Chapter 2

Ring-ring! Ring-ring!

The next morning, Ari barely managed to sit up, roused by the relentlessly ringing phone.

Checking the screen, she saw it was Dohwi calling. Given his behavior these past few days, this wasn’t surprising.

But when she saw the notification: “26 missed calls,” Ari’s eyes widened in shock.

“T-twenty-six missed calls?!”

Ring-ring! Ring-ring!

Before she could even process it, Dohwi was calling again.

Knowing he’d just keep calling if she ignored him, Ari sighed deeply and answered.

[Choi Ari, why didn’t you answer your phone yesterday?]

The moment Ari answered the phone, a voice filled with concern poured through the speaker.

“Ah… I accidentally fell asleep…”

[Aren’t you getting up? You have class today. Don’t you have a major class at 10:30?]

“Ah, that’s right… But how did you know that? Did I ever tell you my schedule?”

As Ari was about to get up, suspicious of how well he knew her schedule, she suddenly gasped.

“Hngh…!”

The world seemed to spin violently, and her vision blurred.

Ari pressed her small hand to her forehead and slowly curled into a fetal position.

[Hey, why does your voice sound like that? What’s wrong?]

“Dohwi, I’m sorry, but I need to hang up. I think I’m getting sick.”

[What? Are you really sick?]

“I’m not sure. My muscles ache terribly… and I’m dizzy. My body feels so heavy.”

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

Just as Ari was about to end the call, a sudden pounding on the front door and the incessant ringing of the doorbell startled her.

Startled, Ari cautiously crept toward the entrance, her body tensed, and peered through the peephole.

“M-Moon Dohwi?! What are you doing here…!”

To her shock, Moon Dohwi, the very person she was talking to on the phone, stood boldly at her doorstep.

“Your place is… tiny, isn’t it? You live in a place like this?”

Ari jumped in surprise as she opened the front door. Dohwi strode in as if it were his own home, kicking off his shoes without hesitation.

He glanced around Ari’s cozy, compact room, then grabbed her arm, his expression blank.

“H-hey! What are you doing?!”

His large hands groped her forehead, neck, and armpits, checking her temperature. As expected, her entire body felt like a burning furnace.

“Hey, you have a fever. Let’s go to the hospital right now.”

“No need. What do you mean the hospital?” Ari retorted, annoyed by Dohwi’s overreaction to something so minor. She knew she couldn’t go to school in this condition, but she’d be fine after taking some medicine and resting.

Ari shot Dohwi a look that clearly said, “Get out of my house already!” But Dohwi seemed determined to stay, planting himself firmly beside her bed and launching into a nagging lecture.

“Choi Ari, you know, just because you’ve lived like a beta your whole life doesn’t mean you actually are one. Omegas are born with naturally weak immune systems. And you’re even more susceptible than most—you need to take twice as good care of your health and make sure you’re taking your supplements properly.”

“What?”

‘Seriously? As if this whole illness isn’t your fault!’

Ari glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“This won’t do. We’re going to a Korean medicine clinic soon. I know a doctor there from that collaboration we did last time—they say their medicine is seriously effective.”

“No way! I hate bitter medicine…”

“Ha, Ari. You’re not a toddler anymore. You need to take care of yourself. That way, when you have kids later, it won’t be so hard.”

“K-Kids?! What on earth are you talking about?!”

“Or we could go to my cousin’s hospital and get a nutrient IV. It’s the best way to boost your immunity when it’s low. They have special IV fluids for pregnant women too, I heard.”

“No! Why would I need something like that?!”

Ari’s brow furrowed as she jumped up, startled by Dohwi’s sudden leap in conversation. But the sudden surge of heat seemed to trigger another wave of dizziness, and her head began to throb painfully again.

“Ugh, my head really hurts…”

“Honestly, with that temper of yours…”

Dohwi clicked his tongue and helped Ari lie down gently on her palm-sized bed.

‘This bed is so tiny. Just like Choi Ari.’

Feeling like he’d stepped into a dollhouse, Dohwi gazed at Ari’s dainty bed with fascination.

‘Are all girls’ rooms this cute and fragrant?’

Having never visited a girl’s room before, he was utterly captivated by the plush toys clustered adorably in the corner of the miniature bed.

He studied Ari’s pastel-colored bed with interest, a stark contrast to the monochrome palette of his own home.

‘Holy shit. She even uses a blanket that looks just like her. I’m dying from the cuteness.’

Ari looked so perfectly at home against the yellow bedding patterned with chicks and eggs that Dohwi couldn’t help but smile.

‘Even having sex in such a cramped bed, pressed close together, could be kind of fun,’ he thought, when Ari let out another groan.

Dohwi watched Ari purring softly on the chick-covered bedding, his voice tinged with concern. “Choi Ari, you really seem too weak.”

“Who do you think made me like this in the first place?! It’s all your fault for doing that with me!” Ari retorted, her voice rising in indignant protest. The outburst left her dizzy, her head spinning.

Ari buried her face in the pillow, her face pale and drained of energy.

The only time her body had ached this badly was the day after her father had forced her to hike Hallasan*. But the muscle soreness from her intense sex with Moon Dohwi was twice as severe as that day.

[*T/N: Trail on Jeju Island in Korea]

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Dohwi checked her forehead with a serious expression before striding toward the front door.

‘Dohwi, please just leave and never come back. I really need to rest.’ Ari’s silent plea nearly escaped her lips.

But after enduring him for the past few days, she knew Moon Dohwi was even more arrogant and shameless than she had imagined.

Deciding it was best to ignore him, Ari turned her back and lay facing the wall. Dohwi slipped out, leaving the front door slightly ajar.

Exactly ten minutes later, Dohwi burst back in, his hands overflowing with porridge from a nearby shop, cooling sheets, and various cold medicines. His thick hair was drenched in sweat from his hasty trip.

“Ari, let’s eat a little porridge.”

“…I have no appetite at all.”

“Still, you need to take your medicine to get better faster.”

Ari reluctantly ate a few spoonfuls of the porridge Dohwi fed her, barely swallowing it, before gulping down the medicine he offered.

“…Ugh, it’s bitter.”

“Good girl.”

Dohwi patted her thin back with his large hand, then stuck a children’s cooling sheet with cartoon characters on Ari’s round forehead. He went to the bathroom and returned with a towel soaked in cold water.

“Hey, Moon Dohwi. Get your hands off me.”

Ari reflexively tensed, her eyebrows furrowing as his large, wet hand approached her neck.

“The pharmacist said wiping your body with a cold towel is the quickest way to bring down a fever.”

“…So?”

“Talking too much will raise your temperature. Just shush for now and stay still. I’ll wipe you down.”

Dohwi pressed his index finger against Ari’s pouting lips, then slowly brought the cold, wet towel to her neck.

“Hngh…!”

As Dohwi rubbed the damp towel against Ari’s feverishly flushed neck and collarbones, a soft, pleased moan escaped her lips.

“How does it feel? Cooling?”

“…Not bad.”

She didn’t want to admit it, but the cold towel seemed to be making her feel much better.

Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, enjoying the cool relief of the towel, Dohwi’s hand began to move lower.

Ari tried to stop his hand, which was now wandering near her armpit and breasts, while desperately suppressing the moans that kept escaping her.

“Hngh… Where do you think you’re going with your hand?”

“We’ve already seen everything of each other. Isn’t it silly to act shy now? Besides, cooling your armpit will help bring down your fever faster.”

“…Is that true?”

“Really? You don’t even know something this basic?”

Dohwi clicked his tongue in annoyance and easily subdued her struggling form. In one swift motion, he ripped off Ari’s loose shirt.

Truth be told, he had been secretly bothered by the way her nipples had been pressing against her white T-shirt ever since earlier…

As her full breasts, which he had suckled and kissed for days, were revealed, his Adam’s apple bobbed.

‘Ah… I just want to suck on them one more time.’

Dohwi barely managed to suppress the rising tide of lust, focusing instead on lowering her body temperature.

However, the fragrant pheromones of Choi Ari, which filled the cramped room, gradually intensified Dohwi’s own pheromones.

In an instant, her tiny one-room apartment, no bigger than the palm of his hand, was saturated with the pheromones of both of them.

“Hmph, Dohwi… control your pheromones!”

Ari finally snapped, biting her lip and groaning.

His pheromones were making her feel increasingly flustered.

Just then, Dohwi’s large hands, which had been ostensibly wiping her body, suddenly tugged Ari’s panties down past her ankles.

The sudden exposure left her feeling utterly bare. Ari startled, her eyebrows furrowing into a sharp V-shape as she glared at Dohwi.

“Hey! Why are you taking off my panties?!”

“To bring down your fever.”

“Women shouldn’t get cold down there! Don’t you even know that?”

The cold air rushed into her exposed lower body, and she could feel the sticky wetness between her thighs returning. Ever since Dohwi had appeared, Ari had been desperately trying to ignore the way she kept getting wet against her will, all while glaring at the shameless extremely dominant alpha before her.

“Of course I don’t know. How would I? I’m not a woman.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Is there anyone who doesn’t know you’re a womanizer?”

After skillfully tormenting her lower body just moments ago, he was now acting clueless. Ari pouted, glaring at Dohwi, who was still staring intently at her vulva.

Dohwi’s fame meant rumors about him circulated widely online. Stories about him constantly trying to befriend various omegas often surfaced on Eta. As if to prove these rumors true, Ari had seen him surrounded by new omega faces on campus countless times.

“I sound like a womanizer. You were my first, you know?”

“……What?”

Dohwi stroked Ari’s vulva, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“You were my first.”

“What, what…?”

“What do you think? Sex.”

“Really?!”

Dohwi glared at Ari, who looked utterly incredulous, then lowered his gaze to the fragrant pheromones that stung his nostrils.

The moment he saw the slick, glistening fluid dripping from her tight opening, his eyes narrowed again in that peculiar way.

“…You’re wet, Ari.”

“Why… why are you looking at me like that again? It’s scary. G-get away.”

Terrified by Dohwi’s darkening gaze, Ari instinctively flinched and scooted toward the corner of the bed.

Even that fleeting resistance was thwarted by a large hand that gripped her slender ankle and yanked her downward.

“Ah!”

“Why do you keep trying to run away? Come here.”

Dohwi spread her legs wide like scissors, wedged himself between them, settled into place, and began stroking her vagina.

“I’ll just gently wipe the inside of your thighs. It must feel uncomfortable when it’s damp.”

“No, h-hey, I don’t need that!”

“If women like it warm down there, wouldn’t it be better to have sex more often?”

“What?”

“Heat is generated through friction. Wouldn’t having sex frequently be good for you too?”

‘What kind of new bullshit is this?’

Ari glared at Dohwi with eyes full of disgust.

Dohwi, already accustomed to her squinting eyes, found even that expression endearing. Without resistance, he buried his nose in Ari’s vulva, savoring her scent.

“Ha… fuck. These pheromones are driving me insane.”

“S-stop it! Hngh…!”

Dohwi pressed the sharp tip of his nose tightly against her narrow opening, inhaling deeply the pheromones emanating from within.

“Ari, why are you so wet? Are you always like this?”

As he pried open her vulva with his fingers to examine her vagina, Ari writhed, her small feet pounding against Dohwi’s shoulder. But his rock-solid body remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the glistening stream of fluid.

“Ugh, do you even have a conscience? Do you really want to do this to a patient? It’s all your fault I’m even this sick in the first place!”

