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Sangwon stares at the fading mark on his neck, a sad reminder that he was once mated and later on abandoned by his ex-alpha, like an old cardigan he couldn’t bother to wear anymore. He scrubs the skin with a loofah as if it will help erase the mark faster and the dark memories it holds. His hand doesn’t stop, not until it bleeds. The friction only causes it to scar; the mark is still there, mocking his failure as an omega, screaming at him that he will never be enough. 

They said that the healing process is slow and grueling, unless he finds his fated mate, which means he has no hope, considering how rare such a case is. 

And his ex-alpha is one of those rare cases… how lucky for him and how unlucky for Sangwon. 

Yunho met his fated mate just a few months after marrying and mating Sangwon, right when their bond was still fresh, which made the betrayal even more painful. Sangwon has casually tossed the question his way before, more out of playful curiosity than anything serious—what he’d do if he ever met his fated mate. Yunho sounded so sure when he said that it doesn’t matter because Sangwon is the one he loves and has chosen to mate with. 

Sangwon fluttered at his words like a naive, lovesick fool, believing Yunho with all his heart. He feels so stupid every time he thinks about it, trusting Yunho when he didn’t even hesitate to leave him the moment his pulse throbbed under the spell of his fated mate’s scent. 

What a fucking joke his words were. 

Now, he has to carry this shame for years, or maybe forever. Who knows? 

Sangwon puts an antiseptic to stop the bleeding, and chooses a gray scarf to cover his shame for today. It’s a routine he knows at heart by now. 

The faculty room hums quietly, filled with teachers who already look tired before the classes even start. Sangwon walks around stealthily, keeping his head hung low to make sure no one notices him. He just needs to get the materials he needs, then he’ll disappear to his office like he was never in there. 

But of course, Lee Sangwon sticks out like a sore thumb, always the odd one out. He’s easy to single out—like a shadow that doesn’t quite belong.

“Teacher Sangwon!” It’s Teacher Aera, the math teacher who always sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong. Sangwon only smiles at her, managing to pass as courteous, albeit a little crooked at the edges.

“Isn’t it too hot for a scarf? Why do you always wear them anyway?” 

“Uhm… uhh…” 

“Because it’s his fashion choice, Aera. Let Sangwon wear what he wants.” A man emerges from Sangwon’s behind, answering the question for him. It’s Junseo, the school’s principal, whose presence Sangwon didn’t notice because of his muted scent.  

“Ah, yes, of course.” She quickly rolls her chair back to her desk, suddenly busying herself with test papers she has already double checked, pretending to be productive under the watchful eyes of the principal. 

Sangwon gets the materials fast, eager to leave the suffocating space. Junseo follows him to his office. 

The omega loosens his scarf the moment the door clicks shut, finally able to breathe properly again. Don’t get him wrong. He loves his scarves, but Aera is right—it’s too hot for a scarf right now. 

“You saved me there. Thank you.” 

“You know I don’t need your thank you. Buy me a coffee instead.” The beta half jokes. 

“I’ll buy you coffee every morning if you want,” Sangwon replies, meaning every word he said, despite the playful lilt in his voice. 

Coffee would never be enough to repay Junseo’s kindness to him. Sangwon wouldn’t be here if not for him. Junseo was the one who took him in when Yunho tossed him aside, with nowhere to go. He helped him get back on his feet and offered him a position in his school, so he could support himself, and even gave him his own office away from prying eyes. Sangwon basically owes him his life. 

“I need to cut down on my coffee consumption, so no thanks.”

“Why are you here anyway? Don’t you have important matters to attend to?”

Sangwon sits behind his desk and gestures for Junseo to take a seat as well, but the beta shakes his head because he’s not going to stay for long anyway. “Just wanna ask how Lee Leo is doing in your class? Is he settling in well?” 

“He’s miraculously attending all of the classes, has not once skipped since he transferred. He’s made many friends, too, so yeah, tell his dad that his son is doing well.” 

Junseo sighs in relief, hand in his heart. He’s glad that so far, there are no problems with Leo’s transfer. It was a difficult decision to accept him into the school, so he hopes that he won’t regret it, and Leo can graduate in peace without tarnishing his beloved school’s name. 

Just like any other case, Leo is a student with a bad record; hence, he was expelled from his previous school and had to transfer. This isn’t the first time he has been expelled, though. The first time it happened, his father put his studies on hold and sent him to Australia for two years as punishment. 

Leo came back to Korea last year to continue his studies, but got into trouble again. It feels like such a waste if he stops again when there are only three months left before graduation. But no school was willing to take him in. Well, there were a few, but they are small, unknown schools on the outskirts of Seoul filled with delinquents and all sorts of misfits. And though tired of his son’s constant misbehavior, his father still wants the best for him. He wants Leo to graduate from a decent school, at the very least. 

Junseo’s school ended up on their shortlist, which is pretty ironic when they didn’t have much of a choice here. They knew it was wrong, but with no other options left, they resorted to bribing their way to get Leo into the school. 

Junseo isn’t the type to be swayed by money, but with the budget stretched thin after renovating the gymnasium and soccer field, the “donation” was too tempting to ignore. They could use the money to replace the old air conditioners in the classrooms. So in the end, Junseo agreed. This is for the well-being of the students, he told himself. He just had to make sure Leo stays out of trouble until graduation. And he just knew the right teacher who could handle him. 

That’s how Leo ended up in Sangwon’s class. 

Sangwon didn’t think too much of it at first. He can handle a young alpha. He’s no different from the other alpha troublemakers in his class. So what if he’s a twenty-year-old dominant alpha? He’s still just a kid who knows no better and thinks violence is always the solution to problems. 

