"Time to put an end to you, traitor."
A sharp, calloused hand closes over my mouth as I stare up into Seungmin's vengeful eyes.
"You've caused enough trouble."
I try to scream, to thrash, but my injuries from Taecyeon are too fresh. I'm too weak. Seungmin's hands curl around my throat.
"Don't worry. I'll make this quick, little girl."
Panic swells in me as my airway is cut off, my vision spotting at the edges.
He's going to kill me!
He doesn't stop. He doesn't relent. And the fear grips me tighter than his hands.
No. I'm not dying like this. I have do something. He's expecting resistance. If I go limp, maybe I can trick him.
Fighting my instincts, I let my body go limp in his hold as I close my eyes. Seungmin hesitates, his grip loosening for a moment, and I use the opportunity to kick him. With a growl, he lunges at me.
"I knew that was a trick!"
Seungmin and I crash off the bed. I cry out in pain as I feel my wound reopen.
"This could have been fast."
Seungmin finds my throat again, gripping hard and forcing me down onto the floor.
"But now I think I'll take my time with you."
He presses his knee into my stab wound and pain rockets through my body. The torture, the air blocked from my lungs… It's all too much. I begin to slip away.
No…
Then, all at once, Seungmin is thrown off of me.
"Agh!"
Air floods back into my lungs, and I gasp. Above me, crouched and baring his teeth in a snarl, is Bang Chan's wolf-like form, dark and powerful.
"B-Bang Chan…thank God you're here."
The enormous black wolf lunges at Seungmin, who quickly shifts into a wolf himself. He roars. I scramble out of the way, my heart pounding in my chest, as Seungmin collides with Bang Chan mid-air. They slam to the ground, a flurry of teeth and claws.
I should help.
I grab the closest thing I can find – a bedside lamp – and hurl it at Seungmin. He roars with fury as it shatters against his back and he whips around. Bang Chan uses the opportunity to swipe at his side, but Seungmin is ready for him. I gasp as Bang Chan is thrown against a wall. His wolf form hits the stone hard and he slumps to the floor.
"Bang Chan!"
With Bang Chan unconscious, Seungmin turns to me, stalking closer with razor sharp teeth bared. I move back, stumbling over myself, unable to look away from Seungmin's brutal, lupine eyes. One stop…then another…he's almost upon me. He bends down with a snarl, to make his final attack.
But a streak of jet black strikes Seungmin out of nowhere. Bang Chan's size and power dominate, and he pins Seungmin fast. He clamps down on Seungmin's throat, holding him in place as he thrashes violently.
"Whoa, what's going on?"
O.de, Lee Know, and Felix burst into the room, brandishing weapons.
"Guys…please help Bang Chan!" I beg.
"Seungmin's attacking him?" Lee Know asks in shock.
"We're on it. Stay back, (Y/N)." Felix urges.
Bang Chan shifts back into his human form, clutching at his shoulder as blood drips from a harsh bite.
"Restrain him." Bang Chan commands.
The three descend on Seungmin, holding him down. With a howl of frustration, Seugmin shrinks, transforming back into his human self.
"Seungmin, how could you–" Lee Know asks.
"How could I not!" Seungmin growls cutting off Lee Know.
He fights them and Bang Chan delivers a kick to his stomach. Seungmin collapses. Bang Chan's fists clench and unclench at his sides, blood running down his body as a storm of emotions pass over his face.
"Take him to the barn."
Lee Know, Felix, and O.de pause, all turning to Bang Chan in shock. When they don't move, he snarls, his eyes flashing.
"Now." he demands.
They nod and drag Seungmin from the room. Bang Chan turns to me, pulling the rest of his clothes on.
"What's the barn?"
"Stay here. I'll be back soon."
"Wait…I don't want to be alone right now."
"I can have someone come up and check on you. But you are staying."
"But–"
"I said stay."
Bang Chan words are like ice. He storms out, slamming the door and locking it before I'm able to reach it.
This whole prisoner thing is really getting old.
I look around the room, my eyes land on the air vent I.N used to sneak in and out of my room.
Bingo.
Ignoring the pain, I climb down through the vent and outside, just in time to spot Bang Chan and his guards dragging Seungmin away.
"Get your hands off me! I was doing this for you assholes!"
"You didn't do this for us." Bang Chan growls.
