Chapter 23: A Gamble Against an Alpha

“Did you manage to collect the sperm sample well? I wonder if you were able to get it up properly.”

They had to stay overnight at the hospital. There were far too many tests. After spending the night there, Ha-jin hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Woo-seok’s face.

Their schedules had been different, and after being poked with countless needles and examined by all sorts of machines, Ha-jin had fallen asleep early in the evening. And now, he had just offered Woo-seok his morning greeting.

“Picking a fight first thing in the morning? Want me to prove it one more time?”

Maybe it was the hospital gown. Woo-seok seemed different in it. He usually wore shirts and jackets. And Ha-jin knew from experience that jackets tended to hide a man’s broad shoulders, making him look smaller than he actually was.

But now, the supposedly loose hospital patient uniform failed to conceal Woo-seok’s build. His imposing shoulders, collarbones sharp enough to look like bone itself was protruding, the muscles in his arms and thighs stretching the thin fabric tight.

“Did you spray that fake pheromone again, even in the hospital?”

Woo-seok stepped closer, tilting his head and burying his face in the nape of Ha-jin’s neck. He inhaled deeply, and that heart-racing sensation surged again. He had only meant to tease him, some light skinship in response to Ha-jin’s bratty tone, but something felt off.

“Th-the pheromone… ngh…”

At least the goal of flustering Ha-jin was achieved. Every time Woo-seok’s breath brushed the sensitive skin of his neck, Ha-jin’s breathing turned shallow, strength draining from his body. He tried to say, “I didn’t spray it,” but instead only strange, breathy sounds escaped his lips.

“Why? Did you like that doctor bastard too? Thinking of trying something with him?”

He was definitely doing this on purpose. Woo-seok’s lips hovered not at Ha-jin’s ear but against his neck, brushing his skin with every word. Unable to endure the tingling sensation any longer, Ha-jin shoved him hard in the chest.

“S-stop messing around! Seriously… haah.”

Woo-seok, who had stepped back obediently, suddenly grabbed Ha-jin’s wrist and placed his hand against the front of his pants.

“This guy had a peaceful night too. Says he’d appreciate a warmer greeting next time.”

Maybe it was the hospital uniform. Compared to when Ha-jin had touched him through dress pants before, the bulk and heat felt on an entirely different level.

“Y-you’re insane!”

Startled out of his mind, Ha-jin shook off Woo-seok’s hand and bolted out of the hospital room. He ran all the way to the lobby and collapsed onto a sofa, but his heart refused to calm down. Was it from the sudden sprint, or from that weapon-like thing he’d just touched?

“This makes no… sense…”

Ha-jin stared blankly at his palm. The sensation lingered. The thin hospital fabric hadn’t concealed anything, not the size, not the heat.

Too hot… hard… big…

“…Is he a whale or what…”

It was his first time dealing with a dominant alpha. He had no idea whether that kind of size was normal or not. No, he didn’t want to know.

Whether Woo-seok was as big as a whale or an elephant, what did it matter? It wasn’t like it was his to have. It might as well just burst and be done with it.

****

“Please change into the gown and proceed inside.”

Even after hearing the coordinator assigned to him, Ha-jin simply threw the gown over his existing patient clothes and walked in.

“Did you sleep well? It must have been uncomfortable staying in a hospital.”

“I was… fine.”

Oh-hyeon greeted him with the same gentle smile. Even noticing that Ha-jin hadn’t changed properly, he pretended not to see and continued politely. He assumed the omega was simply shy.

“We’ll use yesterday’s blood samples for the STD panel and omega level check. Today, we’ll confirm your sexual history and any prior pregnancies.”

Even to someone who had met plenty of wealthy clients, the SHS family was particularly meticulous, another way to say difficult.

Who would gladly submit to verification of pregnancy history? Even if the answer was no, it was unpleasant. But what could he do? This omega had chosen the SHS family himself.

“I have no experience.”

“Yes, I assumed so. But we have to confirm, so first-”

“Ha…”

The heavy sigh made Oh-hyeon lift his eyes from the chart. For a moment, he wondered if he was looking at a different person. The omega who had always worn a pleasant smile was gone.

Instead, a man leaned back with arms crossed, head tilted, staring straight through him. Ha-jin had removed his mask.

“Dr. Oh-hyeon.”

“Yes…?”

“You’re an alpha, right?”

“…I am. Why do you ask?”

A fleeting thought crossed Oh-hyeon’s mind, was this omega, engaged to be married, trying to flirt with him? Arranged marriages among chaebols were common; what happened behind the scenes wasn’t always clean. But the look in Ha-jin’s eyes held none of that intention.

“I’m not sure how to put this.”

Despite his hesitant tone, Ha-jin calmly pulled out a thick stack of white papers from his pocket and placed them in Oh-hyeon’s palm.

“What is this?”

“Hmm… let’s call it a token of our friendship.”

A chill crept up Oh-hyeon’s spine. The smile he wore during work hours had long disappeared. Judging by the texture, these were photographs. He only needed to unfold the creased sheets to see what was inside, but he didn’t want to.

“…Perhaps I shouldn’t look. Let’s proceed with the test.”

He tried to return the stack, but Ha-jin grabbed his hand with both of his.

“You should look. So you can live.”

The worry in his voice didn’t sound like a joke. Uneasy, Oh-hyeon unfolded the photos.

And his mind went blank.

“You should’ve been more careful, Doctor. Security these days is so lax, especially in hospitals…”

One photo. Another. And another. Each image left him speechless.

“…What do you want?”

His grip tightened, crumpling the photos. Raw emotion surged, he nearly threw a punch at Ha-jin’s infuriatingly calm face.

“I’m not actually a dominant omega.”

“…What?”

“But I still have to marry Woo-seok. When the test results come out, Ah-seong won’t stay quiet. So what should we do?”

Oh-hyeon’s mind spun. The answer Ha-jin wanted was obvious.

“So you’re blackmailing me to alter the results.”

“Blackmail? That’s such a harsh word. Let’s call it mutual cooperation between friends who share secrets.”

“Even if I alter the results… what about your wedding night? Or living together? They’ll figure out you’re not a dominant omega.”

“That’s not something you need to worry about. So, you’ll change the results, right?”

Ha-jin left out the details of his arrangement with Woo-seok. The fewer people who knew, the better.

“How can I trust someone who resorts to blackmail?”

“Think carefully, Doctor. When the secrets come out, who will suffer more? Me, the soon-to-be son-in-law of SHS, or you?”

He wasn’t wrong. Compared to Ha-jin, Oh-hyeon had far more to lose. Especially against the SHS family, he couldn’t even be certain he’d keep his life. He decided not to mention that part.

“…I wasn’t the one who conducted the test.”

Even as he agreed, he left himself an escape route.

“Of course. We didn’t meet today. Handle the records however you like.”

Only after hearing that did Ha-jin finally exhale in relief. It had been a gamble, threatening an alpha. If Oh-hyeon had valued his own life a little less, Ha-jin’s could’ve ended right there.

“Make the rest of the results perfect too. Don’t try to screw me over with ‘needs to quit smoking and drinking’ comments.”

“…Why not have me write that you and Woo-seok are sexually compatible too?”

“Oh? Is that an option? I’d appreciate that.”

Oh-hyeon ran a hand through his hair in disbelief, while Ha-jin extended his hand with a satisfied smile.