Chapter 57: The Scent That Won’t Fade

“Haah….”

“Want me to get you some water?”

“…Yeah, okay….”

Hyunseok clicked his tongue as he looked at Hyunwoo’s pale face and asked.

Hyunwoo gave a small nod at the unusually considerate gesture.

Hyunseok turned and left the room.

After a moment, Hyunseok returned with cold water and held a glass out to Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo drank it down in big gulps.

The ice-cold water slid down his throat and into his body.

It felt like even the pounding in his head was cooling a little.

“What time did I get here yesterday?”

“Mm… around nine?”

“…….”

This was Hyunseok’s apartment, where he lived alone.

His father, former Vice Chairman Joo Chanhyuk, had retired and was living out his later years somewhere quiet outside of Seoul.

Still, their family had a decent relationship, so Hyunseok usually visited home regularly.

Although lately, he’d been avoiding going because of his father’s nagging.

In any case, Hyunwoo remembered only barely that he couldn’t go home yesterday and decided to come here instead.

But everything after that was hazy.

Hyunwoo raised a hand and pressed his aching forehead.

“Ugh….”

“Shouldn’t you go to the hospital or something?”

“No… it’s not that bad.”

“…Hmm.”

Hyunseok looked down at Hyunwoo with an uneasy expression.

It wasn’t unusual for Hyunwoo to come here.

But it was the first time he’d shown up without contacting him beforehand.

And he didn’t look well.

Sure, Hyunwoo was always neglecting his health, but yesterday had been especially strange.

He couldn’t even hold himself upright like a drunk person.

He couldn’t answer properly when spoken to.

He hadn’t even managed to change clothes and just collapsed on the bed and passed out.

It was lucky Hyunseok had been home yesterday.

If he’d gone out for plans, who knows what would have happened.

Hyunseok shook his head.

Suddenly, he remembered the pheromone scent he’d smelled while changing Hyunwoo’s clothes.

He’d first thought it was from an omega, but the scent had been… off.

He narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“So… where were you yesterday?”

“…What?”

“Who were you rolling around with to smell like pheromones like that?”

“……!”

Hyunwoo flinched and looked down at himself.

Only then did more memories of the previous night return.

He could still smell Seunghyuk’s pheromones on him.

That’s how intense that rut had been.

Hyunseok was an alpha too, but practically dormant with almost no pheromone output.

For even him to grimace at the strength of it… Hyunwoo must have been completely overwhelmed.

Hyunwoo ran a hand through his hair with a shaky breath.

“It’s just… someone I know was having a hard time with rut, so I helped.”

“…You? You helped?”

“Why? I’m not allowed to help someone?”

“No, it’s just… surprising, that’s all.”

An extreme workaholic who barely acknowledged anyone other than his brother.

At the company, he pretended to be polite, but it was all an act.

Hyunseok knew him well — they had practically grown up stuck together as cousins.

Hyunwoo fundamentally didn’t trust people.

Considering he was raised under Chairman Joo Munhyuk, that was only natural.

He had calmed down a little in recent years — fewer hysterics — but that didn’t mean his sharp, sensitive nature had gone anywhere.

And he stayed out late helping someone?

And an alpha at that?

Hyunseok rubbed his chin, baffled.

“Anyway… sorry for showing up without notice. I’ll just use your shower before I go.”

“O-Oh… sure.”

He wanted to ask more, but he let Hyunwoo go to the bathroom.

Hyunseok watched his exhausted steps with a strange feeling.

He was definitely hiding something.

Could Hyunwoo have been with another alpha…?

Were the rumors of him refusing to date omegas because…?

No.

No way.

If his uncle found out, the earth would shatter.

Just imagining it made Hyunseok shudder.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

“Hm?”

Hyunwoo’s phone vibrated on the nightstand.

Hyunseok picked it up when he saw who was calling.

“Oh, Hyunjin.”

— …Hyunseok hyung?

