In the Spaces Between

Chapter 1

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I hope you enjoy reading this oneshot! ✨
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"Hyungs are at it again."

Seungmin looked over from where he sat on his bed to where Jeongin was standing at the doorway, a silent invitation for him to continue despite knowing the exact words that would come out of his mouth next.

"They're fucking on the couch."

It always started off innocent enough. Two of their pack members would sit on the couch to watch a show together, snuggle up, breathe in each other's pheromones, and start fucking when one of them got even the slightest bit horny.

Seungmin didn't get it, and Jeongin didn't either. It wasn't that they were asexual or anything, they could be frequently found in compromising positions themselves—it was the reactions to pheromones they couldn't comprehend.

They were betas.

Whenever one of their packmates had a heat, a rut, or was visibly affected by pheromones, their biological reaction and instinct was to ensure that packmate's comfort and well-being rather than having their bodies prepare for procreation.

And, as the only betas in the group, this could get frustrating sometimes. While they know they are equally as loved as everyone else, it just felt different. Not having that innate understanding of what it's like to react to pheromones in that way is hard—lonely even.

It wasn't something they questioned much during their first year as an official pack. Everyone had a role, and their role was to provide support. But it's so hard sitting back and accepting that when they hear their packmates around them talk about how vulnerable and deeply bonded those moments can make them feel with the people they trust most.

Seungmin and Jeongin had no real gripe with that at a physical level. Having or taking a knot just sounded like a pain in the ass—in both a literal and figurative sense—the amount of prep that went into it, the pain during the first few times a knot would be taken, not being able to move afterwards for at least 20 minutes. Rather, it was the emotional aspect of it they grieve.

While they're not necessarily helping out in a physical sense during heats and ruts, their roles as betas can be equally as taxing as any other role. Despite this, the two betas felt as though their role in their pack isn't as recognized.

He may never admit it out loud, but Seungmin would like to be told he did good, too. It would be nice receiving that verbal affirmation that he was able to effectively help his packmates during their cycles.

He'd watch with flickering eyes of envy as Jisung clung to Hyunjin, thanking him for a heat well spent. Or when Minho pretended to reluctantly accept Felix's affection when the younger's rut ended. Seungmin would even go as far as saying he did a good job at hiding those feelings.

But Jeongin knew—he always did—and would tell him such during the late hours of the night in the privacy of their room.

Sometimes he would hold Seungmin close, run his hands through his hair and whisper words of praise for taking care of Changbin so well during his heat. Other times, he would rock his hips in such a teasingly gentle way while whispering tender affirmations as they made love, praising him for knowing exactly what Chan needed in his rut. And Seungmin would always do the same for Jeongin, because he knew he needed it too.

Words didn't always need to be spoken between them, they just knew. But sometimes, in the spaces between their pack's ruts and heats, they'd confide in each other.

Maybe that's how he found himself relying on Jeongin so much, and Jeongin on him—because as the only betas in their pack they understood each other almost perfectly.