As soon as Josh got out of the car, he ran like a madman. His thoughts were tangled, chaotic, and filled with fear. The only image in his mind was Chase—bleeding, being dragged into an old car, disappearing into the unknown.
He has to be safe.
Josh clenched his jaw, his breath ragged.
Son of a bitch. I'll kill anyone who hurts him. Who the hell dares to touch him? Fuck.
By the time he reached the trailer, his chest was heaving, his breath burning in his throat. He swallowed dryly and forced himself to move faster.
The isolated trail around him was eerily quiet. The stillness was so unnatural that for a brief moment, doubt crept in.
Maybe I heard wrong.
As he reached for the door and stepped inside, he clung to that thought.
Maybe Chase is still in bed, sleeping like always. Maybe Mark's words had a different meaning. Maybe the phone connection was bad, or I misheard him while walking.
Yes. That had to be it.
But the moment he stepped into the living area, all hope vanished.
A room full of people—security personnel, Laura, her secretary, Chase's manager—turned to face him, their expressions grim. Mark stood up immediately.
"Come on, Josh. Everyone's been waiting."
The tension in the air was suffocating. Josh's pulse pounded in his ears. There was no denying it now.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
"How the hell did this happen?"
Josh struggled to keep his voice steady. Mark sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. It was Laura who finally spoke.
"Everyone was caught off guard because he suddenly said he wanted to go shopping. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how he is—he doesn't listen to reason. I looked away for just a second, and in the blink of an eye…."
Her voice trailed off, her face pale. A heavy silence followed.
Josh broke it.
"What the hell did he need to buy so urgently?"
His voice trembled as he tried to contain his fury. Laura hesitated, blinking in confusion. Mark was the one who answered.
"A watch."
Josh frowned. "I beg your pardon?"
Mark's frustration boiled over. He shot Josh a glare, his voice rising in anger.
"A watch! A damn watch! The kind you wear on your wrist—this!"
He raised his left arm and shook it wildly for emphasis. Then, as if the absurdity of the situation finally hit him, he spat, "Fuck!"
"Who the hell knows what goes on in his head?!"
Mark's voice echoed in the silence, the anger in his outburst fading into an eerie quiet. Josh exhaled sharply, trying to remain calm.
"So what's the plan now? Why is everyone just standing here? Do we know who took Mr. Miller and what kind of organization we're dealing with?"
"Seth contacted some FBI agents he's worked with before," Mark said, "but Laura shot that down, so now we're at a standstill. Laura, we're all here now. Talk."
Every pair of eyes turned to Laura. She shifted under the weight of their gazes before finally speaking.
"I know exactly where Mr. Miller is being held."
A stunned silence filled the room. This time, it wasn't from shock—it was from sheer disbelief.
Mark blinked. "You know? What the hell does that mean?"
Laura hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Mr. Miller has a tracking chip implanted in his body."
Josh stiffened.
Mark's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?"
Seth was just as shocked. "You mean like the kind they put in dogs?"
Henry scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, considering who we're talking about, it suits him."
Josh shot him a cold glare, but now wasn't the time for petty arguments. He turned back to Laura.
She took a breath, then continued. "In high-risk situations, VIPs sometimes have tracking chips implanted for safety reasons. In cases like this… well, there have been past incidents where it proved useful. Even last time…."
She trailed off suddenly, but Mark caught on immediately. His expression darkened.
"The day Josh fought the Coyote? You found Chase not just through the car's tracking system, but because of this chip?"
Laura hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. There was no use hiding it anymore.
"But this is highly classified information," she warned. "Don't forget the confidentiality clause in your contracts—"
"How many damn times are you going to say that?!" Mark snapped. "Fuck!"
The client's abduction had made emotions run high. It wasn't just the stress of the situation—it was the sheer audacity of it. But Laura wasn't finished. Her expression was grave as she continued.
"As for the chip… and the kidnapping itself, everything must be kept strictly confidential. In Mr. Miller's case, if the ransom is set at an unimaginable amount, there's no telling what they might do to him."
