The morning in Room 202 is no different from any other day at Haneul University. The room is filled with laughter, whispers, gossip, swapping stories of the weekend, or hurriedly finishing assignments they should’ve done last night.

“Did you see the party invite list for Ji-Hoon's birthday?” a girl whispers excitely to her friend.

“Of course! But there’s no way an omega like me is making it past that velvet rope,” she replied with a low voice.

At the back of the room, a small group of boys are talking louder than it needed to be.

“I can’t believe someone dares to challenge Kim-woo Jin for the match.” One of them shot loudly.

“They must have a death wish,” another one replied, smirking.

Before they can finish their conversation, the door of class opens. The sound is soft, but somehow it pierces through the hum of conversation, drawing their eyes toward the entrance.

The group notices a figure walk into the classroom. Tall but unassuming, the boy moves with an air of quiet confidence, his bag slung casually over one shoulder. His dark hair fell into his blue crystal eyes.

Instead of glancing at anyone, he walked straight to the back of the room and sat down on a chair without a word.

“Who is he?” someone mutters with a tone of excitement.

"The omega, under exchange program," one of the students replied.

"Does he have a death wish?!"

Every head turned toward the speaker—a lanky alpha sitting near the middle of the classroom. His voice carried enough shock to ripple through the room like an earthquake.

The alpha who had spoken first turns again in his seat, staring at the boy in the back.

“That’s Kim Woo-Jin’s spot. He’s got to be crazy.”

His voice dropped to a low mutter, but it was clear enough for those around him to hear.

At the mention of the Kim Woo-Jin, the classroom’s energy shifted again. Whispers turned into murmurs of fear.

The boy at the back, however, seems completely oblivious or perhaps indifferent. He sat with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed out the window, as though the drama unfolding around him was of no consequence.

The classroom door swings open again, and the real tension begins with the entry of Kim Woo-Jin.

Without wasting time, he moves towards the back. Every step he takes resonates with power, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the floor. His tall frame was wrapped in an effortlessly tailored uniform, and his dominant aura was rolling off him in waves. Behind him trailed a group of alphas, their gazes sharp and proud, though they seemed more like a pack of obedient wolves than true equals.

Students sit straighter in their seats, some holding their breath as his eyes sweep over the room, assessing and judging. But Kim Woo-Jin didn’t care about them. His attention is locked on the back of the class—on the new student seated where he always sat.

The heat in the room rose perceptibly, like someone had cranked up the thermostat. A ripple of unease spread through the class, and a faint sheen of sweat broke out on several foreheads. Kim Woo-Jin’s thick and oppressive pheromones are flooding the air, carrying his irritation.

The omegas in the room were the first to falter. A girl sitting near the back wince, clutching the edge of her desk as her breathing quickens. Even a few lower-tier alphas seem uncomfortable, their confidence crumbling under the suffocating presence of Woo-Jin's scent.

He is halfway to his seat now, and the tension is growing in the room with his every step.

“Is he really going to—?” someone whispered, but their voice quickly shut down by the unspoken rule: never speak when Kim Woo-Jin is angry.

The new student still hadn’t moved.

He sits there, his elbow resting on the desk, his chin propped on his hand as he is gazing out the window. The sunlight caught on the edges of his profile, making him seem untouchable, like he wasn’t just ignoring Kim Woo-Jin—he didn’t even notice him.

That only makes Woo-Jin’s irritation boil over.

When he reaches the desk, he slams his fist down with a force that rattles the entire table.

Bang!

The sound echoes through the room, sharp and final.

The new student’s turn his head lazily, his gaze lifting from the window to the face of the alpha who looms over him.

Woo-Jin’s brow furrows, his jaw tightening as the room’s heat peaks. His pheromones surge, but the new student remains unfazed.

Instead, a faint smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, subtle and almost mocking as if this confrontation were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The silence in the classroom was deafening.

“Move,” Woo-Jin commands, his voice low and dangerous.

