Taesan’s POV

Hours earlier

I roar as the needle goes through my finger, and I take my leg off the manual sewing machine’s pedal, pulling the bloodied metal out of my finger.

Fuck.

The white lace I am working on, a beautiful jacket, is now dirtied with red spots from my blood blooming on it.

I run my other hand through my hair and shove the bleeding finger into my mouth to slow the bleeding.

"Dad?" Sooin’s voice calls from the door.

"Dad what’s wrong?" she asks as she comes in, hugging her teddy bear, and wearing a worried look.

I force a smile on my face, I know it looks empty and dead, but she’s too little to understand.

"Dad got hurt, but don’t worry it’s okay" I say and ruffle her hair with my free hand.

"Dad’s hurt? Don’t get hurt anymore dad, daddy will be sad if you’re hurt" she says with a pout and my heart clenches.

Even right now she’s thinking of Seoha.

"I’ll get better quick" I promise her and squat so that we’re on the same level.

"You’re ready for school?" I ask and she nods, holding her teddy bear even tighter, like she’s pulling comfort out of it.

"I won’t cry today, I’ll be good and I’ll listen to my teacher" she says softly and I give her a genuine smile, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead.

"I know you’ll be good, you’re a good child" I murmur, "I love you" she says while beaming at me.

"I love you more, see you later princess" I say and she turns around to leave the room.

Once she’s gone, I look at the mess I made on the cloth, fuck, I have to start all over again.

I look at the hurt finger with anger, the bleeding has stopped but it’s throbbing, it fucking hurts, but I don’t have time to nurse an injury.

An empire is waiting for me, and they don’t give a fuck if I’m heart broken or hurting.

The worst part is, my brain won’t stop supplying images of Junho delivering my gift to Seoha, I wish I could be there to see his smile for myself.

I pack up the cloth I was working on and throw it on a pile of discarded fabric pieces, on the materials that don’t matter anymore right now.

In my room, I put on a band-aid and dress up for work, I don’t put effort into my appearance but I know what I look like.

I look like a damned rogue, my stubble is visible and unshaven, my hair is shaggy, and my eyes are red and sunken from exhaustion.

The whole night went by in a blink, I didn’t sleep, and didn’t realize that it was morning until Junho’s arrival.

He was the one that brought me back to my senses.

"My office" I say to my driver and tug on my tie for air.

Breathing shouldn’t be hard, but it’s difficult to do it without him.

The driver takes me to my company, Mountain Atelier.

As soon as he parks the car and I get out, I am immediately greeted by some of my staff.

"Boss, good day sir" they greet and I nod, walking past them with purpose, I need to work.

That’s the only way I can kill this guilt that’s eating me up.

As I get into my office and sit in my chair, I pull out documents and files, poring over the clients that reached out for a collaboration.

Each of them are tempting offers, but none of them match my requirements; a collection that caters to omegas.

I quietly flip the page, letting the noise distract me from the fact that my bond link is open.

My alpha is at alert, quietly waiting for Seoha to open for us.

’Please...one chance, just one chance’ I say to myself.

I broke him, but I want to fix him, I will do anything to fix him.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocks on my door and my head snaps up with a growl as the person opens it uninvited.

It’s Daeshin.

The man bows deeply, wearing a serious look as he comes into my office, he looks like he hasn’t slept in days too.

I guess we’re equally fucked.

"What do you want?" I ask, keeping my voice calm, holding my alpha back from going into a wild state at his face.

"I needed to come by because of Seoha, sir, I haven’t seen him since last week" he says and I release the breath I was holding.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Patience, tiger, patience.

"And so?" I ask and he moves forward.

"I am obligated to ask for him from you sir" he says and I grind my teeth, still applying my breath control technique.

"Ask? ask as what?" I question him.

"I am his ex lover, sir" Daeshin has the guts to say and something snaps inside of me as I get up.

We’re both going to hell today, I will kill him, and drag his dead body down the road under the daylight.

"Ex...lover?" I growl, taking slow steps towards him and he stands his ground.

"Yes sir, I know you’re interested in Seoha, I saw you with him in the elevator and I see you taking him around, but Seoha’s heart beats for me- arghh!" he screams as I land a punch on his cheek.

"Lover?" I snarl the word again, pulling my hand back to hit him again.

I will end him here and now, fuck grandfather and his fabulous love for this bastard.

"You took his pictures, naked, and stole his work? Love? You dare say love?" I spit my words out as I hit him.

"Help!" the alpha screams and I grab him by the collar, slamming him against the wall like I did to my omega.

’Harder’ my alpha hisses and I obey, hearing a wet cracking noise.

"What more did you do to him?" I roar, hitting him against the wall harder and harder until the smell of fresh blood fills the room.

"I didn’t do anything!" Daeshin cries out, the man tries to push me off and he succeeded, but it only gives me more reason to hit him rougher.

"ARGHH! Help help!" he screams, scratching my face in the process of freeing himself, and I smile.

A slow, predatory smile as all the anger dies out, being replaced by something...quieter, something more...sinister.

"You dare touch me?" I sneer like a wild animal and he starts to hyperventilate.

"Say your last prayers" I advise as I lift my hand, baring my claws and my teeth, ready to give the final strike.

Once I’m done with him, it’ll be one bastard down, and one family of bullying bastards to go.

But just before I slash his neck open, the door is opened and Junho rushes in.

"Oh for fucks sake, let the man go!" he roars at me and my eyes drop to the bag in his hand.

Seoha.

’My mate, my omega’ my alpha corrects, already in charge and blood thirsty, demanding more.

"Let him go, Taesan, you have bigger things to worry about" my righthand man says and unzips the bag.

As he does, I drop the half dead man to the floor, chest rising and falling as I take in the sight in front of me.

My clothes, he sent them back.

Omega rejected me?