#alpha!jungwon

Park Sunghoon stared at the untouched coffee sitting on the edge of his desk, its heat long gone, leaving behind an aroma that lingered in the air. The clock on the wall ticked softly, mocking him with its glowing digits, 3:14 A.M. He was supposed to be asleep hours ago, but here he was, hunched over stacks of neatly organized paperwork. His bedroom, once a place of rest, now served as an office.

As the eldest, it wasn’t just expected of him to succeed, it was demanded. Every report and signature carried the weight of the Park name. Sunghoon leaned back in his chair, his head tilting toward the ceiling, eyes heavy with exhaustion.

The faint ache in his temples grew sharper, but he ignored it, just as he ignored the way his inner Alpha growled in frustration. "You’re supposed to take care of yourself—for her," it growled. "How will you protect an Omega if you can’t even do this much?"

His jaw clenched as he let out a quiet scoff. “There is no Omega,” he muttered under his breath, as if saying it aloud would somehow silence the voice.

The thought of having a mate, someone who would rely on him, only added to his frustration. He was already drowning in expectations, chained to a life that had no room for distractions, let alone love.

but his inner alpha didn’t back down, the primal side of him rebelling against his neglect. it clawed at him, not with anger, but with frustration, urging him to stop, to rest, to breathe.

sunghoon shut his eyes briefly, a bitter laugh slipping out as he rubbed the back of his neck. the idea of prioritizing himself, of prioritizing someone else in the future, felt absurd. he didn’t have time to indulge in instincts or fantasies, not when there was a legacy to uphold.

he opened his eyes, his gaze falling to the cold coffee cup, his reflection faintly visible in the dark liquid. the alpha in him stirred again, growling low and dissatisfied, but this time sunghoon ignored it entirely. with a sharp sigh, sunghoon pushed the cup aside, the clock’s ticking growing louder in the silence. the hours dwindled, and morning was creeping closer, but he knew sleep wasn’t an option.

there was work to be done, and park sunghoon never left anything unfinished.

Sunghoon ran a tired hand down his face, sighing as his bloodshot eyes scanned the even larger pile of paperwork that greeted him. As the student council’s marketing director, his responsibilities seemed endless, and the fluorescent light overhead only made the mess on his desk look worse.

It was 6 A.M., and he was the first in the council room. Of course he was. He had made it a habit to arrive early, more out of necessity than enthusiasm.

A brief pang of guilt crossed his mind as he remembered his sister. He hadn’t been able to wait for her like he usually did, leaving the house before dawn without a word. “I’ll have to apologize later,” he muttered to himself, though the corners of his lips twitched upward in a humorless smirk.

Knowing his sister, she was probably already in Sunoo’s car by now, laughing about something with the Alpha. It didn’t help that Sunoo wasn’t just his best friend. The boy with the pink hair was also her Alpha, a relationship that Sunghoon had begrudgingly accepted but couldn’t help but feel protective about.

The thought made him snort under his breath. Of course, she’d be fine; Sunoo never missed an opportunity to step in, no matter how early it was.

The sound of the heavy, wooden doors swinging open pulled him from his thoughts. Jay walked in first, his tie already loose and his uniform jacket slung over his shoulder. The Alpha paused mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he took in Sunghoon’s slouched posture.

“Dude, you look like shit,” Jay said bluntly, tossing his bag on his own desk.

Sunghoon didn’t bother looking up. “Good morning to you too,” he replied dryly, his voice as flat as his expression.

Jake followed close behind, a half-eaten breakfast sandwich in hand. He took one look at Sunghoon and immediately stopped chewing. “Holy shit, did you even sleep?” Jake asked, his tone laced with disbelief. He gestured vaguely at Sunghoon’s face. “You look like a ghost.”

“Thanks,” Sunghoon deadpanned, leaning back in his chair as he crossed his arms. “Really needed to hear that.”

Jay snorted, leaning against his table. “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be a pureblooded, strong Alpha, you’re doing a great job of looking half-dead.”

Sunghoon gave them both a sharp glare but didn’t have the energy to retort. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning at the headache that was forming. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though the dark circles under his eyes said otherwise.

“Yeah, sure,” Jay quipped, grabbing a stack of paperwork that was messily sitting on top of his table. “Keep telling yourself that, man.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, still looking skeptical. “You’re not going to drop dead on us, right? Because I’m not carrying your heavy ass to the nurse’s office.”

“I’m fine,” Sunghoon repeated, though even he wasn’t convinced by the words.

Jay exchanged a look with Jake, both Alphas sharing a sigh before Jay set his own paperwork down on the desk once again. “You know, if you die,” Jay began with a mocking grin, his tone more teasing than serious, “you do realize you’re going to leave all of this on your sister’s shoulders, right? She’ll probably curse your name for eternity.”

“Or possibly your mate,” Jake chimed in, his voice casual as he gestured toward Sunghoon. “You know, the one you’re supposed to be taking care of in the future by not working yourself into an early grave?”

Sunghoon stiffened at the mention of a mate, his jaw tightening. He hated when they brought it up, and Jake knew it. “I don’t have a mate,” he said coldly, his gaze darkening as he turned to the next set of papers.

Jay opened his mouth to add another comment, but before he could speak, a new voice cut through the room.

“Yeah, as if,” Heeseung’s voice drawled from the doorway, his tone laced with amusement.

He was leaning casually on the wooden door frame, arms crossed as he looked at Sunghoon. “He runs away from any Omega he sees. Poor guy probably wouldn’t know what to do if his mate actually showed up.”

Jake snorted, leaning on his own desk as he tossed his sandwich wrapper into the trash. “He’d probably pass out on the spot,” he added with a grin.

“Or just bury himself in more paperwork,” Jay said, shaking his head. “Honestly, Sunghoon, you’re making all of us pureblooded Alphas look bad.”

Sunghoon glared at the three of them, his annoyance visible. “If you’re all done wasting my time, I have work to do,” he muttered, his voice sharp as he pointedly ignored the way Heeseung’s comment bothered him more than it should.

But Heeseung wasn’t finished. “You know, it’s funny,” he mused, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “For someone so obsessed with rules and traditions, you’re awfully quick to ignore the most important one.”

“I have no time for this,” Sunghoon snapped, his tone colder now, though the way his pen stilled in his hand betrayed his frustration. His eyes stayed glued to the paperwork in front of him, refusing to meet Heeseung’s knowing gaze.

“No time for what?” the older Alpha challenged, his voice calm but laced with amusement. He stepped further into the room, his smirk deepening as he leaned casually against the side of his desk. “No time for the idea of a mate? No time for the Omega who’s meant to balance out that storm in your head? Or is it just no time for things you can’t control?”

“I said, drop it,” Sunghoon growled, his Alpha instincts flashing briefly in his tone as he clenched his jaw. His fingers gripped the pen so tightly it looked like it might snap in his hand.

Heeseung raised an eyebrow but didn’t back down. “I’m just saying,” he continued, his tone now more neutral, “if you keep running from it, you’re only going to make it worse. You think ignoring it will keep things normal the way you want it to?”

Sunghoon’s chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, his irritation now mixed with something deeper, something he didn’t want to acknowledge.

He glanced briefly at the clock, as if that would give him an escape, before returning to his work. “I don’t run from anything,” he said quietly.

Heeseung’s scent spiked up then, as if challenging Sunghoon. The sharp scent of coffee and leather surrounding Sunghoon spiked in response, tension building between the two pureblooded Alphas as the room seemed to pulse with an unspoken challenge.

But Heeseung tilted his head, studying Sunghoon for a moment. “Whatever you say,” he said finally, his smirk softening into a faint smile.

“But don’t come crying to us when it all catches up to you.” With that, he pushed off the desk, casually moving the placard on his own desk that read Vice President, Lee Heeseung, sliding it to the side as he stood up, making it clear that he wasn’t going to stay much longer.

Heeseung strode toward the door, hands casually shoved into his pockets, his movements deliberate but effortless. Just before he left, he threw a glance over his shoulder at Sunghoon. “See you later, Park,” he called, his voice light but carrying an unmistakable edge.

“I mean, he had a point,” came a new voice from the doorway, breaking the silence. Their gaze snapped up, and Sunghoon saw Sunoo leaning casually against the frame, his usual carefree demeanor somehow at odds with the tense atmosphere.

The pink-haired Alpha’s arm was slung over his sister’s shoulder, and despite the casualness of the gesture, Sunghoon couldn’t help but feel annoyed at the sight of it. Sunoo didn’t drop his arm but instead moved it to hold her hand, intertwining their fingers as if marking his claim on her.

Sunghoon clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he watched them. “Right, you’re mated to my sister,” he said, the words coming out almost like a warning as his gaze flicked from Sunoo to his sister.

Sunoo grinned, unfazed by the glare. “Yeah, well, we did kind of notice you were a little… tense. Thought we'd come and check on you.”

“How long have you two been standing there?” Sunghoon asked, his voice laced with a hint of exhaustion. His patience was already running thin after the exchange with Heeseung, and now this.

Sunoo shrugged, his smile widening as he stepped further into the room, his mate right beside him. “Long enough to hear your conversation,” Sunoo replied, his voice light.

“And to know you’re not fooling anyone,” Sunghoon's sister added, her tone teasing but with a hint of seriousness. “Not even your inner Alpha, by the way.” She shrugged, as if the comment was an afterthought, but it hit right where it mattered.

Sunghoon glared at them both, irritation flashing in his eyes. He wanted to deny it, to brush it off as just another conversation about his future, but deep down, he knew they were right.

The hallway seemed to clear instinctively as the student council made their way through. A group of powerful pureblooded Alphas, they carried themselves with the kind of confidence and authority that left no room for doubt about their status.

Ni-ki, ever energetic, walked in front, his eyes filled with curiosity as he turned to Jake. “So, about the proposals under the secretary committee…” he began, his voice full of interest. “Do you think there’s anything the public relations committee can help with?” Ni-ki’s gaze flickered to Jake's tablet, whose fingers were drumming absently on the screen.

Jake looked up from the screen, considering the question for a moment. “You guys could help with the promotions. We need the best PR support for this one.”

“Right,” Ni-ki nodded, clearly processing the info. “I’ll talk to them about the promotions then. We’ll get it done.”

Meanwhile, Heeseung and Jungwon were having their own little debate, their voices rising in the back as they argued about something entirely unrelated to council work. “I’m telling you, that new pheromone perfume? It’s garbage. They’re marketing it like it’ll solve everything,” Heeseung said, shaking his head.

Jungwon chuckled, shaking his head. “Garbage or not, some Betas are eating it up. You can’t deny it’s working.”

Heeseung rolled his eyes. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

Trailing just a step behind, Sunoo and Jay passed a football between them, their movements smooth and practiced. “Why are they always like this?” Sunoo muttered, his gaze flickering to the pair ahead.

Jay shrugged, catching the ball effortlessly before tossing it back. “It’s entertaining. Besides, this is tame for them.”

Sunghoon, walking a bit apart from the group, scrolled through his tablet with furrowed brows. His father had sent over another set of files, and while he was used to the constant influx of work, it didn’t make it any less exhausting.

“Seriously, Jungwon, you’re impossible,” Heeseung muttered, shaking his head as he dodged Jungwon’s attempt to nudge him.

“Not like you have a choice,” Jungwon teased, flashing a mischievous grin.

Behind them, Sunoo caught the football mid-air and smirked. “I bet Heeseung’s just mad because Jungwon actually has a point for once.”

Jay chuckled. “Don’t push it. You know how he gets when he’s losing.”

Their banter continued, but Sunghoon remained in his own bubble, his fingers scrolling mechanically over the screen. That was until a familiar voice called out.

“Jake!”

The group collectively slowed, all their attention flicking to you as you approached. Jake stopped in his tracks, lowering his tablet to meet your gaze.

“Hey,” you said, slightly out of breath. “I need your help with something.”

Jake’s brows furrowed slightly. “What’s up?”

You handed him your tablet. “It’s about the proposal breakdown you sent. The third column—again, it’s all messed up, and I can’t figure out why.”

Jake blinked and then laughed softly, shaking his head. “That thing’s cursed.”

You groaned. “Please tell me you can fix it.”

“Of course.” Jake started tapping on your screen, walking alongside you as he explained the error. You nodded along, grateful for his patience.

Behind you, Sunoo and Jay exchanged a glance, their conversation fading as they tuned into yours. Sunoo tossed the ball back absently. “They’re a bit too comfortable, don’t you think?”

Jay smirked faintly, his tone teasing but light. “Maybe Jake’s just that charming.”

Sunghoon’s jaw tightened, his fingers pausing on the screen as he forced himself not to glance in your direction. Something about the way you walked so effortlessly into their group, completely unfazed, grated on his nerves. His inner Alpha stirred, but he pushed the feeling down.

Jungwon, noticing the way Sunghoon’s scent subtly shifted, leaned toward Heeseung. “You smell that?” he whispered, a sly grin forming.

Heeseung, ever the observant one, smirked knowingly. “Oh, I smell it alright.”

Sunghoon’s eyes flicked up briefly, landing on you and Jake. He quickly looked back down at his tablet, though the irritation bubbling under the surface didn’t fade.

“You good, man?” Jay called out, the football now tucked under his arm.

“I’m fine,” Sunghoon muttered, his voice clipped.

“Yeah, just approach me whenever you need help with that,” Jake said, his tone casual as he handed your tablet back. A small, easy smile tugged at the corners of his lips, the kind that made it impossible to feel tense around him.

You mirrored his smile, genuinely grateful. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up.”

Turning your attention to Ni-ki, who was walking just slightly ahead, you called out, “Oh, and Ni-ki, I already mentioned the pending tasks to Jake earlier. I think some members of the secretary committee might be able to lend a hand if you’re short on people for logistics.”

Ni-ki glanced back at you, surprised but clearly impressed. “Really? That’d be a huge help. Thanks, (Y/N).”

So you were close to Ni-ki too? Sunghoon’s grip on his tablet tightened slightly, his jaw ticking as he skimmed the lines of text that no longer registered. His focus wasn’t on the files his father had sent him anymore; it was on you. You were supposed to be under Jake’s committee, and yet here you were, chatting easily with Ni-ki like you belonged in every conversation.

Jake noticed the subtle exchange and shook his head with a playful scoff. “You’re getting way too independent for my liking, Nishimura,” he teased, shooting the youngest Alpha a pointed look. “You’re consulting (Y/N) without even running it by me first? Seriously?”

Ni-ki smirked, unfazed by Jake’s mock scolding. “(Y/N)’s good at this stuff. Besides, teamwork, right?” He threw Jake’s own words back at him, grinning.

You laughed, shaking your head at their banter. “Don’t worry, Jake. You’re still the boss. Ni-ki just wanted to cover his bases, and I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a head start.”

“See?” Ni-ki said, raising a brow at Jake. “Efficiency. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

Before Jake could retort, Sunghoon cleared his throat, a sharp sound that cut through the light-hearted conversation like a blade. Everyone stopped talking almost instantly, turning their attention toward him.

“My next class is just around this corner,” Sunghoon said, his voice calm but clipped, as if he wasn’t in the mood to entertain any further distractions.

His gaze briefly flickered to you, unreadable yet heavy, before he shifted his attention back to the tablet in his hands. Without another word, he began walking ahead, leaving the group behind.

Jay and Sunoo exchanged glances, the teasing smirks they’d been wearing moments ago replaced by something more knowing. Sunoo raised an eyebrow at Jay, who shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Interesting,” Jay muttered under his breath, loud enough for Sunoo to hear but quiet enough to avoid catching Sunghoon’s attention.

Sunoo nodded slightly, his lips twitching in amusement as he leaned closer to Jay. “Very interesting.”

You, oblivious to the subtle exchange between the two Alphas, kept walking alongside Jake, still completely engrossed in the conversation. “Anyway, just let me know if there’s anything else I can help with. I don’t want to overstep, but I figured I might as well be useful where I can.”

Jake chuckled, his laid-back demeanor putting you at ease. “Overstep? You? Nah, you’re just making my job easier. Keep it up, (Y/N).”

Meanwhile, Sunghoon, now a few steps ahead of the group, tried to keep his focus on the files displayed on his tablet. But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept drifting back to you—walking too close to Jake, smiling too easily at his jokes, and being too comfortable in a group of Alphas where Sunghoon felt like you stood out the most.

His inner Alpha stirred uneasily, frustrated and annoyed at the pull you had over him. He hated how it made him feel, how he couldn’t seem to control the way his senses sharpened whenever you were nearby. His scent of coffee and leather spiked faintly as he clenched his jaw, pushing the feelings down as best he could.

Heeseung, noticing the slight change in Sunghoon’s posture and scent, smirked to himself but didn’t say a word. Jungwon, however, nudged Heeseung with his elbow, his expression smug.

“Called it,” Jungwon whispered, earning a chuckle from Heeseung.

You, still entirely unaware of the tension you were unknowingly creating, glanced toward Sunghoon’s retreating figure for a moment, a small frown of curiosity crossing your face before you turned back to Jake. “Do you think he’s okay?” you asked, your voice tinged with concern.

Jake glanced ahead, following your gaze to where Sunghoon had disappeared around the corner. “He’s fine,” he replied, though there was a knowing edge to his tone. “He just takes things a little too seriously sometimes. Don’t worry about him.”

But you did. You couldn’t help it.

And neither could Sunghoon.

The classroom buzzed faintly with the low hum of people talking and the scratching of pens on paper. Sunghoon sat by the window, his tablet propped up in front of him, displaying spreadsheets and documents his father had sent over earlier, but his eyes weren’t on them. Instead, they were fixed on the gray sky outside, his thoughts wandering far from budget allocations and meeting agendas.

You.

You’d been on his mind since lunch, and no matter how much he tried to push the thought of you away, it kept resurfacing and demanding his attention. You’d always been around, working under Jake in the secretary committee. He knew you, he had seen you countless times in meetings and events.

But you’d never lingered in his thoughts before. So why now? Why did the sight of you walking beside Jake earlier make something in his chest tighten uncomfortably?

The faintest hint of honey and lilac lingered in his memory, soft but intoxicating. He swore he could still smell it even now, though he knew it was impossible. Your scent—it clung to his thoughts.

His jaw clenched, and his brows furrowed as he tapped his pen against the desk. He didn’t understand it. There was something about you that had his Alpha instincts stirring, clawing at the edges of his mind. His wolf, a part of him he usually kept tightly controlled, was restless.

“Mr. Park,” his professor’s voice cut through his thoughts.

Sunghoon blinked, snapping his gaze toward the front of the room. The professor was staring at him, waiting for an answer to a question he hadn’t heard.

For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, his classmates glancing between him and the professor. But then Sunghoon straightened in his seat, his expression calm as he answered, “The proposed budget allocation for next semester’s extracurricular activities needs to account for inflation trends. That’s why the margin was adjusted to five percent.”

The professor raised a brow, nodding approvingly. “Correct, Mr. Park. As expected.”

Sunghoon’s classmates exchanged looks, some impressed, others annoyed, but he ignored them. His body was here, in this classroom, answering questions and keeping up appearances, but his mind? His mind was with you.

The bell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He packed his things quickly, stepping out into the hallway where Jungwon was waiting for him, leaning casually against the wall.

“Took you long enough,” Jungwon teased, stepping beside him as they walked toward their next meeting.

Sunghoon didn’t answer immediately, his thoughts still tangled. Jungwon glanced at him, his brows furrowing slightly. “You good?”

“Fine,” Sunghoon muttered, his tone clipped.

They turned a corner, and Sunghoon’s steps halted for just a moment. There you were, standing a few feet away, chatting with Jungwon and Sunoo’s mates. You nodded at something one of them said, a small smile gracing your lips as you gestured excitedly with your hands.

Sunghoon’s chest tightened again, that unfamiliar feeling stirring in the pit of his stomach. His wolf bristled, the instinctive urge to step closer, to claim what was his. But he shoved it down, locking it away behind the mask of indifference he’d perfected over the years.

You glanced up, your eyes meeting his briefly. Without saying anything, you gave Jungwon a small nod, silently acknowledging him. Sunghoon caught the faint smile you sent his way before your attention returned to the conversation in front of you.

“Looks like we’re all heading to the same place,” Jungwon said lightly, his tone casual as he nudged Sunghoon forward.

Sunghoon didn’t respond, his grip tightening around his backpack strap as he forced himself to move. You were close, too close. He could hear your laugh, soft and full of life, as you spoke to Sunoo’s mate. He could smell your scent, and it made his inner Alpha agitated.

He didn’t like this.

Didn’t like how his instincts reacted to you.

Didn’t like the way his thoughts strayed toward you when he had more important things to focus on.

Didn’t like how his body seemed to recognize something his mind refused to.

Heeseung and Jay passed by, still caught up in their conversation, but Heeseung sent him a knowing glance. Not fully understanding, but suspecting something.

Sunghoon shut it all out—he had no time for love, no time for whatever this was.

