Sanho’s pheromones, which had been surging fiercely, momentarily faltered. The hand of Joo-cheol, already lost to reason, was clumsily tearing open Sanho’s shirt, but it stopped moving in front of the large shadow that approached with heavy steps. A large hand seized Joo-cheol’s hand. A horrifying cracking sound echoed from the knuckles. Just like that day when his shoulder had been crushed. As Joo-cheol’s wrist twisted grotesquely, he began to squeal like a pig.
“Ah, it hurts… Ah, it… Aaaah…!!!”
Without hesitation, the large hand released Joo-cheol’s twisted hand. Sanho’s gaze slowly rose along the large hand.
“……Senior.”
***
[30 minutes earlier]
Water droplets dripped from Siwoo’s hair as he stepped out of the shower. A small stain formed where the droplets fell on his shoulder. Siwoo leaned back against the terrace table chair.
“…….”
The increasingly cool breeze rippled lightly behind him. The city, which had long sunk into darkness, was lighting up with bright lights everywhere. Siwoo stared at the cellphone and the red cigarette case placed side by side on the table. His eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“…….”
He had been repeating the same thoughts like a broken record for hours. He was stumbling over the words that Chairman Jin, his father, had said in the hotel lobby. It was a clear warning. A very clear warning to keep his distance from Sanho. It was much more direct and extreme than the words he had casually mentioned during breakfast not long ago. Siwoo instinctively sensed the danger.
Siwoo knew his father well. He was generally a warm and gentle person, but he was never one to be swayed by emotions. When he judged something to have a negative influence, he was colder and more ruthless than anyone else. And it was clear that his father had deemed Sanho a “negative influence.”
Siwoo pressed his fingers against the brow bone with both hands, closing his eyes as if in frustration. Dizzying images flashed by like a film. The malicious events swirling around Sanho were trivial matters. Of course, they were unpleasant and made him angry, but he could protect him for as long as he needed. He could resolve things and comfort Sanho by his side. But his father…
“…….”
His father was a bit different. Given that he had even let slip that he was looking for a partner, it was likely that his father was planning to remove Sanho from Siwoo’s sight. The thought of “removing” him sent a chill down Siwoo’s spine. It was dangerous. Not for him, but for Sanho.
Siwoo quietly looked down at his cellphone, which was not lit up. He had asked Manager Jung to confirm the match his father was looking into. Since Manager Jung hadn’t given him a heads-up, it was clear that his father was looking into the match through someone other than Manager Jung. It seemed that Manager Jung had even figured out that he was acting on Siwoo’s behalf. Siwoo bit his lip tightly.
Had his father made up his mind to find a match to the extent of involving family promises? If so… what should he do… He had to ensure that Sanho no longer caught his father’s eye. To do that, the method was…
The cellphone vibrated softly. It was a small tremor, but it felt as if the stillness of the air had suddenly awakened. Siwoo grasped the cellphone, which displayed Manager Jung’s name.
“Manager.”
– Yes, Director. I apologize for the late hour regarding the matter you asked me to look into.
“It’s fine. What did you find out…?”
– Yes, about that.
Manager Jung cleared his throat. He soon continued in a clear and quick manner.
– It seems the Chairman gave urgent instructions last night. Probably right after he learned that you were not in Seoul.
“…Yes.”
– It took a little time to confirm since it was given discreetly. Most of the business world has already caught wind of it, and it seems that contacts are being made quickly. The one who has made the most progress is the second son of WT.
WT was a massive corporation that could rival JR. Although its influence in Korea was weaker than JR’s due to being a foreign company, its foundation was solid and deep. If it was the second son from there… Siwoo tapped his fingers nervously on the table.
– It seems he returned from the U.S. just over a year ago. Also… he is an Omega.
Siwoo knew that too. He had encountered him a few times at gatherings of business figures. Although they had never formally introduced themselves, they were aware of each other’s existence. As far as Siwoo remembered, he was indeed an Omega. It was evident not just because of his striking appearance, but also from the way he intentionally released pheromones little by little. He was someone who had become accustomed to being treated as precious, and thus had a habit of looking down on others. Siwoo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“Is being an Omega important?”
– The Chairman… wished for the partner to definitely be an Omega…
Siwoo’s eyes narrowed even more. Of course, there was a possibility that he wanted to pair him with an Omega capable of pregnancy for the sake of succession. But his father was not someone who held prejudices about traits. Except for the particular hostility he had towards Sanho. The uneasy feeling that the condition of being an Omega was not unrelated to Sanho spread in his chest.
“What about the current situation?”
– It seems a meeting between the two will be arranged soon. It is progressing unusually quickly, so I’m a bit…
Manager Jung trailed off, closing his mouth. He was right. Finding a match was usually done with great caution. It was rare for things to happen so hastily. Siwoo’s fingers tapped the table a bit more nervously. After a brief pause, Manager Jung spoke again.
– It seems the Chairman knew your junior.
“Sanho? He knew?”
– Actually… yes, he knows.
What did it mean that he knew? Did it mean he had known all along? Siwoo tilted his head slightly in confusion. Before Siwoo could speak, Manager Jung continued.
– And I’m not sure if I should mention this, but…
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
– It seems your junior just left the hotel.
Siwoo was not monitoring Sanho. What he had asked Manager Jung to do was not to keep an eye on Sanho. He didn’t need to know about every little action. Manager Jung continued in a flat voice.
