"Who's your boyfriend?" Von asked for the fifth time, her curiosity growing desperate.
"Mum, I'm not telling you," Jet replied, chopping vegetables as she cooked beside him. "I only told you I was in a relationship so you'd know if anything came up. That's it."
Von groaned. "If you won't tell me, I'll start guessing."
"Fine," Jet smirked. "If you can remember all my friends."
"Jack?"
"He's weird."
Von raised an eyebrow at how quickly Jet answered. She went through more names, and Jet shot them down just as fast.
"Yau Han!"
"I just met him!" Jet said, almost too quickly.
Von paused, stirring the vegetables. "You sure? You talk about him a lot."
Jet tensed for half a second before scoffing. "I'm not talking to him anymore. He's a celebrity, and I'm just a commoner."
"So what?" Von turned to him, her expression serious but warm. "If Yau Han—or anyone big—chooses you, be proud. Don't let anyone make you feel less than them. Stand beside him with confidence. Just don't go showing off too much."
Jet hesitated, a small smile tugging at his lips. "If that ever happens…"
Von just hummed, letting it go—for now.
—
"Ha–Sir, you've been really sticking to your schedule lately. No delays, no detours… That's surprising for you," Victor said, glancing at Han through the rearview mirror as he drove.
Han hummed in response, uninterested. His fingers tapped idly against his phone screen, scrolling through messages. He had no intention of entertaining Victor's comments.
Victor, however, didn't take the hint. He chuckled lightly, trying to sound casual. "Honestly, it's kind of unlike you. No late arrivals, no sudden changes. Almost… too perfect." His voice carried an edge, something probing, something suspicious.
Han finally looked up, meeting Victor's gaze in the mirror with a cold stare.
"Are you complaining that I'm on time?" His voice was calm but carried that sharpness that made people tread carefully.
Victor laughed awkwardly. "Of course not, Sir. Just making an observation."
Han clicked his tongue, looking away. The rest of the ride was silent, the tension thick.
When they pulled up to the recording set, Han wasted no time unbuckling his seatbelt. Before stepping out, he spoke, voice clipped and firm.
"Call Hojik. He'll be picking me up from now on," Han said, already walking away.
Victor froze. "Sir?"
Han didn't turn back. "You heard me."
And with that, he disappeared into the building, leaving Victor gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly.
—
"Livia?" Jet's voice carried a hint of surprise. "Why are you calling? And how did you get my number?"
Livia chuckled. "Han told me to call you if there's ever an emergency and he can't be reached. Guess that makes you his emergency contact."
Jet couldn't help but smile. "I need to make sure he's not getting into trouble, then."
"Yeah, good luck with that. I'll call you if anything happens to him," Livia replied.
Jet hummed in acknowledgment before something crossed his mind. "Is he out these next few days?"
"From what I saw on his schedule, yeah. He's been really busy. But one of these weeks, he might have to take a few days off."
Jet frowned slightly before realization hit. Han's rut hadn't come yet.
"Oh... rut." He tapped his fingers against the counter. "To be honest, Han doesn't seem like a typical Alpha."
"Why do you say that?"
Jet paused, thinking. "Well, he's taller than most Alphas I know—taller than me, even, which is rare. And his rut cycle is unpredictable. Ours come every three months, give or take, but his? Sometimes six months, sometimes three. No real pattern."
"Maybe it's because he's dominant?" Livia guessed. "I don't know much about this stuff, but that's my best guess."
"Could be. I wouldn't know—I'm a recessive," Jet admitted. "Just thought it was odd."
"Yeah, who knows? He barely goes out unless it's for work. Interviews, galas—he hates them. But medical checkups, and his doctor says he's in perfect health."
"Then I won't have to worry too much about emergencies." Jet exhaled, relaxing a little. "Anyway, stay warm. The winter nights are getting colder and longer."
"No kidding. I'm already in a jacket with the heater on. Bye, Jet."
The call ended, leaving Jet staring at his phone, still lost in thought.
—
"How was work?" Hojik asked, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he drove.
Han let out a low groan, leaning his head back against the seat. A deep ache pulsed behind his eyes, and his temples throbbed with each heartbeat. His whole body felt sluggish, like he was sinking under an invisible weight. His skin burned with heat, sweat gathering at the nape of his neck.
"Fuck… it hurts," he muttered, rubbing his forehead.
Hojik glanced at him through the rearview mirror, concern flickering in his eyes. "You good, bro?"
Han exhaled slowly, trying to push down the discomfort that only seemed to be growing worse. "Just get me home," he mumbled. "I think my rut's coming."
Hojik's expression shifted immediately. "Shit. Alright, hang tight." He pressed down on the gas, careful but quick, knowing full well that Han's ruts were unpredictable.
Meanwhile, Han fumbled for his phone, fingers slightly unsteady as he dialed June and Livia. The ringing felt like a hammer against his skull, and when Livia picked up, he didn't waste time.
"I'm heading home," he said, voice strained. "Rut's coming."
There was no shock on the other end.
"Got it. We'll leave before you get there," Livia said smoothly.
They knew the drill. Within minutes, June and Livia packed up and left the house, making sure Han would be alone. He never liked anyone around when this happened.
By the time the car pulled into his driveway, Han felt like he was barely holding himself together. The moment he stepped out, the cold night air hit him, but it did nothing to cool the fever burning under his skin. His legs felt heavier than usual as he climbed the stairs to his room, each step making his body pulse with heat.
He barely managed to shut the door before collapsing onto the bed. His muscles ached, his body caught in that unbearable state between exhaustion and restless energy. His skin was too hot, the fabric of his clothes suffocating against him. Kicking off his shoes, he curled onto his side, gripping the blankets tightly.
Outside, the world felt louder than usual. The distant hum of passing cars, the rustle of tree branches against the windows, even the faintest creak of the house settling—it all echoed in his ears, making it impossible to rest.
His headache worsened. His heart pounded. And his body burned.
Jet wasn't expecting another call so soon, especially not from Livia.
When his phone buzzed, he lazily picked it up, pressing it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Han's in rut. We're leaving it to you."
Before he could even process her words, the call ended.
Jet pulled the phone away, staring at the screen. 'What the hell?' Livia didn't even wait for a response.
For a moment, he just sat there, blinking in confusion. Then, slowly, the realization hit. 'Oh. Shit.'
He sighed, rubbing his temples. 'What exactly am I supposed to do here?'
Han's ruts weren't like normal Alphas. His cycle was irregular—sometimes coming in three months, sometimes six. And unlike most, he didn't make a big deal out of it. He never complained, never made a scene. If anything, he handled it alone.
But Jet had a feeling this time might be different.
He hesitated for a second before heading to his cupboard, rummaging through the shelves until he found what he was looking for—a few trays of rut suppressants. If Han wasn't too far gone, these might help. He could rest, let the heat pass. But if his rut had already settled in too deep…
Jet clicked his tongue. 'Then I might be the one stuck in bed instead.'
He grabbed a coat, pocketing the suppressants before heading out the door.