Meanwhile, Soo-hyun sat propped up against a stack of pillows, the sterile smell of antiseptic still clinging faintly to the air. His gaze was half-distracted, fixed on the faint shadow of the IV stand against the wall.
He finally turned his head toward the figure sitting across from him. "So? Anything wrong?" His voice was steady, though there was a trace of tension underneath.
Dr. Seon, still flipping through her clipboard, finally let it drop onto her lap and sank into the chair by his bedside. "I don't see anything wrong with your physical condition, Director Je. No major fluctuations. Your vitals are stable."
At that, Soo-hyun exhaled slowly, the release of breath carrying relief more than he wanted to admit.
"But—" Dr. Seon's tone sharpened as her eyes lifted to his. "That doesn't mean nothing could go wrong. An Alpha forcibly released pheromones on you. Your body could've reacted badly—if it weren't for the suppressant in your system."
Soo-hyun's eyes flicked toward her. Her lips pressed into a faint smirk. "Well, it did its purpose. I don't have any complaints."
"Still, Mr. Je," she persisted, leaning forward slightly, "I would highly suggest you avoid getting close to Alphas. If something disrupts your suppression or if your body shifts unexpectedly, it could trigger a heat reaction. Even if you think you're immune."
Soo-hyun's gaze cooled. "Dr. Seon," he said firmly, cutting her off. "I may be an Omega on paper, but I'm nothing more than a defective one. I can't properly release pheromones. I've never gone into heat, not once. I'm closer to a Beta in all but name."
Dr. Seon's eyes softened for a fleeting moment, but her tone remained clinical. "That doesn't change the fact that your body is still classified as an Omega. Your cycle could manifest later in life, especially under extreme stress or external triggers. It's rare, but not impossible."
Soo-hyun shifted, his arms folding tightly across his chest. "No. My diagnosis was clear. Years of observation proved it. My body doesn't respond like it should. I don't emit pheromones strong enough to register, and my heat cycle is irregular." His words hardened, as if he was daring her to a challenge.
For him, that truth had long been a shield. The Je family had paraded him as their precious Omega heir, a jewel among elites, but in his eyes, he was a defective piece—polished on the outside but hollow within. He'd lived more like a Beta, blending into neutrality, than the archetype of what society revered in an Omega.
That's right, Soo-hyun told himself as he tilted his head back against the pillow. No way I'd ever be a real Omega.
Dr. Seon let out a deep sigh, her expression weary. She'd dealt with many stubborn patients in her career, but Soo-hyun was in a category of his own—unyielding, and unwilling to acknowledge even the slightest possibility that his body might betray him.
"Very well," she said at last, rising from her chair. "I'll make a note in your file. But, Director Je..." she hesitated, her hand brushing the edge of the clipboard.
"Even though your results didn't suggest anything wrong, your body did react a little with the Alpha's pheromones. You'd be wise not to mistake such result as good."
Her words lingered in the air long after she left the room, but Soo-hyun shut his eyes, refusing to let them root deeper.
*****
Hearing about Soo-hyun's condition, Min-kyung immediately rushed to his home.
"Soo-hyun!" She swung the door open with little regard for knocking, her voice sharp with panic and irritation. Her heels clicked hard against the floor as she entered. On the bed, Soo-hyun stirred and sat up slowly, his head groggy but his gaze clear enough to recognize her silhouette.
"Mom?" His tone was flat, exhausted. "What are you doing here?"
Min-kyung pressed her hand against her chest as if she had run all the way. "Can't a mother be worried about her child?" She said, her voice trembling with dramatics as she took hurried steps toward him.
Soo-hyun sighed, rolling his eyes as if he had heard the same performance countless times before.
"When I heard about your condition from Ms. Do," she continued," I was so worried I had to cancel my trip to Hawaii."
"Then you shouldn't have come here," Soo-hyun muttered coldly. "You only wasted your time, because I'm fine."
"What?" Min-kyung furrowed her brows, offended by the dismissal.
"The doctor said that everything is normal. There's no issue," he said, leaning back on his palms with deliberate calm.
Min-kyung lowered herself slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Did Dr. Seon tell you when you'll be able to have your heat?"
Soo-hyun's head snapped toward her instantly, his eyes flaring. "Is that what you came here for? To know if I've finally turned into a real Omega?"
Her lips parted, but she froze at the venom in his voice.