Leo was surprisingly behaved during classes, sitting quietly at the front—listening, sometimes not, but never disrupting the lectures. He befriended almost everyone in the class in just a short amount of time, already joining a circle that’s interested in soccer, just like he is. He strayed away from the mischievous kids, ignoring them whenever they called out to him. 

Leo seems determined to graduate this time.

But there was a problem…

The alpha is unabashedly infatuated with him. 

Sangwon knows it’s normal for kids to mistake their admiration towards someone older as love, but the way Leo looks at him is different. He looks at him as if he’s something to be cherished and gazes at him like he’s seconds away from devouring him at the same time. He also flirts with him at every chance he gets—generous with compliments and never runs out of smooth pickup lines. 

“Teacher, is it just me, or are you getting more beautiful each day?”

“I stopped drinking coffee because seeing your face is enough to give me the energy I need to get through the day.”

“You’re literally the most perfect omega. So pretty and so smart, too.”

Sangwon learned to ignore his flirty remarks, presuming Leo would stop if he didn’t give him the attention he wanted. But Leo proves himself to be a very persistent man, or maybe he’s just dense as fuck he couldn’t get the hint. The alpha doesn’t know how to give up, and comes back stronger with every roll of Sangwon’s eyes. Well, other than that, Leo is pretty much harmless. He’s never done anything that crossed Sangwon’s boundaries.

Junseo doesn’t have to know any of this, though. He doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. He’ll just give it more meaning if he makes a fuss over it. He’ll just ignore Leo as always, or maybe smack his head with his stick until he realizes how ridiculous he’s being. There’s no way a teacher-student relationship would work— forbidden! And who in their right mind would fall for their student anyway?

“What about you? How are you?”

“Huh?” Sangwon’s brows knit into confusion. 

“You went into a sudden heat last time. Have you talked to a doctor about it?”

Right, Sangwon unexpectedly went into heat while he was out drinking with Junseo in a bar a few weeks ago, which was very weird because his heat wasn’t supposed to come for another month. His heat cycle had always been regular, marked in his calendar so he could organize his work in advance and submit his leave on time. But that night had thrown everything off, catching him completely unprepared and more than a little unsettled. Thank goodness the principal was his best friend, so he didn’t have to worry about his work when it happened. 

“The doctor said heat cycles can become inconsistent for mated omegas with a broken bond. A mated omega needs their alpha, but if they’re not around and have mated someone else, then heats may become erratic,” Sangwon explains despondently. He feels like his life is basically over. No one would want a broken omega like him. 

“You’ll be okay, Sangwon,” Junseo squeezes his shoulder, reminding him that he’s not alone. “Just let me know if you need any help.”

Sangwon smiles back at him, grateful that despite the whole world turning its back on him, he’ll always have Junseo.     

_____

“Teacher, let me help you with that.” Green tea and cedar fill Sangwon’s nose, a scent he knows very well as it belongs to none other than Lee Leo. Sangwon has always had a sensitive nose, disgusted at alphas’ scents most of the time, but Leo’s is surprisingly pleasant for him, even though he’s a dominant whose scent is stronger than normal. 

If anything, Leo smells safe and a little disarming. But that’s only between Sangwon and the Lord. Leo can’t know that he has such an effect on him, or it’ll just spur himto hit on Sangwon even more. 

Leo takes the heavy files from Sangwon’s arms. The omega doesn’t protest and lets him be, as his arms are about to give up any minute. He could use a willing alpha’s help. 

“Where are you taking this?”

“My office,” Sangwon says flatly, not giving anything away. 

Leo hums, falling into step beside the omega with an ease that feels far too natural. The files look weightless in his hands, like he’s carrying nothing at all, while Sangwon is still trying to ignore the way that familiar scent lingers a little too close.

“Teacher works too hard,” Leo adds lightly, glancing at him. “You should let other people help you more often.”

“I can take care of myself just fine.”

“I know, but it doesn’t hurt to let yourself be taken care of. Let me take care of you.” 

Sangwon wants to scoff because how is a ten-year-younger alpha going to take care of him? He should take care of his studies first. But the way Leo says it with so much sincerity, warmth laced in his voice, makes it all too inviting. It has him melting into a puddle of goo. 

Sangwon chooses silence, not trusting his voice at the moment. Leo doesn’t say anything, letting the comfortable silence envelope them on their way to the office. 

“Just leave it on the table,” Sangwon instructs Leo and thanks him after. He’s not that heartless, okay?

However, Leo doesn’t leave after dropping off the files. 

“Do you need anything?”

“Teacher, do you think I’m just toying with you?” Leo’s voice is unusually timid, lacking the usual confidence it carries. 

“Leo…”

“But I’ll never play with your heart. I really mean it, Teacher Sangwon. I like you.” 

There is that look again—the one that makes Sangwon feel like he’s something precious. It’s not teasing. It’s not flirtation. It’s steady, unwavering, and sincere. Every inch of Leo’s posture, every soft note in his voice, screams certainty, as if it’s the only remaining truth in the world.

Leo is steadfast, and that scares Sangwon. 

Words get stuck in Sangwon’s throat, forming a big lump that he swallows painfully hard. He feels his heart hammer against his ribs as if nagging him. Green tea and cedar pervade the room, marking its territory. It’s too much—the honest confession, the glint in Leo’s eyes, his scent. Sangwon feels hot and heady despite the full-blast air conditioning. 

Leo notices this. Sangwon’s scent of honey butter turns into something sweeter, his cheeks dusted in pink. The omega’s body is reacting positively to him, but it’s not the right time. He can’t let Sangwon go into an unexpected heat in the middle of his work in his office.

