s odd behavior.
“So there’s nothing we can do to help?” Jeongin’s voice was almost a whine. The younger alpha’s eyes were dark and pleading, anxious to do anything to help his omega feel better.
At least Hyunjin wasn’t alone in that.
Chan shook his head. “The nurse practitioner recommended a pre-heat vitamin. She said it would help his body support this kind of intense pre-heat.”
Jeongin relaxed. “Good,” he sighed.
Hyunjin wasn’t as relieved. Yes, the vitamins would help ease the strain on Felix’s body, but they wouldn’t help the omega be more receptive. Hyunjin’s thoughts were broken by Chan’s voice.
“I did a grocery order for vitamins and food. Lots of fruit and things like that. Maybe…maybe after a few hours he’ll snap out of it,” Chan said hopefully.
The others nodded and began to plan. Minho and Seungmin would start prepping meals for Felix to eat when his heat was underway. Changbin would start the laundry to ensure that there would be enough sheets to last through Felix’s heat. Han and Jeongin were preparing things to pamper Felix with when it was all over and the omega’s body needed soothing care. Chan went to his office to call the dance studio to inform them of Felix’s impending absence.
That left Hyunjin to his own devices. He wavered. He wanted to help, but all of these things were going to help Felix while he was in heat. He needed to help Felix now.
But Felix didn’t want him to help. That knowledge made Hyunjin’s heart sink and a whine bubble up in his throat. He stamped it down and got to his feet. Maybe preparing would calm him down. He headed to the kitchen first.
But his plans of helping turned out to be rather fruitless.
Hyunjin was quickly banned from the kitchen, neither omega wanting interference. Changbin didn’t need any help with the laundry. And he proved rather useless at gathering bath salts and face masks.
Hyunjin stood back in the empty living room, unsure what to do or where to go. Then a knock sounded at the front door. The delivery!
He walked to the entry way and made quick work of bringing in the grocery sacks. He unpacked the vitamins and the fruit. Strawberries, mangos, kiwis, raspberries, bananas, cherries, and more. Chan had really gone all out. Hyunjin was pretty sure some of the fruit wasn’t even in season.
Hyunjin stared down at the fruit. The need to do something, to help in any way, was almost overpowering. Maybe an offering would ease the tension caused by pre-heat. Maybe if Hyunjin whined enough, Felix would let him in.
He began to open packages of fruit and searched for a cutting board and a knife.
The two omegas in the kitchen saw his intentions and graciously gave him a corner of counter space to work.
Hyunjin had always been good at using his hands to create art. He quickly found that using the small pairing knife felt a lot like wielding a paint brush. He formed one strawberry into a little cat, then two, then three. He cut into a kiwi and used the slices and a few green grapes to shape a turtle. He peeled an orange, making sure not to leave any strings behind, and used the leftover peel to make it into a snail. The bananas and raspberries turned into tiny chicks with plump red feathers. And lastly, Hyunjin carved the reddest apple he could find into an intricate swan.
Minho and Seungmin watched him while they cooked. Seungmin raised an eyebrow as Hyunjin painstakingly set his creations on a plate. Hyunjin ignored him and made sure to put two little vitamins alongside the fruit.
“Damn,” Minho said, eying the artful display. “Maybe I should act weird during my pre-heat, too.”
Hyunjin smiled and moved to wash away the sticky juice from his fingers. “I’ll do the same for you,” he said simply. “No need to act weird.”
Minho rolled his eyes, but the tips of his ears went pink. Hyunjin pressed a kiss to his cheek before carefully picking up the plate.
He made sure not to jostle the fruit animals as he walked. When he came to the door of the nesting room, Hyunjin stopped. Taking a deep breath he gingerly sat cross-legged on the floor, placing the plate beside him.
“Lix?” He called, pressing his forehead to the cool wooden grain.
A soft rustling could be heard from the room, but Felix didn’t reply.
