Chapter Text
“Excuse me, sir. Can I assist you in any way? Sorry to keep you waiting.”
In-ho turns around. The salesman is standing there in a clean business suit. His polite smile makes his stomach churn. He cranes his neck, looking at the windows. The salesman’s daughter has just left with a school friend, but he tried to tune out their conversation. If he eavesdropped, he’d lose his nerve and head back home.
“Are you looking for shoes for yourself?” the salesman continues. “Or perhaps a gift?”
Judging from the alpha’s sour lemon scent in the air, In-ho strongly suspects that he’s nervous. Perhaps he hasn’t made many sales today. He pretends to be interested in a new shelf. His eyes fixate on a pair of black pumps with red bottoms.
Suddenly, memories flash through his mind. He remembers killing that engineer in his own home, while his cheating wife also tried to grab his gun. If he hadn’t returned to Han Mi-nyeo’s house to retrieve his weapon, then he wouldn’t have been late for that damn dance. A shiver runs down his spine. The man used to be a gangster, but when he saw him in such a depressed state, pity mingled with his disgust. He never even bothered to bury the body. If he did, the guilt of murdering him would drown his waking thoughts.
Technically, his wife fired the final shot. But if he hadn’t broken inside, the whole situation wouldn’t have happened.
One alpha down. Two more to go.
“Sir?” the salesman repeats. “Are you alright?”
In-ho clears his throat, “Yes, of course. I’m - uh, looking for a gift. For my daughter.”
“Ah, how old is she?”
“The same age as yours.”
He directs him to the other end of the store. In-ho can’t help it when he stares at the price tags first. No wonder this man can’t make any sales.
“What kind?” he asks. “We’ve got boots or sandals…”
His voice trails off as he points at some options on the shelves. The air feels claustrophobic. In-ho nods, pretending like he’s interested. The alpha notices his reaction and grins.
“I confess, I’m not very good at this,” the salesman chuckles. “It’s only my first week here. I used to work in a paper company as a recruiter.”
He raises an eyebrow, “Really? I had no idea.”
His sarcastic tone goes unnoticed. The salesman begins talking about his old job with a gleam in his eyes. His heart recognizes another fellow paperman who loved what he did. But then, when he was laid off, he mentioned all his regrets too. His story sounds so similar to his own. In-ho wonders how many people were fired from these companies after foreigners bought them out. The whole idea makes his blood boil. Then, he asks a question again.
“What does your daughter like to do?”
“My youngest? She’s very talented with the cello. I can’t afford the fancy instruments, but I can give her shoes for a new recital. My other two children aren’t into music. I have another pup on the way too.”
In-ho doesn’t know why he’s giving so much information to this stranger. Then again, after the events of the night, he’s not going to tell a single soul.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” the salesman smiles. “You must have a wonderful, caring omega.”
“I do.”
“It’s a shame, though. They can be very disobedient sometimes,” he muses. “I’m sure you have ways of keeping yours in line.”
In-ho decides to steer the conversation in another direction. In another life, maybe he could’ve been friends with this man. He hastily adjusts his cap and glasses disguise. It’s a ridiculous attempt to hide his identity from the cameras. He wonders what Gi-hun would say if he could see him like this. But he’s taken extra precautions these days. Nobody knows about his attempts to eliminate the competition.
“So, will you be buying a pair, sir? I didn’t catch your name.”
“Oh Young-il,” he replies. “I’d have to bring my child here to try them on.”
“Well, we’re open until seven,” he grins. “Come any time before then.”
“Seven?” In-ho asks. “Oh, that’s no good. Her cello lessons end around that time. Maybe some other day.”
As he turns around, the salesman calls his name in a desperate tone.
“Uh, I can stay later! I promise! Bring her around eight or so. I’ll be in the back, cleaning up. Just knock on the door.”
In-ho feels a hint of mortification. He remembers working at that damn grocery store and asking his boss for extra hours. But he couldn’t keep up with all the delivery boxes. He’s not as young as he used to be. The alpha is practically begging him to buy these shoes, so he can make a commission. In-ho nods and promises to return tonight.
When he leaves the store, the tinkling bell echoes in his mind.
No other choice. I have no other choice.
He’s been stalking this salesman for months now. In-ho already knows the route this alpha takes on his drive home. This stretch of road is located right next to the ocean. It’s a dangerous winding path with narrow lanes. Any recklessness would result in a serious accident. Ocean waves crash into the mountain, slamming into rocks. Seagulls caw from the distant trees. He patiently waits for nearly an hour until his car finally shows up. Red lights flood his vision as the salesman moves to the side of the road. In-ho gets out and pretends to start checking under the car’s hood.