“Teacher, don’t forget to take a break and get home safely.” 

Leo takes his leave, but his presence lingers, still warm and intoxicating. 

_____

A surprise in the form of a still perfectly cold coffee and a fresh sandwich on his desk greets Sangwon when he arrives in the classroom. There could only be one person behind it, but he still wants to confirm his suspicions by, looking around the room, asking the class silently. When his eyes land on Leo, the alpha winks at him and gestures for him to check the hidden note on the sandwich wrapper. 

I know you skip breakfast, so eat this before the class starts

- Leo

P.S. You look beautiful as always <3

Sangwon’s heart flutters at the sweet and thoughtful gesture, heat spreading in his chest. He clears his throat, mouthing a short thanks as he tries to keep his composure. His hands move on their own, secretly sliding the note somewhere between the pages of his book to keep it safe. 

What Sangwon thought was a one-time thing continues for the next few days. A sandwich, small rolls of kimbap for easy eating, a filling bowl of salad, and sometimes even a cake. It seems that Leo brings whatever his family’s personal chef made. Yeah, Sangwon noticed that the food Leo brings isn’t just from anywhere. There are no signs of brands in the packaging, and they taste expensive, nothing like those store-bought ones that taste like plastic or MSG. But the coffee that comes along with his meal is definitely from the cafe across the school, to ensure that it’s still cold when he receives it. That is very thoughtful of Leo. 

Sangwon is unsurprisingly moved. Sue his INFP ass for feeling things so deeply. 

A rational part of him wants to tell Leo to stop, to tell him that this is wrong. Leo might also get the wrong impression if he continues to accept his gifts, but it’s hard to say no when the alpha puts so much thought into it. Honestly, Sangwon doesn’t like eating breakfast, but he keeps looking forward to it every morning now. He doesn’t know if it’s really the food, the little notes that make him smile, or just the person giving it.

One thing’s for sure: it’s been a long time since someone cared for him like this. It wouldn’t hurt to let himself feel a little special, right? 

____

If you think that being a teacher is easy, then you’re dead wrong. Work doesn’t stop after your classes end. There’s still so much to do, like preparing lesson plans and checking endless papers and homework. 

There’s a big pile of work on Sangwon’s desk right now, and he’s just been staring at it for the past ten minutes, not knowing where to start. Maybe if he acts like it doesn’t exist, it will disappear. He plays with his phone in the meantime, scrolling through Coupang, adding anything that catches his eyes into his cart. Sadly, his work doesn’t disappear. It only glares at him harder the more he ignores it. 

Sangwon is about to give in to his duties like a responsible adult when a soft knock comes. Maybe it’s Junseo?

Well, no. 

It’s Leo. 

Sangwon should’ve known because Junseo doesn’t have to knock. 

“You’re still not home?” He asks without looking at Leo, suddenly busy with the papers he was ignoring just a second ago. 

“I was playing soccer in the field. Was about to go home, but I saw the lights in your office. Thought I’d stop by.”

Sangwon just hums, eyes still fixed on the essay he’s barely reading. He hears the door click shut and footsteps getting louder. Leo is not leaving anytime soon, it seems. 

“How was the food today?” Leo asks, standing next to Sangwon as if he belongs there. 

“It was alright.”

Leo straightens his back, concerned at the passive response. “Just alright? Why? Are you allergic to something? Fuck, sorry, I should’ve asked first. Or are you a picky eater like me?”

Sangwon snorts when the alpha accidentally admits that he’s a picky eater. It’s amusing how someone so big and strong is finicky about their food. 

“I’m not like you.”

“Then why are you not satisfied with the food?”

The omega wants the ground to swallow him whole. He should’ve just been honest from the start. Now, he’s going to be caught lying. 

“I was just messing with you. The katsu sandwich was fantastic.”

Leo grins like he’d just won the lottery, showing his pearly white canines. “I knew you’d like it. Our chef is one of the best, you know?”

“I can tell. Thank you, by the way,” Sangwon shyly says. 

“You’re welcome, pretty.” 

The omega’s face heats up at the nickname. He should be scolding Leo for not addressing him properly, but he can’t deny that he likes being called with cute endearments. His ex-alpha only called him by his name or “Wonie” if he was feeling generous, because endearments were too cringey for him. Sangwon sometimes wonders how he agreed to marry someone so incompatible with him. 

“Need help?”

Sangwon glares at the alpha, who’s just an inch away, green tea and cedar filling his lungs like a soothing balm in his otherwise boring Wednesday afternoon. “You can’t check your own paper.”

“I’ll check the other class.” 

Again, Sangwon thinks he should decline and send his student home already, but company would be nice. And it would be even nicer if he could go home faster with the alpha’s help. 

“Fine.”

Leo is actually serious when he said he’s going to help. He’s focused on checking most of the time. The other times? He flirts with the omega like it’s second nature.

And… Sangwon doesn’t ignore the flirty comments this time. He hums noncommittally, indulging the alpha’s attention instead of brushing him off like usual. 

Leo is surprised at the omega’s lack of resistance, expecting the older to glare at him—or worse, chase him away. Sangwon doesn’t flirt back, but the acknowledgement is enough to boost the alpha’s ego and have him grinning from ear to ear. 

By the time they’re done, the sun is already setting into a beautiful shade of orange. Sangwon takes a picture—once, twice, then another with the alpha’s back obstructing his view. He doesn’t change his angle, doesn’t tell him to move away, just captures the moment quietly because his heart told him to do so. 

