Jay sat at the edge of the suite's balcony, while Levant stood in front of him. The city lights flickered far below, but that night, their world felt like it belonged only to the two of them.
"I want to marry you, Jay," Levant whispered, holding Jay's hands tightly. "I don't care even if you're a Beta."
Jay smiled, eyes shining softly. "But I am a Beta, Levant… I can't get pregnant like an Omega."
Levant smiled gently, brushing Jay's cheek with his thumb. "That's alright. We can find another way… adoption, or… we build our family however we choose. What matters is that we're together."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They both laughed quietly. The promise felt warm, sweet, and full of hope. That night, Jay felt safe, loved completely, and every second felt endless. They leaned into each other, their eyes saying more than any words could.
Months passed, and everything changed. Work, missions, pressure—life began to pull them apart. One night, everything finally broke.
"We… we can't keep doing this, Jay. I don't want to hurt you anymore. We should break up," Levant said, voice unsteady.
Jay froze, heart thundering. "Why… why are you breaking up with me?"
Levant exhaled, voice cracking. "I just think we're not right for each other."
Jay's heart shattered. Every promise, every warm night, suddenly felt like dust. He tried to hold back tears, but they slipped through. "But… you promised we'd get married… why now…" he whispered.
Levant cupped Jay's cheek briefly, gentle but distant, then let go. "That promise… I'm sorry. I can't keep it. I want children, and you can't give me that."
That night, Jay sat alone, chest tight with emptiness.
What about all the things he promised? He said it didn't matter if I was a Beta.
But now, everything—the dream, the future Jay imagined—vanished.
Only sweet memories now turning to wounds.
---
That night, the three of them split up to search for Jay.
Eric headed into a narrow alley, Noah took another route, and Liam moved toward the outskirts. Each step Eric took was heavy with worry, his mind racing with what might have happened to Jay.
Then, at the end of the alley, someone stepped out of the shadows.
Eric stopped—surprised.
Not a stranger.
"Carl?" He breathed out, relief and tension mixing.
Carl blinked, slightly surprised himself. "Eric… long time. What are you doing here?"
Eric sighed, lowering his head for a moment. "I'm looking for Jay. He's been missing for hours, and I found these bottles… I think they're connected to him, but I don't know what they really do."
Carl frowned, eyes narrowing as he examined the bottles. "These? Where did you get them?"
"I'm not sure," Eric said quietly.
Carl nodded, worry settling in his chest. They hadn't seen each other in ages, but nostalgia had no place tonight. Their only focus was Jay.
The two stood there, exchanging a silent look—old friends reunited, not for the past, but for the crisis unfolding right now.
---
Hours later, exhausted from searching in the dark, Liam, Eric, and Carl finally stopped at an open spot near the edge of town. The streetlights were dim, the night air cold. They were drained, frustrated, quiet.
Suddenly, Eric's phone rang loudly.
They all jumped.
The name "Jay problem -_-" flashed on the screen.
Eric answered instantly. "Jay? Where are you? We've been circling the whole city."
Jay's voice came through, breathless but steady. "I'm home. I'm okay… don't worry. Where are you guys?"
Liam straightened. "You're home? With who? What happened?"
"I'll explain later. Just… come back."
The call ended. The three exchanged looks—confused but relieved—before heading back to Jay's place.
---
When they stepped inside, their steps were slow and heavy. Eric scanned the room until his eyes stopped on the stranger standing there.
"Who's that?" Noah asked, curiosity sharp in his voice.
Liam eyed the man cautiously, a strange feeling rising in him. The man stood confidently, eyes dark and sharp. Jay turned away, a faint annoyed smile on his lips.
"Jay's ex-boyfriend," Levant said casually.
The room went silent.
Levant's mouth curled into a small, confident smile.
"Ex… boyfriend?" Noah finally managed, face full of surprise and a bit of disbelief.
Liam inhaled slowly. A spark of jealousy shot through him, but he swallowed it down. This wasn't the time for old drama—but the feeling still burned quietly.
Levant nodded, scanning the room. "Yeah. I'm his ex. I… dropped by since he's in Italy."
Jay glared at him. Anger and old hurt clashed in his eyes. "Shut up."
"Fine."
Eric frowned and turned back to Jay. "And these medications? What are they?"
Jay let out a long breath, looking away for a moment. "The doctor gave me those when I was still a Beta… I was sick back then. He said they were vitamins, something to help me feel better, hurt less. I took them for more than four years… I didn't know they could change secondary gender."
Liam stood a little farther back, heart pounding. The jealousy was still there, but he pushed it aside, focusing on Jay instead. "Are you… okay now?" His voice was soft, tinged with concern.
Jay lowered his head. "I'm okay. Thanks for looking for me earlier. I… trouble you guys a lot."
"You never trouble us. Even if you're annoying sometimes," Noah said, chuckling. "You're a real Omega now. You used to just act like one."
Eric, Liam, and Jay froze.
Did Noah seriously forget Carl was in the room?
The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush the air.