* * *
Anyone who held fantasies about Alphas or Omegas dreamed of presenting as one.
Especially if their entire family were dominant types—then of course, they’d naturally assume the same would happen to them.
“Only he didn’t. Both his parents and even his older brother are dominants.”
“Is he really their child? He looks completely different.”
“Where else would he come from if he hasn’t even presented yet?”
Every time he overheard the murmurs of adults on his way to and from school, his head drooped even lower toward the ground.
‘I’ll present too. Just like my brother and my dads.’
His family had always reassured him, so he wasn’t anxious.
But no matter how much he grew, no change came.
Children were innocent.
That was why they were even crueler.
Without hesitation, they parroted their parents’ words, actions, and thoughts out loud.
“Hey, Gil Wookyung. Aren’t you just some kid your parents took in out of pity?”
“Yeah, it’s obvious. You’re the only Beta.”
“How pathetic is that?”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t even be able to show my face.”
As he listened to their snickering and mocking words, his expression darkened.
Some of them had already presented early as Alphas or Omegas.
That was why they looked down on him even more, belittling him.
At first, he hated those who spoke carelessly. He got angry, fought back fiercely.
But at some point, that resentment turned toward his family.
‘Why did you even have me?’
‘Why is my brother so much better than me?’
‘Why did you lie and say I’d present too?!’
As Wookyung gradually spoke less and shut himself in his room, his family kept their distance, assuming it was just teenage angst.
‘I knew it. I’m not even really family.’
Had he known what misunderstandings this would lead to, he might have chosen differently.
But back then, he couldn’t understand—not his fathers, not his brother.
By middle school, he became a complete outsider in class.
No classmates approached the silent, disheveled boy radiating gloom.
“Hey, wait a second.”
It was after school, as he trudged toward the bus stop.
A voice called from behind.
He didn’t think it was for him, so he kept walking, eyes fixed on the ground.
He planned to kill time at the library—anything to delay going home.
“You there! Gil Wookyung, in the navy uniform!”
Hearing his name unexpectedly, he flinched and stopped.
Something was suddenly thrust in front of his downcast face.
“Isn’t this yours?”
A pale, slender hand held out a textbook.
On the cover, the name Gil Wookyung was neatly written.
He flicked his gaze up just enough to see the other person—a uniform similar in color but far more refined.
The prestigious high school only wealthy, dominant-presenting students attended.
The same school his brother went to.
The smiling face was as fair and clear as the hand holding the book.
Pretty features, an elegant aura—
‘An Omega.’
He knew instantly.
The person in front of him had presented.
Realizing this, his expression darkened again, his gaze dropping back to the ground.
Alphas and Omegas made up less than 10% of the population.
So why did it feel like they were everywhere he looked?
If they weren’t around, he wouldn’t have to care.
“Hmm… not taking it?”
The voice was gentle, kind.
He snatched the book so fast it made a whoosh sound.
Giving a half-nod that might’ve been a greeting, he hurried away.
“Be careful!”
What a weird person.
Not even mad.
Glancing back, he saw the other boy waving, eyes curved into smiling crescents.
He stared blankly for a moment before turning away.
He thought that would be the end of it, but surprisingly, he met that person again that same day—an Omega who was his brother’s friend.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Jaehyun.”
They’d only met briefly, so of course the other wouldn’t remember him.
But for some reason, that stung, and from that day on, he found himself trailing after Jaehyun like a lost puppy.
Eventually, he learned that Shin Jaehyun was a dominant Omega, and that jealousy-tinged envy slowly grew into something else—affection.
After hesitantly following from afar, he finally mustered the courage to confess.
“The hell is this gloomy bastard? You after Jaehyun too?”
His shoulder was grabbed, and he was shoved hard enough to make a thud.
“Hey, he’s mine, so back the hell off!”
A rough voice, followed by a pungent, overpowering scent flooding his nose.
At the same time, a searing heat pierced through his entire body.
“Ghk—!”
It felt like being engulfed in flames.
Shocked, Wookyung tore his arm free and bolted.