“Should we grab dinner together?” Leo turns his head. Sangwon quickly puts his phone down, expression suspicious as hell. Thank God, Leo doesn’t ask him about it. 

“What makes you think I’ll say yes?”

“Because it’s my treat.” Leo winks, and Sangwon bites back a smile after noticing the alpha can’t even wink properly. 

“Sorry to break it to you, but I’ll have to decline. Other people might see us and get the wrong impression.”

“But I know a place where no one will see us,” Leo says, almost pleading, and his eyes look like a cat’s when it acts innocent after flipping the house upside down. 

Sangwon really shouldn’t give in, but he learns today that he’s a very weak man. He accepts Leo’s offer and trusts his words that he won’t let them get caught. Leo quickly brings his car, and Sangwon gets in like a fugitive in hiding. They spend the car ride in silence with only a curated playlist in the background. Sangwon also learns that he has the same music taste as the alpha. 

“I’ll pay,” Sangwon boldly volunteers, despite knowing how expensive the bill is going to be when they finish eating. Leo really did bring him somewhere no one from school will see them, in a private room of a fancy Michelin-star restaurant. It’ll definitely make a big dent in his wallet, but he’s the working adult here, so it’s only right for him to pay after the younger alpha helped him with his work, too. 

“You don’t have to worry about anything, lovely. I’m the one who brought you here, so I will pay.”

“But-”

“No buts, or I’ll kiss you.”

It was a very effective way to shut Sangwon up. He backs off and puts his wallet back in his bag, actually relieved that his savings will be safe. Sangwon watches Leo pay with what seems to be a black card. He finds it hot that an alpha like Leo is capable of providing for him. It’s doing things to his head, and he doesn’t hate the thought. But he shakes it away anyway. 

It becomes their thing—Leo helping Sangwon after class and eating dinner together. Sangwon can only hope no one really catches them, or they’ll be in big trouble. 

“You’re busy lately,” Junseo says while hanging out in Sangwon’s office in the morning, as if he doesn’t have any work waiting for him in his office.   

“Everyone is. School year is about to end, and there’s just so much to do.”

That’s true, but Junseo isn’t talking about work, though. It’s something more personal. It’s just that he noticed Sangwon’s been hanging out less with him lately. No, he’s not mad about it, just curious what his best friend has been up to lately that he keeps declining his offers. Sangwon doesn’t really have much of a life outside work, as sad as it sounds, so it feels weird when he says he can’t go because he has something to do, and is vague about it. 

But Junseo keeps those thoughts to himself because…

“You also look happy lately. Don’t try to deflect me, I catch you smiling to yourself sometimes. Are you seeing someone?”

There’s a teasing smile on Junseo’s face, but there’s also fondness to it. He’ll never be upset about Sangwon spending less time with him; he’s actually happy about it because that means the omega is making other friends, getting into hobbies again, or maybe meeting an alpha. Whichever it is, it seems to have a good effect on him. 

Sangwon is flustered at the accusation, though, which makes him look more suspicious if anything. He knows he’s a bad liar, but he proceeds to lie anyway, hoping Junseo will buy it. “N-No. I don’t have time for that.”

Junseo isn’t buying it. He knows when his best friend is lying. The tips of his ears turning red are enough to tell him the truth. 

“Really? You know it’s not a crime to try again, right?”

“I know, but it’s also not a crime to want to protect my heart, is it? I’m not going to risk it again.”

Junseo bites his lip, worried, concerned, suddenly losing the hope he just had earlier. So Sangwon is still not ready to let himself be truly happy again. He still has his walls around him, high and tough, but not unbreakable. Whoever this alpha Sangwon is seeing should be strong enough to knock them down. 

“I hope you can be braver. What if you miss something good because you’re too afraid?”

Sangwon’s grip on his pen tightens, Junseo’s words hitting too hard. He’s not exactly afraid, just cautious. And there are just so many other factors why he can’t let Leo in. The alpha is so much younger than him—he’s his student. He’s got a bright future ahead of him that shouldn’t involve a broken omega that would potentially ruin it for him. 

“I’ll be fine. I’m getting used to being alone. Not needing someone. Not feeling anything. No worries.”

That’s a total lie because Sangwon is not getting used to it; he’s just forcing himself to get used to it.

“Just listen to your heart, okay? If things go south, I’ll be here with a big tub of ice cream and a free shoulder to cry on.”

“Thank you, but I don’t think I’ll need it.”

 Sangwon shooed the beta away.

____

Sangwon looks especially tired today. Leo can see the way his eyes droop every passing minute, so close to completely dozing off. He looks out the window and realizes the sun has long since set. They’ve done a lot of work already with Leo’s help, and honestly? Leo is famished. Maybe they could wrap it up already and call it a day. 

“Teacher. Sangwon-hyung.” 

“Mmh?” Sangwon blinks the sleepiness away, then stretches his limbs and lets out a long yawn, not even bothering to hide how tired he is anymore. He’s adorable like this, too, Leo thinks. 

“Let’s stop here for now and eat somewhere. I’m hungry.”

“Okay.”

Leo smiles softly at Sangwon’s quick surrender. He’s been more accepting of his affection lately, and that makes him feel a little hopeful. He organizes the papers on Sangwon’s desk just like how the omega likes it. Then he picks up his bag and packs it, making sure all of his things are in there, neat and in the right pockets. 

“Let’s go?” He doesn’t give Sangwon’s bag back and hangs it over his shoulder instead. He smirks to himself, knowing how much he probably looks like the omega’s alpha right now, and if anyone notices, he’s not planning on correcting them. 

“Okay.”