Ari, clearly furious, raised her voice and kicked her legs wildly. Dohwi froze instantly, his eyes, flushed with arousal, darting up to meet hers.

He felt like one more wrong move would get him thrown out of the house immediately. Forcing himself to look away from the tantalizing sight of her glistening vulva, Dohwi swallowed hard and retreated into the bathroom. In those few steps, he had to summon the patience of a monk reaching enlightenment.

‘Ha, fuck. Why can’t I control myself? Have I always been such a piece of trash?’

When he first stepped into this house, he genuinely intended to care for her while she was sick.

Of course, he also harbored ulterior motives—he wanted to get closer to her. But his primary goal was to look after Choi Ari, who was feverish and weak.

He came here with such good intentions, but…

As Ari’s fragrant pheromones grew stronger, he found it increasingly difficult to control himself. He felt like he was on the verge of losing his mind.

‘Damn, she’s so damn sexy. Her pheromones get so intense whenever we do anything even remotely suggestive…’

Dohwi splashed his face with cold water. After rinsing the lukewarm towel in cold water again, he approached her.

Ari, huddled in the corner of the bed, glared suspiciously at him, hissing as if she might claw him if he came any closer. She looked like a cat with its fur standing on end.

“…Don’t glare at me like that. I really won’t touch you.”

“My parents told me all alphas are shameless bastards and I should never associate with them… Ha.”

“What? You’re an omega, so why would they tell you not to associate with alphas?”

“They said it’s better since I’m an omega with barely any scent. And I think they were right. Ever since I got involved with you, what’s this? My body just keeps hurting…”

“I swear I won’t do anything stupid until you’re completely healed. I promise.”

After calming Ari, who was glaring at him with intense suspicion, Dohwi gently wiped her legs and feet, taking care to avoid stimulating her vulva.

Unlike his earlier sticky, groping touches, his movements were now delicate and soft.

Though Ari occasionally leaked fluid in response to his pheromones, Dohwi only swallowed hard. He truly refrained from any further inappropriate touching or fondling.

‘It does feel a bit better than before…’

Ari glanced down at him as he silently wiped her body with the damp towel, without a word of complaint this time.

Whether it was because Dohwi had gradually lowered her body temperature or because the medication was starting to take effect, her head felt slightly less heavy than when she had woken up that morning.

“…I’m going to sleep now.”

“Okay, get some rest. Should I draw the curtains more? The light might be too bright.”

“Aren’t you going home?”

“How cold of you. I’ll just look around for a bit since I’m here.”

Despite Ari’s clear signals for him to leave now that his business was done, Dohwi pretended to adjust the curtains and began to wander around her cramped studio apartment.

As expected of Choi Ari’s home, the small space was filled with charming, meticulously arranged belongings, bringing an involuntary smile to his face.

Then he noticed a box on the desk containing official merchandise and posters from her YouTube channel.

The moment Dohwi saw the box—clearly meant for disposal or resale—his thick eyebrows furrowed menacingly.

“Hey, Choi Ari. What’s this?”

“I don’t know. Take it if you need it…”

“This is all my merch! You’re not seriously planning to throw it away, are you? How can love change like this?”

Ari turned her back to Dohwi, as if annoyed by his clingy questions. Dohwi brazenly began rummaging through every corner of her desk, inspecting everything.

‘If I find even the slightest trace of another alpha she’s met, I’ll tear it to shreds without hesitation.’

Dohwi glared intently, scanning for any sign of a rival alpha, but fortunately, not even the tiniest scrap of paper was found.

‘She’s so meticulous. She even keeps her entire monthly schedule written down like this.’

While exploring the desk, Dohwi noticed a large calendar hanging on the wall and smiled faintly. Even when she worked as a freelance video editor, she had never missed a deadline. He figured her diligence and meticulousness must stem from this kind of meticulous planning, and he found himself liking her even more.

Dohwi leaned closer to the calendar, scrutinizing the small, handwritten entries.

‘Her handwriting is so illegible, it’s like a bunch of squiggles. I can’t make out a single word.‘

As he examined the schedule, Dohwi noticed red lines slashing through the entries marked “Dohwi Editing Day.” His expression darkened.

He knew full well that it was his past self who had refused to stop her when she said she wanted to quit, but a wave of disappointment washed over him nonetheless.

He pouted, grumbling as he stared at Ari’s squiggly, worm-like handwriting.

“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you really can’t write.”

“…What?”

“I bet I could write better with my left foot.”

“Hey, Mr. Moon Dohwi. Is your ideal type Han Seokbong*?”

[*T/N: calligrapher in Joseon dynasty]

Ari snapped back, her voice laced with irritation at Dohwi’s latest jab at her handwriting.

Dohwi had criticized her handwriting before, nagging her like a schoolteacher on multiple occasions.

What made it even more absurd was that Dohwi’s own handwriting wasn’t exactly neat either, which only fueled her exasperation.

“No. My ideal type is an omega who smells exactly like you.”

Ari shot Dohwi an incredulous look as he replied with a sly grin, acting completely nonchalant.

‘They say people die if they change overnight. Is he going to actually die if he keeps this up? Wait a minute… I’m pretty sure I told Moon Dohwi I wouldn’t be sad even if he died… Could my words actually come true?!’

She recalled the time at the club when she had lost her temper and hurled harsh words at him.

‘They say words have power. No matter how angry I was, I shouldn’t have said such things so carelessly! Cancel, cancel, cancel!’

Ari tapped her lips with her small hand, making spitting gestures.

“Choi Ari. What are you doing?”

“Nothing, nothing. Just canceling something I said.”

“Something you said?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Dohwi chuckled as he watched Ari repeatedly pat her lips with her small hand. He sat on the edge of the bed.

“Are you taking back what you said about not liking me anymore?”

“Ha! No way!”

Dohwi placed his large hand on her nape and forehead to check her temperature.

“Hmm. Your temperature seems to have come down quite a bit. Why is our Choi Ari still being so stubborn?”

“W-what?!”

Dohwi stared blankly at Ari’s tiny face, now flushed crimson.

Though her temperature had cooled significantly compared to earlier, the lingering blush on her cheeks still carried an undeniable allure, reminiscent of that feverish night during her heat cycle.

He watched as Ari instinctively pressed her face lightly against his hand, as if enjoying the cool touch. Without realizing it, the corners of his lips curved upward.

Why was it that every single thing she did, from beginning to end, was so strangely endearing?

“Cute, huh? You look like a baby.”

Under the pretense of lowering her body temperature, he began to repeatedly knead Ari’s hand, which was only half the size of his own.

“Your hands are so tiny. Doesn’t it bother you?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had big hands, so I don’t really notice any discomfort.”

“It must be hard to handle my cock with such small hands.”

“If you don’t go home right now, I’ll slap you with these ‘small hands.’ Please, just go.”

For once, a normal conversation seemed to be unfolding. Ari waved her hand at Dohwi, begging him to leave.

“I’m worried about you,” he insisted. “What if your fever spikes suddenly and I have to call 911?” Crude excuses poured from Dohwi’s mouth like a broken faucet.

Only after Ari spat out a string of harsh curses did he finally, reluctantly, peel himself off the bed and stand up. He was the type who never listened to reason.

Once Dohwi had disappeared, Ari finally exhaled in relief, gazing up at the ceiling with half-closed eyes.

“…Ha. Seriously. I can still smell Moon Dohwi’s pheromones…”

Ari groaned, overwhelmed by the lingering scent of Dohwi’s pheromones permeating the room.

Though Dohwi claimed to be controlling his pheromones—and compared to the intensity of his scent during their stay at the hotel, it was indeed faint—being trapped in a small room with an extremely dominant alpha’s pheromones was still unbearable.

Especially on the bed where he had been sitting, his body odor lingered so strongly it was almost suffocating.

Ari felt a hazy sensation creeping over her, triggered by the extremely dominant alpha’s pheromones that seemed to envelop her.

Unconsciously, she tried to ignore the tingling in her lower body, her thighs twitching slightly.

The lingering sensation of his large hand caressing her lingered strangely, as if its touch still lingered in every corner of her being.

Ari pressed herself against the wall, burying her nose in its cool surface and taking a deep breath.

Forcing herself to ignore his pheromones seemed to help, making her feel slightly better than before.

‘One sheep, two sheep, three sheep…’

She closed her eyes tightly and began counting sheep.

But even as she tried to visualize fluffy white sheep, Moon Dohwi’s wolfish, glaring face kept overlapping her mental image.

‘Sixty-eight wolves, no, sixty-nine sheep…’

Fortunately, the medication slowly spread through her system, and she drifted into a deep sleep before she reached triple digits.

***

Fortunately, Ari made a complete recovery by the next morning.

Though lingering muscle aches persisted, as if her entire body had been beaten, her temperature had returned to normal.

Even better, Dohwi had personally delivered fresh porridge to her door that morning, allowing her to eat a warm meal and take her medicine.

‘It’s not like he poisoned me and then offered the antidote,’ Ari thought, pursing her thick lips as she pondered Dohwi’s inscrutable motives.

Just then, her phone chimed:

Ding-

[I’m done with class now. Did you eat the porridge?]

Ding-

[How are you feeling?]

Ding-

[Choi Ari, you only have one class today, right?]

Dohwi’s messages began bombarding Ari’s phone again, one after another.

She had wondered why there were no missed calls earlier. It was uncanny how he always seemed to know exactly when she woke up and timed his calls perfectly.

‘How does he know my schedule so well?’

Ari shook her head at Dohwi’s stalker-like behavior.

Ding-

[Hey, why are you ignoring my messages?]

Ding-

[Busy?]

Ding-

[Answer the phone.]

Ding-

[Choi Ari, if you keep ignoring me, I’m coming to your house.]

“What’s with him today?” Ari muttered, ignoring the incessantly ringing phone as she sat down at her vanity to apply her makeup.

In truth, Ari’s makeup routine was minimal, consisting only of tone-up sunscreen and tinted lip balm. But today was the day she was scheduled to receive a hair styling sponsorship at Kitae’s salon.

Although the salon offered makeup services as part of the sponsorship, Ari felt it would be impolite to arrive too casually.

Ding-ding-ding!

When she didn’t respond to Dohwi’s messages, he began calling relentlessly.

Watching him persistently contact her like someone chasing after a debt, Ari felt utterly repulsed.

‘Ugh, whatever. I’ll just block him for now…’

Staring at her phone, which continued to ring insistently as if determined to keep calling until she answered, Ari decided to block Dohwi.

‘Once I’ve sorted out my thoughts, I’ll unblock him then.’

Of course, there was a high chance that Dohwi’s interest would wane by then, and they would revert to their former distant relationship. But even if that happened, it wouldn’t matter at all.

Ever since their unexpected encounter during Ari’s heat cycle, the days had been a whirlwind of chaos.

Contrary to his appearance, Dohwi seemed to place immense significance on their first sexual encounter. After their night at the hotel, his attitude had completely transformed.

But Ari couldn’t trust his words or actions.

Dohwi was the kind of man who would draw close when he needed her, coaxing her to work as his editor, only to demand she pretend not to know him at school once rumors of their relationship began to circulate.

Caught up in the afterglow of her first experience, Dohwi was suddenly spouting flowery language as if she were some fated omega. But knowing Dohwi’s fickle nature, she was certain his interest would vanish as quickly as it had appeared, as if it had never existed.

She refused to be swayed by his whims any longer.

Ari needed time and space to calmly reflect on the situation.