Everyone in the room already understood that grim reality. Mark, instead of letting his anger escalate, shifted his approach.
"So where the hell is this tracking system now? How long is this going to take to get Miller back?"
"Wait a moment—I'm on it."
Laura got up from her seat, and her secretary followed immediately. Isaac, moving under Mark's sharp instructions, hurried after them. Silence settled in once again, and the rest of the security team remained still, their faces tense.
A watch.
The more Josh thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. His frustration boiled over. Rubbing his face with both hands, he couldn't take it anymore—he had to get out. He stormed out of the trailer, needing space to breathe.
Seth followed him.
Josh barely noticed him until he caught sight of the cigarette between Seth's lips. Without a word, he reached out.
"Give me one."
Seth raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you quit?"
Josh snatched the cigarette from him with a dry laugh. "Started again. Because of someone."
"Who?"
Josh scoffed. "Who do you think?"
Seth had no response to that.
By the time they had smoked halfway through, Josh's nerves had settled—at least a little. Just then, Laura returned with the others, carrying a black briefcase.
Josh and Seth immediately stubbed out their cigarettes and hurried back inside.
Less than half an hour later, they walked out again, ready to move.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
The newly constructed building still smelled of fresh paint. Most of the offices were empty—few people came and went, except the occasional contractor overseeing the rental process. On one of the upper floors, only a single light was on.
The room itself was bare. A cheap bed and a single chair were the only pieces of furniture. The walls were plain. A large window overlooked the city skyline, but it was useless—it had been nailed shut. Even the air purifier on the ceiling hummed in eerie silence.
Chase sat on the bed, his hands bound behind him. He had been there for hours.
Sigh.
He exhaled heavily, shifting uncomfortably.
When this happens, you should conserve your energy.
Josh's words echoed in his mind, so Chase kept still, barely moving. Not that there was much else to do.
He wasn't free because, when one of the kidnappers had gagged him, Chase had bitten down—hard—tearing into the man's flesh. In retaliation, he had taken a vicious hit to the face, but after that, they had stopped bothering to cover his mouth.
The leader's words had been telling.
"Leave him be. No one's listening anyway."
And so Chase sat in silence, alone, bruised, and exhausted.
It wasn't just the unfinished filming that was a problem.
The bigger problem was Josh.
Chase knew exactly how Josh would react. He could already picture the storm in his eyes, the tension in his jaw. Josh, who always looked at him like he was the most fascinating thing in the world.
A frown crossed Chase's face.
No way… will he hate me?
The memory of something he'd once said flashed through his mind.
"Who would like you with your personality alone?"
His stomach dropped.
His face paled.
He curled up slightly, exhaling shakily. The current situation didn't worry him. Laura would track the chip. They would find him. It would all be over soon.
But Josh—Josh's reaction—
That was what scared him.
Did I really say that?
Regret hit him belatedly. But what was done was done.
Josh will be furious.
He wanted to run a hand through his hair in frustration, but his arms were still tied.
And yet—despite the fear, despite the danger—his heart pounded with something else entirely.
Josh was coming for him.
Josh would never care about the risks.
Josh would get hurt for him.
Josh would hold him. Kiss him.
That realization sent a sharp shudder through him. He barely had time to process it before footsteps echoed from outside.
His head snapped up.
The heavy sound of boots stopped at the door. A key turned in the lock.
When the door swung open, several masked men entered. They were all large, imposing figures, but Chase's eyes instinctively found the one whose hand was thickly bandaged.
His attacker.
The man glared murderously at him, but before he could move, another man—clearly the boss—stepped in front of him.
"Patience," he said coolly. "He's worth a lot of money."
The injured man clenched his fists. "But—"
Before he could protest, the boss struck him sharply across the face.
"I told you. After we get the semen, then we demand the ransom. If you ruin him, how the hell do you think that's going to work?"
"Do we even need to send him back alive?" another man muttered.
The boss clicked his tongue. "If negotiations don't go well, we'll have to reconsider. If there's a child involved, the price skyrockets on the black market. Plenty of rich buyers with… particular tastes."
