Chapter 1: Lino
The Ja Clan.
Over the past two centuries the Ja Clan has had built up their power internationally with the help of the three clans; the Aki, the Amos, and the Villa Clans.
Just recently, during the past decade the Villa Clan has joined the other two just below the Ja Family by becoming corrupted officials leading the country with the help of the head of the Ja Clan, Ja Kang-Dae. Having blind faith in the helping hands of the young 19 year old Kang-dae, the Villa family was set up for life by being obedient and supporting whatever the syndicate decided to do. In turn they rose up the ranks.
Unlike the Villa Family, the Amos and Aki Clans in fact have been by the sides of the Ja for as long as they have been around. Their deep rooted loyalty has forever been present, though the clan leaders tend to stick to the rules denying the resistance Kang-Dae gives towards the marriage to an Alpha.
During every single meeting of the board, the family heads propose the same subject endlessly, insisting that the Family Head takes a partner as their mate for the future heir of the syndicate. It goes on and on into a spiral of when and why the young leader should do so. But hasn't the young Kang-Dae done enough by building up a clan from little to nothing and making them into the corrupt officials they are, only to use them for their advantage?
-
A message is spread.
The most suitable bachelor is to be wedded to one of the three strongest clans just below him.
The elder clan leaders are shocked by the sudden demands, after pushing for years on end it was never expected for Kang-Dae to finally accept and follow through with his duty.
Even though it is amazing that the leader will finally produce an heir, the only problem lies with the candidates.
Three people have been hand-picked and chosen to court the leader in one week's time. Each has been chosen by his assistant; Rai. Even though they are to court the middle-aged lord, the three lead their own lives. Not only as the next generation of syndicate heads, but as their own being.
All three have their own lives, only to be stopped by this courting situation.
The first to react and prepare for the events are the Amos Clan. The Amos Clan has long stood by the side of the Ja Family for about two centuries. Their ancestors started the cycle and so it continued as a long line of loyal followers.
It continues, but there is a sort of fork in the road changing the long line of platonic loyalty. Lino Giovanni Amos has received the letter, he is to be courting the syndicate leader.
His sister Chiara, the current head of the family, is appalled and enraged at the request of sending her baby brother to the older omega. What a pervert praying on younger men, this omega leader truly has weird tastes! He's just a baby, he's only 26! He doesn't know anything like that! After so much time pushing for the man to get a mate from any other influential family, he chooses what is unheard of. Marrying into one of the three clans and all are at monopoly.
Even though she greatly disagrees, it is a demand and a clear order from the ruler above them. Lino will go to court Ja Kang-Dae in one week's time.
While Chiara is heated, the younger Amos was quaking in his boots when he heard the news. Unlike his sister who received the letter in his stead, he first heard the news when over at the Ja residence first hand from Kang-Dae. He was there to show Kang-Dae the new designs for his next board meeting and have the usual weekly time together.
Their usual meeting followed a routine that never changed; it started with Lino jumping on the omega with the excitement of a puppy, that excitement resulting in a scolding. Like the puppy he is, Lino pouts and whimpers at the scolding earning him a head pat out of pity, having a display of slight affection, he takes the initiative to nuzzle into the hand touching his head.
The most serene and peaceful look painted his face, it was truly heart-warming, he smiled wide and the head pats kept on coming.With the continuing head pats, Kang-Dae looked down at the dark-haired alpha nuzzling against his hand and smiled until he had to break the silence;
"Lino, I made a decision to finally start finding a mate."
Suddenly, Lino pauses with a puzzled expression, "What are you going to do?"
Kang-Dae then removes his hand from the dark-haired man and continues, "I plan to have three alphas enter the estate. At least one of them will be chosen from the three. Luckily, my favorite puppy is going to be one of those alphas."
Seconds pass and the sudden realization hits the alpha. The puppy-like man then looks at Kang-Dae with his honey eyes filled with cheer at the statement.
At least this way if all other candidates were far worse, the best option was the puppy alpha hybrid (not literally). Lino knew that he wanted the person in front of him no matter what.
No matter who he had to go through, anything would be done to have this man's hand in the end. After all, they have known each other for years, the only way that Lino would be disadvantaged would be if by some chance someone of the marriageable age— shit. There are two.
The two who have also known Kang-Dae for years, one even more than Lino, himself has. But hey one is way younger, he got nothing on Lino, right?
... Right?
He began overthinking and questioning what Kang-Dae's type might just be, worst case scenario it wasn't Lino and Lino would have to watch Kang-Dae love someone else… ouch. That hurt.
Noticing the pensive Lino grimacing at some random thought, Kang-Dae grabbed the cheek of the designer and squeezed them with a pinch.
Pulled out of thought, he looked at the older man. The older male is for some reason frowning down at the alpha. Noticing the omega is upset, the alpha asks what has happened. Only to be answered with a cold "go home".
Grabbing the designs, his bag, and jacket, Lino left the room with a whimper. On the way out, Kang-Dae's assistant nods and silently waits for the man to leave. He steps out the door and heads home to tell his sister the news.
Yet to his dismay, she already got the letter. She was found sitting at the kitchen counter top, alcohol at side and single lamp on right above her head. It seemed like she was pretty upset. And oh there she goes taking a big swig of her drink. After learning about the demand for being part of the courting, he hears his sister spiral while drunk on whatever she was drinking. She touches on many topics, most of which have already been said or known by the alpha. Thanks to Kang-Dae he understood the situation and just sat there trying to assure his sister that it would all turn out to be fine and that he was a grown man.
After all, it was an order from the higher up. No one dared to disobey the omega. Even if Chiara thought that Lino was a baby he wasn't being thrown into a den of hyenas, right?
Well for one, the omega was not as vicious as one would think, but once provoked you'd wish you were never alive.
Word once spread of a man undergoing torture after being found out. The man was a spy, leaking information to an unknown master. The spy himself was tortured for days on end. As a common man he had a family of four— a wife, a daughter, and a son— the poor family had no idea of the man's actions. Knowing this fact, the merciful Kang-Dae cut the tongue and carved the eyes out of the spy. After doing so the leader sent his underlings to send the "gift" to the dear family. Once opening the package, the family was appalled at such a sight, they took the hint.
And chose to pack up and leave.
On the other hand, the spy himself had each and every limb severed, body mutilated. Fingers, then toes, then hands, then feet, and then finally his limbs. A blind and mute human popsicle was all that was left.
It was not usual for these occasions to occur, it was a rather peaceful syndicate. Ever since Lino can remember there was never really any uproar from spies or revolting members until recently. Maybe it was the fact that there is no actual secure heir. Who knows, only crazies go against the Ja leader. Just thinking about it gives Lino the chills.
Good lord, he's glad Kang-Dae favors him.
…Right?