Blocking Dohwi finally silenced her incessantly ringing phone.

At last, she felt like she was returning to her normal routine.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late!”

Worrying more wouldn’t solve anything right now anyway.

‘First, I need to avoid Moon Dohwi as much as possible!’

With this resolve, she quickly dressed and hurried to school.

***

But there’s always someone who can fly higher than those who run.

“Agh! You scared me!”

Just as Ari was packing up after her first class and heading for the back door, she nearly fell backward in shock.

Moon Dohwi stood there like the Grim Reaper, arms crossed and a furious expression on his face, blocking the doorway.

He had never once appeared at her department before, so Ari froze, her mouth agape as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Choi Ari. Did you block me?” Dohwi snarled, shoving his phone in her face the moment he saw her.

“No…?” Ari stammered, trying to ignore his predatory glare as he leaned closer, and subtly backed away.

Moon Dohwi’s massive frame blocked the back door, forcing all the students using the lecture hall to use the front exit instead.

Yet, as if unwilling to miss such an entertaining spectacle, everyone in the hall lingered, watching the pair instead of leaving through the front door.

Under the most intense scrutiny she’d ever experienced since entering university, Ari felt a cold sweat prickling her skin.

“You’re so tiny, yet you lie like it’s second nature. When I called the other number, it went through, didn’t it?”

Dohwi gripped Ari’s small face, which she kept turning away from him. He then pulled an unfamiliar phone from his pocket and called her number.

Ring-ring! Ring-ring!

Ari’s phone immediately began to ring loudly.

‘Ah. The number I ignored, thinking it was spam, was Dohwi’s second phone.’

Only then did Ari realize that the suspicious number that had called her right after she blocked Dohwi was actually his contact.

“What’s this? Isn’t that Moon Dohwi? So Ari and him are really like that?”

“They were pretending not to know each other for a while. Guess they’ve decided to go public now.”

“They’re actually dating, right? I thought they were just classmates.”

Ari still hadn’t left the lecture hall, glancing at the people gawking at her and Dohwi from a distance.

The way they craned their necks like meerkats to stare at the two of them was embarrassingly obvious.

“I… I should go now. I have an appointment.”

Ari desperately tried to ignore the people eavesdropping on her conversation with Dohwi, pushing him aside and darting out the back door.

“Choi Ari, we need to talk.”

No sooner had Ari slipped through the back door than Dohwi grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. As the meerkat-like gazes swiveled toward them again, Ari pleaded, her eyebrows arching into a pleading expression.

“Moon Dohwi, please lower your voice. Everyone’s staring. Please?”

“I don’t care if they stare.”

Back when she had a crush on him, she had felt hurt and resentful when he suddenly told her to stop acknowledging him at school.

Now, as she felt like a zoo monkey on display, she vaguely understood why he had insisted on avoiding any public acknowledgment at school.

Even when standing still, Moon Dohwi, a human embodiment of peach blossom luck*, commanded an overwhelming presence in the narrow college hallway.

[*T/N: Chinese term that refers to luck in romantic relationships and interpersonal harmony]

So, when he was seen conversing with a woman, his expression unusually serious, it was only natural that all eyes would turn to him.

“Ha ha. No, we’re not like that. Please don’t misunderstand,” Ari explained, waving her hands dismissively at the curious onlookers.

“Choi Ari. You. Come with me,” Dohwi said abruptly, his rough hand gripping her delicate wrist. He yanked her forward and strode away.

“Wait! Let go of me first!”

Moon Dohwi, who stood out even when just breathing, forcibly grabbed Ari’s wrist and dragged her out of the college building. The curious eyes of onlookers, who had been watching like they were eating popcorn, rolled away in unison.

Ari awkwardly smiled at the people staring at her and Dohwi, offering hurried explanations. She couldn’t bear the thought of her name being plastered all over Eta.

“Ha ha. We’re really not dating! Please don’t misunderstand. Ha ha ha.”

“Shut up. Why haven’t you been answering your phone all day?” Dohwi snapped, yanking Choi Ari closer as she continued to apologize to every passerby.

Ari jerked her arm free from his grip, stopped walking, and glared up at the much taller man with obvious displeasure.

“I’m the one who wants to get to the bottom of this. Moon Dohwi, why are you acting like this toward me?”

No matter how hard Ari racked her brain, she couldn’t understand Dohwi’s behavior.

What had happened that day was merely an unavoidable incident, driven by their mutual pheromonal attraction.

If Dohwi had also been a virgin that day, it would have been understandable for him to feel a special connection with the omega he’d shared his first time with.

But Dohwi was the man who had not only ignored her feelings for him but had also asked her not to acknowledge him at school.

Moreover, he had never once offered her a sincere word of gratitude during their time working together.

Yet ever since they’d had sex, he’d been acting as if she were his girlfriend…

Ari wondered if she had blurted out something foolish to Dohwi while temporarily losing her senses during her heat cycle.

“Moon Dohwi, did I confuse you? On the day my heat hit, did I… confess something to you?”

“What?”

“No, it’s just that your recent behavior makes it seem like I’m your girlfriend or something. It’s weird. We just slept together once.”

“Just slept together once? You like me, don’t you? I think I even told you I liked you too.”

Dohwi raised his voice at Ari’s response, his thick eyebrows furrowing menacingly.

“I used to like you. Past tense. Didn’t we make that crystal clear back then, leaving no room for misunderstanding?”

“You had sex with me. Don’t you remember? You were the one who started it, rubbing your pussy against my arm and begging me to do something.”

Dohwi’s voice rose again, and Ari, desperate to avoid anyone overhearing this embarrassing conversation, gestured frantically for him to lower his voice and whispered urgently, “Moon Dohwi, please, lower your voice. Honestly, it was an unavoidable situation. Who could have predicted it would suddenly get so heated?”

“Are you ashamed of having sex with me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“Are you fucking ashamed of sleeping with me?”

“No, no! Just lower your voice, you idiot!”

Ari watched Dohwi bellowing about sex in the middle of campus and stamped her foot in frustration.

She was terrified that rumors about her being an omega would spread like wildfire across the school. The constant attention made her already small frame shrink even further, fear tightening her muscles.

“Choi Ari, you’re such a slut, aren’t you?”

“What did you say?”

“It doesn’t make any sense. You’ve been obsessed with me for years, and you clearly told me I was your ultimate bias. You even had sex with me, your ultimate bias! How could you just lose interest? Especially since I’m your first alpha!”

“I-I don’t know. I guess that’s just how love works. I’m going to find a new ultimate bias now. Bye!”

“Fuck. Where do you think you’re going?”

Furious, Dohwi grabbed Ari by the nape of her neck as she tried to dart away like a flying squirrel.

“Ah, it hurts! Let go!”

“You don’t seem to understand the situation. Do you think I’m giving you a choice here?”

He stared down at her pale skin, which would bruise easily with the slightest pressure, his eyes dark and menacing.

‘If I’d known you’d keep trying to slip away like a rat, I would have just imprinted you outright…’

Dohwi lazily rubbed the nape of her neck with his large hand, his voice a warning.

“You need to work on your stamina.”

“Why?”

“Because if you want to keep having sex with me, you can’t be so weak. It’ll be too exhausting for you.”

“S-sex?! With you? Why?”

Ari jumped at his words, and Dohwi chuckled, whispering softly in her ear.

“Wouldn’t it be awkward if I told everyone you’re a beta? Why don’t I just post it on Eta right now?”

“…What?”

“Perfect timing. Everyone’s already staring at us. Imagine the drama if I posted something like, ‘Turns out Choi Ari was an omega. When her heat hit, she used and discarded Moon Dohwi, and he’s furious.’ That would be quite a spectacle, don’t you think?”

At Dohwi’s despicable words, Ari’s pale face turned deathly pale.

“You… you’re serious?”

“Still don’t know my personality? After knowing me for over three years?”

Moon Dohwi was the type to do whatever he wanted, no matter what.

Instinctively, Ari knew that provoking him further would only make things worse for her.

As Ari bit her lip, unable to resist any longer, Dohwi roughly snatched the phone from her small hand and swiftly unblocked his number.

“Come quietly if you don’t want me posting on Eta right here, right now.”

Ari stared at Dohwi, who showed no sign of backing down, her face a mask of despair.

It felt like something had gone terribly, irrevocably wrong.

***

Reluctantly, Ari allowed Dohwi to lead her to the parking lot behind the school.

Though she wasn’t thrilled, she figured being alone with him in a car was preferable to enduring his embarrassing rants about campus sex.

But as soon as she settled into the passenger seat, Dohwi’s large hand gripped her small one and roughly rubbed it against his hard-on.

“A-are you crazy? We’re in the car!” Ari yelped, jerking back and shaking her head violently at the sudden, overwhelming sensation of heat and fullness.

“I don’t give a fuck. I’ve been like this since I met you. Your pheromones keep driving me wild.”

“But… hic… why are you reacting so strongly to my faint pheromones?! Is something wrong with you?!”

Ari watched Dohwi repeatedly rub her hand against his crotch, her face twisting in disgust.

“Ari, do you know why I asked you to sit next to me on the first day?”

“What…?”

“I only get aroused by specific pheromones. And yours… yours are the ones that trigger me.”

Ari remembered Nayeon telling her once that Dohwi had a pheromone fetish.

“A-a pheromone fetish? Is that… really true?”

“Yes.”

Even after hearing his explanation, Ari couldn’t understand him. Her pheromones had been harshly criticized by her family as utterly unremarkable.

They weren’t sweet and fruity like the peach scent popular among Alphas, nor were they flamboyant and alluring like floral fragrances. They were just the scent of ordinary wildflowers.

How on earth did Moon Dohwi develop such a fetish for such a paltry pheromone?

“Ha… Ari. Your pheromone is so fucking hot.”

Ari shook her head violently, her gaze fixed on the increasingly menacing bulge in his pants.

Her lower body still throbbed and burned from his relentless torment. If he continued his merciless assault here, she might end up crawling to her appointment with Kitae in a few hours.

Desperate, Ari fanned her hand frantically over his erection, trying to quell its violent heat.

“Dohwi, should I sing the national anthem or something… Mmph…!”

But it was a futile effort. Before she could even protest, Dohwi’s lips had clamped down on hers, silencing her instantly.

“Mmph, ah, uh…!”

Dohwi pulled her nape closer with his large hands, his mouth devouring hers like a man parched with thirst.

He relentlessly pursued Ari’s playful tongue, which darted around his own, finally trapping it and tracing every ridge of her teeth.

‘I could really just devour her whole.’

Dohwi watched Choi Ari, her eyes squeezed shut, moving her tongue awkwardly.

Clumsy at kissing, Choi Ari twisted her waist and frowned as the kiss grew longer, her breathing becoming ragged. The sight of her small hand clutching his arm, whimpering softly, was so endearing that his heart fluttered uncontrollably.

Dohwi savored Ari’s plump lips, gently stroking her slender arm.

Her skin was strangely soft—everywhere he touched, from her forearm to her breasts and hips, felt smooth and yielding. It was an addictive feeling he could spend all day touching.

‘Just wait until vacation. I’ll strip Choi Ari bare and suck and lick her to my heart’s content for months.’

Dohwi’s large hands roughly groped her slender body.

The thought of locking her up naked in his house and tormenting her all day made his already throbbing, rock-hard cock ache with anticipation.

Choi Ari, completely naked, scurrying around his house? Just imagining it made all the blood in his body rush to his cock.

