The room was quiet — too quiet. A soft hum of the ceiling fan echoed against the muted rhythm of someone breathing steadily beneath thick sheets. The morning light bled through the curtains, spilling gentle streaks of gold across the bed, where Rin slept soundly, his face finally at peace after what felt like a lifetime of unrest.
For the first time in days — or perhaps years — Rin slept without the weight of vigilance pressing against his chest. His breathing was calm, his eyelashes fluttering faintly against his pale cheeks. The silence was almost sacred.
Rin stirred. His fingers twitched before his body slowly responded, consciousness tugging him back from the depths of slumber. When his eyes finally blinked open, a dazed expression crossed his face. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar — smooth, high, and bathed in muted sunlight.
He blinked again.
Where… am I?
The sheets beneath him were soft — much softer than anything in his hideout. His body felt… light. It was strange, almost alien. For so long, his sleep had been a restless battle between exhaustion and nightmares. But now? His limbs didn't ache. His chest didn't burn.
Rin slowly sat up, his movements careful, wincing slightly at the dull pain in his side. The faint scent of antiseptic clung to the air — clean, sharp, sterile. He scanned the room with lazy curiosity: dark wooden walls, modern furniture lined with silver accents, and a faint trace of pheromones marking the air.
The realization hit him.
This scent… Kael.
Before Rin could process further, the door creaked open. Eric stepped in, holding a tray. The moment his eyes met Rin's open ones, he froze — the shock on his face was immediate.
"Rin—! You're awake!" Eric nearly dropped the tray as he rushed to the bed. "How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Your wound—"
Rin raised a hand weakly, shaking his head. His throat burned as he tried to speak. He opened his mouth, but only a raspy sound came out. Eric, noticing, quickly handed him a glass of water.
"Here."
Rin took it, his fingers brushing against Eric's for a brief second. The cool water soothed his throat as he drank slowly, his voice coming out hoarse, "...I'm fine. Just… tired."
Eric gave a small smile of relief. "You scared the hell out of everyone."
At that, Rin stiffened slightly. "Where… am I?"
"You're at the Wolf Marks' headquarters," Eric said, sitting down at the edge of the bed. "Kael brought you here after the auction. You were unconscious for a full day."
" I'll go tell everyone that you're awake."
Before Rin could respond, Eric stood and hurried out of the room. The moment the door closed, silence reclaimed the space once again.
Rin sat still, staring at nothing for a long moment. Then slowly — too slowly — fragments of memories began to resurface. The auction. The fight. His heat. Kael's face.
And then—
The memory hit him like a surge of lightning.
Kael's hand, gripping his waist.
His lips, brushing Rin's neck.
The searing heat of the mark.
Rin's eyes widened, his breath hitching. No. That couldn't be real. His fingers reached up to his neck on instinct — his pulse quick beneath his skin. The faint sting, the warmth — it was all there.
His heart began to pound.
He… marked me.
It was faint, a temporary mark, but it was enough. Enough for his body to crave that Alpha's presence. Enough to make him restless when Kael wasn't near.
His face turned red, his hand gripping the sheets tightly. "What… what have I done…" he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling slightly.
His mind was a storm. Kael knew. Kael knew he was an omega. And he marked him.
What would happen now?
Rin's chest tightened as he stared down at his trembling hands. He had hidden this part of himself for so long — his biology, his weakness. He refused to be defined by it. Yet now, because of that one night, everything he worked so hard to bury was laid bare.
He was still lost in thought when the door opened again.
Kael entered.
He stood near the doorway, tall and composed, his expression unreadable as always. The sharp scent of his pheromones filled the room instantly — dominant, calm, and warm. Rin's chest clenched at the scent.
That faint hollowness that had lingered since he woke up suddenly eased, replaced by a strange sense of calm. It's because of the mark… he realized bitterly. My body wants him near.
Kael's eyes swept over him quietly — assessing, unreadable. Rin could feel the Alpha's gaze trail over the faint sheen of sweat on his skin, the curve of his neck, the pulse point that bore the proof of Kael's bite.
He felt exposed.
Kael finally walked closer. Rin instinctively flinched, his body tensing like a cornered animal. Kael noticed — his steps slowed.
Rin's expression hardened, his eyes warning: try anything and I'll kill you.
Kael said nothing. He simply sat in the chair beside the bed, resting an arm on his knee, his tone even. "How are you feeling?"
Rin's voice came out quiet, rough. "I'm fine."
Kael tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "You have a lot to explain, Rin."
Rin's gaze flickered. He wanted to avoid this conversation, but he knew he couldn't. Kael already knew too much — and he had saved him. He deserved some answers.
After a long pause, Rin exhaled softly. "…Fine. But first — what happened to the others? The omegas from the auction."
"They're safe," Kael replied immediately. "Those with families were sent back. The rest are under protection until they find somewhere to go."
Rin nodded slowly, relief softening his tense shoulders.
Silence settled between them. Heavy, but not uncomfortable. For a few minutes, the only sound was the faint ticking of the clock.
Then Rin spoke again, his tone quieter — resigned. "I was born an omega."
Kael's eyes stayed on him, unwavering.
"I hated it," Rin continued, his voice shaking slightly despite his attempt to keep it steady. "Omegas are treated like filth in our world. Breeding machines. Property. I refused to live like that — so I hid it. Suppressants, false reports, lies… whatever it took."
He looked away, bitterness flashing in his eyes. "No one looks at an omega and sees strength. They see a body they can use. That's why I created the Crimson Vultures — to build a place where even the unwanted could stand tall. I joined the underworld because no one here cared about bloodlines — only power."
Kael's gaze softened for the first time.
"And Silas?" he asked quietly.
Rin's eyes darkened. "A debt. One that should've ended years ago." He didn't elaborate, and Kael didn't push.
Another silence stretched. Rin shifted uncomfortably, his throat tight.
Then—
The door suddenly burst open.
"Rin!!!"
Ari dashed into the room like a storm, his voice echoing off the walls. Before anyone could stop him, he ran past Kael and leapt straight toward the bed.
"Ari—!" Eric's voice came from behind, horrified.
But before Ari could land on Rin's already healing body, Kael moved. Fast. His hand shot out, catching Ari by the collar mid-jump. The smaller boy yelped, legs dangling in the air like a kitten held by the scruff.
Rin blinked, startled, as Ari twisted his head to look up at whoever dared stop him — only to meet Kael's cold, unreadable expression.
"…A-Alpha…" Ari squeaked. Even though Ari himself was an alpha Kael presence commanded respect and dominance.
Kael didn't say a word. He just stared at him, his expression giving off quiet authority that made even the loudest of men shut up.
Ari instantly froze, going quiet like a scolded child.
Eric finally stumbled through the doorway, out of breath. The moment he saw Ari dangling midair, relief flooded his face. "Oh, thank God… for a second I thought—"
Kael set Ari down — firmly but gently — as the boy looked sheepishly toward Rin, who was half laughing, half wincing in pain.
"You're insane," Rin murmured, his voice soft.
Ari pouted, rubbing his neck. "I just wanted to hug you! You scared us half to death!"
Rin smiled faintly — the first genuine smile in a long while. "I'm fine. Really."
Kael didn't say anything, but the corner of his mouth twitched — almost imperceptibly — as he turned toward the door.
Rin sat still for a moment, his gaze following Kael's retreating figure.
His heart beat faster. His scent shifted — a mix of fear, confusion, and something dangerously close to longing.
He didn't want to feel this way.
Not for an Alpha.
Not for him.
But his body betrayed him.