The Nose Blind Wolf.

Chapter 6

Everyone looks up when Bobby enters the kitchen, fully dressed but with his beanie clutched in his hand rather than on his head. The Alpha looks well put together and presentable, but each of them can easily smell the scent of sex lingering on him. Awkwardly, Bobby tilts his head at them in acknowledgement before making a beeline for the door.

"Hey," Jinhwan calls, stopping him. He stands up from his seat and approaches the Alpha. "You hungry? I was just about to make dinner for the kids." Hanbin and Donghyuk both grumble and protest at the description.

"I..." The Alpha trails off, really not wanting to accept. "That's okay. I'm sure my roommate's made something by now, so..."

"Please?" Jinhwan smiles at him. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you about."

Against his better judgment, Bobby can't find a way to excuse himself, so he relents. Okay, he'll stay for dinner.

Jinhwan pours everyone a glass of water, handing a cup to Bobby as a sign of gratitude. "Thank you," he says, "for helping Junhoe."

Bobby pulls his glass closer to himself, fingers tapping nervously against the side. "Um, no problem." He spins the cup around, staring at the water rather than at anyone else.

"I don't just mean now," Jinhwan clarifies, elbowing Hanbin when his mate begins to whine. Donghyuk quietly sips at his water, pretending that he's not really listening to the conversation. "Even though I don't seem to know what happened in great deal, it sounds to me like you also saved Junhoe from a forced mating, so thank you for that too."

Bobby squints down at his cup. "Of course," he says, stilted. Something seems off about Jinhwan's questions. Trying to shrug it off, Bobby finally lifts the cup to his lips and takes a sip of water.

Not a moment later, the elder cracks. "Alright, I don't know how to say this subtlely, so I won't even try. You don't have a sense of smell do you?"

Hanbin blubbers, smacking his mate on the shoulder, Donghyuk's eyes bulge, and Bobby chokes on his water, tipping his glass over accidentally when he tries to put it down. Jinhwan hardly reacts at all, grabbing a paper towel to mop up the mess in front of the shocked Alpha. "Excuse me?" Bobby asks.

"I'm not trying to judge you," Jinhwan assures him. "It's just something I've been starting to suspect, and I just wanted to make sure."

Bobby stands up from his seat, fully intending to leave now. "I don't know what you're talking about," he denies mechanically, turning to leave.

"Then what am I?"

The Alpha pauses at the challenge, slowly turning back to face Jinhwan. The elder smiles sweetly at him, but Bobby thinks it's more poisonous than sweet.

"Jinhwan," Hanbin whispers to his mate, "don't."

"What? It's just a simple question," Jinhwan defends, eyes locking with Bobby's. That smile is still stretched across his lips. "Or...is there a reason you don't want to answer?"

Bobby swallows nervously. His eyes scan over the smaller man taking in his short stature, small physique, and youthful face. He also reminds himself that Jinhwan and Hanbin are mates, and Hanbin is definitely an Alpha. Although not unheard of, Alphas don't generally mate other Alphas. Anyways Jinhwan doesn't look like an Alpha. So beta or omega. Licking his lips, he goes with what he thinks is the most likely answer. "Omega -"

"Beta," Jinhwan interrupts him with a knowing smile. Donghyuk makes a small noise of indignation, like he can't actually believe that Jinhwan tricked the Alpha. Bobby curls his fingers into a fist and silently curses himself. "I'm a beta. You really can't smell it, can you?"

Bobby pointedly ignores Hanbin's and Donghyuk's gaping expressions, trying to save his dignity from the bruising punch Jinhwan threw his way. "Fine," he relents with a sharp edge in his voice, "you're right. I don't. I can't smell the difference between Alphas, betas, and omegas. I can't smell your friend's heat. Happy? What's your point?"

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Bobby's nails dig into the skin of his palms, hard enough that he's sure to leave marks. "Why would I?" he scoffs, refusing to meet the beta's gaze. "It's hardly something to be proud of, and I barely know you."

"You saved Junhoe from another Alpha," Jinhwan reminds him. "Why?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Bobby demands.

Jinhwan catches the Alpha's gaze and holds it confidently while he answers, "Oh, it has to do with everything. So, please, tell me your answer." The beta stares imploringly at the other.

It takes a moment for Bobby to reign in his anger enough for him to unclench his fist and answer. A sigh falls from his lips. Lifting his hands up, he presses his fingers against his forehead and closes his eyes. "Why else would I help? An Alpha jumped him, and he screamed for help. I heard, so I helped." He finally opens his eyes after that to glare at the nosy beta. "Are you satisfied yet?"

Jinhwan clasps his hands together, a bright, wide smile on his face. His obvious enthusiasm set off alarm bells in Bobby's head setting the Alpha completely on edge. "You're perfect!" the beta exclaims much to everyone else's confusion. "Oh, my gosh. You are absolutely perfect!" Reaching out, he grasps Bobby's hand with both of his own, grinning brightly at the confused Alpha.

"Uh, what are you talking about, Jinhwan?" Hanbin asks, effectively taking the words right out of Bobby's mouth.

"He's perfect," Jinhwan repeats, "don't you think?"

"Why? For what?" Bobby asks this time, unsure of the beta's intentions. "What are you even talking about?"

Jinhwan stares at him like he can't understand why Bobby has yet to catch on. "For Junhoe," he answers simply, still grinning. "I think you're perfect for him. Won't you consider him for a mate?"