He wanted to slather her pale, soft body with whipped cream and lick it off. How heavenly would it be to savor her pudding-like skin along with the sweet cream?

He wanted to eat meals, bathe, and even sleep with his cock buried deep inside her tiny pussy, holding her close the entire time.

He wanted to bury his face in her swollen, adorable pussy and spend the entire day biting, sucking, and licking that tender flesh.

As he recalled all the lewd things he’d fantasized about doing with his fated omega, his pent-up desire erupted like a dam bursting. He felt like a hormonal teenager, completely unable to control himself.

“Haah… you’re so soft,” Dohwi murmured, pressing a kiss to her panting lips.

“Your lips, breasts, pussy… everything’s so soft. It feels amazing.”

His large hand boldly slipped beneath her shirt, expertly cupping her breast inside her bra.

No matter how many times he touched her, the soft, yielding texture in his palm was intoxicating. He finally understood why children loved playing with slime so much.

“Your breasts are so cute, Ari.”

“Hngh, yes…!”

Seeing Choi Ari’s face flush crimson after just a few touches to her breasts, Dohwi found her utterly adorable and pathetic.

If he could, he’d keep this cute omega locked up at home all day, indulging in endless teasing.

He wanted to make her suck his cock with those plump, beak-like lips, forcing her to suck it all day long. He wanted to press his cock against her soft cheek, gently caressing her protruding cheek with his hand.

He wanted to bind her snow-white, beautiful legs into an M-shape and keep her tied up, showering her with affection for 24 hours straight. He wanted to squeeze every last drop of pheromones from her luscious pussy until she reached her limit.

Lost in these dark fantasies, Dohwi’s excitement reached its peak, and his body began to emit increasingly potent pheromones.

As the pheromones of the extremely dominant alpha filled the car, Ari’s lower body instinctively began to moisten.

“Please, don’t. Hngh… I have plans today,” she pleaded, her voice trembling, her eyes wide with fear as she recalled their first, days-long sexual encounter.

“Plans? With whom?” Dohwi’s gaze turned noticeably cold at her mention of plans, his expression darkening as if he’d been stood up.

“Ugh… It’s none of your business.”

“Is it a man?”

“I-I don’t know! Hngh…!”

“Answer me. Is it a man?”

Dohwi growled, his grip tightening on Ari’s wet vulva as she continued to evade his questions.

“Hngh… Yes, it’s a man, but he’s an omega.”

Ari writhed against the heat of his hand kneading her vulva, her back arching in strained movements.

“Who’s the guy?”

“Ah, uh…!”

Dohwi seemed determined to torment her until she answered, his long, thick fingers rubbing aggressively against her crotch through her thin cotton panties.

The direct, intimate friction against the thin fabric sent a strange, arousing sensation through Ari, and her panties visibly darkened with moisture.

“Who is he? Answer properly.”

“M-Mr. Kitae… He’s a stylist. A hair stylist.”

“A hair stylist? Which salon? No, wait—why are you even meeting a hair stylist?”

As the questions piled up like a relentless barrage, Ari reluctantly pulled out her phone, opened Instagram, and showed Dohwi Kitae’s account.

Dohwi immediately recognized the man in the photos as the Omega who had been at the same table as Nayeon and Ari at the club that night.

“Isn’t that the guy from the club? Why are you meeting him?”

“Ugh, I agreed to be his hair model.”

“Model? Why would you do that?”

“He said I could get my hair done for free…”

“Cancel it. Come to my salon instead. The stylist there is amazing. I’ll let you get whatever you want.”

“No. Why should I?”

As Dohwi continued to grip Ari’s vulva roughly and issue forceful commands, Ari retorted, her eyebrows furrowing into a defiant V-shape.

“You keep saying ‘Why should I?’ since earlier. Don’t you know what kind of relationship we have?”

“What kind of relationship, hngh, is that… Ah, hngh…!”

When Ari refused to yield, an exasperated Dohwi plunged his face into her vulva and swiftly stripped off her wet panties.

The moment her panties were off, Dohwi’s hot breath brushed against her intimate area.

“Ah, uh…!”

As the tip of his nose pressed against her tight opening, a strange sensation, like an electric current, surged through her body, rising from her toes like a shimmering haze.

“Hah… don’t, ah, stop…”

“Liar. You like it.”

Dohwi showered her pussy with wet, smacking kisses, as if praising the honest hole that betrayed her lips.

Seeing her already dripping wet, even before the real game had begun, he felt an overwhelming urge to plunge his cock inside her, nearly losing his mind.

“Ari,” he murmured, “I want to lock you up in my house for a month and lick your pussy all day like a dog. Is that okay?”

“S-stop, hngh…”

“As soon as vacation starts, I’m kidnapping you to my place. Be prepared. Your oppa will give you a nice trim down there.”

Dohwi stroked her neat pubic hair, his expression one of overwhelming affection.

Choi Ari’s pussy, nestled beneath her pubic hair, was undeniably cute. But to truly savor its plumpness, he thought, shaving it at least once wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Hngh, you’re not actually going to do it here, are you?”

“Why not?”

“This is… school!”

“If you refuse, be prepared for me to expose your lies about being a beta nationwide. I’ll even make a YouTube video and immortalize it on my channel. Don’t even think about running.”

“Ugh…!”

Dohwi slapped Ari’s vagina with a sharp smack, then rubbed his throbbing, veined cock against her opening.

“Haa… I’ve been going crazy wanting to put my cock in your pussy, Choi Ari. Without your pheromones, my headache’s coming back… I guess I really can’t live without you now. What am I supposed to do? Huh?”

“Hngh… Then, just find another omega… Why me…? Ugh…!”

“Fucking hell, are you stupid? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I can’t stand anyone else’s pheromones but yours.”

He gripped his fully erect cock, teasing her by sliding the head in and out of her tight opening.

He desperately wanted to thrust himself in to the hilt, but Choi Ari, who refused to even meet his gaze and continued to reject him, infuriated him.

“Ha, Choi Ari, sniff, you’re so annoying…”

Even with just the tip of his glans inside her, an overwhelming urge to ejaculate surged through him. Dohwi slowly slid in and out, his gaze fixed on their juncture.

The sight of his slick, crimson cock sliding in and out of her tight opening, dripping with her slick fluids, made his cock swell even more, as if it would burst.

The squelching sounds of their mingled fluids echoed sensually through the car.

With his large hand, he stroked her wet pubic hair, continuing his perverse act of pushing the head of his cock into her tight opening and withdrawing it repeatedly.

“Ah… why, why…”

As the ticklish sensation persisted, Ari, who had been biting her lip and avoiding eye contact, finally lifted her head with visible effort and looked up at him.

Seeing her struggle to voice the question—Why won’t you go all the way in?—Dohwi chuckled softly.

“What do you mean, ‘why’?”

“No, hng… why…”

“Come on, say it. ‘Put Dohwi’s cock in Ari’s pussy.’”

“Hmph, you’re insane.”

Ari shook her head violently at his leering tone.

As if finding her remaining defiance endearing, Dohwi continued to rub her swollen clitoris from side to side, his glans still only partially inserted.

“Until you talk, huff, I won’t go all the way in. Let’s see who breaks first, hmm?”

“Hngh… Ugh…!”

Ari was already overwhelmed by the erotic sensations stirred by Dohwi’s pheromones. The torment of his teasingly shallow penetration, followed by the relentless stimulation of her clitoris, was almost unbearable.

She twisted her hips, her small hands grasping desperately at the car seat she couldn’t quite grip.

As his fingers rubbed faster and faster, waves of intense pleasure crashed over her.

It would have been better if she had never known this sensation at all.

Her body, remembering their sex, instinctively craved his cock.

Ari’s tight hole pulsed, begging for more as Dohwi teased her with his hip thrusts, only pushing in the swollen glans.

“Dohwi, hngh, please…”

Finally, Ari’s self-restraint crumbled. She gripped his cock and began pulling it toward her opening.

Her teary eyes looked up at him, pleading for penetration. At that sight, a rough breath escaped Dohwi’s lips.

“Ha, fuck.”

Choi Ari, with her puppy-like face, gazing up at him with her breasts fully exposed and legs spread wide.

“Hah, just this once. I’ll let it slide, okay? If you don’t listen again, you’ll be punished.”

“Hngh, yes, uh…!”

In that instant, Dohwi’s rationality snapped. He lost control and showered her innocent face with kisses.

“Ugh, hah, ahn, ah!”

Simultaneously, his thick member slammed into her depths, striking her inner walls to the core.

“Ha, Choi Ari, hngh…!”

With each thud, thud, the massive SUV began to rock violently.

Ari, her slender legs draped over his shoulders, watched Dohwi thrust madly, her body tensing.

“Hngh, what if someone sees us…?”

“So what if they do, hngh? I don’t care.”

The rear parking lot Dohwi used was secluded and rarely frequented. The heavily tinted windows made it impossible to see inside, but Dohwi deliberately swallowed his words, finding Ari’s terrified trembling endearing. He relished the way her tension tightened his own core.

Glancing out the window, Dohwi watched Choi Ari press herself against the car seat, enjoying her discomfort. He deliberately thrust roughly into her, targeting her most sensitive spots.

“Haaah… mmm… uh…!”

“Ari, you like me touching you here, don’t you?”

As he thrust, Dohwi rubbed her swollen clitoris from side to side.

Completely lost in pleasure, Choi Ari moaned like a baby bird, her plump lips parted.

Overwhelmed by her irresistible loveliness, Dohwi showered her flushed face with relentless kisses.

“Hngh, uh, mmh…”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, I like it, hngh, there, I like it.”

Dohwi thought he had heard the word “like” countless times in his life, to the point of numbness.

But why did the word, flowing from those cute lips, tickle his heart so intensely?

His already fully erect member grew even larger with just that one word.

“Dohwi, slowly, hngh, uh…!” Ari sobbed, clutching his forearm with her small hands.

A hazy sensation swirled deep in her lower abdomen, like the urge to urinate. A tingling, undulating feeling, like a faint electric current, spread from her toes upward.

As Dohwi relentlessly thrust into her most sensitive spot with his weapon-like member, simultaneously stimulating her clitoris, Ari felt her entire body floating as if in zero gravity.

“Haaah, uhn, ah!”

In that instant, her mind flashed white, and she felt something gushing from her inner walls.

As the pooling liquid threatened to overflow, Ari’s small hand desperately gripped Dohwi’s forearm.

“Dohwi, wait, hng, I, I think I’m going to come…!”

“Hah, you can come.”

“But, uhn, it’ll make a mess…”

“It’s okay. Come as much as you want. I love everything about you.”

“Hah, uhn, ahh, ah!”

Panting moans escaped repeatedly from her parted lips, as if she were about to lose her breath.

Dohwi held Ari, who was trembling violently, and began thrusting even faster, relentlessly pounding the spot that drove her wild.

He reveled in the sensation of her small body convulsing, trembling like a leaf. He tightened his grip on her until she reached her limit.

“Dohwi, ugh, wait, there, hng, ah, ah, ah!”

A violent orgasm soon crashed through Ari’s delicate body.

Clear fluid, like urine, gushed repeatedly from her tight opening, spraying out in a fountain-like stream.

Overwhelmed by the tidal wave of pleasure that swept through her, Ari gasped for breath and collapsed limply, like a deflated balloon.

“Ha, fuck. You’re so fucking beautiful.”