I follow them through the woods, until they reach a desolate, old barn.
"No! Get off me!"
As they drag Seungmin inside, he thrashes harder, desperate to escape. But it's no use. I sneak to the barn door, but just as I'm about to enter, my way is blocked.
"Well, if it isn't the little escape artist."
"Felix…please don't lock me up again."
"Don't worry, that's not the first thing on my to-do list."
"It's not?"
I hear a sickening thwack in the distance and Felix winces.
"Get in here."
Before I can say anything, Felix pulls me into the barn.
It seems empty. I open my mouth, but Felix presses his finger to his lip, his eyes serious.
"Shh."
Felix leads me to narrow wooden steps that descend below ground.
"What's down there?"
"It's where we take the worst of our kind. They go down…and they never come back up."
I swallow hard. Felix sneaks down the stairs, motioning for me to follow him. As I move underground, I hear a thumping, like the sound of a hammer hitting meat.
"Is that all you got?" Seungmin provokes.
"I haven't even begun." Bang Chan replies.
I make it down the stairs, peaking into the small dark room ahead. Seungmin is tied to a chair, his face covered in blood. Bang Chan circles him like prey.
"I'd do it again. That bitch is the daughter of–"
"I don't care who her father is, damn it!"
Bang Chan slams his fist into Seungmin's stomach. My breath catches.
"Felix…this feels really wrong."
"I agree. And not because Seungmin's pack."
Felix drops his chin, averting his gaze.
"It's because it's hurting Bang Chan more than it's hurting Seungmin."
It is?
Bang Chan turns away from Seungmin, and I see the pain in his eyes. His cut, bloody knuckles tremble.
"Seungmin…you were my friend. My right hand."
"And you were supposed to be my fucking Alpha. But now you're a weak little pup under the heel of Taecyeon's brat!"
"She's my mate, you piece of–"
Seungmin lobs a wad of bloody spit at Bang Chan, and the room goes eerily still. Then, a darkness like I've never seen takes Bang Chan over. He snarls, his hands balled into steel fists.
"I trusted you!"
Bang Chan hurls his fist at Seungmin, knocking him and his chair to the ground.
"You were my pack! My family!"
He kicks Seungmin in the stomach, and slams his fists into his side. Seungmin flashes a bloody smile.
"It's like Seungmin wants this." I whisper to Felix.
"I think he does."
O.de and Lee Know hover in the corner, terrified of Bang Chan as he throws punch after punch.
"If Bang Chan kills Seungmin, Seungmin will win. Bang Chan will never forgive himself."
Bang Chan slams his fists into Seungmin's jaw, his eyes teary and blind with rage. The victorious smirk on Seungmin is undeniable.
No. I won't let Seungmin do this to him. I need to save Bang Chan from this and stop him.
As Bang Chan raises his fist again, I leap out of hiding and shield Seungmin. Bang Chan freezes.
"(Y/N)? What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm stopping you from doing something you'll regret."
"Stand aside. Let him kill his beta and show his pack who he really is. As big a traitor as his bitch mate."
I wheel around and raise my own fist at Seungmin, but I stop.
"I won't touch you. You aren't worth an ounce more of my time or energy."
"What?!"
Seungmin thrashes on the ground pathetically, screaming at me. But I turn away to find Bang Chan staring at me.
"You're right. He's not worth it. I almost made…a huge mistake…"
Bang Chan looks at me with sadness and anger in his eyes.
"Get back here! Finish what you started, you bastard."
Without another word, Bang Chan turns and walks out of the room, leaving Seungmin struggling in the dirt. I follow him upstairs.
"Bang Chan?"
I find him near the door of the deserted barn, his shoulders high and tight.
"Bang Chan…are you alright?"
"I almost…"
His words are barely a whisper.
"I really almost killed him."
Finally, he turns to me. The hurt and anger is plain on his face.
"He was my friend. My family. And I wanted to kill him."
"But you didn't actually kill him."
"But I wanted to. I'm exactly who he said I am. A fucking monster."
Bang Chan storms out of the barn. I follow him at a run as he takes long, heated strides through the woods, refusing to stop.
"Wait!"
I move as fast as I can, clutching my injured stomach. Finally, Bang Chan comes to a halt in front of a large, steaming pool of water.
A hot spring?
"Don't come any closer." he warns.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because I don't trust myself anymore."
