Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 22: Broken

| Jimin |

TORCHLIGHT FILLED THE PALACE YARD as more guards and servants appeared. Jimin stood frozen, held tightly between the two alphas who had discovered him. He no longer struggled against them or begged for mercy. It was too late. 

“What is the meaning of this?” boomed Alpha Okgyun as he descended the palace steps. 

“This rogue omega,” the captain of the guard answered, bowing deeply. “My men found him wandering the gardens late this very night, and they discovered this–”

A hand grabbed Jimin's collar and ripped it open, leaving his neck and shoulder bare. The fading red scar could be seen clear as day on his pale skin. The omega shuddered, mortified and afraid.

“This omega is claimed. He has hidden the mark from us, and dishonored you by doing so!”

Jimin squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back tears as the servants and guards broke out in growls and angry murmurs. Their sharp and bitter scents filled the air. 

“Is that so,” he heard Alpha Okgyun say in an ominous, measured tone. 

There was an echo behind Jimin as the palace gates entered and several elders and priests arrived. They called out in loud voices.

“My lord, is this true?”

“Did you know the omega is marked?” 

“Who is the alpha? They must both be punished!”

Ryu Okgyun’s eyes flashed bright red and the surrounding wolves quickly fell silent. 

Jimin looked desperately up at Okgyun. The alpha regarded him with sympathy, but he was clearly weighing his choices -- protecting his family's reputation, or defending the innocent omega before him. Jimin held his breath, waiting, praying. And then Okgyun's eyes hardened. The compassion on his face evaporated, replaced by the cold calculating mask of a pack ruler.

Ryu Okgyun stepped forward, asking in a voice just loud enough for all to hear, “Jimin, I know you are afraid, but you must understand that this will go better for you if you are honest. No harm will come to you.”

Jimin certainly didn't know that, but he nodded submissively, whispering, “Yes, Alpha.”

Okgyun’s next questions were careful and calculated, “When did this happen, child? How long have you hidden this from the pack?”

“S-since the Winter Festival, Alpha,” Jimin stammered. 

“And who is the alpha that claimed you?”

Jimin felt a surge of hope. Okgyun was taking his side then? Willing to expose his son's crimes, and let Sejin face justice? He glanced up anxiously, eyes pleading for assurance that this was what the Alpha wanted. 

Ryu Okgyun’s countenance remained impassive, but he nodded.

Jimin opened his mouth to speak, “S-s…mngh!” Blinding pain prevented him from saying the name aloud. His throat closed involuntarily and he choked, thrashing weakly in the guards’ grip. It felt like someone was pulling a chain tight around his neck. Jimin’s eyes widened in horror as he realized that Alpha Okgyun’s question had been exactly that – a question and not a command. And only a command from Alpha Okgyun could release Jimin from the one that already bound him. Alpha had asked because he knew Jimin wouldn't be able to answer. 

“Alpha, p-please,” Jimin gasped, “I don’t– I can’t…”

“How dare you!” Growled the guard to Jimin's left. It was the cruel one named Gyeong-gu. He tightened his grip on the omega's arm. “Answer the Alpha!”