Hyunjin tried again. “I have some fruit for you,” he said, his voice beseeching. “An-and a vitamin.” Nothing. Emotion clawed at his throat and a tiny whine escaped Hyunjin.
His omega wasn’t responding. Logically, Hyunjin knew that Felix couldn’t control what his pre-heat did. But his instincts were to care for, to provide. And he wasn’t able to do that.
Hyunjin closed his eyes and focused on feeling his connection with the omega. A wave of feeling tugged at him through his bond with Felix. Felix was restless, mind humming with too much thought, but not enough clarity. The omega was still agitated and annoyed. But Hyunjin could sense Felix’s need, too.
He poured his love for Felix into the bond. All of his worry, his yearning, his longing to be with Felix and help his omega through everything his pre-heat put him through.
“Please,” Hyunjin whispered, his hands fisted loosely against the door. “Please let me help you.”
Hyunjin sensed the moment Felix gave in. Or rather, when his pre-heat gave in. The agitation didn’t fade, but the resistance did. It seemed that Felix’s omega was finally craving the comfort Hyunjin’s alpha yearned to give.
But still Hyunjin waited, breath quiet as to not miss a sound. Then, finally, a quiet “come in” was murmured.
Hyunjin had to force himself to go slowly. He carefully picked up the plate. He didn’t stand, but rather Hyunjin opened the door while sitting and slid into the room.
The door closed behind him and Hyunjin breathed in the scent of Felix. His omega was mostly under the blankets, but one tanned knee was sticking out along with his eyes.
Hyunjin sat on the floor, holding the plate in his lap. Felix had allowed him entrance, but had yet to tell him to come closer. He stared at Felix’s exposed knee, longing to press kisses to the heated flesh. Hyunjin’s bottom lip trembled, and he sunk his teeth into it. He ached to join Felix in his nest. But he was a good alpha. He’d wait for Felix’s permission, even as his alpha clawed to get out.
Slowly, more of Felix’s face emerged from the blankets. His cheeks are pink from pre-heat, his eyes just barely cloudy, his pink lips pursed in a pout. Wafts of salted lemon tempted Hyunjin as he took in deep breaths of the scent. Felix’s eyes locked on the plate of fruit and the tiny animals that had been created with so much care. Hyunjin hoped his offering looked appealing.
Something flickered in Felix’s eyes. He let out a huffing sigh, an almost petulant sound. “‘M hungry,” Felix mumbled, looking off to the side.
Hyunjin resisted the urge to whine in relieved pleasure at his omega's words. It was a command given in the form of a statement. A command that Hyunjin would gladly fulfill.
He tentatively shuffled closer until his knees brushed against the nest. He waited for Felix to deny him entry, but the omega merely looked at him impatiently.
So Hyunjin climbed into the nest as Felix gingerly sat up against the pillows. As soon as Hyunjin was close, Felix wiggled closer in search of contact. Hyunjin rejoiced inside as he slid partly behind Felix to allow the omega to lean against him. Felix’s cheek rested on Hyunjin’s collarbone, his long lashes fluttering and ticking the alpha’s skin.
Felix made no move towards the food, but Hyunjin was more than happy to do everything for his omega.
He started with the strawberry cats. He brought one to Felix’s lips and watched in fascination as the omega bit into the fruit. Felix sighed at the fresh flavor and began to eat with more vigor. Hyunjin fed him the kiwi grape turtle and the banana raspberry chicks next, then melted in relief as Felix’s tension began to drain from his shoulders.
The snail orange made Felix giggle, his laugh vibrating against Hyunjin’s chest. Hyunjin wiggled the snail, showing the black sharpie smile on the peel. Then he removed it and broke open the orange.
He didn’t mind the stickiness on his fingers. He just enjoyed feeding his omega, taking care to swipe a droplet from Felix’s lips. The orange was devoured and Hyunjin picked up the vitamins. Felix sniffed at them for a moment before taking them into his mouth. They must have tasted fine because the omega didn’t make any protests.
