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It had started that morning, right when they woke up. The morning sun crept through the half-open blinds, casting faint golden stripes across Chris’s bedroom. The air coming in through the cracked window was cool, crisp with the lingering chill of early spring, but under the layers of blankets, it was warm—almost too warm, thanks to the tangle of limbs and soft bodies pressed tightly together.Chris stirred when he heard his alarm, blinking against the soft light filtering in. He felt the familiar weight of Matt’s smaller body draped over him. Chest to chest, Matt’s legs tangled with his, one bare thigh slung lazily over Chris’s hips, his face tucked into the crook of his neck, warm breath ghosting over his skin.For a moment, Chris just let himself enjoy it—the soft rhythm of Matt’s breathing, the faint scent of their mingled warmth, salty with sleep and undercut by Matt’s natural citrusy smell with a hint of honey that made Chris’s instincts sit up and pay attention.But then Matt started moving . A subtle shift at first—just the slow roll of his hips, like he was stretching. It didn’t stop, though. His hips rocked again, pressing closer, and Chris felt it immediately: the distinct, damp heat seeping through the thin fabric of Matt’s sleep shorts.Chris groaned softly, his hands tightening on Matt’s waist. ‘Matt,’ he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.The omega didn’t respond. Not with words, anyway. Instead, he hummed needily and rocked his hips again, straddling his alpha’s thigh and insistently pressing his small, stiff cock flush against it. Chris sighed, cracking one eye open. ‘We don’t have time for this, princess.’ Matt finally lifted his head, his face flushed, eyes still heavy with sleep but dark with something else entirely. His lips were already pink, slightly swollen from where he’d been nibbling on them in his sleep—a habit Chris found irritatingly sexy.‘We have a little time,’ Matt whispered, his voice husky, laced with that soft, desperate edge that made Chris’s resolve flicker. He leaned in, pressing a hot, open-mouthed kiss to Chris’s jaw, then down to his neck, where he nipped gently at the sensitive skin just below his scent gland.The alpha hissed softly, his fingers digging into Matt’s hips. ‘Matt, we’ve got school.’ Matt ignored that completely, grinding down with more intent now. Chris could feel the heat of him even through their clothes, the slick practically soaking through the thin cotton of Matt’s shorts.‘Then let’s be late,’ Matt breathed, leaning down to kiss him. Chris let him—just for a second. Because how could he not? Matt’s mouth was sinful, and the sweet scent of the hot, sticky slick between his thighs made his head spin. But then he pulled back, his hands firm on Matt’s waist, holding him just far enough away to regain a sliver of control.‘Matt. No.’ His voice was low, firm. But the omega didn’t let up, completely ignoring his alpha’s command and continuing the roll of his lower body against his thigh. Chris wanted it. He could tell. He was just afraid of being late. But it was okay. They had a little time to be together, thought the middle triplet. But Chris’s jaw tightened, his patience snapping like a frayed thread. He grabbed Matt’s hips, stilling his insistent grinding with a rough grip.‘Enough, Matt,’ he growled, his voice low and sharp. ‘We’re not doing this right now.’Matt froze, his breath hitching, and for a heartbeat, Chris thought maybe—maybe—his omega would finally relent. But then Matt’s lip wobbled, and his eyes filled with tears, his scent souring with frustration and heartbreak.Chris sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. ‘Jesus, Matt. Don’t start crying just because you’re not getting a cock in you right now,’ he snapped, the words harsher than he intended.Matt’s face crumpled like Chris had physically hit him.‘But—’ The omega let out a choked sob, burying his face in the pillow as tears spilled over. ‘I—I need it, Chris. Please, Alpha, I—I need—’ And just like that, he was actually crying . ‘I’d rather be late. I’d rather miss school altogether!’ Chris’s chest tightened, guilt creeping in, but he shoved it down. He loved Matt, adored him, but this was ridiculous. They had responsibilities. A math test today. They couldn’t just be late for school—not because the omega apparently just could not start his day today without riding his alpha’s knot, anyway. ‘No, Matt,’ he said firmly, grabbing the omega’s hips and physically shifting him off. Matt whimpered, his body limp with exhaustion and rejection, but Chris didn’t relent. He pushed himself out of bed, standing over Matt with a frustrated scowl. ‘We’re getting up. Now.’ When Matt didn’t move, Chris snapped, ‘Get up.’ He grabbed the smaller boy’s arms and yanked him upright, then roughly pushed him toward the edge of the bed. A little too roughly.Matt stumbled out of it, his legs tangling in the sheets as he tripped and fell, just catching himself with his hands. His face was flushed with rage and humiliation, tears still streaming down his cheeks. He glared at Chris with pure fury, his little chest heaving with ragged breaths.‘You’re such an asshole, Chris!’ he screamed as he scrambled back up onto his feet, his voice shrill with fury, cutting through the morning silence like a blade. His small hands clenched into fists at his sides, trembling—not just with anger, but with the ache of rejection.Chris opened his mouth to say something—anything—but Matt was already storming off, his footsteps pounding against the floor with purpose. He didn’t just slam Chris’s door behind him; he nearly unhinged it. The sharp BANG echoed through the room, rattling the picture frames on the wall, leaving a vibrating silence in its wake.Chris stood there, frozen, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. His hands found his hair, yanking at the roots as if that could somehow ground him in the moment. Frustration burned under his skin, but a hint of guilt crept in too. Goddammit, why did Matt have to make it so difficult for him sometimes?He glared at the closed door like it had personally offended him, his jaw clenched tight enough to ache. The sour tinge of Matt’s hurt still lingered in the air, sharp and bitter. But there was something else there. Something sweeter.
Pre-heat.
The realization hit him like a slap. Of course. Matt had been off-kilter for a day or two now. He’d been moody, clingy, snapping at the smallest things one minute, then desperate to be coddled the next. And his scent. It was so subtle still; Chris’s alpha had clocked it when he woke up, but he hadn’t really processed it. But now that he smelled it, he couldn’t un-smell it: the omega’s scent was thicker, sweeter, with that underlying honeyed fragrance that made Chris’s instincts both buzz with need and bristle with irritation.Matt wasn’t just being difficult. He was gearing up for his heat. Fuck. Chris flopped back onto the edge of the bed, scrubbing his palms over his thighs as he tried to cool the heat simmering in his chest. He should’ve handled that better. He should’ve recognized the signs instead of snapping like an asshole. But Matt’s relentless neediness had worn him down—I need it, Chris. Please, Alpha, I need—and Chris had been too tired, too stressed about that stupid math test and not being late for school to deal with it the way he should have.His mind flashed back to his last pre-rut. He’d been impossible. Pacing the house like a caged animal, snappish and irritable over nothing. He remembered how Matt had tiptoed around him, cautious but patient, never pushing when Chris growled at him for no reason, never flinching when Chris barked sharp words that he didn’t mean. He hadn’t even complained when Chris fucked him silly in a position he knew Matt wasn’t a fan of. And then—God—he remembered how Matt had climbed into his lap that one night when Chris had been shaking with frustration, scenting him softly, whispering, ‘It’s okay, Alpha. I know you don’t mean it.’ Chris swallowed hard, guilt slamming into him like a freight train. Matt had been gentle with him even when he didn’t deserve it. And here Chris was—pushing him out of bed, snapping like an asshole because Matt was desperate for him in a way he couldn’t control.Pre-heat always left Matt on edge—clingy, emotional, like his skin didn’t fit right. Chris never knew how to balance it: when to be firm, when to be soft. He hated that it made Matt cry. Hated that it made him this desperate (even if he sometimes loved that, too). After another moment of stewing in self-loathing, he pushed himself up, running a hand through his hair. He had to fix this. He walked out of his room to the bathroom and stood outside, hesitating for a second, listening. He could hear the faint, choked sounds of Matt’s sobs, muffled behind the door, each one like a needle straight into Chris’s heart. He sighed, pressing his forehead against the cool wood. ‘Matt,’ he said softly, his voice stripped of all the frustration from earlier. ‘I’m sorry, pup.’ Silence.Chris swallowed hard, his fingers curling against the doorframe as he spoke up again, ‘I’m an idiot. I didn’t mean to. I just—I’m sorry. You’re in pre-heat, and I didn’t… I didn’t handle that right.’Still no response. Just the soft, broken sounds of Matt trying to muffle his crying.‘I love you,’ the alpha said, closing his eyes as he let his head thunk gently against the door. ‘I’m sorry I pushed you, Matty. I was being a dick. Please let me in.’Another pause. Then, finally, the faint sound of the lock clicking.The door creaked open just a sliver, revealing Matt standing there with damp hair clinging to his flushed cheeks, his eyes red-rimmed and glassy from crying. He looked small—smaller than usual—his arms wrapped tightly around himself, trembling slightly under the thin sheen of water still dripping from his skin. The steam from the shower billowed out around him, carrying a sour scent that screamed upset omega. Chris’s heart twisted painfully. Matt blinked up at him, lips wobbling slightly before he let out a soft, broken whimper. ‘My belly hurts,’ he whispered, his voice hoarse from crying, one hand drifting to rest just below his navel as if the simple touch might soothe the dull ache blossoming there.Chris didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, cupping Matt’s face gently in his large hands, thumbs brushing away the lingering wetness on his cheeks—whether it was from tears or the shower, he wasn’t sure. ‘Oh, baby,’ he murmured softly, pressing a tender kiss to Matt’s forehead. ‘Let me help, yeah? I’ll get in with you. Let me rub your belly, princess.’Matt hesitated for a fraction of a second, his wide blue eyes searching Chris’s face for any sign of lingering frustration. But there was none—just guilt and love, written plainly across every sharp feature. The omega nodded, his body