Later, when the line finally thinned out, Seong-jun stepped forward. His shoulders relaxed a little—it was finally his turn to order.
The clerk flashed him a polite smile. "Welcome, sir. What would you like today?"
Seong-jun leaned on the counter, standing tall. "Um... I would like to have—"
But before he could finish, a sharp vibration buzzed from his pocket. He blinked, thrown off, then quickly fumbled for his phone.
"Ah—! Just a sec," he muttered, excusing himself with an apologetic smile to the clerk. With one hand, he dug the phone out of his jeans and swiped the screen.
He pressed it to his ear. "Hey, dude, seriously—I'm in the middle of something, can you—"
"Seong-jun..."
That voice. Low, hoarse, strained. It wasn't the usual easygoing tone he knew so well.
Seong-jun froze, his words dying in his throat. "... Kiyo?" His brows furrowed, confusion written all over his face. He took a step back from the counter, gripping his phone tighter. "What the hell? You sound off... what's up?"
From the other end came the sound of uneven breaths, like someone was struggling, forcing words through clenched teeth.
"Come here... quickly... please..."
Seong-jun's stomach dropped. A cold rush spread through his veins. That voice—Kiyonari sounded like he was in pain.
"What? What happened? Where are you right now?" His voice shot up with panic.
"I need your.... help..."
There was desperation in his tone, heavy and trembling. The line crackled with shallow breaths, then silence, as if he didn't even have the strength to say more.
Seong-jun's chest tightened. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't something small. Something was very wrong.
Pivoting sharply, he spun on his heel, ignoring the startled look from the clerk. His order forgotten, he shoved through the café doors and into the street, his expression hardened with urgency.
"Alright, I'm coming," he said firmly into the phone as he rushed outside. "Just hang on, Kiyo. Tell me where you are."
He picked up his pace, weaving through the crowd, his heart hammering as his voice dropped to a whisper filled with raw determination.
"I swear, you better not do anything stupid before I get there."
Seong-jun sprinted through the streets, lungs burning, his heart pounding louder than his footsteps. He didn't dare slow down—Kiyonari's desperate voice still echoed in his head. Don't let me be too late...
When the park finally came into view, his chest tightened with dread. He beelined toward the building, the only place Kiyo could mean. The door creaked as he pushed it open—
And immediately, a suffocating wave of scent assaulted him.
"What the—?!" Seong-jun staggered, instinctively throwing a hand over his nose and mouth. The air was heavy, thick cloying, yet strangely sweet. It clung to his throat, made it hard to breathe. His eyes watered.
What is this...? His mind reeled. Pheromones? This strong?! It's... it's like being drowned in fruit wine—
His vision cleared just enough to focus on the far corner of the tiled room.
There, slumped against the wall, was Kiyonari. His suit disheveled, his shirt damp with sweat. His face flushed red all the way to his neck. His arms were locked tightly around a figure in his embrace.
"Kiyo?!" Seong-jun's voice cracked, panic rushing through him. He stumbled forward, his legs shaky under the weight of that overbearing aura. "Kiyo, is that you?!"
Kiyonari slowly lifted his head. His lidded eyes glowed faintly, glazed but sharp with barely restrained dominance. That stare hit Seong-jun like a physical weight, nearly forcing him to his knees.
"Seong-jun..." His voice rapsed low, strained. "Are you... alone?"
"I—I am," Seong-jun stammered, inching closer with caution. His pulse raced. "No one else followed me. Dude, what the hell happened to you? You sound like you're dying over the phone—"
But then, his words cut off.
The sight before him cleared, and what he saw made his jaw drop.
Curled limply in Kiyonari's arms was none other than Soo-hyun, the Je family's prized Omega, his face flushed pink, lips parted, his body trembling faintly as if asleep in a fever.
Kiyonari's blazer covered the boy securely.
Seong-jun nearly dropped his phone.
"W-Wait...! That... that's—" his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "Is that... the Fallen Angel himself?!"
He staggered back, stunned. "What the actual hell, Kiyo? Why are you holding him like that?! What did you—what's going on?!"
Kiyonari's lips trembled. His voice was broken. "He's in... his heat cycle..."
"What?!" Seong-jun's heart skipped a beat.
"Heat cycle?! You've got to be kidding me! How did that happen?"
"I..." Kiyonari's jaw tightened, his breath ragged. "My rut... it suddenly came... it must've triggered his... heat."
Seong-jun froze, eyes darting between his best friend and the boy in his arms. His brain scrambled. "Your rut came? Wait—your rut came?!" The panic was evident in his voice. "Kiyo, do you realize what that means?! You—you could—"
"I know!" Kiyonari barked, his fangs clenched hard as if biting down his own instincts. His nails dug into the tiles behind him. "That's why you have to... take Mr. Je... away from here... before I lose control!"
