"Hey kid, come here-! When did you go inside… Never mind that, are you alright? Are you hurt or anything?"
I had not even exited the dungeon before I was grabbed and dragged toward a strong chest.
Alpha pheromones instantly filled my senses and I had to push hard against the chest holding me captive. But the alpha holding on to me wouldn't let go even for a second.
Finally, I looked around desperately and caught Lee Minho's eyes.
Lee Minho was frowning and I could see his hands forming and relaxing a fist a few times before he decided to help me out.
"Rhiner, I think you should let that omega go. You are going to suffocate him with your strength otherwise."
Lee Minho's voice snapped Rhiner out of the daze he was in and he finally lightened his hold on me. But he never let go of me completely.
"Ah sorry-! I got distracted… Anyway, you can't imagine how relieved I am to see that you are alive. After what happened to Kara, I thought for sure you were-"
Rhiner stopped speaking halfway and clammed his mouth shut. Clearly, he was struggling with something.
I quickly looked around and noticed that Kara was not there.
The looks on the faces of people around me told me that this was not a topic I wanted to ask about.
"Rhiner, I know you are sad about what happened, but you need to make the report about what happened. No one else in your team has enough clearance to do that."
Lee Minho reminded the alpha holding me what he needed to do.
Rhiner struggled with the concept of giving up, but he finally let go of me and walked toward the service station where other hunters had started to gather.
I could even make out where Lynn was from where I was standing, and I instantly turned around and pretended I did not notice him.
Thankfully, he was too busy to notice me as well, and Lee Minho put his arm around my shoulder and guided me out of the buzz.
I did not even need to ask him what happened inside before he spoke up and informed me of what happened.
"Kara died… right in front of Rhiner's eyes, so he's not in the best state of mind at the moment. Also, the dungeon boss monster turned out to be A-class, which I don't even know how that happened… and also… don't worry too much about getting questioned and stuff. I will take care of it for you."
The alpha boasted, and he looked at me with expecting eyes.
I had no idea what he wanted from me, but whatever it was, he was not getting.
"I see. In that case, am I free to head back?"
The alpha looked back at me with a confused expression.
"Head back-! Where and how-!"
"Looks like the rescue team has brought the vans to take us all back. I will head back with the other omegas and you should go back to help on the site."
I reminded the alpha, and Lee Minho's face flushed for a moment.
He looked away and I felt like he had something to say to me. But the alpha likely changed his mind at the last moment because he let out a frustrated sigh.
"You are right. I should be heading back now to help out. You… take care of yourself. Wait, before you go… just let me…"
The alpha grabbed my arm at the last second before he brought it close to his neck.
I opened my mouth to question him, to ask what he was doing, but my words got blocked in my mouth as soon as I felt the flow of pheromones trying to calm me down.
Not that I needed them, since I was the calmer out of us two.
"Don't think much of it. I'm just leaving my pheromones on you so that people know not to mess with you or anything. My only love in this life is Lee Hara after all."
The alpha boasted, but his pheromones told me differently.
'Shit. These alpha pheromones are too intense. Is Lee Minho even aware of what he's doing? I better head out and then clear my mind.'
I quickly stepped away, but the alpha stopped me once more. It was getting frustrating how much this was happening.
Before I could snap, Lee Minho spoke up.
"Hey, before you leave, can I ask for your name?"
I calmed myself down instantly at the hopeful look I got from the alpha.
"Don't you know it already?"
I asked, and the alpha had a complicated expression on his face.
"Whether I know it or not, it doesn't matter. I want you to introduce yourself to me. Please."
The hand tightened around my wrist and I sighed at the alpha's stubbornness.
'It would be better for me to give him what he wants before it becomes an obsession for him.'
"My name is Kyle. There is no last name. Now, let me go so that I can leave."
I was finally let go of, and I left the scene pretty quickly. I did not know, nor care to know, what happened after that.
I saw the alpha driver taking the omegas back flinch when I entered the bus. But he was a professional and did not say much. Finally, we moved back and I felt the tension escape my frame.
Outside the window, the sun was finally starting to rise once more. Everyone else around me was starting to fall asleep.
There was also a weird smell in the air that made my nose itch.
"Hey, stop the car. I think I will get down here."
I spoke before the smell got to me too much. I had enough resistance to last against the gas. But I did not want to use a skill at the moment.
As soon as I asked, the car slammed to a stop and I opened the door to get down.
There was movement at the front and I heard yelling coming from there.
"You idiot-! Why did you stop-! Hey, catch the running omega. Pick up anyone who sees us as well-!"
The alpha from the front yelled as soon as I got out.
I had not gone far when I turned back to look at the van I was leaving behind. I knew I had to run, but I did not want to leave these people behind.
That turned out to be the wrong move. The van driver noticed my hesitation to leave everyone else behind and he suddenly looked much more confident and made his threat.
"Don't you dare run away. If you do… hmm… who knows what would happen to these people. You don't want to see them die, right?"
The van driver had hit the nail right where he needed to. Perhaps he realized that I could not… or rather… would not leave the unconscious omegas alone.
I was too conditioned from my past to do that.
However, as soon as I took a step toward the van, I heard light footsteps head toward me and the van.
Seconds later, a large man—or perhaps a young adult—walked toward us with a confused look on his face.