“Hello, sir!” he calls. “I missed you tonight. Were you not able to come?”
He sighs, “No, my apologies. I probably have to get this towed. It’s so expensive. And not to mention the shoes for my daughter - ”
“Oh, allow me!” the salesman grins, rolling up his sleeves. “You’re in luck. I have some experience with it.”
He digs under the car’s hood, muttering to himself about the engine. Meanwhile, In-ho slowly takes out the gun from the glove box. His hand immediately starts shaking. This time, it’s going to be different. He won’t hesitate like he did with the gangster Deok-su. No, he’ll avoid looking his second victim in the eye. Perhaps it’ll be easier to fire the trigger. He only has one bullet this time, so he has to make it count. As he’s getting out of the car, he hides the gun behind his back.
“Now, what have we got here? Oh, sir! Oh Young-il-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“I think I’ve found the issue and - oh, my word. Without those glasses, you look just like a model.”
He winks after saying those words. Meanwhile, In-ho holds back his deranged laughter. He uncovers the gun’s cover with his gloved hand and points it directly at his back. When the salesman hears him, he turns around.
“What are you - ”
He covers his victim’s eyes with one hand, while he shoots with the other. A loud gunshot rings out. The ocean’s tumultuous waves manage to hide the brunt of the noise. Blood pools across his chest as the salesman gasps out his last breaths. In-ho refuses to look him in the eye. Instead, he focuses on his legs, which crumble right to the ground like a marionette’s strings. He clutches his wound, tugging at the bloody scraps of his clean white shirt. Unintelligible words emerge from his lips, ranging from confusion to fury. After those dreadful sounds abate, In-ho finally inhales a full breath.
No other choice. I have no other…oh, what the hell have I done?
He acts fast. Another person could drive on this road at any minute. In-ho drags the man by his legs and hurls him into his trunk. With his remaining strength, he rearranges his limbs, so the corpse fits into the car. He wraps the tarp around his bleeding body for an easier cleanup. Adrenaline races through his veins. He dashes over to his victim’s car and pulls out the dash cam. His heart pounds as he stuffs the incriminating evidence in his pocket. Aside from that, he strongly suspects that there’s nothing else to pin him to the crime.
With his bloodstained hands, he clutches the steering wheel and starts the car.
By the time he arrives home, it’s nearly midnight. In-ho made a quick stop for gas and a quick fast food dinner. He checks his phone, ignoring the dozens of missed calls from his mate and brother. They’ve definitely had another family night together, but the date slipped his mind. He dreads their berating words when he sees them again.
But luckily, nobody’s there when he parks in the driveway. Jun-ho and Kim must have left already. He checks the windows and confirms that his children aren’t spying on him. Then, he opens the trunk and carries the tarp into the backyard. The stench of his victim’s blood fills his nostrils. With a large shovel, he starts digging the deepest hole possible. He’s running on pure instinct now. His eyes threaten to fall shut from a lack of sleep, while his muscles ache with each thrust. By the time he’s made a sizable dent in the earth, he shoves the salesman’s body there. In-ho sighs, climbing out of the hole and tossing the dirt pile on his corpse. He rearranges the yard area, so nothing looks out of the ordinary. With a groan, he pats the soil down until it looks similar to its original state. He’ll plant a tree over this spot too. His hands shake as he puts the shovel away, stained with mud and blood.
He heads to the bathroom first and scrubs the crimes away from his skin. After three rinses with steaming hot water, he feels much cleaner. Then, In-ho notices the stains all over his clothes. The alpha frowns, but he finally admits defeat. After turning on the shower, he dumps his incriminating shirt and pants in the hamper. The cold water shocks his system as he scrubs his arms and legs. His heart still refuses to stop pounding. Sooner or later, someone might find out. But he only has one victim left, so he’s practically in the home stretch. He can’t give up now. He’s too deep in.
After he’s finished, he changes into warm pajames and grabs the dash cam from his pocket. When he drops it to the ground, In-ho smashes it with his heel. The camera breaks into dozens of pieces, so he tosses it in the trash can beneath a pile of paper towels.
He heads upstairs and opens the bedroom door. Gi-hun is in bed, smiling in his sleep. He’s wrapped himself around the pregnancy pillow that Jun-ho gave him. In-ho feels a strange pang of longing and guilt in his heart. Since he’s practically a serial killer now, he doesn’t deserve to sleep next to him. An omega who’s the epitome of sunshine, joy and goodness. He tries to imagine the unthinkable. If his mate finds out about his crimes, would he even stay with him?
