"He told me he was meeting up with Mr. Wang." Kiyonari's brows furrowed. "Why? What's wrong, Eunji-sshi? You sound off right now."
A brief silence lingered before Eunji spoke again, this time her words rushed with unease. "I received some information from one of my usual sources. They've been tracking the Director's movements lately—trying to dig up anything to make a headline."
Kiyonari's grip on the phone tightened.
"I'm listening. What is it?"
"... It was so sudden. I wasn't sure if I should call, but—my source just sent me a picture. A clear one. It shows the Director entering a bar just a while ago."
"A bar?" His tone turned uncertain, eyes narrowing. "That doesn't sound unusual—unless..."
Eunji cut him off. "It's not a normal bar, Kihyun-sshi."
His heart gave a sharp tug. "What do you mean?"
"That place—it's known for its hidden dealings. Illegal activities. Elites and celebrities go there quietly, without their names ever attached. Drugs, exploitation—everything that could destroy a reputation in a blink." Her voice trembled, the weight of her words heavy through the line.
"And if the Director's really there... he's in danger right now."
[!!]
For a second, Kiyonari couldn't breathe. His pulse pounded in his ears as her words sank in, his mind instantly painting the worst possibilities.
"I got it." His voice hardened. "Tell me the address. I'll be on my way now."
He didn't wait for another word. By the time Eunji gave him the location, Kiyonari was already snatching his coat from the chair, shoving his phone into his pocket. His footsteps thundered through the quiet hallway as he made his way out of the office.
Director Je...! He screamed internally, his heart drumming wildly.
The thought of Soo-hyun alone in that kind of place twisted his chest in dread. His hands balled into fists as he rushed out of the building and into the dark night, the headlights of passing cars reflecting in his eyes.
This was the exact fear he always had buried deep inside. The one he hoped would never come true.
When Kiyonari arrived at the bar, the first thing that struck him was the thick smell of alcohol and perfume lingering in the air. The once-lively chatter from the hallways had died down; the crowd had thinned. He hurriedly approached the counter, only to find that the guests from one of VIP rooms had already left.
The staff behind the counter hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. "I apologize, sir," one of them said carefully, "but we're not allowed to disclose any further information about our clients."
Not allowed?
Kiyonari's jaw tensed. Rage flickered in his chest, burning hotter by the second.
His patience snapped—he slammed his palm onto the counter with a loud thud that startled nearby patrons.
"Please!" His voice rose, raw with desperation. "Someone I know is in danger right now! If you don't tell me anything—!"
Before he could finish, another man approached—the manager, judging by his sharp suit and calm but severe demeanor.
"I'm sorry, sir," the man said evenly, "but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You're making a commotion. We can't have guests being disturbed."
The words felt like a slap to his face. Kiyonari glared, his breathing heavy, but he forced to calm himself. He couldn't risk getting thrown out.
He swallowed hard, collecting his composure. Stepping back as he muttered under his breath, "Alright... fine."
But just as he turned away, frustration eating him alive, he caught a group of men passing by—laughing, whispering, their voices cutting through the noise.
"Man, I can't believe he actually came," one said, still chuckling.
"I know, right? I've never been that awestruck before."
"Oh, I get you," another replied with a smirk.
"He was a real beauty."
"Where do you think Yuri snuck him off to?"
The other man snorted. "Do you ever have to ask? Of course, to that place."
Their laughter echoed faintly down the hallway.
Kiyonari froze. His body stiffened, his blood running cold before it suddenly boiled with fury. Without hesitation, he strode over and grabbed one of them by the shoulder, spinning him around.
"Excuse me!" His voice thundered. "Where did Yuri go?! Was he with someone?! Please tell me...!"
The men flinched, startled by the intensity in his tone. One stammered, glancing at the others. "H-Hey, calm down, man!"
They denied at first but, because of Kiyonari's terrifying aura—eventually, he had to confess.
"He went to the restricted floor! I don't know which room, that's all I know!"
That was all Kiyonari needed. He let go abruptly and took off down the hallway, heart hammering against his ribs.
*****
He found the hidden staircase leading to the lower floors—a section of the bar reserved only for the most exclusive guests. The air grew heavier the deeper he went, the walls darker, the faint music replaced by muffled sounds behind thick doors.
It must be this room, he thought, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the knob.
He knocked once. No response.
