The stifling, tense air in the penthouse’s grand suite suddenly snapped.Seo-jun didn’t retreat an inch, his Adam’s apple bulging in his constricted throat as he glared at the man before him.
His knuckles were white, his black eyes burning from within with a ferocity that suggested he would rip his own limbs from their sockets rather than let himself be trapped.
Tae-hyuk had the overwhelming Alpha instinct to slam the door, secure the deadbolts, and drag the unwilling Seo-jun back onto the bed.
And yet, as he stared into those smoldering black eyes, realization clawed icily at his spine.
If I push him now, he’ll end up hating me for the rest of his life.
The thought made Tae-hyuk’s stomach twist with something unpleasant.
With a visible effort, he uncurled his fingers, taking a reluctant step back.
“Fine,” Tae-hyuk growled, the words coming out as a hoarse whisper.
He dug into the inner pocket of his suit, producing a prescription bottle of heavy glass, and tossed it at Seo-jun’s feet.
“The doctor prepared these .
They’re top-quality suppressants, laced with the necessary dosage to neutralize a prolonged heat cycle.
If you’re idiotic enough to walk outside in the city air without taking them, every single unbonded Alpha within a three-block radius will be able to detect you .
Take them, Seo-jun.” Seo-jun narrowed his eyes at the bottle, jaw tightening.
He did not want anything from this man.
He was not a child, he could take care of himself .
He knew how his body reacted, knew that he had to get rid of the unbearable, feverish sensations crawling up his bones and threatening to consume his blood with its sweet, cloying warmth.
With a reluctant sigh, he took the bottle from Tae-hyuk’s outstretched palm, wincing as their fingers brushed against each other.
“Listen closely, Tae-hyuk,” Seo-jun said darkly.
His voice was as flat and threatening as a blade.
“Do not.
Bother.
Me.
Do not call, do not seek me out, do not send anyone to watch my every step.
If you dare try to involve yourself in my life again, I’ll make sure you regret the day you ever laid eyes on me.” Tae-hyuk closed his jaw, muscles twitching.
He did not promise to forget, for he knew he could not.
He simply gave a stiff nod in reply.
“Do-jin will drive you home.
You’re not in any condition to take the subway,” ” I don’t need-” ” You will,” Tae-hyuk said firmly, his voice holding a trace of something akin to concern for once, stripping away all the possessiveness and self-loathing.
“Just…
let him get you home safely.” Seo-jun gave a short, irritated breath but did not object further, turning on his heel and striding toward the double doors.
Outside the corridor, the head bodyguard immediately straightened upon seeing Seo-jun, his hands folding neatly behind his back as if he hadn’t spent the last ten minutes listening to his employer screaming in his ear.
“Mr.
Han,” Do-jin said smoothly.
“This way, please.” The ride back was quiet, Seo-jun pressing his temple against the cold glass of the window as he stared out at the passing streetlights.
He swallowed twice, the cool glass of the medication rolling down his throat as he fought against the sudden wave of pleasant, sleepy drowsiness washing over his limbs.
The raging, feverish warmth inside his veins had been dulled to a dull, steady heat, suppressing the sudden burst of pheromones flooding his system.
Do-jin drove in complete silence, the only sound besides the occasional swish of the tides outside the car.
When the building finally drew near, Seo-jun watching the familiar, cramped alley with its flickering neon signs, Do-jin unlocked the doors.
“We have arrived, Mr.
Han,” the bodyguard said simply.
After a pause, he added quietly, “Take care of yourself.” Seo-jun gave a short nod in response, stepping out into the night air.
He did not look back as the car disappeared into the distance.The second Seo-jun unlocked the front door to his apartment, the moment the deadbolt slid out of place, it was wrenched open from the inside.
“OPPA!” Seo-ah all but launched herself at his neck, almost sending the still-dazed Seo-jun sprawling onto the floor, but he caught her against his chest, burying his face in her hair, inhaling deeply.
The familiar scent of home – the mild smell of cleaner, the faint aroma of orange tea and safety – wrapped around him, cocooning him in something warm and familiar.
“You’re okay…..you’re really okay,” Seo-ah choked out, small hands gripping the front of his rumpled shirt as she clung to him.
“I was so scared….
I thought something had happened to you….” “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Seo-jun murmured, running his hands up and down her back in slow, calming circles.
The tension, the feeling of impending doom that had held him captive since the morning all vanished – the anger, the hatred, the sheer exhaustion suddenly bled out of him as he pulled her closer.
“Oppa is right here, I’m perfectly fine.” He gently pushed her back, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears staining her cheeks.They sat in the small living room of their apartment, Seo-ah’s eyes wide with worry, watching him carefully.
Her usual bubbly, cheerful expression was gone, replaced with something more pensive – something that made Seo-jun’s stomach knot up.
“Oppa…..
what happened?” Her voice was small, but it trembled with something like fear.
“Ji-ho told me you collapsed at work yesterday.
And you look…..
you smell different.” Seo-jun exhaled shakily, running a hand over her cheek.
He had spent the ride back figuring out how he would explain this to her.
A part of him wanted to, wanted to tell her everything and have her hold him as he told her about the vicious, possessive Alpha who thought he owned him, of the endless days spent locked in the man’s penthouse, of the sheer terror that had consumed his every breath.
But she was nineteen, and despite her maturity, she did not need to know about things that could hurt her.
“Seo-ah..” he started softly, taking both her hands in his.
“You know how I presented as a Beta?” She gave a strange, small laugh, blinking up at him.
“A change?” “It’s rare, but sometimes..
it happens.
My body went through a change,” he hesitated, choosing his next words carefully.
“I collapsed yesterday because..
because I presented again.” Seo-ah’s eyes went wide in sudden horror.
“You..
you presented again?!”I’m an Omega now,” .
Seo-jun admitted quietly, before a heavy silence blanketed the room.
Seo-ah looked at him, her lips parting in silent shock.
In a society that valued Omegas highly, presenting late, especially as an Omega, was a life-changing experience.
“An..
an Omega?” she whispered, fresh tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, her worried gaze locking onto his face.
“Is that why you were gone?
Were you in the hospital?
Did you have a heat?” “I was in the hospital,” Seo-jun lied easily, smiling at her tear-streaked face.
“They..
kept me there until the fever went away and they managed to get me some medication.
That’s why I couldn’t answer your calls, Seo-ah.
It was all very sudden and I’m very sorry about all of this.” Seo-ah gave a small, shaky laugh, squeezing his hands.
“I don’t care about the calls, Oppa.
Tell me, are you hurt?
Does it hurt?” “It doesn’t hurt at all, ” Seo-jun said, leaning down and placing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“Oppa is perfectly fine.
I think I just need some sleep and for you to cook me some of your terrible food.” “Oh, my cooking isn’t terrible!” Seo-ah protested, wriggling her nose at him playfully.
“I’ll make you three bowls, then!” “I’ll eat them all,” Seo-jun murmured, wrapping her in a warm hug.
Resting his chin on her head, he gazed out at the night sky beyond the little apartment window, his smile slowly fading into something more serious.
The world outside would never change, the angry Alpha would always be circling around waiting for his chance to claim him, but as long as Seo-ah was safe and sound in his arms, he would always protect this quiet, peaceful piece of heaven he had.