When the truth finally unfolded before Seo Joon, Woo Bin was no longer just his employee. He finally understood that the feelings he had been experiencing were not an illness—it was a bond, a bond with Woo Bin. From the very first meeting, this was the first time he had truly recognized him.
As an Alpha, Seo Joon's instincts had always been strong, but today those instincts made him feel an invisible thread tied to Woo Bin—something he had never experienced before. The Omega's subtle scent and the natural warmth that came along with it triggered a strange, natural chain reaction inside him.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Woo Bin suddenly saw that dark shadow again. His eyes fixed on the side mirror—the creepy figure was following their car. Its face was horrifying, as if it had stepped straight out of a nightmare: skin torn in patches, blood dripping from open wounds, and the most terrifying thing of all—it had no hands or feet. Its whole body was nothing but a dark, hazy shadow.
Woo Bin's heartbeat quickened. Omegas were naturally more sensitive to spiritual and emotional energies, so while Seo Joon only felt a vague unease, Woo Bin could feel the energy coursing through his entire being. From the mirror, the shadow was staring directly into his eyes, its face twisted into a horrific grin, as though it was enjoying his fear.
Woo Bin immediately grabbed Seo Joon's hand. His Omega instincts desperately sought Alpha protection, and in a trembling voice he said:"Th-that shadow… the one I saw before… it's behind us again. Look—it's moving alongside the car…"
Seo Joon tried to maintain his Alpha calmness."You're saying someone is running behind a moving car? At the same speed? That's impossible." His voice carried doubt, but inside his Alpha senses were already on alert.
Woo Bin gripped his hand even tighter. His soft, cold fingers pressed so firmly that Seo Joon could feel the fear through his touch. For an Alpha, ignoring an Omega's fear was impossible.
"Please… believe me. I'm not saying this without reason. I've seen it twice already…" Woo Bin's voice trembled under the weight of fear.
Seo Joon tightened his hold on Woo Bin's hand and said firmly,"Don't be afraid. I'm here. As long as I'm here, nothing can harm you. No shadow, no thing will even touch you."
His Alpha tone carried that natural authority which sank straight into an Omega's heart. For a moment, Woo Bin felt a strange calmness, but the fear was still alive within him. When Seo Joon stopped the car and tried to step out, Woo Bin clutched his arm tightly, his voice desperate:"Please… don't leave me here alone. This place doesn't feel right. Let's just get out of here quickly."
Seo Joon started the car again, and it moved forward. He checked the side mirror but saw nothing. Yet he could feel Woo Bin's rapid heartbeat pulsing through his fingers. The Omega's body was growing colder under the shock and fear.
Time dragged on slowly in the night. Woo Bin checked his phone—it was 2 AM. A thought immediately struck his mind: At 3 AM, it's the Devil's Hour… the time when evil spirits are at their strongest.
And he thought: This shadow can't just be an illusion. It must be a malevolent spirit following us.
Suddenly, the shadow appeared right in front of their car, its horrifying face visible to Woo Bin once again. Woo Bin screamed and clung to Seo Joon, his Omega instincts demanding Alpha protection with full force. He buried his face into Seo Joon's shoulder, trembling violently. That trembling ignited Seo Joon's Alpha instincts completely.
Unable to control himself due to the changes in his body, Seo Joon lost focus and the car spun out of control, crashing violently into a large tree. The deafening sound of impact shook everything. Woo Bin's head was about to slam into the dashboard, but Seo Joon threw out his arm just in time to shield him. In that moment, Seo Joon realized—his instincts would always protect Woo Bin, no matter what. As if Woo Bin belonged only to him.
Miraculously, both of them were safe. Neither was injured.
The accident had taken both of them by shock. The car screeched to a halt, tyres crying against the ground, and for a few moments, time itself seemed frozen. Seo Joon immediately let go of the wheel and took Woo Bin's hands into his own. He realized Woo Bin's hands had turned icy cold. An Alpha instinctively reacts for an Omega's comfort and safety—and that's exactly what he did.
