#10

As he spoke, Jung-hyun picked up a bottle from the mini-bar. It was a whiskey that looked quite expensive.

Ho-jae frowned slightly. He didn’t want to drink in a space where he was alone with Kwon Jung-hyun. Who knew what might happen if he got drunk? If he wanted to avoid drinking, he had to speak up himself.

“…Alphas and Betas are the same as people.”

“Hmm. A cliché opening.”

Jung-hyun poured the liquor into the glass he had used for water. The sound of the heavy liquid falling and pooling in the glass was refreshingly clear, contrasting with the atmosphere.

Ho-jae only narrowed his eyes at the simmering anger. To call someone’s words a “cliché opening.” It seemed he had no intention of listening seriously in the first place. It was only natural that Shin Ho-jae’s voice took on a sharp edge.

“I suppose two letters would be added to the trait column if one becomes an Alpha.”

“Go on.”

Jung-hyun smiled and sipped the drink he had poured. Shin Ho-jae paused for a moment before speaking.

“There will be people who expect things from you arbitrarily just because you’re an Alpha, and others who envy you arbitrarily. Even for results achieved through grueling effort, you’ll hear that it’s only natural because you’re an Alpha.”

“Hmm.”

“Though I’m sure that’s not what you wanted.”

As he spoke, a slight sneer unconsciously crept into his voice.

To think that his middle school coach and Kwon Jung-hyun were the same type. He felt as if the value Kwon Jung-hyun held had become equal to that insignificant lump of inferiority that was his coach.

“My, my.”

It was then that Jung-hyun spoke slowly.

“That sounds like something an Alpha would say.”

Shin Ho-jae looked at Jung-hyun with a slight frown.

Jung-hyun placed the glass he was drinking from on the bar and crossed his arms.

“Player Shin, you were probably able to continue your sports thanks to manifesting early—and as a Dominant one, right? There were probably many friends around you who had to quit because they couldn’t manifest as Alphas.”

“…….”

“And yet, you speak as if you know nothing about any of that.”

As Shin Ho-jae fell silent, Jung-hyun let out a smirk and continued.

“Do all Alphas think like that? That the unfair perceptions of others are heavier and more unjust than the benefits they receive for being Alphas?”

“…….”

“I’m just asking out of curiosity. As you know, I’m a Beta.”

Shin Ho-jae quietly bit his lower lip. He couldn’t refute the words.

The world of sports was a world of Alphas. And because Shin Ho-jae was a Dominant Alpha, he was able to survive without being weeded out. Despite that, he had spoken as if he were completely unaware of the privileges he received for being an Alpha.

He felt as if his raw self—the part of him that internally viewed excessive expectations, jealousy, and malicious corporal punishment as unfair—had been exposed. Furthermore, even his base desire to subtly look down on Kwon Jung-hyun by putting him on the same level as his middle school coach.

The area below his cheeks burned. He was embarrassed, and at the same time, angry.

It was because he didn’t want to admit that he felt ashamed over words spoken by none other than Kwon Jung-hyun. Shin Ho-jae stood still with his eyes cast down.

“There’s about an hour left. What do you want to do?”

Kwon Jung-hyun spoke in a light tone, as if the strange power struggle from a moment ago had never happened.

“Should we order some room service and eat something?”

“…….”

“Ah, but Ho-jae, you must be full. You probably ate a lot at the banquet. Then how should we spend this time….”

Shin Ho-jae looked at Kwon Jung-hyun without a word. Jung-hyun tapped the table as if truly pondering, then took a step toward Shin Ho-jae. Shin Ho-jae did not back away and remained standing in place.

“Did you know? I heard that a tiny amount of pheromones are mixed into human saliva.”

Jung-hyun whispered low into Shin Ho-jae’s ear, like someone sharing a secret. Not immediately understanding what he meant, Shin Ho-jae’s eyes followed his face.

Jung-hyun spoke, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

“As you know, I’m a man who’s desperate to become an Alpha.”

“…….”

“Aren’t you curious? What kind of effect the saliva of a Dominant Alpha might have.”

Kwon Jung-hyun grabbed Shin Ho-jae by the collar and pulled him down. Just as their lips lightly met, Kwon Jung-hyun’s tongue sucked on Ho-jae’s lips.

Shin Ho-jae instinctively pulled his head back. It was a physiological rejection. Jung-hyun was looking up at him, the smile still on his face.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not letting this slide this time. I’m not in a very good mood.”

“…….”

