Seoha’s POV

My heart pounds hard against my chest as the bonding link shuts, it happened too fast, like it was a mistake, but I know Taesan...he never makes mistakes.

Is he okay? Is Sooin okay? Is it her heart? Did Choyeon do something?

I get up with unsteady legs, rushing to Minjae’s closet to take better clothes, I don’t check what I pick.

I just yank it off the hanger, tug it on and run to the door.

My head feels woozy, but my heart is steadier and more worried.

My hand finds the doorknob, and I freeze as the thought flashes through my mind, am I fit enough to go out by myself?

I know I look weak; preying alphas will consider me easy target; I whimper and then I also remember that I’m marked.

No alpha will deliberately touch a marked omega, unless he is choosing to carelessly cross a line.

"I’m sorry Minnie-ya" I say to myself and get out of the apartment.

I lock the door behind me and keep the key in the flowerpot next to the door, ready to risk my life.

My first few steps are a struggle, I see black spots in my vision, but I force myself forward, knowing that I have to be there.

Taesan will never ask for help, and no one will ever step forward to help, those people surrounding him are more dangerous.

They don’t care about him.

’Alpha...’ my omega calls, trying hard to reach for him again, but it’s not possible, he has shut the bond, and it feels like screaming at a brick wall.

I go to the elevator, but when it doesn’t open after I push the button, I push it again.

"Hey, the elevator is broken, take the stairs or go back to your apartment" an old man yells and I take a step back from the elevator door, considering the stairs.

If I take the stairs...I might not make it in time, if I go back to the apartment, I will never make it.

I redirect my steps to the stairs.

Running down the old structure reminds me of when I left Daeshin, that night, I was running from the man I loved...but now I’m running to the man I love.

I hurry down and dizziness suddenly hits, making me miss a step and my ankle twists.

"Arghh" I shout as I catch myself against the railing, breathing through the pain as my eyes fill tears.

It hurts so much.

My body is starting to burn with heat, I’m sweating under the shirt I have on, and all the energy I’m putting into this task is taking all the strength from me.

’My pup is waiting, my alpha needs me’ my omega howls and I push myself forward, forcing myself to forget the pain in my ankle.

When I finally make it down, I bump into a stranger who holds me.

"Careful..." the person says and I whimper unintentionally, the pain in my ankle and the one at the back of my head are intensifying.

"I don’t think you should be out here" the stranger says and I push him away, growling at him like I’m turning feral.

"Hey, hey, relax...I’m here to help" he says and I hold myself up, glaring at him as people walk by us, not caring that I’m snarling or that I’m cornered.

The society doesn’t care.

The man holds out his hand, and I see a black painted fingernail, and a ghost tattoo inside his finger...they look familiar but I can’t think straight.

"Do you need a ride, I promise I’m safe, here you can call the police if I do anything" he says and gives me his phone.

I stare at it with distress, then I stare at his face, he looks trustworthy and calm.

"I don’t have money to pay back" I say and he nods, "I know, I won’t make you pay, I just can’t watch an omega go around like this" he says and I nod.

I snatch the phone out of his hand, and he gives me a small smile, it’s too gentle for a stranger, but I follow him.

"You can trust me but never follow anyone else like this" he says as soon as we are in his car, and I keep close watch on him.

"Who are you?" I ask him and he gives me another small smile, "my name is Hanbin" he says, "what is your destination?" he asks and I give him the location.

The stranger, Hanbin drives me to my location, not asking anything else as he drops me off.

I get out of the car and go to the gate with difficulty.

"Yah, didn’t we kick you out?" one of the guards asks and I clench my jaw, "open the gate, Sooin needs me" I say loudly and they laugh.

"This bitch, get lost!" the second one spits.

"I said open the gate" I say in a commanding tone, pulling my collar low enough to show my bite mark, to show them that I’m not just a random omega.

I am marked.

"Tch, let him in, boss will kick him out anyways" the first guard says and opens the gate.

I move slowly, restrained by my swelling ankle, and no one stops me, the maids just stop and stare as I move through the living room.

And like they always stand and watch Taesan suffer, they watch me struggle with the staircase, but I push through it.

Sooin is the only goal on my mind.

And as I reach the hallway that leads to Sooin’s room, I find Taesan standing there, he looks more tired than I have ever seen him.

But as soon as his head snaps up at the smell of my pheromones, his eyes turn red and he growls at me.

"What are you doing here?" he growls but doesn’t attack, and I steel myself for anything.

"I’m here for Sooin, get out of the way" I say and he tilts his head, face turning into a relaxed, predatory expression...