The black car slid into the underground parking lot of Jae-in Hotel and came to a smooth stop.
Kai stepped into the lobby.
The effect was immediate—voices dropped, movements slowed, eyes followed. A line of guards moved in silent formation behind him, their presence heavy enough to bend the air.
"Woah… who's that?" a waitress whispered to the woman at the counter.
"Our boss's younger brother," the receptionist replied quietly, a small, knowing smile on her lips.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened straight into the penthouse.
Kai shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the couch. He dragged a chair away from the dining table and sat, one leg crossing over the other, posture loose but wired.
A bodyguard stepped forward, placing an ashtray on the table. Another pulled a packet of expensive cigarettes from his pocket, slid one between Kai's lips, and lit it.
Kai inhaled.
Minutes passed in silence, smoke curling around him as he waited.
Ding.
The elevator opened again.
She stepped out.
Tall. Sleek. Controlled.
Her long black hair fell half loose; the rest clipped back with a black clasp. A fitted black turtleneck hugged her frame, paired with deep red velvet pants that did nothing to soften her presence.
"What took you so long?" Kai leaned back in his chair, tipping it slightly as he turned to face her.
"Heard my little brother missed me," she replied, smiling—though it was closer to a grin.
Jung Jae-in. Better known as Alaena.
Kai's older sister. An SSS-class Alpha.
She didn't have hobbies—unless sex counted. She ran an entire gang without blinking. Had no interest in the family's clean businesses; she preferred the blood, the leverage, the work that left stains. She wasn't dating anyone, officially—though Kai's new secretary had her attention. And she was reckless enough to put her dick into anything she felt like.[1]
"Fuck, baby bro," Alaena muttered as she crossed the room and ruffled Kai's hair.
He barely reacted.
Her eyes swept over him, sharp and unimpressed. "You look like shit," she said flatly. Then tilted her head. "No. Worse. You look dead."
Kai exhaled a slow stream of smoke toward the ceiling. The dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss. So was the lingering burn of suppressants clinging to him.
Alaena snapped her fingers.
A guard immediately moved, pulling out a chair and setting it directly across from Kai. She sat, crossing her legs, posture relaxed but predatory.
Her gaze locked onto him.
"I told you," Alaena said, voice calm—dangerously so.
Her lips curved, not amused.
"Don't fuck around with betas."
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUU~!"
Rei let out a startled laugh, completely unprepared as his friends barged into his room—arms full of cake boxes, bouquets, and gift bags.
Before he could even react, Mingyu scooped a generous amount of cream onto his finger and smeared it straight across Rei's soft cheeks.
"Boom!" he declared proudly.
"Look who's old enough to get drunk and knotted by an alphaaaa~!" Nayoon shrieked, her eyes wide and sparkling with far too much excitement.
Rei's face burned pink. He puffed his cheeks into a duck face, sweat forming at his temple. "Definitely not me…" he muttered.
Three hours later
"OoOoNe MoRe DriNnNnNnNnkkKK~" Nayoon groaned dramatically.
Mingyu and Seojun had one arm hooked under each of her shoulders, half-carrying, half-dragging her toward the door.
"Hehe… we'll head out now, I guess," Seojun said, waving awkwardly before disappearing down the hallway.
The door clicked shut.
Silence.
Rei stood there for a moment before turning back to survey the aftermath.
Half-opened beer bottles. Empty pizza boxes. Smeared cake plates.
"Jeez…"
He sighed and started cleaning up, stacking boxes and tossing cups away.
Bump.
The sound was sudden.
Too close.
Rei froze.
It came from the balcony.
A sharp rush of adrenaline surged through him, goosebumps breaking out along his arms as his heartbeat spiked.
Slowly, he turned his head toward the glass doors.
The sound came again.
Rei froze.
He grabbed the broom leaning against the wall and tightened his grip, moving toward the balcony with careful steps.
"Whoever that is," he said flatly, "you have exactly five seconds before I swing."
The curtain shifted.
A figure climbed over the railing and dropped onto the balcony with an annoyingly light thud.
Rei raised the broom instantly.
"…Are you serious right now?"
Jae-min straightened, completely unbothered. He glanced at the broom, then at Rei, a familiar cocky grin spreading across his face.
"Damn," he said. "That's how you greet guests now?"
Rei stared. Then scoffed."You climbed into my apartment."
"Second floor," Jae-min replied easily. "Relax."
"That's not comforting."
Jae-min stepped inside like he owned the place. "You blocked my number."
"And yet," Rei said dryly, "here you are. Breaking in."
"Not breaking in," Jae-min corrected. "Creative entry."
Rei rolled his eyes. "You know you could've just not come."
"Yeah, well," Jae-min said, shrugging, "this building won't let anyone in unless they booked a room or own one."
"And?"
"And there's no way my dad wouldn't lose his mind if I randomly bought a place I'd never use," he continued casually. "Especially when I already have a condo."