– I had been keeping track of Joo-cheol’s movements, and it seems they have been in contact. Your junior likely went to meet Joo-cheol directly. They must have met by now…
Siwoo shot up from his seat. Why was Sanho…? Siwoo knew that after crushing Joo-cheol’s shoulder, he had resolved to take a revenge that would not even reach him. That was why he had asked Manager Jung to keep an eye on Joo-cheol’s surroundings. However, he had not anticipated that Sanho would go to find Joo-cheol himself. Siwoo’s jaw clenched tightly. With a trembling voice, Siwoo asked.
“Now? Where?”
– At P Club. It’s not Joo-cheol who went looking for him; it’s your junior who went directly, so it’s not a big problem…
Damn, a small curse slipped through Siwoo’s clenched teeth. Manager Jung, who had been speaking, fell silent. Siwoo’s urgent footsteps could be heard through the phone. Manager Jung also realized that his words were problematic. The meeting between Sanho and Joo-cheol, regardless of who went, would cause trouble. It could not be a good situation. As the urgent footsteps ended the call, Manager Jung let out a quiet sigh. He too was anxious. About Siwoo, Sanho, and the current situation.
***
Arriving in front of P Club, Siwoo abruptly halted his steps as he was about to go down to the basement. The gaze of a yellow-haired man standing at the entrance was uncomfortable. He pretended to have a blank expression, but curiosity and excitement were evident in his eyes as he looked at Siwoo. The moment Siwoo stepped on the stairs, the corners of the yellow-haired man’s mouth curled up. Siwoo frowned and turned to him. He exchanged glances for a moment but had no intention of speaking to him.
“…….”
There was no reason to engage with him. Siwoo’s sole purpose was to find Sanho. And right now, Siwoo could clearly sense where Sanho was. The familiar pheromones wafted through the air. It was the strong pheromones of a dominant Omega. The yellow-haired man was clearly an Alpha. Siwoo distinctly noted the moment his expression crumbled. The Omega, the source of the pheromones, had a clear purpose in releasing them. Siwoo hurriedly moved towards the alley behind. His stiff face turned pale.
“…….”
As he entered the alley, he spotted Sanho and Joo-cheol facing each other. As Sanho released his pheromones, Joo-cheol trembled violently. The density of the pheromones was so thick that even Siwoo found it hard to breathe, and a recessive Alpha like Joo-cheol would have no chance against it. Siwoo gritted his teeth so hard that his jaw ached as he approached the two.
It was obvious why an Omega would directly release pheromones towards an Alpha. It was a plea to be embraced. If he released such strong pheromones, it was even more so. Perhaps he had even considered that Joo-cheol might completely lose his mind due to the overwhelming pheromones. Why was Sanho doing this to Joo-cheol?
A button popped off Sanho’s shirt, which Joo-cheol had roughly torn open, and rolled away, stopping at Siwoo’s feet. Stepping on the button, Siwoo moved closer to them.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
His heart pounded loudly. Siwoo was also affected by Sanho’s pheromones, but the overwhelming surge of emotions was even greater.
“…Baek Sanho.”
“…….”
“Clean up the pheromones… right now.”
If he had released the pheromones himself, it must have been intentional. But no matter how much Sanho wanted it, he could not bear to see his clothes being torn off by Joo-cheol. Siwoo forcefully grabbed Joo-cheol’s hand.
Crushing his shoulder was too gentle. Wasn’t it?
As Joo-cheol’s wrist twisted grotesquely, he let out a scream. His eyes, already showing the whites, trembled.
“Ah, it hurts… Ah, it… Aaaah…!!!”
As if discarding something filthy, Siwoo flung Joo-cheol’s hand away. Sanho’s gaze, which had been cast down, slowly rose to meet Siwoo’s. Their eyes locked, the meaning behind Sanho’s dark eyes was inscrutable.
“……Senior.”
Sanho’s eyelashes cast a shadow over Siwoo’s stiff cheek. Siwoo could not discern whether the thing choking his throat was anger or despair. Sanho’s face, which had been looking at Siwoo, also turned pale. He could feel Sanho’s pheromones gradually settling.
“What… are you doing right now?”
A voice as cold as Siwoo himself was surprised slipped through his lips.
“Why are you here…?”
“Sanho.”
It felt as if he had swallowed a handful of sand; his throat felt scratchy. Siwoo quietly stared at Sanho.
“Sanho, what were you doing with this bastard here?”
“Senior… just a moment….”
“Hmm? Sanho. Why… are you releasing pheromones and doing this with this bastard…?”
“So, that’s… I….”
“Did I… interfere again?”
So, the one interfering now is not that bug-like bastard, but me? Sanho bit his lip gently. He looked troubled, just like when Siwoo had asked him if he liked him during their camping trip in the mountains.
As Siwoo watched Sanho, who could not answer, he slowly turned his body towards Joo-cheol. He did not notice Sanho reaching out to grab him. Siwoo spoke to Joo-cheol in a low voice.
“I think it would be better to just kill you.”
“Senior…!”
Sanho’s urgent voice burst out from behind him. That only fueled the fire of his emotions. Siwoo’s lips, numb to the world, moved without feeling.
“Why do you keep meeting? I hate the very thought of Sanho standing in the same space as you.”
“…….”
“Honestly, it seems faster for you to just disappear. Don’t you think so?”
Though it was a short time, Joo-cheol, who had been overwhelmed by the fierce pheromones of the dominant Omega, had not yet fully regained his senses. Even while facing Siwoo, who stood tall before him, drool dripped from his slightly parted lips. However, it was certain that his reason was returning quickly. As the pain from his twisted hand became clearer, his blurred vision was also brightening. Joo-cheol shook his head, mulling over Siwoo’s words that he had input into his mind. As his reason returned, anger surged just as quickly.
“Damn…! I… didn’t do anything….”