“Yeah. Worried about your brother?”

— …Yes…

“He just woke up and went to shower.”

Hyunseok replied casually.

Yesterday, right after Hyunwoo arrived, Hyunjin had called.

Hyunseok had also picked up then.

Since Hyunjin seemed unaware of why Hyunwoo hadn’t come home, Hyunseok had lied.

He said they had plans to hang out.

— Did he drink yesterday?

“Huh? Oh… yeah, a little. Not much. He must’ve been tired — passed out right away. Haha.”

— You should’ve stopped him.

“Haha… yeah, maybe I should have.”

Was he talking to Hyunjin?

Or to a spouse’s mother?

The vibe was strange.

Hyunseok had always thought the brothers were too close,but now it felt… off.

There was something different lately.

He continued speaking.

“I’ll send him home soon.
It’s the weekend, so don’t worry and go about your day.”

— …Okay.

“I’m hanging up.”

Hyunseok ended the call casually, clueless that Hyunjin had been awake all night worrying.

Right then, Hyunwoo came out of the bathroom towel-drying his hair.

“Why do you have my phone?”

“Oh, Hyunjin called. I picked up.”

“…What?”

Hyunwoo quickly approached, startled.

Hyunseok handed him the phone, not noticing the shift in mood.

“He called last night too when you fell asleep.
I told him you just crashed here and would go home today.”

“Ah… I see.
Thanks.”

Hyunwoo checked the call log and messages.

There were several from Hyunjin.

But Hyunjin didn’t seem too alarmed — thanks to Hyunseok’s cover.

And there were none from Seunghyuk.

Maybe the rut hadn’t ended yet.

Or maybe… contacting Hyunwoo simply didn’t matter to him.

Hyunwoo exhaled slowly.

Going home seemed best now — Hyunjin must be worried.

He finished drying his hair and pulled on the T-shirt he had taken from Seunghyuk.

Then he looked at Hyunseok.

“Do you have pheromone neutralizer here?”

“…Would I have something like that?”

“Right….”

Hyunseok rarely sensed pheromones, so he had no need for neutralizers.

But Hyunwoo couldn’t go home smelling like Seunghyuk.

He would need to buy some on the way.

Hyunwoo turned to leave.

“Thanks. I owe you.”

“Yeah… I don’t know what’s going on, but… hang in there.”

Hyunseok walked him to the door.

He watched Hyunwoo leave with a conflicted expression.

‘He’ll handle it… probably.’

It still felt uneasy, but it was Hyunwoo’s problem.

Hyunwoo always figured things out.

And Hyunseok had his own life to deal with.

He turned away, humming lightly.

Sniff.

Hyunwoo shoved his face into the T-shirt like a dog, frantically smelling it.

Was the pheromone gone now?

He had practically emptied the neutralizer bottle, but still felt anxious.

Hyunjin was sensitive to pheromones — especially dominant ones.

He couldn’t get caught.

Just thinking about Hyunjin’s cold expression from his dreams made him tremble.

If Hyunjin learned that Hyunwoo had helped Seunghyuk through his rut…

He might really be disappointed in him — just like in that dream.

Hyunwoo took a deep breath and hesitated in front of the door.

His hands were damp with sweat.

He reached out for the keypad—

Click.

“……!”

The door opened before he touched it.

Hyunwoo stepped back in surprise.

Hyunjin appeared.

“…Hyung?”

“Ah… Hyunjin.”

They stared at each other in confusion.

Hyunwoo regained his composure first.

“Where were you going?”

“I… was going to check Hyunseok hyung’s place because you were late….”

“Ah… yeah.”

Hyunwoo scratched his head awkwardly.

He couldn’t explain the real reason.

So he lied.

“Hyunseok told me to stay for breakfast… Sorry. Did you… worry?”

“No.
I’m just glad you came home safe.
Come in.”

“…Okay.”

Hyunwoo nodded and followed him inside.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.