The new student didn’t flinch. He blinks once, tilting his head ever so slightly, as if Woo-Jin’s words were no more alarming than a light breeze. Then, with a soft, almost playful smile, he replied, “Why? I like it here.”

The classroom collectively inhales, stunned into silence. No one had ever spoken to Kim Woo-Jin like that—at least, not without regretting it.

Woo-Jin’s jaw clenched in anger, his muscles ticking visibly as his fury took to boil over. The oppressive heat of his pheromones thickened the air, pressing down on everyone in the room like an invisible weight. A few nearby students began to fidget uncomfortably, beads of sweat forming on their brows as the tension escalated.

The new student remains as calm as ever, still gazing up at Woo-Jin with those innocent eyes.

Without a word, Kim Woo Jin lashes out, kicking the chair with merciless force. The new student wobbles and tips backward, but just before he falls, his hand shoots out, grabbing onto Woo-Jin’s wrist.

The contact was unexpected. Woo-Jin froze, his eyes narrowing as he felt the omega’s slender fingers clutching his arm.

“Let go,” Woo-Jin growled, and he jerked his arm free.

The motion sent the new student tumbling—straight towards Woo-Jin.

The impact knocks them both off balance. Before anyone could process what was happening, Woo-Jin found himself on the floor, his body pressing against the new student’s.

The classroom went deathly silent.

Woo-Jin’s breath hitched. He can feel the warmth of the omega beneath him; their faces are mere inches apart. His eyes met a pair of deep blue orbs, almond-shaped and glimmering with a strange mix of innocence and mischief. The omega blinked twice, his impossibly long lashes brushing against his cheeks.

For the first time in his life, Kim Woo-Jin was utterly flustered.

The heat in his chest surged, but this time it wasn’t just anger. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body felt momentarily frozen in place, as if caught in a spell.

Then, a wet sensation on his cheek snapped him out of it.

Sob.

The sound was soft at first but quickly grew louder, echoing in the stunned classroom. Woo-Jin pulled himself up abruptly, pushing away from the omega as if burned.

The new student is crying.

Thick, tears rolled down his cheeks, his sobs raw and unrestrained. Woo-Jin stood there, towering above him, his expression shifting from anger to disbelief.

Woo-Jin grated his teeth, muttering darkly.

“That’s why I hate omegas. All they know is to bawl their eyes out."

"That's why I hate omegas. All they know is to bawl their eyes out."

The comment draws scattered laughter from the alphas in the room.

Woo-Jin's sharp eyes lock onto the omega sitting on the floor. Despite the taunt, his posture remains calm and unbothered. Instead, a small and wicked grin curls at the corners of his lips, as though the insult was nothing more than a joke meant for his own entertainment.

Then, the omega mutters in a low voice, yet just loud enough for Woo-Jin to catch.

"His brain is as useless as his dick."

His gaze flicks deliberately to Woo-Jin's lower body before returning to meet his eyes again, and the grin on his lips widens with smug satisfaction.

He knows exactly what kind of reaction his words will provoke—and it's immediate.

Woo-Jin's breath catches, his jaw clenches tight with barely contained rage, the muscles in his neck standing out as his fists tighten and nails digging into his palms. His fury builds, a storm gathering inside him. The weight of the omega's words presses down on him, taunting him to strike.

Without hesitation, he steps toward the omega, and his pheromones flood the air like an uncontrollable storm that is thick and suffocating. The room seems to shrink under the weight of his raw alpha power pressing down on everyone.

He looms over the omega, ready to lash out. But before he can make his move, the omega raises his hand.

Woo-Jin's first thought is that the omega was about to shield himself, about to beg or whimper just like all the others who have cowered before him.

But instead, the omega's hand swings toward his own face, moving with precision and force.

Smack.

The sound of the slap echoes through the room, so loud and sharp that it makes the students flinch and gasp in shock. Woo-Jin freezes, his mind struggling to process what just happened. His eyes widen in disbelief as he watches the omega's grin only grow more sinister as he presses a hand to his swelling cheek. And then he begins to sob, his body trembling with broken, ragged hiccups, sending a ripple of whispers throughout the classroom.