sagging with relief as Chris gently guided him backward into the bathroom.Chris stripped quickly, tossing his clothes aside without care, before stepping into the still-running shower with Matt. The warm spray hit his back as he pulled Matt against his chest, the omega fitting perfectly into the curve of his body. His hands found Matt’s hips first, then slid around to his soft, aching tummy, his palms flat and warm against the tender skin.He rubbed slow, soothing circles, applying just enough pressure to ease the tension without making it worse. Matt’s head fell back against his shoulder with a soft, contented sigh, his body finally beginning to relax under Chris’s touch.Chris pressed a kiss to Matt’s temple, his lips lingering there as he whispered, ‘I’m an asshole.’Matt let out a small, tired hum, not disagreeing. His fingers curled around Chris’s wrist where it rested on his belly, holding him there like an anchor. ‘Yeah,’ he mumbled quietly, voice thick with leftover tears. ‘You’re really mean sometimes.’The alpha huffed out a breathless laugh, though it was tinged with guilt. ‘Yeah,’ he admitted softly, nuzzling into Matt’s damp hair. ‘I am.’They stood there for a while, the water cascading over them, Chris’s hands never leaving Matt’s belly, tracing slow, comforting patterns as if trying to apologize through touch alone.Eventually, Matt spoke again, his voice quieter this time, almost shy. ‘But I still love you.’Chris’s chest squeezed. He pressed another kiss to Matt’s temple, then to his cheek, then down to the sensitive spot just below his ear. ‘I love you more than anything, Matty. Even when I’m a dick to you.’Matt stayed quiet for a beat, soaking in the warmth of Chris’s hands on his belly, the steady pressure easing the dull ache. But then he shifted slightly, pressing back against his alpha, his slick, damp skin sliding smoothly against Chris’s. His lips curled into a faint, mischievous smile, even as his cheeks remained pink from the aftermath of his crying.‘You know what would really help with my tummy ache?’ Matt murmured, tilting his head just enough to glance back at Chris with wide, innocent eyes that didn’t match the sly undertone in his voice. His hips wiggled deliberately, grinding back into Chris’s groin with the kind of subtle friction that made the alpha’s jaw clench.Chris groaned, his forehead dropping to rest against Matt’s shoulder, his fingers pausing their soothing circles to grip his omega’s waist. He squeezed gently, exhaling through his nose like he was trying to summon every ounce of patience he had left.‘Matt,’ he warned softly, lifting his head. ‘We have even less time now. It’s not happening.’ Matt huffed dramatically, pulling away from Chris’s hold with a sharp twist of his hips. He spun around to face him, water dripping from his flushed skin, his expression shifting from sultry to downright indignant in the blink of an eye.‘Are you fucking serious?’ the omega snapped, his voice sharp and high-pitched, the previous tenderness gone as quickly as it had come. ‘After everything? After you shoved me out of bed and made me cry—You still won’t touch me?’Chris blinked, stunned at the sudden mood swing, hands frozen mid-air where they’d been resting on Matt’s hips. ‘Matt, I just—’‘No!’ Matt cut him off, jabbing a wet finger into Chris’s chest. ‘Don’t you ‘Matt’ me. I don’t want to hear it. You’re a fucking cocktease.’The alpha opened his mouth to argue, but Matt was already stomping toward the edge of the shower, water splashing dramatically with each step. He snatched a towel off the rack and wrapped it around himself with all the aggression of someone waging war against terrycloth.‘Out,’ Matt snapped, pointing toward the door with his chin tilted defiantly. ‘Out of my bathroom.’Chris stared, soaked, naked, and completely dumbfounded. ‘Matt, we only have one bath—’‘OUT!’With a sigh that felt like it carried the weight of the entire world, Chris stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel on his way. He didn’t even bother arguing. What was the point? His omega was in pre-heat. Logic had no place here.As he left the bathroom, Matt slammed the door shut behind him, making Chris flinch slightly at the sheer force of it.Standing in the hallway, dripping water onto the floor, Chris ran both hands down his face, groaning softly.It was going to be a very long day.By the time they made it to school, Chris felt like he’d aged ten years. The car ride had been silent for exactly two minutes before Matt started again. First with sulky silence, arms crossed tight against his chest, staring out the window like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away—by Chris. Then came the sudden, unprompted affection, Matt’s hand creeping over to rest on Chris’s thigh while the alpha drove, his fingers tracing little patterns, his scent turning syrupy-sweet like he was trying to seduce his alpha with nothing more than a look and a touch. Chris didn’t know what his omega was even expecting from him in that moment. Nick was literally in the car with them. And then Matt had flipped the switch again, getting snippy when Chris didn’t immediately respond with the enthusiasm of a man freshly in love. By the time they’d parked, Matt was pouting, refusing to get out of the car until Chris physically opened his door. And then? Back to being clingy—holding onto Chris’s sleeve as they walked through the halls, leaning into him like gravity didn’t apply unless he was touching his alpha.Nick, walking beside them, observed the chaos with a sympathetic shake of his head. By the time they reached their lockers, he leaned in toward Chris.