In-ho goes to the living room downstairs. Sae-byeok is still there, watching a show on her tablet. He tries to keep his voice level. If anyone can detect his suspicious behavior, it’s their eldest child.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed already?”
She checks the clock, “Umma said I can stay up until midnight. Our subscription ends tomorrow. Five more minutes, please.”
He sits on the couch and wraps an arm around her shoulder. “But don’t you have school tomorrow?”
“It’s Friday,” she frowns. “Come on, appa.”
“Is it? Oh, sorry. It must have slipped my mind. Is your mother upset about…”
“Missing dinner? Yeah, she kept talking about it with Uncle Jun-ho. I think she was crying. What were you doing?”
“Networking,” he explains. “Trying to get a new job. You know how it is. I promise I’ll find something soon.”
She stays silent, but her brow furrows in annoyance. He watches the show on her tablet and tries to follow the plotline. There’s an alpha and a werewolf, but he gets bored and stifles a yawn behind his hand. In-ho checks his watch for the time.
“It’s past midnight now,” he points out. “Time for bed, sweetheart.”
She turns off the tablet and rises to her feet, “Can you try to come to dinner next time? You’re upsetting him all the time and it’s not fair when he’s pregnant. Umma is already too emotional as it is. Are you planning to leave us like Ji-yeong’s appa did? She said he used to act this way.”
He frowns, “I’m nothing like that horrible man.”
“Then act like it.”
Another pang of guilt floods his heart, so he nods in agreement. She heads upstairs without a glance back.
“I’ll be better, I promise. I’m a good person,” he whispers. “I’m…”
His words feel so ludicrous and stupid after the events of this evening. He curses himself in his head as he settles on the living room’s couch. His eyes fell shut within a few minutes.
He wakes up when Gi-hun shakes his shoulder. The alpha blinks sleepily and grins when he spots his mate.
“Jagiya - ”
His omega hurls a pillow in his face, so he cries out in surprise. Another one hits him straight in the crotch.
“I waited for hours! What the hell is wrong with you?” he screeches.
“Alright, stop!” he begs, holding his hand up. “Gi-hun, please!”
Gi-hun’s holding another pillow, looking positively livid in a pink frilly apron with his heavily pregnant belly. The kids are playing ball in the yard outside. His heart skips a beat when he spots the exact area where he buried his latest victim. He’s grateful that the puppy and kittens are at Jun-ho’s place. If they were here, perhaps they could sniff out the corpse.
His omega crosses his arms, “What’s your excuse this time? Aish, I don’t even want to hear it.”
In-ho gently maneuvers him onto the couch. Gi-hun lets out an annoyed huff, but he slowly collapses on the cushions. He rubs his back, noticing his tense posture and refusal to make eye contact.
“Jagiya - ”
“Shut up, asshole. I know your secret.”
His heart skips a beat, but he tries to act calm. If he reacts, he’ll give himself away. Still, he’s shaking from adrenaline.
“What?”
“I saw your shirt in the laundry hamper, while I was doing a load this morning,” Gi-hun explains. “All that blood and mud. Did you think I wouldn’t notice it?”
Granted, it was evening and he didn’t realize how much the salesman bled from a single gunshot wound. In-ho keeps his face clear of any emotions and remains nonchalant. He tries to shrug it off and chuckles.
“Oh, that? Yeobo, a colleague of mine cut his hand with a letter opener last night. I was helping him to his car. That’s how I got all that blood on my shirt.”
Gi-hun frowns, “Come on, tell me the truth.”
“I mean it. The mud is from…I nearly tripped on the ground, that’s all.”
“What’s the man’s name?”
“I…I forget.”
“What does he do?”
“I…he - um…”
His whole alibi flies out of his mind. Under his omega’s probing stare, he can barely get another word out. Gi-hun scoffs at his reaction and looks annoyed.
“You can’t even come up with a decent lie? Seriously?”
Suddenly, his phone starts to ring. For a heartstopping moment, In-ho wonders if the police are calling him to come down to the station. Then, he slowly begins to relax. It’s been years since his work colleagues on the force have called him. They probably don’t have his contact information anymore. He spots Kim’s number, so he immediately answers it.
“Hey there - ”
“Jun-ho’s in labor. You need to get over here. Now.”
His heart nearly stops at that moment. Gi-hun overhears and his eyes widen in shock. In-ho asks him to text the hospital’s address before he hangs up. For some reason, he appreciates the unfortunate timing, but his omega brother wasn’t due to deliver for another week. Gi-hun rises to his feet to gather their pups and grab the car keys. Before he leaves, his tone sends a shiver down his spine.
