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    Chapter 149

    It was earlier than rush hour, so there was no traffic. Seo Dohyeon pressed the accelerator a little harder. If Go Igyeol allowed it, he wanted to have dinner together. With that hope in mind, Dohyeon entered the house — and nearly reeled at the thick sweetness of flowers saturating the air. His heart lurched, and he headed straight toward Igyeol’s room.

    Just then, Kwon Seunggyu stepped out of the nursery with a worried expression and greeted him.

    “When did this start?”

    “In the morning it was faint, so I wasn’t sure
 but after he woke up, the pheromones suddenly intensified. I tried to ask if he was okay, but he begged me not to contact you.”

    “Is Go Igyeol-ssi in his room?”

    “Well
”

    Seunggyu hesitated, glancing nervously over Dohyeon’s shoulder before shaking his head.

    “He isn’t in his room.”

    “He went outside? And you just let him? Has everyone here lost their minds?”

    Dohyeon thought there was no point in hearing the rest. He pulled out his phone — saw no missed calls — and bit down on a curse, rage surging—

    But Seunggyu barred his way.

    “You have a terrible habit of never letting anyone finish. Go Igyeol-ssi is upstairs. In your room.”

    At that, Dohyeon covered his face with his hand, breathing harshly. Everything went white for a second. He had asked for no help
 and with no omega suppressants in the house, Igyeol must have endured alone. The thought twisted his chest painfully.

    “He wouldn’t have been able to go get suppressants
”

    “His body and hormones are still weakened from childbirth
 and as you know, suppressants aren’t good for him if they can be avoided.”

    Dohyeon turned away sharply. Loosening his tie with a rough motion, he strode up the stairs. The bedroom door was closed tight. The lilac scent was even thicker here. He grasped the handle and exhaled deeply — his rut was over; he would not lose control. He must not.

    Before entering, he sent a message to Dr. Kwon, telling him to come immediately, then drew a long breath.

    Although he knew it wasn’t locked, he still knocked. No reply. He opened the door — his vision blurred slightly, as if stepping into steam. The air was thick with Igyeol’s pheromones. Breathing felt like swallowing sparks.

    “Igyeol-ah.”

    The bed was perfectly made, untouched. Moving through the space drenched in Igyeol’s scent, he instinctively followed the densest place.

    Every corner where someone might hide — until he stopped in front of the closet.

    “
Igyeol-ah.”

    A tiny gasp came from inside. Dohyeon pressed his forehead to the door. The pheromones clung to him like warm, heavy mist. Silence — then quiet sobbing seeped through the wood. He brushed his fingers along the door before gripping the handle.

    “
D-Don’t open it. Please.”

    “You can’t go through a heat in here.”

    “I’m s-scared
 please, just let me be alone. I
 I can do it. I’ll stay still. Ah— I don’t want this, please— please.”

    He knew exactly what he feared. Dohyeon opened the door.

    Inside, Igyeol had folded himself impossibly small. Clothes hung in disarray, and he had wrapped himself tightly in Dohyeon’s shirts like a cocoon, trembling violently, his face buried between his knees.

    His hair was damp, ears flushed crimson. Dohyeon swallowed hard and lifted him carefully. Each ragged breath released honey-sweet pheromones like an overturned jar of nectar.

    He carried him to the bed. He did not remove the clothes swaddling him. The moment Igyeol felt softness beneath him, he scrambled into the corner like a terrified kitten, curling up and covering his mouth and nose. His eyes were hot, wet, wild.

    “D-Don’t come closer. P-Please leave. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I—”

    His voice shook with fear. He knew he was running out of time — maybe hours, maybe minutes before he lost all rationality. The moment Dohyeon held him, desire had flared. He knew Dohyeon could quell the fire — he had many times. But not like this. Not now. He didn’t want to lose himself. Not yet.

    Tears spilled over.

    Dohyeon climbed onto the bed and reached for him, laying the back of his hand to the burning cheek, sweeping sweat-damp hair aside. Igyeol’s glossy eyes trembled like frightened glass.

    “Nothing will happen. You may not believe me — but trust me.”

    “
U-unh
”

    “I called the doctor. He’ll be here soon. If I had known sooner, I’d have acted sooner. I’m sorry.”

    “Hic
 ah
”

    As he cried harder, Dohyeon gathered him close, doing everything to keep his own pheromones sealed tight. The lilac sweetness thickened, dizzying and intoxicating, but Dohyeon held firm. He kissed Igyeol’s overheated fingertips gently.

    He would rather die than lose control.

    “It’ll pass soon. You’ll feel better soon. You’re alright.”

    “S-so hot
”

    Such a simple complaint, yet full of pain. Dohyeon wiped his eyes, fanned him gently, pushed damp hair from his face, pressed tender kisses to flushed cheeks, and intertwined their fingers tightly as Igyeol trembled.

    The heat escalated fast — crying had driven his temperature higher. Even a touch could send him spiraling. Logic fled from Igyeol’s gaze, replaced only by need. His self-loathing flickered briefly — then burned away. All that remained was want. He clung to Dohyeon’s shirt, pulled him closer, and pressed his lips to him desperately.

    “A-ah
 why
”

    He fumbled with his tongue, pushing clumsily into Dohyeon’s mouth, frustrated by the lack of response, tears welling again.

    “No, it’s not because I don’t want you. You know that.”

    “Then
 why? Hic
”

    With a soft sigh, Dohyeon finally kissed him — deeply. His tongue parted Igyeol’s swollen lips and plunged into the heat, and Igyeol whimpered into his mouth. Dohyeon held his hands down, fingers laced, continuing the kiss until Igyeol’s eyes blurred with a delirious haze.

    Then Dohyeon drew back only a breath, whispering hoarsely:

    “Kissing you feels like a sin.”

    “
no
 more
”

    Thoughtless, needy, pure want — yet nothing looked more obscene than that innocence. Dohyeon rested his forehead to his.

    “I wish what you wanted right now was me, Igyeol-ah.”

    “

”

    “But that would be selfish of me.”

    He kissed him again — soft, aching. Igyeol opened his mouth helplessly, chasing him, wanting more.

    Then — a knock.

    Dohyeon gently lowered him to the mattress and stood to open the door. Dr. Kwon entered, frowning at the thick pheromone haze. He rubbed beneath his nose. He wasn’t influenced — he already had a bonded omega.

     

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