Without another word, he walked past you, through the council room doors, and forced himself to bury whatever this feeling was before it could take root.

You hesitated for a moment, watching Sunghoon as he disappeared into the meeting room without sparing you another glance. It wasn’t the first time he’d brushed past you like that, but something about today felt different. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his gaze hardened the second he saw you—it was like you were a problem he didn’t have time for.

And you didn’t understand why.

Sunoo’s mate, who just so happened to be Sunghoon’s younger sister, sighed beside you, her voice low as she leaned in. “Don’t bother,” she murmured, arms crossing as she watched her brother’s retreating figure. “He’s always like that.”

But was he? Because despite her words, you had a gnawing feeling that the way Sunghoon treated you was different. Like there was something beneath his cold exterior, something you couldn’t quite understand.

You were still lost in thought when Ni-ki slid into the seat next to you. His presence was casual, but his sharp eyes missed nothing.

He nudged you lightly, voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “Why are you staring at Sunghoon like that?”

You snapped out of your daze, your eyes widening slightly. “What?”

The younger Alpha smirked, resting his chin on his hand as he observed you. “You’ve been watching him since he walked in. And don’t even try to deny it.”

Heat crept up your face as you quickly looked away. “I wasn’t—”

“Uh-huh,” Ni-ki cut in, clearly unconvinced. “Sure, (Y/N). Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

You huffed, shaking your head before turning your attention back to Jungwon as he finally started the meeting.

Jungwon leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the smooth wood of the long table before his lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Alright, before we get to the real agenda… I’m assuming everyone here knows they’re expected to be at the grand dinner our dear marketing director's family is hosting?”

Collective groans echoed through the room.

Jay was the first to voice his displeasure, rolling his eyes as he slumped against his chair. “No offense, Sunghoon, but I was trying to pretend I forgot about that.”

“Do we really have to go?” Sunoo sighed dramatically, slouching back in his seat with exaggerated defeat. “What if I suddenly develop a rare illness that prevents me from attending formal events? I think it’s highly possible. I should get it checked out.”

“You and me both,” Jay added, rolling his eyes.

Jungwon chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll make sure our dear school nurse looks after you.” His tone was light, but the glint in his eyes made it clear—none of them were getting out of this.

You sat quietly at the far end of the table, taking in the conversation with mild amusement. The mention of the event piqued your curiosity, though you weren’t as vocal about your distaste for it as the others.

Instead, you found your gaze wandering toward Sunghoon, who, as expected, remained perfectly composed, his expression cold, eyes still skimming over his tablet as if this conversation didn’t concern him in the slightest.

Unlike the others, Sunghoon wasn’t one to complain about formal events. No, he was used to them. They were expected of him, just as everything else in his life was predetermined. And yet, despite his practiced facade, something about the way he held himself—his grip tightening around the device, his jaw tensing ever so slightly—told you that he wasn’t entirely unaffected.

Not that you would ever get the chance to ask him about it.

Because every time you so much as looked his way, his entire demeanor shifted, as if your presence alone irritated him. And it stung, just a little.

Jungwon, unaware of the silent exchange, finally clapped his hands together. “Alright, moving on. Since we’re all forced to attend that wonderful dinner, let’s get to what actually matters—the upcoming school festival.”

A shift in everyone's demeanor followed as the real meeting began. Papers rustled, files were opened, and everyone straightened up, ready to discuss proposals and assignments.

“The main goal for this meeting is to finalize activity proposals before we present them for approval. We have a rough list, but we still need to sort out logistics,” Jungwon continued. “Jake, you and your team already compiled the initial proposals, right?”

Jake nodded, pulling out a neatly organized folder. “Yeah, I went through the ones submitted last week. I’ll run through them real quick.”

As Jake started going over the list, you chimed in with some of your own notes, offering insights from the secretary committee’s perspective. “Some of these proposals overlap with past events, so we might want to rethink a few of them to keep things fresh. Also, we should factor in the budget constraints before finalizing anything.”

Jay, being the treasurer, leaned forward, tapping his pen against his notebook. “Speaking of budgets, don’t forget that we still need funding for venue rentals and logistics.”

Heeseung snorted. “Stop acting like we’re broke. We could fund the whole event if we wanted to.”

Jay smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, but just because we have the funds doesn’t mean we should start tossing money around like it’s fucking Monopoly cash.”

Sunoo, the student relations director, hummed in approval. “Okay, but let’s consider which ones would actually engage the student body. No point in budgeting for an event no one shows up to.”

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, shrugging. “That’s fair, but we do have the resources. As long as it’s reasonable, funding isn’t really the issue.”

Jay sighed, still skeptical. “Fine. Just don’t come crying to me when we go over budget because someone thought a fireworks show would be a great addition.”

The discussion flowed naturally, Ni-ki making suggestions from the public relations side. “We also need to think about how we’re promoting these events. Even the best ideas fail if no one knows about them. I can get the PR committee to start drafting marketing strategies once we finalize the shortlist.”

But amidst all of this, Sunghoon was distracted. No one would have noticed—no one except Heeseung, of course.

Because while the others were engaged in conversation, Sunghoon was stuck in a losing battle against his own thoughts. His gaze flickered to you more times than he wanted to admit, even as he forced himself to keep his attention on his tablet. He wasn’t just distracted; he was frustrated.

Why did he care? Why did it bother him when you spoke so easily with the others? You had always been there. You had always been part of these meetings, always sitting on the opposite end of the table, working just as hard as the rest of them.

So why, now of all times, was he so hyperaware of you?

Why did your voice pull him from his thoughts? Why did the scent of honey and lilac make his muscles tense?

He didn’t have time for this, he didn’t have time for love.

“Sunghoon,” Heeseung’s voice cut through his thoughts suddenly, snapping him back to reality.

Sunghoon didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, I agree with (Y/N)’s suggestion.”

Silence.

Jay raised a brow, glancing at Heeseung before turning back to Sunghoon. “You sure about that, man?”

Sunoo looked equally amused, glancing between you and Sunghoon as he tossed the pen between his hands. “Because that was the first time you spoke since the meeting started.”

The corner of Heeseung’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “So, you were listening, huh?”

Sunghoon clenched his jaw. Heeseung knew. He always knew.

But instead of giving them the satisfaction, Sunghoon merely straightened in his seat, exuding the same indifference as before. “Of course I was. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I wasn’t.”

Then Heeseung let out a low whistle, still smirking, only leaning back in his chair. “Right. If you say so.”

Jungwon, still trying to be professional, shook his head. “Alright, focus, people.”

You, however, weren’t paying attention to them anymore. Your gaze drifted toward a specific pureblooded Alpha—the way he sat stiffly, the way his fingers tapped against the screen with an edge of tension.

And suddenly, you weren’t just confused.

You were curious.

Because if Sunghoon truly didn’t care about you, why did he remember every single word you had said?

You replayed every moment you saw him from earlier that day—his quiet, almost reluctant responses to you, how he kept his distance but somehow always seemed to be aware of everything you said and did. His voice echoed in your head now, and it made you question everything you’d assumed about him.

Was this really indifference? Or was it something else?

The meeting droned on, but your mind couldn't stay focused. It kept drifting back to him—his posture, the sharpness of his eyes, the moles on his face that somehow made him even more attractive, the way he always seemed so calculated, like he was constantly running scenarios in his head, measuring each move.

Sunghoon wasn’t just someone who blended in with the group. No, he commanded attention, even without trying.

And yet, there he was, looking as uninterested as ever, his expression stoic as he scrolled through something on his device. But that nagging feeling—like there was something more beneath his mask—kept poking at you.

Without thinking, you leaned back in your chair, letting the tension in your body melt away for a moment, trying to get a glimpse of the real Sunghoon—not the calculated, polished version he liked to show other people.

You had to admit, you were intrigued. The pureblooded Alphas were all so predictable in their own ways, but Sunghoon was different.

Your thoughts were interrupted when Heeseung cleared his throat, looking at Jungwon with a raised eyebrow. “We’re talking about the theme for the event, right?” he asked casually, as if the meeting hadn’t slipped into a quiet lull.

Jungwon nodded, unfazed. “Yes. But we need more input from everyone. Ideas that aren’t just—”

“I have one,” you cut in, unable to resist any longer. Your voice came out clear and confident, a stark contrast to the flurry of thoughts racing through your mind. “We could go with something subtle but impactful. A theme that revolves around contrasts. Like light and dark, maybe even using elements of nature, contrasts of seasons, or contrasting textures. After all, it’s all about balance.”

You paused, feeling everyone’s gaze on you for just a moment longer than necessary. But you held it together.

The room fell silent. Sunghoon didn’t react immediately, but you could sense his attention subtly shifting in your direction. You dared to meet his eyes for a split second, but he quickly looked down at his tablet again, feigning disinterest.

But you noticed the way his lips pressed together, the slight tension in his jaw that he never showed anyone else. You wondered if he was considering your words or if he was just trying to avoid acknowledging the pull you had on him.

Finally, Sunghoon spoke up, his voice surprisingly calm. “It’s not bad,” he said, looking up from his tablet. “Contrast is a powerful tool. We could work with it.” His gaze lingered on you for a brief second before he turned his attention back to the discussion, as if the acknowledgment had been nothing more than a casual comment.

You blinked, slightly taken aback. The unexpected approval from him felt different from the usual dismissive reactions. But you didn’t have time to dwell on it. You quickly nodded, trying to maintain your composure.

“I’ll send a more detailed proposal with visuals after the meeting,” you added, pushing forward.

Sunghoon didn’t say anything more, but you caught the way his gaze flickered toward you again, his eyes narrowing just slightly. There was a brief pause, like he was weighing his next move.

The air had shifted just a little, and you couldn’t quite place why. But you were certain that there was something more to his response, even if he tried to brush it off as nonchalance.

The rustling of papers and the faint creak of chairs filled the council room as everyone packed up. The meeting had dragged on longer than expected, and most of them were ready to go home.

Jake slung his bag over his shoulder, exhaling. “Alright, let’s go. I think we all want to sleep at a reasonable hour.”

Ni-ki snorted. “Reasonable? You all literally run on caffeine and stress.”

Jake rolled his eyes, already walking toward the door. “Just hurry up.”

One by one, they filed out into the dimly lit hallways, their chatter echoing through the empty corridors. Outside, the night air was crisp, the usual warm breeze replaced by a sharper chill.

The campus at night had an almost eerie but majestic feel to it, grand architecture bathed in soft golden lights, towering columns casting long shadows across the marble pathways. The air smelled of expensive cologne and freshly trimmed gardens—the very image of wealth and privilege. It was the kind of place that asked for admiration, yet felt untouchable, like something straight out of a dream.

They walked in their usual loose formation toward the parking lot, their voices filling the space between them. Sunoo and Jay were deep in a debate about their next group dinner, Ni-ki throwing in sarcastic remarks while Heeseung poked fun at Jungwon’s overly formal meeting style.

But Sunghoon?

Sunghoon was silent.

He walked with them, hands shoved into his pockets, his usual confident stride still the same. And yet, he wasn’t really there. He wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, wasn’t throwing in his usual sarcastic remarks. He barely even reacted when Ni-ki nudged him in the ribs or when Heeseung smirked at him like he was waiting for a comeback.

Jay was the first to notice. He narrowed his eyes, slowing his steps to fall in line beside him. “What’s up with you?”

Sunghoon blinked, like he hadn’t even realized someone was talking to him. “What?”

Jay gave him a look. “You’ve been weirdly quiet. Like, more than usual. It’s kinda freaking me out.”

Sunghoon exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “I’m fine.”

But he wasn’t. And they all caught it.

Because for the briefest second, his scent changed—something bitter wafted through the air.

Jay’s eyes flickered, but he let it go. “If you say so.”

The conversation picked up again, but Sunghoon remained detached, walking alongside them but never really taking part in any of the conversations.

They reached the parking lot, and the group naturally split off toward their respective cars, saying their goodbyes.

Sunghoon walked toward his own: a sleek, black sports car, polished to perfection. It stood out even among the other luxury vehicles, a clear reminder of his status.

He pulled the door open but didn’t start it. Instead, he sat in the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel as he stared straight ahead.

The quietness of the parking lot pressed down on him, leaving nothing but the hum of distant streetlights and the faint ringing in his ears.

And then, for the first time all night, his inner Alpha spoke.

"Pathetic."

A dull throb started in his temples. He shut his eyes, jaw clenching.

"You’re running, aren’t you?"

“Shut up.” His grip on the wheel tightened, but the voice didn’t stop. It never did.

"You saw her today. Again. And what did you do?"

His chest ached. “Nothing.”

His inner Alpha scoffed. "Exactly. You ignored her. You walked past her like she was nothing."

“Because she is nothing to me.” But even as he said it, his own words felt hollow.

"Liar."

His head pulsed, frustration clawing at his skull. He couldn’t do this. He had responsibilities. Expectations. He had worked too damn hard to let something as simple as instincts get in the way.

His life was structured, orderly. He had a plan.

He had no time for love.

No time for distractions.

And yet, the way his instincts clawed at him, the way his Alpha had been restless all evening, it was suffocating.

His own body was betraying him.

He exhaled sharply, pressing his thumb and forefinger against his temple. Not now. Not ever.

With a final, sharp breath, he yanked the car door shut, sealing himself inside.

And then, without another second wasted, he started the engine and drove off into the night.

The drive home was a blur. Sunghoon barely remembered driving through the city streets, his grip on the wheel tense, jaw locked as he forced his thoughts elsewhere—anywhere but where they wanted to be.

But the moment he pulled into the long, private driveway leading to his family estate, he knew that tonight was going to be hell.

His home was as grand as expected from a family like his—towering windows, intricate stonework, and the ever-present air of power. The gates shut behind him, and for a second, he let his forehead rest against the steering wheel. Maybe if he sat here long enough, his thoughts would settle.

Your scent still clung to his senses—honey and lilac, sweet but not overpowering. It had wrapped around him in the council room, seeped into his skin, and now it refused to leave. He hated how much it soothed him, how his muscles almost wanted to relax, how it made something deep in his chest coil tighter instead of loosening.

"You’re being pathetic," his alpha sneered, voice curling in his mind like a mocking whisper. "Avoiding her doesn’t change the fact that she’s yours."

Sunghoon’s lips curled into a silent snarl as he shoved the car door open, stepping out into the crisp night air.

“She is not mine.”

His inner alpha laughed, low and knowing. "Keep telling yourself that. See how well that works."

Ignoring the voice, he strode toward the house. The moment he stepped inside, everything felt too much. The walls felt closer. The silence was suffocating. His body was tense with an agitation he couldn’t shake. His instincts were screaming at him to move, to do something.

He made his way upstairs, stripping off his blazer and tossing it carelessly onto the chair by his desk. His bathroom door was open, the mirror catching his reflection. His eyes were sharp, glowing under the dim lighting, the exhaustion on his face barely hidden beneath the tension.

He turned away, forcing himself not to linger.

A shower. Maybe that would help.

The water was scalding against his skin, yet it did nothing to ease the heat gnawing at his chest. The steam didn’t drown out your presence—your scent lingered, thick in the air. His hands clenched against the tiles, his body stiff as the wave of frustration rolled over him.

“She’s under Jake in the secretary committee,” he muttered, trying to remind himself why it couldn’t be this way. “She’s always been there, but you never cared before. Why now?”

His alpha growled, the voice inside him bitter. "Because you were blind before."

“And I’m not now?”

"No. And you hate it."

Sunghoon exhaled sharply, the water running down his back as he scrubbed it away, scrubbing away the thoughts that wouldn’t leave.

He was supposed to have control. He couldn’t let this slip. He had responsibilities, obligations—his family, the council, the expectations weighing on his shoulders. He could not afford distractions.

And yet…

The moment he collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion tugging at him, he couldn’t escape the truth. The weight of it crushed him as he stared at the ceiling, and despite all the effort to push it down, all he could think about was you.

His body fought against it. His mind screamed at him to focus, to remind himself of his purpose. But his heart, and his damn alpha—kept drawing him back to you.

He lay on his bed for what felt like hours, the shadows from the window stretching over the floor, taunting him with the silence that felt too heavy.

“Get up,” he muttered to himself, sitting up abruptly, his body moving almost involuntarily. He couldn't sleep. Couldn't let himself relax. He needed something to focus on, something that would force his mind to behave.

Sunghoon stalked over to his desk, flicking on the lamp with a snap of his fingers. The pile of paperwork in front of him was waiting; papers that he had ignored for far too long, reports that needed reviewing, contracts his father had left for him to examine.

He grabbed the nearest stack, flipping it open, pretending to care about the figures and legal jargon written on the pages. But it was useless. His eyes skimmed over the words, but none of it made sense. His mind was elsewhere. His fingers would itch for the next page, yet they weren’t moving fast enough.

He cursed under his breath, trying to force his attention back onto the papers, but his thoughts kept drifting—drifting to you.

He slammed the folder closed, frustration clawing at him, his teeth gritting as he let out a harsh breath. What the hell was wrong with him?

"You know the answer," his inner alpha purred darkly. "It’s only a matter of time before you crack."

He shook his head, trying to fight back the growing sensation of need. He couldn’t allow it. He wouldn’t allow it.

Still, the clock ticked on, its hands mocking him, each second louder than the last.

He pushed himself up from his desk, pacing the room in frustration. His mind was a battlefield, the war between his own instincts and the duties he had been born into. He couldn’t just let go.

He had responsibilities. But everything in him—his very core, his inner alpha—was screaming for him to do the one thing he refused to acknowledge: follow his instincts. Go to her. Take the step forward.

"You’re already in too deep," the voice reminded him again, this time quieter, almost tender. "She’s not just anyone. she’s yours."

Sunghoon froze, his back against the wall as the words hit him harder than he could have ever anticipated. His heart skipped a beat. The thought of you, the reality of you being his, it felt almost too much to bear.

His alpha wasn’t wrong. But the fear of breaking the walls he had carefully built around his life, the fear of losing control, it was all too overwhelming.

Finally, Sunghoon gave in and walked over to his walk-in closet, the weight of his thoughts dragging him down. He yanked open the door, revealing rows of neatly organized clothes.

His eyes scanned the options without much focus, hand moving almost automatically as he grabbed a random hoodie from the rack. Pulling it over his head, he felt the familiar weight of the fabric, but it did little to comfort him.

Maybe a walk would help. Fresh air. Something to clear his mind. Maybe then, he could shake the way his body burned for something, anything that wasn’t this.

But the instant he stepped out into the cool night, his mind betrayed him again. He walked in the direction of the garden, his eyes glued to the ground, his thoughts clouded.

And there, in the garden, where the cold air mixed with the scent of flowers, the feeling hit him again, the overwhelming, suffocating need to give in.

Sunghoon found himself staring at the moon, and then, without realizing it, his mind drifted again.

You.

And when he tried to stop it, it came anyway.

Sunghoon’s frustration increased, his fingers clenching into fists at his sides. The wind swept across the garden, rustling the leaves, and yet he felt nothing but this suffocating pull toward you, toward whatever this was. The thoughts were relentless, the pull of his instincts gnawing at him.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, cutting through the chaos of his mind. He pulled it out, his eyes narrowing at the message from Jungwon, “Need you in the council office tomorrow for another meeting. Can’t do this without the rest of you guys.”

Sunghoon scoffed, shoving the phone back into his pocket. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with any more committee business. He was already drowning in it.

Yet, despite himself, he began to walk back toward the house, his pace quickening as if his legs knew what his mind refused to accept—that he couldn’t escape this. Not for long.

The only thing on his mind now was what he couldn’t have. And the bitter, hollow feeling that came with it was growing by the minute.

The morning light barely made its way through the heavy curtains, casting faint shadows on Sunghoon’s disheveled bed. He groaned as a loud knock broke through the quietness of his room. The sound echoed in his head, still hazy with the remnants of sleep.

Reluctantly, he reached for his phone, eyes squinting against the harsh glow of the screen. 7:00 AM. The numbers were bold, a text from his sister flashed across the screen, accompanied by a string of impatient emojis.

“Sunghoon, get up. We need to head to the venue. There are last-minute details to fix before the event.”

A sigh slipped past his lips. The last thing he wanted was to be pulled into this whirlwind of preparations, but as usual, duty called. His inner alpha thrashed beneath the surface, restless as ever, but there was no time for that. He had responsibilities to uphold.

Another knock came, louder this time. “Hurry up!” His sister’s voice echoed from the hallway, laced with a teasing urgency.

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, dragging himself out of bed. His body felt heavy, his mind clouded, but he forced himself to push through. His sister’s impatience was nothing new, but today, it felt more grating than usual.

He stumbled to the door, opening it to find his sister standing there with arms crossed, an amused smile playing at the corner of her lips. “You're seriously still in bed? I swear, you’re getting worse with every event,” she said, her tone light but laced with the expectation of someone who knew he could do better.

