“Alphas never let go of what they’ve claimed as theirs, whether it’s people or objects. Regardless of their affection for the subject, it’s like an Alpha’s instinct. Unless they destroy it themselves, they can’t stand someone else touching what’s theirs. That’s why they mark. Rut is similar in nature. It’s about impregnating their Omega.”
“…This is the first time I’m hearing this?”
“It’s something only shared among Alphas. Honestly, it’s not exactly something you’d talk about openly, is it?”
Indeed, it would be problematic in many ways if told to Omegas.
Even with affection, it’s violent—and without affection, it’s neither obsession nor possessiveness, but capricious ownership.
It’s nothing more or less than a hoarding compulsion, piling up unneeded objects at home and neglecting them.
“If that’s true, then maybe Jaehyuk hyung loves Yeonwoo hyung enough to go against that instinct.”
Junghyun, who was tearing open a jelly wrapper as he spoke, suddenly paused.
It was a casual remark, but it stabbed right through his heart.
As he awkwardly fiddled with the jelly wrapper, hurt by his own words, Yunho, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, shook his head.
“That’s impossible. For an Alpha, affection is about possession and control. You can wish someone happiness and let them go only if they’re outside your territory, but you can’t tolerate someone within your territory leaving. In a way, Alphas are products of compulsion and obsession. The degree may vary, but the root is the same. Especially for a dominant Alpha like Jaehyuk hyung, those characteristics manifest even more strongly. He has no affection for those he doesn’t control. No matter how it appears on the surface. He’s thoroughly indifferent.”
Junghyun stared at Yunho, who spoke with certainty as if speaking about himself. Then he asked casually.
“Is that from experience?”
“…No comment.”
“That means it’s true.”
“I stopped before getting to that point.”
“If you stopped, then that person could stop too.”
“I was able to stop because I never started, but Jaehyuk hyung is different. Unlike a trivial Alpha like me, he’s a pureblooded Alpha. Probably the person with the strongest Alpha characteristics of anyone you know… Your assumption is realistically impossible.”
At Yunho’s point that it was actually quite extraordinary that Jaehyuk had let Junghyun live, Junghyun gave up on unwrapping the jelly and placed it on the table.
Then he said bluntly.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just do what I can.”
“So, what exactly?”
“That’s not your concern, and anyway, just cover for me. No, it’s not even covering—it’s the truth. Say I got the information from you by chance during a conversation.”
“Who would believe it came up by chance? Even if your hyung doesn’t know, if he knows everything, he’ll know I’ve been blabbing about his favorite surfing spots, regular hangouts, and even details of his love life. Ah, thinking about it makes me crazy again…”
Yoonhopulled at his hair, wondering exactly what he should pretend to know and what to pretend not to know.
Seeing him agonize in a way that didn’t suit him, Junghyun stood up as if telling him to do as he pleased.
“Don’t overthink with that poor brain of yours. It’s not going to help anyway.”
As Junghyun headed toward the door, worrying that Yoonhowould just give himself a headache, Yoonholooked up and glared at him.
And he muttered quietly.
“Damn Chihuahua. Why did I ever buy him meals…”
“It’s karma.”
“Yeah, it’s all my karma. I shouldn’t have messed with you thinking it would be fun.”
“You should’ve ended your dopamine addiction with surfing.”
“How can I help it when hanging out with you is so much fun?”
At the pathetic dopamine addict’s excuse that it might not be drugs but it’s more fun than gambling, Junghyun paused as he was about to open the door. Then he stared at Yoonhoas if looking at the most pitiful human being in the world.
“You still have a long way to go before getting your act together. You might really get into serious trouble at this rate.”
“You’ve already created the biggest trouble in my life, you know?”
“That’s what I mean by karma. You shouldn’t have dragged me around for fun.”
As Yunho, unable to refute the irrefutable statement, groaned and messed up his hair, Junghyun offered some comfort.
“Since he already knows everything and is just meeting to confirm, nothing serious will happen. Just play it cool.”
