Do-hyun's throat was dry. "How… how exactly do I do that?"
Dr. Lee stared at him, the incredulous eyebrow climbing higher up her forehead. Then, seeming to arrive at a realisation, her expression changed, and she offered a small, knowing smile.
"Walk with me, Kang Do-hyun-ssi," she said, as she spun on her heel and headed down the hallway.
As Do-hyun followed her towards the nearest coffee machine, she began: "An anchor is not just a person. It is a presence. A partner. It's what keeps an omega's emotions from spiraling out of control when they are too overwhelmed.
"Normally, during a heat, an omega will instinctively seek out their mate. They will seek their alpha's scent, a physical manifestation of comfort and safety. The pheromones you give off will soothe his body and his mind.
"This is not about sex, although that is often the natural conclusion of a heat. This is about trust. The heat is a state of complete vulnerability for an omega. They need to know that their alpha will be a source of protection, not another threat."
Do-hyun listened, his heart thudding in his chest. "Right."
The doctor smiled. "Don't be nervous, Kang Do-hyun-ssi," she said gently, words calm and clear. "An omega's heat is a natural process. And so is an alpha's response. You will know what to do. Your instincts will guide you. Being an anchor is not something you have to actively do; it's something you simply are. Your presence, your scent, your touch… those will be what he needs. Your job is to be there. To be his safe space. To be the one person he can completely trust when he has lost all control."
Do-hyun took a deep breath, releasing it slowly before saying, "Okay. I'll do that. Whatever it takes."
Dr. Lee's smile deepened. "I know you will. And that's exactly what he needs. There are no right or wrong answers here, Kang Do-hyun-ssi. This is a journey you will take together. Your sole purpose is to get him through this safely, so that his body can finally find a new, healthy rhythm."
Her gaze flickered to the side for a brief second, as if considering saying something else, then returned to Do-hyun, a hint of something more profound in her expression.
"A bond like yours is something a little different. It's more than instinct. It's something you simply are."
She walked toward the door, opening it to reveal a quiet, dim room.
"He's waiting for you."
…
The room was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of a small lamp by the bed. Jaemin was lying on his side on the hospital bed, a thin blanket pulled to his chin. The antiseptic smell of the clinic battled the potent, sweet aroma of cherry blossoms, a storm of scent that pulsed from Jaemin and filled the air. Do-hyun's own cedar scent responded to it instantly, flaring with an instinctual possessiveness he couldn't ever remember feeling for anybody besides his family.
As Do-hyun approached, Jaemin's eyes fluttered open. He looked up at Do-hyun, his gaze unfocused, his body still trembling slightly beneath the thin blanket. A fresh wave of the cherry blossom scent rolled off him, heavy and intoxicating.
"What… what is this?" he gasped, voice thin and strained. His hand reached weakly for his own neck as if to grasp for something to hold himself together. "What happened? I… I don't feel well."
Do-hyun reached out, his hand gently finding Jaemin's. It was hot to the touch, and a jolt went through Do-hyun's arm, a clear signal of the fever burning through his conductor. He tightened his grip with a new, possessive strength, and pulled Jaemin's hand to his own face, breathing in deeply.
"Your suppressants," he said, his voice a low, steady rumble, "they're not holding anymore."
Jaemin's body went rigid with panic and shame. Now that he was awake, he could feel the heat pulsing through his veins, a feverish wave that made his skin feel too tight.
He tried to pull away, to hide, to get away from Do-hyun's overwhelming scent of cedar, to escape the alpha who was seeing him in a state he had spent his entire life trying to avoid.
"Don't! You… you can't be here. You can't see me like this," he stammered, his words coming out in a pained, desperate rush.
But Do-hyun held him firm, his grasp gentle but unshakable, and instead moved closer, as if to shield Jaemin with his body from an unseen force. He leaned in, his own cedar scent flaring, instinctively trying to soothe the frightened omega before him.
"Look at me," he commanded, gaze unwavering on Jaemin's face.
Jaemin, with no choice, met his eyes. The panic in his expression was still there, but beneath it, a sliver of something else—a flicker of surprise, of desperate hope.
"You don't have to be afraid," Do-hyun said, his voice softer now, a promise whispered only for him. "I'm not going anywhere."
And with those words, the fight left Jaemin's body. He stopped trying to pull away, his shivering slowing as he leaned into Do-hyun's touch, the overwhelming, frantic scent of cherry blossoms beginning to calm, to settle, to find a place of quiet trust against the steady, protective scent of cedar. He closed his eyes, his hot hand still clasped tightly in Do-hyun's, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he allowed himself to trust.