Leo takes Sangwon to a restaurant situated on a hill with an alfresco dining area and a nice view of Seoul’s stunning skyline. It’s the perfect place to take a breather after a long day. Sangwon’s fatigue leaves his body the moment he steps inside, the cool breeze hitting his face. He runs toward the railing like a kid, his mouth dropping in awe while looking at the beautiful view before him. “It’s so pretty here, Leo.” 

“Yeah, very pretty,” Leo replies while looking at the prettiest view—Sangwon. 

“Thank you for bringing me here.” 

“How about thanking me by letting me court you?”

Sangwon laughs, brushing off the alpha’s flirting remarks as a joke like always, “Why would I let a kid court me?”

Leo takes offense. “I’m twenty.”

“Stay out of trouble and graduate first, then I’ll think about it,” Sangwon says half jokingly, but Leo takes it seriously, promising the omega to graduate and court him properly as a man. 

But three weeks into graduation, Lee Leo fucks up. 

He beats a schoolmate until his face is unrecognizable. Until his hands are covered in blood.  

Sangwon pinches the bridge of his nose as he stands in his office, feeling his temples throb painfully. He’s about to cry, actually. Everything about this is just terrible. Other students saw the incident and filmed it. Sangwon had to hunt down all those students and make them delete the footage. He needs to fix this somehow. He can’t let Leo get expelled. 

Leo’s father rushed to the school as soon as he heard the news and was now meeting with the victim’s family. Leo told him to stay out of it, not wanting Sangwon to get involved as his homeroom teacher. Even at this time, the alpha’s priority is still to protect his omega. Sangwon’s heart flutters at the fact, but he still wants to smack the alpha’s head because he really should think about himself first right now. 

A few hours after—or maybe it’s just a few minutes that felt like hours—Sangwon hears his office door open and close quietly. 

It’s Leo, still smelling of blood and faint rotting green tea and cedar, his anger still lingering in the air. Sangwon hopes that the talk went well, but before they get to that, frustration pours out of him like a broken dam. 

“Do you know what you just did?!” Sangwon storms angrily at him. “You almost killed someone! You almost got expelled again! Three weeks. You couldn’t even wait that long before doing something stupid. I thought you wanted to graduate this time?!” 

Sangwon isn’t mad that Leo beat someone. That alpha deserved it anyway. He’s only mad because Leo broke his promise and jeopardized his graduation, just because he couldn’t control his anger. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Leo apologizes, not because he punched someone, but because he upset his omega. He doesn’t like smelling the bitterness in the omega’s honey butter scent. “I fixed it. It got sorted out in the end. I’m still graduating.” He releases his calming pheromones, hoping they will soothe Sangwon. 

It works, but it doesn’t mean Sangwon is done talking and lecturing him. He’s not going to let this slide easily. “You’re just lucky you have your dad to back you up.” 

Leo shuts his mouth this time because it’s true. If he were just a normal alpha from a normal family, he would’ve been so fucked. 

“Why would you do that anyway? You promised to stay out of trouble and graduate.” Sangwon’s voice is weaker now, his chest heaving after yelling. 

“I know. I tried to be good, but they started calling you names that no one should ever think about you, and I just lost it.” He tries to explain, excluding the other details. 

Sangwon can tell by Leo’s scent and face just how bad it was, his face grimacing and his scent spiking as he recalls the scenario that led him to this situation.  

“You could’ve just ignored it. I wasn’t there to hear it anyway. You’re just proving to me that you’re still immature.”

That pisses Leo off a little. He’s tired of Sangwon treating him like a kid. Yes, he’s young, and they have a huge age gap, but he’s not a thoughtless baby. Just when will he start seeing him as a man?

“I’m not. I’m an alpha who knows how to defend and protect his omega,” He says with his alpha voice, serious and unyielding, leaving no room for doubt.

Sangwon shrinks at Leo’s display of dominance and strength, his feet instantly backing out. 

“I’m not your omega.”

“But I want you to be.” 

Sangwon moves a step back, but Leo moves two steps forward. His back meets his desk, and now, he’s trapped between the alpha’s strong arms. 

“Can’t. W-We can’t.” Sangwon’s words don’t really match his actions, as he doesn't put up a fight. He puts his hands on Leo’s chest, but he isn’t really pushing him away. Leo notices this. 

“I know you want me, too. Don’t deny it.” 

Their faces are only a few inches apart now. They can feel each other's breath, smell each other’s scents, and see the desire ignite in their eyes. That’s all Leo needs to cross the line that he’s been skirting for far too long. The moment Leo crashes his lips against Sangwon, the omega’s walls crack. Sangwon doesn’t respond at first, but he lets the kiss happen, lets the alpha devour his mouth like a hungry lion. 

Leo’s hand grips Sangwon’s waist possessively, while his other hand is on his jaw, a lock securing him in his place, making sure he has no escape. It doesn’t take long before Sangwon’s walls fall apart. He kisses Leo back with the same intensity, winding his arms around his neck. Sangwon is done pretending he doesn’t want this. Leo groans, finally having the only omega he wants in his arms, so pliant in his hold, too. 

Their kiss is full of hunger, full of suppressed emotions they’ve been bottling up for so long. It’s mostly teeth, tongues dancing together, and licking every crevice, their mixed spit dripping from their mouths. It’s messy, but it just shows how much they crave each other. 

They pull apart to breathe proper air again. Leo licks the dripping saliva on Sangwon’s chin and gulps it down, then he presses their foreheads together, looking at the other’s blissed-out face. There’s a big, dumb smile on the alpha’s face, disbelieving that he just tasted the most beautiful omega in the world. 

“I want you so bad,” Leo confesses, like it’s something Sangwon doesn’t already know. 

