CHAPTER 95: WHO SAYS THAT...

"Yoon Seoyul!"

Cheon Areum screamed in a low volume, clutching his hands until his knuckles blanched from the pressure. Lasting marks are only achievable if the alpha is in a rut or the omega is experiencing heat. This wasn’t even a lasting mark—why did it have to be so excruciating? If a temporary mark that only lasts for a month feels like this, then what about a permanent one?

Why did I have to be an omega... Being an alpha would be so much better, no, even a beta! Just not an omega... but then Yoon Seoyul won’t be able to mark me...

He sniffed, crying bitterly, holding his breath to withstand it when he felt the arms clasped around his chest gradually loosen. Yoon Seoyul’s hand gently patted his chest as if to comfort him. Cheon Areum breathed out roughly as he held Yoon Seoyul’s hand, bringing it closer to his body to reassure him. The pheromones forcing a way to settle within his body had reduced a lot as time slowly went by. Cheon Areum’s entire body burnt, exuding a smell of burning vanilla, a scent even he could detect.

That’s when the daggers deeply fixed into his nape completely withdrew, and a wet tongue licked the numb area as Cheon Areum gasped out in relief.

"Is... is it done?"

"I’m sorry..."

Yoon Seoyul spoke in an almost inaudible voice. Cheon Areum barely caught the word, wiping his eyes with the back of his fingers; the hand paused, dropping back onto the bed as Yoon Seoyul’s head fell on his back, the hair slightly tickling the skin.

"It’s okay."

"It didn’t hurt that much..."

Cheon Areum responded as the arms wrapped around his, upper body tightened up again anxiously. It was done. He was completely fine, but Yoon Seoyul sullenly stayed still, holding him preciously, occasionally kissing on top of the tender mark.

"I’m sorry."

Yoon Seoyul muttered.

"I love you. I’m sorry."

"..."

Cheon Areum froze for a heartbeat before easily prying the arms wrapped around him away. He instantly turned to face Yoon Seoyul, cupping his face with both hands and lifting it until their eyes met. He stared at the endearing, sullen expression that softened Yoon Seoyul’s features closely this time.

"Say that again."

"I’m sorry."

"No, not that! The other thing!"

Cheon Areum urged impatiently as they both stared into each other’s eyes. Yoon Seoyul’s eyes slowly blinked as he repeated the words Cheon Areum had wanted.

"I love you."

"I love you, Cheon Areum."

Not once, but twice.

Smiling like a fool, Cheon Areum stood on his knees, squishing Yoon Seoyul’s face between his hands gently as he stared down at him.

"You really thought this was the best time to say it."

"I’m sorry. I couldn’t find the right time to say it. It felt like if I didn’t say it now, I might never get to..."

"Don’t be sad now, look at me."

With their foreheads compressed together, Yoon Seoyul had no choice but to meet Cheon Areum’s gaze—those eyes shimmering with a quiet joy, brimming with tender smiles that tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Yoon Seoyul."

"Give me a permanent mark when my next heat arrives."

Yoon Seoyul melted into his touch, nodding subtly while tilting his head as Cheon Areum leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the soft curve of his lips before his arms slid down to Yoon Seoyul’s neck, coiling around him and tightening aggressively. With the weight of his body, Cheon Areum pushed Yoon Seoyul back onto the bed, landing on top of him.

"Don’t stop, release your pheromones... I’m not done yet, I want more."

*

Fighting the sleep dragging his eyelids shut, Cheon Areum widened his eyes; he blinked rapidly, only to find Yoon Seoyul sitting beside him on the bed, dressed sharply in a suit, while he himself lay in a dazed sprawl beneath the covers.

"Do you have to go? I have a fever..."

Cheon Areum spoke in a soft, whiny tone, his voice laced with lingering drowsiness. Yoon Seoyul fastened the watch around his wrist, casting a long sigh as he looked down at him—equal parts exasperated and indulgent.

"You were the one saying it wasn’t cold yesterday, and then you stubbornly refused to sleep..."

Yoon Seoyul paused mid-sentence, his gaze locking onto Cheon Areum’s eyes with quiet intensity. For a fleeting moment, he simply stared. Then, his hand moved—fingers threading tenderly through Cheon Areum’s hair before gliding down to caress the side of his face.

"Rest for today. Don’t even think of going anywhere outside. I’ll be back as soon as the meeting ends."

"Yeah, sure, teleport right back into the bedroom. Or else I will have to go and fetch you myself."

Cheon Areum spoke as his eyes moved down from Yoon Seoyul’s face to his revealing chest.

"Also, if you’re not going to wear a tie, then close all the buttons to the top."

"Is that all?"

Yoon Seoyul asked in a calm voice as he secured the last button of his shirt all the way to the collar.

"No matter how much I think about it, I don’t want to let you go."

"Just take a nap, you won’t even notice me gone."

"Is the meeting that important?"

"Hm. I requested an S-Class member exchange from another guild since we don’t need another healer in our team; it would be more useful for Lee Nari to change teams. They finally agreed to exchange the team members, so I can’t skip this meeting."

"Fine. Go."

Pulling the blanket to his chest, Cheon Areum agreed dispiritedly. Yoon Seoyul leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead before rising from the bed.

"Get some rest now."

Cheon Areum watched Yoon Seoyul’s back as he left the bedroom before his eyes moved to the morning-after pills on the bedside table.

I must’ve gone insane with the fever.

There was no other reason why he had so readily wanted Yoon Seoyul to finish inside him. A fever doesn’t equal to going into heat. The pills are only 95 percent effective.

What if you actually get pregnant this time, Cheon Areum...