I thanked him and hung up, my mind racing. Jiyeon noticed my tense expression. "What is it?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice.
"Nothing important," I lied smoothly, forcing a smile. "Just some business issues I need to handle. Everything's fine."
Jiyeon studied my face for a moment, clearly unconvinced but too tired to press further. She reached out, taking my hand in hers. "Okay, but you know you can tell me anything, right?"
"I know," I said softly, squeezing her hand. "But tonight is about you. Let's not worry about anything else."
She nodded, her eyes softening. "Come here," she murmured, pulling me close. Our lips met in a gentle kiss, the warmth and sweetness of her vanilla scent mingling with my own strawberry pheromones. The blend of our scents created an intoxicating atmosphere, wrapping us in a cocoon of comfort and desire.
The kiss deepened, our bodies pressing close, hands exploring tenderly. Despite the lingering pain from her injury, Jiyeon's touch was gentle yet filled with a passion that made my heart race. We pulled back slightly, breathless, our foreheads resting together.
"I love you, Jiyeon," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion.
"I love you too, Yura," she replied, her eyes shining with love and warmth.
We lay down together, Jiyeon nestled against my side. I stroked her hair softly, the rhythmic sound of her breathing gradually slowing as she drifted off to sleep. Her trust and vulnerability in that moment touched me deeply.
Once I was sure Jiyeon was sound asleep, I carefully slipped out of bed. I needed to handle the situation with Karen without alarming Jiyeon. Quietly, I left the room and made my way to my study, closing the door behind me.
I dialed Soo-Min's number, my mind racing with urgency. He answered on the second ring. "Soo-Min, it's Yura. We need to find Karen. She's a threat, and I want her located immediately."
"We're already on it," he replied, his tone serious. "I've got teams searching every possible hideout. We'll find her."
"Good," I said, my voice firm. "I don't want any mistakes. She cannot be allowed to come near us again."
"I understand. I'll keep you updated," Soo-Min assured me.
I ended the call and stared out the window, the moon casting a pale glow over the gardens. My thoughts were a whirlwind of concern and determination. Karen's escape posed a significant threat, but I couldn't let it overshadow the precious moments I had with Jiyeon. I would protect her at all costs.
Returning to the bedroom, I found Jiyeon still sleeping peacefully. I slipped back into bed, wrapping my arms around her gently. She stirred slightly, murmuring my name, but didn't wake.
As I lay there, the scent of vanilla and strawberries enveloping us.
----
I woke up and Yura's arms were still wrapped around me, her even breaths tickling the back of my neck. For a moment, I allowed myself to just lie there and savor the peacefulness, but the gentle scent of strawberries—the unique pheromone scent of Yura, an omega—was intoxicating, mingling perfectly with my own vanilla pheromones as an alpha. It was a scent that always filled me with warmth and love.
Carefully extricating myself from Yura's embrace, I tried not to wake her. She stirred slightly but settled back into sleep. Smiling at how adorable she looked, I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up.
When I returned, Yura was awake and stretching, her hair tousled from sleep. She smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Good morning, Jiyeon."
"Good morning," I replied, leaning down to kiss her softly. "I was thinking we could make breakfast together today. How does that sound?"
Yura's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds perfect! But I insist you don't lift a finger today. Just tell me what to do, and I'll handle it."
I laughed, knowing Yura's lack of experience in the kitchen would make this an interesting morning. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
We made our way to the kitchen, Yura practically bouncing with enthusiasm. As we entered, the housemaids greeted us politely and offered to prepare breakfast, but Yura waved them off. "No, thank you. Jiyeon and I are going to handle it today."
The maids exchanged amused glances but nodded. I handed Yura an apron, which she put on with a flourish. "Okay, Chef Jiyeon, what's first?"
"Let's start with something simple," I said, opening the refrigerator. "How about pancakes and scrambled eggs?"
"Sounds good! What do I do?"
I showed her how to mix the pancake batter, carefully measuring out the flour, eggs, and milk. Yura watched intently, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Okay, I think I got it," she said, taking over the mixing.
She poured the batter into the hot skillet, and we both watched as the first pancake sizzled and bubbled. "It's working!" Yura exclaimed, looking as if she'd just performed a magic trick.
"Just wait until you have to flip it," I teased.
When the bubbles started to pop and the edges looked firm, Yura grabbed the spatula. She slid it under the pancake, hesitated for a moment, and then attempted to flip it. The pancake landed half in the skillet, half on the stove, a gooey mess.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Nice try. Let's give it another shot."
By the third attempt, Yura had managed to flip a pancake perfectly. She looked so proud of herself that I clapped, and she took an exaggerated bow. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week."
Next, we moved on to the eggs. I cracked a few into a bowl and handed it to Yura. "Now, whisk these until they're all mixed."
Yura whisked the eggs with gusto, nearly splashing some over the sides. "Am I doing it right?"
"More or less," I said, biting back a smile. "Now pour them into the pan."
As she cooked the eggs, I started on the fruit salad. I could feel Yura watching me, trying to mimic my movements. She was endearing in her earnestness, and it warmed my heart to see her so determined.
When everything was ready, we set the table together. The pancakes were a bit lopsided, and the scrambled eggs looked a bit too scrambled, but it was perfect because we had made it together.
We sat down to eat, and Yura took a bite of her pancake. Her eyes widened. "Hey, this is actually good!"
"See? You did great," I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "I knew you could do it."
She grinned, her face lighting up with pride. "Well, I had the best teacher."
After breakfast, we cleaned up the kitchen, laughing and chatting as we worked. Yura insisted on doing the dishes, so I sat on the counter, keeping her company.
"I still can't believe I managed to flip that pancake," Yura said, scrubbing a plate. "It felt like such an accomplishment."
"It was," I agreed. "It's the little victories that matter."
Yura finished the last of the dishes and dried her hands. "So, what's next on our lazy day agenda?"
"I thought we could take a walk around the garden," I suggested. "It's a beautiful day, and the flowers are in full bloom."
"That sounds perfect," Yura said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Lead the way."
As we strolled through the garden, hand in hand, I felt a deep sense of contentment. Despite the chaos of our lives, moments like these made everything worth it. We paused by a bed of roses, the fragrance mingling with our pheromones—vanilla from Yura, and strawberry from me. The combination was intoxicating, a reminder of the unique bond we shared.
Yura pulled me close, her eyes locking onto mine. "You know, Jiyeon, I don't think I've ever been this happy."
"Me neither," I whispered, my heart swelling with love. "Thank you for being here, for everything."
We kissed softly, the world around us fading away. In that moment, nothing else mattered but us.
Later, as the sun began to set, we returned to the house. Yura yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "I think it's time for a nap."
I chuckled. "You go ahead. I have a few things to take care of."
Yura pouted but didn't argue. She kissed me one last time before heading upstairs. I had no idea what Yura was hiding, but I trusted her completely.