Sangwon doesn’t answer, just pulls Leo in closer and presses a kiss on his lips as an invitation. Leo isn’t satisfied with just a simple peck, though, so he kisses the omega passionately once more. His mouth moves south, biting Sangwon’s jaw. The addicting honey butter scent of the omega is becoming more potent as it’s much closer to the scent gland. Leo wants more of it, wants it to stick to his skin until everyone knows who he belongs to. 

Sangwon’s eyes are closed, humming quietly to the burning touches Leo leaves on his skin. He even tilts his head to give Leo better access. Leo takes it as a signal to take off the omega’s scarf. He unties the fabric easily, letting it slip down Sangwon’s shoulders. He is about to take a sniff of the sweet scent when he sees something so visible to ignore. There’s a mark on Sangwon’s neck, fading but still there and glaring right back at Leo. 

Leo stops, not knowing what it means yet. Before he could ask, Sangwon had already realized what was happening. He looks terrified to death. Sangwon is shaking, and Leo just stands frozen, too afraid to ask, too dumb to know what to do. 

Sangwon feels the tears well in his eyes, but he blinks them away as he sloppily ties his scarf back around his neck. He shouldn’t have let the alpha in from the beginning. It’s his fault that this is happening. 

“I told you we can’t. I’m a broken omega, Leo,” Sangwon says, voice wavering despite his effort to keep it firm. He takes his bag hastily and runs away from the alpha without another word. 

Leo had seen his deepest, darkest secret—the real reason why he couldn’t let the alpha in. One moment of carelessness had ruined everything. 

Sangwon doesn’t return to his house, not trusting himself to be alone right now. He might just kill himself if he’s left to his own devices. When he arrives, banging on Junseo’s door, the beta doesn’t question him and just opens his arms for him. He keeps his promise to let his best friend cry on his shoulders with a tub of ice cream waiting in his freezer.

Sangwon doesn’t come to school for a week at Junseo’s orders, insisting he’s not fit to teach with a broken heart. He would’ve excused himself either way because he’s not ready to face Leo again as if nothing had happened. Sangwon rots in bed throughout the week, only getting out of bed when Junseo gets home and forces him to eat. 

Meanwhile, the alpha shows up at school every day. He knows Sangwon isn’t coming, but he’s not going to pass up the possibility that the omega might show up. He also wants to show him that he’s determined to graduate, even if he’s not there to keep him motivated. 

Leo already knows the meaning of Sangwon’s mark. He did his homework as soon as he was back to his senses. It’s not like he’s not aware; it’s just that he hasn’t seen a mark with a broken bond before, so he wasn’t sure. His heart breaks at the thought of Sangwon being abandoned by his ex-alpha—alone and hurting. And then rage fills him because how can an alpha be so stupid and let go of the most perfect omega ever? And even dared to hurt him? He must be out of his damn mind.  

Then again, he wouldn’t be able to meet Sangwon if it weren’t for him, so he was still thankful that he left him, just not the part where he hurt him.  

There’s a cup of coffee and a paper bag filled with kimbap rolls that Sangwon loved in Leo’s hands. He never stopped bringing breakfast, even when the omega was on leave, and the food only ended up in his own stomach. 

The school is eerily quiet when  Leo arrived way too early today. He couldn’t really sleep last night, missing Sangwon so damn much, and he just got out of his bed as soon as the sky lightened. Maybe he’ll just eat the food he brought while he waits for his friends to arrive. 

Leo ends up going to a different floor first. He wants to visit Sangwon’s office while no one is around yet. It’s a habit he has formed over the past weeks and something that he just can’t get out of his system, so he sneaks in when no one is looking. It’s the only place he knows that still screams of the omega, honey butter scent clinging to the things Sangwon has touched. 

Something is unusual today, though. Leo can smell Sangwon’s scent even in the hallway. It’s strong, like there’s honey dripping on the walls and someone smeared butter all over the floor. Sweet, so sweet. Leo’s first instinct is to run and bust through the door, a part of him feeling the omega is in his office. 

He’s right, but he’s got no time to celebrate. The sight that greets him makes him drop his things onto the floor, creating a big mess in the usually clean space. He’ll clean it later, if he still has the time. For now, his main concern is Sangwon, who is currently lying on his small sofa, his shirt halfway unbuttoned and clinging to his sweat-slicked skin, leaving nothing to the imagination. His exposed skin is flushed, and his eyes are open, but there’s a distant look to them. He looks like he’s very hot and so out of it. 

Leo knows exactly what’s happening. This is not the first time he has witnessed this after all. 

Sangwon is in heat. 

In the blink of an eye, Leo is at Sangwon’s side, pushing his damp hair away from his face. He also wipes his sweaty face and any exposed skin with the napkin he got from the coffee shop earlier. 

“Hyung, are you with me?” Leo asks, concerned and horny at the same time. The omega meets his eyes, and it takes him a full minute to recognize him. It’s his student, Leo. He’s not sure if he’s real or if he’s just a hallucination of his desire, but he’s happy to see him anyway.  

“Alpha…” Sangwon calls him weakly, and it immediately shoots to his dick. Still, Leo controls himself. He needs to take Sangwon to safety first. 

“Let’s get out of here, yeah?”

Sangwon’s head moves slightly, barely passing as a nod. He raises his hands, though, and makes grabby hands. 

“Just give me a sec, baby. Let me grab your things first.” Sangwon whines at the pet name, loving how it rolls off Leo’s tongue. 

