“Damn, Yujeong’s actually smiling,” Changwook says, sliding into the booth beside me with a grin. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Got laid,” I say simply, flagging down a server to order drinks.
The table erupts in catcalls and laughter. Junghyun leans across the table, eyes wide with interest. “No shit? About fucking time. Who’s the lucky omega?”
“Wasn’t an omega,” I say, accepting the beer the server brings over and taking a long drink.
“Oh?” Wooil pipes up from my other side, that knowing smirk on his face. “Do tell.”
I flip him off but I’m grinning. “Found an alpha who could actually handle me. That’s all you’re getting.”
More hooting and hollering. Someone claps me on the shoulder hard enough to make me wince, which just reminds me of all the bruises still decorating my body. Worth it, though. Completely worth it.
The night rolls on and I find myself actually enjoying it. The drinks keep coming, the conversation flows easily, and for once I’m not counting down the minutes until I can leave. We’re laughing about something stupid Changwook did at work when Junghyun suddenly goes quiet, his eyes tracking something across the club.
“Holy shit,” he breathes, and I watch his pupils dilate slightly. “Do you guys smell that?”
The other alphas at the table perk up immediately, heads turning to scan the crowd. I see nostrils flare as they try to catch whatever scent Junghyun picked up on.
“Oh fuck,” Changwook groans, leaning back in his seat. “That’s sweet.”
I frown, trying to figure out what they’re talking about. I sniff experimentally but all I get is the usual club atmosphere. Alcohol and sweat, too much perfume layered over bodies packed too close together. Nothing particularly enticing about any of it.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, taking another drink of my beer.
Junghyun nudges me, nodding toward the bar. “That omega over there. The one in the blue dress.”
I follow his gaze and spot who he’s talking about. Cute enough, I guess. But I don’t smell anything special coming from their direction.
“I don’t smell anything,” I say with a shrug.
“Are you kidding?” Junghyun says, still staring at the omega like they hung the moon. “They smell incredible. Like vanilla and flowers or some shit.”
I try again, really concentrating this time, but I come up empty. Just the standard club smells, nothing that would make me sit up and take notice. Weird.
“Your nose broken or something?” Changwook jokes, but he’s distracted, still tracking the omega’s movements.
Before I can respond, a group of omegas approaches our table. I recognize the pattern immediately because it happens every time we come here. The alphas’ pheromones draw them over like moths to a flame, and they descend on our booth with painted-on smiles and batting eyelashes.
The guys straighten up immediately, preening under the attention. I watch Junghyun go slightly glassy-eyed as one of the omegas leans close to him, whispering something in his ear that makes him grin. Changwook has two omegas flanking him, giggling at something he said.
One of them turns their attention to me, sliding into the booth with a coy smile. “Hi there,” they purr, reaching out to trail fingers down my arm. “You look like you could use some company.”
The moment their hand makes contact with my skin, I feel my stomach turn. It’s not the usual neutral indifference I normally feel toward omegas. This is active revulsion, like my body is rejecting their touch on a fundamental level. Their scent, which apparently has the other alphas practically drooling, makes my nose wrinkle in disgust.
I shift away slightly, trying to be subtle about it. “I’m good, thanks.”
They don’t take the hint, leaning in closer. Their pheromones wash over me and instead of the sweet, enticing smell everyone else seems to be experiencing, it just makes me want to gag. It’s thick and artificial, like someone dumped an entire bottle of cheap perfume over rotting fruit.
“Are you sure?” they ask, batting their eyelashes. “I could make it worth your while.”
I have to actively fight the urge to push them away, my skin crawling where they’re still touching my arm. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never had this kind of reaction to an omega before. Usually I just find them boring, not actively repulsive.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I say more firmly, pulling my arm away and reaching for my beer to give my hands something to do.
The omega pouts but thankfully takes the rejection and moves on to try their luck with Wooil instead. I watch them go, confused by my own reaction. Across the table, Junghyunhas his arm around the omega who approached him, looking completely smitten. Changwook is whispering something to one of his that makes them giggle and press closer.
“What’s with you?” Wooil asks, having successfully charmed the omega who tried me into sitting on his other side. “That one was cute.”
