Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 7: The Family Call

The rain had eased into a steady drizzle by the time Mingyu’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his brows knitting together at the sight of the caller ID.

Mom

With a resigned sigh, he swiped to answer. “What is it, Mom?”

“Mingyu!” Taehyung’s voice was warm and lilting, but there was a hint of exasperation behind it. “You’ve been avoiding our calls again. Your appa and I have been worried.”

Mingyu pinched the bridge of his nose, already sensing where this conversation was going. “I’ve been busy.”

“That’s what you always say,” Taehyung chided. “You’re thirty now, Mingyu. Thirty! Don’t you think it’s time to start thinking about settling down?”

Mingyu groaned, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve had this conversation, Mom.”

“And we’re going to keep having it until you listen,” Seokjin’s voice chimed in, softer but no less insistent. Mingyu hadn’t even realized his father was on the call too. “Your mother and I just want what’s best for you.”

“What’s best for me is focusing on work,” Mingyu countered, though he knew it wouldn’t deter them.

Taehyung huffed. “Work isn’t going to keep you warm at night or give us grandchildren. You’re an Alpha, Mingyu. You need an omega who can balance you out.”

Mingyu rolled his eyes, but before he could respond, Seokjin cut in. “We’ve set you up on a blind date.”

Mingyu sat up straighter. “You what?”

“Her name is Seo Nara,” Seokjin continued, ignoring Mingyu’s incredulous tone. “She’s from a good family, well-educated, and her father is a respected Alpha in the business world. You’ll meet her this weekend.”

“No, I won’t,” Mingyu said firmly.

“Yes, you will,” Taehyung replied just as firmly. “You owe us at least that much.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” Mingyu snapped, his frustration bubbling over. “I don’t need you to arrange my life for me.”

“Mingyu,” Seokjin said gently, his voice carrying the weight of years of wisdom, “we’re not trying to control you. We just want you to find happiness. You’ve closed yourself off for so long. Let someone in.”

The words struck a chord Mingyu didn’t want to acknowledge. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “I don’t have time for this right now.”

“We’re not asking,” Taehyung said with a smile in his voice that Mingyu knew all too well. “We’re telling you. Nara will be expecting you. Don’t disappoint her.”

The call ended before Mingyu could argue further. He stared at his phone, a mix of irritation and helplessness coursing through him.

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Meanwhile...

Jeonghan had been sitting on the couch across the room, pretending not to listen, but the tension in Mingyu’s voice had been impossible to ignore.

“Trouble in paradise?” Jeonghan asked, his tone teasing but his eyes curious.

Mingyu shot him a glare. “Stay out of it.”

Jeonghan smirked, leaning back against the cushions. “Must be serious if it has you this worked up. Let me guess—family drama?”

Mingyu didn’t respond, but the way his jaw tightened was answer enough.

“Let me guess again,” Jeonghan continued, undeterred. “Your parents want you to get married, don’t they?”

Mingyu’s silence spoke volumes.

Jeonghan laughed softly, shaking his head. “An Alpha like you? I’m surprised they haven’t married you off already.”

Mingyu’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you’re the perfect package,” Jeonghan replied, his tone dripping with mockery. “Powerful, wealthy, brooding—everything an omega could want. Too bad your personality ruins it.”

Mingyu leaned forward, his dark eyes locking onto Jeonghan’s. “Careful, Jeonghan. You’re forgetting who’s keeping you safe.”

Jeonghan’s smirk faltered, but only for a moment. “And you’re forgetting that I didn’t ask to be here.”

The room fell silent, the air between them thick with unresolved tension. For a moment, neither of them spoke, their gazes locked in an unspoken battle.

Finally, Mingyu stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over Jeonghan. “I don’t have time for your games,” he said coldly. “Stay out of my business.”

Jeonghan watched him leave, his smirk fading into something more subdued. Despite his bravado, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that Mingyu’s “business” might soon become his own.