"Right," Soo-hyun scoffed coldly, his tone laced with years of repressed fury. "You've always treated my condition as nothing but a burden. No wonder you keep parading me in front of those shitty Alphas."
"How dare you—!" Min-kyung barked, her pride stung. "Do you still believe I'd do such do such a thing. How dare you accuse your own mother?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Soo-hyun hissed back. "You've done it before. Don't act like you haven't. You let me meet an Alpha who was in rut before, just because you thought I'd finally have my heat cycle!"
Her eyes widened, rage spilling through her composure. The slap cracked across his cheek before he could finish his next breath.
Slap—
"Enough!" Min-kyung's voice shook, her chest heaving. "You've accused me of such nonsense for years. I will not let you disrespect me any longer."
Soo-hyun's cheek burned red, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly, holding back the urge to retaliate.
"I am still your mother," she spat, "and the least you could do is be grateful that I'm still here for you."
He laughed bitterly, his lips curling into something close to disgust. "Grateful? You want me to honor you? For what? For trying so hard to pimp me to those filthy Alpha bastards?"
Her hand struck him again, harder this time.
Slap—
His head turned with the blow, but he refused to let his eyes fall.
"You're still foul-mouthed, just as you've always been, Soo-hyun," Min-kyung seethed, her jaw tight, her hand trembling from both fury and fear.
But this time, Soo-hyun didn't shout back. He only sat in silence, his chest rising and falling, his eyes staring past her as if she were nothing more than a shadow.
*****
Later that afternoon, as Kiyonari was in the office compiling papers into neat folders, the shrill ring of the telephone cut through the silence. He immediately pressed the button.
"Mr. Soo!" A hurried female voice came through the line.
"Yes, this is Secretary Soo. Is something the matter, Ms. Lee?"
"The Director!... He's here!"
His pulse quickened. The Director? Here? But that was impossible—he had already filed Soo-hyun's sick leave himself.
The man was supposed to be resting at home under the doctor's orders. What is he doing here?!
He didn't waste another second. He threw the folders back onto his desk, papers slightly disheveled for the first time in his orderly routine, and sprinted down the corridor.
When the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, his breath caught in his throat. Soo-hyun stood there, poised as if the chaos of yesterday had never touched him.
Their eyes locked.
Kiyonari's chest tightened, and for a fleeting moment, a strange sensation swept over him—something warm, unsettling, and dangerously unfamiliar. He swallowed hard. What was that just now?
"Mr. Soo," Soo-hyun spoke first, stepping out with calm authority, "I didn't know you were here.'
"I—I was just finishing some things, sir," Kiyonari answered quickly, trying to compose himself.
He straightened his tie, bowing slightly. "But I was about to leave after. What are you doing here, Director? Shouldn't you be at home... resting?" His voice carried a faint edge of worry that he couldn't disguise.
"At home?" Soo-hyun scoffed lightly, as if the very thought amused him.
"Yes," Kiyonari pressed. "I heard you weren't feeling well, because of what happened the last time, I thought..." His words faltered under Soo-hyun's unwavering gaze.
Soo-hyun tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as if he could read everything Kiyonari wasn't saying. Then, almost abruptly, he spoke. "Come with me, Mr. Soo."
Kiyonari blinked. "Huh? Why, sir?"
"You said you were leaving after you're done with work, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I still haven't—"
"Let it be." Soo-hyun cut him off firmly, stepping back into the elevator. "Finish it tomorrow instead. Accompany me for some walk."
Kiyonari hesitated at the threshold, his mind racing. He's asking me to go with him for a walk? This isn't like him... what happened, really? Why did he come here when he should be resting at home, right now?
He could feel the weight of Soo-hyun's command, but also something that felt like a pull, faint yet irresistible.
After a brief pause, he finally exhaled and stepped inside.
The doors slid shut, enclosing them in the quiet hum of the elevator. The space between them was filled with a heavy silence—one that made Kiyonari's heart pound louder than he wanted to admit.
*****
The dusk washed over the sky, painting it a palette of burning orange, fading pink, and soft violet. The sinking sun lingered low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the earth, as if reluctant to leave. Thin streaks of crimson bled into the clouds, their edges glowing like embers of a dying flame. The park bathed in this golden light seemed hushed, every leaf and stone glowing faintly under the warmth of twilight.
