Crave

29 - kindess paid by luxury

"You didn't show up to the gym?'

'Why did the head coach inform me of your two-week break?'

'What are you wasting time on by being out of the ring?'

'There's an international fight next week worth ten million dollars, don't miss it.'

'Answer me, or else you know what I'm capable of, son.'

The next night, Songjoon was texting Woo nonstop. The wolf felt annoyed as his phone dinged repeatedly. He turned on silent mode and set the device on the table. The wolf sat with Joon in the living room, watching an action movie. The younger brother noticed the taller man's jaw tighten and felt bad.

"Hyung, am I bugging you by being here?"

Woo looked at his brother as a frown formed on his face. "Don't speak such nonsense in front of me again."

"I just..feel like a burden." The beta said quietly, eyes full of despair. "Because of me, what haven't you gone through?"

The alpha raised his hand and set it on his brother's head, patting it gently. "The path I'm on, I chose it myself. It's not your fault."

"Hyung.."

"I just want you to be happy, kid. I don't care what happens to me."

"But I care, hyung. I want you to put your happiness first." Joon said as his eyes filled with tears. "I want to see you fall in love and marry one day, hyung. I want you to have your other half, someone to support you in every step you take."

Woo pulled his hand away and leaned back on the couch with a tired sigh. They were having the same conversation again. How often had Joon told him this and how often had he ignored it? The older man had seen what love had done to Ma-Ri. Love made her a slave to Songjoon, no matter how many wrongs he had done. No matter what he had put Woo through, Ma-Ri had still loved that man. Woo didn't have time for those kinds of distractions.

Love was nothing but a bad drug, addictive and toxic.

"Hyung, what do you feel about Zaire?"

"Go to sleep, kid." Woo said as he looked at the time, ignoring the beta's question.

"Good night, hyung." Joon pressed a kiss to Woo's forehead before leaving. The alpha watched as Katana followed his younger brother upstairs.

Woo sat alone in the living room, consumed by a million thoughts. The thought of having an omega rarely pleased him. Any time he heard the word love, all Woo thought was that he had a burden, one that would be difficult to remove. The alpha snapped out of his head when he felt his phone ping. Woo picked it up to see a text from Min.

'Hyung, I have the latest status on the Cruz family. Do you have time to meet me tomorrow?'

The alpha raised a brow in confusion but replied that he was available. What had Min found that he had to see Woo to tell him? Woo set his phone down and let out a tired sigh.

When Woo went upstairs, the omega was asleep, hidden by warm sheets. The alpha laid down after closing the lights and stared at the ceiling. A million thoughts ran through his head. His body was tired but his mind was wide awake. Woo glanced at Zaire who was sleeping on his side while hugging a pillow.

Suddenly, Woo felt irritated. The wolf pulled the pillow away from the smaller man and heard a soft whine. Woo watched a small hand search for the pillow until it landed on his chest. Like a magnet, Zaire moved closer to him in his sleep. This time, the omega laid his head on Woo's chest and wrapped a leg around his waist loosely. Woo had an arm around Zaire's slim waist as he inhaled the smaller man's scent. Now that Zaire was completely calm and had his guard down, Woo could smell his real scent, coconut mixed with light coffee.