TATMFL - 80

“When I first planted the trees, I bought mostly cherry blossom saplings.”

Do-kyung tapped a branch of a sapling that reached his waist as he spoke.

“But when I gathered everything, I ended up mixing in a few other types.”

The garden at the back of the hotel was quite impressive.

However, the trees Do-kyung had planted stood awkwardly along the edges of the otherwise harmonious and professionally landscaped garden. They were unevenly spaced, some leaning precariously, as if they might topple over during the upcoming rainy season. It was clear these were the work of an amateur.

“And this is the cherry tomato plant.”

Do-kyung proudly crouched down among the saplings.

Following his movements, Raon’s gaze fell on a small pot painted in a vibrant red. Tiny sprouts had emerged from the soil.

“I planted five or six seeds, but only three sprouted.”

There was no mistaking the hint of disappointment in Do-kyung’s voice.

Raon, struggling to suppress her laughter, covered her mouth with her hand while looking down at him.

For some reason, she found herself admiring how perfectly straight his hairline was. She managed to say,

“If you want to grow all three, you’ll need a bigger pot soon.”

“I’m planning to transplant them into the ground soon. I’ve already prepared a spot.”

Encouraged by her interest, Do-kyung puffed up his chest and pointed with his chin.

A neatly fenced-off patch of land awaited the transplanted seedlings, as though he intended to start a vegetable garden.

Seeing this, Raon couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

“Pfft!”

Do-kyung turned to her, startled.

Her laughter shook her shoulders as she tried to muffle it with her hand. This was her loudest laugh in ages—bright and unrestrained, unlike the rare smiles she’d shown recently that still managed to tug at his heartstrings.

It felt like his heart dropped—the kind of fall that resonated deep within him.

“…”

Unconsciously erasing the smile from his lips, Do-kyung slowly straightened his crouching posture.

His eyes rose gradually until they met hers at eye level, then dipped slightly downward again.

And as his shadow, standing against the sun, enveloped her chest, shoulders, and finally her head, her laughter began to subside.

“…Ah.”

After that brief sigh, silence settled between them.

Though his expression was obscured by backlighting, tension crept up her spine.

Turning her head away as if to avoid his unseen gaze, Raon hesitantly parted her lips. Her voice came out strained and rigid.

“Is there anything else here?”

“Nope. Nothing.”

His decisive answer left no room for distraction.

“Raon.”

Low and raspy, his voice scraped somewhere deep inside her. The sound alone made her sternum flutter and her breath hitch. Raon licked her dry lips and swallowed thickly.

At that moment—

“Ah?”

She sensed pheromones.

Crisp and refreshing, like winter wind.

Startled by her racing heart, Raon instinctively turned toward Do-kyung.

In that instant, the pheromones vanished as abruptly as if they had been an illusion.

Simultaneously—

“Huh!”

Do-kyung collapsed, clutching his chest.

________________________________________

Two hours into Chairman Han Tae-joo’s birthday party.

It had been two hours since Do-kyung, who should have been the first to congratulate his father, disappeared—and two hours since Joon had begun waiting hopelessly for him to return on his own.

“…Damn brat.”

Joon gritted his teeth as he listened to yet another automated message indicating Do-kyung wasn’t answering his calls.

After failing to find him in the banquet hall where the party was held, Joon had checked their suite—but only an empty room greeted him. The navy suit Do-kyung was supposed to wear lay carelessly discarded on the bed.

Joon had a pretty good idea of where Do-kyung might be.

With Raon, of course.

He should’ve realized it when Do-kyung asked about her weekend plans.

Recalling their casual conversation yesterday, Joon hurriedly moved.

The brat had disappeared without a word even on his own father’s birthday, leaving everyone frantic—and now this!

As Joon rushed to the parking lot, he kept dialing relentlessly. If he picked up now, Joon vowed to unleash a torrent of curses.

When his unanswered call count exceeded fifty, the long, agonizing ringtone finally cut off.

“What the hell are you thinking right now? Seriously?”

The moment the call connected, Joon unleashed a rapid-fire tirade.

“Do you have any idea how furious Chairman Han is? And do you know how much flak I’m catching for not being able to keep track of you?”