His gaze shifted to the injured man.
"Your revenge will have to wait until we've secured our payday."
Then, finally, the boss turned his attention to Chase.
"Now we just have to wait for his pheromones to build up."
His voice turned sharp. "What the hell are you waiting for? Bring them in!"
In an instant, Chase's body went rigid.
He could smell them before he even saw them.
More footsteps. Heavy boots.
The moment the men stepped inside, Chase knew.
They were all omegas.
The moment they closed the door behind them, a refreshing pheromone scent filled the room. Chase instinctively stepped back, his face pale, but he soon felt the headboard against his back, stopping his retreat.
"Look at that kid's face."
One of them laughed, but Chase couldn't afford to feel contempt. All he could do was hold his breath in a desperate attempt to stop the pheromones from spreading further in the room.
"Let's see how long you can act all high and mighty, calling yourself a dominant Alpha."
Another Omega sneered at him.
"When the pheromones accumulate, he'll lose his mind just like any other animal in heat."
"I'm already turned on."
"Look at him, trembling and covered in cold sweat. You think he'll last a day like that?"
"I say half a day."
"An hour, tops."
Laughter erupted among them. Chase struggled to suppress his frantic breathing, but the tension made it nearly impossible. One of the men eyed him with amusement before speaking again.
"Wouldn't it be more exciting to ride him through the heat?"
A brief silence followed. A different kind of tension settled in the room. The man's gaze remained fixed on Chase as he spoke again.
"I wonder what happens when a dominant Alpha goes into heat."
Another man stepped closer.
"I want to bite that pretty mouth."
Someone rubbed the bulge in his pants, his breath heavy with anticipation. But another man interrupted with a smirk.
"You know, as long as he's conscious, there's a good chance you'll end up like Peter—with your hand bitten off."
A collective sigh of disappointment filled the air. They decided on another method instead—letting the heat drive him mad on its own.
"Alright, strip him."
Even the non-Omega men were breathless with excitement. Chase pressed himself against the headboard, knowing there was nowhere to run. In a desperate attempt to resist, he lashed out with his long legs.
"Oh!"
A strangled scream followed as one of them stumbled back.
But Chase's resistance didn't last long. Another man, angered, climbed onto the bed and grabbed his ankle. Chase fought back, kneeing him in the temple. The man crumpled, groaning in pain.
"Tom! Are you okay? That bastard—"
"I'm going to break his damn spirit!"
"You want to make money, don't you?"
"This little shit—shut him up already!"
They grabbed Chase from all sides, covering his mouth, pinning down his legs. Another man reached for his belt, the sound of the buckle clinking echoing through the chaos. Chase fought with everything he had, but they managed to yank open his belt. The scent of his distress filled the room, triggering an unexpected reaction.
"O-Oof!"
One of the men suddenly let out a strangled cry and staggered back. Blood dripped from his nose—broken.
The others hesitated, momentarily stunned. But the pause was brief.
"I want to go first."
"No, it's me!"
"I'm first, damn it!"
"What's wrong with you guys? Get a grip! You're acting like a bunch of pheromone-crazed bastards—"
The Omegas fought among themselves, while the Betas tried to break it up. The Alphas, overwhelmed by the scent, were growing restless. The entire situation was spiraling out of control.
The boss, finally losing his patience, yelled, "You idiots, calm down!"
But no one listened.
"Open the door! Ventilate the damn place before we all lose our minds!"
One man hurried to the door, swinging it open. A rush of cool air flooded in from the hallway, but it wasn't enough to restore order.
"This damn kid…!"
The boss clenched his fists and turned back to Chase. But Chase wasn't doing much better—his mind was fogged by the overwhelming Omega scent filling his lungs.
No.
He struggled to hold his breath, but dizziness took over. His body refused to obey him. Even keeping his eyes open felt impossible.
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the moment.
The window exploded.
"What the hell?!"
A scream of shock followed as glass rained down. Chase barely had time to register what was happening before fresh air rushed in, clearing his senses.