“We’re not done, you know. You will be explaining yourself to me.”
His calm voice rattles him more than the yelling. He nearly trips on his way out the door. On the way to the hospital, he can’t focus on his driving. He thinks about his wife dying in childbirth the entire time. In-ho runs a red light and nearly hits the back of another car. When he slams on the brakes, Ga-yeong yelps in the backseat.
“Umma!”
His omega shushes her, “It’s alright, dear. We’re safe and sound. Your appa’s just a terrible driver. He failed his license test nine times, you know.”
In-ho inhales a sharp breath, “It was eight.”
“Nine, yeobo.”
Gi-hun sends him a death glare, so he responds with an equally irate one. His bratty behavior is getting on his nerves. He remembers how much fun they used to have in the past when he’d rile him up. His omega would often end up receiving a spanking in his lap. But now, he’s worn out by the events of the previous night. Even if he slept for a couple hours, he can barely keep his eyes open today.
The rest of the drive is in complete silence. When they get to the hospital, he gets their room number and they rush upstairs on the nearest elevator. He hates this place so much. His wife died in this very building, but he tries to push the memories away from his mind. Otherwise, he’s going to start reliving the worst day of his life again. He can’t do that when his little brother needs him. In-ho immediately spots Kim pacing the hallway outside a room. His face floods with relief when he sees them.
“He’s lost a lot of blood,” he explains in a shaky voice. “They won’t let me in. The doctor said that an alpha’s nervous scent might make things worse.”
The floor nearly gives out under his feet. In-ho finds it much harder to breathe. For a second, he wonders if he’s going to collapse in a dead faint or fall into a panic attack. He feels like strangling this alpha for putting his little brother through a dangerous pregnancy. Why did Jun-ho even want a child? His omega’s already had plenty of them. Then, Gi-hun’s soothing voice breaks the tense silence.
“I’ll see if I can help,” he says in a reassuring tone, patting his shoulder. “You two watch the pups, ok?”
He shoves his heavy bag into In-ho’s hand without looking him in the eye. Then, his omega heads into the maternity ward. After a few moments of silence, one of his children speaks up.
“Appa,” Cheol whines. “We’re hungry. Umma didn’t make any breakfast - ”
He grabs some crumpled bills from his pocket, “Here, grab a snack from the vending machines. Don’t wander away.”
After his pups leave, he collapses into a chair and Kim joins him. He can’t stop trembling from head to toe. His brother screams in the other room, so that horrible sound reverberates in his mind. In-ho buries his head in his hands and refuses to move. If he does, his reality will become more tangible. His brother-in-law tries to start another conversation, but he can’t speak a single word. Another hour ticks away. Finally, against all odds, a doctor emerges from the ward and she gives an important update.
“He’s stable now,” she explains. “We’ll have to give him a blood transfusion, but once the room’s been cleaned up, you can go inside to see the baby.”
In-ho releases a shuddering sigh of relief and he wipes his eyes. He’s grateful for Gi-hun’s presence. Without his support, he doesn’t know if Jun-ho would’ve survived. He can’t imagine a world without his little brother. Kim sighs and leans back in his chair.
“He’s ok,” he whispers. “He’s going to be fine.”
In-ho frowns, “It’s your fault, you know.”
“What is?”
“This whole mess.”
He rolls his eyes, “It takes two to make a baby, you know. Ask your mate about that.”
The alpha lets his sarcastic tone slide. On any other day, he might have lashed out, but he feels too exhausted.
“I had to leave my work shift when he called,” Kim explains. “His contractions were getting closer together after his water broke. My boss wasn’t too pleased about it.”
“On a Saturday?”
He shrugs, “The factory that I work at started laying people off. Some damn American bought the company and began installing more automated systems. There isn’t a need for many workers anymore these days. I’m lucky to still have this position. I used to work forty hours a week. Now, I can barely do thirty. I’m lucky enough to make rent in the last few months.”
In-ho’s face falls, so he pats him on the shoulder with a sympathetic look. His situation sounds all too familiar.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “That’s rough.”
“Makes me wonder if I should go back to mercenary work,” Kim chuckles. “But Jun-ho wouldn’t like that. And…I promised him that I’d ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Could we…ah, never mind.”
“Just say it,” In-ho frowns.
“Well, with the new pup, our funds are stretched enough as it is. I still haven’t bought everything we need. Like extra diapers and clothes. I know you’ve been dipping into your severance pay, hyung. But if it would be ok…would you help us out?”