Sunghoon rubbed his eyes, his voice groggy. “I’m coming,” he muttered, trying to shake off the sleepiness clinging to him. She rolled her eyes, brushing past him and heading down the stairs without another word.

Minutes later, he stood in front of the full-length mirror in his closet, adjusting the black Dior suit his mother insisted on for every event. The fabric felt familiar, but it didn’t comfort him the way it usually did.

His reflection stared back at him: sharp, immaculate, and detached. The face of someone who had never been able to escape the expectations placed upon him. He barely recognized himself some days.

Sunghoon’s sports car sped down the quiet road, the cool morning air rushing through the slightly open windows. His sister, as usual, was absorbed in her phone beside him, chattering on about whatever had caught her attention.

But Sunghoon’s mind was elsewhere. It kept drifting back to the image of you at the council, the way you carried yourself with ease, how your presence lingered in his thoughts like a scent he couldn’t shake.

“You’re driving like you’re half asleep,” his sister finally commented, giving him a quick glance with raised brows. “Sunghoon, are you okay? You’ve been off all week.”

He blinked, pulling himself out of his daze and offering a strained smile. “I’m fine,” he said, his voice betraying him as he tried to brush it off.

She eyed him skeptically. “You’ve barely talked to anyone at home this week. What’s going on?”

Sunghoon stiffened but didn’t respond immediately. His mind briefly flickered back to you, but he shook it off, trying to stay focused.

“Have you found your mate yet?” she asked, her voice soft but curious—not teasing. She could sense the change in him even if she didn’t fully understand why.

Sunghoon’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as he kept his gaze on the road. His mate. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about that possibility, not when everything felt so complicated.

“No,” he muttered, the word coming out sharper than he intended. “Not yet.”

His sister let out a dramatic sigh, clearly unimpressed. “You’re such a mess. Honestly, you could just relax. It’s not the end of the world if you let your guard down for a second.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he continued driving, his mind still wrapped up in the swirling tension inside him. Why couldn’t it be anyone else? Why did it have to be you? He couldn’t seem to make sense of it.

The silence stretched on until his sister mumbled something under her breath, so quietly that he almost missed it.

“The poor girl.”

His head snapped toward her, brow furrowed in confusion. “What?”

She looked at him knowingly, the edge of her teasing never fully disappearing. “You’ve been pushing her away all week, haven’t you?” she said softly, almost pitying. “And you think she doesn’t notice? Poor girl. She probably thinks you’re confused with the way you keep looking at her.”

Sunghoon’s chest tightened at her words. He didn’t say anything, but the weight of them lingered in the air between them. His mind was too busy to process it. He had to stay focused. He couldn’t let himself get distracted by his feelings now, not when there was so much at stake.

His sister didn’t press the matter further. The drive continued in silence until they arrived at The Park Hotel, Seoul—a towering, luxurious building that his family owned. Sunghoon parked the car and shut off the engine, forcing himself to breathe.

As he stepped out of the car, his gaze landed on a sleek white sports car parked by the entrance. It was familiar, but there was something about it, something about the way it was parked so perfectly neat, that made Sunghoon pause. He glanced at it for a moment but didn’t think much of it. He shrugged it off. After all, there were so many cars in the parking lot. It was probably just another business associate’s vehicle.

“Come on,” his sister said, walking ahead toward the entrance. “Let’s go.”

They walked into the hotel, where the hustle of preparations for the event was already in full swing. His mother was already there, talking to a few staff members, discussing last-minute details. The sight of her being so composed and confident was a relief to Sunghoon. He always felt better around her.

“Mom!” he greeted, his mood lightening as he walked toward her. She smiled and greeted him in return before they moved toward the elevator.

“Top floor,” Sunghoon said, pressing the button for the penthouse suite, the family’s personal event space at the top of the building.

The elevator doors closed, and as it ascended, Sunghoon relaxed slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing. He loved this space; it always gave him a sense of control. The casual chatter in the elevator with his mom helped ground him.

“Everything ready for the event?” he asked casually, watching the numbers on the elevator screen rise.

His mom smiled, nodding. “Almost. Just some last-minute touches, but I think we’ll be fine. You know how much I love to be thorough with everything.” She glanced at him, her smile softening. “How’s everything with you, Sunghoon? You seem a bit distracted today.”

Sunghoon rubbed the back of his neck, trying to smile more naturally. “I’m just tired, I guess. Been a long week.” He quickly glanced over at his sister, who had her nose buried in her phone. “You know how it is.”

“Of course,” his mom said with a knowing look. “You’ve got a lot on your plate, don’t you? Just don’t overwork yourself. You know you can talk to me about anything.”

Sunghoon appreciated the concern, but he wasn’t ready to share what was really on his mind. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Don’t worry.”

The elevator finally stopped, and they were greeted by the usual flurry of activity as staff members hurried around, making sure every last detail was in place. His mom led the way, greeting workers and supervisors with ease.

But Sunghoon’s attention was already elsewhere. His eyes instinctively swept over the scene, and that’s when he saw you.

You were standing near one of the event coordinators, looking effortlessly at ease, your posture graceful. Sunghoon froze. His heart skipped a beat as his gaze locked onto you.

Before he could process it further, his mom continued walking ahead, greeting a woman standing nearby. Sunghoon barely registered who she was until he saw her face, and the resemblance was unmistakable.

His breath caught. The woman was elegant, poised, with the same features that were reflected in your own face. He stood frozen, unsure of how to react. His eyes flicked back to you, now standing beside the woman, his mind struggling to catch up with the sudden connection.

Then, to his surprise, his mom stepped forward and pulled you into a warm, affectionate hug. The gesture caught the pureblooded Alpha off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

His sister, noticing the way Sunghoon’s gaze lingered on the scene, raised an eyebrow. She smirked, almost as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“So… it’s actually (Y/N), huh?” she said casually, her tone light but laced with a knowing edge. “Guess you really can’t avoid it, huh?”

Sunghoon’s chest tightened as he took a deep breath, trying to process everything at once. What were you doing here?

Sunghoon stood frozen, his thoughts racing as his mom pulled you into a warm embrace. The sight of your face, the familiar features—everything about you felt like it was making his world tilt. He was still processing it all when his mom’s voice broke through his daze.

“Sunghoon, come here, both of you,” his mom called, waving them over.

Sunghoon’s feet moved almost automatically, his sister walking ahead of him, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she noticed the subtle tension in his posture. When they reached his mom, she was still smiling warmly at you and the woman standing next to you.

“(Y/N), I’d like you to meet my children, Sunghoon and his younger sister. And this is (Y/N)’s mother, who I’ve been coordinating with for the event,” she added, beaming. "She’s in the same university as you two, actually.”

Sunghoon’s eyes flickered between you and your mother. So, it was your family they were working with. The realization hit him harder than expected, his chest tightening.

Sunghoon’s sister raised an eyebrow and gave you a knowing smile, but it was his mom who asked the next question, her curiosity piqued. “What are you involved in at school, (Y/N)? I’m sure you’ve been keeping busy with the student council, right?”

You smiled a little, still feeling a little nervous under Sunghoon’s gaze, but his mom’s friendly demeanor helped ease the tension. “Yeah, I’m part of the student council. I’ve been helping with the planning and coordination for the event today.”

His mom nodded approvingly. “That’s wonderful! It’s always nice to see young people so dedicated and involved. I bet you and Sunghoon are both quite busy with school.”

You nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at your lips as you looked at Sunghoon. “We see each other around. We’re both pretty busy with different things on campus.”

Sunghoon’s sister teased, “You two are pretty close, though, aren’t you?”

Sunghoon barely met your eyes, his lips curling into a tight, controlled smile. You mirrored his smile but said nothing, feeling the tension between you both grow.

“Well, it’s great to see you both getting along!” his mom said, clearly happy with the easy atmosphere. “It’s nice to have a friendly face on campus.”

Before Sunghoon could respond, his sister pulled you away with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Come on, let’s go help with the flowers,” she said, nudging you gently. “We’ll let Sunghoon handle things for a bit.”

Sunghoon watched you both walk off, his gaze lingering on your retreating figure. His thoughts swirled, but before he could gather them, his mom caught his eye, giving him a knowing look. She didn’t comment, but her silence spoke volumes.

Sunghoon took a deep breath, his mind still racing. Whatever this was, it was far from over.

The evening settled in, casting a golden glow through the large windows of the hotel. The once-chaotic venue was finally coming together—round tables adorned with pristine tablecloths, floral arrangements meticulously placed, and staff scurrying around to finalize details.

You stood near a reception table, clipboard in hand, while Sunghoon’s sister leaned in beside you, skimming through the checklist.

“So, what’s left?” she asked, propping her chin on your shoulder.

You tapped the page with your pen. “Final seating adjustments, sound check, and we still need to confirm the catering schedule.”

She let out a dramatic sigh. “God, I don’t know how you keep up with all this.”

You smirked. “Maybe because I actually enjoy it?”

She gave you a teasing nudge. “Or maybe because you’re a perfectionist, Secretary Committee Girl.”

You rolled your eyes at the nickname. “I organize things. It’s literally my job in the council.”

Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“You’re overcomplicating the seating chart.”

Your head snapped up, and there he was—Park Sunghoon, standing with his usual composed posture, hands tucked into his pockets, expression unreadable. His mother had been talking to a coordinator nearby, but now, she glanced between the two of you, a small, knowing smile on her lips.

You exhaled through your nose. “We’re adjusting it, not overcomplicating it.”

Sunghoon gave you a flat look. “You moved the executive table again.”

“it needed to be closer to the main stage,” you argued.

“Which messes with the aisle clearance,” he countered.

You opened your mouth to respond, but his mother stepped in smoothly. “You two can argue about seating later. For now, go check on the banquet hall setup. The decorators should be almost done.”

Sunghoon sighed but nodded, while you grabbed your clipboard and turned to his sister. “You coming?”

She waved you off. “Nah, I’m staying here. You two have fun.”

You frowned at her mischievous tone, but the Alpha next to you didn’t give you time to dwell on it. With a tight-lipped expression, he gestured for you to walk ahead.

The large hall was buzzing with activity. Staff were setting up buffet tables, arranging cutlery, and making last-minute touches to the decorations. You and Sunghoon stood near the entrance, scanning the room.

“I’ll check on the centerpiece placements,” you said, glancing at your clipboard. “You can handle the catering status.”

He crossed his arms. “Why do I have to handle catering?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Because I don’t feel like arguing with the head chef.”

Sunghoon huffed but walked off toward the catering team while you made your way toward the floral arrangements. After a few minutes, you stood near the main table.

“They’re behind schedule,” Sunghoon reported, running a hand through his hair. “Something about delayed deliveries.”

You groaned. “Of course.”

You took out your phone, scrolling through your contact list. Sunghoon watched as you expertly navigated the crisis, calling the supplier and getting an update within minutes.

When you hung up, he raised an eyebrow. “You’re really in your element with this.”

You shrugged. “I have to be. The secretary committee basically runs everything behind the scenes.”

He scoffed. “So that’s why you always look stressed on campus.”

You shot him a look. “Excuse me?”

He smirked. “I see you in the student council room all the time, buried under paperwork. I just assumed it was self-inflicted suffering or Jake really hated your guts.”

You rolled your eyes. “Unlike some people, I actually like responsibility.”

Sunghoon just hummed, amused, before looking toward the exit. “Come on, we still have to check the ballroom.”

The ballroom, meant for the main program, was dimly lit as technicians adjusted the spotlights. You and Sunghoon walked toward the stage, where a staff member was testing the mic.

“You handle sound checks?” he asked, sounding mildly impressed.

You nodded. “Part of the job.”

Sunghoon leaned against a nearby pillar, watching as you exchanged instructions with the technicians. His eyes trailed over the way you moved—so effortlessly slipping into control, giving orders with ease, adjusting the smallest details without hesitation. You were in your element, and for a brief moment, he wondered if this was what he had been avoiding all along.

When you finally wrapped up, he glanced at you, voice quieter than before. “You’re really everywhere, huh?”

“That’s kind of the point,” you said, flipping through your notes.

His gaze lingered on you for a second longer before he looked away, clearing his throat. “So, what’s next?”

You skimmed the checklist. “We need to make sure the VIP section is set up properly.”

Sunghoon groaned. “Please don’t tell me we have to argue about chairs again.”

You smirked. “That depends. Are you going to accept that I’m always right?”

He gave you an unimpressed look but followed you anyway.

The two of you walked through the elegantly arranged VIP tables, double-checking details. At one point, you crouched down to fix a misplaced name card, only to feel Sunghoon standing way too close behind you.

“You’re hovering,” you muttered.

“I’m observing,” he corrected.

You turned your head slightly, only to realize just how close he was. His scent—coffee and leather—wrapped around you, warm and grounding. You swallowed, standing up quickly and brushing imaginary dust off your skirt.

His inner alpha stirred, "Weak. You’re running again."

He ignored it.

His gaze traced the slight parting of your lips, the subtle rise and fall of your shoulders as you exhaled. He let himself linger, just for a second, in the space between restraint and surrender. And that’s when the thought crept in, unbidden.

"Is this really what you’re afraid of? Her? Or the way she makes you forget everything else?"

His jaw tightened.

Because it wasn’t just the bond. It wasn’t just attraction. It was the fear of unraveling, of slipping so deep into something he couldn’t control that he’d abandon everything else, his duties, his carefully built walls, the life that was expected of him.

His alpha hummed in amusement. "She makes you weak, but you want her anyway."

Sunghoon swallowed hard, straightening his posture. The warmth in his eyes cooled, replaced by something unreadable.

You frowned slightly at the shift.

He smirked. “Nervous?” His voice was smooth, but there was a sudden distance in it.

You scoffed. “You wish.”

His gaze flickered to your lips for the briefest second before he took a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets as if forcing the space between you.

"Coward."

“If you say so,” he hummed.

Before you could respond, a voice interrupted.

“Ah, there you two are.”

Sunghoon turned, shifting his expression into something neutral as his mother approached, clipboard in hand. You straightened up beside him, the moment from before slipping between your fingers like sand.

“I need you both to oversee the final checks while I discuss something with the event coordinators.” His mother’s tone left no room for argument. She gave Sunghoon a look, one that was equal parts expectation and knowing—before handing you the clipboard. “You know what to do.”

You nodded. “Of course, Mrs. Park.”

Sunghoon exhaled slowly through his nose, nodding along as well. It wasn’t like he could say no.

"Another thing you can't say no to, huh?" His alpha taunted.

He clenched his jaw, pushing down the irritation forming in his chest. It wasn’t at you, he knew that much. It was at himself, at the way he was still standing next to you despite everything.

You, however, had already moved on, scanning through the checklist before nudging his arm. “Come on, Park. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish.”

His eyes flicked down to where you touched him, the warmth of your skin seeping through his sleeve. His inner alpha hummed in approval, but he ignored it, following you as you walked through the venue.

As you worked, your voice was steady as you went over the details. “Floral arrangements are set, table placements are final…” You trailed off as you examined the stage setup, flipping a page on the clipboard. “Lighting checks should be done soon. Could you talk to the technicians?”

He raised a brow. “You’re delegating to me now?”

You gave him a pointed look. “I can’t do everything myself.”

Sunghoon smirked despite himself, but there was something bitter about it. You weren’t even flustered around him anymore. When did you stop getting nervous?

His alpha scoffed. "You’re upset about that? Pathetic."

Still, he didn’t argue. He stepped away, scanning the ballroom for the lighting crew before walking off.

By the time he returned, you were deep in conversation with the floral team, gesturing toward one of the centerpieces. His gaze followed your movements—how easily you took control of the situation, how effortlessly you belonged in this environment.

"She’s everywhere. Always in the middle of things, always moving forward."

He rubbed the back of his neck, a familiar tightness forming in his chest. Maybe that’s why he had avoided this for so long. Because standing here, watching you do what you did best, made him realize something.

It wasn’t just about you. It was about him.

The fear wasn’t of falling for you. It was of what that would mean, of what he’d have to let go of to have you.

“Earth to Sunghoon?”

He blinked, snapping back to reality. You were watching him, an amused expression on your face.

“Spacing out already?” you teased. “We’re not even done yet.”

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“Nothing important,” he muttered, voice clipped.

You frowned at the sudden change in his tone but didn’t push. “Right. Well, let me know if you're ready to go. We still have things to check.”

You walked past him, your scent—honey and lilac—lingering in the air, soft yet unmistakable. His Alpha bristled, pushing at his restraint.

"She’s slipping away. Your Omega is slipping away."

Sunghoon clenched his fists. No. You were right here. He just didn’t know what to do with that.

For now, he settled for following you.

The night air was crisp, carrying a faint chill that hinted at the changing seasons. You barely noticed, too preoccupied with checking off the last few items on your clipboard as you walked through the dimly lit parking lot with Sunghoon’s sister beside you.

“God, if one more person asks me about table placements, I’m quitting this whole thing,” she groaned, rubbing her temples.

You chuckled. “You say that, but you’ll still show up tomorrow looking like you run the place.”

She shot you a tired grin. “Shut up.”

A few steps behind, Sunghoon trailed silently. He wasn’t really listening to the conversation—at least, that’s what he told himself.

But his eyes betrayed him, flickering to you every so often, catching the way your brows furrowed in concentration, the way you absentmindedly tapped your pen against the clipboard, the way your scent of honey and lilacs felt like it was wrapping around him, daring him to step closer.

"She’s right there. Yours. Slipping away."

His inner Alpha’s voice was persistent, lingering in the back of his mind like an ache he refused to acknowledge.

He exhaled sharply, pushing the thought away. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Distance. Control. A clear line between what he felt and what he knew he had to do.

But then you stopped beside your car, unlocking it with a quiet beep. His sister slowed beside you, turning to Sunghoon with a slight frown.

“Hoon, you good?”

Your gaze flickered toward him at the question, eyes searching, like you were trying to figure out what was wrong.

And that was the problem. You always noticed.

The Alpha tensed, his walls slamming back up. His face smoothed over, his posture shifted; cold, detached, unreadable.

“Yeah,” he said flatly.

The change was almost unnoticeable, but you caught it.

Your grip on the clipboard tightened, as if debating whether to push, whether to call him out on it. But instead, you just nodded, lips pressing into a thin line.

“Alright,” you murmured.

His sister sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. “You’re both so dramatic.” Then she turned to you, brightening up again. “Don’t overwork yourself, okay?”

You mustered a tired smile. “I won’t.”

Sunghoon stayed silent.

And this time, you didn’t bother looking at him before sliding into your car.

The moment your door shut, his Alpha growled in protest.

"Fix it."

He clenched his jaw, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets.

“No.”

Your engine rumbled to life, headlights casting long shadows across the pavement. He should’ve looked away, should’ve just walked off—but he didn’t. He watched as you drove off, the sound of your car fading into the night.

A quiet sigh escaped him. His mother.

She didn’t say anything earlier, didn’t scold or pry. She simply looked at him; knowing, like she already had a hint of what was happening.

And for some reason, that made his chest tighten.

So he exhaled, turned on his heel, and walked away.

The Park estate was quieter than usual, save for the faint rustling of leaves outside and the occasional laughter echoing from the living room. Sunghoon leaned back against the couch, one arm draped over the backrest as he scrolled mindlessly through his phone.

The guys had gathered there a few hours before the grand dinner, since it was closer to the venue, and the suits for the evening were going to be delivered directly to the estate. It was comfortable, familiar.

“Bro, do you even listen to yourself?” Sunoo snorted, throwing a cushion at Jungwon, who barely dodged. “You keep saying you care about her, but where are you, huh? If I were your mate, I’d leave your ass.”

Jungwon groaned, rubbing his temples. “It’s not like I’m ignoring her on purpose, okay? I just—”

“Just what?” Sunoo raised an eyebrow. “Bro, you’re literally a pureblooded Alpha. Start acting like one.”

Jake snorted from his spot on the couch, shaking his head. “You talk a lot of shit for someone who barely figured out his own mating bond.”

“Hey, at least I figured it out,” Sunoo shot back. “Jungwon’s still treating his Omega like he's still courting her—he's walking on eggshells.”

Jungwon groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t need this right now.” The younger Alpha huffed, slumping into the couch, ears turning a bit red.

Heeseung chuckled. “He’s right, you know. Just follow your instincts. Might help.”

Sunghoon tuned them out. His fingers tapped against his phone screen, his mind elsewhere. That was, until two familiar voices drifted in from the hallway.

“Oh yeah, follow that. Don't be like my brother—can’t relate to the whole instincts thing.”

His sister and Heeseung's mate.

Sunghoon barely registered her words, but the comment stung more than he expected. He tensed up, feeling his jaw clench involuntarily.

They didn’t even glance his way, walking past them straight to the kitchen.

For some reason, it made him feel smaller than he ever wanted to. He stayed quiet, his grip on his phone tightened, focusing on the lack of sound in the room.