Dohwi stared down at her, his expression rapturous, as he gazed at the car seat soaked with her wetness.

The clear, overflowing liquid carried the potent, fragrant pheromones of Choi Ari.

Dohwi’s long, firm fingers caressed the opening from which the fluid streamed.

The erotic scent clinging to his fingertips stirred his arousal once more, his member hardening and veins throbbing crimson.

“Ah, right.”

As if admiring a beautiful work of art, he gazed at her vulva before abruptly remembering something. He hastily retrieved a thumb-sized vial from his jacket pocket, which he’d left on the driver’s seat.

Before Ari could ask what it was for, Dohwi pressed the vial against her opening.

He massaged the surrounding area firmly, urging every last drop of fluid from her inner walls to drain into the vial.

“Ugh, D-Dohwi! Are you insane?! Why are you collecting that?!”

“It’s like decanting perfume into smaller bottles to carry around. Something like that.”

Whether Ari was horrified or not, Dohwi stubbornly filled the small bottle with her vaginal fluid to his satisfaction. He then held the bottle to his nose, savoring the aroma with a blissful expression.

“Ah… Choi Ari’s pheromones are truly the best. Seriously, just being around your pheromones makes my headaches disappear and my appetite skyrocket. It’s practically a panacea. Though, of course, it works best for my sex drive.”

Dohwi squeezed her vulva tightly with his large hand, as if praising it, and grinned slyly.

“If your sex drive gets any stronger from this, wouldn’t that be a problem?” Ari asked, forcing herself to sit up despite her limp body, her face showing her disgust at his perverted behavior.

Her body ached all over, as if the rough sex had triggered another bout of body aches. She felt utterly drained, unable to even twitch a finger. Yet, her only thought was to escape this car as quickly as possible.

As Ari reached for her underwear on the floor, Dohwi urgently snatched the panties from her ankle.

“Give me that.”

“Hey! Stop taking my underwear.”

“I’ll buy you new ones—the good kind. Let’s go to the department store. They have tons of really pretty women’s underwear there.”

“No, I have an appointment right now! You want me to go to the salon without panties?”

“I knew you’d say that, so I brought some.”

Dohwi patted Ari’s butt and winked. Then he handed her a large shopping bag from the back seat.

Ari took the bag, her neatly arched eyebrows twisting into a fierce frown.

“What’s all this?”

Inside the shopping bag Dohwi had given her were a mix of reasonably modest lace panties, as well as several embarrassingly revealing mesh panties that left her pubic hair completely exposed, and crotchless panties designed for immediate penetration.

“Do you like them? I went to the department store to buy you some underwear, and they had so many ridiculously cute ones. I wasn’t sure how many you’d need, so I just grabbed about twenty for now.”

“Twenty pairs of panties? Why?”

“Don’t feel pressured. I keep these extras on hand just for you. Pick whichever one you like. They’re all brand new and freshly laundered. I even tumbled them in the dryer so they’re nice and fluffy.”

Ari, finding his nonsense unworthy of a response, simply chose the most unassuming pair of pale pink lace panties from the selection.

After all, wearing something new seemed preferable to putting on her old underwear again.

“Wait, you got water on your leg. What a waste.”

Dohwi suddenly stopped Ari as she was about to put on her pants, pulling out a wet wipe to carefully wipe away the vaginal fluid from her leg.

Then, as if he had been prepared for this all along, he meticulously sealed the fluid-stained wipe in a ziplock bag.

“Your pheromones are special. When I smell them, my mind finds peace.”

“If you want peace of mind, go to the mountains. Go hiking or something. Why are you always making such a fuss with me?”

“But you’re my little darling, my personal phytoncide*. Why would I need to go to the mountains?”

[*T/N: airborne antimicrobial compounds emitted by plants; inhaling them has been shown to boost immune function by increasing natural killer (NK) cells, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and enhance mood]

The conversation continued, each person’s words going through the other’s. Ari felt utterly exhausted, as if she were arguing with a brick wall.

Avoiding someone you can’t communicate with is always the best strategy.

“This is driving me crazy! I’m going to be late for my salon appointment…”

As Ari, now frantic about being late, reached for the car door, Dohwi’s hand shot out to block hers.

“Why are you getting out? You said you were going to the salon.”

“I’m trying to go now! I even put on makeup for it, but look at me now. It’s all smudged from the sweat…”

Ari scowled at Dohwi, her eyebrows furrowed into a sharp V. Dohwi quickly pulled up his briefs and pants before sliding into the driver’s seat.

“Why are you going there alone when I’m here? What’s the salon’s name?”

“…Jimin Hair.”

Dohwi gripped the steering wheel and started the engine as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ari sighed heavily and buckled her seatbelt.

In less than thirty minutes, his SUV pulled up in front of a salon in Cheongdam-dong.

“Choi Ari, you know I hate it when you ignore my calls. From now on, answer right away when oppa calls.”

“You’re crazy. ‘Oppa‘? Seriously?”

Ari shot Dohwi a dismissive glare as he delivered his warning, then slammed the car door shut and stormed out.

As she climbed the stairs to the salon, Ari didn’t glance back even once.

Even from her brisk strides up the stairs, it was clear she was furious.

As her small figure disappeared from view, Dohwi ran a large hand through his meticulously styled hair, then slammed his forehead against the steering wheel.

“Ha… Fucking hell… Am I really such an idiot?”

Don’t ignore my messages. Even he felt embarrassed by his own words.

He had ignored her KakaoTalk messages countless times, leaving him with no excuse, even if he had ten mouths to speak with.

Truth be told, Dohwi had dressed up more than usual today, wanting to impress her.

His original plan was to pick up Ari after class and take her for a drive to the outskirts of town.

He had reserved a table at a restaurant in advance, where he intended to have a proper conversation with her and formally confess his feelings.

He planned to sincerely apologize for his mistakes regarding the editor issue and offer her the pay increase she wanted.

Choi Ari had been his editor from the very beginning, and he had no desire to build his channel with anyone else now.

Hidden in the trunk was a large bouquet of flowers he had bought as a surprise gift for her.

The bouquet was composed of green and white wildflowers, resembling the subtle and understated scent of her pheromones, as if they had been gathered from a forest meadow.

This was the first time he had ever dressed up from head to toe to impress a woman and personally selected flowers at a florist.

But had Choi Ari truly lost interest in him? She had blocked his number and was now openly avoiding him. She no longer showed even a hint of the flustered, excited expression she used to wear whenever she saw him.

Dohwi feared that Ari, now as cold as ice, might suddenly cut off all contact and disappear overnight.

Having been blocked by her once, he was terrified she might do it again. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Ari’s pheromones still lingered faintly in the car. The mere scent threatened to make his member stiffen again.

“Ha… this is driving me crazy,” Dohwi muttered, glancing at the slight bulge in his pants and exhaling roughly. He was truly beyond salvation.

Ever since their first time, Ari’s pheromones had become unbearably special, tormenting him.

If they felt this intense even before imprinting, he couldn’t imagine how much more overwhelming they would become once they were bonded, their pheromones intertwined.

Even if there were hundreds, no, thousands of omegas, he felt like he could find her instantly with just her pheromones. It was as if every cell in his body had been deeply imprinted with her scent.

Since they first shared their bodies, he had thought of nothing but her all day. Even in his dreams, Choi Ari appeared, and he found himself caressing her small, soft body and making love to her.

The more they intertwined, the stronger his feelings grew. Now, he felt like he couldn’t survive a single day without her pheromones.

All day long, he wanted to shower kisses on her delicate face and hold her warm, soft body close.

This overwhelming emotion was new to him. He felt like she was his destiny…

Why was she growing colder, even though they shared the same intimacy?

Did she truly not care if it was another alpha’s pheromones, not his…?

Dohwi was tormented by the sight of Ari growing colder, her demeanor starkly contrasting with his increasingly fervent feelings.

‘Is it because I’m bad in bed?’

Dohwi suddenly panicked, wondering if his inexperience was failing to satisfy her.

‘No, that can’t be it. Ari seemed to enjoy it immensely. Her pheromones were incredibly potent…’

How could he possibly restore Ari to her former warmth?

Dohwi lingered outside the hair salon where Ari was inside for an agonizingly long time.

He sent her several texts asking if her hair was coming out well, but Ari didn’t even acknowledge his messages.

The realization that he alone was consumed by this burning anxiety made Dohwi’s heart feel like it was being scorched alive.

***

From that day on, Dohwi contacted Ari incessantly, at all hours.

As if his motto was “I’ll keep calling until you answer,” he clung to his phone all day, bombarding her with messages.

If she didn’t respond to his texts, he’d send Instagram DMs. If she ignored those, he’d call.

Faced with such relentless persistence, Ari finally surrendered, sighing deeply before answering.

It seemed his threat to expose her as an omega on Eta had worked perfectly.

Moreover, Dohwi had completely memorized Ari’s schedule. Like a grim reaper guarding the gates of hell, he waited for her after every class, always at the door she was most likely to exit from.

Isn’t Moon Dohwi supposed to be an omega killer? Why is he dating a beta?

– Who’s the Beta?

– Choi Ari.

– Choi Ari, right?

– They’re classmates. Apparently, they’ve been dating for three years.

Fortunately, rumors that she was an omega hadn’t spread. Instead, Eta was flooded with daily posts asking about the nature of their relationship.

No, that’s not true. I’m their classmate, and they’re not dating.

Ari had to repeatedly post replies clarifying that they were just friends.

Even her acquaintances kept asking if they were really just friends, leaving Ari caught in a constant state of low-level stress.

“Moon Dohwi,” she said, “because I’m seen with you, people keep suspecting why the Omega Killer is hanging out with a beta like me.”

“Should we just stop acknowledging each other at school?”

“Yeah. Please. I’m begging you.”

Ari stared at Dohwi, who had surprisingly agreed to her request so readily, and nodded vigorously.

“Then you’d better listen to me. Since your request has doubled.”

“…What?”

“What if I get pissed and reveal you’re an omega? You’d better reply to my texts within five minutes every time. Just change your notification sound so you don’t get confused.”

Dohwi no longer followed her around school or acted like he knew her as he used to.

Thanks to this, the rumors about them had dwindled as if they’d never existed. However, the threat of him revealing her omega status remained valid, so their sex partner-like relationship continued.

Ding-

[I know you have no plans today. Get over to my place within the hour.]

Ding!

[Oh, and don’t eat dinner. We’re having sushi together. ^-^]

As compensation for keeping their relationship a secret at school, Dohwi summoned Ari almost daily.

“Isn’t Moon Dohwi a total psycho? Seriously, why does he get to dictate my dinner time like that?!”

Ari let out a frustrated groan, utterly exasperated by Dohwi’s arbitrary control over her schedule.

After enduring his daily torment, she almost wished their secret would just come out at school.

If she tried to ignore his messages by pretending to be asleep, Dohwi would relentlessly pound on her door, stalking her like a stalker until she gave in.

After receiving a noise complaint from her neighbor due to Moon Dohwi’s visits, she reluctantly began answering his calls immediately.

However, the main reason she preferred having sex at his place was the cleaner cleanup. It was wiser to keep him from coming over.

Having sex in her cramped studio apartment meant it would take hours to ventilate the extremely dominant alpha’s pheromones.

Even after airing out the room, his scent lingered everywhere—on the blankets, pillows, and every corner. Waking up on the sheets where they’d rolled around would reignite her sexual urges from the early morning.

