Eun-Seong groans as he walks back to his apartment that he used to share with Nicholas.
As he nears his door he notices the door opened a crack.
Preparing for the worst, he pulls out his phone having the emergency services' number at the ready.
He pushes open the door slowly.
Nothing in particular looks out of place, but he can't be too sure as it was a bit since he has been inside.
The living room is empty. He walks into the dining room and he comes face to face with an older looking man with black and gray salt and pepper hair slicked back falling down over his shoulders. His face giving the appearance of a sixty year old looking man as his hands are folded over the table. Next to him is a man with a head of completely gray hair who looked eighty.
Both looked at him a sense of seriousness in their faces.
'What are these two old alpha's doing in my home?'
He starts to back away until he hears the toilet flushing in the bathroom and the sound of rushing water.
'There is another?'
This time it was a man he recognized.
"Father?"
"Eun-Seong, meet your great-grandfather and your grandfather."
But Eun-Seong not knowing what to say bowed his head.
"Such a shame he wasn't born an alpha. You and your husband should try bearing another one.
"The doctors suggested against that after he had Eun-Seong." His father explains.
"Shame." The eldest says. "This is what will be taking over the family business?"
"Father, this is not our worries at the moment. The Seol family are accumulating wealth again and we are unsure of their whereabouts and how many are left."
"Seol?" He asks.
"Yes, there was an accident at the Seol Mansion about fifteen years ago. The reason is unknown. But because their stupid head of household was a beta, after his house went up in flames betas became deranged and started to take over, being the majority they won quite easily." His grandfather explains.
"If I knew killing him would lead to more unrest among the betas I would have never let that happen, I should have started by killing his supporters first and putting the fear into their eyes so that none would fight back." His great-grandfather said.
"You, killed his family? But you told me back then it was an accident!" His grandfather raises his voice.
"Well obviously I failed. They are back and stronger than ever. Not to mention that they have several powerful omega families in their hands. Like that Nigerian princess, what was her name again?" The great-grandfather says.
"Ovireya-Enohor." The grandfather corrects. "They also have the Moon family in their pockets. Perhaps that is how they gotten rich so fast. The Moon's have denied us access to space to branch out the company. Still upset about the loss of one of their omega daughters. But it will, no it must change."
"But they are in hiding. How would we find them?"
"One thing I do remember is that they had red hair on one side of the family due to the omega Seol Beom-Gyu married. That woman has some of the brightest sunset colored eyes I have ever seen and I am even more surprised that we can't find them."
Ah-Reum flashes into his mind and then he remembers her mama's accent and her bright red hair and burning sunset eyes. The same eyes he came to falling in love with.
'Why didn't she tell me she was a Seol?'
He then thought back to when she asked him about his lineage.'
"Oh sh!t." He mutters.
His paternal family line looks over to him curiously.
"Oh, um, I remembered I have… homework."
"It can wait. For now we must focus on getting you married because your last betrothal went south and now your sister now has our bargaining chip for riches."
"How about we just settle things out with the Seol family?"
"That won't work." Flash of silky white hair and pale skin passes by Eun-Seong.
"What?" Eun-Seong says. "Charlie?"
"I will be transferring to your school, aren't you happy?" He asks soft smile embracing his charming face.
"Yes, but why are you here?"
"Despite being a Seol, I am a Soo first."
Disbelief is all over his face as he turns to say something his great-grandfather answers first.
"His grandfather left the family because he was an alpha."
Charlie smiles fully, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"Interesting to finally see you again, old friend."
____________
During lunch Eun-Seong looks for Ah-Reum. She is sitting with her cousin— Sang-Won — his long hair falling over his face, Kyung-Chul, Jaehyun and Jason.
Just as he is about to walk over and say hello, Minhyun runs a hand through his dyed blonde hair and says:
"Is that, Charlie!" Eun-Seong turns around and sees him.
"So you really weren't lying about transferring mid semester." Eun-Seong states.
Charlie surveys the room.
"Woah, a redhead, is that natural?" He asks sitting down at the table.
Eun-Seong became worried that he would find out immediately and he would be the cause of her downfall once more.
"Sadly, such a nice color was wasted on her." Minhyun says licking his lips and sucking on the lollipop in his hold.
"Her?" Charlie sits up. "Is she bad or something?"
"You remember that girl in primary school who had a crush on Eun-Seong?" Minhyun says.
"Yeah, Ah-Reum." Charlie taps his chin and rests his head on his hand.
"Ah-Reum." Dohyun confirms.
"So the pretty red headed girl from when we were children?" He looks over in her direction. "She matured well." He says with a pensive smile, the kind that was unreadable.
He stands so fast and strides, quickly shuffling over in that direction and coming to a stop right in behind her.
Eun-Seong, panicking, stands up after him moving close. Dohyun and Minhyun following behind.
"What are you doing? She is an omega!" Minhyun hisses.
"So?" He proceeds in getting her number.