Jungwon’s eyebrows lifted. “Uh… hello? You good?”

Ni-ki leaned forward, grinning. “Yeah, that was kinda weak, man. You always have something to say.”

Sunghoon didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His thoughts were spiraling too fast, his Alpha stirring like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

"They’re right. You’ve been avoiding this for too long."

His jaw clenched.

"Why? Because you’re scared? Because you think pushing her away makes you stronger? You already know the answer, don’t you?

Sunghoon snapped."

A low, warning growl left his throat, deep and sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

His scent soured, something bitter and tense.

The room fell silent.

Sunghoon immediately regretted it.

His friends weren’t scared, he knew that much—but they were surprised. He never let his emotions slip like that, never let his control falter.

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Damn, man,” he muttered, clearly surprised. “You good?”

Sunghoon exhaled slowly, pressing his thumb against his temple.

Jungwon, still startled, hesitated before speaking. “Hey, man, relax…”

And then, Jungwon added, almost absently—

“What’s got you all messed up? It’s like you—”

Sunghoon cut him off. “I met my mate.”

The words left his mouth before he even fully registered what he was saying.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Sunoo was the first to recover. “What?”

Jungwon’s eyes widened as he processed what Sunghoon had said. “Wait—what?”

Sunghoon leaned back against the couch, rubbing a hand over his face. His heartbeat felt louder in his ears now, the weight of his own admission settling in. “I met my mate,” he repeated, this time with more certainty, but still unsure.

Jake let out a low whistle. “Well, shit,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Didn’t think I’d hear that today.”

Jay was still staring at him like he had grown a second head. “You?”

Sunghoon shot him a glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jay raised his hands in defense. “I mean, dude, it’s you. You’ve never even cared about that kind of stuff. I just—when? How?”

Sunghoon hesitated. He hadn’t planned on saying this out loud, let alone explaining it. The moment he said the words, it felt like he had given away the control he had spent years perfecting—it had just cracked at the edges.

Sunoo narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, and who?”

Ni-ki looked almost wary. “Wait, wait, hold up—are you sure?”

Sunghoon shot him a flat look. “You think I’d joke about this?”

“No, but you also don’t exactly seem sure,” Ni-ki pointed out.

That was fair.

Because the truth was, Sunghoon wasn’t sure, not fully. Or at least, he had spent the last few days convincing himself he wasn’t sure. Because if he admitted it, that meant things had to change.

And Sunghoon hated change.

Heeseung, who had been the quietest of them all, finally spoke up. His voice was calm. “Since when?”

Sunghoon pressed his lips together.

“Sunghoon,” Heeseung pushed, more insistent this time. “How long have you known?”

A muscle in Sunghoon’s jaw ticked. “…A while.”

Another silence stretched between them, heavier this time.

Sunoo groaned, running a hand down his face. “You knew and didn’t say anything?”

Sunghoon didn’t answer.

Jake scoffed, shaking his head. “Bro, what the hell?”

Ni-ki leaned forward, his expression sharper now. “You’re seriously fighting this?” His voice was wary, frustrated. Despite being the youngest, he thought it was stupid—this was instincts, this was nature.

The gods themselves had chosen fated mates with intention. Rejecting that was like rejecting the sky, the air, the pull of the ocean’s tide. It made no sense to him. “Why would you reject something that’s meant for you?”

Jungwon, usually the more level-headed one, actually agreed. “Ni-ki’s right,” he muttered. “You’re making this way harder than it has to be.”

Sunghoon snapped.

“You think I had a choice?” His voice came out sharper than he meant, louder. His scent flared again, dominance pouring out of him.

And that set them all off.

Because they weren’t just Alphas. They were pureblooded Alphas, born and bred into power, and when dominance was challenged, instinct demanded they answer.

Jake and Jay shot him a glare, their own scents spiking as an automatic reaction. Jungwon bared his teeth slightly, frustration and something close to disbelief flickering in his eyes. Sunoo looked like he wanted to hit him.

“Yeah, you had a choice,” Sunoo threw back. “And you blew it!”

Ni-ki’s glare sharpened. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”

Jake scoffed, shaking his head. “You think this is a fucking game? Do you know how many Alphas would kill to even find their mate?”

Sunghoon clenched his fists. “It’s not that simple.”

Jay barked out a short, humorless laugh. “No, you’re just making it complicated.”

Sunghoon had had enough.

He shot up from the couch, turned on his heel, and walked out, his footsteps heavy against the marble flooring, his scent still bitter, still unsettled. He didn’t care where he was going. He just needed to get out.

Sunoo and Heeseung exchanged glances before following after him.

The afternoon air was cooler than he expected. He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, trying to breathe.

Sunoo was the first to break the silence. “Dude,” he muttered, “what the hell is going on with you?”

Sunghoon didn’t answer immediately. He stared out at the sunlit garden, hands in his pockets, jaw tight.

Heeseung leaned against the railing beside him. “Talk to us.” His voice was calm. “You don’t have to deal with this alone.”

Sunghoon let out a short, hollow laugh. “Feels like I do.”

Sunoo crossed his arms. “No, you’re just choosing to.”

Silence.

Sunghoon’s fingers twitched. He didn’t know how to say it, didn’t know how to make them understand.

“I…” He exhaled sharply, tilting his head back. “I don’t want this.”

Sunoo furrowed his brows. “Why?”

Sunghoon swallowed hard. “Because I don’t know how to be that person. A mate. A bond. A life that’s—” He shook his head. “I wasn’t made for that.”

heeseung sighed, rubbing his temple before stepping in. “sunghoon, listen to yourself. you’re treating this like it’s some kind of punishment.”

sunghoon let out a heavy breath, the weight in his chest pressing down harder. “it feels like one,” he admitted.

“because—” sunghoon continued, closing his eyes for a brief second before looking away. “because it means everything changes. i change.”

Sunoo scoffed, shaking his head. “And? What’s so bad about that?”

Sunghoon turned to him, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You don’t get it—”

“No, you don’t get it.” Sunoo cut him off. “You’re not losing yourself, Sunghoon. You’re finding something—someone that was always meant to be yours.”

Heeseung nodded, stepping closer. “And having an Omega to call yours? That’s a responsibility in itself, one you were always meant to take on. You’re not abandoning anything—you’re taking something just as important.”

Sunghoon’s jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling with each sharp breath. He wanted to argue, wanted to fight back—but the truth was, deep down, he knew they were right.

The thought alone terrified him.

The event was already in full swing by the time Sunghoon arrived, the grand ballroom glowing with golden chandeliers and the murmur of polite conversation.

His polished shoes clicked against the marble floors as he stepped in alongside the others, all of them dressed in perfectly tailored suits, their hair styled to absolute precision. They looked every bit like the pureblooded Alphas they were raised to be: refined, dominant, untouchable.

But none of that mattered the second he spotted you.

You were standing near the center of the room, surrounded by a group of familiar faces—his sister, Jungwon’s mate, Heeseung’s mate, and other Omegas of high standing. A tight-knit circle of Omegas that radiated grace and effortless elegance, laughing softly amongst themselves, their delicate fingers wrapped around champagne flutes.

And then there was you.

Your gown hugged your frame in all the right places before cascading down in soft waves, your hair curled to perfection, makeup flawless, lips painted a shade he couldn’t quite name but suddenly wanted to memorize.

It pissed him off.

Not because you looked good—no, that was obvious. It was the fact that you had noticed him, just as he had noticed you, but chose to act like he wasn’t even there.

He saw it. The way your shoulders tensed when he stepped into your vision, how your fingers gripped your champagne glass just a little tighter. But you didn’t acknowledge him. Didn’t even glance his way.

Like the past few days of him being distant meant nothing.

And that—that frustrated him more than anything.

A cough sounded beside him.

“Karma,” Sunoo smirked, enjoying every second of this.

Jake chuckled, shaking his head. Jungwon outright grinned. Even Heeseung—calm, composed Heeseung—gave him a knowing glance, like he had expected this from the start.

But the worst was Ni-ki.

The youngest in the group, ever observant, leaned in slightly, whispering just loud enough for them to hear.

“Damn,” Ni-ki mused, tilting his head. “That must hurt.”

Sunghoon clenched his jaw, ignoring the way the others tried to suppress their laughter.

His gaze flickered back to you.

Still not looking at him.

Sunghoon barely had a moment to collect himself before the inevitable happened.

People noticed them.

It was impossible not to.

A group of young, pureblooded Alpha heirs walking into a gathering like this, dressed to perfection, exuding confidence and power—of course, eyes turned their way.

The murmurs started almost instantly, subtle yet unmistakable. A few heads turned, quiet whispers rippling through the crowd as their names carried weight in these circles.

They barely had a chance to exchange glances before they were pulled into conversations, their group dispersing as they were greeted by family acquaintances, business partners, and distant relatives.

Sunghoon knew how this worked. He had been raised for it, trained to move through these events with effortless charm and perfect composure.

His feet carried him toward his parents, who were seated at a table near your group. His father, deep in conversation with a few business partners, barely glanced at him before greeting him with a firm pat on the shoulder. His mother, ever the composed woman, gave him a knowing look before murmuring, “You’re late.”

Sunghoon exhaled, adjusting the cuff of his suit. “Got caught up.”

His father chuckled, still half-distracted. “Ah, well. You made it.”

Before Sunghoon could take a step back, a familiar voice cut in.

“Well, if it isn’t Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon turned, and his expression barely shifted, though he immediately recognized the man.

An older Alpha, mid-forties, silver-streaked hair, broad-shouldered and sharp-eyed. Someone deeply tied to their family’s business dealings—one of his father’s closest partners.

“It’s been a while since I saw you,” the man continued, raising his glass in greeting. His tone was casual. “You’ve grown into quite the spitting image of your father.”

Sunghoon offered a small, polite nod. “It’s good to see you again.”

The older Alpha chuckled, taking a slow sip of his drink. “Good to see you too, kid. I remember when you were still a runt, running around at these events like you had better places to be.”

Sunghoon let out a short, practiced laugh. “Not much has changed.”

That earned another chuckle. Then, with an amused tilt of his head, the older Alpha leaned back slightly in his chair.

“You must have Omegas swooning left and right,” he mused, swirling his glass lazily. “With that face of yours, I bet they’re lining up.”

Sunghoon let out a soft breath, shaking his head. “I don’t have time for that.”

It was an easy response. Dismissive, effortless. A throwaway comment.

Except his eyes betrayed him.

Because, without thinking, his gaze flickered right back to you.

And you heard him. Of course, you did.

Omegas had sharper senses than most. Your hearing was leagues above everyone else’s, and Sunghoon knew it.

He knew it the moment he saw your grip on the champagne glass tighten ever so slightly. The way your shoulders straightened just a little more.

But you didn’t react, not outwardly.

Instead, you let out a small, polite laugh, face perfectly neutral. Then, in the same smooth, composed tone you always used at events like this, you excused yourself.

Sunghoon stiffened.

But it wasn’t just you who reacted.

His sister’s gaze snapped to him almost immediately, a flicker of something unmistakable in her expression: disappointment.

She said nothing, but she didn’t need to. The look alone said everything.

And she wasn’t the only one.

His mother, ever observant, barely shifted in her seat, but the sharp glint in her eyes told him she had caught on too.

Sunghoon swallowed.

He shouldn’t follow you.

He should’ve let it go.

But before he even realized it, his feet were already moving.

The hall leading to the restrooms was dimly lit, the golden glow of the chandeliers fading the further you walked. The music and chatter from the ballroom dulled behind you, muffled and distant, as if the world was deliberately pulling away, leaving you alone with your thoughts, with the weight on your chest.

Your back hit the wall beside the restroom entrance, your breathing sharp and uneven.

Your inner Omega whimpered, "Not here. Not now."

You clenched your fists at your sides, nails pressing into your palms as you fought the sting behind your eyes.

You had known. You had always known how this would end.

And yet, standing there, shoulders stiff, throat tight, your pulse hammering against your skin, you hated that it still hurt.

You sucked in a breath, blinking up at the ceiling, forcing the tears back.

You would not cry.

Not in front of him.

And yet, the moment you sensed his presence, the moment his scent curled around you; thick, intoxicating, overwhelming, your body betrayed you.

Your fingers twitched.

Your breathing faltered.

You hated yourself for giving in so easily.

“What do you want, Sunghoon?” Your voice was cold, but the slight tremble at the end, barely there, almost unnoticeable, gave you away.

He stopped a few feet away, his hands flexing at his sides.

He was staring at you, his gaze dark, conflicted, like he didn’t know why he was here either.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I—”

“You what?” You cut him off, your voice sharp, edged with something dangerously close to heartbreak.

He exhaled, pressing his lips into a thin line.

You almost laughed. Of course.

“Nothing to say?” You scoffed, tilting your head. “Then why are you here?”

His jaw clenched. “I don’t—” He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling harshly.

You hated the way your chest clenched at the sight.

Hated the way his tie had loosened slightly, the way a strand of hair had fallen over his forehead, the way he looked so frustratingly undone for the first time tonight.

“You push me away.” Your voice wavered, but you forced yourself to continue. “You act like I don’t exist. And now you’re here, acting like you—” You swallowed, shaking your head. “You don’t get to do this, Sunghoon.”

His lips parted slightly.

“You don’t get to act like I matter when you’ve made it very clear that I don’t.”

Something cracked in his gaze. And for the first time, he looked afraid.

“I never said that,” he muttered, his voice softer now.

“You didn’t have to.”

Silence.

A suffocating silence. Your throat burned. You couldn’t do this. You turned to leave, to push past him, to breathe—

But suddenly—

You couldn’t move, and before you could react, a strong, calloused hand wrapped around your wrist—firm, desperate.

Your breath hitched.

Sunghoon pulled you back—hard—and in the span of a heartbeat, you collided straight into his chest.

The impact knocked the air from your lungs.

His scent swallowed you whole.

You gasped sharply, your knees nearly giving out.

And then—

Warmth.

Overwhelming, all-consuming warmth, his arms were around you.

One wrapped tight around your waist, pulling you flush against him. The other cradled the back of your head, fingers weaving through your hair—steady, like he was terrified of letting go.

Your chest heaved against his, hands fisting his suit jacket so tightly your knuckles ached.

But you didn’t care. You couldn’t care.

Not when his heart was hammering against yours, not when his grip on you was desperate, not when his entire body was trembling, like he was breaking just as much as you were.

Your breath came out shaky. “Let me go.”

He didn’t. He tightened his hold.

“Sunghoon.” Your voice cracked.

His head dipped lower, his breath fanning against your temple.

“I can’t.”

Your stomach flipped violently. Tears spilled down your cheeks, hot and relentless.

“You—” You squeezed your eyes shut, your grip on his suit tightening. “You’re such a fucking coward.”

His body tensed. But he didn’t pull away. Didn’t loosen his hold. Didn’t deny it.

Instead, his fingers curled into the fabric of your dress. And for the first time—Sunghoon let his instincts win.

Your hands gripped his suit tighter as your chest heaved, a strangled sob breaking free before you could stop it. The tears were now, falling fast and hot, no longer something you could hold back.

You pressed your face into his chest, the fabric of his suit absorbing the wetness, but it did nothing to soothe the ache inside you.

Sunghoon’s grip didn’t loosen. If anything, it tightened. He pulled you in closer, as if trying to protect you from everything.

The shaking of his hands on your back was evident, and the way his chest rose and fell in uneven breaths made your heart ache for him in ways you didn’t understand.

“Don't cry, Omega, please.” His voice was barely a whisper.

You shook your head, the words stuck in your throat. It felt like all the pain you’d buried, all the frustration, the confusion, the rejection—it was spilling out at once. You were drowning in it, and you didn’t know how to stop.

But his plea only made the sobs come harder, breaking free from your throat like you had been holding them in for years.

His arms tightened around you again, as if he could physically hold your pain together, as if he could stop you from shattering completely.

“I hate you.” The words barely made it past your lips, muffled against his chest, but he heard them.

You knew he heard them.

Because his entire body stiffened for a split second before his grip on you softened, his hand sliding from your waist to your lower back, the one behind your head shifting, his fingers threading into your hair with a gentleness that almost hurt.

“I know,” he murmured, voice so quiet it was almost lost in the silence of the hallway.

Your body shook against his, another sob wracking through you, and he just held you.

Not saying anything.

Not pulling away.

Just letting you break in his arms the way you had never allowed yourself to before.

Minutes passed, or maybe seconds—it didn’t matter.

Time felt frozen between you, the weight of everything crashing down in the space between your heavy breaths. Your mascara had smudged against the fabric of his suit, staining it, but he didn’t seem to care. He just kept holding you, his scent wrapping around you, keeping you from completely falling apart.

And then, finally—finally—you found your voice.

“Why?"

A single word. Quiet. Shaky. But sharp enough to cut through the silence.

Sunghoon stilled.

“Why did you do it?" Your voice cracked, but you pushed forward, your hands gripping his suit even tighter. “Why did you act like I didn’t exist? Like I was nothing to you? Why did you pretend you didn’t care when you—when you—" Another sob clawed its way out of your throat, your fingers trembling where they clung to him. “When you do this? When you hold me like this, like you actually—"

Your voice faltered, and Sunghoon inhaled sharply. His grip on you loosened, just enough for him to pull back slightly, just enough for him to see your face. His fingers, still shaking, brushed against your cheek, tracing over the tear-stained skin, his thumb wiping away the wetness that refused to stop falling.

His hands paused for a second.

And then—so, so softly—he spoke.

“I was scared.”

Your breath hitched.

“Scared?" you muttered, barely above a whisper.

He nodded, swallowing hard, his jaw clenching like he was fighting something inside himself. His fingers brushed against your cheek again, hesitating, before cupping your face fully, his touch impossibly gentle.

“I didn’t know how to handle it," he admitted, voice soft, filled with something unrecognizable. “I didn’t know how to handle you."

Your brows furrowed, your heart pounding painfully against your ribs.

“Sunghoon—"

“Everything in my life has always been about responsibility," he cut in, his grip on your face tightening slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to make sure you were listening. “I was raised to be strong, to take over, to lead—to never let anything distract me from what I was meant to do."

His thumb traced the curve of your cheekbone, and his gaze softened—just barely.

“And then there was you.”

The words came out barely above a whisper, but they sent a shiver down your spine.

Sunghoon let out a shaky breath, his forehead nearly pressing against yours. “You were never supposed to be a part of that plan.”

Pain flared in your chest, sharp and unrelenting.

“So what?" you whispered, voice trembling. “You thought ignoring me would make it easier?"

His eyes squeezed shut, his expression twisting into something almost pained. “I thought if I pretended you didn’t exist, it wouldn’t hurt as much.”

A bitter laugh left your lips. “And did it?"

Sunghoon let out a slow breath, his hands stilling against your skin. His silence was the only answer you needed.

He was breaking, right in front of you.

And for the first time, you saw it. The fear in his eyes. The weight on his shoulders. The guilt, the regret, the want.

“You absolute coward," you whispered, fresh tears spilling down your cheeks. “You let your fear ruin everything. You let it destroy me."

Sunghoon inhaled sharply, his fingers pressing against your skin like he was afraid you would slip away.

“I know," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

And then, as if he couldn’t help himself, his hands moved again, thumbs tracing over your cheeks, smudging the mascara-stained tears without a care that his fingers were getting stained too.

He was looking at you now. Really looking at you.

Even with tear-streaked cheeks, even with mascara smudged against your skin, he thought you were beautiful.

You always had been, and maybe that had been the scariest part of all.

He exhaled shakily, his forehead finally pressing against yours.

“I was so focused on all the responsibilities I had," he whispered, eyes fluttering shut, “that I forgot the most important one was right in front of me."

You. It had always been you.

And for the first time in forever, he stopped fighting it.

His hands trembled as he pulled you close again, wrapping you in his warmth, as if trying to make up for every second he had spent pretending you didn’t exist.

His heartbeat that was once steady, always controlled, was frantic against your cheek, like his body itself was betraying him, exposing everything he had kept hidden for so long.

“I’m sorry," he murmured against your hair, his voice soft, stripped bare of all the indifference he had once worn so easily.

Again.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

And again.

“I’m sorry."

Each word landed like a plea, an ache.

His hands clutched at the fabric of your dress, fingers curling against your back as he buried his face into your shoulder. His breaths were uneven, his hold desperate like he was afraid that if he let go, you’d slip through his fingers for good.

You squeezed your eyes shut, the feeling of his regret pressing against your chest like a force you weren’t sure you could withstand.

“I really hate you," you whispered, voice unsteady, and you felt the sharp inhale he took against your skin.

But you didn’t move away. Neither did he.

“I know," he murmured. He didn’t argue. Didn’t try to make excuses. He just held you.

You swallowed hard, fingers gripping the lapels of his suit. “I understand you more than you think."

A breath passed between you, thick with everything unsaid.