Ari, who had never masturbated in her life, first pleasured herself while inhaling Dohwi’s pheromones embedded in the bedsheets.

Even when masturbating, Ari felt uncomfortable inserting anything into herself. She only remembered Dohwi’s hand gestures and tried rubbing her clitoris.

But after masturbating alone while inhaling his pheromones, a wave of emptiness always washed over her.

‘It’s not satisfying at all…’

Moreover, her vulva, accustomed to Dohwi’s elaborate caresses, now struggled to reach climax through self-stimulation alone.

The days passed quickly as she grew increasingly ashamed of her growing dependence on sexual desire.

Finally, after being tormented by Dohwi every day, freedom arrived for Ari.

Moon Dohwi, who usually clung to Ari around the clock, had to attend a regular family event.

“Wow! Today, I’m free!”

Ari, finally liberated from Dohwi after a long time, let out a squeal of joy and sprawled across the bed, rolling from side to side.

After sex, Dohwi would spend ages stroking Ari and rambling about himself, unintentionally revealing many things she hadn’t known about him.

The fact that his family elders had vehemently opposed his dream of becoming a singer was something she had been completely unaware of.

Even after Dohwi reluctantly abandoned his singing aspirations and entered university, his parents still seemed displeased that he was pursuing something vaguely related to entertainment and gaining popularity.

Moreover, due to his unique extremely dominant alpha trait, his family seemed to be pressuring him to marry as soon as possible.

But today, thanks to his family, she was enjoying this precious free time. She couldn’t help but feel grateful to them.

“Moon Dohwi’s parents! Please take Dohwi on a month-long cruise! Please!” Ari bowed deeply in the air, offering her thanks to his family, whose faces and names she didn’t even know.

Ding!

Just then, a KakaoTalk notification chimed.

“Please tell me it’s not Moon Dohwi again…”

Ari flinched reflexively at the sound. Fortunately, it was a message from Kitae.

[Ari, the DMs about your videos are flooding in—over 300 a day now! Come back next month, and I’ll give you a trim and a touch-up at the clinic.]

[Yes, thank you.]

“Wow, another follower? What’s so interesting about my account that people keep following me?”

Ari quickly replied to Kitae before instinctively opening Instagram.

Since the reel featuring her as a hair model at Kitae’s salon went viral, Ari’s Instagram followers had been steadily increasing.

Today was no different. She found it endlessly fascinating how her usually quiet notification feed had suddenly become so active, and she couldn’t resist peeking at the profiles of her new followers.

“Men are watching videos of women getting their hair done? And this guy’s a fitness enthusiast too…?”

Ari tilted her head, puzzled by the growing number of men following her after seeing the salon video.

Recently, her Instagram stories had also been attracting frequent views from an unidentified private account.

She had never been one to actively use social media, but perhaps because of the increased attention, she felt inexplicably self-conscious and even more reluctant to post than before.

“The life of a celebrity must be tough. I feel overwhelmed by even this tiny bit of attention…”

Even with the significant increase in followers, her account still only had three digits. Yet, she was amazed to receive collaboration inquiries from hair salons and other businesses.

While politely declining these minor collaboration requests, she received another message from Kitae.

[Hey, have you ever considered being a wedding model? A company I know saw your video and asked me to introduce you. The pay is surprisingly good. But it’s a couple shoot with a male model!]

[I’m too much of an amateur for a real shoot. I’d just end up being a nuisance. ㅠㅠ]

[Hmm. Okay for now. Let me know if you change your mind later!]

Through Nayeon, Ari knew that modeling wasn’t just glamorous; it was incredibly demanding.

Nayeon would barely drink water from the day before a shoot until the morning of, constantly worrying that even the slightest skin blemish would ruin her makeup.

Ari also learned that sets were always either freezing or sweltering. Whether it was braving the cold in revealing outfits or layering up in the summer heat, Nayeon was perpetually battling colds and body aches.

Ari found the overwhelming attention burdensome and rejected all sponsorship and modeling offers. However, she was genuinely amazed and grateful for even a sliver of interest directed her way.

She logged into Kitae’s account to check the comments on her hair video, which had gone viral.

A timid attention-seeker at heart, Ari had actually been checking Kitae’s account daily, meticulously reading each new comment on her video.

Though occasional negative comments surfaced, the overwhelmingly positive feedback had made reading the comments on her video one of her small joys these days.

– The model has such a puppy-like face! Anyone know her Instagram?

– With a face like that, she’d still look beautiful even if she shaved her head.

– The hairstyle probably looks good because of the model’s looks;;

– If she has a boyfriend, they should honestly pay extra taxes

But as her popularity grew, so did the number of strange people who started to flock to her.

“Ugh. Another crazy guy sending dick pics,” Ari muttered, frowning as she checked her DMs again.

It wasn’t the first time men had bombarded her with unsolicited photos of their genitals, nearly ruining her appetite on more than one occasion.

“Compared to Dohwi, they’re not even half as impressive… Why do these guys even bother sending this stuff?”

Just recently, a man had even sent her a video of himself masturbating while calling out her name.

It was a bizarre parade of dicks, each one more baffling than the last.

Despite these unexpected downsides, working as a hair model had been a valuable experience for Ari. Above all, the fact that she could often get her hair done for free by Kitae was a huge money-saver.

Ari lay in bed, propping her iPad on the bedside stand and opening Netflix. She spent an hour agonizing over what to watch, ultimately ending up watching nothing at all.

The day, though uneventful, had flown by. Still, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness at being able to savor this time alone.

It had been a while since Dohwi had visited her apartment, and she had thoroughly washed the bedding. Now, not a trace of his pheromones lingered on the sheets.

‘Ah, it really feels like I’ve returned to my old life…’

Should she order delivery for dinner tonight? Or pick up some salmon sushi from the place down the street? After pondering for a while, Ari smacked her lips and drifted off to sleep with a contented smile.

***

After returning home from the family gathering, Dohwi stared intently at his phone with a grave expression.

The family event had been as dull and tedious as ever. The usual tiresome lectures droned on: extremely dominant alphas must find a mate and marry as soon as possible to stabilize their pheromones, which would ensure the family’s peace.

The family elders even resorted to veiled threats against Dohwi for refusing to take succession lessons.

They warned him that if he continued his current activities, they would sever all family ties and cut off all financial support.

“When will you finally abandon your outdated managerial mindset? I’m becoming the brand itself! My name, my channel—they’re more effective than the hundreds of millions Grandfather spends on advertising.”

But for Dohwi, who hadn’t received any financial support from his family since becoming an adult, such threats were utterly meaningless.

Through advertising revenue and sponsorships alone, his channel already generated income rivaling that of most celebrities.

Dohwi was popular not only in Korea but also in various other countries, receiving invitations to international festivals and collaboration requests from around the globe.

Any lingering resentment toward his family for their lack of support for his dreams had been discarded long ago, back in his high school days.

The memory of his family’s gleeful reactions each time his debut plans fell through remained like a thorn, a wound that refused to heal.

Throughout the gathering, Dohwi’s attention remained fixed on his phone, his thoughts entirely consumed by Choi Ari.

“Those bastards… they wouldn’t be sliding into Ari’s DMs and hitting on her, would they?”

Dohwi, who obsessively stalked Ari’s account daily, noticed one day that her followers were increasing exponentially.

While meticulously browsing Ari’s following list, he stumbled upon a hair modeling video on Kitae’s account, featuring the two working together.

The video, which showed the hair styling process in short clips, boasted ten times more views than Kitae’s other videos, as if it had been featured on the recommended tab.

In the video, Ari looked undeniably beautiful and charming, having received professional hair and makeup.

Her naturally long, straight hair, which already suited her well, looked even more stunning with a layered cut and loose, wavy perm. She could easily pass for an idol.

However, the video’s explosive popularity had attracted a massive influx of male viewers, far beyond its intended female audience, creating a significant problem.

Dohwi glared angrily at the men’s comments flirting with Ari in her video.

He wanted to report every single one, but he barely managed to restrain his fury, which threatened to boil over.

To make matters worse, some of the commenters had seemingly decent profile pictures, fueling his jealousy.

As he clicked through the accounts of these men with presentable profile pictures, Dohwi suddenly felt a wave of self-loathing.

‘What the hell am I doing?’ he thought.

“Fuck. Choi Ari isn’t actually replying to every DM she gets, is she? She wouldn’t be too nice to reject them, would she?”

In reality, his own DM inbox was flooded with messages from women expressing romantic interest: Do you have a girlfriend? Can I get your number? I’ve been a fan for ages, and countless other approaches.

Dohwi knew better than anyone how much flirting Ari received through social media, far more than he had imagined. This only deepened his anxiety.

From the start, Dohwi had ignored all DMs, determined to meet his fated omega, and had no interest in the women who contacted him. But there was no guarantee Choi Ari would do the same.

Most of all, her words about finding a new bias kept echoing in his mind like a broken record, fueling his growing unease.

“That bastard Choi Kitae put ideas in her head, and now Ari’s acting like this,” Dohwi muttered, glaring at Kitae’s profile picture before angrily throwing his phone across the room.

Of course, the hairdresser was also an omega like Ari, but Dohwi still hated the thought of another man touching her hair.

Ari’s long, silky hair, with its perfect texture and lustrous sheen, felt wonderful to run his fingers through.

He loved washing her hair and touching her small head so much that he’d once gotten aroused while using the excuse of shampooing her hair to caress her scalp. This was because fragrant pheromones wafted from the crown of her head.

He couldn’t help but feel wary, wondering if the other men at the salon felt the same way.

He was also annoyed by the people asking for Ari’s social media accounts in the comments.

He resented the idea of his own precious little omega becoming everyone’s.

Dohwi picked up the phone he had thrown down and called Ari.

“What’s this? Why isn’t she answering? Is she asleep…?”

But Ari, who usually answered immediately, didn’t pick up.

In his mind, he imagined her exchanging DMs with some handsome gym bro, meeting offline for a date, and even going to a hotel together.

As these anxious thoughts spiraled endlessly, Dohwi couldn’t contain himself and called her repeatedly.

“Why aren’t you answering, Choi Ari…?”

On his eighth attempt, a small, exhausted voice finally answered from the other end of the line.

[…What is it now? You said you had a family gathering today.]

“Where are you?”

[Where else? At home.]

Her groggy voice confirmed she had just woken up, but Dohwi remained anxious. He felt he could only sleep soundly if he held her in his arms.

“I’ll send a taxi. Come to my place.”

[Now? I was sleeping…]

“Come sleep at my place.”

[Ugh…]

“If you say you won’t come—”

[I’ll go. Hang up.]

With a click, the call ended.

His threat to expose her as an omega if she refused lingered awkwardly in her mind.

Exactly thirty minutes later, Ari appeared, her face still puffy from sleep.

Her slightly swollen cheeks made her look like a baby puppy just woken up, irresistibly adorable.

She had recently gotten a thick, wavy perm, and her curly hair was pressed flat on one side from sleeping.

Dohwi couldn’t suppress the smirk that kept creeping onto his face, knowing she had rushed over the moment she answered his call.

“…Excuse me,” Ari grumbled, slipping into the slippers by the entrance and shuffling into the living room.

The way Ari entered so naturally reminded Dohwi of a wife returning home after work. Watching her move through the entryway as if it were her own home, he felt an inexplicable tickle of excitement.

‘If she married me, she wouldn’t have to work a day in her life. She wouldn’t have to lift a finger, just live off my money and spend it however she wants…’

The thought sent his emotions soaring uncontrollably.

