Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 138: PHEROMONE MATCH RATE

HOWEVER, despite the pleasant aroma of honeyed wood and subtle spice surrounding him, the acidic scent still clung stubbornly to Haneul’s skin, leaving him deeply uncomfortable.

Lee Minjae’s voice dripped with venom as he took a step forward, the acidic scent intensifying with every word. "What’s this—playing the hero now?" His lip curled as his gaze raked over Taeyang’s defensive stance. "Do you really think I’d lay hands on them? Or is this just another performance to remind everyone of how much of a dominant Alpha you are?"

The stinging odor grew stronger, so thick it made Haneul’s eyes burn and water. From the corner of his vision, he saw Park Seongwoo collapse to his knees, his entire face flushed an alarming red, as if racked with sudden fever. Then, without warning, a sickly sweet scent cut through the acidic air—cloying and curdled, like spoiled milk. The combination of the two scents twisted Haneul’s stomach, sending a wave of dizziness crashing over him.

Then Lee Minjae abruptly cut off his tirade, his head snapping toward where Park Seongwoo had fallen. Haneul blinked—was it his imagination, or had Lee Minjae’s canines just visibly elongated, sharp and unnatural, like some... beast?

"Shit."

Haneul heard Robin curse sharply behind him. Before he could ask what’s wrong, fingers clamped around his elbow, yanking him forward. Robin dragged him toward Park Seongwoo’s crumpled form, then hauled the dazed boy upright with his free hand.

"Taeyang, keep that idiot back!" Robin shouted over his shoulder at Taeyang, who was already intercepting Lee Minjae as the latter lunged toward them—or more accurately, toward Park Seongwoo. Robin then snapped at Kim Joonhyuk, who stood frozen in place: "You! Help Taeyang now!"

Robin pulled both Haneul and a barely-conscious Park Seongwoo out of the practice room. As the door swung shut behind them, Haneul could have sworn he heard a guttural growl rumble through the walls—but his attention snapped to Robin, who was now muttering a steady stream of what could only be French curses under his breath, each syllable sharper than the last.

"Excuse me! We need help over here!" Robin called out to two staff members passing in the distance.

The staff turned, took one look at Park Seongwoo’s condition, and immediately sprinted toward them.

"What happened?" the first staff member asked, skidding to a stop.

Robin kept his grip on Park Seongwoo’s arm. "I think one of our Alpha teammates just went into rut, and Seongwoo-ssi reacted. He might be going into heat."

Haneul’s expression mirrored the staff members’ stunned reactions the moment Robin finished explaining.

What?

***

Haneul stared at the water bottle he was holding. He was in the ship’s infirmary. The doctor on board had just given him a suppressant shot to make sure he wouldn’t go into heat—something Haneul thought was unnecessary, since his next heat cycle was still about two weeks away. But the doctor had insisted, just to be safe, because he didn’t want another Omega going into accidental heat. Like what happened to Park Seongwoo, who was, by the way, isolated in a separate room right now.

He still couldn’t believe what just happened. So, that acidic scent he smelled from Lee Minjae was because the other was actually going into rut. And then, Park Seongwoo reacted, thus the cloyingly sweet smell that followed after. Just recalling it made everything feel abruptly, uncomfortably real. Like a flashing warning sign reminding him that he was truly in a world different from his previous one.

Haneul twisted open the water bottle and took a long swallow, hoping the cool liquid might ease the lingering discomfort clinging to him.

"Are you alright, Haneul?"

Robin’s voice reminded Haneul that he wasn’t alone in the infirmary. Being an Omega as well, Robin had also been given a suppressant shot, even though he hadn’t been much affected by Lee Minjae’s pheromones.

Yes, Haneul realized now. Those scents—they were pheromones.

Haneul raised his head and met Robin’s worried gaze. With a smile, he replied, "Yeah, hyung, I’m fine. What about you?"

"Aside from being thoroughly annoyed, I’m perfectly fine," Robin said, stretching his legs out on the infirmary bed across from Haneul.

"Do you think Seongwoo-ssi will be alright?" Haneul asked.

"Since we got him out of the practice room fast and they gave him suppressants immediately, he should be fine," Robin said. "Though I still don’t get how Lee Minjae’s pheromones triggered him—that guy smells like bitter melon juice left in the sun."

Haneul was about to agree, but then stopped. Bitter melon juice? "But he smelled like spoiled vinegar to me."

Robin looked at him and then laughed. "Spoiled... vinegar? That rather fits Lee Minjae."

"Why did he smell different to each of us?" Haneul asked, genuinely puzzled.

Hearing Haneul’s question, Robin remembered that it hadn’t been too long since the other manifested as an Omega. Some things that were probably general knowledge for Alphas and Omegas might still be unfamiliar to him.

"It has to do with the matching rate of our pheromones," Robin explained. "The higher the matching rate is, the closer it would be to smelling the real pheromone scent of someone. So, considering how bad Lee Minjae smelled to both of us, our matching rate with him is probably pretty low. But since his pheromones actually almost forced Seongwoo-ssi into heat, his match rate with him is probably pretty high."

Haneul’s mind latched onto one part of Robin’s explanation—the higher the match rate, the closer one would be able to smell someone’s true pheromone scent. Suddenly, he remembered that warm, honeyed wood scent with just a trace of spice. He was pretty sure that was Taeyang’s pheromones. The fact that it had smelled good to him... Did that mean...?

"Hey, do you know what people say about pheromone match rates?" Robin suddenly asked, interrupting Haneul’s thoughts.

Haneul shook his head. "No." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"They say, if two people have a match rate of at least 90%, then the two of them are fated mates." Robin grinned. "In short, if you matched with someone that high, then that person is your soul mate."