Chapter 14: Crack in Composure

Once the small talk ended, the real discussion began.

Since these meetings were held once a week, there was no trace of tension in the room.

Rather, their exchange was relaxed and natural, unbound by formality.

Korea University Law School operated under a dedicated advisor system.

Some students aimed to become lawyers, others aspired to be prosecutors or judges, while some hoped to enter corporations or public institutions.

Accordingly, each student was assigned a faculty advisor who would guide them until graduation based on their desired career path.

Han Ji-seok, who had set his sights on becoming a judge early on, was assigned to Professor Go Jonghwan.

He was such a flawless student that he hardly needed advice at all.

However, today, their opinions differed slightly.

The issue concerned the upcoming second practical training rotation.

“If that’s really what you want, choosing the prosecution again is fine,”
Professor Go said.
“But I think experiencing a law firm at least once wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“It’s not common for Taekwang Law Firm to reach out first.”

“I’m not sure,”
Han Ji-seok replied.
“It keeps feeling like a waste of time.”

“It’s only four weeks,”
Professor Go countered.
“I know you have zero interest in that side, but the legal world is organically connected.”
“Think of it as learning how lawyers operate.”
“That experience could become valuable groundwork later on.”

By now, more than thirty minutes had passed.

The coffee in the mug had gone lukewarm.

What seemed like it would end quickly stretched on as the conversation picked up momentum, time slipping by unnoticed.

Seon-kyung, who had been completely excluded from the discussion, wore an expression that clearly showed his discomfort.

He flipped another page of his major textbook, even though the words refused to register.

His mouth felt unbearably dry.

‘Ha… what is wrong with me.’

Pretending to rest his chin on his hand, he covered his overheated lips with his palm.

His face burned, and his heart pounded rapidly.

Shallow breaths leaked from his parted lips.

Seon-kyung realized this was arousal caused by alpha pheromones.

This shouldn’t be happening.

Calm down.
Please, get a grip.

Startled, he closed his eyes briefly and focused on steadying his breathing.

Kim Doctor’s words, spoken during the pheromone control training he had received daily for a long time, resurfaced in his mind.

‘There are generally two types of pheromones.’
‘One expresses emotion, the other contains sexual intent.’

‘Alphas and omegas carry pheromones even in their emotions.’
‘It’s similar to the qi people naturally emit.’

‘These pheromones are basically like body scent.’
‘They may feel irritating at first, but they’re not strong enough to trigger heat.’
‘Especially for a dominant omega, the stimulation is extremely minimal.’

He had practiced enough.

Even Kim Doctor had been confident that Seon-kyung had developed a certain level of immunity to alpha pheromones.

Unless they carried impure intent, naturally released pheromones shouldn’t be able to arouse him like this.

So why?

The only alpha in the room wasn’t showing even the slightest sexual interest in Seon-kyung.

He wasn’t even paying attention to him.

His focus was entirely on his advisor.

A dull ache settled below Seon-kyung’s navel.

Heat pooled heavily in his lower body.

Han Ji-seok’s pheromones were like a forest after rain.

The fresh scent of trees you’d only find deep in the woods, mixed faintly with damp earth.

Like his low, even-toned voice, the pheromones carried a calm, grounded weight.

A cool, crushed-grass sharpness lingered within that refined scent, quietly filling the narrow office.

He couldn’t understand why such restrained, dignified pheromones were making his body burn.

Seon-kyung raised his hand higher, covering both his nose and mouth.

All the windows being closed felt cruel.

Maybe he should step outside.

Kim Doctor had said that in situations like this, avoiding the space was the best option.

Just as he started to rise—

The moment his hips lifted from the sofa, something suddenly spilled between his legs.

The unfamiliar sensation sent a chill down his spine.

Seon-kyung froze mid-motion.

“Seon-kyung, what’s wrong?”

Professor Go stopped speaking, concern in his voice.

Han Ji-seok turned his head at the same time.

As a beta, his uncle was simply worried.

But Han Ji-seok seemed to have grasped the reason.

The way he looked at Seon-kyung hardened.

The instant their eyes met, Seon-kyung’s heart began to race unnaturally.