“Mmm, uhn, ah…!”

Dohwi yanked Ari, who was still half-asleep like a newborn puppy, into his arms and crashed his lips roughly against hers.

He sucked equally on her swollen upper and lower lips before forcing his thick, hot tongue into her narrow mouth.

“Hng, uhn…!”

As he deepened the kiss urgently, Ari seemed to resign herself, nestling quietly in his arms and gradually moving her tongue in sync with his.

The fact that Choi Ari, who had previously struggled and evaded his advances, now passively accepted his kiss filled him with an overwhelming tenderness, so intense it made his nose tingle.

Dohwi roughly pressed his swelling bulge against her navel.

Feeling his erection, Ari gave him a resigned look and gently pushed him away. “You only called me here to sleep with me, right? I’m going to shower first.”

“What do you mean, ‘only called you here to sleep with you‘? Of course I want to sleep with you because I like you. And let’s just do it. I love your sweaty scent. It shakes my pheromones.”

Dohwi forcefully pulled Ari back as she tried to head for the bathroom, burying his face in her neck and inhaling deeply.

Inhaling Choi Ari’s pheromones, which he had craved all day, melted away the anxiety that had plagued him like snow in spring. Even the slight migraine triggered by his parents’ nagging seemed to vanish instantly.

“No, I want to shower. Move aside.”

“Then let’s shower together.”

“Eek!”

Dohwi abruptly lifted her into his arms, ignoring her protests, and strode purposefully toward the bathroom.

“Hngh, Moon Dohwi, slow down…!”

“I’ve been thinking about you all day. Didn’t you think about me even once?”

As soon as they entered the bathroom, he began stripping her clothes off with the urgency of a man starved for days.

The moment Choi Ari’s pale, naked body was revealed, he felt his lower body stiffen and surge with renewed desire.

“Ah, Choi Ari’s pheromones… I really love them so much…”

Dohwi stripped off his cumbersome clothes and pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her neck and armpits, sniffing deeply.

“Ugh, seriously! Are you a dog or something? Why do you keep licking weird places?” Ari squirmed violently as Dohwi licked her armpits with his broad tongue and kissed her.

“The pheromone scent is strongest here. Don’t you smell good even from the top of your head?”

“W-what are you even saying? Hngh…”

Ari struggled to push Dohwi away, who remained buried in her armpits and the inner depths of her thighs, inhaling her concentrated pheromones.

But, of course, her meager strength was no match for his rock-solid resistance.

Dohwi would sometimes stare intently between her buttocks for extended periods, as if counting the wrinkles around her anus.

One day, he was tapping her skin with his fingers like playing the piano. When she asked what he was doing, he gave the absurd reply that he was counting her moles.

‘Do other couples—no, other partners—have relationships like this? How intimately do they examine and caress each other’s private parts? Do they all make love in bright light, without even turning off the lights?’

Frustrated, she had no one to ask if her sex with Dohwi was normal.

It was clear that Moon Dohwi’s behavior wasn’t normal, but Ari couldn’t bring herself to ask Nayeon, her closest friend.

Nayeon had disliked Dohwi since high school. If she ever found out that Ari was maintaining a sex partner-like relationship with him due to his blackmail, Nayeon might rush over and grab Dohwi by the hair right then and there.

“Hngh… does it really feel that good…?”

“Yeah. I could bury my face in your pussy all day.”

Ari watched Dohwi, who was pressing his nose against her vulva and savoring her pheromones, with a look of disgust. His face, flushed and panting like someone possessed, was, just slightly, really just a little, sexy.

Even normally, the corners of his eyes had a reddish tinge, but they seemed to glow even more intensely when he inhaled her pheromones.

His jet-black hair and crimson eyes, which flushed red with arousal, created a striking, almost painterly contrast.

‘What the hell did Moon Dohwi’s dick do to get like that already…?’

Ari glanced at Dohwi’s throbbing member, which was already boasting its impressive size.

On Dohwi’s snow-white body, the only thing that glowed a deep crimson was his massive cock—a size that defied mere words.

Even after seeing it two or three times, it was still incomparably larger than the countless dicks she’d received in DMs—a truly magnificent specimen.

Of course, being so enormous, it relentlessly tormented her, causing her endless trouble…

“You don’t get any weird DMs, do you?”

Dohwi, who had been admiring Ari’s vulva and inhaling her pheromones, suddenly looked up at her with a serious expression, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Actually, I do.”

“What kind of DMs do you get? You don’t actually reply to them, do you?”

“I don’t reply… but a lot of guys send me pictures of their dicks.”

“What?!”

Dohwi’s anger flared instantly, and he shot to his feet.

As he stood up abruptly, his own member perked up and saluted in unison.

“Fucking hell, did you like them?”

A petty jealousy surged through him, wondering if any of those dicks had caught Choi Ari’s eye.

“Are you out of your mind? How could I possibly like something like that?”

“Why are you saying this so calmly?”

“I see your dick all the time. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for me to suddenly be surprised by a man’s cock now?”

Ari’s gaze kept drifting to his erection, which was as thick as her forearm, whenever he huffed and puffed.

The thick, bulging veins and the way it looked like a living snake emanated an intensely concentrated pheromone.

She never imagined she’d ever think this way about a man’s cock, but perhaps because of the overwhelming pheromones, looking at his erection now stirred a strange sexual desire within her.

Thanks to Moon Dohwi, she felt thoroughly possessed by the lust demon.

“But, you know, not all men are as big as you.”

“What?”

“No, they’re all much smaller than you. I even saw one that was only as big as my lip balm! It was so weird.”

Ari tilted her head and stared intently at Dohwi’s genitals. He grinned slyly and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“My Ari likes her oppa’s dick, huh? Why didn’t you say so? My dick is yours now. I’ll only put it in my cute little Ari.”

“You’re crazy! Why are you being so gross? I don’t need it!”

“Ari, you know it’s a huge blessing to have met such a magnificent cock, right? Please cherish it tightly inside your pussy and never let it go, okay?”

“Hmph, what are you even saying?!”

“But Choi Ari’s pussy is mine. If you give it to another guy… I’ll fucking kill him. Understand?”

Dohwi pulled Ari’s small, repulsed body into a tight embrace, grinding his cock against her relentlessly.

As slippery fluids began to coat Ari’s body, the pheromones radiating from Dohwi’s skin gradually made her lower abdomen tingle.

Ari’s subtle pheromones mingled with Dohwi’s intense scent, creating a strangely intoxicating aroma.

Savoring the pheromones swirling in the air like an embrace, Dohwi tightened his grip on Ari, his expression rapturous.

‘Even just smelling our pheromones mixing in the air is intoxicating. How much more overwhelming and blissful would it be to truly mate with her, our pheromones bound together forever…?’

“Ari, huff, doesn’t the blend of our pheromones smell amazing?”

“Ah, Dohwi, stop rubbing it so much. It stings.”

“Right. Ari prefers getting pounded to being rubbed, doesn’t she?”

It wasn’t like they were new to this. Dohwi knew exactly when Ari would start getting wet.

The slick mixture of Dohwi’s pre-cum and Ari’s vaginal fluids began to emit a heady, erotic scent.

Just as Dohwi was vulnerable to Ari’s pheromones, she was equally susceptible to his.

It was rare for two people to be so strongly drawn to each other’s pheromones. And yet, when the real action started, she’d always arch her back, moan, and cry—why did she always play so hard to get?

Dohwi felt a pang of resentment, but he couldn’t openly show it, given his past mistakes.

After catching a whiff of her pheromones, Dohwi, now calmer than before, sat Ari on the edge of the bathtub and spread her thighs wide.

Her delicate pubic hair was already slightly damp from the slick of arousal that had trickled down her thighs. Dohwi swallowed hard, stroking the wet strands.

“Ari, let’s shave our little darling’s fur.”

“What? Why?”

“So I can smell your pheromones even better.”

“You can smell them just fine now! How much better do you need to smell them?!”

Ari glanced at the electric razor on the sink and saw Dohwi grinning. She frantically waved her hands.

“N-no! Don’t do it!”

“Why not?”

“Because… when it grows back, it’ll be all prickly!”

“What? Have you shaved before?”

“That’s…!”

She wasn’t unaware of Moon Dohwi’s crude jokes about shaving her pubic hair, but she never dreamt he’d actually consider doing it.

Besides, even now, he was constantly sucking, licking, and burying his face between her legs. She couldn’t fathom what he meant by wanting to smell her pheromones even better.

“I’ll shave it all off nice and clean, and then I’ll lick your pussy even more thoroughly, Ari.”

“No, no, no! You don’t have to lick it.”

“Good girl. Just stay still.”

When Ari frantically kicked her legs, Dohwi simply pushed her completely into the bathtub and settled in.

Terrified that he might actually shave all her pubic hair, Ari tried to bolt from the tub. Dohwi gripped her shoulders tightly and showered her delicate body with his pheromones like a showerhead.

“Hah… Dohwi, huff… your pheromones…”

“And don’t worry. When it grows back rough, I’ll shave it smooth for you again.”

Ari had no way to resist the Alpha’s pheromones that Dohwi was deliberately unleashing upon her.

As the dense pheromones coiled around her like chains, Ari’s entire body went limp.

The bathroom vibrated with the potent pheromones of the extremely dominant Alpha, causing slick, glistening fluids to gush from her tight opening.

“Mmm, huff… you’re really…!”

Soon, Ari, completely drenched in pleasure, let out a soft moan and twisted her hips.

“Ari’s pussy is about to flood. I’ll shave it quickly.”

“Hngh, no! Stop…!”

“You’re enjoying it. Stop playing hard to get.”

Dohwi delicately moved the razor along her plump vulva.

Ari, fearing the blade might cut her skin, could no longer resist, forced to watch helplessly as her hair was shaved away.

As her smooth, pale flesh was revealed, Dohwi buried his nose in it, inhaling deeply as if entranced.

“Ah… Ari… Ari…”

“Y-you… you’re really… sniff… why are you doing this…?!”

“Your pheromones… huff… they’re so intoxicating. I’m… I’m going crazy, Ari.”

Ari gasped, twisting her hips as Dohwi relentlessly licked her vulva as if it were candy.

Her pheromones, once so ordinary they went unnoticed, now held an overwhelming power.

A pheromone so faint it could even be mistaken for a beta’s.

A pheromone that her entire family described as colorless and odorless.

A pheromone that, even objectively, was utterly bland and unappealing compared to other omegas’.

So why was Dohwi so obsessed with her pheromone?

Could the “specific pheromone” he was fixated on have been a similarly bland wildflower scent, just like her own?

Why? How could that be?

And how had he become so captivated by such a rare scent?

Was he like other Alphas with pheromone fetishes, unable to forget the pheromone of the first omega he had ever loved?

Just how intense had his first love been that he still couldn’t forget that scent? If that woman were to reappear, would he never look at Ari again?

The thought made her mood suddenly darken.

“Ha, Ari. Fuck. Shaving your pubic hair… hngh… it feels so much more intense.”

“Haaah, Dohwi, ah, ah!”

“I’m going crazy. Your inside… it’s fucking amazing, Ari.”

After savoring her pussy for a long while, Dohwi finally thrust his rock-hard cock inside her.

“There, Dohwi, ah, hngh, ah!”

Perhaps because she had shaved all her pubic hair, she felt his cock sliding in and out more vividly than usual.