Slowly, hesitantly, he pulled back just enough to look at you, his hands moving from your back to cup your face. His thumbs brushed over your cheeks, wiping away the tear-streaked trails, smearing the black mascara that had run down your skin more than before.

His hands were shaking.

His fingers, stained with the remnants of your pain, trembled as they held you.

But he didn’t stop.

“You do?" His voice was so quiet, so uncertain, it almost broke you all over again.

You nodded. Because you did. You understood.

You had always known Sunghoon was never just the eldest son of his family, never just the heir, never just the perfect pureblooded Alpha everyone expected him to be. He carried burdens he never spoke of, expectations that weighed him down like chains.

And you understood now, you understood that loving you, wanting you, was the one thing he had never been taught how to handle.

Sunghoon exhaled sharply, his forehead nearly knocking against yours as he leaned closer, the warmth of his breath fanning across your lips.

“Can I kiss you?”

The words sent a violent shudder down your spine. Your breath caught, your heart twisting painfully in your chest.

Because this moment, this hesitation, this vulnerability in his voice—was not the Sunghoon everyone else knew.

This was the boy who had spent so long running. This was the boy who had finally stopped.

“It doesn’t mean you’re forgiven,” you murmured, even as your fingers curled against his chest.

For the first time that night, Sunghoon laughed. Soft. Shaky. Breathless. But real.

“I know,” he whispered, and then, slowly, finally, he closed the distance.

His lips met yours, and the world stopped spinning.

The first press of his lips was soft, like he was still afraid, still unsure if he deserved this, deserved you.

But then you exhaled against his mouth, a shaky breath that tasted like surrender, and something inside him snapped. The hesitation was gone.

Sunghoon’s hands, still cupping your face, tilted your head just enough for him to deepen the kiss, his lips moving against yours with a hunger that bordered on desperation. His body caged you in, pressing you against the cool wall behind you, but all you could feel was him—his warmth, his scent, his everything—surrounding you, consuming you.

His grip tightened. One hand slid down, fingers grazing your jaw, your throat, before curling around the small of your back and pulling you in.

Closer. Not close enough.

A small gasp escaped you, and Sunghoon swallowed it, exhaling a sharp breath against your mouth before chasing your lips again. His movements were rougher now, more frantic, like he was trying to pour every unspoken word, every regret, every missed moment into the kiss.

Like he was trying to prove something. That he was sorry. That he wanted you. That he needed you.

His other hand tangled in your hair, tilting your face up further, deepening the kiss until you felt dizzy, breathless—like you were floating, like you were falling.

And god, maybe you were. Maybe you had been all this time.

Your fingers fisted his suit, clinging to him. His lips, now hot and insistent, barely gave you a second to breathe—like he was terrified that if he pulled away, even for a moment, you’d disappear.

But you weren’t going anywhere.

You melted into him, letting yourself get lost in the moment, in the way his body trembled against yours, in the quiet, choked noise he made when your fingers finally, finally slid up to his hair.

It was intoxicating—the way he kissed you—like he was trying to make up for every second he had wasted, every touch he had denied himself, every moment he had spent pretending he didn’t want this.

Didn’t want you.

Your lungs burned, your heart pounded, and yet neither of you pulled away, unwilling to break whatever fragile, breathless thing had formed between you.

Sunghoon made a strangled noise against your lips before reluctantly—so reluctantly—he tore himself away just enough to rest his forehead against yours, his breath ragged, his lips red and swollen.

His eyes, dark and dazed, fluttered open to meet yours.

And then, barely above a whisper, voice wrecked, he murmured,

“Stay.”

A single word, but it held everything. A plea. A confession. A promise wrapped in desperation.

Your fingers tightened in his suit. “I’m not going anywhere, Sunghoon.” Your voice was steady, but thick with emotion. “Even when you push me away. Even when you try to pretend I don’t exist.”

His hands, still cupping your face, trembled. “Never again.” It came out like a vow. Like a prayer.

His thumbs brushed over your damp cheeks, smearing what remained of your ruined mascara. His grip on you didn’t loosen—if anything, he pressed his forehead against yours, inhaling deeply, as if he was making sure you were real.

The silence stretched between you, heavy, but not suffocating. Not anymore. Then, suddenly, he straightens—“We need to fix you up.”

You blinked. “What?”

Sunghoon pulled back slightly, scanning your face, your tear-streaked cheeks, the smudges of black under your eyes. Then, without another word, his fingers curled around your wrist, tugging you toward the restrooms.

“The female restroom is that way,” you pointed out, confused.

“I know.”

Your steps faltered. “You’re not allowed in there.”

Sunghoon scoffed, barely sparing you a glance. “As if I’m letting you out of my sight again.”

Your heart flipped.

Before you could protest, he pushed open the door, dragging you inside with him. The moment it clicked shut, he turned to you. “Up.”

You blinked. “What?”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes before gripping your waist and lifting you effortlessly, placing you onto the cool marble counter like you weighed nothing.

You gasped. “Sunghoon—”

But he was already turning to the faucet, pulling a Dior handkerchief from his pocket. You watched, breath caught in your throat, as he ran it under the water, fingers tightening around the fine cloth.

And then, with the utmost care, he turned back to you.

Your knees brushed as he stepped between your legs, his touch impossibly gentle as he cupped your face, tilting it slightly. The wet fabric pressed against your cheek, cool against your overheated skin, and Sunghoon—god, Sunghoon—wiped at the tear stains, the smudged makeup, his fingers brushing over your skin like he was handling something fragile.

Something precious.

You couldn’t stop staring.

The way his brows furrowed in concentration. The way his jaw clenched whenever he came across a particularly stubborn stain. The way his lips pressed together—like he was trying to hold back words he wasn’t ready to say.

The way he touched you. Like you were his. Like you had always been his.

Your heart pounded against your ribs.

And when he finally, finally met your gaze again, his own eyes filled with something unreadable—something raw—you realized, with stunning clarity, that you had never really stood a chance against Park Sunghoon.

Not then. Not now. Not ever.

A shaky exhale left your lips.

He was still staring at you, drinking in every detail, like he was memorizing the way you looked, the way your lashes trembled, the way your lips parted as if you had something to say but didn’t know how.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” His voice was quieter than usual, but the tease was still there, laced with something softer.

You blinked, startled, feeling heat creep up your cheeks. “What?”

His lips curled slightly, but there was something about his smirk—something less sharp, less guarded. Something that made your pulse stutter. “You were staring.”

Your stomach twisted. Of course, he would notice. Your first instinct was to scoff, to roll your eyes, to dismiss it like you always did—but before you could, you felt it. The shift.

Your scent spiked—not in distress, not in discomfort, but in something else. Something sweeter.

The scent of honey and lilacs curled around him, delicate yet intoxicating, a confession wrapped in something neither of you had the words to say.

Sunghoon inhaled. Slowly. Deliberately.

His lashes fluttered for the briefest second, his fingers tightening just slightly around yours, before his smirk faded entirely.

And then, wordlessly, he leaned in.

He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t second-guess.

His lips found your forehead, pressing into your skin with the kind of tenderness that made your breath catch in your throat.

And he stayed there. Lingering. Savoring.

His breath was warm, brushing against your temple, the tip of his nose barely grazing your hairline.

You didn’t move. Couldn’t.

His thumb brushed over your cheek, the corner of his lips twitching slightly. “Come on,” he murmured, voice still hoarse.

You barely had time to process it before he moved, guiding you off the counter with his hands firm at your waist, catching you when your balance faltered.

But he didn’t step away. Didn’t loosen his grip.

Instead, his fingers threaded through yours, locking them in place as if letting go was never an option. You blinked up at him, breath uneven.

“You ready?” His voice was quieter now, softer in a way that made your breath hitch.

You swallowed, throat tight. Then slowly, you nodded. And just like that, he pulled you with him. Hand in hand.

The warmth of his palm was steady against yours, fingers locked. It wasn’t just an absentminded touch, wasn’t something he would let go of the second someone looked too long.

No, this was different. This was him choosing you. Claiming you as his mate. And the second you stepped out, the change in the atmosphere was immediate.

Silence. Then whispers. A sea of murmurs spread through the ballroom like wildfire, voices hushed yet urgent, their curiosity thick enough to suffocate.

Heads turned, eyes widened, people stared.

Alphas. Betas. Omegas.

They looked, and looked, and looked. Their shock crackled through the air like static electricity, palpable in every held breath, every barely concealed gasp, every sharp glance exchanged between one another.

You could feel their questions hanging in the air, unspoken yet deafening. Was this real? When did this happen? How did this happen?

Their gazes burned into your skin—some filled with intrigue, others laced with disbelief, and a few even brimming with something close to envy.

Because this wasn’t just anyone walking out of a room hand in hand with Park Sunghoon. This was you. And Sunghoon? He didn’t even blink.

He didn’t falter under the weight of their stares, didn’t acknowledge the whispers that carried his name in hushed, scandalized tones.

No, he just walked.

Back straight, shoulders squared, head held high. As if this had been the plan all along. As if this was exactly where he was supposed to be. And with every step forward, the hushed murmurs only grew.

Some Alphas scoffed—exchanging skeptical glances—as if trying to convince themselves they weren’t impressed. Some Omegas straightened, eyes wide with a mix of admiration and disbelief. Others, Betas included, simply watched, unable to look away, their expressions unreadable.

But none of them mattered. Not to you. Not to him.

Sunghoon’s grip on you remained firm, and even as the weight of the room threatened to crush you—even as the world outside of this moment blurred into nothing but an afterthought—one thing became blindingly clear.

You weren’t walking behind him. You weren’t trailing after him, waiting for him to decide when to let go.

No, you were right there, beside him. Right where he wanted you to be. And for the first time in a long, long time, you weren’t afraid to be seen.

Sunghoon shot a smirk over his shoulder before tugging you even closer, his grip on your waist effortlessly firm. Your hands barely had time to react before his fingers slipped from yours—only to be replaced by the steady warmth of his palm pressing against the curve of your hip.

The moment you reached their designated table, all conversation died. The six boys stared, mouths slightly open, like they had collectively short-circuited.

“What the fuck?”

The words came from Sunoo, cutting through the silence. He blinked once. Twice. Then leaned back in his chair, hand over his chest like he had just witnessed a crime.

For a second, nobody spoke. Then, slowly, as if processing what he had just seen, Sunoo exhaled and shook his head in mock devastation.

“I feel like a proud dad,” he said, voice thick with fake emotion. “My boy finally grew a pair.”

Jake choked on his drink. Jay slapped the table. Ni-ki let out an actual wheeze, gripping his stomach like he physically couldn’t handle it.

Meanwhile, Sunghoon just sighed, clearly regretting every life choice that had led to this moment.

“Shut up,” he muttered, shoving Sunoo’s chair with his foot.

“Oh no, no, no,” Sunoo replied, shaking his head. “You don’t get to shut me up after making us sit through weeks of your bullshit. You brooded for so long.”

“You were insufferable,” Heeseung chimed in, still recovering from his initial shock.

“Actually unbearable,” Jake added.

Ni-ki snickered, nudging Jungwon. “Tell me I’m lying.”

Jungwon exhaled through his nose and pinched the bridge of it, like he was physically restraining himself from joining in. Instead, he turned to you.

“I respect you so much,” he said seriously, nodding. “For putting up with this.”

You smiled awkwardly at first, not really sure what to say. But then you caught the way they all looked at you—not like a stranger, not even like someone new. No, they knew you. Maybe not personally, but definitely through him.

Sunghoon had been avoiding his feelings, but he hadn't been quiet about them, either.

“I wouldn’t say patient,” you admitted, finally finding your words. “I just… didn’t want to force anything.”

Jay clicked his tongue, shooting Sunghoon a look. “You’re lucky she even gave you that chance, man.”

Jake leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “You do realize you can’t run forever, right?”

Sunghoon groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I wasn’t running.”

“Bro, you practically had track shoes on,” Ni-ki deadpanned.

Heeseung smirked. “But at least you were smart enough to stop and follow.”

Just as Sunghoon was about to retort, a flurry of movement caught everyone’s attention.

Across the room, Sunghoon’s sister, along with Heeseung’s mate and Jungwon’s mate, almost ran over to you, practically shoving through the crowd. Sunghoon barely had time to react before his sister skidded to a stop in front of the table, eyes blown wide.

“When did this happen?!” she demanded, breathless.

You blinked. “Uh… a few minutes ago?”

A sharp gasp.

“Oh my god,” Heeseung’s mate clutched his arm, her face pale as if she might actually pass out.

Heeseung sighed and started fanning her with his hand. “Breathe, babe. Breathe. You knew this would happen eventually.”

“Did I? Did I really?” she shot back, eyes still locked on you and Sunghoon like she was watching the finale of a long-running drama.

Jungwon’s mate wasn’t any better. She was bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, excitement thrumming through her whole body. Jungwon, ever the responsible one, subtly reached over and stole her champagne glass before she could drop it.

“This is insane,” she whispered, eyes wide. “Like, historical. I need a moment.”

But while that mess was happening, Sunghoon’s sister was not celebrating the way the others were. No, she was glaring directly at Sunghoon, hands on her hips, looking like she was about to throw hands.

“You—” she started, voice rising.

Before she could even think about launching herself at her brother, Sunoo—who, unfortunately for Sunghoon, also happened to be her mate—stood up and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back.

“Alright, alright, let’s not start a scene, love,” he said smoothly, voice light but firm.

She squirmed against his hold. “I just want to talk to him—”

“Liar,” Sunoo deadpanned.

“Park Sunghoon, you forced the poor omega to accept you as your mate, didn’t you?” she accused, jabbing a finger in his direction.

Sunghoon blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah! You probably made (Y/N) feel like she had to accept you just because you’re all high and mighty—”

Sunoo sighed and pulled her back against his chest, locking both arms around her now. “Hoon, just let her get it out of her system. She’s been waiting for this day for too long.”

You stifled a laugh, shaking your head. “I actually said yes willingly, if that helps.”

Sunghoon’s sister froze. “You did? Like… willingly-willingly?”

“Willingly-willingly,” you confirmed, amused.

She blinked. Then sighed dramatically, leaning into Sunoo’s hold. “Well… okay. But if he screws this up, I will come for him.”

“Noted,” Sunghoon muttered.

Sunoo patted her head like she was an over-excited puppy. “There, there. You’ll survive this.”

Sunoo shot Sunghoon a smirk over her shoulder. “But man, you’re never living this down.”

Sunghoon groaned. “I hate all of you.”

Jay grinned, raising his glass. “Love you too, man.”

Sunghoon let out another sigh, but despite his grumbling, his hold on you was steady as he guided you toward an empty seat.

With ease, he pulled the chair out for you and waited until you sat down before moving to adjust the trail of your gown, making sure it was neatly tucked away so no one—especially him—would step on it.

The entire table had fallen eerily quiet.

It wasn’t an awkward silence. It was the kind of silence that felt like everyone was holding their breath, watching something unfold before them in real time, something they never thought they’d actually witness.

Even as Sunghoon straightened up, his focus remained on you. His eyes scanned your face with the same attention he always gave to important things, searching for anything he might’ve missed.

Apparently, he had missed something.

Without a word, he reached out, the pad of his thumb brushing against the edge of your eye, carefully swiping away the faintest smudge of mascara that had escaped his first attempt.

Your breath hitched.

But the Alpha wasn’t done.

Satisfied with his work, his fingers barely hesitated before they moved to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear, letting his knuckles graze your cheek ever so slightly. The touch was brief, but it was enough to send a wave of heat rushing to your face.

You swallowed, pulse slightly unsteady, but managed to send him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

Sunghoon hummed in acknowledgment, seemingly unaffected by the entire exchange as he finally settled into his own seat.

He exhaled, relaxed for the first time that night, before slinging an arm around the back of your chair—or maybe it was your waist, you weren’t even sure anymore. His fingers brushed against your side absentmindedly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And yet, the silence remained.

It was as if the group wanted to soak it in, to relish what they had just witnessed before fully reacting.

“I know they’re fated mates and all that,” Ni-ki mumbled, voice tinged with disbelief. “But this is shocking.”

“Right?” Jay breathed out.

“I never thought I’d live to see Sunghoon be so…” Jake trailed off, gesturing vaguely in Sunghoon’s direction.

“Domestic?” Heeseung guessed.

“Whipped,” Sunoo corrected.

Sunghoon let out a long, suffering sigh, tilting his head back against his chair. “Can you all just shut up?”

“Fuck no,” Sunoo said, smirking. “We’re never shutting up about this.”

Jake lifted his glass in mock toast. “To Sunghoon, for finally pulling his head out of his ass.”

Ni-ki followed suit, raising his drink with a grin. “To (Y/N) for somehow handling his brooding for weeks and still willingly agreeing to be his mate.”

Sunghoon groaned, muttering curses under his breath, but his arm around you didn't move.

As the evening stretched on, your table of eleven had finally started to settle. The once chaotic energy mellowed into something softer—comfortable, easy.

Some of the boys were a little tipsy, their words slurring as they tried to argue over something completely irrelevant. Others remained to themselves, quietly nursing their drinks, letting the night wind down at its own pace.

But Sunghoon? Sunghoon was right beside you.

His arm had never left your waist, fingers idly tracing patterns against the fabric of your gown as if he needed the reminder that this was real. His other hand was laced with yours, his grip firm.

He held you like he wasn’t planning to let go anytime soon. And the scent—his scent, coffee and leather tinged with a lingering warmth—wrapped around you, mixing with your own like they belonged together.

You let yourself relax, melting into his hold as the voices around you became distant background noise. Sunghoon exhaled softly, shifting just a bit so he could rest his chin against the side of your head. It wasn’t something anyone else would really notice, but you did. You noticed the way his thumb brushed against your knuckles, the way his heartbeat was steady and slow against your back.

The rest of the table was lost in their own little worlds, some caught in their own quiet moments with their mates, others too caught up in conversation to pay attention.

Heeseung sat comfortably with his mate curled up against him, her head resting against his shoulder as he absentmindedly played with her fingers, their hands intertwined.

Jungwon was just as affectionate, his mate tucked against his side as he nursed a drink in his free hand. Unlike Heeseung, whose touches were slow and casual, Jungwon was openly doting, reaching up every so often to tuck a stray hair behind her ear or brush a kiss against her temple.

Sunoo, of course, was a little more dramatic with his affection. His mate—Sunghoon’s sister—had been sulking in his arms for the past several hours, still processing the events of the night. He cradled her easily, stroking a soothing hand over her hair as she grumbled into his chest.

“I just wasn’t prepared, okay?” she whined, her voice muffled. “This all happened so fast.”

Sunoo hummed, ever patient.

“You don’t understand.”

“I do, though.”

“No, you don’t.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes, pressing a kiss against the top of her head. “Fine, you win. I don’t.”

Meanwhile, Ni-ki was watching everything unfold like it was his own personal drama series. His eyes darted between all the couples, mouth slightly open in exaggerated disbelief. “Damn couples,” he muttered, half to himself, half to Jake, who only chuckled.

Sunghoon straightened, rolling his eyes. “Can I have a moment?”

“No,” Sunoo deadpanned, still holding Sunghoon’s sister against his chest. “You wasted weeks brooding. This is our moment too.”

Jake let out a loud laugh. “Yeah, man, we had to sit through so much.”

“I still have secondhand trauma,” Heeseung added.

Jungwon stole the champagne glass from his mate’s hand as he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, you just buried your face in your free hand, overwhelmed but undeniably warm inside. But before you could even fully process it, you felt his eyes on you, watching the way you tried to hide your flustered expression.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, and before you could react, he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just for you. “You better get used to this,” he murmured, “because you’re gonna hear a lot more of this for a very long time.”

A very long time.

Forever felt like such a long time, but maybe it was worth it when you finally had your Alpha within arm’s reach.

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Sweet cream and lavender, those were the only thoughts running through the pureblooded Alpha’s mind as he sat down in his next class, surrounded by a sea of admiring gazes from his classmates, most of them being Omega females.

Their eyes followed his every move like he was prey, a gazelle surrounded by lions, a bunny running away from wolves—ironic how he was the wolf and had the highest placement in the food chain within the four walls.

But Jungwon paid them no mind, he was used to the attention, immune to their advances.

Ever since he stepped foot into the academy, Yang Jungwon had been the epitome of perfection.

A pureblooded Alpha with his tall stature, soft yet sharp features, confident aura, one hell of a family background, and a charming smile paired with dimples that nobody could say ‘no’ to.

It was like he was born to be praised and bowed down upon. He was the Alpha that every Omega dreamed of, yet he decided to remain aloof.

For his heart belonged to one, and one alone.

“Council meeting later at four, don’t be late.” Jungwon felt a sharp slap behind his head, pulling him away from his thoughts.

A low growl instinctively formed in his throat, but as he recognized the voice and the scent that accompanied it, his shoulders slumped and he rolled his eyes.

Turning around, he came face to face with one of his best friends and fellow Alpha, Lee Heeseung—who also happened to be the student council vice president.

