Three hours in, my chest felt like it was wrapped in barbed wire.
Each breath came shallow and sharp, never quite filling my lungs completely.
The blockers were doing their job; nobody had caught even a whisper of omega scent, but they were also slowly cooking me from the inside out.
"One more time from the top," Yuhyun called out, his voice still bright with energy.
The room spun slightly as I pushed myself back to the starting position.
Sweat dripped down my spine, but it felt wrong—too hot, too sticky. My heart hammered against my ribs like a caged animal.
"You alright?" Jisoo's quiet voice cut through the fog in my head.
I blinked hard, focusing on his concerned expression. When had he gotten so close?
"Just... pushed myself too hard." The words came out breathless but believable. "Haven't trained this intensely in a while."
He nodded, accepting the explanation easily. Around us, other trainees were panting just as hard, faces flushed with exertion.
