A Confession That Felt Like a Threat

It was hard to endure the flower-like pheromone, so I sprang up from my spot.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing! I think I’m just a bit hot. Haha.”

I fanned myself repeatedly, hoping the lingering scent on my skin would fade.

At the same time, I kept my distance from Seo Eunsu.

‘I took my suppressant though….’

The heat seemed to spread even to that unspeakable place, making me embarrassed.

No way… did I just react to Seo Eunsu’s alpha pheromones?

‘You shameless bastard!’

I knew Seo Eunsu usually suppressed his pheromones as much as possible.

That only made me feel worse.

‘Crazy bastard, crazy bastard!’

No, maybe it was because I was in Seong Chanyeong’s body.

He used to be helpless against alphas.

Thinking of it like Pavlov’s dog made me feel a little better.

“S-So, Seo Eunsu, you can start from the left side.”

“I’ll take the right row and meet you in the middle.”

The field I chose for planting beans wasn’t that large.

It looked like the two of us could finish quickly.

‘Better to keep some distance.’

When I got back, I’d need to check my heat cycle schedule.

If I missed the timing for my suppressant, it would be a disaster.

“Alright, Chanyeong. Then once we’re done, let’s go rest.”

“Okay.”

Maybe I was the only one feeling awkward.

Seo Eunsu calmly planted the beans just as I instructed, his face clear and innocent.

It was only my conscience that felt pricked.

‘The pheromones are to blame. And Seong Chanyeong is to blame.’

Repeating that like a mantra, I planted the beans in a daze.

I occasionally felt gazes from behind, but I ignored them and focused only on the beans.

“We’re done.”

“My back kind of hurts, though.”

Seo Eunsu and I made a pretty good team.

We met in the middle, finished covering everything with plastic, and poked holes.

After finishing, we headed back to the house as promised.

I wanted to do more, but Seo Eunsu seemed subtly worried about my condition, so I held back.

As I took off my dirt-covered boots and arm covers, I remembered Janggun sleeping.

“Ah, it’s about time to walk Janggun.”

“Should I go instead? You look tired.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m his owner, so I want to walk him myself.”

Janggun followed me the most since I was the one who saved him.

But he was gentle with Seo Eunsu too.

Even so, I didn’t want to pass off his walk to someone else.

But Seo Eunsu hinted that he wanted to come along.

“Can I come with you?”

“There’s no reason you can’t… but why?”

“I’m still bothered that you got hurt last time with someone else.”

“And I’m still worried about your condition.”

‘When is this misunderstanding ever going to clear up….’

After the collapse incident, it was even harder to explain.

I’d almost given up.

If I stayed fine long enough, he’d probably accept it eventually.

“Do as you like. Janggun will probably like it more if you come.”

“Then please wait a moment. I’ll go change.”

“…? Sure.”

‘Why is he changing clothes for a walk…?’

I was planning to go as I was, covered in dirt.

Maybe he just liked being neat.

While Seo Eunsu went to change, I woke Janggun and put on his harness and leash.

“Woof, woof.”

“Did you sleep well, Janggun? We’ve got company for the walk today.”

“Did you wait long?”

Seo Eunsu came out wearing neat jeans and a white T-shirt.

It was a simple outfit, but on him, it looked like a refreshing sports drink commercial.

“Sometimes I think you could’ve been a celebrity, Seo Eunsu.”

“I’ve heard compliments about my looks before. I’ve even been scouted on the street.”

“Then why didn’t you do it? Sounds like a good opportunity.”

“I don’t think I have any talent for that. So I turned them all down.”

“I see.”

His face alone was talent enough, but I didn’t feel like pushing it.

We chatted casually as we walked along the path.

When we reached the place where we had met that strange man before, Janggun suddenly growled.

“Grrr…”

“He’s not the type to bark for no reason.”

I trusted Janggun’s instincts now.

I quickly tried to turn back with Seo Eunsu, but we were too late.

“We meet again, Seong Chanyeong.”

“…Hello, Moon Gyeongsik.”

The man with sun-tanned skin approached naturally.

The closer he got, the louder Janggun barked.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Your dog is quite noisy. You should put a muzzle on it. Or keep it tied up.”

“I’ve heard dogs should be walked at least four times a day. I’ll consider the muzzle. I didn’t expect to run into you again.”

I smiled as I spoke, but answered stiffly at his clearly malicious remark.

This path was usually empty, so I hadn’t thought about a muzzle before.

While talking about it, I was already thinking I’d rather find another route than make Janggun uncomfortable.

“This is why I don’t like dogs. Animals just tend to dislike me.”

Without being asked, Moon Gyeongsik spoke.

His gaze moved from Janggun to Seo Eunsu beside me.

“An employee? Young and pretty. Is it for… that kind of purpose?”

For a moment, I was speechless.

The level of rudeness was beyond unpleasant.

“He’s not that kind of person. Seo Eunsu is just a part-timer who came down because of my situation.”

“Do you know what I meant, Seong Chanyeong?”

“I do, but I don’t want to say it out loud. I’ll let it go this time. There won’t be a next.”

He had been at least somewhat polite before.

Now he was openly twisting vulgar remarks.

‘Seo Eunsu must feel worse than me.’

As expected, Seo Eunsu’s face had gone pale.

Not from fear or shame, but from anger.

“I don’t know what intention you have in insulting us like this, but watch your words next time, Moon Gyeongsik.”

For the first time, a strong alpha pheromone poured out from Seo Eunsu.

It was nothing like the faint trace from before.

The dense, rich floral scent spread, ready to intimidate.

“How scary. Just for that, you’re trying to threaten me with pheromones?”

“There’s no reason I can’t.”

The tension snapped tight.

Janggun became quiet the moment Seo Eunsu released his pheromones.

He seemed to know we were on the same side.

“You do realize this is blatant harassment, right?”

Seo Eunsu’s voice was cold.

It felt cruel to think this, but everything he had endured—kidnapping, confinement—had sharpened him.

“If I say it’s not harassment, but courtship?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Woof?”

At the unexpected declaration, all three of us were stunned.

“Did you just say…”

“I’m interested in you, Seong Chanyeong. Personally.”

“You’re an alpha. Why me, a beta…?”

“I don’t discriminate in taste.”

His alpha pheromones spread openly through the air.

My entire body stiffened.

‘Is he trying to mark me?’

What kind of lunatic is this?

As a basic rule, spreading pheromones onto someone you’re not even dating was extremely rude.

He had done it before.

Now he was openly invading my space.

‘This is different from last time. If I get hit with this… I might need suppressants immediately.’

When I carried Janggun earlier, I saw the calendar.

My suppressant timing was close.

If a recessive Omega was exposed to strong alpha pheromones at a time like this,

there was a high chance their heat cycle would be triggered early.

The body would mistake it as a signal for mating.

“I refuse. This is extremely unpleasant. I hope we never cross paths again.”

Covering my nose and mouth as much as possible, I tried to move away.

While Seo Eunsu countered with his own pheromones, I ran as fast as I could to escape.

“Let’s go home, Chanyeong.”

Seo Eunsu followed soon after.

Even though it wasn’t far, I felt breathless.

Instead of following us, Moon Gyeongsik shouted from behind.

“Since you live with alphas, I thought you’d be used to pheromones. I figured this kind of approach would be fine. What a shame.”

“That bastard…”

Seo Eunsu cursed on my behalf.

It felt satisfying.

‘But what bothers me is…’

Moon Gyeongsik’s gaze.

I couldn’t read any romantic interest or lust from his eyes.

‘If anything… it felt like something else.’

That healthy-looking man…hated me.

For reasons I couldn’t understand.