"Dae-hyun…"
His voice pierced through the drumming of my own heartbeat. It was fragile, quivering, carrying a fear I hated to hear. I barely had time to turn toward it when a sudden, sharp strike slammed into the side of my head. Pain exploded across my skull, white-hot, and the wet pavement rushed up to meet me.
"Woo-jin!" I shouted, scrambling blindly, but before I could reach him, another strike landed, knocking the wind out of me. My vision swirled with spots of black and gold, and my body went numb.
Through the haze, I caught a glimpse of him—his small frame trembling, his green eyes wide and panicked, hands reaching out for me, mouth forming silent pleas. My chest constricted, and I tried to push through the haze of pain, but it was too fast, too precise.
And then the darkness claimed me.
When I woke, the world was cold and suffocating. The air hung thick with dampness, metallic and acrid, clinging to my skin. My wrists and ankles were bound painfully, the rough rope cutting into my skin, and panic clawed at me as I struggled to sit up.
Woo-jin was there, restrained as well, shivering violently, his small body curled slightly against the cold floor. His hair was plastered to his forehead, droplets of sweat or rain glinting in the dim light. His face, pale and streaked with tears, looked like he'd been through hell—and my chest ached.
"Dae-hyun… what…?" His whisper was barely audible, trembling, but it cut through the fog in my mind.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice sharp and cold, though inside a storm of anger, fear, and helplessness raged. "I've got you," I said, my tone clipped. "I'll fix this. I swear I will."
A slow, cruel laugh curled around the edges of the room, chilling me to my bones.
"Well, well… my two little toys are awake." Saebri's voice slithered out of the shadows, smooth and venomous. "Miss me?"
Woo-jin flinched violently beside me, and a surge of raw, protective fury coiled in my chest. I hated this—the fear in his eyes, the trembling of his small body. I hated that I felt this pang of helplessness I couldn't shake.
I won't let him hurt you again. Not ever.
I glanced at Woo-jin, fragile, terrified, and my fists tightened so hard my nails bit into my palms. I have to protect him… but how?
The room felt smaller, darker, more suffocating with each passing second. I could feel the weight of his fear pressing into me, a sharp, suffocating reminder of why I'd never run from a fight before.
And I wouldn't start now.
I couldn't move fast enough. My body strained against the ropes, every fiber screaming, but it was useless. Saebri circled us like a predator, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"Look at you," he sneered, pointing at Woo-jin. "Shivering, crying… so fragile. So utterly… yours, Dae-hyun. How does it feel to watch someone you care about suffer again?"
What does he mean by again?
I ground my teeth, glaring. "Let him go. Now."
Saebri laughed, a slow, menacing sound that made my blood run cold. He stepped closer to Woo-jin, who flinched violently at his approach. My heart hammered in my chest—hate, fear, and helplessness all twisting together.
"Please… please don't hurt me…" Woo-jin whimpered, trembling, voice barely above a whisper. His tears ran freely now, wetting his pale cheeks, and I felt my chest constrict painfully.
I wanted to tear the ropes off myself, to smash Saebri's face in—but every movement I made was met with resistance. My strength, my fury, felt useless here.
"Shut up," I hissed at Woo-jin, trying to sound cruel, but inside, my chest burned with panic. "Just… survive. Please."
Saebri sneered, enjoying the control. He forced Woo-jin to kneel, tears streaming down his face. "I wonder… how far can I push him before he breaks. I remember last time."
I shook my head, desperate. "Don't you touch him. Don't—"
My words faltered as I saw the raw fear in Woo-jin's eyes. Every sob, every trembling breath stabbed me in the heart. My claws itched to act, to protect him, but I couldn't move fast enough.
He whimpered again, voice cracking. "Dae… it hurts… it hurts so much…"
I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight. I wanted to rip Saebri apart with my bare hands—but I was trapped.
And then… the worst came.
Saebri leaned in, eyes gleaming, lips curling into a cruel smirk. "I think it's time he truly understands who owns him…"
Woo-jin's scream pierced the air, and I froze. My chest tightened painfully.
No… no, not him. Not like this.
I strained against my bonds, every muscle screaming. "Stop! You'll regret it!" I yelled, my voice raw, shaking.
And then there was nothing but the sound of Woo-jin crying, the rage in my chest, and the helplessness that threatened to swallow me whole.
As Saebri forced Woo-jin down, the sound of tearing fabric filled the room, followed by Woo-jin's pained cries.
Saebri chuckled darkly, slowly unbuckling his belt as he looked at Woo-jin's exposed, trembling form. "Let's see how much he can take before he breaks completely."
He sneered, unzipping his pants. Woo-jin shook his head, sobbing uncontrollably. "N-no... please... not there…"
He wouldn't take a no for an answer.
Saebri laughed cruelly, gripping Woo-jin's hair and forcing his head back. "There? Here? Everywhere." He pressed his hard length against Woo-jin's unprotected hole, causing him to scream in pain. "Dae-hyun's gonna hear you cry and beg all night."
