𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 || 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐊𝐰𝐚𝐧

Chapter 20

The next day, Seungkwan found himself constantly distracted. He couldn’t help but fantasize about what his future might be like with Vernon and the pack. It was a different life, a life he’d never imagined, even in his wildest dreams.

Yet now that the possibility had dangled itself in front of him, he wanted it, badly.
It took a single text from Stewart, reminding him of where he’d come from, to bring him crashing down to earth. Who was he kidding? He was nothing but a diversion for Vernon, and a charity case for the pack. They wouldn’t want an omega like him joining them. Not with his past, his reputation. Not with him admitting to Vernon that he’d basically sold himself to get ahead in the industry, that he’d done drugs—willingly or not—and had a long history of making poor decisions or letting people make his choices for him.

He just wished he didn’t feel so comfortable when he was around the pack. With Vernon, there was always a tension there, a frisson in the air that never quite dissipated. But when he was around all of them, it was different.

He felt almost content, like he belonged. That was a dangerous feeling, and he needed to be wary of it. He had to take a step back, take himself out of the danger zone. And that meant keeping his distance from the packhouse.

Easier said than done where Vernon was concerned.

“We’re eating dinner up at the house this evening,” the alpha said as he passed him in the hallway.

“You know, I’m not really that hungry. You go, I’ll hang out here.”

Vernon gave him a measured look and said, “Come for the company then. I know everyone was looking forward to seeing you again.”

Seungkwan doubted that was true, but he couldn’t exactly challenge the alpha.

“I’m actually pretty tired. Maybe I should pass on it?”

Vernon glanced at his watch. “Why not take a nap now? Dinner’s not ‘til seven. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

Seungkwan tried not to groan. Vernon just couldn’t take a hint, could he? And if Seungkwan came up with yet another excuse, the alpha would see through it and start demanding answers.

“Thanks. I guess I’ll go get my head down.”

A while later, as they walked the short distance to the packhouse, Seungkwan decided that if he couldn’t talk his way out of visits to the house, he could certainly make Vernon and the others think twice about inviting him.

He deliberately sat between Duke and Seungcheol at dinner, and opposite Vernon, then put every effort into subtly, and not so subtly, flirting with the other two alphas.

It took a while before anyone cottoned on to what he was doing, except for Vernon. Vernon’s attention never wavered throughout the meal, his frown growing deeper with each casual touch and each smile Seungkwan threw the guys’ way.

Seungcheol gave Seungkwan a bemused but gentle brush-off when he got a bit carried away. Duke kept the banter up a little longer but kept trying to draw Vernon into the conversation. By the time dinner was over, Seungkwan felt satisfied he‘d demonstrated to Vernon exactly how much better it would be to leave him at the cottage from now on.

They walked back in silence, Vernon stomping ahead of him, his shoulders tense. He could tell the alpha was angry and was just waiting for the explosion, certain it would happen once they were out of earshot of the house. But they made it all the way back to the cottage without incident, and Seungkwan felt the first twinge of unease in his chest.

“I’m going to make some coffee,” Vernon called over his shoulder as they stepped inside. “You want some?”

He sounded… ordinary. Not angry, not pretending to be calm. He was just as he always was. But he had to be angry. Seungkwan had spared no effort throughout the evening to wind the alpha up, and he was sure Vernon knew it.

So why was he pretending otherwise? If they didn’t have it out now, he’d just end up having to do it all over again the next day. One evening of ambivalent flirting was more than enough for him.

“Sure, coffee sounds good,” he said, following Vernon into the kitchen. “I really liked that shirt Seungcheol was wearing tonight. All that training at the firehouse is paying off. He’ll be Mr. July next year for sure.”

Seungkwan knew alphas. He knew what made them tick, what made them lose control. Vernon had to be right on the edge of losing it. All he had to do was nudge.

“And Duke, he’s really rocking the hot single dad thing. Alphas can pull that off like no one else, don’t you think?”

Vernon, in the midst of filling the coffee pot, shut off the water and set the pot down. He leaned his palms against the counter and just stood there, his shoulders tense, his gaze on the kitchen window.

“Vernon, did you hear what I said?” Seungkwan prodded.

He tried to sound casual, happy even, though his stomach was doing somersaults, his heart was racing, and his palms sweating. This was what happened when you baited a trap. Eventually, you drew in a monster.

Slowly, Vernon pushed away from the counter and turned. Seungkwan took an involuntary step back at the anger burning in Vernon’s eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All he could do was remind himself that this was his plan, he’d made this happen. Whatever came next, he’d brought it on himself.

Vernon’s eyes didn’t leave his face, his gaze searching. He stepped forward, and Seungkwan held his breath. All Vernon did was skirt around him, slipping out of the kitchen.

After a beat, Seungkwan followed him, stopping at the back door and watching Vernon run across the grass to the tree line. The alpha paused there just long enough to throw off his clothes, then disappeared beyond the trees, shifting as he moved. A tall horse with a dark coat appeared among the branches for a brief moment before racing away. Seungkwan was alone.

He stood at the threshold for a long time, listening for Vernon’s return, and wondering what had happened. He thought they’d fight, Vernon would yell, and he’d be banned from the packhouse for the rest of his trip. When he’d pushed just that bit too far trying to shove Vernon over the edge, he’d expected thrown objects, maybe having to dodge a fist or two.

Vernon had been angry, of that he was sure. But he’d walked away like his anger wasn’t Seungkwan’s problem, wasn’t Seungkwan’s responsibility to solve or make better. Which flew in the face of everything Seungkwan knew. It was always the omega’s responsibility. Every time.

When he grew tired standing there, he went to check on the horses.

Then he returned to the kitchen and sat there as the sun sank below the horizon, and it grew dark. Still, Vernon didn’t return.

Seungkwan began to worry. Hadn’t Vernon himself said that he had bad days, days where he struggled? Seungkwan had pushed and pushed him, for his own selfish reasons, never thinking about the cost to Vernon.

With a groan of frustration, the self-loathing settling heavily in his stomach, he grabbed a flashlight and headed out into the dark.