His Mark

07

The night before Vegas' departure had been perfect, a blend of passion and tenderness that lingered in the quiet aftermath. Kim lay in bed, sheets tangled around his body, staring at the empty space beside him. Vegas had already left for his early morning flight to Japan. His scent still clung to the sheets, and Kim found comfort in it, though the silence of the room was already too loud without him.

They had made love in the early hours, gentle yet filled with the unspoken weight of impending separation. Kim had clung to Vegas as if that moment could last forever, but now, all that was left was a fading warmth.

Kim sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees, feeling the loneliness creeping in. The Major Family meeting was set for today—a meeting he wasn’t looking forward to. Reth, an arrogant and powerful alpha, was going to be there, and Kim wasn’t ready to deal with him. The man had been eyeing him for weeks, throwing veiled insults, questioning his position as an alpha. Kim’s secret hung over him like a dark cloud, and Reth seemed to sense it.

Reth had been relentless the last time they’d met, his words sharp, insinuating that Kim wasn’t the alpha he pretended to be. And Kim knew why—Reth could smell it. His omega scent, no matter how much Kim tried to suppress it, was something a powerful alpha like Reth would always detect.

The thought of facing Reth again, without Vegas there to ground him, made Kim’s chest tighten with anxiety. He could already imagine the smug looks, the subtle taunts, the way Reth would watch him as if he knew his every secret.

He wasn’t ready.

Kim looked at his phone, a message from Vegas lighting up the screen. He smiled, despite the gnawing feeling in his gut.

*Vegas:*
**"Made it to the airport. I’ll text you when I land. Don’t worry about today. Just… be yourself."**

Kim sighed. Be himself? How could he do that when the very thing he was hiding was at risk of exposure? He typed back a quick reply, but the words felt empty.

When the time for the meeting came, Kim dressed in his usual outfits staring at his reflection in the mirror. He tried to muster the courage to go. He even made it halfway down the stairs, but the suffocating dread in his chest stopped him.

He wasn’t going.

He couldn’t face Reth, not today.

Instead, Kim turned around, retreating back to his room. He texted Kinn, letting him know he wouldn’t be attending, using the excuse of feeling unwell. Kinn didn’t push—he never did when Kim used that excuse. But Kim knew Kinn would be disappointed.

Hours passed, and Kim remained in his room, pacing restlessly. His phone buzzed again—another message from Vegas.

*Vegas:*
**"I just landed. How’s the meeting going? Did Reth give you any trouble?"**

Kim stared at the message, feeling a pang of guilt. He hadn’t even gone to the meeting. His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he finally replied.

*Kim:*
**"Didn’t go. Couldn’t deal with him today."**

The response was immediate.

*Vegas:*
**"Kim… You can’t keep hiding from this. You know that, right?"**

Kim clenched his jaw, tossing the phone onto the bed. He knew Vegas was right, but the fear of Reth and the others finding out about his omega status paralyzed him. He wasn’t ready for that kind of exposure. Not now. Not ever.