AOA Chapter 4

 

Yeonseo nodded as if she understood him, but she couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming power Joo Kangwon wielded. 

 

It was said that among alphas, hierarchy determined by pheromones mattered more than social status, but she hadn’t expected even the ABO branch director to be so visibly flustered.

 

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

 

“Not at all. We’ll issue you a new phone and smartwatch, so there’s no need to worry.”

 

Though he wanted to ask what kind of deal Kangwon had made, Lee Changgi wasn’t the type to let his emotions take over. 

 

Right now, the most urgent matter was to announce Hwang Yeonseo’s safe rescue, so he set aside his personal curiosity and acted strictly as the branch director.

 

“Yeonseo!”

 

Upon arriving at the hospital, Yeonseo was able to meet her family, who had rushed over after receiving the news. 

 

While she had been kidnapped, not knowing what the next moment would bring, all she could think about was her family. 

 

Despite their constant bickering and fights, she had prayed countless times to see them again.

 

Crying in her mother’s arms, who was sobbing with relief that she was safe, Yeonseo glanced at Naeun, who had been shopping with her that day. She wanted to ask what had happened, as her memory blanked out after following Naeun’s call into the fitting room.

 

‘Why didn’t you report it right away?’

 

Seeing Naeun’s tearful, relieved face, the unasked question pricked at her throat like a sharp needle.

 

💫

 

The car carrying Kangwon passed through a long garden and came to a stop in front of a grand mansion. 

 

The imposing estate was enough to intimidate anyone who laid eyes on it. 

 

Built with no regard for restraint, the mansion was extravagantly lavish yet exuded an air of sophistication.

 

It was unmistakably the main residence of the Cheonsang Group’s founding family. 

 

The mansion, as if embodying the group’s name ‘Cheonsang’ (Heavenly), flaunted the arrogance and pride of its owners.

 

“Welcome back, Chairman.”

 

The servants, having received word of Kangwon’s arrival, bowed respectfully before quickly dispersing to resume their duties. 

 

The head butler, Kim Seok, approached him.

 

“Where’s Lee Shinwoo?”

 

“He’s in the analysis room. His fever spiked slightly this morning but has since returned to normal. He’s been in the analysis room for three hours and ten minutes now.”

 

At the mention of the morning fever, Kangwon’s eyebrow twitched, but his expression quickly returned to its usual impassiveness. 

 

Nodding once, he adjusted his shirt collar, undoing the top button. 

 

The faint scent of sugar brushed past his nose. He changed course from heading up the stairs and made his way to his own room instead.

 

After washing up and changing clothes, Kangwon no longer carried any trace of that sweet scent. 

 

Satisfied, he lightly released his pheromones, as if spritzing on cologne. The deep aroma of oakmoss elevated his presence as an alpha.

 

Unlike the elegant hotel lobby-like first floor, the second floor was dazzling and sensual—a reflection of Lee Shinwoo’s taste. 

 

The bold combination of vivid orange and deep gray made Kangwon’s brow furrow slightly.

 

Despite having lived together their entire lives, their tastes were starkly different, perhaps because they weren’t blood-related.

 

〈Royal Alpha Family〉

 

This term referred to families that consistently produced alphas across generations, and the Joo family, owners of Cheonsang Group, was no exception. 

 

As an A-grade alpha, Joo Kangwon was more than deserving of the title ‘royal family.’

 

Joo Kangwon and the unexpected addition, Lee Shinwoo.

 

Once Joo Kangwon formally joined the family business, he propelled Cheonsang Group’s financial standing several ranks higher. 

 

Last year, he fully took control of the group and officially became its chairman. His radical and innovative moves clearly demonstrated just how exceptional an alpha he was.

 

Lee Shinwoo, though not related by blood, grew up in the same household as Kangwon and was no less remarkable. 

 

Unlike Kangwon, who bore the image of a ruthless predator, Shinwoo was often described as a masterpiece crafted by the gods, his stunning looks earning him adoration simply for existing. 

 

Despite the noise surrounding his background, his extraordinary intellect allowed him to carve out a place for himself within Cheonsang Group as a capable strategist.

 

As Kangwon entered the analysis room, dozens of monitors greeted him. 

 

Numbers raced across the screens at a dizzying speed. Staff from Cheonsang’s Future Strategy Institute busily analyzed the data, none of them pausing their work even as Kangwon walked in. 

 

Only his secretary, who happened to make eye contact, bowed slightly in acknowledgment. 

 

Kangwon ignored him, his gaze instead settling on Shinwoo, who stood at the center of the room.

 

Like Kangwon, Shinwoo had been groomed as an A-grade alpha, attending executive meetings since high school and learning from various experts. 

 

At just twenty-three, he was already proving himself as a capable leader.

 

“You could’ve told me you were coming.”

 

Shinwoo turned to Kangwon, feigning ignorance, even though he had already sensed his presence through his pheromones. His bright hair was casually swept back, and a faint trace of fatigue lingered around his eyes.

