* * *
“It seems like Mr. Gil Wookyung’s hormone system has undergone some changes.”
Once again, Lim Haeran threw a sharp look at Saheon.
Anyone could see it was full of blame.
“Hormonal changes? Is that something that happens often?”
What is it with that look?
Why does it feel like she’s saying this is all Saheon’s fault?
Even amidst all this, Wookyung couldn’t help but feel unfairly accused and quickly tried to explain.
“That doesn’t just happen with any alpha. It’s because he’s a hyper-dominant. Only someone with pheromones strong enough to alter someone else’s traits could cause this.”
Right.
That’s not something out of a movie or drama—wait, what?
Did she just say something strange?
“Hyper-dominant?”
Wookyung asked in confusion.
Even as he spoke, he leaned toward disbelief.
He knew the percentage of trait-changers barely exceeded 10%.
And among those, hyper-dominants?
There were only two known cases in the entire country.
Even globally, fewer than twenty existed.
Wookyung knew this because rumors had long circulated that Chairman Choi of HK Group was one.
“Why? There’s one in your family, isn’t there? Chairman Choi.”
It was as if Lim Haeran knew exactly what Wookyung was thinking.
“Ah…”
Right, now that he thought about it…
That woman they’d bumped into in the lobby that one time—she had been none other than Saheon’s grandmother.
From the moment he saw her, he’d thought she had an elegant, aristocratic air.
But he never felt any sense of pressure from her.
‘Honestly, I didn’t even know she was an alpha back then.’
Well, people didn’t exactly go around declaring themselves alphas or betas in daily life.
Most were very strict about suppressing their pheromones, and modern medicine made that entirely possible.
“Is it true?”
He turned to Saheon and asked.
For once, Saheon looked a little troubled.
But he still nodded without hesitation.
So it was true.
Then why hadn’t he said anything until now?
Sure, they hadn’t been dating that long.
Maybe he just hadn’t gotten around to mentioning it.
But still, the sense of betrayal… it was because of this:
‘He knows everything about me!’
From Wookyung’s family situation to his current condition—Saheon knew it all.
That had been comforting.
But now it hit him: while he had shared everything, Saheon had kept this to himself.
“It wasn’t my intention to tell you like this. I’m sorry, Wookyung. I should’ve told Dr. Im to keep quiet.”
Really?
He was saying that right in front of her with a straight face?
Wookyung’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“You were first, Wookyung. That’s why I wanted to wait before saying anything. If it upset you, I’m sorry. I really mean that.”
It didn’t feel right to get mad at someone who said that—especially when he knew it wasn’t just an excuse.
“I didn’t do anything…”
Even so, the words came out sullen and grumbly.
“Then what can I do to make it up to you?”
Saheon gently wrapped his arm around Wookyung’s shoulders.
His hand softly stroking down was warm and kind.
“I’m not mad.”
Why did he have to say it like he was calming down a sulky child?
Still, Wookyung couldn’t help but soften under his touch.
Honestly, how could he not?
The man said he’d done it all for him.
And after all the things Saheon had done for him so far…
Realizing that he was already starting to think only in Saheon’s favor, Wookyung’s eyes wavered helplessly.
Watching them in silence, Lim Haeran chuckled lightly.
“All this time, I worried about when Choi Saheon would ever get into a relationship—he kept such a tight wall up around omegas… even betas.”
Wait a second.
Why did the way she referred to Saheon suddenly sound so familiar?
Even now, that kind of thing bothered Wookyung.
“Turns out, he had someone all along. Someone this lovely, tucked away so tightly.”
That’s not really true.
Technically speaking, Wookyung didn’t even know where Saheon lived.
Saheon only remembered him after meeting Woohyun.
And although he did show interest afterward, it wasn’t like they had the kind of history that warranted that kind of comment.
“Anyway, we’ll need to run some tests to be sure. First, let’s draw some blood.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. The machine can give more precise results, but this will still tell us a lot. Is that okay?”
She looked between them as if checking with both.