"Hello? Is anybody there?!" Kiyonari's voice loud but cracked and trembled on worry.
He knocked again—harder this time. Still silence. And it was enough to make him grow more anxious.
He stepped back, took a sharp breath, and kicked the door open with full force.
The door burst inward.
Kiyonari's eyes widened at the scene before him—his blood instantly turned to fire.
"What the...!"
Soo-hyun lay motionless on the bed, his clothes slightly disheveled, his expression dazed and pale. On top of him, Taehan hovered—too close, his hand gripping the edge of the mattress as if caught mid-action.
Kiyonari's vision went dark. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Mr. Wang," he said, his voice low but shaking with fury, "what do you think you're doing right now?!"
Taehan looked up, startled for a second, before a sly smirk spread across his lips. "What do you think?" He replied mockingly.
"Get off him," Kiyonari growled, stepping closer.
Taehan straightened slowly, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve, his expression maddeningly calm. "Don't get the wrong idea, Mr. Soo. I was just helping Soo-hyun lie down cause he said he was feeling dizzy."
Kiyonari's glare sharpened. "You made him drunk."
Taehan chuckled. "He came here to drink with me in the first place."
"But you had your friends spike his drink, didn't you?" Kiyonari barked, his voice slicing through the room.
Taehan's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second. "Oh? So you knew?" He said with feigned amusement. "Guess one of those idiots tattled, huh?"
"That's not the point!" Kiyonari snapped, his voice breaking with restrained anger. "Do you even realize what you've done? This is a violation of the matchmaking protocol, Mr. Wang! Drugging and then attempting to attack an Omega participant is a big violation. We could report you for such actions."
"What are you gonna do? Report me to the Association?" Taehan barked. "Would you even convince them that I attempted to do anything to Director Je without any proof." He sneered.
"Even if you make those guys your witness, they're just drunkards who could be making shit up."
Taehan only chuckled—a low, dismissive sound. "You're so emotional, Mr. Soo. Almost like you're jealous."
Kiyonari froze. "What?"
"Hey," Taehan tilted his head, stepping closer, his eyes glinting with malicious curiosity. "Tell me," he drawled. "Have you fucked him already?"
The words hit Kiyonari like a slap. His breath hitched, his pulse roaring in his ears.
"I won't blame ya if that was the case. After all, Omegas feels so good, even to Betas like yourself."
Snap—
For a moment, something snapped inside him.
Before Taehan could even smirk again, Kiyonari's fist shot forward, connecting squarely with his jaw. The sound of the impact cracked through the air.
Thud!
Taehan stumbled backward, crashing onto the floor. Blood trickled from the corner of his lip.
Soo-hyun stirred at the noise, his lashes fluttering as he slowly opened his eyes. His vision blurred, but the scene before him came into focus—Kiyonari standing there, chest heaving, and Taehan sprawled on the ground.
"... Soo...?" He murmured weakly, his voice slurred from the effects of the drug.
The room fell silent for a moment—until the commotion drew others in. Several staff members and bouncers rushed inside.
"What's going on here?!"
One of them immediately stepped between the two men, holding Kiyonari back. "Sir, you need to calm down!"
But Kiyonari's glare never left Taehan. His fury was ice-cold now—quiet, dangerous, and ready to strike again if he had to.
*****
Kiyonari caught a glimpse of Soo-hyun, who had slowly risen from the bed—his movements sluggish and disoriented. His once pristine white shirt now hung loosely from his frame, half unbuttoned at the top, exposing the soft line of his collarbone and the faint marks around his neck. His pants were unbuckled, slightly open, the metal of the belt glinting faintly under the red neon lights.
The sight made Kiyonari's stomach twist violently. His pupils dilated, his mind blanked. The combination of horror and fury etched across his face was so palpable it was almost terrifying. Veins pulsed on his temples, and his jaw tightened until it shook from the strain.
He gritted his teeth, letting out a sharp, guttural grunt—then snapped.
In that instant, the air itself seemed to tremble.
A suffocating wave of pheromones erupted from him, thick and oppressive like a storm breaking loose from a cage. The entire room darkened under its weight—the scent sharp, heavy, and intoxicatingly dangerous.
The people around them were the first to react; their knees buckled as if crushed under gravity. Gasps filled the room. The bouncers who had stepped forward earlier now stumbled backward, clutching their throats, barely able to stay upright.
