𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 || 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐊𝐰𝐚𝐧

Chapter 10

Vernon didn’t know what to make of Seungkwan’s abrupt departure from the packhouse, but he let him go. There was no point chasing the omega or insisting he stay. Still, he was glad he’d brought him. It had given Seungkwan the chance to get the measure of him. The omega seemed intrigued more than anything, which only fueled Vernon’s belief that there were hidden depths to Seungkwan beyond what they knew about him.

He returned to the cottage later than afternoon, unsurprised when Seungkwan went out of his way to avoid him for the rest of the day. Any time they had any sort of confrontation, they both liked to keep their distance afterward.

All said, today’s argument had been minor compared to their previous.

Sure, Seungkwan’s words had stung, but Vernon didn’t think he meant them. It was as if he’d felt cornered, his hackles raised, his spikes out to protect himself.

All in all, Vernon called the day a success as he settled down to sleep that night.

Which was why the intensity of his nightmares caught him unawares.

He woke sweating, his heart racing, and heard a soft voice calling his name repeatedly.

He glanced over at the door, and there was Seungkwan. The omega kept his distance but seemed very intent on rousing Vernon.

“Vernon? Are you awake?” he asked.

The details of Vernon’s fading dream came back to him. He threw himself out of bed, glancing down at his body and patting his chest and stomach with his hands. Relief flooded him. There wasn’t a mark to be found, of course. There never was.

“Vernon?” Seungkwan said again.

Vernon was awake enough to realize that he was out of bed, stark naked, and that Seungkwan was still standing in the doorway.

“Bad dream,” he said, avoiding Seungkwan’s eyes. He didn’t know what he’d see in the omega’s gaze, but he knew he must have looked like a fool, if not unhinged. “Sorry if I woke you. You should go back to bed.”

From the way his chest still heaved with each breath he took, and his heart raced painfully in his chest, he knew that sleep wouldn’t be luring him under again any time soon.

“Want some coffee?” Seungkwan offered.

Vernon glanced over at the omega. Seungkwan turned his head just a fraction, aiming his gaze at the wall, giving Vernon at least the illusion of privacy.

“Uh, sure.”

“See you in the kitchen.”

Vernon listened as Seungkwan’s footsteps padded away.

He went to his dresser, tugging on some sweatpants and a T-shirt, then followed Seungkwan out, running his hands through his messy hair in an attempt, however futile, to tame it.

The smell that hit him in the kitchen doorway wasn’t coffee, but…peppermint?

“Tea,” Seungkwan said, indicating the two cups on the table. “I found it in the cupboard and made an executive decision. It’s still early, you might want to go back to sleep.”

Vernon managed a weak smile at that, taking a seat and dragging a cup toward him. He cradled it between his hands, letting the heat warm him and distract him from his thoughts.

They sipped their tea and sat in silence as the minutes ticked by, marked only by a clock on the wall that was an hour behind. Vernon kept meaning to fix it but never quite got around to it.