Rei blinked once."…So your solution was climbing my balcony."
Jae-min smiled. "Worked, didn't it?"
Rei lowered the broom just a little. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're still holding that broom like you might hit me," Jae-min said, eyes flicking to it. "Which I find very reassuring."
"That's not reassurance," Rei replied. "That's a warning."
Jae-min laughed softly. "Missed you too."
Rei turned and walked back into the room. "You're not staying long."
Jae-min followed him inside anyway."Didn't plan on staying long."
Rei glanced over his shoulder. "Good. Because if you flirt—"
"I will," Jae-min said immediately.
Rei sighed. "Of course you will."
Rei started to sweep the floor; he pushed the empty cans towards the dustbin.
"Just call room service" Jae said looking around.
"Why bother them," Rei continued brooming.
30 minutes later
The place was expensive in the kind of way that didn't need to announce itself. No gaudy decorations, no excessive clutter—just space, clean lines, and intent. The lighting was warm but restrained, tucked into corners and beneath shelves instead of glaring from overhead fixtures.
The living area opened wide, floor-to-ceiling windows stretching across one wall, the city glowing faintly beyond the glass. The couch was low and broad, the kind you sank into without realizing how much it probably cost. A glass coffee table sat in front of it, untouched except for faint smudges from earlier chaos—evidence of company that had already come and gone.
Jae-min's eyes drifted to the balcony doors.
Wide. Tall. Heavy glass. Secure—but not impossible. He huffed softly, amused. Of course that's how he'd gotten in.
The kitchen blended seamlessly into the space, all smooth surfaces and hidden handles. Marble island, bar stools pushed in neatly, appliances built flush into the walls like they were ashamed to be seen. It looked barely used, like a show unit someone actually lived in.
Further in, he caught a glimpse of the bedroom—partially obscured by a sliding partition. Soft lighting spilled through the gap, the edge of a neatly made bed visible, sheets dark and unwrinkled. The kind of bed that didn't expect guests.
It felt… quiet.
Too quiet for someone who had just celebrated a birthday.
Jae-min exhaled slowly, hands sliding into his pockets.
"So this is how you live," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
The place fit Rei. Controlled. Private. A little too empty.
Rei had just fell onto the couch with a sigh after cleaning everything up.
Jae-min had taken the couch directly opposite Rei, one arm slung lazily across the backrest like he belonged there. His legs stretched out in front of him, posture loose, eyes sharp despite how relaxed he looked.
"You talk like you live worse," Rei said dryly. "You're richer than me."
Jae-min didn't answer.
He hadn't even heard him.
His attention had drifted—caught, unashamedly, on Rei.
The fuzzy pink knit swallowed his frame, soft and oversized, the fabric brushing dangerously low against his thighs. He wore nothing else over it. The black cotton tights underneath were completely hidden by the hem, leaving his legs bare and unguarded.
Too visible.Too intentional.
A thin pink thigh strap hugged one leg, peeking just beneath the sweater like it knew exactly what it was doing.
Jae-min's jaw tightened.
"…Fuck," he muttered.
Jae-min shifted on the couch, but it didn't help.
Rei was sitting opposite him, legs drawn in slightly, shoulders relaxed like this was nothing—like he wasn't fully aware of how the fuzzy pink knit draped over him when he moved. The hem rode just high enough when he adjusted his seat, the fabric bunching softly against his thighs.
Jae-min's gaze followed before he could stop himself.
"…You're doing this on purpose," he said, voice low.
Rei looked up. "Doing what?"
Jae-min didn't answer right away. His eyes lingered a second longer than necessary before he leaned back again, jaw tight.
"Never mind," he muttered. "You wouldn't survive knowing."
Rei rolled his eyes. "You're the one who climbed my balcony. Don't act like I invited you to stare."
"That's exactly the problem," Jae-min replied smoothly. "I didn't expect this."
Rei crossed one leg over the other, completely casual.
Jae-min exhaled through his nose. Slow. Controlled. Failing.
The thigh strap caught the light when Rei moved, a soft flash of pink against skin. Jae-min's fingers curled against the couch cushion.
"Fuck," he breathed again, quieter this time.
Rei glanced at him, unimpressed. "You swear a lot."
"That's restraint," Jae-min said, finally meeting his eyes. "Trust me."
A beat passed.
Then Jae-min leaned forward, elbows on his knees now, posture shifting from lazy to intent. His gaze didn't wander anymore—it locked.
"So," he said softly, "are you gonna keep pretending you don't know why I'm here?"
Rei huffed. "You mean besides breaking building security and traumatizing me?"
Jae-min smiled. Slow. Dangerous.
"I mean," he said, "besides the obvious."
The air between them thickened.
And for the first time since climbing in, Jae-min looked… satisfied.
To Be Continued... ...
[1] Yes. Alpha women have dicks. Cool right?