“That’s what you think.”
“Maintaining the marriage with me means he’s letting everything go.”
Yunho’s hand, which had been messing up his hair, suddenly paused.
Come to think of it, that’s true.
If Jaehyuk had an issue with it, he would have settled things with Junghyun first.
Thinking about it that way made him feel a bit lighter.
“You’re right. If he was going to make it a problem, he would’ve crushed you first.”
“Exactly. So just go with the flow. Oh, and I also know you sent me contraceptives and suppressants during my heat. Match that story too. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”
Yunho, who was about to lament that Junghyun even knew about that, suddenly had a realization.
“I was wondering why he didn’t suspect anything about the pregnancy when he’s certainly not a dull person. He thought you took the morning-after pill.”
Saying that was strange too, Yoonhofinally sighed as if all his questions had been answered, gazing up at the sky, while Junghyun gave one final piece of advice.
“He probably knows much more detail than you think. So just be honest.”
After advising that trying to skirt around the truth would only make things more difficult, Junghyun waved his hand and left the office immediately.
As he crossed the half-empty office and returned to his seat, a message arrived on his phone in his pocket.
[Soulmate] Everything is prepared on this end. I’ve sent the documents by email, so check them and let me know when you have time.
It was from the older man.
It seemed the preparations for what he had asked for last time were complete.
[Thank you. I’ll check the documents and get back to you.]
After replying to the well-timed message, he was about to log into his email account on his laptop when another message arrived.
[Mountain Ginseng] I have plans with Yoonhothis evening. You’ll have to go home alone.
As Jaehyuk had said, the message was as usual, as if nothing had happened, and Junghyun hesitated on how to respond.
Going along with him casually seemed too shameless, but acting awkward would be uncomfortable.
That’s why he had barely spoken with him since yesterday, but they couldn’t continue like this forever.
Scratching his neck in perplexity, he finally chose a safe reply.
[I heard from Yoonho hyung. I’ll get home by myself.]
After spending time writing, deleting, and rewriting the message several times, Junghyun finally pressed send. Then he let out a small sigh.
Not having to commute home together today was fortunate for him. He had felt suffocated the entire morning commute together—he couldn’t have endured it until the evening commute.
With the thought that he had bought time until tomorrow morning, he turned his attention back to the laptop screen when another notification sound came.
[Mountain Ginseng] Let me know your quitting time. A car will come for you.
At the awkward offer, he hurriedly sent another message.
[It’s okay. I’ll take a taxi home.]
After sending the message a bit faster this time, he waited for a reply, but soon his phone rang.
Startled by the sound, he checked his phone screen and it was as expected.
Though talking directly with him was uncomfortable, he couldn’t keep avoiding it, so he immediately stood up, put on his coat, and pressed the call button as he left the office.
“Yes.”
– Is it okay to talk?
“Yes.”
– You’ll probably get a separate notice soon, but from today, you’ll have a secretary and a driver. In the future, you can coordinate your movements with them.
At Jaehyuk’s unilateral announcement, Junghyun stopped walking.
“…A driver?”
– From now on, the two of you will move together. After you resign, they’ll also manage your schedule.
At what was the most repulsive idea in the world to him, Junghyun irritably ran his fingers through his hair.
He might tolerate other things, but on this point, there could be no compromise.
First of all, he disliked having strangers in his personal space. And above all, he hated being monitored.
Whether drivers or security guards, in his case, they were people assigned for surveillance, not protection, and he hated that.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll decline. I don’t like traveling with other people—it’s uncomfortable.”
– You’ll have to get used to it from now on. You’ll be living among people for the rest of your life.
The phrase “rest of your life” sounded a bit strange, but now wasn’t the time to quibble over details, so he pretended not to hear it.
“I really don’t like that. There’s no danger, so I don’t need things like drivers or secretaries.”
– On this issue, you don’t have the right to refuse. I should have assigned people to you earlier, but I postponed it because I thought you’d be uncomfortable. Now is the perfect time.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