'Do they not know they are related? Or is he playing stupid?'
Eun-Seong snaps out of it when he finally sees the look she gave him:
"I'm gonna do it." Written all over her face.
"Actually, I'm an alpha." A dam that he never knew he never wanted broken has exploded in a great big explosion and everyone in the lunchroom stared at her all of a sudden becoming quiet.
"Sang-Won, you never said your cousin was an alpha." Jason says shocked. "But… How? You smell like flowers."
"Yet my mother smells like osmanthus."
"I thought, you were never going to correct people Red?" Sang-Won's eyes were wide.
"Changed my mind. Besides, there is no reason to hiding it now."
This change in Ah-Reum, Eun-Seong was not ready for.
Charlie on the other hand is ecstatic.
"Woah, a female alpha?" He says as she and her group walks away. "And she is also pretty."
'Yep they both don't know that they are related.' Eun-Seong confirms.
"Delete her number." Eun-Seong demands nonchalantly.
"Why, you like her or something? You're her boyfriend?" Charlie sneers.
He looks over to Dohyun and Minhyun. Both watching intently.
Charlie chuckles.
"You want her to yourself, huh? She didn't even call for you and you have the gall to tell me to delete her number. Do you own her or something? The most fvcked up part is, you're still friends with the people who hurt her and expect that now she is all grown up you can just have her. You didn't seem surprised that she is an alpha. You already knew didn't you?" Charlie spits.
"Your a selfish prick who wants it all. I never wanted to talk to you guys again." Charlie folds his arms and gives the most bombastic side-eye.
"Is that why all of our calls went to voicemail!" Minhyun yells.
"Yeah, I blocked you all after I found out about the sh!t you pulled. That is also why I changed schools. I looked everywhere for her, and now that I found her, I am never letting go."
Charlie then smiles.
"Eun-Seong, I am guessing you know where she is. Tell me."
"Hell no, I am not telling you a damn thing."
"Well then, that was your chance. And you blew it."
Charlie follows in the direction Ah-Reum went, leaving Dohyun and Minhyun baffled and Eun-Seong plotting his death.
"Charlie, ditched us? The twins say at the same time.
Eun-Seong grasps both of their hands and drags them out of the cafeteria where everyone was watching them. Many emotions flashing on everyone's faces.
________
Eun-Seong walks quickly to the taekwondo clubs doors and he hears the sound of Charlie and Ah-Reum.
The three peek inside.
"I thought he liked men like us." Minhyun whispers.
They watch as Ah-Reum teaches him the basics and as she laughs as he kicks and falls backwards.
"Eun-Seong, you're going to have to explain yourself." Dohyun whispers, glaring at him.
As they start walking away, Eun-Seong feels tears stream down his face like a waterfall.
"Dude. Why?" Minhyun starts. "She's just a girl."
"Is she even at this point?" Eun-Seong says leaning against the wall.
"Just because she is an alpha doesn't change anything." Dohyun says putting a hand over his brother's face. "Why do you even care so much, you saw her again after years like… five days ago."
"That is the thing… what happened five days ago?" He asks knowing they wouldn't know the answer.
"I don't know, we hung out together and you went to your parent's dinner party… celebrating you and your boyfriend's continued union." Dohyun, who is ever inquisitive pauses. "Oh. Sh!t."
He turns to Eun-Seong.
"Nicholas loved you. How come he is with your older sister? Did something happen at that party?" Dohyun asks.
"He cheated on me with my damn sister. She was on her heat and dating Ah-Reum. She then decided to piss off Ah-Reum and I had to take her to the hospital."
"It sounds like you two have been through a lot." Minhyun says with a surprising amount of empathy, pushing his brother's hand off of his face.
"It is hard to not feel possessive especially after we fvcked. Especially with the whole sh!t show my sister made for me."
"You two… But how?" Minhyun asks, pushing past his brother.
"Well female alphas have a tentacle like piece so it can squirm and stroke the inside." Eun-Seong gushes shivering.
"It can't be that good." Minhyun frowns.
"Oh no, it is good."
"Maybe your ex-boyfriend was just unexperienced. How many partners did she have?" Dohyun inquires.
"I met two. My sister and some b!tch named Mi-Young."
"And why isn't she still together with them?" Minhyun asks licking his lips.
"They cheat. But despite cheating they always seem to come back. My sister on the other had just wanted a man. But it seems like all the girls she dated want a man and to be able to come back to her whenever they want." Eun-Seong explains.
The two brothers look at each other.
"And why do you want her?" They question at the same time.
"I don't know something about her just makes me want to be near her side. Like I knew her. Even back in elementary school, I saw her face and it felt like I known her." He says slinking down the wall. "And now I lost her… to her damn second cousin." The second part added with a mutter.
"I think you need to clear your mind."
"I just wanna get hammered." Eun-Seong declares. How could he get close to Au-Reum with Charlie in the way? He just had to hope he would mess up.