* * *
“Wookyung, sit down for a second.”
Wookyung was just coming out to the living room, dressed and ready to go after agreeing to meet Associate Choi in the lobby in twenty minutes, when Saheon called him.
“Hm? What is it?”
“Dr. Lim called a moment ago.”
“Oh, what did he say?”
The mention of a doctor instantly made Wookyung tense up.
There were too many variables—his sudden pheromone shift, an unanticipated heat cycle, the night he’d spent with Saheon… none of it was insignificant.
“He said we’ll need the full report to know for sure, but for now, it looks like your pheromone glands have stabilized.”
“Stabilized, as in I can now release pheromones normally?”
“Yeah. But since you’re a recessive omega, your sensitivity to others’ pheromones might be a bit dull.”
That was actually a relief for Wookyung.
“What about the heat cycle?”
“He said it might only come two or three times a year.”
Considering that most omegas go into heat every two to three months, that was infrequent.
Strangely, a part of him felt mildly disappointed.
He used to think it was lucky—being closer to a beta.
But that must’ve changed because now, he had someone he cared about.
“But uh… as you know, I’m a dominant alpha. So, he warned that my rut might trigger your heat to come early.”
“Oh. How many times a year do you go into rut?”
Wookyung understood instantly.
Come to think of it, his first heat had started while going through Saheon’s rut.
“Three times.”
“Is it that regular?”
Saheon nodded.
Watching him, Wookyung quipped, half-joking, “So for a while, we can spend the night without worrying about heat or rut.”
“Are you seducing me?”
“Yup.”
At Wookyung’s plain response, Saheon blinked.
The moment their eyes locked, their lips met.
At the same time, a faint fresh scent tickled his nose.
He knew now—it was Saheon’s pheromone.
Wookyung closed his eyes.
Their lips moved slowly, pressing and parting.
Light sucking, gentle nips, no pain.
They deepened the kiss, flesh melding, breathing mingling.
When Saheon’s tongue slid out and licked first his bottom lip, then the top, a small shiver ran through Wookyung.
‘Was I always this weak to pleasure?’ he reflected even as their mouths stayed locked.
“Haah…”
As he tried to exhale, Saheon’s broad fingers wiped the moisture from the corner of his lips.
The way he touched him, it was as if affection and longing lingered on his fingertips.
“Shall we get going now, Assistant Manager Wookyung?”
The regret in his eyes as he spoke made Wookyung chuckle softly and rise.
When they reached the lobby, Associate Choi was waiting along with the new buyer.
They spent the morning touring the venue with the client and site personnel.
In the afternoon, they met Assistant Manager Lee, who had flown in straight from the airport to join them at the exhibition.
She didn’t even mention the absence of Assistant Manager Oh.
“You worked hard right after arriving, Assistant Manager Lee. Get some rest tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Wookyung spoke to her, noting how tired she looked.
“Oh, no worries. This was nothing. The business class flight made it easy, honestly.”
She looked like she wanted to say something more, but instead, she just smiled and stood.
Likely, the unspoken words were about the rumor swirling loudly behind his back.
He appreciated that she didn’t pry, though she must have been curious.
“Well then, I’ll be going ahead!”
Whether she sensed the mood or simply prioritized rest, Assistant Manager Lee left quickly.
Associate Choi followed.
“Looks like she figured it out.”
Wookyung gave Saheon a look that said what are you talking about, and Saheon smiled as he explained.
“I mean the pheromone I left on you.”
“You did that?”
‘When?’
Wookyung recalled the scent he caught earlier that morning during their kiss before heading out.
He had just chalked it up to being in a good mood. So it wasn’t just that?
“Why would you do that?”
“You said it was okay to make it clear that you’re mine.”
“…Hah.”
That wasn’t exactly what he’d meant.
It wasn’t like Saheon to do something like that, but for some reason, Wookyung didn’t feel like scolding him.
“At least tell me before you do that kind of thing.”
That was as far as he went in protesting—offering a compromise rather than an objection.
“Can I keep doing it?”
