ETY | MW [✔]

12.

By the end of his first fight, Mingyu was bloody and struggling to keep a hold on himself. He hadn't shifted, and neither had his opponent, but it had been a close thing. They escorted him back to his room, four guards with shock sticks giving him a wide berth. He hoped they'd found Wonwoo, but before he could even ask Mark, the beta was shaking his head.

They waited for the guards to move out of earshot before they spoke.

"He's not down here watching the fight, and he's not on the first floor. Taehyun and Beomgyu can't get access to the floors above. They were hoping to sneak Beomgyu up there with another guest, but someone made Taehyun and Beomgyu as mates and no one will touch him."

"Do they think Wonwoo's up there?"

"His scent is on the first floor. And someone saw him heading upstairs with an alpha."

Mingyu growled under his breath. Wonwoo was his.

"Hey," Mark said. "I need you to keep it together, okay?"

He nodded, trying to think of a solution. "I think I have a way upstairs."

Mark sat forward. "What? How?"

"When I was here before, when I won, they gifted me an omega for the night. He was an omega belonging to the house, he brought me upstairs to a bedroom."

"So, if you win, they might do the same this time?"

"Yes."

"Can you win?"

The frank question gave Mingyu pause. His first fight had been harder than any fight in years because he'd been so afraid to let go.

"I can."

"But..."

"I might lose myself in the process."

Mark got to his feet. "You don't have to do this, Mingyu. We'll find another way to free Wonwoo."

Mingyu shook his head. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine he could hear Wonwoo's heartbeat. To have the omega so close but be unable to get to him, was maddening.

"No. I want Wonwoo safe. It's worth the risk."

Nodding slowly, Mark pulled out his phone. "I'll let Taehyun know."

*****

Wonwoo stepped into the alpha's room and let out an audible gasp, faking astonishment as he stared around the spacious room.

"Like what you see?"

He nodded. "You have wonderful taste."

Jaehyun grinned, looking Wonwoo up and down.

"That I do."

He went to a table in the corner, where a camera sat.

"Get undressed. I want to take some photos."

Wonwoo swallowed his instinctive reaction, turning slowly to face the alpha.

"Are you a photographer?"

"You could call it a hobby of mine," the alpha said with a lascivious grin.

Wonwoo dropped his gaze to the floor, playing coy and doing his best to delay.

"Not shy are you."

"No, sir," he replied, looking up at Jaehyun from under his eyelashes. "But maybe a drink first or some dancing?"

There was a hard glint in the alpha's eyes.

"I don't want to dance, I want to take your photo. Strip, now."