Midnight Howl

Garnet

Garnet brings courage to abandon the harmful
Warning: this chapter gets very violent towards the end.

      Yixing was silent as the man walked him towards the drinks table, a hand splayed out on his lower back. Yixing shifted uncomfortably as the hand got lower. It was weird. Yixing felt like he knew that touch. He was uncomfortable because he felt so comfortable with this stranger. Yixing didn't understand, nor did he have the time to think much of it.

But Yixing held onto the hope that this was almost over. He knew that, at this very moment, Kris would be launching cyberattacks against Icarus's blackmarket sites, Tao and Sehun were infiltrating the drug cartel shipments and Junmyeon was making sure every piece of evidence that can be used to testify against Icarus was being sent to the police.

"Care for a drink?"

Yixing gnawed at his bottom lip. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

"Hello? Earth to Lay?"

Yixing blinked, looking up at the tall male, "Oh! Sorry. Um, I'll pass."

The man shrugged, his eyes gazing Yixing up and down, "More for me."

The two stayed by the drinks table. It was odd because neither were drinking. The room started to clear out. Whether it was clients taking their buys to rooms in the warehouse or back to their own place of choice, the familiar faces were quickly disappearing.

"Shall we go?" The man set down a glass of untouched champagne and held out his arm. Yixing wanted to run, run as fast as he could in the opposite direction but he willed himself to stay. He let out a shaky breath and placed a tender hand on the man's arm.
The tall stranger led them outside, past Lucifer who shot Yixing a big smile and two thumbs up, past Joy who winked cheekily before walking away with an orange haired woman.
It wasn't till they were outside, walking through the cold air towards the stranger's car that he spoke again.
"How are you doing....doll?"
Yixing whipped around, hand still on the door handle as he stared at the male. There was no way.....is that why the man's voice sounded so familar? Why his touch on his back felt so safe? Why his eyes sparkled in a way that suggested Yixing didn't know something but the stranger did?
With a swift moment, the tall man yanked off his mask, and with it, a  brown wig. Yixing yelped with joy as he raced into Chanyeol's arms.
"You're here!" Yixing shouted, burying his face in the latter's chest.
"Of course!" Chanyeol said, squeezing Yixing tightly, "You think Kris would just let you be sold off like that?"

"But...the money." Yixing started, his brain finally processing how much money was actually spent for him, "Chanyeol, that's too much! We have to get it back."

Chanyeol snorted, "You actually believe that I'll let Icarus have our money?" He glanced down at his expensive watch, "I say we have about another two minutes before that money burns up."

Yixing started at the tall male, still not understanding. Chanyeol opened the door of his car and got it, prompting Yixing to do the same. With a push of a button, the engine roared to life, the sleek expensive car purring as Chanyeol moved the car into reverse.

"It's kyungsoo's invention, bless that small bald man. It's fake money, made to look so real that even Icarus doesn't question the authenticity. After a set timer goes off, the money burns, leaving nothing in the case, making Icarus look like idiots. I say it's a win-win."

Yixing laughed, mostly because he was relieved to be back in the safety of the wolf pack, "Man, I can't get over how much I love you guys."

Chanyeol turned the car forward and shifted into speed, his mischievous eyes twinkling with delight, "Let's go kick some Icarus butt."