Bang Chan doesn't look at me. He stares at the blood on his hands.
"I told you before. I'm a monster."
Bang Chan tries to wipe the blood from his hands, but it has dried and sticks to him.
"I'm a monster who can't control my impulses. I can't protect my family, or my mate."
He swears, tearing at his palms, desperate to get the blood off.
"Damn it!"
He's in so much pain.
"Bang Chan, you're not a monster."
A calm serenity washes over me and I walk slowly to Bang Chan.
"Please stay back."
"No."
When I reach his side, he is frozen, my steady gaze acting as an anchor in his grief. I take his hands.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Keeping my eyes on his, I guide him down to the water's edge. I dip his hands into the hot spring water and he flinches slightly, but I continue my work.
"(Y/N)…"
I run my fingers over his, rubbing gently, working away the cloud of red that haunted him moments ago.
"You protected your pack by doing what you did. You protected me. I could never be afraid of you."
Bang Chan is quiet, watching my hands glide over his in the warm water. After a long moment, he nods.
"Thank you."
I smile, but as I relax the pain from my wound returns. I double over.
"(Y/N)? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I'm totally fine."
"You're not."
Bang Chan closes the gap between us. His fingers lightly touch my abdomen, and I gasp.
"It's really hurting you. Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"It wasn't at the top of my mind, let's just say that."
Another wave of pain overtakes me and I cry out.
"Come here."
Threading his hand over the small of my back, Bang Chan guides me to the shore of the hot spring.
"The water will help."
"How? Does it have magic powers? Leave it to you wolves to have some enchanted pool. I bet there's mermaids, too." I playfully laugh. "No, but the sulphur does have healing properties. See?"
Bang Chan shows me his hands. Where I washed them, the cuts and bruises have already begun to fade.
"It dulls pain, too."
Bang Chan steps into the hot spring, tugging me with him. Open step, then another, we slip into the warm, intoxicating water until it reaches our knees.
"Well?"
"Yeah. It's nice."
Bang Chan's eyes travel down to my clothes. I begin to tug at them, but the pain in my side is too great. I wince.
"Here. Let me help you with those."
Bang Chan reaches for me, his fingers brushing my stomach as he gathers my clothing. Heat rises from his touch, traveling up my neck as I fight a flutter in my chest.
"Hold still for me."
He starts to lift the fabric higher and higher… Silently, I nod. A small smile ghosts across Bang Chan's lips as he lifts my clothes higher. His calloused fingers brush against my navel, my ribs, rough but gently in their movement. Shakily, I breathe in, wary of my injuries.
"Does it hurt?"
I shake my head and he smiles.
"Good. Now raise your arms."
Slowly, I raise my arms. Bang Chan carefully glides the fabric up and off of my body.
"Is this alright?"
His voice is a low rumble, quiet power radiating off of him as he handles me.
"Y-yes. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
For the briefest moment, Bang Chan's eyes skate down. I feel his gaze on my exposed flesh and my heartbeat quickens.
"Here."
Bang Chan quickly peels his tight T-shirt off of his chiseled chest. I take in the hard slopes of his abs, the tight vee that dives beneath his jeans… And the massive, claw-like scar that slices through it all. Bang Chan balls his shirt up and dips it in the water. Then, he presses it to my bandages.
"This won't hurt, I promise."
"I trust you."
"Good. Hang on tight."
Breath leaves my body on contact with the water, and I grip his shoulders.
But he's right. It doesn't hurt.
The water seeps over my torn flesh, soaking away all the pain I felt.
"You're an omega so it won't heal like mine, but it does help, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. It does."
The sun sets as I meet Bang Chan's eyes, steam curling between our half-naked bodies as he strokes my skin.
"(Y/N)…all I've done is hold you prisoner, and get you in trouble…"
"It would have been worse if you hadn't"
"I'm not so sure about that."
Gently, I place my hand over his, stopping him for a moment.
"You're a good man, Bang Chan."
He huffs and averts his eyes for a moment, emotions warring on his face.
"I'm still responsible for this. For all of this."
He moves the cloth higher, toward my chest.
"I'm sorry. Let me make up for that now."
He drips water over my flesh, washing away dirt and leaving the hum of our bond in his wake.
"Let me show you I'm more than just your prison guard.
"Okay."