"But what about you?" Seong-jun's voice cracked with frustration. "You look like you're tearing yourself apart, man! You need a doctor too! Don't think I don't see your arm—you literally bit yourself!" His gaze fell on the crimson streak down Kiyonari's sleeve, the raw, ugly bite mark in his flesh. The sight made him flinch with horror.
Kiyonari's chest rose and fell violently. Still, he gritted out, "Don't worry... about me... just take him somewhere safe! Please! Seong-jun... you're the only one I can trust with this!"
Seong-jun's throat tightened. His best friend's voice was desperate, pleading. He didn't want to leave him like this, but—
"Damn it..." He exhaled through his teeth, finally making his choice. "Fine! But you better wait for me. You hear me? I'll come back, and I'll drag your sorry ass straight to Dr. Lee if I have to."
Kiyonari's faint nod was all the answer he could give.
Carefully, Seong-jun bent down. Kiyonari shifted with a grunt, passing Soo-hyun into his arms. The Omega was burning with heat, his skin flushed like fire, his breath shallow and sweet with pheromones.
Seong-jun quickly carried Soo-hyun covered with Kiyonari's suit blazer, shielding his face. "God, this is insane..." He muttered under his breath. He shot Kiyonari one last look.
"Stay here. Don't you dare collapse before I'm back."
Kiyonari's jaw clenched, whispered hoarsely, "Just... make sure... the Director's safe..."
Seong-jun tightened his hold on Soo-hyun and nodded firmly. Then he bolted out of the building, lungs burning as he ran through the street road, his mind racing with questions and fear.
What the hell did I just walk myself into?...
*****
Soo-hyun woke up abruptly, his body jolting forward as his lungs dragged in a sharp gasp.
"Haa—!"
His vision swam in blurs at first, edges of white and muted shadows overlapping until the haze began to clear. The first thing that met his eyes was the pale ceiling, smooth and spotless, its fluorescent light shining down softly. His head shifted weakly, and he scanned the quiet room around him.
It was a private hospital suite—sterile and pristine, yet far too silent for his liking. White curtains hung lightly by the window, letting in the faint neon lights outside. The walls gleamed faintly under the glow of recessed moonlight, and the hum of the air conditioning was the only sound breaking the silence.
Beside him stood a small table with neat instruments and medical notes stacked in order. An IV drip dangled at his side, its clear line connected to the back of his hand, pumping life slowly back into him.
"... Where... where is this place?" Soo-hyun's voice rapsed weakly, almost disbelieving.
"You're at the hospital," came a calm, familiar voice.
Soo-hyun's head whipped sharply toward the sound, his eyes widening. "Dr. Seon?"
She stepped into view, her white coat crisp, clipboard tucked under her arm, and her expression a rare mixture of relief and professional composure. "I'm glad you're finally awake, Director Je."
Soo-hyun furrowed his brows, his lips parted. "What happened? Why am I here?"
I clearly remember I was—
"That," Dr. Seon said pointedly, her eyes narrowing slightly, "is also my question. What happened exactly? What triggered your heat?"
The words slammed into him like cold water. Soo-hyun's eyes widened, his body tensed. "What? Heat?... I was just in heat?!"
"Yes." Dr. Seon raises a brow, scrutinizing him. "Judging from your confusion, it seems you weren't even aware of going into sudden heat yourself."
His lips trembled, but he had no words to give.
How?! How did that happen?!
Dr. Seon calmly flipped open her clipboard, adjusting her glasses. "According to the latest tests we ran, your pheromone glands have stabilized. Your condition has actually improved because of this first heat. That means... it's possible you can emit pheromones properly now. And if my readings are correct, you may begin to have regular heat cycles from this point forward."
But Soo-hyun wasn't listening anymore.he had frozen entirely, staring off into the empty air in front of him. His widened eyes seemed dazed, his expression locked somewhere between disbelief and horror.
Now way... his thoughts trembled. Heat, you say? There's no way that I—no, wait! Earlier...!
Flashes slammed into his memory like shards of glass: the suffocating weight of pheromones thick in the air, that intoxicating yet terrifying scent, the heat that spread like wildfire through his body, and—him.
Kiyonari's flushed face, his eyes burning with raw desire, the intimidating dominance pouring from every pore of his body.
Soo-hyun's breath stuttered. Soo Kihyun... was an Alpha all this time?!
Now that his head cleared, it made cruel sense. The way Kiyonari always caught onto things quickly, never once faltering. The strength in his movements, the sharpness of his instincts, the presence he carried that no Beta could ever truly mimic.
And those eyes—those eyes that always devoured him whenever they met his gaze. Like a beast that had already has its eyes on its prey. Each time Kiyonari's stare lingered, it sent shivers racing through his spine, a strange mix of fear and something he dared not name. He had always thought it was just intimidation, or his own paranoia. But now...