And then, a tall figure leaped into the room.
The man landed smoothly, immediately kicking down one of the attackers. Straightening up, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and smirked.
"As always, causing trouble, aren't you?"
Through the haze, Chase blinked at him, barely able to form the name on his lips.
Joshua.
Another figure entered right behind him. Isaac. He had followed Josh down the rope from the rooftop, landing with practiced ease. The room fell into stunned silence.
Isaac glanced around, taking in the chaos, then wrinkled his nose in disgust. "You ignorant motherfuckers," he muttered. "Do you have even a shred of decency?"
Josh didn't waste time. One of the men lunged at him, and Josh effortlessly dodged, kneeing him in the stomach before flipping him onto the ground.
The others hesitated for only a second before attacking.
Chase wanted to help, but he was still bound.
Josh turned to him briefly, his voice sharp. "Stay put, Chase! You're not getting hurt again!"
"Josh, watch out!"
Isaac intercepted an attacker before he could ambush Josh, knocking him unconscious with a precise strike. Josh spun, landing a kick straight to another man's head.
Despite being outnumbered, they dominated the fight. The boss, watching the scene unfold, finally realized his mistake.
He had underestimated them.
Panic set in.
"Shit!" One of the men bolted for the door, pushing past his fallen comrades. Another scrambled after him, their courage gone.
The boss gritted his teeth. His golden opportunity was slipping away.
No.
There was still a chance.
He turned on his heel, stepping over the unconscious bodies of his own men, and lunged toward the bed.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Stop, motherfucker—!"
Josh and Isaac both shouted, but the boss didn't slow down. His eyes locked onto Chase. In his hand, a sharp jackknife gleamed.
One move.
All he needed was one move.
If he could grab Chase and get out, he could still salvage this. Once he was across the border, none of this would matter. He was Beta—immune to Alpha pheromones. He could shove Chase into the trunk and disappear.
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"Chase!"
Josh's voice rang out as he leaped forward. Isaac took down another attacker and rushed after him.
The boss reached out, his knife flashing.
Josh sprinted, stepping onto the mattress for momentum. In an instant, he launched himself into the air, twisting mid-flight—
And slammed a brutal kick into the boss's skull.
A sickening crack echoed through the room.
The boss froze. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. His body swayed for a moment before crumpling onto the bed.
Chase, wide-eyed, could only stare.
Silence filled the room.
For a few tense seconds, Josh remained still, his chest rising and falling. Then he exhaled sharply, adjusting his stance.
The boss didn't move.
From the hallway, a scream rang out.
Josh and Isaac instantly turned toward the door, their bodies tensing.
A loud thud followed, then the sound of approaching footsteps.
"How'd it go? All cleaned up?"
"Seth."
Josh let out a breath of relief as Seth appeared in the doorway, Henry right behind him.
The two of them had taken care of the guards outside.
Josh finally turned to Chase, breathing heavily. He ran a hand through his hair, calming himself before asking,
"Are you okay?"
Josh smiled at Chase, who still looked up with wide-open eyes.
"It's really a lot of work, Mr. Miller."
Despite his words, there was no trace of annoyance or mockery in his tone. Instead, Chase felt relieved by his gentle voice, and his fondness for Josh only deepened.
With Chase gazing at him with admiration in his eyes, Josh barely resisted the urge to kiss him. Instead, he took Chase's bound hands and pulled a pocket knife from the inner pocket of his jacket. He carefully began cutting through the tightly knotted ropes. Chase remained still, patiently waiting.
As the pressure around his wrists disappeared, Chase exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He rubbed his numb wrists, and Josh, watching him in silence, finally spoke.
"Can you walk? If it's too hard, let me know."
"I can do it."
Chase moved to get off the bed, but a sound came through Josh's earpiece. Josh raised a hand, signaling Chase to wait, and spoke into his comms.
"Yeah, it's over. Get ready to leave and handle the rest of the process. C is okay. His face is hurt, but…."
Josh suddenly frowned, glancing at Chase's swollen cheek. He ended the call immediately and looked down at him.