‘You okay, kid?’ Nick whispered, his voice low so Matt couldn’t hear over the noise of slamming lockers and morning chatter. ‘You look like you’ve been through hell.’Chris gave him a flat look. ‘I have. He’s being impossible.’Nick chuckled under his breath, shooting a glance at Matt, who was currently shoving books into his locker. His scent fluctuated wildly—sweet and sultry one second, sharp and irritated the next. It left Chris’s alpha in a constant state of confusion.‘Biology’s gonna be fun,’ Nick muttered with a grin as they headed to the class in which Chris and Matt were lab partners. They slid into their seats, side by side at the black-topped lab table all the way in the back of the classroom. The familiar sterile smell of the classroom mixed unpleasantly with the shifting tides of Matt’s pre-heat scent, and Chris clenched his jaw, willing himself to focus.But Matt wasn’t having that. The omega shifted closer, letting his knee press against Chris’s under the table. Chris ignored it. Matt didn’t like that.A few seconds later, Chris felt fingers sneaking over to the edge of his thigh, light, teasing touches that sent a jolt straight to his spine. He shot Matt a look—a warning—but Matt just gave him a sweet, innocent smile that didn’t reach his dark, dilated eyes.Matt leaned in, his breath hot against Chris’s ear, sending shivers down his spine. His voice was a soft, sultry whisper, laced with that desperate edge that had been driving Chris insane all day.‘Let’s go to the bathroom,’ Matt murmured, his fingers trailing higher up Chris’s thigh, dangerously close to where Chris was already half-hard from sheer frustration. ‘I’ll be so quiet, Alpha. Just a quick one. I’ll even let you pull my hair.’Chris’s grip on his pen tightened to the point where it might snap. He shot Matt another glare, but the omega just batted his lashes innocently, like he wasn’t whispering filthy things in his alpha’s ear in the middle of biology class.Matt pressed even closer, his lips brushing against the shell of Chris’s ear this time. ‘Or maybe you could just fuck me right here—quiet, like a good little alpha. I could just sit in your lap. I bet no one would notice if you stayed still enough.’That was it. Chris’s patience snapped like a brittle twig. His hand shot out from under the table, gripping the scruff of Matt’s neck with firm authority. Matt’s smug expression faltered, his breath hitching at the sudden, dominant hold. Chris tugged, forcing Matt’s head slightly back, making him look at him.‘Enough,’ the alpha growled, his voice low but carrying enough edge to catch the attention of the people around them. The scraping sound of pens pausing and heads turning filled the air.Their biology teacher, Ms. Harper, glanced up from her desk with a raised brow, clearly unimpressed. ‘Everything alright back there, Sturniolo’s?’ she asked dryly, her tone dripping with the kind of sarcasm reserved for high school teachers who’d seen too much teenage drama—too much Sturniolo drama. Chris flushed, releasing Matt’s scruff like it burned him. He cleared his throat, trying to salvage his dignity. ‘Fine. Sorry.’Matt’s face was pink—not from arousal this time, but from embarrassment. His scent soured slightly with the sting of public attention. He ducked his head, pretending to focus on the worksheet in front of them, his earlier boldness deflated like a popped balloon.Chris exhaled, long and slow, trying to steady his racing heart. The room gradually shifted back to normal, the buzz of whispered side conversations and scribbling pens filling the space again.Matt didn’t touch him for the rest of class. Blessed be. After biology, Chris had thought—hoped—that Matt would’ve learned his lesson. But no. That small reprieve during class had just been the eye of the storm, a brief moment of calm before Matt’s pre-heat hormones kicked back in with a vengeance.Lunch was a blur. Chris barely tasted his food, too busy keeping an eye on Matt, whose mood shifted faster than the cafeteria line moved. One minute, he was sulking, picking at his tray with all the dramatics of a scorned lover in a soap opera. The next, he was laughing too loudly at something Nate said. It was confusing and frustrating. But it was right before their math test that Matt really struck again.They were sitting in the hallway outside the classroom, waiting for the bell to ring. Chris had his notebook open, scanning over formulas, trying to cram just a little more information into his already-overworked brain. This test was important—really important. He needed to pass. His last grade had been borderline, and if he bombed this, he’d be looking at after-school tutoring, mandatory retests, anything to make sure he graduated high school in a few months. The pressure weighed on him like a cinder block strapped to his chest.And Matt? Matt was the fucking match ready to light it all on fire.Chris felt it before he saw it—the soft touch of fingers grazing his inner thigh, just like in biology. His jaw clenched. No way. The omega leaned in, his lips brushing against Chris’s ear, voice a velvet whisper that made the alpha’s skin prickle.