It seemed that when Kwon Jung-hyun got angry, he smiled like that.

He swallowed hard. They had only just finished the inauguration ceremony today. Thinking that the club’s treatment of him depended on this man’s mood made him feel anxious.

Shin Ho-jae grabbed Jung-hyun’s face with both hands. Then, he lowered his head. Their lips, one surface rough and slightly cold, pressed together.

It was a kiss closer to a head-on collision, devoid of any mood or romance. Shin Ho-jae pressed his lips firmly, as if stamping a seal, and pulled away abruptly when he ran out of breath.

His heart pounded, having kissed for the first time in his life. As he gasped for air and looked down, he saw Kwon Jung-hyun looking at him with narrowed eyes.

“…Do you call this a kiss?”

His gaze was one of absurdity. When Ho-jae remained silent, only moistening his lips, Jung-hyun suddenly yanked Shin Ho-jae’s tie.

“I believe I told you that we need to mix saliva.”

And then their lips locked again. This time, because he acted as if he were using his tongue to pry open the gap between the teeth, Shin Ho-jae was able to open his mouth clumsily.

Immediately, a soft tongue invaded his mouth. Goosebumps broke out across the back of his neck. It was a strange sensation he had never felt before. He almost pulled away again, but he squeezed his eyes shut and endured it.

It was likely the ‘expression of eating something sour’ that he had pointed out once before, but fortunately, Kwon Jung-hyun had his eyes closed, so he wasn’t caught.

His hand swept up Ho-jae’s chest and lightly gripped his neck. Their bodies touched, and Ho-jae’s head naturally lowered further to match his height.

The hot tongue sucked on Ho-jae’s tongue and swept along the inside of his mouth. Shaking off the feeling of nausea, Ho-jae slowly pushed his tongue out and followed the movements. Being someone who learned anything physical quickly, it wasn’t particularly difficult for him to mimic Jung-hyun’s movements.

Just as he began to think it was unexpectedly manageable by focusing on the movement, a small, satisfied sigh escaped Jung-hyun’s mouth. Even though it was clearly a man’s moan, it was a sound that felt somehow thick and heavy.

At that moment, his tongue gently scratched and caressed the roof of Ho-jae’s mouth. A sensation like an electric current surged up the back of his neck. Startled, Shin Ho-jae momentarily broke the kiss.

Perhaps surprised by the sudden stop, a dazed expression—one Ho-jae had never seen before—was on Jung-hyun’s face. Or rather, it looked like a face stained with lust. Looking down at that face, the inside of Ho-jae’s mouth kept going dry.

“It seems certain that it has an effect in another direction….”

It was after a short while that a small, whispering voice filled with amusement was heard.

Not understanding the meaning, Ho-jae’s eyes blinked slowly. Following where Jung-hyun gestured with his eyes, his gaze slowly shifted to the neat suit pants he was wearing.

And to the center, which was unnaturally bulging.

It took about two seconds to realize what it was. As soon as he did, Ho-jae immediately stepped back.

The movement was so urgent that the chair behind him fell over with a loud noise. Along with it came the sound of Kwon Jung-hyun’s amused laughter.

* * *

“Glad to meet you, guys. I’m Peter Choi.”

A man speaking Korean with a slightly awkward accent greeted the players. It was the day the players visited the general sports complex for fitness tests after the off-season ended.

The players, dressed in light athletic wear, gave an awkward round of applause to the stranger. Peter Choi, a man of massive build whose thighs looked to be at least 27 inches each, responded by lightly raising his eyebrows above his wide sunglasses.

A third-generation Korean-American and former NHL player, he was the newly appointed coach of the Blue Wolves. As he spoke in rapid English, the interpreter standing beside him began simultaneous translation.

『My Korean is still very poor, but the interpreter here will always be by my side, so please do not feel intimidated—players and coaching staff alike—and feel free to speak to me anytime.』

The skillful and fast simultaneous translation was flawless, but the players’ faces still looked confused. Since Coach Park Nam-woong had been present at the inauguration ceremony just two weeks ago, the sudden change in coach was understandably baffling.

Ji Min-chul and Yuk Du-min whispered in low voices.

“So Coach Park got fired…?”

“I don’t know. Did Yong-su hyung know?”

“It seemed like hyung didn’t know either.”

“Uh-huh…. The atmosphere is weird. I guess I’ll have to show off my English skills from when I was in the youth league.”

“…….”

Beside them, Shin Ho-jae stared at the new coach’s face, his brow stiffly furrowed.

11 – Puck Drop