She was treating Saheon like Wookyung’s guardian, and rightly so—he had been the one to bring the doctor.
Not that Wookyung minded.
That wasn’t the issue.
“Wookyung.”
At the sound of his name, Wookyung realized yet again that Saheon always put him first.
That’s how he had always been.
That’s why, instead of explaining his own trait, he had prioritized Wookyung’s condition.
“Yes. Let’s do it now.”
Since Dr. Im already had everything ready, the blood draw was quick.
But seeing all seven tubes fill up made Wookyung feel oddly drained.
“I’ll have the results for you by tomorrow.”
“That’s fast.”
“Of course. You know who it’s for. Anything else you’d like to ask?”
Wookyung didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced sideways at Saheon.
He wanted to ask, but with Saheon there, the words didn’t come easily.
“Um… I’ll just step outside to take a call.”
Saheon, always perceptive, offered to give him space and even shifted as if to get up.
“No.”
But before he could move, Wookyung grabbed his wrist firmly.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want Saheon to hear.
“It’s just a little embarrassing, that’s all. Please stay with me.”
He felt embarrassed too.
Still, this was something that involved him as well.
Even now, the thoughtful man didn’t ask why.
He simply placed his hand quietly over Wookyung’s.
Buoyed by that silent support, Wookyung turned back to the doctor.
“…I went through a heat cycle with Saheon. And… there was knotting too.”
“Ah, so you’d like to check if you’re pregnant?”
He hadn’t managed to say the words out loud, but Lim Haeran asked straightaway.
Wookyung couldn’t meet her eyes and just nodded while staring off somewhere else.
Last time, even during rut, things had turned out okay—but still, who knew?
It had happened twice now.
And back then, his hormones had shifted, so this time…
“I understand. But that’s not something we can confirm right away. It’ll take a little more time.”
“…Oh.”
So that’s how it works.
He hadn’t known.
Wookyung nodded vaguely, a little dazed.
Well, it made sense.
He’d lived his whole life as if he were a beta.
On top of that, he’d insisted he’d never date anyone.
So things like marriage and pregnancy hadn’t even crossed his mind.
His older brother was a dominant omega.
“…By the way, do you know what my brother’s been up to lately?”
The question came out naturally.
He’d tried calling early in the day but didn’t get through.
He figured if a missed call popped up, his brother would return it—but there’d been no word at all.
Since these two seemed to know each other, maybe she’d know.
That was the train of thought that led to the question.
“Gil Woohyun? Last I heard, he was swamped finishing a paper on alpha pheromone showers.”
So it was for research.
A fairly ordinary answer he could have let go.
But Wookyung felt the hand holding his twitch slightly at the fingertips.
His eyes shifted toward Saheon.
He was pretending to be indifferent, but his eyes were clearly unsettled.
How could he not know Saheon was hiding something?
A pheromone shower?
What was the link between his brother researching that and Saheon reacting like he’d been caught off guard?
“…You’re hiding something from me again, aren’t you? Just spit it out.”
His eyes bore into Saheon with a sharp look, as if asking how he could possibly keep secrets now.
With so many things he was already guilty over, Saheon let out a heavy sigh.
Then he shot a glance at Lim Haeran, clearly telling her to leave.
Watching the ever-proud, coldly indifferent Choi Saheon suddenly fidget was oddly entertaining.
And actually being face-to-face with Gil Woohyun’s little brother was pretty amusing too.
But Lim Haeran knew how to draw the line.
“Well, I’ll head out now. I’ll contact you as soon as we get results. But if you notice any changes in your body before then, please let me know right away.”
She promptly got up and left, taking the elevator down with a cool wave, leaving the two alone to talk honestly.
Still holding Wookyung’s hand, Saheon finally looked into his eyes.
The hesitation in his gaze told Wookyung that whatever he was about to say carried serious weight.
“Wookyung… Haa. I’ll deal with that bastard, so just listen. Alright?”
Why such a strong reaction? Who the hell was “that bastard”?
“…The reason your secondary gender manifested so suddenly—it’s because of Min Kyowon.”
* * *
