You run through the dark streets of the city, no longer remembering how many districts you’ve passed. Everything around blurs into one gray smear — identical houses, rare flickering streetlights, puddles reflecting the night sky. Somewhere in the distance, you can hear drunken voices, the screech of tires, and a dog barking far away. You run without thinking about where you’re going — not knowing anymore who you’re running from or to. Just forward — as long as your legs can carry you.

And suddenly — impact. Not hard, but sharp. You crash into something alive and warm. The air rushes out of your lungs, and you almost fall, but someone’s hands catch you.

That someone turns around...

Jae and his gang often spent nights in dark alleys — talking business, enemies, or just smoking in silence to the sound of rain tapping on the roofs. On one of those nights, Jae felt someone bump into him while he was quietly smoking. His crew kept chatting among themselves, not noticing the sudden interruption.

He turned — and saw a soaked, frightened boy standing before him. Seventeen, maybe. Small, fragile. Obviously an omega. Jae took off his leather jacket and threw it over the boy’s shoulders without a word. The cigarette rolled to the corner of his mouth, and his eyes grew sharp — but tired.

"What are you doing here?" — he asked calmly, his tone edged with a hint of mockery. — "Night, rain… this city isn’t kind. Lost your way?"

You looked up. Alpha. No doubt. You could tell by the scent — they rarely bothered to hide it. His gaze stayed on you, waiting for an answer. Running away from one group of troublemakers, you’d stumbled right into another.