Kiyonari and Soo-hyun walked side by side, the gravel crunching softly under their steps. Between them, silence stretched, not uncomfortable but heavy—thick with unspoken words neither dared to break. The chirping of distant cicadas and the rustling of trees filled in the void where their voices should have been.
Kiyonari's eyes, however, could not stay in front of him for long. Again and again, they drifted to the man beside him.
From the side, Soo-hyun's profile was outlined by the dying sun, his sharp jawline catching the last streaks of light. His hair gleamed faintly, kissed by the glow, while his expression—serene, yet unreadable—pulled Kiyonari in like a tide. There was a strange contradiction to him: fragile, as though he could break from the weight of expectations, yet unshakably strong, standing firm against the world.
Kiyonari thought he could look at that face forever. The curve of Soo-hyun's lips as they pressed into a thin line, the way his lashes brushed faintly whenever he blinked, the quiet confidence in the way he carried himself—all of it left Kiyonari mesmerized.
Every stolen glance felt like a secret indulgence, a privilege he shouldn't have but couldn't resist.
He quickly looked away, his pulse tightening in his throat, only to find himself drawn back again moments later. The dusk made Soo-hyun's presence feel otherworldly, as though he was something untouchable, a figure carved out of light and shadow.
What's wrong with me? I keep sneaking glances at the Director. Kiyonari thought, pressing his lips together, but he said nothing.
I feel like I'm going crazy. I don't even know why I'm being like this...!
The silence stretched on, but to him, it no longer felt empty—it was filled with the quiet pounding of his own heart.
Not long after, Kiyonari suddenly slowed his pace and stopped.
Soo-hyun, who was a few steps ahead, turned back with his brows faintly furrowed. His voice carried that usual cool edge, though it wasn't entirely sharp. "What's wrong?"
Kiyonari blinked, realizing he had halted without meaning to. He scratched the back of his neck and let out a nervous chuckle. "Oh, it's nothing, sir. I was just... lost in thought."
What was that feeling just now?
Soo-hyun's gaze lingered on him for a moment, assessing before he sighed faintly. "If you're fine, then let's keep going. I want to show you something."
"Oh... alright," Kiyonari replied, though his chest tightened with curiosity.
They walked further until Soo-hyun suddenly stopped before an old, unused building tucked quietly in the corner of the street's edge. Its faded exterior and boarded windows gave the impression of abandonment, yet there was something dignified still clinging to its structure—like a relic of a dream that had been left behind.
Soo-hyun pushed the creaking door open, and they stepped inside.
Kiyonari glanced around, his eyes widening slightly at the vast emptiness that greeted him. The air was tinged with dust, but the space was grand—tall ceilings with hanging beams, wide windows that allowed streaks of the fading sunlight to cut through, illuminating the floor in fractured patches of orange and gold.
"Wow," Kiyonari muttered in awe, his voice echoing faintly against the hollow walls. "What is this place, sir?"
Soo-hyun stood still in the center of the empty room, his hands buried in his pockets as he gazed at the shafts of light. His expression softened, almost unreadable.
"I bought this building," he said quietly. "At the time, I had a plan for it. I wanted it to be something meaningful that will cater Omegas needs. But... the headquarters rejected the proposal. So now, it's nothing but an empty shell. An empty room, waiting for a purpose it will never have."
"I see..." Kiyonari murmured, his chest tugging at the faint bitterness in Soo-hyun's tone.
The silence that followed was heavy, but it wasn't the same kind as before. It carried weight—like the walls themselves were holding onto the remnants of Soo-hyun's abandoned dreams.
Kiyonari looked at him quietly, when something suddenly shifted in the air.
A strange scent drifted toward him—subtle at first, like whisper, before it swelled into something undeniable. Soo-hyun jolted, his body stiffening as the fragrance washed over him.
Cool. Refreshing. Like crushed berries against ice. Yet at the same time, suffocating—so thick it clung to his lungs and made every breath heavy. It was intoxicating, calming in a way that made his head light, his chest tighten.
"What—" Soo-hyun's words caught in his throat.
He whipped his head to the side. His eyes widened.
Kiyonari stood there, flushed down to his shoulders, his lips parted as though fighting for air. His gaze lifted slowly, hazy and laced with a glassy desire that was both vulnerable and sharp.
Their eyes met.