Leo carries Sangwon like a baby. The omega becomes boneless in his hold, heavier than usual, but he’s strong and can handle him even when he weighs ten times more. Sangwon buries his face in his neck and licks his scent gland, trying to get a little relief by tasting the alpha. Leo shivers at the hot muscle that glides on his neck. Leo bites his arm to hold himself back, or else he might just bend the omega over his desk and take him right then and there. 

They make it to the car safely. Leo turns the air conditioner up to full blast to alleviate the heat that Sangwon is feeling. But Sangwon is already so out of it, taking Leo’s hand to put over his crotch, where his slick is pooling. Leo can feel how wet he is, can feel how warm his pussy is, and fuck, he just wants to dive his face in between the omega’s thighs. 

Leo’s patience is wearing thin. “Sangwon, behave yourself.”

“No!” Sangwon whines like a brat, “Want alpha.” He’s not usually like this, but the alpha’s effect on him is insane. He wasn’t this needy before. 

Of course, Leo feels good to be wanted back by the love of his life, but he has to wait. They can’t fuck on the school grounds. He still has some respect for Junseo’s school. 

 “Alpha will help you later when we get to my place, okay? It’s just fifteen minutes away from here.” Leo seals the promise with a kiss. Sangwon isn’t fully satisfied, but he holds onto the promise of a good fuck later. 

Sangwon is surprisingly well-behaved the whole car ride. He squirms in his seat, trying to take off his clothes because they irritate his burning skin, but he never disturbs the alpha, who is busy driving and keeping them out of a possible car accident. 

When they arrive, Leo makes haste, turning the engine off and taking his seatbelt off at record-breaking speed. He opens the door to the passenger seat and lifts the omega by his armpits, with Sangwon making his job easier this time by latching onto him like a koala. They make it to the elevator safely and then into Leo’s apartment. 

The moment Sangwon’s back meets the soft sheet of Leo’s bed, he shimmies out of his clothing and rubs his body against it, like he’s trying to get Leo’s scent all over him. The alpha laughs quietly at the sight of his needy omega.

“Hyung, Sangwonie, do you know who I am?” Leo suddenly asks. He wants to make sure that Sangwon wants him because he’s Leo, not because he’s an alpha who can fuck the heat out of him.  

Sangwon frowns, confused at the question, but answers nonetheless. “Aren’t you Leo? Why is a student giving his teacher a quiz now?” 

The answer makes Leo cackle. If Sangwon can give him his sass right now, then that means he’s still a little conscious of what’s happening and what’s going to happen.  

“I’m sorry. Alpha will help you now.” Leo kisses Sangwon’s forehead and pulls away to take his own clothes off. 

“Fuck,” Sangwon curses at himself because Lee Leo is really not a kid anymore; he’s a fucking man with big arms and defined abs and… a huge cock! How is that monstrous thing gonna fit in his tight little pussy?

Leo smirks, knowing exactly what’s going on in Sangwon’s brain right now. “Am I a man to you now, hyung?” 

“Mmn. Now fuck me.” Sangwon makes grabby hands again with a matching pout that he knows Leo won’t be able to resist, “You promised.” 

“I won’t break my promise again.”

In a matter of seconds, the alpha is on top of him, just staring at his beautiful face before he devours his mouth, hungry and desperate, as he’s been holding himself back for far too long and missed the way he tasted on his tongue. 

“More,” Sangwon begs against Leo’s mouth, pressing him closer. Leo kisses him deeper, more passionately, never stopping until they don’t know which tongue belongs to who anymore, until their saliva is nothing but a mixture of their fluids. 

Leo’s cock starts to rub against Sangwon’s drenched folds, using the omega’s slick as a natural lubricant. His cock isn’t even inside yet, but it already feels heavenly. “You feel so good, baby. So wet, so warm.” 

“Only for you.” 

The possessiveness in Leo screams in joy. “That’s right, baby. Only for me, because you’re only mine. No one else’s. Got it?” Fuck the alpha who claimed Sangwon before. He’s going to make Sangwon his now. 

The omega just nods dumbly at his question as he rocks his hips back against his throbbing cock. 

“Inside, please, please. Need your cock, alpha,” Sangwon pleads like a broken record, and who is Leo to deny him? He pushes his cock inside the omega’s leaking hole, making both of them moan—and it’s just the head. Leo still has a long way to go before he bottoms out. He knows Sangwon is wet enough, but his pussy has never taken an alpha cock in a long time. It’ll be painful for him if Leo slides in in one go without prepping him. 

They wait for Sangwon’s tight walls to warm up to Leo’s cock first before the alpha finally pushes in all the way. Their breathing stutters as if oxygen has been knocked out of them. For Leo, it just feels so right to be finally inside the omega; it feels like coming home. And for Sangwon, it just feels so perfect to be filled by the alpha’s cock, like it was made for him to take. 

“Move, please… alpha,” Sangwon begs as he pulls Leo in for another kiss. He just can’t get enough of his plump lips. The thought of not being able to taste them again devastated him for a week.

Leo grants Sangwon’s plea, moving his hips without holding back, sliding his cock in and out with only one mission in mind—to make Sangwon feel good. He uses his free hand to play with Sangwon’s clit, making the omega squeal, the sound swallowed by Leo’s mouth. He rubs it in circular motion and pinches it, eager to make the omega cum fast. It doesn’t take long for Sangwon to squirt on Leo’s cock, spraying jets of liquid that Leo wishes he could drink instead. Maybe later, when the omega is too sore for another fucking session, he’ll let Leo eat him out to get him some relief. 

Leo follows suit, cumming inside of Sangwon, filling him to the brim. He locks them together with his knot to make sure nothing comes out and that Sangwon is fully satiated in the first wave of his heat. 