‘I wish I could be under your desk during the test,’ Matt purred, his breath hot and sweet against Chris’s neck. ‘I’d keep your cock nice and warm. Wouldn’t that help you concentrate, Alpha?’Chris’s hand snapped out, slamming his notebook shut with a sharp thud that echoed down the hallway. He turned to his omega, eyes blazing with frustration.‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ he hissed, keeping his voice low enough to avoid attracting attention but sharp enough to cut through Matt’s smug expression. ‘I need to focus, Matt. This isn’t funny. I have to pass this test, and you’re setting me up to fail.’The words hit harder than Chris expected. Matt’s face crumpled instantly, his eyes welling up. His lower lip trembled, and then—God, no—he started mewling. Soft, broken sounds that made a few heads turn down the hall, curious but trying not to stare. Chris’s frustration skyrocketed. ‘Oh my God,’ the alpha groaned, running a hand down his face. ‘Are you serious right now?’Matt curled in on himself like a kicked puppy, his small hands fisting in the fabric of his hoodie, his scent souring with hurt. ‘I—I was just trying to—’ His voice broke, dissolving into more pathetic little mewls that made Chris’s blood boil.Because he had done this. Matt had pushed and pushed, whispering filthy things at the worst times, touching Chris when he was already hanging on by a thread. And now he was the one acting like the victim?Chris stood up abruptly, shoving his notebook into his bag with unnecessary force. ‘You brought this on yourself, Matt,’ he snapped, his voice a low growl. ‘I’ve been trying so fucking hard to be patient with you all day, but I swear to God, if you don’t stop—’Matt’s mewls grew softer, his eyes glossy with tears as he stared up at Chris like he was the worst person alive. And maybe he was, because despite how angry he felt, Chris’s heart still squeezed painfully at the sight. Fucking pre-heat. The bell rang, cutting through the tension like a knife. Chris exhaled sharply, yanking his bag over his shoulder. ‘Come on,’ he muttered, his tone softer now but still clipped. ‘Let’s get this over with.’Matt followed silently, sniffling quietly as they walked into the classroom. Chris didn’t look back. Not yet. If he looked now, he’d crumble.The test went surprisingly well, considering the emotional rollercoaster Chris had been strapped into all day. His mind was sharp enough, the formulas and equations etched into his brain from late-night study sessions finally paying off. But even as he filled in the answers, Matt’s lingering scent clung to him, sweet and distracting like honey smeared on his skin, impossible to ignore.When the final bell rang, Chris set his pencil down with a little too much force, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. He didn’t even look at Matt as he gathered his things, his jaw tight, his movements quick and clipped. Matt, for once, stayed silent, trailing behind him like a shadow as they filed out of the classroom.They were supposed to have one more class—English—but Chris was done. So done. He couldn’t sit through another forty-five minutes pretending like everything was fine when he felt like his head was going to explode.In the hallway, he cornered Nick by his locker, his voice low and urgent. ‘Nick, please don’t say anything to Mom or Dad, but Matt and I are going home.’Nick raised an eyebrow, slamming his locker shut. ‘What? Why? We’ve got English next.’Chris shot a sharp glance over his shoulder where Matt stood, his eyebrows scrunched in a sad frown. Then he turned back to Nick, his eyes narrowing. ‘Because I’m going to kill him if we stay for another hour. Mom and Dad aren’t home yet, but you know Mom would be so pissed if she found out we skipped. So please, just, don’t tell them.’Nick snorted, clearly amused but wisely keeping any smart comments to himself. ‘Fine. I won’t say anything.’Chris exhaled, relieved. ‘Thanks.’Without another word, he grabbed Matt’s wrist—none too gently—and practically dragged him out of the school, not slowing his pace until they were outside, the crisp air hitting them like a slap. They didn’t speak as they walked to Chris’s car, tension crackling between them like static electricity.The drive home was silent, save for the soft, nervous hums the omega let out every once in a while. Chris’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. Every red light felt like an eternity, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on both of them.The moment they stepped into the house, Chris shut the door behind them with a sharp click and spun around, his frustration finally boiling over.‘What the fuck was that today, Matt?’ he snapped, his voice low but laced with pure exasperation. ‘Do you have to make everything ten times harder than it needs to be?’Matt flinched, his eyes wide and glassy, but Chris didn’t let that stop him.‘All day, Matt. All fucking day. I’ve been patient, I’ve been nice, but you’ve been—’ He threw his hands up, pacing the small entryway like a caged animal. ‘—fucking impossible! Do you have any idea how important that test was for me? How hard I’ve been trying to keep my grades up?’Matt opened his mouth to respond, but Chris cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand.‘No. Don’t. I don’t want to hear another “but Chris” or “I need you”. I need to graduate, Matt. I need to not fail math because my omega can’t keep his fucking hands to himself for five minutes.’The omega’s face crumpled again, his bottom lip trembling, but Chris was too far gone to care.