It all makes sense.
Soo-hyun's lips pressed into a thin, bitter line. But why did he lie? Why would he go so far as to pretend he was a Beta? Was he mocking me? Looking down on me for being a defective Omega?
The thought twisted in his chest like a knife. Rage bubbled at the edge of his throat. If that's the case, then he's no different from the rest of those disgusting Alphas who see Omegas as nothing but tools to exploit.
His jaw clenched, teeth grinding.
"Mr. Je!" Dr. Seon's voice suddenly snapped louder, dragging him out of his spiraling thoughts.
He flinched, his head turning sharply toward her.
"I asked," she repeated firmly, "if you've had any contact with Alphas other than Mr. Kwon."
Soo-hyun blinked rapidly. "What? Why? Did... did something bad happen to my body again?"
Dr. Seon sighed, resting the clipboard against her knee. "No, Mr. Je. On the contrary, it's good news. Think carefully. Mr. Kwon's pheromones almost worsened your condition before, so it isn't surprising they'd never benefit you. But this time, your body stabilized. Which means..." Her gaze sharpened, studying him.
"... You may have come into contact with an Alpha whose pheromones are highly compatible with yours."
Her words struck him harder than he was ready for.
Soo-hyun's throat went dry, but his mind supplied the only answer he could think of: Mr. Soo...
He shifted his gaze to the side, his breath catching when he saw the familiar coat draped neatly over the back of a chair. The fabric was dark, heavy, still faintly holding the scent of him. His heart have a faint thud, as if reminding him of what he had just realized about Kiyonari.
Dr. Seon noticed where he was looking and spoke calmly. "You must be wondering how you got here."
Soo-hyun blinked, slowly turning his attention back to her. "Now that you mention it... I don't remember anything after passing out—" his voice faltered,"and going into heat."
Her expression softened, professional but edged with curiosity. "Well, you were brought here by a man. He claimed he was asked to drop you off here the hospital. But he seemed to be in a hurry, so he left shortly after."
"A man?" Soo-hyun repeated, his brows arching in suspicion. His mind raced. "Did he have brown hair... and this... different air about him?"
Dr. Seon tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to recall the image. "Brown hair? No, I don't think so. Not that I pay attention to such details anyway."
"Aren't you supposed to be a doctor?" Soo-hyun's face twisted, unimpressed.
She gave him a deadpan look. "Well, forgive me for not cataloging hairstyles like a gossip columnist. All I can tell you is—he was a Beta."
A Beta? Was it him?
Soo-hyun let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping into the bed. "No point in asking you then."
"Hey—don't talk shit about me, in front of me," she retorted, her lips curling into the faintest smirk before her posture shifted back into seriousness.
"Anyways," she continued, crossing one arm under the other and tapping her clipboard, "now that you've had your first heat and your condition has stabilized, I highly recommend you to stay in contact with this compatible Alpha. It would really benefit you if the two of you decided to mate."
Her words made his head snap toward her. Soo-hyun's eyes widened, incredulous.
"Are you seriously telling me to be with an Alpha now?" His laugh was sharp, bitter. "After telling me countless times to stay the hell away from them?"
Dr. Seon didn't flinch. She crossed her arms, gaze steady. "Yes. From other Alphas, Director Je. You know very well how dangerous most of them are to your condition. But if this one is the Alpha you're compatible with... then being around him might not just be safe—it might actually make you healthier."
Soo-hyun scoffed again, turning his head away toward the coat draped over the chair. His chest tightened.
Compatible.
The word sank into him like a curse.
Because if Dr. Seon was right—then the only Alpha it could possibly mean was Kiyonari.
Soo-hyun curled slightly under the weight of his own thoughts, his hand tightening over the blanket that draped his lap. His jaw clenched, and after a long silence, he finally muttered, "Fine. I will, doctor."
Dr. Seon, who had been scribbling notes, paused mid-stroke. Her brows lifted. "Oh? You actually agreed to me—just like that?"
"But," Soo-hyun cut in sharply, his voice low but firm, "not that easily."
Her pen froze against the clipboard.
"... Huh?" She blinked, caught off guard.
"There are still things I need to know first." His eyes narrowed, distant yet burning with a quiet resolve. "After all... he has some explaining to do."
Dr. Seon tilted her head. "He?"
"That secretary of mine." Soo-hyun's tone hardened on the last words, his gaze dropping toward the coat again, the fabric like a shadow looming over the pristine white of the hospital room.
His lips pressed into a thin line, memories flickering—the pheromones, the weight of the gaze, the terrifying heat that had reduced him to weakness, and yet... that same man was the one who restrained himself, the one who didn't break him when he easily could have.
"Your secretary?"
"Yeah... my secretary."
He muttered under his breath, almost like a vow to himself.