"Did Kim Woo-Jin just hit him?"

"He's really taking it out on an omega."

Woo-Jin blinks, his mind racing to make sense of what just happened. He turns toward the class, only to realize too late that his position had blocked their view of the omega's slap. From the angle, it looks as if Woo-Jin had been the one to strike him. His towering figure, combined with the sharp sound of the slap, makes him appear as the true culprit, masking the fact that the omega had slapped himself.

Before he can fully process, his eyes snap back to the omega, who is now openly grinning. The omega's sobs are nothing more than a performance, a calculated act for the class. His expression seems to scream at Woo-Jin: You've been played.

And then the door slams open.

Professor Kwon Joo-Hyuk storms into the room, followed by Jung Hwan, the class president. Their expression immediately twists into concern as they sense the heavy pheromones in the air.

"What's going on here?" Professor snapped.

A student, too afraid to speak up, pointed a trembling finger toward Woo-Jin. "Kim Woo-Jin... he beat the new student."

"What?!" Jung Hwan exclaims in disbelief, running towards the scene with his wide eyes.

Reaching out to Kim Woo and seeing Omega on the ground with his purplish, swollen cheeks, Jung's face turned pale.

"What the...?"

But before Jung could finish, the professor's voice rang out loudly, "Kim Woo-Jin, are you out of your mind? Using your pheromones in class?"

His eyes lock onto the omega, who is now covering his swollen cheek with a hand, sobbing with feigned helplessness.

Before Kim Jin can explain, the omega's speak, "He hit me... I."

His words cracked, and he let out a soft sob, his lips trembling as he looked up at the professor.

Kim Woo-Jin snapped in anger, "Liar!"

The omega's gaze hardened, but his lips still quivered as he held his cheek and shot back, "You're the liar!

What did you say?" Woo-Jin's growl; his voice is low but dangerous. His pheromones flare an uncontrollable wave of fury, and the deadly pressure of his alpha presence squeezing the entire class—including the professor.

Kwon Joo-Hyuk, the professor, wavers for a moment; his face turns pale as he struggles to breathe under the intensity of Kim Woo-Jin's pheromone that makes him dizzy.

The crushing weight of Woo-Jin's pheromones reminds him of who he is truly up against. Kim Woo isn't just any alpha—he is a dominant alpha, a rare and terrifying force among their kind. There are only a handful of individuals like him in the world, and Woo-Jin stood proudly among them.

But his dominance isn't the only thing that made him untouchable. As the sole heir to the Kim Tech Group, the country's wealthiest and most influential conglomerate, his power extends far beyond his biological traits. Kim Jin is untouchable, and a beta like him doesn't stand a chance against Kim Woo.

Before the professor can think how to handle the situation, the class president, Jung Hwan, steps forward to handle the situation. He is also a dominant alpha, and more importantly, Kim Woo-Jin's childhood friend.

"Wow, man. How can you hit an omega?" Jung's moves quickly, offering his hand to the omega and helping him to stand.

"I didn't hit him," Kim Woo-Jin shot back. His anger flared again.

"Yeah, sure," Jung said, raising an eyebrow and giving the omega a glance of disbelief.

"Coming from the guy who beats people on a regular basis."

Kim Woo-Jin shakes his head in disappointment. "Hey, Jung, are you really my friend? How can you believe this fraud?"

The omega quickly raises his voice. "How can you lie after hitting me?"

Kim Woo-Jin's heart skips a beat as the omega steps into the role of the victim so effortlessly, his tears suddenly seeming more like a performance than genuine distress.

"You-" Kim Woo-Jin begins, but before he can finish, the omega cuts him off.

This time, the omega turns to face the professor and Jung, pushing his swollen cheek forward in a dramatic gesture. "First, he pushed me out of my chair. Then he used his pheromones.

