Evening settled softly over the Wolf Mark mansion, the fading sunlight casting long shadows through the tall windows. The corridors were quiet — only the faint hum of conversation echoed from the lower floors.
Rin followed Kael through the hallway toward the private clinic that Eric had established inside the estate. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and something cool, clean — a space that carried the weight of precision.
Eric stood waiting near one of the stainless-steel counters, a tablet in hand and a faintly pleased smile on his face. "Good," he said as they entered. "You're just in time. I've got your results."
Kael leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, his calm expression giving nothing away. Rin, on the other hand, sat down silently on the examination bed, crossing his legs and waiting for Eric to speak.
Eric tapped a few buttons on his screen before glancing up. "The compatibility tests are out," he said. "And, not so surprisingly… the two of you rank extremely high — above ninety percent."
Rin's head tilted slightly, though he didn't react much outwardly. "Ninety percent?"
"Above that," Eric confirmed. "You're practically made to balance each other. That explains why Kael's pheromones have been stabilizing your system so well." He swiped again and showed the data on the screen, where color-coded lines overlapped almost perfectly.
Rin blinked slowly, expression unreadable. "And what does that mean exactly?"
"It means," Eric said, turning toward him, "that your bodies — and pheromone systems — are highly compatible. To keep your condition stable, I suggest that you two should establish a temporary mark every three days."
Rin's eyes widened a fraction. "Every three days?" His voice was calm but edged with disbelief. "That's quite frequent, don't you think?"
Eric let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Actually, I was considering every two days," he admitted. "But knowing it might be too much for you both right now, I decided three days will do."
Rin stared at him, speechless. His mind couldn't decide whether to argue or to simply sigh in defeat. He turned slightly, looking toward Kael — who, in contrast, looked entirely unbothered.
Kael merely glanced at Rin's expression, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, and then turned back to Eric. "Understood."
Eric nodded, making a note. "When was the last mark?"
Kael answered evenly, "Two days ago."
"Then make it tonight," Eric said simply, as if he were prescribing medicine. "It'll keep his system steady. Especially since his pheromone levels are still fluctuating."
He paused, then added, "And you're staying with him during the nights, right?"
Kael nodded once.
Rin blinked, looking between them both, his lips parting slightly in disbelief. Were they seriously talking about this like I wasn't even in the room?
Eric scribbled a final note on his tablet. "Good. Keep it consistent. I'll adjust the suppressant dosage accordingly. And if Rin shows any signs of fatigue or fever, call me immediately."
Rin folded his arms, letting out a slow exhale. "I love how both of you have turned my body into a project," he said dryly.
The walk back to the main floor was silent. The corridors were warmer now, lamps glowing faintly along the walls. Rin walked beside Kael, his thoughts still tangled around what Eric had said. Every three days… that was going to be something.
But before he could say anything, the moment they turned into the living room, Rin froze.
Sitting comfortably on one of the couches — legs crossed, one arm resting lazily on the backrest — was a man Rin did not expect to see here.
Daniell Cruz.
The notorious owner of Cruz Club, the place where Rin had first met Kael.
The Crimson Vultures immediately stiffened as they entered, their sharp eyes scanning the man with instinctive caution. The Wolf Marks, however, seemed perfectly at ease — talking with him, even laughing quietly like they were catching up with an old friend.
Rin's brows knit slightly as Daniell looked up, a slow smile curving his lips. "Well, well. Look who's here," he drawled. "The new partners in crime."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Daniell," he greeted, voice low. "What are you doing here?"
Rin's eyes flicked toward Kael questioningly, silently demanding an explanation.
Kael caught the look and, without any hesitation, answered Rin's unasked question.
"The Cruz family is old allies," Kael said, turning to Rin.
" Daniell works with me now. Cruz is one of our main information networks. They collect and share intelligence across the underground."
Rin gave a small nod, expression neutral, though his gaze lingered on Daniell for a brief second longer.
Daniell noticed. His grin widened, mischief glinting in his dark eyes. "Nice to finally meet properly, sweetheart," he said with a teasing lilt. "You left quite the impression last time."
Rin's face remained utterly blank. "Did I?" he asked coolly.
