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 The four of them all agreed that their now-relationship should not be published for the sake of Johnny's reputation and since the mating process is unfinished, it's not a good look on Mark either. However, the Beta, Taeil, asked them to get the situation out and clear for the head dorm and their closet friends to prevent further difficulties in taking care of Donghyuck which the young "couple" couldn't even find a way to deny. The Canadian is fairly surprised about how helpful and understanding the couple was, not pressuring them into an unhappy relationship. 

 "Thank you so, so much for helping us. I wouldn't know what's logical to do without you two", Mark said before he got into the car and drive Donghyuck back to the campus.

 Johnny looks at his brother who is now on his phone in the car, probably answering all the worried texts from his friends and put a hand on Mark's shoulder,

 "You're now a part of our family, temporary or not, I hope that you could seriously take good care of my brother. It's a long story but we only have each other...I don't want to put the hard work on your side but Hyuckie needs a lot more company than he may seem. I don't ask for much but at least, don't make him feel like he is nothing more than a burden that you have to take care of"

 The older's sudden sincerity comes out, a rare sight to see on the composed professor but nonetheless, Mark gives him an assuring look. "I will try my best sir"

 "I can be less worried now"

///

And that's exactly what the Alpha did: fulfill his role as Donghyuck's mate.

 He was the one that did the hard explanation for both sides with the younger, accepting all the rather burning critiques yet understanding from Jeno, Renjun, Jisung, and Jaemin. They all give them slips and pasts so that Mark could take care of the Omega and still, keep up the distance at school to protect both of them.

 The daily "fighting" still goes on but for the better. Small talks to make sure one another is doing okay, to make sure Donghyuck's day is going well and fill up the void that usual newly-mated couple may have.

 The sound of Mark and Donghyuck' quarreling is something that everybody is used to see so when Donghyuck's back was slammed against the locker, not one even stirred, considering all the Alpha do is bark but not bite, not wanting to pay another visit to the principle office like he did last year.

 "You need to find another way to greet me hiong, my back aches", Donghyuck whines softly and Mark awkwardly smiles at him, though no one saw since his back was facing outside. "I can't just drop by your class, can I? That's just too creepy"; "Fair enough"

 "How are you today, did you eat your breakfast that I bought?"; "Jeno brought them over when he swung by for Injun, I enjoyed the toast"

  "Yeah, Jungwoo said it's a good place so I picked up some. Also, I'm glad that the perfume Taeil hyung sent works, my scent is not visible on yours anymore", Mark said, "Thank god that everybody settled in with the 'we had angry sex'"

 Donghyuck hums, "I mean, we did and it was good, it's just something also happened after that" and Mark grimace, making the Omega cocked an eyebrow, "Are you cringing at the fact that we had sex?"

 "We are mates now but still, it has a weird ring to it"; "Don't worry, it only lingers for a year"

 "You're right"

 Before Mark could pop up another question, the bell rang and everybody hurried back to their class, leaving them alone in the hallway.

 "Mark, we have to go back to class, stop cornering me", Donghyuck giggles when he failed to push the Alpha's hands away but the older insisted on keeping him.

 "I know your schedule, sir Johnny is teaching today, he will give up a slip", Mark shrugged, "And my schedule is empty now and I'm going to head back to the dorm so..."

 He leaned down and places a kiss on the younger's plumb lips, the feel, even though it's only a brief second, still makes his adrenaline runs like crazy. The kiss is not sexual nor romantic, just a way for the younger to feels more comfortable, to somehow still have him when he is not around.

 He knows Donghyuck likes it by the way the corner of the brunette Omega's lips curved up so beautifully.

 "You're a sap", he pinched his hip and Mark gives him a teasing smile

 "What can I say, I'm willing to please my Omega", he said that but in some indescribable way, it means more but Mark mentally slapped himself away from it.

 Donghyuck is just someone he needs to look out for a period of time before they parted ways....

 Is he?