TAT | MW [✔]

02. Wonwoo

Cedarwood after a fresh rain. That was the scent that I couldn't get out of my nose as I ran through the schedule for ESA training over the next few days with the latest batch of alpha recruits. The scent filled me with a deep sense of calm and of childhood memories of camping with my father, brothers, and sister.

At the same time, it annoyed the crap out of me. The last thing I needed when I had a class to teach and a job to do was an alpha scent that powerfully muddled my thoughts and emotions. I was around alphas all the time in my job at the institute. I'd thought I'd reached the point where I could tune out alpha markers.

So much for that idea.

"The training course consists of two parts," I said, focusing on the smartboard as I called up information and graphics to illustrate the various units of the course. "This afternoon and tomorrow morning, we'll work on omega and alpha biology, both individually and as they relate to each other."

"Sounds like what I teach high school kids," Kim said, just barely loud enough for me to hear.

I paused in the middle of switching to another slide, pursed my lips, and stared flatly at the guy. "Do you have something to add?" I asked, working hard not to sound unnecessarily peevish and failing.

Kim looked surprised. He still had his thick, muscled arms crossed, but his brow flew up in surprise. "No, sir," he said, sounding as puzzled as he looked.

My shoulders bunched slightly with an awkward combination of embarrassment and frustration. Maybe I'd been imagining things.

I nodded at him and then turned back to the board. "Male omega biology and female omega biology have distinct differences, which we will discuss," I went on, pushing aside my strange, unsettled feelings. "And contrary to popular myths that keep being perpetuated, male omega anatomy is not simply female organs manifested in a male body. Omegas are not just male women. There are many, many nuances that make male omegas very different than female omegas or betas."

I must have been harder up for alpha companionship than I'd thought if I was imagining an alpha like Kim talking back to me. True, my heat was coming sometime in the next week. I had more than enough time to teach the class before I would need to retreat to my cabin at the very top of the mountain with Jun, or whichever of my other ESAs friends had three or four days to spare for a heat. My pheromone levels were higher than usual before a heat, but not so much as to be noteworthy.

"After we've discussed omega biology," I went on, clicking to another slide, "we'll spend a bit of time on alpha biology, which I'm certain you're all very familiar with."

A few of the alpha students chuckled. My gaze shot straight to Kim to see if he was one of them.

The man's expression was neutral, but I felt antagonism pouring off of him like he wanted to pick a fight or question what right an omega had to teach about alpha biology.

No, it wasn't antagonism, exactly. It was more like...aggression, command. Like he wanted to grab me, bend me over the desk, and have his way with me.

And I might actually like it.

I cleared my throat and tried to focus. It wasn't me; it was biology. Kim had all the classic markers of a particularly virile alpha. He was tall, with broad shoulders and well-defined muscles. His jaw was clean-shaven, but even at mid-morning, stubble was beginning to show. Additionally, Kim had high cheekbones, warm brown eyes, and tousled black hair that was considered to be particularly attractive to most omegas.

Alright, I was willing to admit it was attractive to me too. I could objectively say that Kim was smoking hot. And I would concede that I had a natural reaction to the man. But I'd reacted to alphas before. It was just one of the things about the omega body I'd been born with that pissed me off, just like my beta sister constantly complained about PMS mood swings and cramps.