The Mixtape Corporation building gleamed under the late afternoon sun, glass panels reflecting the skyline of Seoul Moon Park. Inside, the lobby was a mix of quiet chatter, the clicking of heels, and the sharp scent of paperwork and polished wood.
Minho walked quickly, clutching a folder of documents, his eyes fixed straight ahead. His position as an intel officer was supposed to keep him behind screens and papers, not anywhere near the powerful Alphas that roamed the upper floors. But fate or the Moon Goddess seemed determined to test him today.
"Lee Minho."
The voice stopped him cold. Deep, commanding, instantly recognizable. His wolf shivered under the sound of it, a low growl echoing inside his chest, not from fear, but from recognition.
Slowly, Minho turned.
Bang Chan stood by the elevators, arms crossed, sharp black suit tailored perfectly to his broad frame. His eyes burned with something Minho couldn't name; hunger, need, possession. Everything about him screamed Alpha. True-blood Alpha.
"CEO Bang," Minho said stiffly, bowing his head out of respect. "Is there something you need?"
Chan didn't answer at once. He stepped closer, his scent flooding the air; cedarwood and musk, potent enough that Minho's knees threatened to give out. Omegas nearby stole glances, whispering, but Chan's eyes never left Minho.
"I've been looking for you," Chan said finally, voice low. "Since this morning."
Minho's grip on the folder tightened. He forced his tone steady. "I was at the café. You must be mistaken."
Chan smirked, a dangerous curve of his lips. "I don't make mistakes, Minho. Not about this."
The word "this" hung heavy between them, sparking the Mate pull that burned hotter now, nearly unbearable. Minho's wolf howled inside him - Mate. Mate. Mate.
Minho swallowed hard. "If you'll excuse me, I have work to deliver."
He tried to step past, but Chan moved, blocking his path effortlessly. His Alpha aura rolled off him in waves, commanding, dominant, forcing Minho's wolf to submit. Minho's body betrayed him, trembling under the weight of that raw power.
"Why are you running?" Chan asked, voice rough.
"I'm not," Minho shot back, glaring despite his shaking hands. "But I don't want trouble. I know what you're trying to do, and I'm not interested."
Chan leaned in, close enough that Minho could feel the heat of his breath against his ear.
"You think this is something I chose? The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. She gave me you. And no matter how much you fight it, you feel it too."
Minho's chest heaved. The bond pulled at him, demanding he surrender, demanding he fall into Chan's arms. But his pride as an Omega and his fear held him back.
"I don't belong to you," Minho whispered, though his voice cracked.
Chan's hand brushed against his, fleeting but electric. His voice was low, deadly serious. "Not yet."
The elevator dinged, breaking the moment. Minho pulled back quickly, shoving the folder against his chest as if it were a shield. He fled inside, refusing to look back, even though he could still feel Chan's gaze burning into his skin.
As the doors closed, Minho pressed against the wall, trying to steady his racing heart. His wolf clawed inside him, furious and desperate all at once.
Mate. Mate. Mate.
And for the first time, Minho admitted to himself just how dangerous this bond would be.