In-ho watches his expression with a careful eye. Most alphas have to push away their stubborn pride to ask for money. Kim’s being very courageous to speak these words to his face. For a second, In-ho wants to berate him for failing to provide for Jun-ho, but he thinks about his future niece or nephew. Unless Kim’s able to find a second job, he needs to offer some financial assistance.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he mutters. “No promises. We’re barely scraping by too.”
Kim pats his back, “Thanks, hyung. Truly. Your omega’s been so helpful these last weeks. He’s always nesting with Jun-ho to comfort him in his pregnancy.”
He raises an eyebrow, “Really?”
“Oh, definitely. He enjoys it very much. They might keep doing it, because he says it helps with postpartum.”
Gi-hun arrives from the hospital room with an excited gleam in his eyes. Their children return after eating their snacks, so they enter to see the newborn pup.
In-ho forces himself to look at his brother. For a moment, he’s back in that cold, sterile hospital room where his wife died. Then, he recomposes his features to stare at the baby in Jun-ho’s arms. He’s a squirmy little red-faced pup who can barely open his own eyes. Meanwhile, the nurses are folding up the bloodstained sheets. In-ho tries to keep his gaze turned away. The children coo over their new baby cousin as Gi-hun smiles and wraps an arm around Jun-ho’s shoulders.
“He’s a strong one,” he points out with a chuckle. “My first labor didn’t last this long. But I screamed harder than that.”
Jun-ho rolls his eyes, “It’s not a competition, hyung.”
“If it is, I think I won,” he grins. “And the baby’s beautiful. You did an incredible job.”
Kim kisses his mate on the forehead, brushing his hair out of his face and greeting his newborn pup. Jun-ho smiles in his direction. He looks so pale and exhausted after all those hours of labor. Sweat glistens at his forehead. But above all, he still looks like his little brother.
“Hyung, come meet your new nephew.”
The room’s scent calms down as he walks over, holding the baby in his arms. He’s trembling all over. For the first time, he realizes the horrible pressure of being the eldest alpha in this family and providing for his loved ones. He can’t fail. He only has one victim to eliminate before landing his dream job. Those thoughts circle his head as he scents the baby. As the eldest, it’s traditional, but his brother notices his odd behavior.
“Gi-hun-ah, is he ok?” Jun-ho whispers under his breath. “He’s shaking.”
His omega gently takes the pup from his arms and supports his head. He smiles, his calming scent flooding the room. After a moment, he offers to scent the baby before handing him back to his father. Before long, they all relax and Gi-hun reaches for his hand on instinct. In-ho squeezes it and presses a kiss against his knuckles.
“Thank you,” the alpha whispers.
“For what?” Gi-hun asks.
“For everything you do, yeobo.”
His sincere compliment doesn’t have the intended effect. After all, their argument in the morning hasn’t slipped his mind. If anything, he notices a slightly sour scent beneath his signature one. Gi-hun rises to his feet and offers to take the children out for a late breakfast. In-ho frowns at the idea of spending money when they have food at home. But thankfully, with Gi-hun’s new job, they can afford to do it once in a while. His omega has been offered a few months of maternity leave, so with his growing belly, he takes it without hesitation. In-ho’s pleased that he won’t see his horrid boss again.
They end up at a small restaurant with heavy platters of fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon.
But he can’t enjoy his food when he’s already planning his next victim’s death.
The following day, while Gi-hun is planning his brother’s baby shower, In-ho plants an apple tree in the backyard. Right over the salesman’s decaying corpse. Unfortunately, the neighbor’s golden retriever keeps sniffing around that area. Sae-byeok always shoos the dog away, but he returns each day. A strange sense of paranoia begins creeping into his thoughts. What if the police already know and they’re just biding their time? Surely, they’ve discovered the salesman’s abandoned car in the middle of the road. But without the dash cam footage, how can they know what really happened?
He can’t focus on anything. This last murder has become his new obsession and he keeps formulating a plan. One day, he decides to rip off the bandaid. He goes to the grocery store after rewatching a dozen of Park Hee-soon’s videos. He remembers his favored liquor of choice and buys several expensive bottles. In-ho heads to his home late in the evening. It’s a rustic looking lodge cabin with plenty of room and no security cameras. He keeps knocking, but nobody answers the door. Within an hour, he decides to give up. Maybe it’s not meant to be.
As he’s heading back down the driveway, a car’s headlights blinds his vision and he nearly trips in the road.
“Sir!” Hee-soon yells. “What the hell are you doing?”
His face breaks out into a wide grin, “Hi there! I’m Oh Young-il!”
“Huh? Who?”