“What the hell did you do with your pheromones again? Let go!”
Behind him, he heard arguing, but he didn’t look back.
His mind screamed only one thing: Run.
“Hah…! Hah. Hah.”
Wookyung’s eyes flew open as he gasped for air.
The shock from moments ago still felt vivid.
He raised a hand—his fingers trembled visibly.
“Haah…”
With a long sigh, he covered his eyes with his forearm.
Instantly, the scenes from his dream resurfaced.
Back then, he hadn’t understood what was happening.
His only instinct had been to escape the threat.
He didn’t even know how he’d made it home.
After barely collapsing onto the bed, his entire body had burned with fever, and the sound of his own ragged breaths had echoed in his ears.
His last memory was the frantic voices of his two fathers calling his name—then his body jerking upright.
“Damn it.”
Wookyung lowered his hand, shielding his face.
His eyelids felt scorching hot.
A lump swelled in his throat.
“How could I have forgotten that?”
Pathetic.
“Well, I probably didn’t want to believe it was real.”
If his ability had manifested then—when he’d lashed out at the family who cherished him, when he’d stalked his brother’s friend like some obsessed freak—
He scrubbed his face with his palms and pulled them away.
Yeah, it was time to admit it.
This wasn’t some fictional world. He’d been lying to himself all along.
Saheon’s words before he fell asleep came back to him: I love you because it’s you. I’m ready to hear anything, so tell me when you’re ready.
Wookyung knew it wasn’t just about his secondary gender.
Even if he’d asked, “What if I weren’t me?” Saheon would’ve said he was prepared to listen, to believe and understand him no matter what.
“You’re really pathetic, Gil Wookyung.”
Why had he forgotten that was Saheon’s way of giving him a hint?
He should’ve mustered more courage back then.
Yet, the anxiety remained unavoidable.
Even so—could Saheon truly accept him, knowing he’d been rejecting reality, trapped in false memories?
It seemed impossible.
Then, suddenly, he remembered Saheon’s confession from before: I like you, regardless of your secondary gender.
“What the hell, seriously…”
Maybe Saheon had already known the truth—that he’d been suffering from memory distortion.
And maybe he’d been waiting, just like this, for Wookyung to remember everything and not run away.
“Haah…”
Wookyung squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them.
Something hot surged up his throat.
His nose stung, and he pressed a hand over his mouth.
Gratitude and guilt twisted inside him for Saheon, who’d waited so silently.
At the same time, an unbearable desperation overwhelmed him—he couldn’t not love this man.
He had to confess now, to the person who’d surely still be waiting.
The thought made him restless, and he jerked upright.
He hurried out of the room, but Saheon was nowhere in sight.
Now that he thought about it, the suite had been quiet all along.
“He said we’d talk when I woke up—where’d he go?”
He tapped his phone screen, intending to call, but Saheon’s messages appeared first:
[Saheon, Team Leader: Wookyung, I had to leave urgently for work.
Saheon, Team Leader: Call me when you wake up. Sorry for leaving you alone.
Saheon, Team Leader: Medical staff are on standby, so let the hotel know if you’re in pain or need anything.]
The messages suggested an unexpected work emergency.
Still, medical staff?
“Overkill.”
Grumbling, Wookyung belatedly noticed his own state.
Colorful marks littered his skin, reminding him of last night’s debauchery.
He scratched his flushed earlobe and muttered,
“Why did I even…?”
He’d acted like a beast driven by lust—losing all reason, seducing Saheon just to be taken by him.
Maybe he should see a doctor.
But first, he needed to contact Saheon and eat.
Wookyung deliberately ignored his marked-up body and tapped out a reply:
[Me: Just woke up.]
He paused, hesitating.
He would see the doctor, but should he mention it now?
Eventually, he sent a short follow-up, figuring Saheon would find out anyway:
[Me: I’ll meet the doctor, so don’t worry. Focus on work and come back safely.]
Even that felt like an affectionate message to a lover.
Wookyung rubbed the back of his neck, irritated.
* * *