―Ha… Han Do-kyung? Han Do-kyung…

Joon froze mid-rant at the unfamiliar female voice coming through the receiver. He pulled the phone away to check the screen.

The caller ID clearly read “Master.” Yet the voice belonged to a woman.

“Miss Raon?” Joon asked urgently.

―Huuh… Hah… Han Do-kyung… He fainted.

Joon’s hand slipped as he was about to start the car.

“Damn it.”

Even with just that one sentence, Joon understood the situation. Muttering curses under his breath, he quickly started the engine and slammed the accelerator. With a screech of tires, he sped out of the parking lot.

Meanwhile, the panicked voice on the other end continued to struggle for calm.

―It’s rut… Even after using suppressants, he won’t stabilize…

Apparently, someone nearby knew about Do-kyung’s condition.

‘But what good does that do!’

Checking traffic lights anxiously, Joon typed a quick message to Professor Yang while keeping Raon on the line.

“Where are you now?”

―At the hotel.

Just then, Yang replied.

Professor Yang

I’ll get there as fast as possible.

3:18 PM

Joon cursed under his breath and slammed the steering wheel.

Yang, who had missed both Chairman Han’s birthday party and today’s academic conference due to his hospital duties, was currently an hour away—at the university hospital.

Do-kyung would have to hold on until then.

But…

Worst-case scenarios flooded Joon’s mind.

What if he couldn’t last even an hour?

The image of Do-kyung collapsing flashed vividly in his mind, followed by memories of his suffering during the recent rut.

Biting his lip, Joon resolved himself and spoke firmly.

“Listen carefully, Miss Raon.”

―Yes, yes.

“Can you sense Master Do-kyung’s pheromones now?”

―…No.

“Not even a little?”

―Nothing at all.

“You stubborn fool!”

Swearing under his breath, Joon added urgently,

“Master’s pheromone glands are unstable because he’s been forcibly suppressing them.”

He summarized the critical details.

“The accumulated pheromones need to be released. If not, according to Professor Yang, it could lead to serious consequences. So…”

Exhaling sharply, Joon concluded,

“Please help him, Miss Raon.”

________________________________________

Joon’s instructions continued to echo through the speaker, but Raon wasn’t in any state to focus.

Guided by the manager who recognized Do-kyung, Raon entered the room where he was staying. Her clammy hands clutched the damp blanket tightly.

Before her eyes, Do-kyung writhed, gasping as if he were about to collapse backward.

The suppressants brought by the Beta manager, claiming it was rut-related, proved useless. In fact, far from helping, they seemed to worsen his condition. His skin was flushed crimson, with veins starkly visible beneath the surface.

The heat radiating from him was so intense that Raon dared not touch him.

“Pheromones…”

Raon’s pupils quivered violently.

Joon’s explanation—that Do-kyung had forcibly suppressed his pheromones—kept pounding in her ears.

She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.

She knew well enough that during heat cycles, Alphas and Omegas alike emitted overwhelming amounts of pheromones that saturated their surroundings.

Though she hadn’t heard every detail, she could piece together what had happened.

“…Han Do-kyung.”

Raon called his name in a trembling voice.

But the only response was a guttural groan resembling an animal’s cry.

Then, suddenly, Do-kyung’s voice slurred out, heavy with arousal.

“Raon…”

His back arched sharply as he curled into himself, his hands clawing at the pillowcase before slowly moving downward.

At the same moment, his unfocused pupils locked onto Raon with primal intensity.

And just like that, Do-kyung’s previously concealed pheromones began to seep out, brushing teasingly against Raon’s skin.

“Hah!”

Raon gasped reflexively and tried to pull back, but Do-kyung’s hand shot out faster, grabbing her wrist.

“Ha… Han Do-kyung.”

Ignoring her frail plea, he buried his nose into her palm. Still holding her gaze, he inhaled deeply and demanded softly,

“Release more pheromones. Okay?”

His tone was sickeningly sweet.

Like a savage beast hiding its claws and fangs, pretending to be docile.

But his eyes—desperate to claim her nape—betrayed his true hunger.