Hee-soon immediately kills the engine and jumps out of the car, saying that he thought he was a deer. In-ho holds up the bottle and introduces himself. The man hardly remembers him from that awkward encounter in the bathroom when he tried to offer his resume months ago. That’s good. His greatest rival looks lonely at the moment as he offers him a drink. He gets to talking about his former paper company and his Instagram videos, so his eyes light up with amusement.
Inside his home, In-ho double checks the safety on his gun, while Hee-soon goes off to his bedroom. He scans the spacious living room with antler decorations and hunting rifles mounted on the walls. Given the rustic lodge cabin, he’s surprised that he lives all alone without a sweet omega or beta for company. Why is he so lonely? Then, Hee-soon returns, so he stashes the gun away in his back pocket. He pours the heavy liquor into cheap shot glasses from the cabinet. When his rival drinks, In-ho hastily tosses his own alcohol aside in a potted plant and remembers his vow. Hee-soon shows him samples of newer batches of paper with his expert knowledge and complains about the water streaks. In-ho adds his own complaints to the mix.
“After slaving for 30 years, they gave me 30 minutes to clear out my desk,” he mutters in a fake, drunken voice. “Hey, slow down a bit!”
Hee-soon’s been chugging straight from the bottle. He wipes the back of his mouth with his hand and laughs. In-ho hadn’t expected him to start indulging so fast. His heart begins pounding so hard. The other alpha’s light, relaxed bergamot scent floods the rustic lodge cabin. Can he even kill this man in this state?
“To hell with that!” he grins. “Hey, you know, I’ll die if I keep working like this. With so much work to do, I’ll have to hire another manager.”
A thought sparks in his mind, “Another one?”
“Yeah! At my level.”
“You’re right,” In-ho muses. “I mean, if you keep going at your rate, you might collapse at work one day! And your company’s production might stop. Will they come to their senses after that happens?”
He scoffs, “They’ll just fire me.”
“Then…then recommend me? As a line manager at the paper company?”
Hee-soon laughs, “You? Oh Young-il-ssi, are you fucking serious?”
“I bet we’d work really well together. Complementing one another.”
The alpha shrugs before he takes another swig of alcohol, “Sure, why not? I’ll try talking to them. The useless fucks.”
Silence floods the room. Then, Hee-soon stumbles to his feet and trudges across the living room to his kitchen’s fridge. In-ho waits for a moment before slowly taking his gun out. His fingers tremble as he unlocks the safety and points the trigger at his back. But before he can fire a single shot, the other alpha spins around with a huge bottle of beer.
“Bomb shots!” he yells. “Let’s go!”
He’s really hammered now. In-ho freezes like a deer in headlights. He watches as he pours two tankards of beer and drops a whiskey shot glass inside with a loud splash. He hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in years and his instincts beg for a sip.
“Bottoms up! You first!” Hee-soon grins.
His hands shake as he takes the tankard. It’s just one drink. He doesn’t have a choice at the moment. His final victim needs to be eliminated if he wants to get that position. Gi-hun’s horrified reaction flashes across his mind. The poor thing’s already been so stressed out, but if he knows he broke his sobriety, he’ll truly be furious then.
“Hurry the fuck up!” he yells in an impatient tone. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”
He sees his own reflection at the bottom of the glass. With a shudder, In-ho finally accepts defeat. It’s for a good reason, after all. He doesn’t see any way out of this. If he leaves and returns on another day, perhaps Hee-soon won’t be so pliant. In-ho takes the first sip and he suddenly feels like he’s signed his soul to the devil. Once the alcohol sparks through his veins and incites a strange wave of pleasure, he keeps going until he’s drained the entire tankard. Hee-soon laughs and claps his hands before drinking his own beer and whiskey mix.
His head spins as he collapses back on the couch, panting and struggling to breathe. After Hee-soon finishes his own drink, an idea rushes through his mind. He spotted the bonfire outside as they came into the lodge. Perhaps it’s the best place to make the killing shot. His thoughts feel very murky with the liquor rushing through his body. Gi-hun was right about sobriety in the end.
“I need some air, Bak Hee-soon-ssi,” he laughs. “Let’s go out.”
He frowns, “Where?”
In-ho leads him outside into the cold, nippy air and begins placing the logs inside the bonfire. When he strikes the matchstick and lights the flame, the fire dances across the woodpile. Hee-soon grins like a child on Christmas Day.
“I’ve always wanted to get drunk in front of a bonfire. It’s my lifelong dream! You’re freaking awesome, Oh Young-il-ssi.”
A pang of guilt bursts through his heart. In another life, maybe this man wouldn’t have been his rival. He could’ve been his closest friend or ally. Maybe even a workplace buddy. But in this world, he has to finish what he started. This mission can’t fail. Hee-soon keeps rambling on, while he slurs his words every so often.