The youngest son of the influential Lee family, Heeseung had been raised in the spotlight, known for his striking looks, silver tongue, and effortless charm that seemed to bend people to his will.

He wore his status like a crown and a smirk, the kind of Alpha who could walk into a room and have everyone’s attention without even trying.

And right now, that attention was focused entirely on Jungwon, paired with the shit-eating grin stretched across his face.

“For fuck’s sake, I’m literally the president.” Jungwon growled, his voice dripping with irritation, startling the Beta sitting beside him who had been minding his own business.

Jungwon sent an apologetic look toward him before redirecting his irritation toward the senior, rubbing the back of his head where Heeseung’s slap had landed.

Heeseung chuckled, the sound swallowed by the chatter of the loud room as he leaned a little closer, clearly unfazed by Jungwon’s temper.

“You’re the president, yet you can’t even control that anger of yours,” he teased, his tone light but his eyes glinting with mischief.

“You weren’t like this before. What’s gotten into you, huh?” He clicked his tongue and tilted his head, studying Jungwon like a puzzle piece he couldn’t quite fit.

Jungwon wanted to scream: ‘Sweet cream and lavender. The Omega sitting two seats in front of me. The only girl plaguing my mind. My Omega. Claim. Mark. Mate.’

But instead, he forced a nonchalant shrug. “Nothing’s gotten into me,” Jungwon replied curtly, his tone dismissive toward the older Alpha, though his stare remained glued to your back.

Heeseung followed his gaze, pupils narrowing as realization crept in. His lips parted like he was about to say something sharp, but for once, he held his tongue.

He hummed instead, a low knowing sound. “Ah, so that’s it.”

“What are you doing here?” Jungwon’s voice cut through the air with exasperation, his annoyance seeping through even without sparing Heeseung a glance.

“I stopped by to get some documents from Sunoo, but it seems like he isn’t here for me to annoy.” Heeseung grunted, dragging out his words, his eyes scanning the large classroom for the mentioned male.

His tone carried that casual, lazy arrogance only Heeseung could pull off, but the faint irritation under it betrayed his mood.

“Dude, he’s in the cafeteria with Jay.” Jungwon snickered, still refusing to meet his gaze.

The older Alpha’s breath hitched at the mention of Jay’s name, his eyes widening ever so slightly. His posture straightened, expression flickering before he masked it with a scoff.

Without another word, Heeseung shoved his hands into his pockets and made a beeline for the cafeteria, his presence leaving the air just a little quieter in his wake.

Jay and Sunoo together were a force to be reckoned with, their antics often leaving chaos in their wake.

As members of the student council, they held a certain level of responsibility, but when left alone, they were known to push the boundaries of what was deemed ‘acceptable.’

Park Jongseong, the council treasurer and the only son of the powerful Park family, carried himself with an air of quiet rebellion.

Despite being the ideal Alpha—sharp-minded, devastatingly handsome, and capable of taking over the family empire—he had a habit of stirring trouble just to remind everyone he could.

Kim Sunoo, on the other hand, was the youngest of the Kim family, blessed with delicate features and a charm that made him unforgettable.

As the council’s Public Relations Director, he wielded influence with words and appearances alone, a natural at swaying opinions.

Despite their constant bickering, Jay and Sunoo found a rare peace in teaming up to mess with the higher-ups, much like the rest of the council.

Jungwon stifled a laugh as he observed the confused faces of his classmates, their attention shifting from him to the well-known council vice president.

The sight was amusing yet familiar—a regular occurrence. Attention seemed to follow them wherever they were.

Yang Jungwon had grown accustomed to being the center of attention wherever he went. From a young age, he had been expected to embody the epitome of perfection.

His pureblooded Alpha status made doors open and people bow in his presence.If he wanted something, all he had to do was ask, and it would be in the palm of his hand without hesitation.

After all, he was the one and only Yang Jungwon, a name that carried power in every corner of their society.

Yet, despite his status and influence, there was one thing that eluded him: you.

The Omega who sat just two seats away, engrossed in a book probably older than the library itself.

Your presence often served him some sort of fascination that he couldn’t put a finger on—and it was terrifying, because Jungwon never found fascination in anything. You were unlike anyone he had ever met.

Your quiet and gentle personality pulled him in. And your scent—oh, your scent—was simply intoxicating.

But try as he might, the young Alpha found himself unable to grasp you, to claim you as his own, his Omega.

And it wasn’t for lack of trying; he had approached you countless times. Yet each time, you slipped through his fingers like thin air.

The same Omega he had been staring at for the past minute before Heeseung came barging in.

You, who tried to focus your attention on your book, ignoring the weight of the eyes you had already recognized—eyes that seemed to catch your gaze every time—eyes that never stopped staring at you.

The first time he had tried to approach you was during his freshman year, during the campus tour.

It was boring him out of his mind. Jungwon had been stuck in the middle of his family’s manor library countless times, listening to his private tutors drone on about history, politics, and etiquette—and somehow, even that felt more entertaining than this.

A guided walk around a place he’d already visited multiple times before his enrollment felt unnecessary, a complete waste of time for someone like him.

He already knew every building, every shortcut, every face worth knowing. The only reason he was here was because the school required it, not because he needed it.

He moved through the sea of students with practiced ease, his steps steady and confident, his presence alone commanding attention.

Even as a first year, his name already put fear in people’s minds. Yang Jungwon, the golden boy of the Yang family. A pureblooded Alpha who could ruin a life with a single phone call. A god and savior of his generation—or so people liked to whisper.

But amidst the chaos of chatter and laughter, his attention caught on something that made him pause.

You.

Standing near the student guide whose name he hadn’t bothered to remember, you looked as though you belonged and yet stood apart at the same time.

A Louis Vuitton bag hung over your shoulder, Chanel draping you head to toe, but your quiet presence was a stark contrast to the other Omegas around you—louder, eager to impress, all smiles and chatter.

You were simply… still.

Intrigued, Jungwon veered away from the three senior Alphas he’d been forced to mingle with before classes began.

With a charming smile firmly in place, he approached you, his footsteps light but purposeful until he stopped right in front of you.

“Hey,” Jungwon started, his voice smooth and friendly as his dimple appeared, gaze locked on you. “Enjoying the tour?”

“Hello.” Your response was polite but guarded, your eyes darting away from the handsome Alpha’s stare as you muttered a brief affirmation.

“It’s okay, I guess.”

Jungwon hummed lowly. Your scent was slightly off—nervous, maybe?—but he didn’t bother asking.

“So what brings you here?” the young Alpha asked, his tone playful as he gestured casually toward the crowd around you.

The first thing you noticed wasn’t even his voice—it was his scent. Whiskey and cedarwood. It enveloped you instantly, warm and intoxicating, wrapping around your senses until your head felt light.

It called to you in ways you didn’t understand, twisting your stomach, making your chest tighten. His presence was overwhelming, his eyes unreadable, but there was something magnetic about him that made it impossible to simply look away.

You blinked, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of his presence and the warmth of his smile. His eyes held nothing but curiosity as he waited for your response.

Despite your efforts to maintain composure, you found yourself at a loss for words; the strength of his scent and his proximity made both you and your Omega feel breathless.

You had just met him, and this dimpled Alpha was already doing things to you.

“I, uh… I’m just here for the tour, like every first year,” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper as you struggled to form words in front of the Alpha whose name you didn’t even know.

Jungwon’s smile widened slightly at your response. He noticed the shift in the air, the way his cedarwood and whiskey scent mingled with your sweet cream and lavender, and it sent an involuntary shiver racing down your spine.

With a thoughtful look, he tilted his head. “By the way,” his tone was soft, controlled, but carried the weight of someone used to being listened to, “what’s your name?”

The question made a shy laugh bubble past your lips, and a small smile tugged at the corners of your mouth as you finally met his gaze.

“It’s (L/N) (Y/N),” you replied, the intensity of his dark, hazy eyes making it hard to breathe. “And yours?”

He straightened, posture effortlessly regal, before speaking with practiced ease. “Yang Jungwon,” he introduced himself formally, the family name falling from his lips like a seal of authority.

Then, to your surprise, he didn’t simply offer his hand—he took yours gently in his, raising it with elegance before pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. “It’s an honor to meet you, (Y/N).”

Heat crept across your cheeks, but you couldn’t look away. For a moment, it was as if the world blurred around you, your hand still in his, both of you lost in each other’s eyes.

You swallowed, your voice quiet, sincere. “It’s… nice to meet you too, Jungwon.”

He held your gaze a beat longer, then asked smoothly, “So tell me, (Y/N)… what made you choose Decelis? Surely someone like you had other options.”

You blinked, surprised by his interest, but managed to gather your thoughts.

“I wanted something different,” you admitted. “Not just prestige, but a place where I could grow on my own terms. Decelis seemed like the right choice.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, dimples peeking through. “A wise answer. Growth is often undervalued… though, if I may be honest, Decelis seems all the more fortunate now.”

Your heart skipped at the subtle compliment, and for a second, you didn’t even notice your hand was still in his until the student guide’s voice cut through the air.

“Alright, everyone, if you could please gather around,” the guide called, tone cheerful as he gestured for the group to move. “We’re going to continue with the next part of the tour.”

Reality snapped back. You pulled your hand away gently, a soft apologetic smile crossing your lips.

“Excuse me,” you murmured, before hurrying to rejoin the group of Omegas you had been standing with.

Jungwon didn’t stop you. He only gave you a respectful nod, that same small smile gracing his lips—dimples deepening as if to carve your name into his memory.

And just like that, you carried the weight of his gaze with you as you walked away.

Heeseung’s voice cut through the air, pulling Jungwon back to reality. “Hey, man, I found them.”

Jungwon’s gaze lingered for a moment longer on the back of your head before shifting toward the classroom doors. Heeseung stood there, a mix of amusement and impatience written across his face as he gestured for Jungwon to follow.

But instead of leaving right away, Jungwon’s steps carried him in the opposite direction—straight to your desk.

He leaned down, his shadow falling over your book as his voice dropped low. “What are you reading?”

You froze, heat creeping up your cheeks at the sudden closeness, at the way his scent seeped into your lungs and wrapped around you like a cage.

“N-Nothing of importance…” you murmured, trying to keep your composure.

Jungwon tilted his head, his lips curving faintly as his eyes scanned the page.

He read a line under his breath, voice smooth and warm, and you nearly forgot how to breathe.

The sound of your pulse must’ve betrayed you, because he chuckled quietly, his arm sliding around your shoulders with an ease that felt far too natural.

His mouth hovered just near your ear. “Relax. I don’t bite…” his smirk deepened, “…unless you want me to.”

Your face burned hot as you rolled your eyes in an attempt to brush off your embarrassment. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jungwon.”

He only laughed again, rubbing his wrist casually against the fabric of your blazer, leaving his scent behind with deliberate precision. “I’ve read this one before. It’s pretty good,” he commented, straightening up to his full height.

Your eyes followed him without meaning to, tilting your head slightly. “What do you need, then?”

The question made him pause. He studied you for a moment, and there it was again—that wide-eyed look, soft and unguarded, like a bunny caught in headlights.

His lips tugged into a smile that reached his eyes.

“I’m needed for a meeting,” he said simply, scanning the room. He didn’t miss the stares—your classmates watching the way he’d just scented you so blatantly, their gazes darting away the second his sharp eyes caught theirs. The smug curl of his lips betrayed how much he enjoyed it.

You noticed the flicker of tension, your brows knitting in concern, but before you could speak, Jungwon glanced down at you and gave a small, reassuring smile.

His hand patted your shoulder gently. “Can you tell Anton when he gets here to handle whatever the professors need while I’m gone?”

You nodded quickly, eager to prove yourself, eyes bright with determination.

“Good girl,” Jungwon murmured under his breath, the words slipping out like velvet before he stepped away, leaving you flustered in your seat.

He strode toward the door, that same smug smirk tugging at his lips as he rejoined Heeseung outside.

Heeseung patted Jungwon’s back. “Come on, let’s go get those troublemakers,” the senior said with a chuckle, heading toward the cafeteria where Jay and Sunoo were no doubt stirring up trouble.

Jungwon followed, that infuriatingly smug smirk still tugging at his lips.

Heeseung caught sight of it and arched a brow. “What’s up with that smirk on your face?”

Jungwon let out a low chuckle. “It’s nothing,” he replied casually, though the curl of his lips betrayed him.

“Nothing, my ass. Spit it out,” Heeseung pressed, giving him a knowing side-eye.

Jungwon tilted his head back toward the classroom they’d just left, not bothering to say your name—Heeseung was sharp enough to pick it up without words.

“Ah, I see.” Heeseung’s mouth curved into a sly grin. “So it’s about (Y/N), huh?”

Jungwon’s smirk deepened. He didn’t answer outright, but his silence said enough.

The older alpha shook his head, mock-disbelief flashing in his eyes. “You know, you’ve been dancing around this for a while now. Why haven’t you made your move yet?”

Jungwon sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. “We’re in… a very weird relationship right now,” he admitted, the frustration slipping into his otherwise composed tone.

Heeseung raised a brow. “Weird? What do you mean by weird?”

“A situationship, maybe,” Jungwon said with a careless shrug, though the glint in his eyes betrayed just how much it got under his skin.

Heeseung barked out a laugh, loud enough to draw the stares of a few passing students. They blinked in surprise at the rare sight of the usually collected student council vice president laughing so openly in the halls.

“I can’t believe I’d live to hear the day Yang Jungwon is settling for something as flimsy as a situationship,” Heeseung teased, shaking his head.

“It’s not flimsy, okay?” Jungwon shot back, tone flat but his smirk betraying him.

Heeseung only shrugged with a laugh, sharp fangs flashing. “Maybe she just hates your scent. That’s why.”

Jungwon scoffed and lightly punched his shoulder. “My scent is irresistible, thank you very much.”

Their exchange earned a few wary glances from passing students, who could practically feel the clash of alpha scents between the two—whiskey and cedarwood mixing with Heeseung’s darker musk, both carrying that unmistakable weight of power.

But this was normal for them: quick banter, quick jabs, and an unspoken understanding in every exchange.

As they turned the corner, their conversation was cut short by the sight of Jay and Sunoo.

Jay walked with that effortless calm that always carried an edge, his hands shoved into his pockets while his blonde hair fell slightly into his eyes.

Sunoo, in contrast, bounced along beside him, grinning wide as he balanced an absurd stack of sandwiches in his arms.

“Speak of the devils,” Heeseung muttered with a scowl, nodding toward them.

Jay’s lips curled into the faintest smirk. “Hey. Took you long enough.”

Sunoo piped up brightly, holding the food higher as if showing off a prize. “Look at what we got! And before you say anything—no trouble was caused.”

He leaned closer, dropping his voice in mock seriousness as he shot a pointed look at Jay. “Not even from him.”

Jungwon couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “Heeseung’s been looking all over for you.”

“Don’t put all the blame on me,” Heeseung cut in with a sharp look. “We have a meeting, and I need those documents from last week’s session.”

Sunoo blinked innocently, big eyes widening as if he’d just heard something impossible.

Jay, however, tilted his head slightly, his voice calm and unbothered. “Oh, those documents?” His smirk widened, feigning innocence with a casual shrug. “Pretty sure I left them at Sunoo’s house.”

Sunoo’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait, you mean the ones you spilled coffee all over?” he shot back, shifting the towering stack of sandwiches in his arms as he tried not to drop them.

Jay clicked his tongue, pointing a finger at Sunoo with that sharp, unbothered glare. “Don’t act innocent. You were the one who distracted me in the first place.”

The younger alpha jabbed a finger back at Jay, juggling the food in the process. “Distracted you?! You’re the one who—hey, careful!”

Heeseung let out a long, tired sigh and dragged a hand down his face. “What the actual fuck…” His voice was heavy with exhaustion, like he had aged ten years in the last ten minutes.

Jungwon leaned against a nearby wall, arms crossed, quietly amused at the circus in front of him.

It was always the same: Jay with his calm-but-menacing indifference, Sunoo chirping and smirking his way into trouble, and Heeseung stuck in the middle ready to strangle them both.

And then, the inevitable happened.

From the far end of the hall came Jake—disheveled hair falling into his eyes, multiple clipboards tucked under his arm, and the expression of a man one second away from murder.

His scent of burning citrus flared sharp and hot, a clear warning as his voice thundered down the corridor.

“Get back here, you two fuckers!”

The usually composed secretary looked anything but calm as he barreled toward them, and the way Jay and Sunoo’s eyes widened was priceless.

Instead of scrambling, the two immediately started jabbing their fingers at each other, practically shouting over one another in a desperate attempt to shift blame.

“It was him!” Sunoo squeaked, almost dropping a sandwich.

“Liar,” Jay shot back smoothly, his smirk not helping his case.

Heeseung glanced at Jungwon, giving him a single tired nod before pushing himself into a jog, muttering curses under his breath as he joined Jake in the chase.

Jungwon only shook his head with a quiet chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. This was their pack—chaos and order constantly colliding.

The rustle of books in the library was a comforting sound to Jungwon as he stepped into the vast room.

Rows upon rows of shelves towered over him despite his tall stature, each one filled with the knowledge and stories of countless authors he grew up learning about.

Sunlight streamed through the large glass windows, casting warm rays across the polished wooden floors.

Jungwon walked slowly, his steps muffled by the blood-red carpeting beneath his feet. He ran his fingers along the spines of the books.

The young Alpha rounded a corner, but amidst the towering shelves and sea of quiet bodies, he saw you.

You were sitting at a wooden table with Sunoo, surrounded by a stack of books, your attention fully absorbed in the pages before you.

The gentle curve of your profile, illuminated by the soft glow of the reading lamp, drew him in like a moth to a flame. It was as if Sunoo didn’t even exist to him during this moment.

Without realizing it, he found himself drawn closer, his steps cautious as he approached your table.

Jungwon cleared his throat softly, not wanting to startle you, but you remained lost in your own world, unaware of his presence.

Sunoo gave Jungwon a sly grin, his eyes flashing with amusement as he mouthed the words, “You finally asking (Y/N) out?”

The teasing glint in Sunoo’s eyes was unmistakable.

Jungwon shot Sunoo a quick glare, silently willing him to be quiet, but Sunoo only grinned wider, clearly enjoying Jungwon’s discomfort.

Then, raising his hands in mock surrender, the older pink-haired male quietly stood up, a playful smile still playing on his lips.

with a nod of appreciation towards sunoo, jungwon turned his attention back to you. he raised a brow at you and your still oblivious form before before clearing his throat once again to grab your attention.

the sound echoed softly in the corner where you're seated in, cutting through the hushed atmosphere. you looked up from your book, your eyes meeting his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as you came face-to-face with the alpha you've been trying to avoid ever since you got there.

"hi," jungwon greeted, his voice deep but gentle as he took another cautious step closer to your table. "i hope i'm not interrupting anything."

you blinked, momentarily taken aback by his sudden approach. "oh, uh, no, not at all," you replied, your voice coming out softer than you intended. "i was just… doing something with sunoo."

as you glanced around, you noticed sunoo's absence as his now faint scent permeated through the air, a realization dawning on you that he had discreetly left while you were engrossed in your book. a faint flush of embarrassment colored your cheeks at the thought of being left alone with the alpha who had occupied your thoughts more often than you cared to admit.

With a nod of appreciation towards Sunoo, Jungwon turned his attention back to you. He raised a brow at your still oblivious form before clearing his throat once again to grab your attention.

The sound echoed softly in the corner where you were seated, cutting through the hushed atmosphere.

You looked up from your book, your eyes meeting his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as you came face-to-face with the Alpha who always left you fumbling for words whenever he was near.

“Hi,” Jungwon greeted, his voice deep but gentle as he took another cautious step closer to your table. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

You blinked, momentarily taken aback by his sudden approach. “Oh, uh, no, not at all,” you replied, your voice coming out softer than you intended.

“I was just… doing something with Sunoo.”

As you glanced around, you noticed Sunoo’s absence, his faint scent still lingering in the air. A realization dawned on you—he had discreetly slipped out while you were absorbed in your book.

A faint flush of embarrassment colored your cheeks at the thought of being left alone with the Alpha who had occupied your thoughts more often than you cared to admit.

With a quick mental shake, you focused your attention back on Jungwon’s towering figure. “Um, yeah, he must have stepped out,” you explained, offering a sheepish smile.

Jungwon’s gaze softened, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Guess it’s just you and me then,” he remarked lightly, his tone casual as he gestured toward the empty seat right beside you.

You hesitated only for a moment before giving a small nod, a shy smile tugging at your lips. Jungwon slid into the seat next to you, his presence so close it made the air feel heavier.

Your breath caught in your throat as his scent washed over you, each inhale filling your lungs with the essence of Yang Jungwon himself.

“What’ve you got there?” Jungwon asked, leaning ever so slightly until his shoulder brushed against yours.

