Dongchan gasped heavily for air. Finally freed from Kiyonari's suffocating grip, he staggered back to step and clutched his throat, fingers pressing against his skin as if checking whether it was still intact.
"Shit...!" He wheezed, coughing as he struggled to breathe properly. "What the hell's wrong with this guy? Why is he so strong?!"
His chest rose and fell rapidly. I almost died there for a second.
Annoyance replaced the fear almost instantly. He stepped forward and planted his foot on Kiyonari's back, the unconscious man lying motionless on the cold pavement.
"Aren't you supposed to be nothing but a useless Beta?"
He kicked Kiyonari's head—not clean and precise, but dangerous enough to show spite. Then he turned to the man standing behind him.
"By the way... thanks for coming to my rescue, hyung."
The bar's manager stood there, holding the metal pipe loosely in one hand. His eyes flicked in irritation. "Rescue my ass," he muttered. "What were you doing provoking someone like that?"
"Well..." Dongchan shrugged. "He was just annoying me. He's nothing."
"Nothing?" The manager snapped. "I was watching you two from inside earlier. The way he looked at you—it was very murderous, man. He's for sure ready to kill you."
He glanced down at Kiyonari's unmoving body.
"You're lucky I followed when I saw you slip out."
Dongchan scoffed. "Relax. He's just a Beta, no way he would kill me that easily."
The manager gave him a flat stare. "You're an idiot."
Dongchan frowned. "What?"
"That's exactly my point. How can you be sure he's just a Beta?"
The man froze. "Huh? What do you mean? It's the secretary..."
"Secretary? The same man you were talking to the last time?"
"No," Dongchan said slowly, eyes narrowing. "Not that one. But Mr. Kwon called me earlier. Gave me a heads-up about this guy coming after me."
The manager looked down again at Kiyonari.
"So this is your target...?"
"Yeah."
"Then why were you talking nonsense about deals and shit, you moron?"
Dongchan chuckled awkwardly. "I was practically acting. I just wondered if he's going to bite or maybe leave thinking he got the wrong guy. But that backfired.... so, now here we are."
The manager exhaled sharply. "Seriously, man. What an idiot..."
After a moment of silence, Dongchan jerked his thumb toward the parking lot.
"Help me move him."
The manager frowned. "You're taking him?"
"Yeah. Boss didn't say to leave witnesses."
They grabbed Kiyonari under the arms and dragged him across the alley pavement. His shoes scraped against the concrete, echoing in the narrow space.
"Be careful, asshole," the manager muttered. "If he wakes up—"
"He won't " Dongchan replied, though his voice wasn't confident anymore.
Even unconscious, Kiyonari's weight felt heavy that refused to cooperate. By the time they reached the car, both of them were breathing harder. They lifted him together and shoved him into the trunk, like an object being tossed around recklessly.
Thump.
The lid slammed shut.
"Pheww...!" Dongchan wiped sweat from his forehead. "God, that bastard's heavy."
The manager stared at the trunk. "... Is he really just a Beta?"
Dongchan glanced at him. "What are you talking about?"
The man hesitated. "No, it's just that... earlier at the bar, I bumped into him. And he had this unusual aura around him. It almost gave me a terrible shiver down my back."
Dongchan went quiet. He remembered the moment Kiyonari grabbed him on the collar, he felt immense and dangerous atmosphere.
His lips curled uneasily.
"... No way," he murmured.
The manager lit a cigarette, voice low. "Whatever he is... just pray he's not an Alpha."
He exhaled smoked into the night. "Because if he is—we're in deep shit." He said, either warning or a reminder if that possibility ever happened.
*****
Tap, tap!
A thin clinking sound echoed inside the room, the handcuffs striking repeatedly against the metal bar... a lonely sound that only made the silence heavier.
It had been only a few minutes since Wukyeong, that strange man, suddenly left after rambling nonsense. Now the silence he left behind felt heavier than his presence. The cold metal bit into his wrists, rattling against the iron bar bolted into the wall.
Soo-hyun stood in the corner near the unbreakable iron bar, twisting his wrists again.
Nngh...!
He pulled harder. The cuffs didn't budge, not even a little.
His brows furrowed. If it were someone else, they would've probably given up by now and submitted to the situation. But not Soo-hyun. He was nothing like the meek Omega people assumed him to be.
He glanced at the door. And knew he didn't have much time.
"I only have a few minutes... I need to get the hell out before he comes back." He muttered anxiously, scanning around for anything useful.
Then his eyes stopped on the table. Just barely within reach and on top of it, resting near the edge was a cutter.
If he tried hard enough, he could reach it.
He bit his lip and immediately started his hastily formed plan.
Slowly, he stretched his leg outward, straining his body against the limit of the chain. The cuffs pulled tight around his wrists and his toes flicked the handle.
Clatter.
The cutter fell onto the floor. That's it!
His heart jumped in relief. Carefully, using his foot, he dragged it toward himself little by little. The scraping sound felt unbearably loud in the quiet room.