“I moved here six months ago,” he muses. “Haven’t even got the security system set up yet. I’ve been so busy with work. You know, it’s my first time using this bonfire? I thought I’d be having a barbecue every weekend with a pretty omega at my side. But alas, life gets in the way. I can barely afford to spend time at this fucking place and I only get home to drink or collapse in bed. The work hours are insane!”
In-ho nods sympathetically and pats his shoulder, “I’m sorry.”
Hee-soon sniffs, rubbing his eyes. “My wife left me. She hated living so far away from the city. She thought being next to nature was dangerous. It’s such a stupid thing to split up over, huh?”
“I suppose so,” he shrugs.
“Do you have a mate?”
“I do,” In-ho admits. “He’s perfection itself.”
“Well, let’s hope that he never leaves you.”
A chill runs down his spine. The idea of Gi-hun discovering his crimes and taking the pups or filing for divorce is unthinkable. His heart pounds as he tries to clear his mind of these intrusive thoughts. Suddenly, a loud snore erupts in the chilly night air.
In-ho turns around. Hee-soon has collapsed across the chair, passed out from his drinking. A shaky sigh escapes his lips. The hardest part is over. Now, how can he dispose of the body? He stares at the bonfire for a brief second before shaking his head. The neighbors would definitely smell the smoke of his charred corpse. His eyes lock onto a heavy shovel next to a shed. An idea rushes through his drunken mind at full speed. What if he makes his death look like an accident? He doesn’t need to get rid of the body after all!
He begins digging a hole with his trembling hands. After years of sobriety, the alcohol has made him uncoordinated. In-ho nearly trips over his own feet as he begins shoveling and tossing dirt into a pile. The night’s blissfully silent. Crickets chirp in the woods as the full moon bears witness to his crime. Once the hole is big enough, he grabs Hee-soon by the legs and tugs him into the crevice. He begins packing the dirt like he’s planting a tree, so the repetitive act is familiar enough.
Suddenly, his phone rings.
He sees his omega’s name and groans. If he denies this call, Gi-hun will only assume the worst again. He musters up the courage to answer this Facetime chat for once.
“Jagiya?” his omega asks in a sleepy voice. “Where are you?”
He’s dressed in a lovely silk red nightgown with a plunging neckline. Despite his crimes this evening, his adrenaline laced state sparks a strange sense of arousal. Then, he shoves those feelings aside to answer his question in a clear voice.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “I didn’t want to get your hopes up, sweetheart. But I’m visiting a friend. His company might need another line manager. I think this might be my final interview until I get the position that I want. Do you remember Moon Paper?”
Gi-hun rubs his eyes, “I think? Maybe? Why isn’t your camera on?”
“It’s…I can’t turn it on right now.”
“Some detectives from Jun-ho’s station came over this afternoon,” he explains. “The alphas really needed to talk to you, but I told them you were busy.”
His heart skips a beat, “What?”
“Yeah,” Gi-hun sighs. “They wanted to ask you about two alphas that went missing. Some paper company employees.”
“Do you remember their names, yeobo?” he asks in a level voice.
Gi-hun shakes his head, stifling a yawn behind his hand. “No, sorry. I told them to come back another day. I think they remember you from your days on the force.”
“I see. I’ll talk to them then.”
“Yeobo, come home,” he whines. “It’s getting hard to sleep without you. What’s the matter? Look, no matter what’s going on…I can help. I’ll do it with you, ok? Just tell me the truth.”
His heart threatens to snap when he hears his omega’s pleading tone. He finally musters the courage to turn his camera on. Suddenly, Hee-soon murmurs in his sleep with a groggy voice.
“Hey, don’t worry. I’m going to be ok,” he promises. “I have to leave now. I’ll see you in the morning!”
“Hwang In-ho, don’t you dare hang - ”
He ends the call with a firm swipe and turns off his phone. Afterwards, he grabs the cling wrap before he starts wrapping the other alpha’s entire head. He starts to panic in his dreary state, suffocating and choking on his own breath. A sharp scream escapes his lips. In-ho forces himself to do it until he passes out. A strange retching sound emerges, but he keeps going. Even if he’s wearing gloves, he can still feel his cold, clammy skin.
Within the next few minutes, the tremors cease and his final victim is dead.