The simple touch had heat rushing up your neck, and despite yourself, you smiled faintly, his intoxicating scent overtaking your senses.

He noticed. A quiet chuckle slipped from his lips as he gestured for you to move closer. Hesitant, you did—but apparently not close enough for him.

With a soft click of his tongue, his hand slipped beneath your chair, tugging it towards him. You yelped lightly at the sudden motion, earning nothing but a sheepish smile from the Alpha.

Before you could even react, his arm draped loosely around you, and the faint brush of his wrist against your clothes left his scent lingering warmly over you. Your breath faltered, your cheeks burning.

“I–uhm,” you stammered, trying to focus as your fingers fumbled with the edge of your book, “I just needed a quiet place to finish this.”

Jungwon tilted his head, peeking at the stack of papers and books scattered across the table.

His lips softened into an amused smile. “Partners with Sunoo for the lab report, huh? Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”

A nervous laugh bubbled from your chest as you nodded. “Yeah, you could say that. Sunoo always has a way of making things… interesting.”

His low chuckle vibrated against you, warm and effortless. “That he does.”

You let out a quiet sigh, your body relaxing just slightly as you leaned into Jungwon’s warmth.

Your voice dropped to a softer mumble, “It’s just that… Sunoo already has so much on his plate with all the council stuff you guys do. I don’t want to be a burden.”

Jungwon’s brows furrowed for the briefest second before he shook his head, his tone steady but gentle.

“You’re not a burden, okay? I’m sure Sunoo appreciates the help. But he’s also the kind of guy who wants to do some of that stuff too.”

A small smile tugged at his lips as he added knowingly, “If there’s one thing Sunoo doesn’t like…”

You tilted your head, curiosity breaking through your nerves. “What?”

“…It’s when people look down on him and his capabilities.”

The truth in his words made you laugh softly, shoulders easing as the tension melted away. “Yeah… you’re right. That sounds exactly like him.”

Jungwon’s own chuckle rumbled against you, low and effortless, and he nodded with a satisfied little hum. “Mhmm. Exactly.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The quiet hum of the library wrapped around you both—the rustle of pages, the faint scratching of pens, and the mellow glow of sunlight spilling in from the tall glass windows.

It felt comfortable, dangerously so.

Just as Jungwon parted his lips, ready to say something more—something that lingered heavy in the air between you—the sharp ring of the bell shattered the stillness.

His jaw tightened, a soft curse slipping past his lips as his eyes flickered toward the digital clock mounted on the wall.

With a reluctant sigh, Jungwon gave you a tight smile as he slowly unwrapped his arm from around you.

For the briefest second, his fingers lingered against your sleeve as though he wasn’t ready to let go, before he finally dropped his hand to his side.

Still, there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his gaze, like even that moment of holding you close was enough to anchor him.

You quickly gathered the scattered papers into your arms, trying to mask the sudden warmth crawling up your neck.

When you looked back at him, your lips curved into a small, sheepish smile. “I’ll… get going now. Bye, Jungwon.”

He gave you one of those rare, dimpled smiles that made your chest tighten, his head tilting just slightly as his eyes softened. “Bye, (Y/n).” A pause.

Then, with the kind of casualness only he could pull off, he asked, “Is Anton doing what I asked him to?”

You blinked, momentarily thrown off by the shift in topic, but quickly nodded. “Yeah… he’s doing pretty well.”

Jungwon leaned back into his chair, his long legs crossing at the ankle with deliberate ease. His posture oozed authority, the kind only a pureblooded Alpha carried in his veins.

A teasing smile curved at his lips as he studied you. “But not better than me, right?”

The sudden intensity of his gaze caught you off guard, heat flooding your cheeks at the way his eyes locked onto yours like he was daring you to say otherwise.

Your heart thudded as you shifted on your feet, fumbling with the stack of papers in your arms. “N-no,” you mumbled, voice barely above a whisper. “You’re still better.”

A quiet chuckle slipped from him, satisfied yet amused, and the weight of his stare lingered even as you tried to look away. Mustering another shy smile, you gave him a small wave before finally turning on your heel.

Your footsteps echoed softly against the carpet, but even as you walked away, you could feel his gaze trailing after you.

There was something in the way you walked, the quiet grace in each movement, that made it impossible for him to look away.

With a sigh, he finally tore his eyes from your retreating figure, closing them in exasperation.

This wasn’t the first time you’d tried avoiding him in the same room, after all.

It was a rainy afternoon, the soft pitter-patter of raindrops against the library windows creating a soothing sound to the otherwise silent atmosphere.

A second-year Yang Jungwon had entered the library, piles of paper tucked under his arm.

Heads turned to catch a glimpse of the prominent Alpha walking through the aisles of books. Some stole glances filled with admiration, while others seemed intimidated by his aura that reeked of authority despite being only a sophomore.

Yet, he paid no mind to the curious stares, his focus solely on finding the resources he needed for his weekly student council report as the vice president.

“You done?” Jungwon turned to see Ni-ki grinning at him, his playful demeanor a welcome distraction from the seriousness of his task.

Ni-ki was a first-year Alpha, known for his mischievous antics and his tousled hair and bright eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief.

“Just about,” Jungwon replied with a chuckle, adjusting the stack of papers in his arms.

“I wanna fucking curse the living hell out of Heeseung and Jay for telling me that the student council was all sunshine and rainbows, though.”

He shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips as he recalled Heeseung—the current president’s—words of encouragement when he took on the role of vice president.

“Where’s Sunoo? I thought he was coming with us,” Jungwon asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.

“I dunno, he said he’d be coming here with someone,” Ni-ki mumbled, scratching his head.

An ever-so-familiar scent of lavender overtook Jungwon’s senses, and his eyes darted frantically around the library.

Without a second thought, he grabbed Ni-ki by his hoodie, pulling him along as he followed the scent toward the source.

Ni-ki stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden pull and even managed to shout a small, “What the fuck?”—but he quickly caught on and allowed himself to be dragged along.

Finally, they reached the center of the library where the chandelier glowed softly above them, casting a warm, golden light over the scene.

There, Jungwon spotted Sunoo chatting idly with the very same Omega who had been avoiding him like the plague since day one.

It wasn’t the first time he had seen you—Jungwon could admit he’d lost count of how many fleeting glances he’d stolen from across crowded rooms—but it was probably only the second or third time he was seeing you this close.

And up close, it was worse.

Your hair fell in gentle waves that framed your face, strands catching the light like silk threads. Your eyes gleamed, wide and attentive, as you listened to Sunoo’s animated rambling. The soft curve of your mouth shifted with every laugh, and Jungwon swore it was the most dangerous sight he’d ever laid eyes on.

The stone-cold stiff demeanor of Yang Jungwon cracked, just barely, as his heart skipped a beat.

“So I asked Jungwon if he wanted to come, and he literally threw a pen towards my face!” Sunoo quietly exclaimed toward his pretty Omega friend walking beside him.

It was no doubt—you were indeed very pretty. Your delicate features were highlighted by the glow of the chandelier, your presence radiant yet understated.

Ni-ki snorted at the memory of the pen incident, while Jungwon only rolled his eyes. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he shifted the stack of papers under his arm, posture tall, sharp, and commanding.

If anyone else had seen him approaching, they’d likely shrink back—he carried that much authority without even trying. But you already knew better.

“Are you done talking about me behind my back?” Jungwon teased as he finally closed the distance, his voice carrying a playful lilt that contrasted the weight of his aura.

Jungwon’s presence alone seemed to command attention, drawing your gaze despite the deepening flush creeping up your cheeks.

The faint scent of whiskey and cedarwood surrounding him made your mind hazy.

Sunoo’s frustration melted into amusement as he shot Jungwon a playful glare. “Talking about you? Who, us? Never,” he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Jungwon’s smirk widened as he leaned in closer, his Alpha pheromones swirling around you, making your heart race.

“Well, if you’re done gossiping about my pen-throwing skills—you, Kim Sunoo, promised to take these papers to Heeseung.”

Sunoo’s eyes widened in realization as Jungwon shoved the pile of papers under his arm. He let out a grunt of annoyance, shooting Jungwon a glare.

“Oh, come on, Mr. Perfect Yang Jungwon. Can’t a guy have a little fun gossiping with his best friend without getting roped into paperwork duty?” he grumbled, sneaking you a side glance.

Jungwon chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down your spine.

Despite addressing Sunoo, his gaze remained fixed on you, his intense, cat-like eyes seeming to pierce through to your very being.

“Rules are rules, Sunoo. And you know Heeseung doesn’t take kindly to late papers,” he replied. His words hung in the air, each syllable carrying the weight of his authority.

But it wasn’t just his authority that captured your attention—it was the way he effortlessly commanded the room despite speaking in such a hushed tone.

“Fine, fine, I’m going. But I call dibs on Ni-ki,” Sunoo declared with a mischievous grin, earning himself a thumbs up from Ni-ki.

“Fine with me, but I’m coming with you both,” Jungwon shrugged, his tone casual yet decisive.

Then he pointed toward you, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “But I’m taking (Y/N) with me.”

Your heart skipped a beat at Jungwon’s unexpected declaration, and you blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by his sudden attention.

Sunoo rolled his eyes so hard you thought they might get stuck, snorting, “Might as well say you’re dragging us all, yeah?” His snicker quickly turned into a full-blown chuckle at Jungwon’s remark.

What made you catch your breath wasn’t just the Alpha’s sudden attention, but the fact that he remembered your name despite only properly interacting with him once or twice during your freshman year.

How could he not remember you? You were the Omega that plagued his mind and never left his thoughts.

“Are you sure? I might just bother you. It’s official student council business, anyways,” you mumbled, instinctively beginning to twirl a strand of your hair between your fingers—a nervous habit that often surfaced.

“It would be fun with you around. Means that I won’t get stuck with these two knuckleheads,” Sunoo grunted as he started walking toward the gigantic wooden doors, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

The four of you passed through the vast hallways that stretched endlessly, lined with towering windows overlooking the sprawling school fields.

The halls were nearly empty, the faint echo of your footsteps bouncing off the polished floors, a reminder that everyone else was locked away in their classrooms.

Jungwon slowed his pace until he was walking beside you, his papers still tucked neatly under his arm.

He leaned down slightly, his voice lowering into a whisper meant only for you. “Sorry for roping you into this,” he murmured, his breath brushing faintly against your ear.

You shook your head quickly, looking up at him just enough to whisper back, “It’s fine.”

Instinctively, Jungwon leaned down closer, closing the small gap between you as if he couldn’t help himself.

His sharp gaze softened, his lips twitching in the faintest smile at your words, though his scent wrapped tighter around you.

The sound of Sunoo’s exaggerated groan ahead snapped the moment, and the four of you finally reached the towering student council doors.

With perfect timing, none other than Park Sunghoon swung them open with a dramatic flair only he could accomplish, his sharp eyes immediately narrowing as he pointed accusingly at Sunoo.

“You!” Sunghoon exclaimed, his voice laced with annoyance as he locked eyes with the fox-like male.

Sunoo froze in his tracks, schooling his expression into wide-eyed innocence as he raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. “Me?” he replied.

Sunghoon let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You know exactly what you did,” he retorted, though the sternness in his voice faltered under the hint of amusement tugging at his lips. “Heeseung’s looking for you, now.”

Sunoo only shrugged nonchalantly as he stepped inside the room, Jungwon and Ni-ki trailing close behind him.

You were quick to slip away before anyone could notice, blending seamlessly with the small crowd of students out in the field beyond the hallway windows.

The thought of standing at the receiving end of Park Sunghoon’s infamous temper was enough to have your feet moving fast, your presence vanishing before the four boys fully entered the council room.

Ni-ki glanced around, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Hey, where did (Y/N) go?” he quipped, scanning the space as if you’d simply disappeared into thin air.

“Who?” Sunghoon raised a brow at the unfamiliar name, his expression puzzled.

Sunoo, caught off guard, quickly looked around, feigning casualness as he scratched the back of his neck. “Oh, you know, (Y/N),” he replied with forced nonchalance.

Jungwon’s sharp gaze snapped to Sunoo, his cat-like eyes narrowing in a warning. The room seemed to shrink in on itself, the weight of curiosity thick in the air, every pair of eyes trained on them.

But Sunoo wasn’t about to back down.

The usual airy lilt in his voice faded, replaced by a colder, sharper tone—the kind of voice that reminded everyone that despite his playful exterior, he was still a pureblooded Alpha, dangerous when he wanted to be.

His lips curled into a smirk, one that could slice through Jungwon’s composure with ease. “My friend that Jungwon’s been crushing on for two years now… or was it three?”

Before Sunoo could finish, Jungwon’s patience finally snapped. With a swift motion, he rammed his elbow into Sunoo’s side, harder than he meant to.

The impact made Sunoo choke on air, his words cut short in a rough cough. Jungwon’s jaw clenched, the faintest flush rising to his cheeks as his composure cracked.

But instead of letting up, Sunoo only straightened with that same cutting grin. He lived for moments like this—pushing buttons until they broke.

His tone dropped even lower, slow and taunting, his eyes glinting with mischief that masked an unnerving authority.

“And who could blame you?” he drawled, tilting his head ever so slightly. “She’s your mate, after all… isn’t she?”

The words landed heavy, the room falling into stunned silence at the weight of his revelation.

A low growl rumbled out of Jungwon’s throat before he could stop it, primal and raw, the sound vibrating through the tense air. His denial was quick, but unsteady.

“Shut up, Sunoo.” His voice was rough, strained, and it only betrayed how hard he was trying to keep control.

Sunoo’s grin widened, teeth flashing, the taunt digging in deeper. “That’s it,” he whispered, almost gleeful, as though daring Jungwon to admit it aloud.

“The perfect Alpha, caught off guard by instincts he doesn’t even understand yet.”

Jungwon’s chest rose and fell sharply, his cat-like eyes flickering toward the hallway where you had vanished, then back to the group.

His lips parted, words barely scraping their way out as he forced himself to speak. “I… I didn’t realize it myself,” he admitted, voice heavy, reluctant.

“It’s not something I wanted to burden anyone with… especially not (Y/N).”

Jungwon stared at the empty hallway leading outside the student council room, where you had managed to slip away. Maybe Sunghoon’s dramatic entrance had startled you.

Either way, you were gone, and a wave of worry washed over him.

“Great,” Jungwon muttered under his breath, his mind racing with thoughts of where you might have gone. “Just great.”

Despite Jungwon’s sour mood, Sunoo only shrugged, smugness dripping off him. The corners of his mouth curling upward.

He looked almost proud of himself for finally pushing the younger Alpha into realizing what he’d been denying all this time.

Across the room, Heeseung caught Sunoo’s eye.

The current council president gave him a subtle nod, one that spoke volumes—approval, amusement, and maybe even a quiet ‘good job’ for cracking the unshakable Yang Jungwon.

The bright light of the library chandelier pressed against his closed eyelids, his temples throbbing with frustration—until a sudden tug on his ear snapped him back to reality.

He winced, turning to see Sunghoon grinning mischievously, his fingers still pinching Jungwon’s ear with infuriating playfulness.

“Daydreaming about your mate, huh?” Sunghoon teased, his voice low enough not to attract too much attention from others in the library.

Jungwon swatted Sunghoon’s hand away. “Shut the fuck up,” he muttered, his tone half-pleading, half-annoyed. He couldn’t afford to let his mate become a topic of gossip—especially not now.

Just then, Sunoo returned, spotting another chance to push Jungwon’s buttons. “Hey, it’s not every day you find out the stone-cold president of the student council has a soft spot,” he quipped, his grin widening.

Jungwon shot him a glare, but the intimidation he usually carried seemed to falter, losing its sharp edge. “Just drop it,” he warned, his voice carrying a mixture of frustration and unease.

The pink-haired Alpha’s grin softened slightly as he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll back off. For now,” he hummed.

Sunghoon, sensing the tension and eager to move things along, rolled his eyes. “Come on, you’re late to your own meeting, goddammit,” he said, already walking toward the door.

“We’ve got actual work to do.”

The student council room was noisy with activity as the meeting went on. Papers were scattered across the long wooden table, and the soft hum of voices filled the air.

Jungwon sat at the head of the table, his expression a mask of calm authority.

A disagreement broke out between two people, their voices rising above the general murmur.

Jungwon’s attention snapped back to the present as he realized one of them—a beta junior named Minjae—and Heeseung himself were at odds, with Minjae questioning a proposal Jungwon and Heeseung had spent weeks preparing.

“I just don’t see how this new policy is going to benefit anyone,” Minjae argued, his tone stubborn and dismissive.

“It’s too restrictive, and it’s going to make students resent the council even more—a curfew after one in the morning? What are we, middle schoolers?”

Jungwon’s jaw tightened as he listened to the objections. He had anticipated some resistance and disagreements, but Minjae’s tone bordered on insolence, challenging not just the proposal but the council’s authority as well—Yang Jungwon’s authority.

“Minjae,” Jungwon huffed, his voice calm but carrying a cold undertone, “this policy is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. We’ve already seen incidents where the lack of such regulations has led to serious problems.”

Minjae scoffed, crossing his arms. “Serious problems? Or just problems that make the council look bad? This feels more like a power play than anything else.”

Jungwon darkly chuckled, the sound resonating through the room like a thunderstorm.

Leaning forward slightly, he let his scent fill the air—what was once whiskey and cedarwood turned into the foul bite of burning coffee and charred wood; the subtle but undeniable aura of dominance making the room feel heavier.

Heeseung and Jay exchanged uneasy glances, aware of what the young Alpha could do when pushed to his limits.

“Power play?” Jungwon growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Minjae faltered for a moment, visibly affected by the intensity of Jungwon’s burning scent and undeniable authority. But his stubbornness drove him to continue.

“I just think there are better ways to handle this. Ways that don’t involve overstepping your bounds.”

Jungwon’s eyes glinted with a cold fury, his anger a quiet storm that promised chaos and destruction for the beta seated across the table.

“Overstepping my bounds?” he asked, his tone dangerously calm.

“Let me make something perfectly clear, Minjae. My bounds are defined by the responsibility I carry to protect and lead this council. The responsibility that I carry as Yang Jungwon.”

With a swift motion, Jungwon stood up, slamming his hands on the table. The loud crack echoed through the room, silencing everyone instantly.

“Let me remind you all of what happens when we fail to act as decent members of this council,” Jungwon continued, his voice now a low, threatening growl.

“Every time we hesitate, every time we allow chaos to happen, we fail in our duty. This policy is not about power; it is about protection.”

Jungwon hummed, his voice cutting through the tense silence. “And if you can’t see that, you might as well surrender your position to someone more competent.”

His words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the standards Jungwon demanded from his fellow council members.

Minjae shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the weight of the Alpha’s words pressing down on him.

“But—” Minjae began, his voice faltering under Jungwon’s unwavering gaze.

“No buts,” Jungwon interjected, his tone firm. “We cannot afford to entertain doubts or indecision.”

Minjae swallowed hard, his defiance waning in the face of Jungwon’s authority. With a nod, he conceded, “I… I understand.”

Jungwon nodded in response, his expression softening slightly but still bearing the weight of his authority. “Good. Now, let’s proceed with the vote. All in favor?”

One by one, hands rose around the table. Jungwon’s smirk was subtle but it was there, a silent acknowledgment of his victory.

As the meeting shifted, Jungwon turned his gaze back to Minjae, his expression sharpening once more. “I’ll speak to you next week regarding your behavior toward this council—and toward the vice president.”

His eyes flicked briefly to Heeseung, who tilted his head in amusement, lips twitching as if he were entertained by Minjae’s impending lecture.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Jungwon began, his voice commanding yet composed, “I have more important matters to attend to. All the other higher-up members are excused as well.”

He glanced around the table, meeting each council member’s eyes with finality. “I’m letting Soobin take over this meeting.”

As he began to walk away, six figures rose from their seats and followed him out of the room, their expressions unreadable.

As the seven Alphas disappeared from view, Jake let out a snort, his words breaking the silence.

“Dude, I thought Minjae was going to die,” Jake laughed, his voice filled with amusement, as they walked toward the stairs leading down to the university lobby.

Heeseung chuckled, shaking his head at Jake’s comment. “Well, thankfully it didn’t come to that,” he replied, his tone teasing.

“He’ll either be dead or lose his position,” Jay chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm as he joined the conversation.

Jungwon glanced at Jay, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Let’s hope for his sake it’s the latter, yeah?” the president quipped, his tone dry but tinged with amusement.

“Didn’t we leave a little early? What time’s the banquet anyways?” Sunoo walked beside them, his stride matching theirs as they made their way down the stairs.

They all carried themselves with confidence, their shoulders squared and heads held high.

The echoes of their private tutors’ voices from their younger years were etched in their minds: ‘Stand up straight with your head held high. Remember who you are.’

Sunghoon chuckled at Sunoo’s question, adjusting his tie with a flick of his wrist. “We left a little bit late, to be honest. The banquet starts at 7:00 p.m.,” he answered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Heeseung nodded in agreement, a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Plenty of time to make a grand entrance,” he added with a smirk.

