The Art Teacher | Jikook ✓ | The Next Chapter

Part 15

Do-hyun

As my heat draws closer, I find myself getting more attached to the beta by the name of Min Dae-ho. Whether this is simply due to my wild hormones or the fact that Dae-ho is one of the most perfect creatures in the universe is beyond me. I'm leaning toward the latter though.

Dae-ho is super anxious about how we're moving. He told me that everyone he's known has been really slow in their relationships. Oddly enough, we haven't even done anything. We've kissed, cuddled, and held hands. I wish I knew why he was so anxious. He isn't one of the members with anxiety, so it's confusing.

My fingers tap on the steering wheel of my car as I wait for my beta to exit his residence and join me for our date. I'm wearing the Dae-ho t-shirt he bought me at the store even though it embarrasses him when I wear it around him in public. But to me, it's reminiscent of a mark.

Betas can mark and be marked, but the process is slightly different than if an alpha or omega were to mark me. It used to be believed that the only class that could mark were alphas and that the only ones that could be marked were omegas. But nowadays, marking is optional and practiced between all pairs whether a/a, a/o, a/b, b/b, b/o, o/o, or poly relationships.

As my fingers trail the junction between my neck and shoulder, my eyes fall closed, wondering if I'd want to be marked. The thought of it is scary, yet exciting. It isn't as widely practiced because it makes things like divorce kind of complicated, but it is said to help omegas' heat, no matter what class marks them. In the past, alphas stated that only they could fulfil omegas' needs, but that has long since been disproven. I've never thought of being with a beta before, but something about it just seems so perfect.

I grew up with pretty old-fashioned parents. They weren't homophobic, racist, or transphobic, but they still saw alpha-omega relationships as the ultimate pairing. When I started to use a wheelchair, they further instilled this in me, telling me that only an alpha can take care of me.

But as I got older, I started to doubt this a bit. I found alpha idols attractive, but I also found omegas and betas attractive. All of Asp!re is beautiful and the only one who is an alpha is Jung-nam, yet I don't find myself sexually attracted to him or the other three. Who I do find that physical pull toward is Dae-ho. It just took me meeting him in person to trigger it.

I am one of the omegas who can't use the typical scent suppressants due to how they affect me, but my birth control does bite back a bit on the smell. Working in a coffee shop helps mask it too, but it's still easily picked up by alphas, omegas, and some betas.

The scents of a lot of alphas are really strong. Apparently, Jung-nam and Jungkook have pretty smells despite their class, which is nice to know. Something about the super strong, woodsy smells of certain alphas gives me a headache. I like sweet things, so I've oftentimes found myself drawn to omegas. But something about betas feels different, but not in a bad way.

When I scent Dae-ho, his body doesn't instinctually try to overpower me or put me in my place. He doesn't automatically douse me in his scent when he's feeling territorial. These traits are typically based more upon personality than class, however. But Dae-ho's lavender scent is so light and airy that it feels nice and not suffocating at all. I love it.

I love his scent.

"Mint," Dae-ho says breathlessly, smiling his cute, full-lipped gummy smile at me.

"Ho-ho." I giggle, my scent unconsciously sweetening due to his presence. "I've missed you."

He blushes. "Really? We saw each other not too long ago."

"B-Being with you is my new homeostasis."

Dae-ho stares at me incredulously. "Is it?"

I shift anxiously in my seat. "W-Well, yes and no. I love being around you. But like, I'm still independent. I won't die if you're not around. Like, you definitely wouldn't have to be stressed about going back to Busan cause—"