Saebri began thrusting mercilessly, tearing through Woo-jin's hole passage like a beast. Blood mixed with pre-spilled onto the floor with each brutal push and pull. Woo-jin shrieked, his voice hoarse from screaming. "AAAHHH! STOP! IT HURTS! IT FUCKING HURTS!"
"Shut up and take it!" Saebri growled, slapping Woo-jin across the face hard enough to leave red marks. He gripped Woo-jin's hips so tightly that bruises formed instantly. "Such a tight little hole... no wonder Dae-hyun kept you locked up."
I finally broke free from the chains, my eyes red with rage as I saw Saebri raping Woo-jin brutally on the floor. My vision blurred with tears of anger and pain seeing my beloved Woo-jin being violated like that. I lunged at Saebri, my claws out, ready to tear him apart. I grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the wall repeatedly, blood splattering everywhere. "You motherfucker! You fucking bastard!" I roared, punching and kicking him mercilessly.
I couldn't look. I couldn't do anything but feel the sharp, jagged pain in my chest as he suffered. My teeth ground together, jaw aching, heart pounding like it might burst.
Saebri crumpled to the ground, unconscious, and for a long moment the street was silent—just my harsh breathing and the pounding in my ears. My fists ached from the force I'd used, but I didn't care.
I turned to Woo-jin.
He was on the floor, shivering violently, his back pressed against the cold wall. His wide, blue eyes stared at Saebri's unmoving form like he was still expecting him to get back up.
"Woo-jin," I said sharply.
He didn't respond, didn't even blink.
"Woo-jin." My voice softened, just a fraction.
His eyes flickered toward me, dazed, terrified. "D…Dae-hyun…" His voice cracked like thin glass.
I knelt in front of him, my shadow falling over his small frame. "He's out cold. He won't touch you again."
He flinched, curling in on himself, hugging his knees. "I-I thought… I thought he'd—" His breath hitched, words dying in his throat.
"Hey," I said, reaching out to grip his shoulder firmly. "Look at me."
He hesitated before lifting his gaze. His pupils were blown wide, tears clinging to his lashes, his bottom lip trembling so hard it almost made my chest ache.
"He's not going to hurt you." My voice was low, steady—more promise than comfort. "Not while I'm here."
He stared at me, chest heaving, like he didn't quite believe me.
"Can you stand?" I asked.
His head shook slowly. "My… my legs won't move."
Tch. I clenched my jaw. "Then I'll help you."
I slipped an arm under his, hauling him carefully to his feet. He stumbled against me immediately, his entire body trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Easy," I muttered, steadying him with a rough grip on his waist. "You're fine now. You're with me."
"Dae-hyun…" His voice was so small it was almost swallowed by the wind. "I… I was so scared."
I swallowed hard, tightening my grip. "I know." The words felt strange in my mouth, softer than I meant them to be.
The night air was cold, biting against our skin. His clothes were damp with sweat, clinging to him, and I could feel how icy his hands were.
I cursed under my breath, yanking my jacket off with one sharp motion. "Here."
He blinked at me, confused. "Wh-what—"
"Put it on," I said curtly, shoving it around his shoulders.
When he didn't move fast enough, I tugged it into place myself, pulling the fabric around him, tucking it closed against his chest. My fingers brushed against his chilled skin, and I felt the faint shiver run through him.
"Better," I muttered, voice gruff.
He blinked up at me, eyes wide, still wet with tears. "Why… why are you being… nice?"
I looked away, jaw tight. "Don't get used to it."
And with that, I gripped his wrist again, gentler this time, and started leading him away from the alley.
I didn't sleep that night. Not really. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—the small, trembling figure pressed against Saebri, the fear in his blue eyes, the silent tears streaking down his face.
Tch. Pathetic. I muttered under my breath, but it wasn't cruelty this time. It was… something else. Something I didn't want to admit.
I found myself outside his window before I even realized it. Shadows clung to the alleyways, and the streetlamps flickered weakly in the night. My hand rested on the cold brick, gripping it like an anchor.
Inside, I could see him. Small. Fragile. Sitting on the edge of his bed, arms wrapped around his knees, silent and trembling. My chest twisted.
I wanted to go in. I wanted to wrap him up, make him feel safe, make the fear go away. But I didn't. Couldn't. I wasn't that kind of person. I wasn't warm. I wasn't soft.
And yet… I stayed. Watching.
Minutes passed. Hours, maybe. I didn't care. My pride wouldn't let me knock, wouldn't let me call, wouldn't let me speak. I was cruel, sharp, cold—but I couldn't leave. Not like this.
A sound. A small, barely audible sob. My jaw tightened. I wanted to curse, to yell at him to stop being so damn fragile, but I didn't. Instead, I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.
I stayed. Silent. Cold. Cruel, maybe. But always there.
And inside… my chest burned.
I hated it. I hated the way I cared. I hated the warmth that flared every time he moved, every time he shivered. I hated the helpless ache, the tension clawing through me, the need to keep him safe even when I barely understood why.
I didn't move until dawn.
But then suddenly I ended up hugging him and releasing my pheromones.