The word leaves my parted lips on a sigh, and it is all the invitation he needs. Working with care and precision, Bang Chan smooths his wet shirt over my neck and shoulders. With every stroke, a burst of warm, wet relief follows, leaving me feeling clean and calm.
"Close your eyes."
My eyes flutter shut on his words, and he squeezes his shirt over my hair. A cascade of healing water trickles down the length of my hair, my eyes, my lips…
This feels amazing.
Then, I feel Bang Chan's hands in my hair, his fingers gently combing through and massaging my scalp. I practically purr.
"You might be a wolf yet. You sure like getting pet." he giggles.
"Shut up." I giggle back.
"Turn around."
"You like giving orders, don't you?"
"And you'll like following this one. Trust me."
I turn around, now waist-deep in the water. Bang Chan squeezes a warm trickle down my spine, followed by the massage cloth. My knees buckle as his hands work at a knot in my back, his breath hot on the nape of my neck.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes."
His breath on my neck comes out a little hotter as the cloth catches on my bra strap.
"(Y/N)…your back is to me. If you wanted to take this off, I could make sure I don't miss a spot."
His words come out in a low, husky whisper, and my heart skips a beat. He shifts closer to the shell of my ear.
"I'll be a gentleman. I promise."
Letting my body do the talking, I reach up and unclasp my bra, allowing it to fall away from my chest. For a moment, everything is perfectly still. I feel Bang Chan at my bare back, heat radiating off of him hotter than the sulphuric water.
"Your skin is…"
Bang Chan drags the cloth slowly over the middle of my back, and our bond flares beneath his touch.
"What did you say?" I ask.
"Your skin is…so smooth. Like it's never seen a single hardship."
"It's seen its fair share. I just heal well."
I remember the frequent punishments I received in foster care. A chill passes over me. Sensing it, Bang Chan dips the cloth in the hot spring and moves it up over my shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I won't let anyone touch you like that again."
On his words, he squeezes the water over my breasts. It flows over my taut nipples and I gasp. The sensation is more than I ever expected, my body answering with a shiver of pleasure. Though Bang Chan can't see me, or lay his hands on me, it's as though his touch is everywhere.
"There."
His words bring me back to the present moment. He holds up my bra, and I quickly fasten it back in place.
"Thank you."
I turn back around to face Bang Chan. My eyes travel down to the scars that marr his chest.
"I wish I could make it so this had never happen to you."
Bang Chan looks down at himself.
"Yeah. I would have preferred that, too."
He puts his hands over his scars, as if to hide them.
"I'd be a very different person."
"What do you mean?"
"This taught me what violence really means. How much it can take away from you."
Bang Chan digs his nails into his pecs, over the re-stitched wound. He does not meet my eyes.
What hasn't he told me?
I step closer, but Bang Chan steps back.
"Bang Chan, you look incredible."
"You don't have to say that."
He starts to turn away.
"I know what I look like. I know this disgusts you every time you have to see it."
On impulse, I reach out, my fingers close to Bang Chan's scarred chest. He freezes.
Disgusting? Is that really how he sees himself?
"Stop. It's your turn to stay still."
My fingers make contact with his scars. He flinches, but holds still as I trace the jagged skin.
"I know these remind you of a painful past. But to me, they're a part of you. And that makes them beautiful."
I lean in and press my lips against the thickest scar. His heart thunders beneath my kiss.
"(Y/N)…"
"Just be a good boy and hold still, Alpha."
I kiss the next scar, tracing its edges with my lips.
"They're beautiful to me, Bang Chan. And so are you."
A tremor ripples over his skin, though it isn't clear if it's because of my mouth or my words. I kiss the final scar and Bang Chan releases a shaky breath.
"No one has ever…I mean…"
He finds my eyes. His are bright and smoldering against the setting sun.
"Thank you."
Bang Chan hands me my clothes and wrings out his shirt. We both dress.
"We should get back before dark."
I nod, and follow Bang Chan back to the packhouse. Night falls as we climb the stairs to the second floor. Silence falls between us.
"Well…hope you get some sleep." I tell Bang Chan.
"You too."
With a soft smile, I move toward my bedroom door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To bed. Like you said." I say confused.
"Not in there, you're not. Not after Seungmin attacked you right under my nose."
Bang Chan takes my arm, pulling me back.
"What are you doing?"
"You're sleeping with me."
"In your–"
"In my room. In my bed."