Only the apple remained, but Hyunjin paused to pick up the water bottle on the floor. He pressed the straw gently to Felix’s lips, unwilling to let the omega lift even a finger.
Hyunjin picked up the apple after Felix released the straw. He felt when Felix’s eyes opened wider, a tiny gasp escaping the omega’s lips. A flushing warmth rose up Hyunjin’s neck as Felix examined the intricate swan.
He held the apple up to Felix, but the omega shook his head. “Too pretty,” he mumbled against Hyunjin’s skin.
Hyunjin almost keeled over right then and there. He was sure Felix’s sweetness would be the death of him. His free hand soothed over his omega’s hair and tucked a few silky blond strands behind his ear.
“I’m glad you think it’s pretty,” Hyunjin cooed. “But I want my pretty swan inside my pretty omega’s stomach, ok? So you can be nice and full.” He leaned down to press a kiss to Felix’s hairline. “Can you eat it? For me?”
Felix seemed to deliberate for a moment before he nodded. Pretty lips parted and Hyunjin fed him the apple. Soft crunching mixed with Felix’s sigh of pleasure as he ate. The apple was soon gone, and Hyunjin brought back the water bottle. He made sure Felix drank a good deal before setting it aside.
A soft, small, warm hand curled around Hyunjin’s wrist and he froze. It was the first time Felix had moved since Hyunjin came into the next. His hand followed Felix’s tug and his breath caught in his throat as the omega brought Hyunjin’s hand to his mouth.
Warm, pink, and wet, Felix’s tongue lolled out. Hyunjin watched with wide eyes as his omega licked sticky fruit juice from his fingers, starting with his thumb. Felix’s tongue was unbelievably soft as it flicked gently on Hyunjin’s finger pads, and the alpha had to bite down hard on his lip to avoid a low moan.
Felix wasn’t trying to be sexual, not on purpose. Hyunjin knew the omega merely wanted to taste the last remnants of fruit. But the sight was undoubtedly alluring. Felix was like a kitten suckling at its owners fingers for a treat. Hyunjin wanted to press into that mouth, to feel the wet warmth and allow Felix to take his fingers up to the knuckles.
Instead, he let his omega lap up the juice in peace. There would be plenty of time for Hyunjin to act on his desires once Felix’s heat came.
The omega finally released Hyunjin’s fingers, then curled up securely against him. A fierce wave of protectiveness came over Hyunjin as his omega sought out comfort. Hyunjin gently hooked his arms around the omega’s slim waist and handled him so the blond was laying on top of him.
Felix immediately buried his nose into Hyunjin’s neck, right by his scent gland. Hyunjin ran his hands up and down Felix’s back. The warmth he radiated seemed to help ease the stiffness of the omega’s muscles.
Felix sagged against his alpha and a soft, sweet little sigh escaped his lips. The omega blinked slowly, his lashes brushing against Hyunjin’s skin again as he inhaled the alpha’s soothing scent. Slowly, Felix’s breathing slowed. His body went lax as Hyunjin kept up his slow movements along his omega’s back.
The softest knock sounded at the door, then Chan opened it enough to stick his head inside. Hyunjin saw the alpha’s eyes soften at the sight of Felix curled on Hyunjin. He locked eyes with Hyunjin, a silent question reflected in his irises.
Hyunjin gave a slight nod, making sure not to jostle his sleeping mate. Chan's lips curved in a soft, relieved smile. He mouthed a “love you” to Hyunjin who mouthed it back. Then Chan silently ducked back and closed the door, leaving only the sounds of Felix’s soft breathing.
Immense pride swelled in Hyunjin’s chest as he looked down at the figure in his arms. He had taken care of his omega. Felix was warm, fed, and safe. And Hyunjin would stop at nothing to make sure he stayed that way.