With a tired sigh, he begins dragging the body from the hole and carries him back inside. He sets Hee-soon on his favorite couch and removes the cling wrap. He recoils in disgust. After all that drinking, he’s managed to throw up and piss himself too. Without another glance back, he cleans up the room from any evidence. In-ho douses the bonfire outside and refills the hole. He takes one final look at this log cabin before getting into his car. The adrenaline’s worn off, replaced with a dull sensation of horror and disgust. Couldn’t he have killed him in another way? Luckily, the streets are empty at this hour. He can’t bear the thought of crashing into another car at this hour. In his drunken state, the probability reigns high. Before long, he’s pulling into his own driveway as dawn’s light emerges on the horizon.
In-ho heads over to the bathroom, but his omega stops him in his tracks. He’s sitting on the living room couch and beckons him to come over. With his dirt-encrusted hands, he feels putrid and repulsive.
“Did the interview go well?” Gi-hun asks in a scathing tone. “You smell like smoke.”
He pulls his omega into his arms, breathing in his comfortable scent. Even if he tries to tug away from his grasp, In-ho holds him tighter. His eyes are red-rimmed with dark shadows from a lack of sleep.
“Let go of me,” he snaps.
“Are you upset? My colleague had a bonfire and barbeque at his place. Just the two of us.”
“And you drank too,” he frowns. “I smell that cheap beer on you.”
In-ho heaves a sigh and releases him, “I had to keep up the ruse.”
“Ruse?”
“I mean, you know, workplace relations. It’s customary to accept a drink or two.”
“How did you not crash the car in your state?” he asks, crossing his arms over his pregnant belly with a sullen expression.
The alpha shrugs, “I got lucky.”
Silence reigns for a long moment. In-ho wants to admit the full truth, but then, he notices something strange on Gi-hun’s hands. They’re calloused and bruised, covered in dirt stains. He flinches at the very sight.
“What happened to you?”
“I found the corpse you buried in the yard,” Gi-hun whispers. “The detectives were telling the truth. Jun-ho told me to show it to them, but…but I didn’t.”
His jaw drops, “You told my brother about it too?”
“I said that I might have evidence. I didn’t specify what it was,” he snaps.
“You shouldn’t have been digging holes in your condition, baby - ”
“That’s your fault!” he screeches. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a serial killer?”
“I’m not!”
“Oh, really? That’s your only victim? I’m done listening to your lies, Hwang In-ho. I’m done.”
His omega’s so perceptive. For the first time, In-ho hates that he can read him like an open book. Gi-hun slowly rises to his feet and trudges out of the room. Before he does, he turns around and delivers an ultimatum.
“Unless you want me to tell the police - ”
“Are you blackmailing me?”
“Yes,” he says, crossing his arms. “I need you to leave. At once. My pups can’t be around a dangerous man like you.”
“I’m their father!”
“Does it look like I care?” Gi-hun frowns. “I don’t want to see you anymore. Go stay in your greenhouse or sleep on the living room couch. Until I can file divorce papers, I won’t let you have contact with my children. They need to be kept safe from you.”
His heart drops to the floor. In-ho can’t bear the thought of that fate. He falls to his knees, grabbing him by the ankle. His omega only sighs and shakes his head.
“It’s a shame to see an alpha like this.”
“Yeobo,” he begs with tears in his eyes. “Don’t leave me! I’ll be better, I swear. That was the last one! I’ll never do it again!”
“How can I trust you? You broke your vow of sobriety and you murdered someone!”
“I did it all for you! And for the children!”
Gi-hun scoffs, “I never asked you to kill anyone! Why would you blame me?”
“Because it was the only way to get that top position at the paper company. I had to eliminate any competition in town.”
“That’s your excuse?”
“To keep a roof over your head and food on your tables, I’ll do anything.”
“Stop trying to act noble,” Gi-hun snaps. “You did it for your own selfish pride and pleasure. You couldn’t bear the thought of working somewhere else.”
“I didn’t enjoy it,” In-ho whimpers. “I was disgusted the whole time. I deeply regret my crime.”
“I don’t care how you felt. The damage is done, isn’t it? Now, leave.”
“Jagiya - ”
“Out. Now.”
In-ho heaves a heavy breath, wiping tears from his eyes. Even with his heavily pregnant belly, Gi-hun is frightening. His stubborn omega won’t change his mind right now. But he’ll make him see sense once he accepts that position. He’ll get the interview soon. His stomach churns at the thought of his two victims in the ground. Hopefully, the authorities will discover Hee-soon’s body within the next day and rule it as an accidental death. As for the other two, he has no idea what’s going to happen.
Maybe he’ll go to jail. He deserves it, after all. But his omega would have to support four pups soon or live with another alpha. The prospect of that future is horrifying.
With a tear-stained face, he walks out of his home and locks himself in the greenhouse again.