Clasping Woo Bin's hands firmly between his own, Seo Joon rubbed them vigorously to bring warmth back. His Alpha instincts pushed him over and over again: Protect him. Calm him. Bring him back to safety. Woo Bin's breaths came so fast it felt like his chest would burst.
After a few moments, when the shock slightly subsided, Woo Bin whispered in a trembling voice:"Sir… did you see it? That dark shadow I saw twice before… it was the same one that appeared in front of the car. That's why the accident happened. I think an evil spirit is following us…"
Seo Joon remained silent, but his Alpha senses clearly detected unnatural energy in the atmosphere. Yet he didn't want to scare his Omega any further. Softly, he said:"I know something strange came in front of us. But maybe it wasn't a spirit. This place is deserted. The darkness of night can create illusions too. You just panicked after seeing it. Don't worry… I'm here. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."
Again, his Alpha tone carried that natural authority that soothed Woo Bin's heart. His breaths were still heavy, but gradually his heartbeat returned to normal.
Seo Joon tried restarting the car, but the ignition failed. The engine made a rough, threatening tak-tak sound. He turned to Woo Bin and said:"The car's dead. We'll have to go ahead on foot. Anyway, we've come a long way already. I think the village should be nearby."
Woo Bin immediately interrupted him, his voice trembling:"No… we shouldn't go out here. This place doesn't feel right at all. Something's not okay."
Seo Joon placed a firm hand on his shoulder and explained:"I know you're right. This place isn't safe. But if we stay here, it might get even worse. Look, the car isn't working. If we walk ahead, maybe we'll find people in the village, get some help. I think that's the best option."
Woo Bin stayed silent for a few moments, his eyes still shining with fear. Then he slowly nodded.
They pulled their bags from the car—only the essentials: torch, phone, and a few small things. Seo Joon locked the car and turned on the flashlight. As soon as they stepped onto the dark road, Woo Bin instantly gripped his arm tightly.
Omega instincts naturally seek Alpha proximity when feeling insecure. Woo Bin's tight grip, his trembling body, and his insistence on staying close—all of it ignited Seo Joon's Alpha instincts even more. Seo Joon himself reached out and held Woo Bin's hand firmly.
Darkness surrounded them from every direction, broken only by the faint light of the torch. Yet both of them could sense an unusual presence around them. Seo Joon's Alpha senses and Woo Bin's Omega sensitivity together amplified the force, making it feel stronger. Seo Joon felt as though an invisible circle of power surrounded them.
And the most striking thing was Woo Bin walking so close to him. His Omega scent and the touch of his hand were stirring a strange heat inside Seo Joon. His Alpha control was slipping. His body unconsciously released faint pheromones to calm Woo Bin, but controlling himself was becoming harder and harder.
Woo Bin kept glancing around nervously, searching the shadows. For him, every rustle, every sound from the bushes felt like another threat. But for Seo Joon—the greatest threat was his own uncontrolled instincts. Each step was an inner battle: Protect him. Don't lose control. Just get him safely to the village.
Then suddenly… Woo Bin's phone screen lit up. Time: 3:00 AM. His heart sank. A thought struck immediately: The Devil's Hour… the time when evil spirits are at their peak.
And his fear proved true.
Not far ahead, they spotted houses of the village beyond some trees. But before that stood something else—an old graveyard. Damp earth from rain, crooked old graves, and the howling wind like a scream across the air.
Woo Bin froze. His body refused to move."This… what kind of place is this? A graveyard on the way to the village? Why are these people like this? Why is this village so strange?" His voice was filled with shock and dread.
Seo Joon tightened his grip on his hand and stared ahead. His Alpha senses were screaming now: This is the place… this is the true source of the spirit.
Woo Bin noticed the change in his face. His breath had grown heavier, his eyes were glowing faintly, and a visible aura of heat radiated from him. His Alpha power was spiraling out of control.
Woo Bin's trembling voice asked:"Sir… are you okay? You… you don't look alright…"
Seo Joon tried to compose himself, to calm his Omega, and said:"I'm fine. We just need to cross this graveyard. Beyond it is the village road. Let's hurry… this place doesn't feel right."
Their hands were still firmly bound together. But both of them knew—this was not just any haunted graveyard.