And then—then he hit me." The omega's sobs grow louder, each word laced with fake helplessness.

Kim Woo-Jin's anger flares up. His body instinctively took a step toward the omega.

But before he can move further, Jung steps in front of him, blocking his path. "Hey, man, control yourself.

Kim Woo-Jin's chest tightens as the anger gnaws at him, but Jung's next words hit him like a punch to the gut.

"If your mother finds out about this, we're both dead."

The thought of his mother finding out freezes him. He can't bear the thought of another lecture. He swallows his anger, standing rigid as his eyes flick from Jung to the omega, who is peeking out from behind Jung, that devilish grin still playing at the corners of his lips.

Kim Woo-Jin hisses through clenched teeth.

"If I see you again, you're dead."

Without waiting for a response, Woo-Jin storms out of the classroom in anger. The heavy thud of the door echoes throughout the room, leaving a silence among the students.

The professor sighs as his gaze lands on the new student whose lips and cheek are swollen slightly.

“Jung Hwan,” the professor calls, turning his face toward Jung Hwan. “Take him to the infirmary. And make sure Woo-Jin doesn’t make this worse.”

“Yes, sir.” Jung Hwan nods, understanding the professor's words about keeping an eye on Kim Woo for taking any revenge on the omega. He turns to the omega to witness a small, shy smile on the omega's lips. That small smile triggers Jung's heart to skip a bit. For a moment, his eyes are fixed on the omega's lips until the omega's soft voice jolts him back.

"You, okay?"

“Yeah, shall we?” Jung Hwan asks, clearing his throat to hide his sudden nervousness, and quickly turns to leave the class.

The omega nods and begins to follow Jung down the hallway.

As they walk side by side, Jung Hwan can't help but steal a glance. From this close, the omega’s features seem even more striking. His skin is pale and smooth, with a natural pinkish flush on his cheeks and the tips of his ears. His silky dark gray hair frames his delicate face perfectly.

But it isn’t just his face that catches Jung’s attention. Unlike omegas, who are generally small, this one is tall enough, matching Jung’s height.

And then there are his eyes. Large, almond-shaped, and a crystalline shade of ocean blue. They radiate an innocence so pure it feels almost otherworldly. Jung can't stop thinking that this omega is really beautiful, yes, but there is something more. Something... magnetic.

Shaking off his thoughts, Jung Hwan speaks again. “It’s not far now.”

Aaron nods again, meeting Jung Hwan's eyes briefly, but a simple glance from the omega is enough to make Jung's heart skip a bit.

He bites the inside of his cheek to keep his focus. Get a grip, Jung. It’s just an omega.

The nurse works quickly, cleaning the small cut on Aaron’s lip and applying a cooling gel to his swollen cheek. Throughout the treatment, Aaron remains still, thanking the nurse with a soft voice.

Jung Hwan stays close, watching the omega out of the corner of his eye. There is something mesmerizing about the way Aaron moves—every turn of his head, every blink of his impossibly long lashes seems so deliberate.

When the nurse finally leaves, Jung Hwan breaks the silence.

“Feeling better?”

Aaron tilts his head, spreading his angelic smile. “Yeah, thank you for asking.”

“Hey,” Jung Hwan begins as they exit the infirmary. “I’m Jung Hwan, by the way. Fourth-year business student and the business department president.”

Aaron’s eyes brighten, and his smile widens. “I’m Aaron. Exchange student from Germany, same department.”

“Germany?” Jung Hwan repeats in surprise. “For someone who’s not from here, your Korean is really good.”

Aaron laughs softly; “My grandfather is Korean. So, I picked it up.”

“About earlier…” Jung Hwan hesitates, “I’m really sorry about Woo-Jin. He’s a bit aggressive.”

Aaron raises an eyebrow with curiosity. “A bit?”

Jung Hwan sighs, scratching the back of his neck. “Well, he is a spoil kid. As long as you don’t touch his territory, you’ll be fine.”

