𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 || 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐊𝐰𝐚𝐧

Chapter 21

Vernon was once again left second-guessing himself when Seungkwan’s behavior during dinner got more erratic. None of what he and the others had talked about the previous day was visible. They were halfway through the meal before he realized Seungkwan was trying to make some kind of point to someone. And that someone was most definitely him.

By the time the meal was over, he was irritated to hell. Like he’d been swathed in poison ivy and every inch of his skin itched with it. Seungkwan, for his part, stayed quiet as they made their way back to the cottage. But there was an expectant air to his silence, like he was waiting for something.

As Vernon made coffee, he began talking again. Just like before, Vernon had the sense there was a purpose behind his words that had nothing to do with what he was saying. But all he heard were words he knew were designed to annoy him. And it was working. Between dinner and Seungkwan’s unwillingness to back down, anger bubbled its way to the surface. Good thing Vernon had plenty of practice keeping a lid on it. He forced himself to take a deep breath, stand up straight, and face Seungkwan.

The omega’s expression held that same sense of expectancy as his tone.

He’d been pushing for an outcome, and he thought he was about to get it.

Vernon did a quick read of Seungkwan’s body language. He found the omega ticked a hell of a lot of boxes on his red flag list. All of them pointed toward fear and Seungkwan’s fight-or-flight response being on a hair-trigger.

Vernon kept his movements slow and deliberate, stepping around Seungkwan and out of the room. The two of them were like unexploded ordinance right now, each just waiting to go off. And if they were in close proximity when that happened, they’d both lose their heads. The best way Vernon could handle it was to take himself out of the equation.

He hit the cool air of the outside running, making his way to the edge of the woods. There, he shed his clothes, aware of Seungkwan’s eyes watching him, though the omega stayed silent. He walked into the trees and shifted, throwing his head back as he sank to his knees. His feet and hands became hooves, a long neck replaced his own. Strength, power, and above all, speed, were at his fingertips.

It was all crowding in on top of him, the noise in his head inescapable—Dutchy, Andy, Suho—everyone they’d lost. Seungkwan, who was just another person he was failing to protect, even from himself. With a toss of his head, he raced off into the woods and gave himself over to the anger he felt.

It was dark when he came to, back in human form, splayed out on the grass in the middle of the clearing. He lay there, staring up at the sky, feeling calmer but still not settled. There was so much to atone for—he’d made so many mistakes.

First thing tomorrow, he’d tell Seokmin and Joshua they needed to move Seungkwan into the packhouse or over with Seungcheol. Anywhere, so long as it meant he was safe and away from Vernon. Seungkwan had enough of his own problems without being exposed to the mess that was Vernon’s life. He could paper over the cracks, pretend he’d turned a new leaf, but he was still the same shattered soldier who came home from war broken, like so many before him. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men… it would take more than an army to put him back together.

“Vernon!”

He froze, hearing Seungkwan’s voice in the distance. What the hell was the omega doing out here in the dark? The guy could barely keep his footing when it was light, nevermind stumbling around on a moonless night like this.

“Vernon?” Seungkwan called again. “Where are you?” It was followed a short, sharp cry and a loud thump.

Vernon was on his feet and running before he’d had time to think.