The playful smirk faltered just slightly. Kael, standing beside Rin, arched an eyebrow — the faintest flicker of possessiveness behind his calm eyes. Daniell quickly cleared his throat. "Anyway," he said, glancing at Kael, "I've got news."
Kael gestured toward the table. "Go on."
The room quieted. The Wolf Marks, who had been lounging earlier, now stood straighter, attention sharpening. Even the Crimson Vultures leaned in, curiosity stirring.
Daniell crossed his legs, his voice turning serious. "I got a tip-off this morning. The Ash Fang are preparing a shipment — heat-inducing drugs, specifically — set to leave the country through the port."
The words immediately changed the air in the room. Every gang member's expression darkened.
Rin's eyes narrowed slightly. "They're exporting?"
"Yeah," Daniell nodded. "Through one of their front companies — Sevon Exports. On paper, it looks clean, but it's been funneling illegal shipments for months. I traced a few of their transport routes. This one's different."
Kael leaned forward slightly, his tone sharp. "Do you know where exactly?"
"They're using the north port," Daniella replied. "Dock sixteen. And there's something else." He paused, his grin gone now, replaced by tension. "There's talk that Ash Fang's people have been meeting with someone offshore. It could be an overseas gang. Possibly a buyer, but… something doesn't add up. The timing's too careful."
Kael's eyes hardened. "Which organization?"
"Not sure yet," Daniella admitted. "But if I find out, you'll be the first to know."
Rin's gaze was steady, cold calculation flickering behind his calm face. "When will they move?"
"One week from now," Daniella said. "Midnight."
Rin and Kael exchanged a glance — brief, silent, but heavy with mutual understanding.
Kael was the first to speak. "We can't wait until then. We need eyes on the route."
Rin nodded immediately. "Lucas. Kenji. Suri."
The three Crimson Vultures straightened.
"Find out everything," Rin ordered. "How many men will be there, the transport layout, what kind of containers they're using. I want every movement mapped before the week ends."
"Yes, boss," Lucas said immediately, already pulling out his phone to send instructions.
Kael turned to his side. "Tobi. Milo."
Both responded instantly.
"See if you can breach Sevon's main server," Kael continued. "Cross-check the shipping manifests. If possible, get into the port's security system — cameras, patrols, clearance records. I want to know who's guarding the docks that night."
Tobi nodded. "I'll have something by morning."
Kael's gaze shifted to the rest of his men. "The rest of you — dig into any trace of foreign contact. If Ash Fang has started working with outsiders, I want a name. A logo. A language. Anything."
The room came alive with motion — phones out, quiet murmurs spreading as orders were relayed. The tension was palpable but productive, the atmosphere thick with the thrill of strategy.
Rin watched it all, his expression calm, though beneath it, a quiet energy pulsed. Something big was coming. And this — this was the kind of world he thrived in.
As the commands settled, Kael glanced back at Daniella. "Anything else?"
"Not for now," Daniella said, standing. "But I'll keep my people on it. If anything shifts, you'll hear from me first."
He flashed his usual charming grin, glancing briefly at Rin again. "Pleasure as always, sweetheart."
Rin didn't even blink. "Don't call me that," he said quietly.
Daniella chuckled, hands raised in mock surrender, then gave Kael a two-finger salute before walking toward the door.
The moment he left, Kael sighed softly and turned toward Rin, whose expression was somewhere between unimpressed and mildly annoyed.
"You know him well," Rin said flatly.
Kael's lips quirked slightly. "Unfortunately."
Rin said nothing, though a faint sound — something between a hum and a sigh — escaped him. He turned toward the large window, the night stretching endlessly beyond.
A week. That was all the time they had before another storm broke loose.
Kael glanced at him, quietly studying the omega's side profile illuminated by the dim golden light. There was a flicker of fatigue in Rin's eyes — maybe from the day, maybe from the talk at the clinic — but there was also steel there.
Eric's words echoed faintly in Kael's head: temporary mark tonight.
Kael exhaled, shoving one hand into his pocket. "Let's go," he said softly.
Rin turned to look at him, brow slightly raised.
Kael's eyes met his — calm, steady, with a trace of warmth hidden behind all that composure. "It's late," he said simply. "And we've got work tomorrow."
Rin held his gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. Without another word, the two of them left the now-empty living room, the quiet sound of their footsteps fading down the corridor.