‘I love you, but I swear to God, you make it so hard to think sometimes.’Matt let out a shaky breath, his fists clenched at his sides. And then, just like that, the sadness melted away, replaced by pure, unfiltered rage.‘Oh, I’m the problem?’ Matt snapped, his voice rising with every word. ‘I’m the reason you’re stressed? Newsflash, Chris—I didn’t ask to be in pre-heat! You think I like feeling like my skin’s on inside out? You think I enjoy being a fucking hormonal mess?’Chris blinked, stunned into silence for a second.‘I didn’t mean—’ he started, but Matt steamrolled right over him.‘Yes, you did! You meant every word! You’re so quick to point fingers, but maybe if you took care of me like I do when you’re in pre-rut, we wouldn’t be here right now!’Chris’s nostrils flared. ‘What the hell was I supposed to do? Drop everything and fuck you in the middle of bio class?’Matt’s face flushed with anger. ‘Yes! Maybe that’s exactly what you should’ve done!’They stood there, both panting, the room thick with tension. Their chests rose and fell in unison, two stubborn idiots locked in a standoff.And then, as quickly as the anger had flared, Chris deflated. His shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. ‘You know that’s crazy, Matt,’ he whispered, his voice suddenly soft. ‘I just—I don’t know what to do with you sometimes.’Matt’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, his anger crumbling into exhaustion. ‘Me neither,’ he whimpered, his voice breaking down into a sob. Chris stared at his omega, his chest heaving with the remnants of frustration, but beneath all of it, guilt simmered like an ember refusing to die out. Matt’s words echoed in his head, louder than the shouting they’d just done.He was right.When Chris was in pre-rut, Matt was nothing short of devoted. There were never complaints, no sharp words—just soft touches, understanding looks, and Matt on his knees more times than Chris could count, doing everything to soothe the ache that Chris didn’t even know how to articulate. The memory of that tenderness made Chris’s heart twist painfully in his chest.But this wasn’t about fairness or keeping score. It was just that Matt’s pre-heat had hit at the worst possible time—with Chris drowning in stress over his grades, trying to hold himself together when everything felt like it was slipping through his fingers. It wasn’t Matt’s fault. None of it was.Chris let out a shaky breath and stepped forward, his anger melting away, replaced by something softer—regret, love, the overwhelming need to make it right. He reached out, cupping Matt’s face gently, his thumbs brushing away the fresh tears streaking down the omega’s flushed cheeks.He leaned in, resting his forehead against Matt’s, closing his eyes as he inhaled the familiar, sweet scent that always felt like home. ‘I’m sorry. Again. I’m just stressed, and I’ve been taking it out on you. That’s not fair. You’ve always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. And you deserve that from me, too.’Matt’s hands crept up to Chris’s chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt like it was the only thing holding him together. ‘I just… I feel so out of control, Chris,’ he whispered, his voice small, vulnerable. ‘I don’t know what to do with myself.’Chris’s heart clenched. He pulled Matt into his arms, holding him tightly, like he could shield him from everything—even from his own pre-heat. ‘What do you need from me, pup?’ he whispered into Matt’s hair, pressing soft kisses to his temple. Matt’s fingers clenched tighter in the fabric of Chris’s shirt, his face still pressed into the warmth of his alpha’s chest. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the soft hitch of Matt’s breath and the faint pounding of Chris’s heart.Finally, in the smallest, most fragile voice, Matt whispered, ‘I need you to put me in my place.’Chris froze, his breath catching for a second as the words settled into his chest. He pulled back just enough to look at Matt, his thumbs gently stroking the omega’s flushed cheeks. ‘What do you mean, kitten?’ he asked softly, his voice warm, careful not to push.Matt’s face burned with humiliation, but he forced himself to meet Chris’s eyes, his lips trembling. ‘I need you to be my alpha,’ he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. ‘Not— not like the sweet, soft alpha you’ve been trying to be. I know you’ve been upset with me, and I want you—need you—to let go and show me.’ Chris’s breath shuddered out of him, the pull of his instincts flaring hot and fast in his chest. His hands slid from Matt’s face to grip his shoulders firmly, grounding both of them. ‘I’m not upset with you anymore, Matt. It’s not your fault,’ he murmured, but his voice gave him away, dropping low, threaded with that raw, primal edge that only Matt could bring out of him. He swallowed hard, searching his omega’s face for indicators as to how he was feeling, what he actually needed from him. And it was clear as day. He really did need Chris to be his alpha—his protector, his mate, but not somebody to mess with. ‘Okay,’ he nodded after a moment. ‘I’ll put you in your place.’Matt whimpered softly, his scent sweetening with arousal, his thighs instinctively pressing together. He nodded, desperate and aching. ‘Please.’Chris didn’t hesitate. He tightened his grip on Matt’s shoulders and spun them around, pressing Matt’s back against the front door with a dull thud. His hand shot out to grip the omega’s jaw, forcing Matt’s face up, making sure he was looking directly into his alpha’s dark, hungry eyes.