* * *

Mr. Choi gave Jungin a gentle look before turning to greet his brothers.

Following her lead, the group made their way to the drawing room in the annex.

Jungin, now a little awkward, broke the silence.

“This makes me feel like I really live here. Well, I do live here, but… you know what I mean…”

“Jungin, shall you go back with us now?”

Placing his teacup down, Jungjin spoke.

Beside him, Jungwoo and Jungseo nodded as if they had anticipated this conversation.

“…So suddenly?”

“After thinking it over last night, I realized it doesn’t feel right leaving you in someone else’s house.”

It was an understandable sentiment from his brothers.

Yet, as soon as Jungjin spoke, Beomhyeon’s face flashed in Jungin’s mind.

Was it because Beomhyeon had confessed to him yesterday?

Or was it… the thought of not living together anymore?

Realizing this, Jungin’s face grew warm.

Seeing his lack of response, Jungjin assumed his hesitation was due to mistrust.

“I’ll make sure Mother doesn’t interfere.”

“…Even so.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t stay at the main house. Just you and me, somewhere else…”

“I’m going too.”

“You’re busy. What if Mother shows up unexpectedly? I should be the one to stay.”

Though Jungjin’s serious tone was firm, he couldn’t help but glance disapprovingly at the other two.

It baffled him why they seemed colder to Jungin than necessary.

“…Fine. All of us, together.”

Amused by this rare sight, Jungin finally broke his silence with a small laugh.

As expected, the ones who should have arrived early in the morning didn’t show up until 10 AM, which suggested they intended to have lunch with Jungin.

“Hoo, I’ll take Jungin with me.”

“Jungin-nim has already gone to the drawing room.”

At those words, Beomhyeon rose to his feet.

He couldn’t predict what sweet words they might use to try and take Jungin back home.

Just yesterday, he had convinced them to let Jungin stay at his house under the pretense of Madam Jang, but he couldn’t trust that they wouldn’t flip their words as easily as turning over a hand.

Feeling anxious, Beomhyeon quickened his pace.

In no time, he moved to the annex where the drawing room was and pushed open the door.

Clack.

As expected, the first sight that greeted Beomhyeon was Jungin surrounded by his brothers.

The three alphas were crowded around Jungin, leaving no room for anyone else.

The moment Beomhyeon stepped in, three pairs of sharp eyes turned toward him, exuding a menacing energy.

Ignoring their glares, Beomhyeon calmly shifted his gaze to Jungin.

Only then did Jungin, who had been oblivious to his presence, lift his lips to speak.

“Oh? I thought you had something important today. Are you done already?”

“It wasn’t much.”

Beomhyeon approached Jungin with a familiar ease, wiping a bit of cream off Jungin’s lips with his thumb and licking it off.

The act made not only the three men but even Jungin himself flinch and stare at him in shock.

Ignoring their reactions, Beomhyeon wrapped his arm around Jungin’s shoulder, positioning himself behind him, and disregarded the hostile gazes directed his way.

Though they maintained tight smiles, their anger was palpable in the relentless wave of alpha pheromones filling the room.

Meanwhile, Beomhyeon, unfazed by the pheromones, noticed Jungin uncomfortably rubbing the back of his neck and finally spoke up.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”

“Oh, uh… My back feels a little itchy. Maybe it’s the new clothes.”

“Stay still. Let me take a look.”

Beomhyeon reached to lift Jungin’s shirt, but the sound of a chair scraping against the floor and a hand pushing his away made him turn his gaze to the side.

“Hey. Back off.”

“Hyung?”

“Don’t lay a hand on our little brother.”

Jungin, who had his head down and couldn’t grasp the situation, turned at the sudden rise in voices.

“Jungseo hyung, what’s going on?”

“Hah. You really don’t get it, do you? Do you know how much this bastard’s pheromones are clinging to your body?”

“Pheromones… clinging to me?”

