Scent of Rupture

“Congratulations on your promotion to Executive Director.”

“Chairman Han must feel very reassured.”

“Looking at Executive Director Han Tae-seok, I feel like the future of NI is guaranteed.”

People who were eager to flatter approached him and began bowing and smiling.

Jaekyung took a step back, feeling this wasn’t the place he belonged.

The place he should be in was over there, with the Omegas.

He needed to do his part properly.

Jaekyung walked lightly, picked up a wine glass, and greeted them.

“Hello.”

“Ah, hello.”

From young to old, he could feel all the complicated gazes of the Omegas on him at once.

Honestly, maybe the flattering people were easier to deal with.

At least their intentions weren’t this complex.

Trying to understand and match all these people’s feelings at once made him suddenly realize how impressive Director Ji was.

She had held the position of NI’s mistress for decades now.

“Thank you for coming despite being busy.”

“No, of course we had to come. It’s a celebration of Executive Director Han Tae-seok’s promotion. Thank you for inviting us.”

This one… the spouse of Chairman Kim from Byeolho Bank.

As Jaekyung greeted each person, he scanned them with his eyes and matched their identities.

Before the NI marriage, Director Ji had already given him a full list of every major corporate family in Korea and made him memorize it.

And today was the day that preparation paid off.

When Jaekyung greeted them while calling them by name, everyone looked surprised.

On top of that, because he had thoroughly checked newspapers, articles, and broadcasts, he could also mention their recent movements and greet them appropriately.

Because of that, people hesitated to approach him too casually.

At this point, he had preserved enough dignity.

“It’s been about a year and a half since your marriage, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I was at the ceremony too.”

“Yes, I know. I didn’t have proper manners back then, so I didn’t get to greet you. I’m sorry.”

“No, everyone knows how chaotic weddings are. And then the honeymoon afterward— goodness. I never want to go through that again. Not that I’d ever have to again anyway.”

“By the way, where did the two of you go for your honeymoon?”

He was talking with the granddaughter of a cable broadcasting director when suddenly, another Omega barged into the conversation.

“Oh, we went to Northern Europe.”

“Northern Europe~ I really want to go there too… Since NI prepared your honeymoon, I’m sure the hotels and itinerary were the very best. Could you tell me the details? I’d love to travel with the same plan. Things like the hotel by the lake and all that.”

Hmm… She was definitely asking on purpose.

Jaekyung wondered how to respond.

His face remained calm without a hint of hesitation.

“As you know, all of our schedule was unofficial. There was some business involved as well… I would love to brag about it, truly, but… I think I should ask the Executive Director first. Would you be willing to wait?”

“Oh, no, it’s okay. There’s no need to go that far.”

Then why ask?

…Hmph.

Jaekyung clicked his tongue subtly— and then he suddenly sensed a faint scent of pheromones drifting in.

Perfume? No.

This was pheromone scent.

Alpha? Omega? It was too faint to tell.

But it definitely wasn’t Han Tae-seok.

Who would be so rude as to release pheromones here?

“Hello, Jaekyung-nim.”

The heir of M Publishing approached to greet him.

Jaekyung smiled— but the pheromone scent grew stronger.

Others sensed it too.

Some were whispering.

People began escorting Omegas away or taking suppressants.

Jaekyung also needed to get away.

The owner of these pheromones was clearly in rut.

A rut could directly trigger an Omega’s heat cycle— even force it early.

Who would dare to do something like this here?

Jaekyung looked toward Tae-seok.

He was still busy greeting other guests.

But his subordinates had noticed and were already searching for the rutting Alpha.

“Jaekyung-nim, you should leave as well.”

“We already have a car prepared on the first floor. Please go to it.”

Bodyguards were escorting several Omegas out when they approached Jaekyung as well.

Secretary Oh came running, explaining the safest exit.

Jaekyung covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

He hadn’t taken suppressants recently due to hormone injections.

This was dangerous.

He needed to hurry.

But then, someone grabbed his arm.

Startled, Jaekyung turned— an unfamiliar Alpha was holding him.

“You’re Park Jaekyung, right?”

“What?”

The man’s breathing was rough, face flushed deep red.

Like he was about to explode.

The pheromones radiating from him were overwhelming— paralyzing.

He was the one in rut.

Where had he been hiding?

No… he had been waiting.

For Jaekyung to appear.

And— he knew Jaekyung’s name.

“Who are you.”

Jaekyung glared.

The man smirked unpleasantly and tried to drag him away.

A rutting Alpha’s strength was overwhelming.

Even an Omega of the same gender couldn’t overpower them.

Fear tightened Jaekyung’s chest.

The man laughed darkly.

“I’m not here to r*pe you. My goal is to trigger your heat.”

The man released his pheromones completely.

Jaekyung’s legs gave out instantly.

No— no, no.

Like a contagion, the heat cycle flared violently in his body.

Omega instinct swallowed him whole.

Then— another Alpha’s pheromones crushed everything.

Overpowering. Terrifying.

Everyone inside and outside the venue froze— as if even breathing was forbidden.

The rutting Alpha choked and collapsed to the floor, twisting under the force.

Security seized him.

Jaekyung’s body collapsed—

But someone caught him.

Fear, panic, and the sudden heat made him tremble as he clutched the fabric of the person holding him.

His mind went hazy.

“What should we do, Executive Director?”

“Handle it.”

…Couldn’t hear.

What did he say?

Executive Director…?

He could feel himself lifted, held securely.

The embrace was unfamiliar, yet safe.

He let the encroaching darkness swallow him.

◆

A humming sound continued.

He sensed commotion.

Someone was angry— someone yelling.

But it didn’t scare him.

It just worried him.

Because after noise… something always followed to hurt him.

“…Mm.”

He blinked slowly.

His blurred vision focused— revealing a familiar ceiling.

They’d lived here for over a year and a half.

Of course he’d recognize the ceiling.

Seeing it, Jaekyung relaxed a little.

What had happened?

When did he arrive here?

And his body felt strange— heavy, numb.

Like sleep paralysis.

Unpleasant.

But— unlike usual…

“Oh my, you woke up?”

The door opened and the housekeeper looked surprised.

She quickly put down the water she was carrying and rushed out.

“Madam! Jaekyung-nim is awake!”

Madam?

Mother?

Jaekyung slowly lifted himself up.

Leaving the bed seemed impossible.

Even sitting was difficult— his vision wavered.

He leaned back into the pillows.

The sky outside was dark.

Had a whole day passed?

“You’re awake?”

Not his mother— but Director Ji.

Of course.

There was no reason his own mother would come.

He had expected too much again.

And disappointment followed.

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t know exactly what he had done wrong.

But Director Ji’s cold expression was enough to tell him it wasn’t good.

Under her, Jaekyung had learned well— how to read her face.

She stood before him.

The housekeeper brought a chair.

Director Ji sat elegantly and crossed her legs, looking down at him.

“You know what you should be sorry for, right? Because of you, I can’t show my face anywhere.”

Why…?

For what?

“For your heat cycle to flare in front of so many people… You practically announced to the entire world that you and Tae-seok are not bonded. I told you, didn’t I? You should have gotten bonded already.”

Heat cycle…?

Ah.

Then Jaekyung finally understood what had happened.

At the banquet, the rutting Alpha.

His pheromones.

The overwhelming force.

The collapse.

And then—

Warm arms.

After that— nothing.

Only black.