At the same time, the pheromones he had been suppressing lost balance and collapsed all at once.

He forced his expression into control.

He absolutely could not fall apart here.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

“I need to use the restroom for a moment.”

He fled the office and ran straight to the nearest bathroom.

Someone stood at the urinal, but he didn’t have the luxury to care.

He rushed into an empty stall without hesitation.

With trembling hands, he locked the door and leaned back against the partition as if collapsing.

He thought he’d be fine once he got out of there.

But a body that had already entered heat didn’t calm down easily.

“Haah…”

Biting his lip, Seon-kyung reached down to his pants.

His fingers still shook as he undid the buckle.

I must be insane.
How could I get aroused there?

The bulge straining against his pants felt infuriating.

What if he saw this?

No—
That man had already noticed.

Shame and self-loathing surged up his throat.

He opened the buckle and zipper.

Sliding his hand inside his loosened waistband, he pulled his underwear and pants down past his thighs.

The liquid pooled between his hips trickled down his legs.

He wiped it with his fingers.

Clear, sticky slick stretched between them like cobwebs.

Proof of heat—
His body producing arousal because it wanted an alpha inside him.

Seon-kyung bit his lips until the color drained from them.

Eyes squeezed shut, he wrapped toilet paper around his hand and wiped between his legs, already soaked.

The cheap roll was rough.

Even wiping between his perineum and hips, the sensation felt obscenely vivid.

“Hngh—”

Unable to hold it in, a moan escaped as he tipped his pale chin upward.

The back of his head knocked hard against the stall wall.

His neglected cock throbbed painfully.

Slick kept leaking from behind.

Wiping felt meaningless.

Heat pooled uncontrollably below his navel.

He knew relief wouldn’t come unless that heat was released.

“Haah… f*ck. Seriously… ngh!”

He didn’t want to masturbate in a grimy public restroom.

Seon-kyung slammed his back against the thin wall again and again, desperately trying to suppress the arousal.

This was hopeless.

He needed an alpha’s pheromones.

And then—

“Hey, are you okay?”

A stranger’s voice from outside made his body jolt.

He had forgotten someone else was there.

The man outside grabbed the handle and shook it, fully aware someone was inside.

“Do you need help?”

“N-no… I’m… ngh— fine.”

While Seon-kyung gasped inside the stall, the cramped space had become saturated with his pheromones.

The scent of an aroused dominant omega was intoxicating enough to make even a perfectly sane person salivate.

“You don’t sound fine.”
“Do you need an alpha?”

The man didn’t leave.

Though unseen, Seon-kyung could feel his presence, his shadow, and the alpha pheromones seeping through the gap beneath the door.

Fear surged.

He hurriedly pulled his clothes back on.

Forcing his painfully hard cock back into place, he zipped up, groaning from the pain.

The door rattled again.

“I’m really just worried.”
“I’ll just check your condition.”
“I’m not a creep—I just want to help.”

“……”

Seon-kyung pressed his back against the shaking door.

What if it opened?

His heart felt like it would burst.

He couldn’t tell if it was fear or arousal anymore.

Then—

“Senior.”
“Step away.”

“Huh? Ji-seok?”

The alpha shaking the door snapped back to his senses when someone grabbed his shoulder.

Intoxicated by omega pheromones, his instincts had surfaced without him realizing.

Embarrassed, he stepped back.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

Han Ji-seok’s voice was flat and emotionless.

But his gaze was sharp, like an interrogator’s.

The man’s face flushed red, as if he’d been caught committing a crime.

“I—I wasn’t trying to do anything.”
“He just looked like he needed help.”

“Please don’t interfere.”
“He’s with me.”

“Oh… I see.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Then I’ll go.”

The man left without looking back.

Left alone, Han Ji-seok checked each stall carefully to make sure no one else remained.

After inspecting even the cleaning supply closet, he locked the bathroom entrance.

He turned on the ventilation fan and opened every small window.

There was only one thing left to do.

Standing before the closed stall, Han Ji-seok let out a short sigh.

He knocked three times, evenly.

Then spoke in a calm, flat voice.

“Open the door.”