Aaron’s ask in curiosity. “Territorial?”

“Yes. Like his seat, his space, his… everything." Just avoid his territory and he won’t torture you…”

“Torture me? That's adorable," Aaron smiles back with an impossibly sweet tone.

Jung Hwan freezes, unsure if he has misheard the subtle edge in Aaron’s voice.

Aaron chuckles softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”

As they reach the classroom door, Jung Hwan clears his throat. “I’ve got another class, so I’ll leave you here.”

Aaron nods, “Thanks for helping me, Jung Hwan.”

Jung opens his mouth to reply but before he can utter a word, Aaron walks away towards the room.

Aaron pushes the door open and steps into the classroom. The professor’s eyes dart toward him, and without pausing his lecture, the professor gives a subtle nod, gesturing for Aaron to take a seat.

Aaron doesn’t respond, doesn’t even spare the professor a glance. Instead, he begins walking toward the back of the room. The silence that follows his entry is quickly overtaken by the rustle of shifting bodies and the subtle buzz of whispers.

Every pair of eyes tracks him with curiosity and judgment as they notice Aaron walking towards Kim Woo.

Reaching the back row, Aaron stops beside a desk where Kim Woo-Jin is sleeping. Aaron’s gaze sweeps over him briefly, then, without a word, Aaron slides into the empty seat next to him.

The classroom erupts into a flurry of hushed murmurs and exchanged glances.

“Is he insane?” one girl whispers.

“After what just happened?” a boy mutters.

“Probably trying to seduce Kim Woo,” someone else adds. “Typical omega behavior.”

Aaron sits with perfect composure, his hands folded neatly on the desk, and his ocean-blue eyes focus on the blackboard ahead. Not once does he react to the speculation swirling around him.

But in the back of his mind, he thinks, I can hear you all, you know.

His gaze shifts to Kim Woo-Jin, who remains in his slumber, seemingly undisturbed by the commotion.

Who would be interested in a scaredy cat?

Aaron thinks, leaning back in his chair as if the whispers and stares are nothing more than background noise.

Aaron’s eyes linger on Kim Woo-Jin, the dominant alpha whose presence earlier had suffocated the room. Now, up close, he seems oddly peaceful—or at least quieter. But even in his sleep, Woo-Jin has a faint crease in his brow.

This is going to be interesting,

Aaron thinks with a smirk, tilting his head slightly as he studies the sleeping alpha.

He leans his chin on his hand.

“Please entertain me while I’m here,"

Then, something unexpected catches his attention.

Woo-Jin’s nose twitches.

Aaron blinks as alpha’s nose wiggles again, subtly at first, like he is catching a scent.

What is he dreaming about?

Before Aaron can fully process what is happening, Woo-Jin shifts in his seat. Slowly, as though guided by some invisible pull, the alpha’s head turns toward Aaron. His face inches closer, and his sniffing grows deeper.

Aaron’s smirk fades, replaced by a look of confusion. He sits frozen as Woo-Jin’s head continues moving closer to Aaron, seemingly unaware of the world around him.

Then, Woo-Jin’s nose brushes against Aaron’s neck.

Aaron flinches slightly, his body stiffening at the sudden contact. Woo-Jin doesn’t stop. Instead, he rubs his nose gently against Aaron’s skin, inhaling deeply as though chasing a scent he can’t get enough of.

The warmth of Woo-Jin’s breath fans over Aaron’s neck, sending an unfamiliar shiver down his spine. Woo-Jin tilts his head slightly, pressing his nose into the curve of Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron’s mind races. What is he doing?! Why does this feel... so weird?

He can already feel the stares of the other students, hear the whispers starting to ripple through the room.

Meanwhile, Woo-Jin continues his unconscious exploration. His lips graze Aaron’s neck, and he lets out a soft, contented hum, as though the scent is soothing him in some way. He nuzzles his face into Aaron’s neck.

Unable to take it anymore, Aaron’s lips part, and he mutters, “Hey... are you a dog?”