“Do other alphas or omegas usually do that kind of thing?”
“Hmm…”
Saheon’s vague response implied that no, they usually didn’t.
The reason he probably did it was to show Assistant Manager Lee the rumors were true.
So that’s what she wanted to ask earlier—not about company drama, but about this.
Embarrassment crept in late, and Wookyung rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well… Shall we go see your grandmother now?”
At those words, Wookyung shook his head.
“Let’s go up and wash up first.”
Saheon tilted his head, feigning ignorance.
“I can’t meet the Chairwoman looking all messy like this.”
This time, Saheon’s gaze slowly trailed from top to bottom. His expression seemed to ask, ‘What’s the problem?’
But Wookyung couldn’t let it go.
This wasn’t just anyone—it was Saheon’s grandmother.
He needed to look presentable.
“Absolutely not.”
His firm response made Saheon smile faintly.
Still, he leisurely followed behind Wookyung as he headed for the presidential suite’s private elevator.
Once upstairs, Wookyung told Saheon to use the living room bathroom and went to the one inside his own room.
As he undressed in the powder room, he glanced sideways at the full-length mirror.
“Ugh, I’ll need to fix my hair too.”
He must’ve run his hands through it too many times at work—his carefully styled look from the morning was a mess.
After a quick shower, he came out, finger-combing his hair back into place.
Satisfied, he turned to the neatly organized clothes.
“What should I wear…”
A full suit felt too formal. He needed something tidy but relaxed.
“Something comfortable… That one’s good. Go with that.”
Before he knew it, Saheon had appeared behind him, offering unsolicited fashion advice.
Wookyung shot him an annoyed glance.
He was pointing at the jeans Wookyung had packed for dates.
“I’m going to meet your grandmother, you know?”
“So?”
“This is not appropriate.”
But Saheon still wore a what’s-the-big-deal expression.
“If it really bothers you, I’ll match you.”
Clearly, he was doing it on purpose.
“Forget it.”
Wookyung tore his gaze away from the jeans and returned to the suits and slacks.
Still too much for a casual visit… but the slacks were a better choice.
“This one looks good.”
Just as he shifted focus to his top, Saheon butted in again, holding a moss green knit sweater.
“That’s not mine.”
“I picked it out thinking it’d be warm for you.”
So he bought it just for him.
When did he even have time to do that?
And it was perfectly Wookyung’s size, too.
“I’ll wear it. Thanks.”
Wookyung quietly accepted the sweater.
It felt soft and warm—just like Saheon’s heart.
By the time he finished changing, Saheon had vanished.
‘Where’d he go?’ he wondered.
But then he returned—now dressed in a similar outfit.
“What the…”
“Not good?”
“No, it’s not that…”
He adjusted to match me—no way.
Shaking my head slightly, I approached him and naturally reached out to take his hand. He interlaced our fingers firmly.
I followed as he gently tugged me along.
A car was already waiting in front of the hotel.
It wasn’t a taxi—it was a luxury sedan.
Upon realizing that, Wookyung sighed inwardly.
He could already guess who had sent it.
‘They could’ve just sent a regular cab.’
The weight on his shoulders seemed to pile up again.
Whether Saheon noticed that or not, he calmly stepped aside and gestured for Wookyung to get in first.
The inside of the car was just as expensive-looking as the outside.
Something like this couldn’t have been arranged last minute.
While he was lost in thought, the car pulled up to the entrance of the W Hotel.
An employee was already waiting and opened the door for him with a courteous smile, making Wookyung feel even more burdened as he stepped out.
Still, the only saving grace was that Saheon was by his side.
They walked in step together, and it didn’t take long to reach the restaurant.
“There’s no need to be so nervous, Wookyung. It’s just a meal.”
If only it were that easy.
Wookyung ran a hand across his cheek and nodded.
Soon after, the doors opened, and Chairman Choi entered.
“It’s nice to see you again like this, Mr. Gil Wookyung.”
Her gaze on him was calm yet warm, just like the last time.
* * *