"Wh—What the hell..." one of them choked out.
Taehan froze on place. His smug smirk disappeared, replaced by pure unease. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Even as an Alpha himself, he could barely breathe under the crushing dominance flooding the air.
Kiyonari's eyes were nothing short of predatory—dark, cold, and glinting like a beast ready to lunge. Every step he took forward made Taehan flinch, the floor seeming to creak beneath the weight of his presence.
"W-What are you—" Taehan started, but his voice faltered. His confidence was gone. The atmosphere was thick enough to choke on, and the only thing that filled the space was fear.
Across the room, Soo-hyun's body quivered. He could feel it—the heavy, consuming wrath in Kiyonari's pheromones pressing against his skin, against his lungs, almost suffocating as chills ran down his spine.
This scent...! Soo-hyun screamed internally.
He clutched his chest, his breath short. The pressure was so immense that even his instincts screamed in panic. "A-Ah...!" He let out a weak cry, flinching as if his body itself was rejecting the force around him.
If this continued, the entire room would collapse into chaos. Everyone inside could lose consciousness from the intensity alone.
Soo-hyun had to stop him, despite feeling immense fear.
He forced himself to lift his head, his eyes hazy but determined. His voice came out cracked, trembling but loud enough to cut through the suffocating air.
"S...Stop this right now!" He gasped, his hand reaching out weakly toward him. "Soo Kihyun!"
The moment his name echoed through the room, Kiyonari froze. His body stiffened mid-step, the feral light in his eyes flickering.
He blinked, as if waking from a trance. His sharp glare softened immediately, his entire aura shifting in an instant. The dark haze around him began to thin, dispersing like smoke fading into air.
"D-Director Je..." Kiyonari's voice cracked, trembling with concern and guilt. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
Soo-hyun's breathing came shallow, his face pale. "Y-Your... pheromones..." He managed to say between short breaths. "Stop releasing it..."
"Director Je!" Kiyonari rushed to him, his tone breaking from panic. He reached his side in second, catching him just as Soo-hyun's body gave out.
As the overwhelming pheromones dissipated, the air slowly returned to normal. Those who had fallen were finally able to catch their breath, though most were still too shaken to move.
Soo-hyun slumped forward, collapsing into Kiyonari's chest. His body felt limp, his weight light yet heavy from exhaustion.
"Sir, can you stand? Are you hurt anywhere?" Kiyonari's voice was frantic, his hand cupping the back of Soo-hyun's head protectively.
Before he could get a response, a low, broken laugh cut through the silence.
"Ha... hahahaha..."
It came from Taehan, still sprawled partly on the floor, wiping blood from the corner of his lip. His expression was twisted—half on disbelief, half in bitter amusement.
Kiyonari's eyes darted toward him, instantly sharp again.
Taehan chuckled, spitting faintly to the side before sneering. "So... you're actually an—"
"Shut your mouth." Soo-hyun's voice sliced through the air, unexpectedly sharp. It was low, venomous, and unsteady—but it carried the same weight as a blade pressed to the throat. "If you've got nothing to say, then keep your mouth fucking shut...!"
Taehan glared back, his smile returning—a crooked and bitter curve. "You little..." He hissed.
Kiyonari's eyes narrowed dangerously again, but this time, he didn't say a word. He took off his jacket instead, gently wrapping it around Soo-hyun's shoulders. The scent of his cologne mixed faintly with his still lingering pheromones, grounding the weakened man.
"Here," Kiyonari said softly. "Let me help you."
He slipped an arm around Soo-hyun's back, carefully guiding him up to his feet. Soo-hyun swayed, his hand gripping Kiyonari's sleeve for balance.
"Let's get out of here," Kiyonari muttered, his tone low, and protective.
They turned toward the door, moving slowly. The crowd that had gathered outside parted instinctively, none daring to speak a word.
But before they could leave, Taehan coughed again—his laughter faint but mocking.
"Mr. Soo..." He called out.
Kiyonari stopped and looked over his shoulder, his expression blank but eyes sharp.
Taehan smiled, his tone tainted with a hidden edge. "I'll see you around."
It was a smile that promised something dangerous.
Kiyonari didn't respond. His silence alone spoke enough. Without another word, he turned and led Soo-hyun out of the room—his arm still firmly around him, shielding him from every gaze that dared to follow.
The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, sealing the suffocating tension inside.