The moment their gazes locked, Soo-hyun felt something unnatural—those eyes, filled with heat and restraint, looked as though they were about to consume him whole.
They weren't the timid eyes of a Beta. No—this was something else entirely.
The air thickened, heavy, suffused with that fragrance. It spread through the entire room like an invisible tide, pressing in on him, suffocating, yet oddly sweet. Soo-hyun's chest heaved as he tried to steady himself, but it was useless—the scent was too strong, too invasive.
What is this scent...? He thought frantically. No, wait. This isn't just a scent.
Recognition hit him like thunderclap. His body froze, his blood running cold.
This is... an Alpha's pheromone.
His heart pounded, disbelief tightening his chest. All this time, Kiyonari—his secretary, the quiet, dependable man who followed him without question—wasn't a Beta at all.
He's an Alpha.
The fragrance thickened even further, almost suffocating in its intensity, until Soo-hyun felt his vision blur at the edges. His body trembled under its weight. The realization clicked in a single, terrifying instant.
Not just pheromones—
A rut.
Kiyonari's eyes were still locked on him—deep, intimidating, burning with unspoken hunger. The sweet sensation that surged down Soo-hyun's spine made his stomach twist, his pulse race. Something primal inside him stirred against his will.
He staggered back, his knees suddenly weak. A shiver coursed through him, and before he could steady himself—his body gave away.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the cold floor, trembling, the Alpha's scent pressing down on him from every direction.
Kiyonari, whose body was already drowning in the haze of rut, staggered a step closer. His chest rose and fell with ragged, animalistic breaths. Without even realizing it, his hand shot forward, gripping Soo-hyun's trembling shoulder.
Soo-hyun gasped at the sudden contact. His body reacted instinctively—his own pheromones burst out, flooding the air.
The fragrance was sweet, unbearably sweet—like sugarcane melting on the tongue, sticky yet addictive. It twined with Kiyonari's sharp, berry-cool scent, mixing into something dangerously intoxicating. The air grew heavy, thick enough to choke, yet impossible to resist breathing in.
Kiyonari's head tilted, his pupils dilated, his voice a broken rasp.
"You..." His lips parted, as if even speaking was a struggle. "You're... an Omega...?"
The realization crashed into him with brutal force. Soo-hyun's body was trembling, his skin burning, his pupils unfocused—the unmistakable signs. His heat cycle had been triggered
Desire ignited through Kiyonari's veins, hot and blinding. His instincts screamed at him to pin Soo-hyun down, to breed him until his scent marked on the boy's body.
Soo-hyun's heart thundered. Fear surged violently through him, mixing with the haze clouding his mind. The oppressive weight of the Alpha's aura pressed down, crushing.
I'm scared... his thoughts trembled, fragmented. His eyes glazed over with tears, shimmering like broken glass. Heat spread across his body, down to his neck, across his flushed nape—his own body betraying him
Kiyonari leaned in, his breaths hot, desperate, brushing Soo-hyun's skin. His lips hovered dangerously close, panting like a beast starved of reason. His teeth bared instinctively, angling for the boy's shoulder—ready to bite and mark.
Soo-hyun's head spun. His body weakened further, swaying, as though the pheromones had numbed him completely. He looked dazed, almost drunk from the mix of scents clouding the room.
But just as Kiyonari's mouth descended—he froze.
His body convulsed with restraint. A guttural growl tore from his throat as he jerked away, fangs sinking into his own forearm instead. Blood welled instantly, the metallic taste grounding him.
He grabbed Soo-hyun, pulling him against his chest in a desperate, protective hold. His other hand pressed firmly to the back of Soo-hyun's head, cradling him, shielding him—like a beast fighting its own savage nature.
The building shook with the clash of scents heavy and suffocating, sticking to the walls like fog.
Soo-hyun whimpered, clutching his stomach as waves of pain ripped through him. "Ah... M-Mr. Soo... i-it hurts...!" His voice cracked, soft, and fragile like a child crying out for comfort.
He sounded pitiful, needy—like a baby begging to be soothed.
Kiyonari's jaw trembled, blood dripping from his arm where he had bitten himself raw. He stayed perfectly still, restraining himself with every ounce of will power, his chest heaving against Soo-hyun's frail frame.
He looked less like a man, and more like a wild beast—snarling and wounded, but desperately trying not to devour the fragile life in his arms.