‘You’ve been nothing but an attention-seeking little omega all day,’ Chris growled, his voice low and dangerous, the kind of sound that made Matt’s knees weak. ‘Pushing my buttons, acting out, begging for your alpha in the middle of class. Jesus, Matt. You were acting like a fucking whore.’ Matt’s jaw tightened at that, and his eyes narrowed with quiet defiance. It was very obvious that he didn’t like that. His scent was thick now, heady with want but a little spicy with anger from being called names, wrapping around Chris like a vice. ‘Aw, little omega doesn’t want to be called names?’ Chris mocked him. He leaned in, his mouth a breath away from Matt’s ear. ‘You wanted me to put you in your place? I fucking will.’ He grabbed Matt by the scruff. ‘Get the fuck upstairs and get on your knees.’ He shoved his omega toward the stairs. Matt glanced back at him with a stormy expression, gritting his teeth in anger as he breathed heavily through his nose. But he obeyed, making his way up the stairs and heading into Chris’s bedroom. God, thought Chris; this really was clearly exactly what the omega needed right now. And fuck, would the alpha be absolutely fucked in the head if he didn’t embrace it. He didn’t often get to “treat him like an omega”, as Matt called it. That wasn’t something Chris really missed, but sometimes Chris’s alpha craved it—craved being in control of a needy, submissive thing that would let him do whatever he wanted. So, he wasn’t going to waste this opportunity to get that out of his system for a little while. Chris followed Matt upstairs, his steps heavy with the weight of frustration, guilt, and the overwhelming pull of instinct. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them off from the rest of the world, leaving nothing but the tense, charged air between them.Matt stood in the middle of the room, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, his eyes dark and glossy with a mixture of arousal and emotion. His fists were clenched at his sides, his bottom lip slightly swollen from where he'd been chewing on it—a nervous habit that Chris always noticed.Chris didn’t say anything at first. He just looked at him. Really looked. The way Matt’s scent clung to the air, thick and sweet, laced with frustration, need, and something vulnerable beneath it all. The flush on his cheeks, the tension in his shoulders, the slight tremble in his fingers. His omega was unraveling, and he needed Chris to be the one to hold him together.Slowly, Chris crossed the room, his eyes never leaving Matt’s. He stopped just inches away, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his omega’s body. His hand shot out, fingers curling around the front of Matt’s throat—not to squeeze, just to hold, to anchor. His thumb pressed gently against the soft spot under Matt’s jaw, forcing him to tilt his head back, exposing his throat in instinctive submission.‘Why aren’t you on your knees like I asked?’ Chris murmured, his voice low, gravelly, and threatening. ‘Are you still not done being the fucking nightmare you’ve been all day?’Matt’s breath hitched, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment before snapping back open, wide and glassy. His knees wobbled slightly, but Chris’s grip kept him steady.‘You’re just desperate for me to put you in your place, huh?’ Chris continued, his thumb brushing slowly over the rapid pulse in Matt’s throat. ‘You want me to remind you of what you are?’Matt whimpered—a soft, broken sound—and nodded.Chris’s jaw clenched, his alpha instincts roaring beneath his skin. He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of Matt’s ear. ‘You’re just an omega. My omega, but just an omega nevertheless. Say it, princess. Tell me what you are.’ ‘I’m just…’ Matt swallowed hard. ‘I’m just an omega.’ Chris growled softly, pleased with the answer, the sound vibrating against Matt’s skin. ‘You know what the perfect place is for an omega?’ Chris asked, his voice low and sharp, like velvet wrapped around a blade. His grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind Matt exactly who was in control. ‘On his knees, where his alpha fucking told him to be.’ Matt whimpered, his eyes blown wide with arousal, his body already responding before his brain could catch up. He scrambled to obey, sinking to his knees on the floor in front of Chris, his hands resting on his own thighs, palms up—a perfect picture of submission that made the alpha’s cock jump.Chris’s gaze darkened, filled with pride and hunger as he leaned forward slightly, looking down at his omega. ‘Look at you,’ he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction. ‘Right where you belong. All soft and obedient, finally acting like a good little omega. Was this so hard?’Matt’s breath hitched and he shook his head slowly, his cheeks flushing even deeper, but he didn’t look away. His wide, tear-glossed eyes staying locked on Chris’s, filled with desperate, unwavering devotion.Chris reached out, threading his fingers through Matt’s messy hair, tugging just enough to make the omega’s mouth fall open with a soft gasp. He leaned in, his face inches from Matt’s, his breath hot against his lips. ‘You like being here, don’t you? On your knees for your alpha.’‘Yes,’ Matt whispered, his voice a shaky breath, but filled with certainty. ‘I love being your omega.’Chris growled softly, pleased, his hand tightening in Matt’s hair. ‘Then be a good kitten and show me how much you love it. You’ve been drooling for it all day; I don’t know where that rush suddenly went.’ He yanked at the dark strands between his fingers. ‘Go on.’ Matt didn’t hesitate. He leaned in, his hands finding Chris’s thighs for balance as he pressed soft, reverent kisses along his alpha’s skin, working his way upward, his mouth warm and wet as he took his cock in his mouth, his touch shaky but determined.Chris let him suck him off, watching with dark, heavy-lidded eyes, his hand never leaving Matt’s hair, guiding him, controlling the pace. ‘That’s it,’ he murmured, his voice rough with arousal. ‘Just like that. You look so pretty like this—on your knees for your alpha, where you belong.’ Matt whimpered against his skin, his body trembling with the overwhelming need to please, to give himself over completely. His honeyed scent thickened in the air, sweet and intoxicating, wrapping around Chris’s senses like a drug.Chris didn’t pull out until he’d come down his omega’s throat. When he finally did, Matt’s lips were swollen, his eyes glassy with tears, his chest heaving. Chris cupped his face, his thumb brushing tenderly over Matt’s flushed cheek.‘You taste so good, Alpha,’ the omega whined softly. ‘You did great, kitten,’ Chris whispered, his chest tight with affection. The roughness in his voice had faded, replaced by warmth and love. ‘You’re perfect for me. Always so perfect.’Matt collapsed against him with a soft, content sigh, his arms wrapping around Chris’s waist as he buried his face in his alpha’s crotch. Chris held him close, his hand cradling the back of Matt’s head, fingers threading through his damp hair as he whispered soft praises into the quiet of the room.‘Let me take care of you now, yeah?’ Chris murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Matt’s head as he helped him stand up. ‘Wanna eat you out.’ Matt’s soft purring was the only response he needed.He pushed Matt backward until his knees hit the edge of the bed, then gave him a gentle shove. The omega fell onto the mattress with a soft gasp. ‘Take your clothes off,’ Chris ordered with a smirk.Matt obeyed quickly, knowing the reward he was about to get. His fingers fumbled with the hem of his shirt as he pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. His pants followed quickly, leaving him bare and vulnerable, sprawled out on the bed, his skin flushed with anticipation.Chris took his time undressing, letting Matt watch, letting the tension build with every piece of clothing that hit the floor. When he was finally bare, he crawled onto the bed, straddling Matt’s hips, his hands braced on either side of his omega’s head.‘I was just a mean alpha today, wasn’t I? Not touching you when you needed me so, so bad,’ Chris whispered, leaning down to press a hot, open-mouthed kiss to Matt’s throat, nipping at the sensitive skin just below his scent gland. ‘You couldn’t focus, couldn’t sit still, and your alpha still wouldn’t put his hands on you. Poor kitten.’ Matt whimpered, arching his back, his hands flying down to grip at his own swollen cockhead.Chris sat back, grabbing Matt’s wrists and pinning them above his head with one hand. ‘No touching unless I say so,’ he growled, his eyes dark and wild with possessive hunger.Matt nodded quickly, his eyes wide with submission, his lips parted in a soft, needy pant.Chris leaned down again, his free hand trailing down Matt’s chest, his fingers brushing lightly over his nipples, making the omega gasp and squirm beneath him.‘Let me make it up to you,’ Chris whispered against Matt’s skin, his voice a dark promise. ‘Let me taste my sweet little hole.’ With that, he moved lower, his mouth trailing kisses down Matt’s chest, his hand still holding Matt’s wrists in an unyielding grip. His teeth grazed over sensitive skin, leaving faint red marks as he went, claiming, owning, marking.When he finally reached where Matt needed him most, he didn’t hesitate. He licked a long, slow stripe, savoring the taste of his omega, the slick sweet and intoxicating. Matt cried out, his body arching off the bed, but Chris held him down, his grip firm and unrelenting.‘Stay still,’ Chris growled against him, his breath hot and wet. ‘Be a good little omega for me.’Matt whimpered, his thighs trembling, his scent flooding the room with pure, unfiltered want.Chris kept him on the edge, dragging it out, letting Matt feel every second of it, every ounce of control Chris held over him. And when he finally decided to give him what he needed, he did it thoroughly, completely. His tongue worked in and around his omega, over and over, and his thumb rubbed firm circles over Matt's flushed cockhead, leaving the omega a shaking, sobbing mess beneath him.Three mind-numbing orgasms later, when Matt was spent and boneless, his head resting against Chris’s chest, Chris ran gentle fingers through his damp hair, pressing soft kisses to his forehead.‘You’re so much more than just an omega,’ Chris whispered, soft, tender and reassuring. ‘So much more. Never forget that. Not even when your knothead alpha tells you you’re not.’ Matt hummed softly, his eyes fluttering shut as a smile tugged at his lips. He didn’t even care right now. He’d asked for it, and he knew Chris would never actually think of him like that. It was still sweet of him to reassure his omega, though. Matt’s body finally relaxed, his pre-heat chaos soothed by the only thing that could ever really ground him—his alpha.