The heavy balls slapping against her perineum, the rough stubble of his pubic hair rubbing against her—everything felt raw and primal, unlike before.

Ari, though she hated to admit it, was twice as aroused as usual, moaning mindlessly as she clung to him.

After their first round in the bathroom, they continued on the living room sofa, in the hallway leading to the bedroom, and finally on the bed, their bodies locked together in a primal, almost animalistic coupling.

Only after Dohwi had come to his satisfaction did he reluctantly release Ari, as if regretting having to let her go.

‘Ah… he really is a madman.’

Ari lay sprawled on the bed, watching Dohwi, who was still sucking at her breasts and refusing to let go. She let out a soft sigh.

Her smooth, hairless vulva was now covered in red, swollen bite marks from Dohwi’s relentless kisses and sucking.

She wanted to go back to her past self, the one who had liked him, and warn her: This man is a sex-crazed lunatic. Run away immediately.

Even for an extremely dominant Alpha, Moon Dohwi’s stamina bordered on the abnormal.

‘Does he ever get tired?’

His massive cock was already rock-hard again.

“Hey, you. Why are you so obsessed with my pheromones?”

Dohwi, rarely the one to be asked a question first, pulled his mouth away from her breast and looked up at her with eyes that had sharpened.

“I have a story so heartbreaking, you’d cry just hearing it. Want to hear it?”

“…No. It’s okay. I suddenly feel like I don’t need to.”

Sensing it would be a long, TMI-filled story, Ari politely declined.

No, to be honest, she was certain it would be about his unforgettable first love, and her curiosity vanished instantly.

Having asked the question only to feel like a stand-in for someone whose face and name she didn’t even know, she felt strangely uncomfortable. A peculiar jealousy stirred within her.

She’d thought she no longer harbored romantic feelings for Dohwi, but perhaps their daily physical intimacy had rekindled some lingering affection. Even if he was just a sex partner, she couldn’t bear the thought of Moon Dohwi holding her while thinking of another woman’s face.

“It’s okay. I don’t care about that anymore.”

Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Dohwi wore a blissful expression as he pulled her delicate body, marked with his kisses and hickeys, into a tight embrace.

“You’re so cute, Choi Ari,” he murmured, nuzzling his face against her. He loved how she fit perfectly in his arms, like a puzzle piece falling into place.

His hand, which had been stroking her soft skin, subtly drifted toward her smooth, hairless vulva. Dohwi gently rubbed between her labia with his long, firm fingers, muttering softly, “No hair down there… it’s so smooth. You’re so damn cute.”

“S-stop groping me,” she protested weakly.

“Ha. Choi Ari. Why are you so cute? I could just eat you up.”

After showering Ari with kisses and hugs for a long while, Dohwi handed her a palm-sized box he had placed on the bedside table.

“…What’s this?”

“Your oppa found it on his way here.”

Unfastening the red ribbon on the ivory box revealed a white gold necklace with a daisy pendant nestled in luxurious velvet.

“You got sponsored and you’re tossing it to me because it’s not your style?”

“Would I do that? Can’t you tell just by looking? It’s obviously for a girl.”

“No, I mean, why are you giving this to me…?”

Ari stared suspiciously at the necklace resting on her palm.

Seeing her slightly flustered expression, Dohwi grumbled, uncharacteristically embarrassed.

“Whatever. If you don’t want it, just sell it.”

“…No, it is pretty.”

Ari stared at the necklace, a strange feeling creeping over her.

The flower necklace Dohwi had given her was unmistakably the same one she had seen on Instagram and liked.

One day, the necklace had appeared as an advertisement on her feed. It was a product from a brand that was currently popular among female idols, who often wore it as part of sponsored collaborations.

Though she usually preferred casual outfits and rarely wore accessories, this necklace seemed like it would pair well with her usual sweatshirts and hoodies, making it particularly appealing.

The simple white flower pendant even reminded her of her own pheromones, making her want it even more. However, with the necklace costing as much as a month’s rent, she had reluctantly given up on it, tears welling up in her eyes.

I had been waiting for famous influencers to do a group buy, but even then, the product was too expensive. I had looked at it countless times, but I could never bring myself to buy it.

‘This is definitely the necklace I wanted. How did he know and give it to me as a gift?’

In truth, Moon Dohwi had given her gifts more than once or twice.

Starting from the day he gave her porridge and medicine, he had called her over for sex one day and suddenly handed her flowers. Another time, he had abruptly declared her wallet too childish and cheap, forcing a luxury wallet into her hands. There was even the time he forcibly bought her shoes, and when she received them, she realized they were matching couple shoes—identical to his own. Even back then, she was amazed he knew her exact shoe size. How did he know her foot size and give her gifts?

‘Moon Dohwi… could he actually like me?’

Ari felt confused. Dohwi’s actions seemed more like those of a man interested in a woman than just a casual sex partner.

‘No. No. That can’t be right. Don’t I know him? I’ve been watching him for three years.’

Ari shook her head violently, trying to shake off the momentary delusion.

If he was acting this devoted solely because of her pheromones, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t quickly switch to another omega with a similar scent.

And if the omega he’d been searching for—the one who resembled his fated first love—ever appeared before him, Ari knew she’d be cast aside like yesterday’s leftovers in an instant.

‘There was an omega he was looking for, but now he says he likes me better… If he finds another omega with similar pheromones, he’ll just switch over.’

“Ari, do you know why I asked you to sit next to me on the first day?”

“I only get aroused by specific pheromones. And you happen to have the exact pheromones I’m attracted to.”

Ari replayed his words in her mind.

She still vividly remembered his cold and detached demeanor.

The way he’d read her messages and ignore them as if they were nothing. The times he’d send back single-word replies, too lazy to type a proper reply. The day he told her to avoid running into him at school…

Every action she was now directing at Dohwi was a mirror of the cruelties he had inflicted on her in the past.

Since she had become personally involved with him, she had been hurt countless times.

She didn’t want to carelessly give her heart to him again, only to be hurt as before.

Ari glanced at Dohwi, who was fast asleep, holding her tightly in his arms.

‘Choi Ari. Are you really going to keep letting yourself be threatened and settle for being just a sex partner? Are you going to keep dragging out this relationship that has no future?’

If he truly treated her only as a “sex partner,” she wouldn’t be so confused.

But in the face of Dohwi’s tender words and actions—the kind usually reserved for lovers—her heart kept tilting like a seesaw, an irresistible pull.

‘If I ever wanted to stop, would Moon Dohwi suffer from migraines again? Would he have to take alpha hormone pills every day, just like before…?’

Ari had heard countless times from him that he no longer needed the alpha hormone pills after sleeping with her, and that he was grateful for not getting migraines anymore.

Leaning quietly against Dohwi’s chest, Ari felt the sharp, overpowering pheromones of the extremely dominant alpha prick her nose.

Perhaps it was because she had smelled his pheromones and been intimate with him so often. What had once seemed toxic and even frightening now brought her a sense of stability and even felt tender.

Ari found it astonishing that she could perceive the same pheromones so differently.

‘Is this what it means to be an alpha and omega…?’

Ari had heard that alphas and omegas tend to remember their first partner with a special intensity, far more vividly than ordinary people.

Now that she had experienced it herself, she could vaguely understand why such a saying existed.

Just then, her phone chimed.

[Senior Ari, it’s Seonho. Do you remember me?]

A message from a beloved junior from high school suddenly lit up her usually silent phone.

[Seonho! Of course I remember you. How have you been?]

Ari hastily replied to the message from her junior, whom she hadn’t heard from in a while.

Seonho, who had been a trainee at the same agency as Dohwi for about three months, was a former child actor and a popular figure at their high school, rivaling Dohwi in popularity.

Lately, he seemed to be making a name for himself in various fields, appearing in web dramas and as a guest on YouTube channels.

“I heard from Sister Nayeon that you’re looking to be an editor. I’ve been desperately searching for someone to help with editing, and I really love your style, Senior. Would you be free tomorrow?”

“You have a YouTube channel too?”

“I’m planning to start my own channel soon. But editing is completely beyond my capabilities, and since I’m still young, hiring a professional feels a bit awkward. It would be amazing if someone I know, like you, Senior, could help…”

Ari hesitated for a moment at Seonho’s words.

In truth, Dohwi had casually mentioned several times that he was having trouble finding an editor he liked.

‘It’s not that you can’t find one, it’s that you’re not even trying to find one,’ She thought dismissively, brushing it off. But Dohwi really didn’t seem interested in finding another editor besides her, which secretly bothered her.

What’s worse, he kept grumbling loudly about how the views had dropped since she quit, and how he hated the editing style of the temporary replacement. It was so incessant that she felt like her ears would bleed if she kept pretending not to notice. This had become one of Ari’s recent worries.

But if she agreed to help him with his editing again, she feared she’d be truly stuck in this relationship. That’s why Ari found it so hard to accept his request for help.

To be honest, she was still debating whether to go back to editing… She was also considering tutoring or other part-time jobs.

[Please don’t feel pressured, Senior. Just think of it as catching up with a junior you haven’t seen in ages. Would you meet me just once? I miss you so much ㅠㅠ]

The affectionate reply was followed by a large, crying dog emoji.

Ari stared at Seonho’s message, which was the complete opposite of Dohwi’s emoji-free texts, and chuckled softly.

“He’s using an emoji that looks exactly like him.”

Even back in school, Seonho had been nicknamed “Puppy Boy” for his large build and bright, wavy hair.

Unlike Dohwi, whose sharp, cold demeanor kept people at arm’s length, Seonho radiated warmth with his sunny smile and gentle image.

Seonho, who resembled a golden retriever, was an extrovert who treated everyone he met with warmth, taking selfies with fans and chatting amiably with passersby.

Even though Ari had been a fan of Dohwi at the time, she always thought it was natural for the charming and adorable Seonho to be so popular.

[Then let’s meet up tomorrow after my class.]

[I’ll come to your neighborhood, Senior! Let’s grab something delicious. I’ll find a great dessert cafe and text you the details later!]

[Okay.]

After replying to Seonho, Ari carefully pushed Dohwi away and stood up.

If things continued this way, Moon Dohwi would undoubtedly insist on driving her to school tomorrow morning, and then grill her relentlessly about her plans after class and who she was meeting.

‘It’s time to end this. This kind of manipulative relationship…’

Dohwi always fell into a deep sleep after sex, so soundly that he wouldn’t notice if someone carried him away. It was as if her pheromones had an unusually strong effect on him.

Seeing Dohwi sleeping so soundly like a child softened her heart, but she steeled herself and went to the living room to gather the clothes he had stripped off her as soon as she entered the house.

‘If I can’t get a real job, I’ll just work part-time forever. It’s not like I’ll starve to death.’

Once she made up her mind, she resolved that even if an enraged Moon Dohwi exposed her omega status on Eta, she wouldn’t care.

Ari immediately blocked both of his phone numbers.

She knew she couldn’t continue living a life where she was constantly manipulated by him.

She didn’t want to give him another piece of her heart only to be treated like a disposable rag.

“…Goodbye, Moon Dohwi.”

She glanced at Dohwi, sleeping peacefully through the open bedroom door, before quietly slipping out of the house.

Throughout the journey home, a persistent unease lingered in the corner of her mind.

Yet she firmly believed that ending this meaningless relationship quickly was the best course for her own well-being. She desperately tried to erase the image of Dohwi’s sleeping face that kept resurfacing in her thoughts.