Jungin blinked, clueless.

Though he was technically an omega now, he hadn’t noticed any differences from when he was a beta.

Except for occasionally catching a pleasant scent from Beomhyeon.

Did his body carry that scent as well?

Jungin sniffed at his skin but couldn’t detect anything.

Seeing Jungin’s innocent face, Jungseo clenched his jaw in frustration.

“That’s it. You’re coming with us. Right now.”

“Where exactly do you think you’re taking him?”

Beomhyeon, who had been silent, finally spoke up, his voice cold.

Jungseo, meeting his fierce gaze, balled his fists and responded.

“Where else? I’m taking our kid away. I can’t leave him for even a minute near a bastard like you.”

Leaving Jungin near this predator was like leaving fish with a cat.

Jungseo’s protective instincts flared as he scanned the room for possible escape routes and reached for Jungin.

“You’re not taking him.”

“What?”

Blocking Jungseo’s hand, Beomhyeon, for the first time, released his pheromones to shield Jungin.

“You’re not taking Lee Jungin anywhere.”

The atmosphere in the drawing room turned tense, as if a fight might break out at any moment.

Jungin, caught between the two men, gaped at the unfolding chaos.

“Fine. Let the kid decide. Lee Jungin, are you coming with us, or are you staying with this guy?”

Jungseo turned to Jungin confidently, his gaze unwavering.

Jungin hesitated, shrinking slightly under the attention, and glanced at Beomhyeon standing behind Jungseo.

The reaction irked Jungseo even more, as Jungin’s uncertainty and the glances toward this “thieving bastard” twisted his gut with irritation.

“You’ll come with your hyungs, right?”

Jungseo’s tone softened as he leaned toward Jungin, his hand gently resting on his brother’s stiff shoulders.

“Don’t worry about Mom. We’ll move out and make sure she doesn’t bother you.”

Mom. Right, Jungin had his reasons for not wanting to return.

But even knowing that, Beomhyeon was the only thing filling his mind right now.

“Kid…”

As Jungin’s silence dragged on, Jungseo’s expression began to crumble.

He had been sure Jungin would choose them, but now, watching him hesitate, glancing at Beomhyeon, a sense of unease began to gnaw at him.

Before Jungseo could drag him away, Beomhyeon intervened.

“Isn’t this Jungin’s choice to make?” Beomhyeon said, stepping closer to Jungin. “Jungin, tell me. Do you want to go?”

“…”

“Or do you want to stay here with me?”

Beomhyeon caressed Jungin’s cheek, his eyes locked on the omega’s trembling gaze, waiting for an answer.

“You…!”

At Beomhyeon’s audacity, the brothers snapped, their restraint finally breaking.

They lunged at him, their pheromones boiling over.

“I…”

At that moment, Jungin’s voice cut through the tension, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I want to stay.”

“Kid!” Jungseo was the first to react, grabbing Jungin’s shoulders, his expression disbelieving.

“I’m not saying I’ll stay here forever,” Jungin clarified.

Now, it was Beomhyeon’s turn to stiffen slightly.

Jungin looked between the two groups, sighing inwardly at their reactions.

“I’ll go back to school soon. Until then, I’ll stay here. You need to move anyway, right?”

“Then we’ll just stay at a hotel—”

“It’s only for a little while.”

Jungin looked up at Beomhyeon’s unreadable face, then turned back to his brothers.

“I’ll leave soon. Just a bit longer.”

“…Fine.”

“Hyung!”

Though reluctant, Jungseo couldn’t argue further.

The tension slowly began to fade, but one thing was clear: no one was happy with the situation.

“Everything depends on Jungin’s choice, remember?” Beomhyeon reminded Jungseo.

For now, it seemed, the matter was settled.

Jungjin’s gaze, initially fixed on Jungseo, briefly flickered to Beomhyeon.

It was a silent but clear message: accept Jungin’s decision without objections.

* * *