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Chapter 1 ~ practice is over
.•*¨'*•. ஐ .•*¨'*•.
The beat pounded through the practice room, syncing with the rhythmic stomps of eight bodies moving as one. The scent of sweat, effort, and adrenaline thickened the air, but Seungmin barely registered it. His head was pounding, nausea bubbling in his gut with each sharp movement. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep up.
He had to.
Seungmin had spent years perfecting this act-masking his scent, swallowing his instincts, blending in as a beta. It was safer this way. No questions. No risks. No one looking at him differently. Only Hyunjin knew the truth, and he needed to keep it that way.
But today, something was wrong.
His limbs felt heavier, his breaths coming too shallow. The world around him blurred at the edges, the fluorescent lights above flickering like they were mocking him. His stomach churned violently as he spun into position-too fast, too off-balance-
The room tilted.
A strong grip caught his wrist before he could stumble. "Seungmin."
Hyunjin's voice was firm, sharp with something unspoken. Seungmin blinked, trying to ground himself, but the concern in Hyunjin's golden eyes sent a different kind of nausea through him. He hated that look. The one that said Hyunjin knew.
"Seungmin, are you okay?" Chan's voice cut through the music, and suddenly all eyes were on him.
Seungmin swallowed the bitter taste in his throat. "I'm fine." He willed his body to straighten, even as his vision swayed. "Just dizzy."
Felix frowned. "Are you sure? You don't look fine-"
"I said I'm fine." His voice came out sharper than intended, but he couldn't afford this attention.
Hyunjin's grip on him tightened. Seungmin tried to pull away, but the alpha wasn't letting go.
"Practice is over," Hyunjin announced, his voice brooking no argument.
Chan hesitated but nodded. "Let's take a break. Seungmin, sit down."
Seungmin's lips parted, ready to protest-
And then his knees buckled.
Strong arms caught him before he hit the floor. Hyunjin. The scent blockers should have muted everything, but the warmth of his mate's hold sent a shiver through him.
"Seungmin," Hyunjin whispered, voice barely above a breath. "Something's wrong."