Jay grinned, his gaze sweeping over the bustling university lobby, where familiar faces mingled among strangers.

“To hell if they get angry at us for being late; our families made this big event happen,” he quipped, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

“Please, young master, stop fussing or we won’t get anything done at all.”

The annoyance emitting from Jungwon’s personal assistant, who had been with him since he was young, echoed in the hotel room where he was currently situated.

Jungwon let out an exasperated sigh, his reflection staring back at him from the mirror as he adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time. “I just want everything to be perfect,” he muttered.

Beside him, the hair stylist huffed in irritation as Jungwon shifted again, causing strands of hair to fall out of place.

Jungwon offered a small apology, realizing his restlessness was causing a mess for those around him.

“Young master, if I may,” his assistant paused, as if trying to find the right words. “You’ve never been this… fidgety before an event. What changed?”

Jungwon’s gaze flickered away from his reflection for a moment. He hesitated before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll be seeing someone tonight. Someone important.”

His assistant’s eyebrows raised in curiosity. “Do I know who this person is?” he inquired, his tone laced with intrigue.

Jungwon hesitated for a moment before answering. “Do you know the (L/N) family?” he asked, his voice slightly strained.

The young Alpha’s assistant nodded knowingly. “Ah, young master, who doesn’t?” he replied with a knowing smile, his eyes reflecting understanding.

“I see. Well, I’m sure everything will go perfectly tonight. Just relax and be yourself. You’ll do wonderfully, as you always do.”

Jungwon managed a dry chuckle, though it held a hint of bitterness. “It seems like their only daughter… doesn’t like being around me,” he confessed, his words low.

“It’s not that she outright avoids me, but—she keeps her distance. Limits the time we spend together, like she’s uneasy when I’m near.” His reflection hardened in the mirror, a faint frustration pulling at his features.

His assistant’s brow furrowed in concern, sensing the frustration within his young master. “Why do you think that is?” he asked gently, his voice filled with curiosity.

Jungwon’s expression darkened slightly, a shadow crossing his features as he sighed.

“I’ve been seeing her for two years. Around the school halls, classrooms, the library—everywhere. And yet, every time I think we’ll have a real conversation, she finds a way to cut it short. It’s like she’s always slipping through my fingers.”

The door creaked open, and the unmistakable scent of red wine and leather filled the room—Heeseung. Jungwon’s eyes darted toward the older Alpha as he strode in casually, hands in his pockets.

“I told you, maybe she just hates your scent,” Heeseung remarked bluntly, his tone laced with amusement as he leaned against the dresser.

A low growl escaped Jungwon’s throat at the intrusion, his shoulders tensing. “Easy for you to say,” he snapped, narrowing his eyes at his friend. “You have a girlfriend.”

Heeseung only smirked, clearly enjoying himself as he shrugged. “Not my fault your charm doesn’t work on everyone.”

Jungwon huffed, irritation pulling at his chest as he adjusted his tie again, trying to ignore the older Alpha’s grin.

“Or maybe she hates all of you and avoids me because of your collective stupidity,” he muttered, shooting a pointed look at Heeseung.

Heeseung only chuckled, unbothered, his sharp grin widening.

“Before I say anything, let me remind you—just because I’m happy now doesn’t mean I didn’t chase her first. You know my girlfriend made me suffer before she even looked my way.”

Jungwon let out a low scoff, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted his cuffs. “You deserved it.”

That made Heeseung laugh outright, his head tipping back for a moment before his eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Whatever it is, you’ll figure it out,” he said with a smirk, clearly enjoying Jungwon’s discomfort—it made his inner Alpha howl in laughter.

“Now, stop worrying about it. We’ve got a banquet to attend, remember?”

Jungwon’s jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly in acknowledgment. Heeseung’s teasing was the last thing he needed right now, especially when thoughts of you were already swirling through his mind.

“Plus, you have the whole evening to go look for her,” Heeseung added with a knowing grin, his tone light but suggestive.

Jungwon shot him a glare, but the playful smirk remained plastered on Heeseung’s face.

The loud chatter and classical music overtook Jungwon’s senses as he stepped into the grand ballroom of the luxurious venue hosting tonight’s banquet.

The vast space was adorned with sparkling chandeliers, intricate floral arrangements, and elegant décor. The young Alpha’s cat-like eyes scanned the room, searching for any familiar faces among the sea of attendees.

He spotted Ni-ki and Sunghoon engaged in conversation with a group of prestigious guests, their charismatic presence drawing attention from all corners of the room.

Jungwon glanced at Heeseung, and the two shared a knowing look. Together, they squared their shoulders and adjusted their suits, movements deliberate and composed.

Tonight, he was more than just a young Alpha heir attending a social event—he was a representative of the Yang family, and he intended to uphold their legacy with grace and authority.

As Jungwon descended the spiral stairs, his presence commanded attention, and a hush seemed to blanket the entire room.

Heads turned, whispers were exchanged, and all eyes shifted to the young Alpha making his entrance.

The dim lighting cast a soft glow over his features, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw and the intensity of his gaze.

With each step, confidence radiated outward, his very aura dripping with authority and power.

They called him many things, but tonight the whispers grew louder, echoing through the gilded hall—this generation’s god and savior.

Heeseung followed closely behind, mirroring the same power and grace. His presence exuded confidence and authority, complementing Jungwon’s own commanding aura.

“Always with the dramatic entrance.” A voice drawled, making the two Alphas tear their attention away from the crowd.

Glancing to the right, they were met with a pair of ever-so-familiar fox-like eyes that anyone could recognize.

“There you are, you little shit,” Jungwon acknowledged, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Sunoo, with his signature playful grin, approached them with an air of nonchalance. He was dressed impeccably, his suit perfectly tailored to his frame, and though his aura was less imposing than the two standing in front of him, he still undeniably radiated the kind of magnetism that screamed pureblooded Alpha.

“Couldn’t help but notice the hush that fell over the room as you two made your grand entrance,” Sunoo teased, his tone light but edged with mischief.

“It’s like watching a scene from a movie—two Alphas descending from on high to mingle with us mere mortals.”

Heeseung chuckled, shaking his head as Sunghoon’s voice erupted from his right. “Stop talking as if you aren’t one yourself,” he retorted, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Sunoo laughed, a melodic sound that seemed to capture the attention of those around them.

“Oh, come now, dude. You know I prefer to keep things interesting. Besides, where’s the fun in being just another Alpha when you can be so much more?”

“You all are acting like children,” Jay chided, approaching the group with a smirk, Jake and Ni-ki trailing behind him.

He held two glasses of champagne, one of which Jungwon promptly snatched from his hand. Jay’s eyes followed him as he watched his friend take a long sip, clearly trying to calm his nerves.

Heeseung raised his glass in a mock toast. “To our savior—the Yang heir who’s finally growing some balls and is trying to find his mate as we speak.”

Jungwon shot Heeseung a glare but couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Very funny,” he muttered, taking another sip of his champagne.

Jake chuckled, adjusting his tie. “Hey, if it gets you to finally talk to her, I’m all for it.”

“Dude, I don’t know if I have hearing problems, but I swear I just heard some old people talking about Jungwon’s engagement,” Ni-ki chimed in, his tone half-joking but laced with curiosity.

Jungwon’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of an engagement.

“Engagement?” he echoed, his voice filled with a mix of irritation and disbelief. He couldn’t even talk to his own mate, let alone think about an engagement.

Ni-ki shrugged, glancing around the room. “Yeah, you know how these events are. Rumors fly faster than anything.”

Heeseung’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t be surprising if people started speculating. The Yang family is more than well-known, and people love to gossip.”

Jay nodded in agreement. “Especially when there’s a young, eligible Alpha like you, Jungwon. They’re bound to talk.”

The young Alpha let out a frustrated sigh. “Well, they’re wrong. There’s no engagement. Not yet, anyway. I don’t even know at this point.”

His voice carried nothing but confusion, the weight of the so-called rumor finally dawning on him.

Heeseung raised an eyebrow, his usual playful, nonchalant demeanor replaced with concern. “You don’t know? What’s going on? This isn’t like you.”

Jungwon ran a hand through his hair, messing up the careful styling. “I can’t even talk to (Y/N) without her disappearing, and now I just found out that I’m supposedly engaged? Goddammit!”

His voice rose with frustration, drawing the attention of a few nearby guests who quickly looked away, sensing the tension.

Jake stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Jungwon’s shoulder. “Hey, take it easy. This whole thing sounds like a mess, but we’ll figure it out. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Jungwon shook his head, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and despair. “I don’t think it’s just a rumor, Jake. My parents have been hinting at it for months, but I didn’t think they’d actually go through with it without telling me.”

Sunghoon, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Have you tried talking to your parents about it? Maybe they have a reason for keeping you in the dark.”

“I have no idea where they are,” Jungwon replied, frustration lacing his words.

He scanned the room again, hoping to catch a glimpse of his parents among the elegantly dressed attendees, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Jake, always observant, pointed towards a group near the buffet table. “Isn’t that your sister over there?”

Jungwon’s eyes followed the gesture, landing on his older sister, Jia. She was standing with a few friends, her bright smile contrasting sharply with his current mood.

Taking a deep breath, Jungwon made his way towards her, his friends following closely behind.

Jia turned, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Jungwon! I didn’t expect to see you down here so soon,” she said, her tone cheerful—before quickly noticing the furrow in his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you know where Mom and Dad are?” Jungwon asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

Jia glanced around before nodding. “I think they’re in the VIP lounge, talking with some important guests. Why? What’s going on?”

Jungwon hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden his sister with his frustrations, but he knew he needed to get to the bottom of this.

“I just found out there’s a rumor going around about my engagement. I need to talk to them.”

His sister’s eyes widened in shock. “Engagement? But… you aren’t supposed to know yet…” she trailed off, her words faltering as she caught the shock plastered on her brother’s face.

Her expression turned serious. “I’ll take you to them. Come on.”

Jungwon shared a nod with Heeseung and the rest of the group before following his sister out of the bustling area.

As they walked, he couldn’t help but ask, “What do you mean I wasn’t supposed to know? You knew?”

Jia bit her lip, glancing at her younger brother with a mixture of guilt and concern. “I found out by accident weeks ago. I overheard Mom and Dad talking about it. I didn’t think it was my place to tell you.”

The young Alpha’s jaw tightened, his frustration mounting. “So everyone knew except for me? That’s just great,” he muttered sarcastically.

Jia sighed and reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Jungwon. I should have said something. I just thought… I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary stress until they were ready to talk to you.”

Jungwon sighed, his anger fading away. “I get it. It’s just that this whole thing is a mess. I need to talk to them and figure out what’s going on.”

As they approached the doors of the VIP lounge, Jungwon took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. One look at the siblings, and the guards let them in wordlessly.

The room beyond was luxurious, filled with an air of exclusivity. The rich fabrics and decorations spoke of old money and high society.

Inside, Jungwon spotted his parents in deep conversation with a group of well-dressed individuals.

His father, with his commanding presence, and his mother, with her elegant poise, looked every bit the powerful figures they were. Surrounding them were other notable figures from influential families.

“Mom, Dad,” Jungwon called out, his voice steady but firm. The conversation ceased as his parents turned to face him, surprise and curiosity evident in their expressions.

“Jungwon, what’s the matter?” his father asked, his tone a mix of concern and authority.

The young Alpha took a deep breath, stepping forward. “I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

“Ah, you must be Jungwon,” a voice he recognized interrupted, making him snap his head in its direction.

Mr. (L/N), with his intimidating presence, was seated nearby, his gaze sharp and calculating. His wife, Mrs. (L/N), sat beside him with a kind smile as she observed the heir of the Yang family.

Jungwon’s heart skipped a beat as he realized the implications of Mr. (L/N)’s presence.

If your parents were here, it could only mean one thing—you were the one Jungwon was supposedly getting engaged to. But he didn’t want to jump to conclusions just yet.

“Mr. (L/N),” the young Alpha greeted, trying to maintain his composure despite his inner Alpha clawing within him. “What brings you here?”

Mr. (L/N) regarded him with a knowing smile, his eyes glittering with hidden meaning. “I’m here to discuss matters of mutual interest with your parents,” he replied in a hushed tone, his expression unreadable.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and a mixture of shock and disbelief washed over him. His mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: he needed answers, and he needed them now.

“Oh, it was very impolite of me to appear without notice. I deeply apologize,” Jungwon’s older sister, Jia, interjected, coming to his aid.

Sensing her brother’s silent plea, Jia nodded subtly, her expression conveying understanding and support. “Let’s go,” she murmured to Jungwon, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they moved away from the VIP lounge, the air seemed to grow heavier, each step Jungwon took gnawing at his insides. He couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

“Have you seen (Y/N)?” Jungwon abruptly asked his sister, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency. The mere mention of your name seemed to do things to him.

Jia glanced at him, her expression softening. “I saw her earlier, she was in the garden,” she replied, her voice calm but laced with concern.

He let out a sigh of relief he hadn’t realized he’d been holding in. “The garden,” Jungwon repeated.

With a quick goodbye to his sister, the Alpha wasted no time. He took off towards the garden, paying no heed to the curious glances of onlookers as he ran like a madman.

The lush greenery of the garden enveloped Jungwon as he entered, the scent of blooming flowers filling his senses with their sweet fragrance. The soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze was a stark contrast to the darkness his gaze held.

The moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees above, casting patterns of light and shadow on the ground below. His senses were heightened as he kept on walking.

With each step he took, the scent of sweet cream and lavender grew stronger, pulling him like a magnet.

It was a scent he recognized more than his own name, one that made him question his hold on his own sanity—the very scent that belonged to the Omega he had already claimed as his from the moment your eyes met his.

And then, there you were, standing near a bush of blooming roses, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight.

You looked as beautiful as ever, the gentle light accentuating the delicate features of your face and the soft curves of your figure.

Your dress hugged your body in all the right places, the fabric flowing gracefully around you as if it were made just for you.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Jungwon took in the sight of you, his heart swelling with love and longing. Everything else faded away, leaving only the two of you under the moonlight.

“I finally got you to myself, Omega,” he breathed, his voice a low whisper filled with affection and desire.

There was a sense of longing in his voice, as if he had been chasing you for an eternity and now, finally, you were within his grasp.

The familiar voice made you turn around, your heart skipping a beat at the sight of Jungwon standing there. He looked perfect, bathed in the moonlight, his features softened by the gentle glow. His eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions.

You felt a rush of warmth spread through you at the intensity of his gaze, his words sending shivers down your spine.

“Jungwon,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath as you took in the sight of him.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity as he reached out to touch your hand. “I couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from you any longer.”

You felt tears welling up in your eyes at his words, overwhelmed by his sincerity.

Without a second thought, you stepped into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body and his scent enveloping you.

“I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you,” you confessed, your voice muffled against his chest. “I was scared at the thought of you rejecting me as your mate.”

Jungwon pulled back slightly, his hands cupping your face as he looked into your eyes with nothing but love. “I would never reject you, (Y/N),” he said firmly, his gaze filled with devotion.

“You’re my mate, my other half. Nothing in this world could ever change that. Why do you think I kept scenting you, huh? Why do you think I couldn’t stay away from you even when I tried? Every time I caught your scent, I lost control—it was always you.”

“I’ve been in love with you ever since you avoided me during our freshman tour,” he admitted, his usually calm voice trembling with emotion as he met your gaze.

Jungwon’s expression softened as he stared deeper into your eyes, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I knew from that moment that you were someone special,” he confessed, his thumb gently brushing against your cheek.

“And I’ve been waiting for the day when I could finally tell you how much you mean to me.”

“You’ve always had a way of making my heart race, even when you ran away from me, even when I tried to ignore it,” Jungwon whispered, his voice barely above a breath as he leaned in closer, his forehead resting against yours.

“I love you, (Y/N), more than words can express.”

“Can I kiss you?” Jungwon’s voice was barely above a whisper, his breath warm against your skin as he looked into your eyes as if you would disappear if he looked away.

You nodded, unable to find your voice as you leaned in closer, your breath mingling with his.

With a soft smile, Jungwon closed the distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a gentle yet passionate kiss. It felt like coming home, the warmth of his touch melting away any lingering doubts or fears.

Surrounded by the beauty of the garden and the sweet scent of flowers, all that mattered was the love you shared.

The sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow into the room as the new day began.

In the peaceful morning, the both of you lay entwined in each other’s arms, the remnants of sleep still lingering on your faces.

With a soft smile, Jungwon pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, his heart overflowing with love for the Omega beside him.

“Good morning, my love,” he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness as he brushed a strand of hair away from your face.

You stirred at Jungwon’s touch, a sleepy smile tugging at your lips as you gazed up at him. “Good morning, Alpha,” you murmured, your voice still heavy with sleep.

You relished in the warmth of his embrace, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you as you snuggled closer to him.

With a gentle sigh, you remembered the responsibilities of the day ahead. “We have to get to school in a few hours,” you mumbled, reluctantly pulling away from Jungwon’s embrace as you glanced at the clock beside his bed.

“The fuck are they going to do if I told them that I need some time with my mate? I’m literally the council president,” Jungwon retorted, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone.

“Language!” you chided gently, a playful smile dancing on your lips as you reached out to tousle his hair affectionately.

“But still, we need to go,” you continued, your tone softening with understanding. “As much as I wish we could stay like this forever, duty calls, my dear Alpha.”

Jungwon sighed reluctantly, but nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering. “You’re right, as always,” he conceded, pressing a lingering kiss to you, savoring the moment before you two attended to your responsibilities.

“But I need to scent you first,” he added, his voice low and possessive, authority seeping into his tone. “Can’t have some stupid Alphas claiming you under my watch now, huh?”

You chuckled softly at his protective demeanor, leaning into him as he pressed his nose against your neck, inhaling deeply as he left his strong scent of whiskey and cedarwood on you, his scent mingling with yours in possession.

“Now we really gotta go,” you said with a playful smile, gently pulling away from his embrace—much to his dismay—and heading towards the bathroom to freshen up before starting the day.

The sight of their intimidating student council president and pureblooded Alpha, accompanied by the shy Omega, wasn’t a sight that the whole student body was expecting.

As Jungwon and you walked through the halls of the school, heads turned, whispers echoing in the air as students exchanged surprised glances.

Some couldn’t help but stare openly, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected pairing.

Others watched with a mixture of admiration and envy, recognizing the significance of the Alpha and Omega being together in such a public manner.

“Are you sure you really want to carry that?” your voice was barely above a whisper as you pointed towards your hyper-feminine bag that Jungwon was carrying with pride, amusement evident in your voice.

Jungwon chuckled softly, glancing down at the bag before meeting your gaze with a playful smirk. “Of course,” he replied, his tone light and teasing. “It’s an honor to carry something that belongs to my mate.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at his response, shaking your head in disbelief at the sight of the usually composed Alpha carrying your very pink bag without a hint of hesitation.

The screams of shock snapped you out of your little moment, causing you to turn towards the source of the sound.

Heeseung, followed by the others, was striding towards the two of you, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

“Yang Jungwon, you sly motherfucker!” Heeseung exclaimed, his voice ringing out in the hallway as he reached the both of you.

Out of instinct, you hid behind Jungwon, feeling a rush of embarrassment at the sudden attention. Jungwon, ever protective, instinctively moved closer, wrapping a reassuring arm around you as he faced his friends.

Jay grinned at the sight, clearly amused by your reaction. “Look at you two. It’s like a scene from a movie,” he teased, his tone playful as he nudged Jungwon with his elbow.

Jungwon shot Jay a playful glare before turning his attention back to you, his expression softening. “Don’t worry,” he whispered, his voice soothing. “They’re just teasing.”

“Holy fuck, who are you and what happened to the Jungwon that we know!?” Sunoo exclaimed, his eyes wide with mock disbelief as he approached, his tone playful.

Jungwon rolled his eyes at Sunoo’s dramatics but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “You’re just jealous that I’m not scowling for once,” he retorted, his tone laced with amusement.

The pink-haired Alpha chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. “Damn right I am,” he teased, flashing a grin at you.

“But seriously, it’s good to see you both together. About time, if you ask me.”

“Thanks, Sunoo,” you replied, your voice filled with gratitude as you glanced up at Jungwon.

Jungwon squeezed your hand reassuringly, his gaze softening as he looked at you.

Heeseung was quick to nudge Sunoo to move, earning a scowl from the pink-haired Alpha as the dark-haired one stepped forward, shaking your hand with a friendly grin.

“Hi. I’m Heeseung. I’m sure my girlfriend would love you,” he said, his voice light with charm.

Jungwon watched the sight with a small smile, his chest swelling at how naturally you fit into his world, as if you’d always belonged there.

“That’s how you get the Omega, I guess.” he murmured, his voice filled with affection.

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