 

Unlike Kangwon, whose deep-set eyes exuded intensity, Shinwoo had large, striking eyes with a captivating allure. 

 

His straight brows, sharp nose, and refined lips made him unusually pretty for an alpha, his beauty inspiring admiration bordering on reverence. 

 

In appearance, he bore no resemblance to Kangwon.

 

“You had a fever this morning?”

 

“It was nothing. How about you?”

 

Shinwoo’s eyes flickered with curiosity, asking if things had gone well. Though he tried to appear nonchalant, his pheromones betrayed his agitation, his fist clenching briefly.

 

“I found her.”

 

Kangwon nodded affirmatively, watching Shinwoo closely. 

 

The absurdity of having Hwang Yeonseo stolen right under his nose was beyond words. 

 

Omegas were so rare that their protection systems were meticulously designed. No one could have imagined an omega being kidnapped in the heart of Gangnam.

 

With rescue teams dispatched immediately upon reporting and CCTV cameras everywhere, kidnapping seemed impossible. 

 

Yet, astonishingly, Hwang Yeonseo had vanished without a trace. 

 

The delayed report and her disappearance into a CCTV blind spot made finding her nearly impossible.

 

The sheer improbability of the situation convinced Kangwon that there had been an inside accomplice. 

 

Hwang Naeun, the sister who claimed to have acted alone, became the immediate suspect. 

 

Kangwon ignored the CCTV footage of Yeonseo walking alone and instead focused on investigating Naeun’s surroundings.

 

Money was always involved in such matters. After all, blood ties meant little in the face of profit. 

 

With Cheonsang Group’s tight grip on the financial sector, tracing the flow of funds was child’s play. 

 

The perpetrators might have thought their plan was meticulous, but Kangwon quickly caught their trail.

 

“I knew the secret wouldn’t last once it reached the guests… So I planned to entertain only one person at a time…”

 

An A-grade omega was a rare treasure. 

 

Even if hosting her cost billions, the number of willing sponsors would be endless, making it a profitable venture even if ABO got involved.

 

“Fortunately, she’s unharmed. They must’ve hidden her to avoid detection before they could collect the money.”

 

As Kangwon recalled the memory, the lingering scent of sugar seemed to cling to his nostrils. 

 

When he opened the door to the small break room in the abandoned factory, the overwhelming sweetness hit him like a wave. 

 

It was a scent that the beta kidnappers couldn’t detect, but it ignited the instincts of an alpha. It was as if he had stepped into a room filled with cotton candy—cloyingly sweet and impossible to forget.

 

When Yeonseo had gone into full heat, the scent became so intense that even Kangwon, the indomitable Joo Kangwon, found it hard to maintain his composure. 

 

It was like inhaling sugar that melted and clung stickily to his insides. 

 

Each breath sent the scent crashing into his brain like a thunderbolt. For Kangwon, who despised being swayed by an omega’s pheromones, she was the worst kind of opponent. 

 

Blinking away the memory, he continued in a calm voice.

 

“She needs to be checked for any health issues, so I left Manager Oh with her. He’ll bring her back once he’s done.”

 

Shinwoo nodded, his reaction seemingly indifferent, but the subtle glimmer of anticipation in his eyes didn’t escape Kangwon. 

 

Patting Shinwoo’s shoulder, Kangwon turned to leave.

 

“Rest until she arrives. Don’t overexert yourself.”

 

Shinwoo didn’t respond, his dark eyes fixed on Kangwon’s retreating figure. 

 

A cold, bluish hue lingered in his gaze, but it wasn’t anticipation. Instead, it was a mix of wariness and suspicion.

 

💫

 

“Given the extreme circumstances, it’s likely that the instinct for species reproduction kicked in. Since the heat came early, it probably ended early as well.”

 

Fortunately, the doctor explained that there were no major issues with her health and went on to clarify the reason for the premature heat.

 

“Since the alpha involved was A-grade, there’s a possibility of a unique heat-induced pregnancy. Were you using a contraceptive patch?”

 

“Yes. That’s not a concern.”

 

Omegas, especially those of higher grades, are more prone to pregnancy, so Yeonseo had been using the patch religiously since her manifestation. 

 

It only required applying it to her lower abdomen once a month for two days, and as long as she didn’t forget, it wasn’t particularly inconvenient.

 

“You’ll need to rest, so let’s keep you hospitalized for a couple of days to monitor your condition. You should also see a psychiatrist.”

 

After being pushed to her limits for two days, barely able to swallow water, and then going through a heat, her body was far from healthy. 

 

The doctor recommended hospitalization, but the situation wasn’t ideal. 

 

Yeonseo thought of the watcher waiting outside the examination room and smiled bitterly. 

 

At least there were no major issues—that was something to be grateful for.

 

“Immediate hospitalization might be a bit difficult.”