Finally, close enough. He quickly grabbed it and shoved the sharp tip into the lock.
Please... please work.... please...!
Sweat slid down his forehead and along his cheeks. His breathing grew uneven as he twisted and adjusted the angle repeatedly.
This was risky. If Wukyeong returned before he escaped, everything would be pointless.
He turned it again.
Click.
The sound rang clearly. His eyes widened as the cuffs loosened and slipped free from his wrists.
"... That was easy."
But instead of relief, confusion settled on his face. His expression went blank. He picked up the handcuffs and inspected them.
Then he froze. It wasn't broken, but was quickly unlocked and only for him to soon realize it was one of those toy cuffs used for sex...
Sex handcuffs.
"... Ha." A hollow laugh escaped him.
That bastard tricked me. He was screwing with me the entire time.
Seconds later, the door swung opened. Soo-hyun snapped his head toward it. Wukyeong walked in, ushering a clothing rack inside like nothing had happened. He scanned the room before looking at Soo-hyun.
"I'm sorry. I kept you waiting, didn't I?" He said with a sheepish laugh.
Soo-hyun glared. "You...!"
Wukyeong placed the rack beside him, then noticed the cuffs on the floor. His gaze shifted to Soo-hyun's wrists.
He paused. Then realization dawned across his face. "... Did you try to escape?" He asked, morbid curiosity clear in his tone.
Soo-hyun flinched. The guilt in his eyes flashed for a moment before he hid it.
Wukyeong smiled faintly. "Oh, I see. That's fine, I guess."
"You tricked me, fucker!" Soo-hyun snapped.
"What?" Wukyeong feigned innocence. "Why are you mad at me? I wasn't the one trying to escape—you were."
"These cuffs were fake! You made me believe they were real and even left that cutter there so I would use it!"
"Aigo..." Wukyeong sighed. "You only realized now?" He tilted his head slightly. "I did it on purpose to see if you'd try to escape. And you really did."
"I didn't expect for you to actually fell for that trick."
Soo-hyun glared harder.
"Stop looking at me like that." Wukyeong stepped closer.
"Here. Let me make it up to you."
From his pocket, he pulled out another pair of handcuffs as the metal gleamed. Before Soo-hyun could react; Click.
The cuff locked firmly onto his wrist and the metal bar.
Wukyeong smirked. "This time," he said quietly, "it's real."
Soo-hyun struggled again, rattling the cuff against the metal bar. Clang—clang—clang.
The cold metal bit into his wrist, sending an unpleasant chill up his arm. It only worsened his mood.
He scowled at it.
"Look, Director Je. I'm doing this for your own good, okay?" Wukyeong spoke calmly, almost gently.
I'm not really sure if I should tell you what's really going on. But I'm simply just following orders...
Soo-hyun's head snapped toward him.
"Cut the crap! Which part of this bullshit is for my own good?!" He barked, venom dripping from his voice.
"Whoa, whoa... relax, will you." Wukyeong lifted both hands slightly, trying to soothe the situation.
It didn't work.
Yeah, he totally hates me now. Damn it—talk about bad impression, huh?
"Don't you dare touch me," Soo-hyun spat, eyes burning with hostility.
Wukyeong gulped, clearly uneasy.
"... Okay, I think that's enough," he said as if surrendering the argument. "I'll just leave these clothes here—were them and I'll come back to get you."
"..."
"Let me just... take that off of you. That way you could move freely while changing."
He unlocked the cuff from the bar and stepped away before Soo-hyun could react further. The door closes behind him.
For a moment, there was silence.
Soo-hyun exhales sharply, the tension slowly leaving his shoulders. He rubbed his wrist unconsciously, feeling the faint sting left behind by the metal.
Then his gaze shifted to the clothing rack.
A black garment bag hung from it. He stared at it for a few seconds before walking closer and unzipping it.
The fabric slipped out.
[!!]
Soo-hyun jerked back slightly, eyes widening.
What the hell is this?!
It flail gently as he quickly snatched it off the rack to inspect it properly; a sheer black piece with thin lace, soft mesh, and delicate straps of a fabric surprised him. The material was almost transparent, designed more to reveal than to cover.
The light passed through it easily.
"What kind of clothes is this?!" Soo-hyun exclaimed, cheeks tinged pink as his eyes flickered across how much skin it would expose.
He had never worn anything like this in his life. Nothing was remotely close to only clean suits and casual clothes he'd wear, one that had ever only existed in his wardrobe.
His grip tightened.
Even so... he knew that if he resisted and insisted his reluctance, the consequences wouldn't be light. His fist trembled slightly knowing he have no other choice but to swallow his pride.
If he wanted to survive, then he had to play along.
Soo-hyun inhaled slowly.
"... Fine." His eyes hardened with determination. "I'll wear it. Then I'll find a way to get the hell out of here."
He unbuttoned his shirt, removed his clothes piece by piece and reluctantly put on the sheer garment.
The fabric clung lightly against his skin unfamiliar, and humiliating. He stepped toward the mirror and froze.