“You did so well for me, baby.” Leo praises him, peppering his face with loving kisses. They switch their positions, so Sangwon can rest comfortably on top of Leo while they wait for his knot to come down. 

“Thank you, alpha,” Sangwon whispers against Leo’s sturdy chest, pressing a light kiss on the cute mole in the middle. 

They fuck nonstop for a whole week, only stopping when their energy is depleted, and they need to eat, or when they need to take a shower because their bodies have become too gross, covered in sweat, cum, saliva, and other fluids they cannot recognize anymore. Maybe there’s also piss, who knows? They don’t remember getting out of bed to take a leak, so they probably just pissed while in their throes of passion. 

Sangwon is the first to wake up on Sunday morning. He feels refreshed, but also achy everywhere. Leo really fucked him like there’s no tomorrow. Speaking of the alpha, he’s sleeping soundly behind him, his toned front pressed close to his back, a protective hand splayed on top of his belly that was pumped full of his seeds, while his face was buried on his nape like it’s his source of oxygen. The omega smiles at how clingy Leo is even in sleep. 

As much as he wants to stay there, he hasn’t left the bed for days, and he wants to get out for a change of scenery. 

His first itinerary is the bathroom, so he can clean himself again, even though Leo has clearly cleaned him already last night. He checks himself in the mirror and gasps at his state—his body is full of marks, especially on his chest and neck. Sangwon takes a closer look, and he notices that something is off. His old mark is no longer there. It’s been replaced with a new one, fresh and beautiful, unlike the one his ex-alpha left him with. 

Now that it sinks into him that Leo gave him a mating bite, he suddenly feels the alpha deep in his veins. He can feel their connection, their souls tied together. He can even feel how happy Leo is right now, and he really wants to be happy, too, but anxiety gets the best of him. All he can think about is the possibility of the alpha leaving him, too, eventually. 

He doesn’t realize he’s having a panic attack, not until Leo comes into view and helps him breathe properly.

“Sangwon, breathe with me. You’re okay. You’re safe.” Leo repeats, releasing his pheromones to calm him down. It helps Sangwon stabilize his breathing, but he’s still upset about something. Sangwon suddenly bursts into tears. 

“Sangwon, what’s wrong? Baby, please tell me.” Leo is worried as fuck. It’s like a deja vu when they had their first kiss, but worse. 

‘Y-You marked me! Why?” 

Lee Leo fucks up again. He should’ve mated Sangwon when both of their minds were clear. Sangwon might not be ready yet, considering his past. 

“I… you asked for it, and I… sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. You were in the middle of your heat. You probably weren’t thinking straight. I’m sorry. I just wanted you so bad, wanted to make you mine completely. I’m sorry, hyung.” 

“What if you leave me, too? I will have to go through shit again, Leo! Do you know how hard it was for me? It was painful, very painful! It felt like I died, and the mark turned ugly, and I didn’t know how to remove it. I don’t want to go through that again!” Sangwon cries, wetting the bare chest of the alpha who’s now hugging him tightly. 

Because of their bond, Leo can understand Sangwon better. It’s not that he regrets what happened, nor is it because he doesn’t want to be marked by the alpha. He’s just scared—scared that history will repeat itself. 

“Sangwon-hyung, listen to me.” Leo pulls him just enough to look him in the eye, “I’m your fated mate.” Leo wasn't planning to spring it on him like this, but he's left with no choice. 

Sangwon freezes. Did he just hear that right? There’s no way Leo is his fated mate. It’s a very rare case, almost a legend, except that he saw it happen with his ex-mate, so he knows it’s real. 

“What?”

“I’m your fated mate, Sangwon. It’s a long story, but we first met at a bar. I saw you and instantly smelled you.”

Sangwon doesn’t know the exact time since he’s been to bars with Junseo a lot, but he doesn’t remember smelling Leo before he met him in school. “But I don’t remember smelling you.”

“There were hundreds of people in the bar, scents were getting mixed. Of course, you wouldn’t know. But I’m a dominant alpha, so my olfactory sense is strong. I knew it was you. Your honey butter scent sent me into a rut.”

Sangwon has seen reported cases of fated mates going into unexpected heats and ruts when meeting each other for the first time. That’s how you know you’re fated because your bodies are so compatible that your cycles will instantly match. And Sangwon remembers when he suddenly went into heat out of nowhere in a bar. Junseo took him home right away and advised him to visit the hospital, which he did. But the doctor told him that an irregular cycle was just normal for an omega with a broken bond. They were wrong all this time. 

“I-I remember going into an unexpected heat that time, too. But I didn’t know it was because of you. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t know you were going to be my teacher, and I didn’t want you to think I’m just here because we’re fated. Didn’t want you to fall in love because of that. I wanted you to really fall for the real me, just like how I fell for the real you.”

“You’re not bothered that I was mated before?”

“Don’t care,” Leo grips his waist possessively, “You’re mine now.” 

Sangwon can’t believe that this amazing alpha is his fated mate. He has a fated mate. And he loves him for who he is. 

“Alpha…”

“Your alpha. And you’re my omega.”

“I like the sound of that.” Sangwon finally smiles. 

“Yeah?” 

“You won’t really leave me?”

“You’d have to kill me first if you want to get rid of me.” 

“I won’t get rid of you,” Sangwon averts his eyes, feeling shy under the alpha’s gaze. 

“Good, because I love you so much, Sangwon-hyung. I’m never letting you go.” 

“I-I love you, too.” 

They feel their love and happiness through their bond, more real than anything they’ve ever known. Sangwon isn’t scared anymore, not when his alpha is Lee Leo who promises to never let him go.