"Who did this?"
The quiet intensity in his voice sent a shiver down Chase's spine. Not from fear—but from something else. Silently, Chase lifted his hand and pointed to one of the men lying unconscious on the floor.
Josh gently brushed Chase's cheek with a look of sorrow before standing up abruptly. The man he had pointed to was attempting to crawl away. Josh seized him by the collar and slammed his head into the wall with a sickening thud.
"What the—what are you doing?!"
Henry turned his head in shock, and the other guards stared in disbelief. But Josh wasn't done. He threw the man to the floor. The man clutched his broken nose, groaning in pain, but Josh's rage hadn't subsided. Without hesitation, he began kicking him repeatedly.
"Josh, calm down! What are you doing?"
"Stop—he's already unconscious!"
Isaac and Seth, alarmed by Josh's uncharacteristic fury, rushed in to restrain him. Josh managed to land one final kick before running a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to catch his breath.
The room fell into stunned silence. None of them had ever seen Josh this angry before.
Why is he so furious?
Seth exchanged a bewildered glance with Isaac. Neither had an answer.
"Hey, what the hell—"
Henry, unable to contain his curiosity, started to ask, but Josh turned away without responding.
"Let's go."
Chase was sitting where Josh's gaze landed. Everyone else looked between Josh and Chase, their confusion growing.
Josh ignored them all and smiled at Chase, reaching out a hand. Slowly, Chase's face lit up. The security team, watching the radiant smile bloom on his lips, suddenly forgot all the complaints and curses they had ever muttered about him. Even Henry momentarily forgot the embarrassing videos of Chase he had once watched so intently.
As everyone's attention was fixed on Chase and Josh, one of the unconscious men stirred.
Chase noticed him first. His eyes widened in alarm, and before he could react, the man lunged.
Josh barely dodged in time as a blade slashed through the air. The man swung again, this time grazing Josh's ear. His earpiece went flying.
Just as Josh was about to retaliate, Seth intercepted the attacker, delivering a brutal punch that sent him sprawling.
"Thanks," Josh muttered, catching his breath.
Then he noticed something strange. The room had gone eerily silent. Everyone was staring at him—including Seth, who had just helped him. Their wide-eyed expressions were unsettling.
What's going on?
Josh looked around in confusion—until his gaze landed on Chase.
Chase was staring at him with an expression of pure shock, his face pale. Josh blinked.
Why is he looking at me like that?
"…Why?" Josh asked with an uneasy smile. "Is something wrong with me?"
No one answered. They just continued to stare.
Seth was the first to break the silence.
"…I didn't know you were marked."
Josh froze. His breath hitched.
Slowly, as if in a daze, he raised a trembling hand to his ear.
The solid object that had always been there—the one he never let anyone see—was gone.
Instead, his fingertips brushed against the soft skin of his earlobe. And then, as his fingers traced upward, he felt it.
A deep, unmistakable bite mark.
Josh stopped breathing.
Chase took a step forward. Josh couldn't move.
Chase, now only inches away, reached out, his fingers grazing Josh's ear. Josh's own hand, which had been frozen in place, fell away.
The tape that had always concealed the mark had been torn off along with the earpiece. The secret he had fought so hard to hide was now laid bare.
Chase's eyes remained locked on Josh's ear as he gently traced the mark with his fingertips. His hand trembled slightly as he touched it.
"This… what is this?"
Chase's voice was quiet, yet filled with emotion. It trembled just like his fingers.
"Why do you have a mark?"
"Chase—"
"Tell me," Chase demanded, his breath unsteady. "What the hell…"
His words trailed off as he simply stared at Josh, his face filled with confusion and disbelief.
Josh, too, was silent.
Chase finally managed to speak again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"When did this happen?"
Everyone was watching him.
Josh swallowed dryly.
He had hidden it for so long. Desperately. But now, in the span of mere seconds, it had been exposed.
Josh opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He glanced away, overwhelmed. Then, lowering his head, he bit his lip, struggling to find the words he had kept buried for so long.