The Game 1

'Wonho, the office told me to remind you to register your heat.' Haneul utters as he opens the door slightly. Wonho sits up from the bed, putting his novel away. 'You really need to answer their calls.'

Wonho nods lazily. He actually blocked the number, ever since they kept on bugging him to see the school's therapist and counsellor. After that night, the police had to notify the university for their investigation which was why Wonho is allowed to take a sick leave for half a year without any additional fees and problems. They also provided him with free health care, which he really appreciates - academy responsibility and what not.

The only downside is that they also want him to take care of his mental health which consist of him going for monthly check-ups. He is already fine, yet they insist for their own omega therapist to make that judgement, which annoys Wonho.

'I haven't gotten mine yet…' He notices the surprised face, 'You seem surprised…'

'No… it's just… It's already been more than 6 months since then.' Wonho frowns. Yes, a few months have passed since that night. He stares at the older man, trying to figure out where this conversation is going. 'Most omegas got theirs in their first three months so… I think it's probably best to have a check-up.'

He realizes the other is being cautious, as if he is trying not to pry that much, giving suggestion only lightly. He nods weakly and gives the man a smile before returning to his book. He hears the door closes and stares at the ceiling.

To be honest, Wonho is secretly relieved about not getting his heat just yet. In fact, he would love to not have it at all. If the attack caused him to not be able to bear children, then he would actually be thankful to his mate and attackers for messing his body that bad. Because now, the only difference between him and a beta is his scent.

And he can hide that too, unlike other omegas.

The situation is perfect.

He suddenly got a crazy idea. If it is true that he will never get his heat, and he wishes he wouldn't, then the bond will only be like a protector against other alphas from approaching. Maybe, if he can find his attacker, lock him up, and visit him once a month, just enough to 'renew' the bond, he will get his sweet revenge. The alpha won't be able to mate, and he will have his security against other alphas, and can live like any normal betas without any problems.

Wonho laughs just thinking about it. That really seems like a good idea. Except that it will never happen. He will never try to find the bastard. He will never even return to that damned place. If his attacker gets caught by the authority while the bond is still not broken, then maybe, he will consider doing that.

#####

Wonho makes sure to wear a turtleneck and checks himself in the mirror a few more times. He keeps on pacing back and forth, arranging his hair so he won't stand out, and rearranging it again so he won't look like a mess.

Haneul has been calling him, urging him to hurry up but he cannot find it in himself to calm down. He will be with so many alphas in the same place, in a closed hall with only a few doors. He won't be able to run away if anything…

'You okay? The game's starting in 30 minutes.' His heart skips a bit at the sudden voice. Haneul is finally peeking into his room. 'Yes. Let's go.'

'You're sweating so much. You need anything?'

Wonho tries to rearrange his breathing. This suck. He is holding Haneul here. Maybe he should just stay in his room today. He will ask the other about the result later.

'Hey. It's alright. I'll be there. Other omegas will be there, even the betas. The campus guards will be close by. Nothing will happen.'

'I know… I just…'

'You can stay if you want. I'm not forcing you to go.'

'Can you give me a few more minutes? I'm sorry…' Wonho searches for his cup to drink some water to calm his nerve. He then scans around to find his pills.

'It's fine. All games are the same anyway. Bunch of people running for the ball and shooting it in hoops. Nothing interesting.'

Wonho swallows his pills quickly and laughs at Haneul's description of basketball. He is not wrong.

#####

The game is already starting when both the omegas arrives. They take a seat right behind the bench and looks at the score. The medic's is leading so everyone has a tense expression on their faces - Sangcheol with a deep frown, Junjie and Mengyao all alert, and even Chansol, scanning around for any openings. Wonho starts to analyze the game, trying to figure out the opponent's weaknesses and strengths. The players changed a lot from last year's with many new faces he never met before.

Junjie passes the ball after two guys tried to block him and Chansol was ready to catch before a blond, slightly chubby guy steals the pass from him, bringing it towards his goal and shoots it. That would usually be okay, but not now. Because Chansol remains frozen, his face in daze. Even as their opponent celebrates their points, his junior keeps on staring at the blond, as if in a trance.

'Yaah!! Jo Chansol!! Get your head together!!' Sangcheol warns the younger alpha, breaking him from his daze. He knows what just happened. The blond is an omega and Chansol is attracted to the scent. That boy really needs to have a mate soon so he can focus.

'Yah, Jo Leo Chansol! You better focus or I'll kill you!' Wonho screams from his lungs and notices the scared face on his junior. The man searches the crowd for the familiar face and jumps in excitement when he spotted his beloved hyung, cheering for him from the audience. He is waving vigorously, running towards the bench, not realizing he is still playing.

'Wonho-hyung!'

Just then, a pass is made which bounces on Chansol's back, right into the opponent's hand, who shot a 2-pointer right before the buzzer for the first half. Wonho can only hide his face in second-hand embarrassment.

On the other side, Minwoo looks at the direction of the guy who distracted Chansol enough for him to make that last shot. He must be someone important for the guy to act like an excited kid.

Owh… He 𝘪𝘴 someone important.

He is the angel from the lake.

#####

The game ended with the medical team's lost, leaving Minwoo to be disappointed with himself. Nobody blamed him, even congratulating him for the MVP title, but it is not enough for him. If he had made that last shot, then they might have won the game by a point. 'Arghhh!'

'Stop sulking and pack your stuff. We're going to drink.' Seungyun, their team's one and only omega comments before going somewhere. Minwoo takes a deep breath and stands up, walking towards Jeongmin.

He stops when sees the man. He is talking to the other team's players and they are hugging him, acting all close with him. He wishes the man would hug him too, because he really needs a hug right now.

'Seo Wonho, 3rd year architecture student. Beta.' Minwoo looks back at Jeongmin, who is standing beside him since god knows when. He keeps his gaze at Minwoo's lake guy. 'So he's your sexy fairy?'

Minwoo smirks at the comment. He never called the man a sexy fairy. Well, maybe.

Seo Wonho. That is the man's name. The sexy, sultry man who has been appearing in his dreams. Even though he is not familiar with Korean names, he thinks the name suits the man perfectly. 'Want me to introduce you?'

'You know him?'

'I know Ryuu-hyung. The team captain and the alpha of his pack.' Minwoo stares at the man again. So, the other five people around him are a part of his pack, and there are at least two alphas. This is not going to be easy.

Jeongmin raises one of his brows at the other. 'Are you gonna pounce him right there and then?'

'Pounc-? What are you talking about? Pfftt…'

'You're emitting an awful lot of pheromones. I get that you're excited but you need to calm down.'

'He won't notice it anyway. He's a beta right?'

'But his alpha friends will. Don't you know the basic when introducing yourself to an accomplished pack? Lower your scent to appear non-threatening.' Jeongmin lectures him and Minwoo just rolls his eyes. He never understands why he need to lower himself just to get to know someone, or join a pack with alphas. He is a noble so other alphas will naturally gather around with him as the leader.

This is exactly the reason why he is, and always has been, either a lone wolf or a leader of his own pack.

It is not him to be humble with his scent.

'Are you even getting what I'm telling you?'

'Fine.' He decides it is not worth it and hides his scent instead. In some cases, in some RARE cases, being a beta really have its perks. Not having to be humble being one of them. Jeongmin seems surprised though, judging from his mouth hanging wide, 'What did you do? Your scent disappeared.'

'I hid it.'

'You can do that?'

'I'm a noble. I can do anything.' he smirks in satisfaction.