The Alpha in His Corner

Chapter 22

K's place was a two-story fried chicken shop with an enormous wooden patio on the second floor that was exposed to the night air. As he, Yoongu, Jaekyung, and Namwook all piled out of the truck, Dan could hear the sounds of laughter and loud talking from inside.

Jaekyung held the front door open and waved them all through. Dan followed behind Namwook and Yoongu and stepped into a large, warmly-lit dining area packed with large groups of people enjoying sizzling spreads of freshly fried chicken.

Another group was leaving just as they were coming in. One woman blundered drunkenly into Dan's shoulder, and he would have stumbled into a waiter carrying a loaded tray if a large hand hadn't hooked around his waist and pulled him back against a well-muscled torso.

"You okay?" Jaekyung's voice was close to his ear, but Dan could still barely hear him over the din.

Dan nodded hastily, his blush rising. "Yes, I'm sorry." He waited for Jaekyung to release him, but instead the fighter's hand remained on his hip, keeping him close to his side and steering him toward the back of the dining area where Namwook and Yoongu were climbing up a broad wooden staircase.

Dan's heart skittered around in his chest as Jaekyung's firm hand guided him. "Y-you don't have to—"

"It's fine. It's crowded in here."

To Dan's surprise, there was hardly any annoyance in Jaekyung's tone.

They reached the stairs and started climbing up. Jaekyung's hand finally dropped away, and despite his bashfulness, Dan found he wouldn't have minded the support as he wove past other patrons on the way up to the second floor.

They reached the landing and found Yoongu waiting for them, an anxious expression on his face. He looked relieved when Dan came into view. "There you are!" he said, drawing close to Dan to speak over the noise. "I didn't realize you weren't behind me. I'm sorry."

"It's fine!" Dan said quickly, hating the way Yoongu's face fell with shame. "I was with Jaekyung."

Yoongu's gaze flicked over Dan's shoulder to the fighter behind him. "Oh, I see..."

Dan turned his head as well, and almost jumped at how closely Jaekyung was standing behind him. Jaekyung's cool gaze was fixed on Yoongu, steadily assessing him.

Dan cleared his throat, buying himself time to recover from Jaekyung's unexpected closeness. "I don't think you two have been properly introduced yet," he said, glancing up at Jaekyung. "This is my friend Yoongu, the one I was telling you about earlier." He gestured at Yoongu, who stood at attention as if being inspected by a drill sergeant. He then bobbed into a low bow, his eyes shining as he rose up.

"It's an honor to meet you officially, Mr. Joo! I'm such a big fan! Can I just say that you were absolutely phenomenal tonight? It was the best fight I've ever seen!"

One of Jaekyung's sharp black brows twitched upward, but otherwise his expression remained the same. "Thanks."

A door to their left creaked open and Namwook poked his head through, letting a gust of cool outside air swirl onto the landing, making Dan shiver. "There you guys are!" he exclaimed, grinning. "Come on, K got us a patio table."

"Sweet!" Yoongu said, pumping his fist.

They all stepped out onto the expansive patio. Long wooden tables and benches were arranged across the space, and tall heat lamps were dotted around to keep the chill evening air at bay.

Namwook led them to a table close the railing where their group was already chatting and laughing up a storm.

Dan started to take a seat close to the end of the table next to Yoongu, but Jaekyung dropped a hand onto his shoulder. Startled, Dan looked up at him. "Oh, did you want to sit here?" he asked.