His reflection stared back at him, vulnerable in a way he had never seen himself before.
"Ugh...!"
He immediately turned his head away, refusing to look any longer, afraid of the frustration and disgust rising in his chest or worse, the absurdity of how he looked right now.
This is... embarrassing...!
*****
Minutes later, the door clicked open again. Wukyeong stepped inside with a far more composed expression than before as if he had taken a moment to gather himself. And there, in front of him stood Soo-hyun.
The thin sheer black lingerie clung delicately to his body, the lace outlining curves. The soft mesh exposed his beautiful pale skin, tracing along his collarbones, dipping low, wrapping around his waist like a whisper.
Soo-hyun's left hand gripped his right arm tightly, almost as if shielding himself. His posture wasn't confident nor submissive—it was controlled.
Humiliation was written all over his furrowed brows. His eyes refused to meet Wukyeong's gaze, staring off to the side instead and rage simmering quietly beneath the surface.
Wow... he looks really pretty. He thought to himself left in an awe.
The room felt heavier. Wukyeong noticed. And surprisingly... he didn't tease.
He simply walked forward, picked up the handcuffs and locked them back on around Soo-hyun's wrists.
Click.
This time Soo-hyun didn't react, didn't struggle nor protest. He had already expected it. The silence that followed was suffocating... it pressed between them, thick and uncomfortable.
Wukyeong gulped, lips pursing slightly.
"I'm not going to leave you here," he said carefully. "I was told you're precious and that you deserve better treatment."
"..."
No response.
"Just like how special you are, Director Je," Wukyeong added with a small, awkward snicker, trying to ease the tension.
But Soo-hyun's face remained unreadable.
His eyes finally shifted toward Wukyeong—not with anger this time, but with something colder. It unsettled him more than shouting ever could.
Wukyeong let out a sheepish chuckle. "I-I think we should go now."
He gently tugged at the cuffs. "Come on."
Soo-hyun followed quietly and obediently, which was strange. He was never the type to follow blindly. He's someone who would resist and snap for anything he didn't like. Unless he was planning something.
Thud!
[!!]
It happened in a split second. One moment Wukyeong was walking ahead—the next, a sharp force rammed into him. The impact sent him crashing hard against the wall before he collapsed onto the floor.
"Ah—!"
His arm slammed into the concrete. A dull pain shot upward, like bone grinding against metal. Not broken, but enough to sting sharply.
What the hell just happened?
His head spun. When his vision cleared, realization struck.
Soo-hyun had been waiting for the perfect opening to escape and run away.
Just as I thought...
Wukyeong slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his arm. A knowing smirk crept onto his lips despite the pain.
So that's why you were so quiet. You were planning to runaway and get out of here.
His eyes lifted toward the hallway, already anticipating the chase.
Shit...! I need to go after him or else...!
Loud footsteps echoed through the long and stretched hallway that seemed to have no end. The exit was nowhere to be found either, but Soo-hyun kept running with all his might, desperate to see at least one green light ahead.
His breathing grew heavier, chest tightened. But he didn't stop.
At one corner stood a metal door that seemingly led straight to the staircase. Soo-hyun turned sharply, gasping for air as he sprinted toward it.
He was about to reached out for the handle. But before his fingers could even grasp it, someone suddenly tugged hard on his shoulder.
[!!]
Soo-hyun staggered backward, losing his balance entirely as his body slammed onto the floor.
Thud!
Pain shot up his back. When he lifted his eyes... a face he never wished to see appeared before him.
Soo-hyun gritted his teeth, scowling fiercely.
"Kwon Jisung...! Let go of me, you bastard!" He barked angrily.
Jisung didn't respond immediately. He only grimaced slightly, looking down at Soo-hyun with mocking eyes.
His gaze slowly scanned him from head to toe. The thin sheer clothing clung to Soo-hyun's body, stripping him of the sophisticated image he always carried. Nothing but exposed skin and humiliation.
To Jisung, it was almost satisfying. He wanted to tear apart everything that made Je Soo-hyun who he was—his pride, dignity, and his high and mighty attitude.
"You're not going anywhere yet, Soo-hyun," Jisung said in a tone filled with mockery.
Soo-hyun hissed, fury blazing in his eyes. "You crazy bastard! I'll fucking kill you...!"
Jisung merely shrugged at the useless threat. "Whatever you say, Soo-hyun."
I have no time to argue with a pathetic Omega like you.
Then he motioned to the two guards standing behind him. "Escort him to the VIP room."
That was where the auction was currently happening. "We can't let those special guests wait too long for tonight's special product on bidding."
Product.
The word rang loudly in Soo-hyun's ears.
He struggled violently as the guards grabbed him and dragged him forward. He shouted at the top of his lungs, cursing Jisung, pouring out every ounce of anger at the man who was trying to sell him illegally like an object.
But it was useless. Jisung had already shut his ears to anything Soo-hyun had to say. There would be no negotiation. His devious plan was already in motion.