Chapter 3: Lines Crossed

The atmosphere in the house was tense.

Park Hyun-So barely spoke to Kim Do-Jin after their first fight. Not out of fear—out of sheer frustration.

It wasn't like he could leave. Not really.

But he wasn't going to make it easy for Do-Jin either.

For the next day, their conversations were short, clipped. Kim, sensing the irritation, didn't push.

It wasn't until the following evening that Kim randomly said:

"Come to the lab with me tomorrow."

Park, lying on the couch, blinked at him. "Why?"

Kim shrugged. "I'm working late again. Might as well keep you close."

Park Hyun-So narrowed his eyes. "That sounds a lot like you don't trust me alone."

Kim Do-Jin grinned. "I don't."

Park sighed. "…Fine."

* * *

The lab was still the same—cold, too clean, too professional.Hyun-So had barely stepped inside when he heard a familiar voice.

"Oh? He's back? Thought he escaped."

Han Byung-chul leaned against the doorframe, smirking.

Park Hyun-So gave him a deadpan look. "Unfortunately, I have nowhere to run."

Han snorted. "Sounds about right." He turned to Kim Do-Jin. "You keeping him as a pet now?"

Do-Jin shrugged, smirking. "More like a research project."

Hyun-So scowled. "I hate both of you."

Byung-chul clapped him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the club."

* * *

Hours passed. Kim barely looked up from his work, clicking through data, checking reports.

Park sat in the corner, arms crossed, waiting.

Finally, Kim sighed, rubbing his temple. "It's gonna be another long night."

Park raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Kim stretched, standing. "Let's go. I rented a place nearby."

Park blinked. "…Huh?"

Kim grabbed his coat. "My house is too far. This place is better for the night."

Park hesitated. "…And I don't get a say?"

Kim grinned. "Nope."

* * *

The rented house was… fine.

Small, but livable. A simple space with a couch, a table, and a separate bedroom.

Kim Do-Jin tossed his coat over a chair and stretched. "Alright, I'm going back to the lab soon."

Park Hyun-So, sitting on the couch, raised an eyebrow. "Then why bring me here?"

Kim Do-Jin glanced at him. "So you can sleep."

Park Hyun-So scoffed. "I'm not a child."

Kim Do-Jin hummed. "Could've fooled me."

Park glared at him.

Do-Jin chuckled, checking his phone. A message popped up. His smirk faded.

Hyun-So, noticing the shift in his expression, narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

Kim Do-Jin hesitated. Then he put his phone down and sighed.

"Nothing important. Just—look, before I go, there's something we should clear up."

Park Hyun-So folded his arms. "Go on."

Do-Jin rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay. I need you to do something for me. It's nothing serious, just… take off your pants."

Silence.

Park's eye twitched. "…Excuse me?"

Do-Jin, ever the scientist, didn't get why this was a problem.

"Look, it's simple. It will be just for a moment. It's not weird."

Hyun-So blinked. "Do you hear yourself?"

Do-Jin waved a hand. "You're overthinking it. I just need to confirm something."

Park Hyun-So's expression darkened. "I swear, if you don't start explaining—"

Kim Do-Jin exhaled. "Fine. There's a theory about castrated alphas being used as spies. If you—"

Park Hyun-So immediately stood. "Nope. I'm done."

Kim Do-Jin blinked. "It's not a big deal—"

"Not a big deal? You're asking me to strip like it's a handshake."

Kim Do-Jin frowned. "Okay, yeah, when you put it like that, it sounds weird—"

Park: "Because it is."

Kim sighed, rubbing his temples. "Hyun-So, listen—"

Park: "No."

Kim: "I didn't even finish—"

Park: "Don't care."

Kim Do-Jin groaned. "You're making this difficult."

Park Hyun-So grabbed his jacket. "And you're making me leave."

Do-Jin stepped forward. "Wait, where are you—"

Hyun-So opened the door, looking back once. "Anywhere that's not here."

And just like that, he was gone.

Kim Do-Jin stood in the empty room, sighing heavily.

"…That could've gone better."

Park Hyun-So didn't know where he was walking.

Didn't care.

He just needed to be away.

The streets were nearly empty, save for a few stragglers. He passed closed storefronts, dim streetlights, the occasional rustle of movement nearby.

And then—

A sickly sweet scent.

Too strong. Too sharp.

His head spun.

Before he could react, an arm wrapped around his waist, dragging him backward.

A voice—low, rough, unfamiliar.

"Thought you smelled good."

Hyun-So's vision blurred. His body felt heavy, limbs refusing to respond.

Pheromones. Shit.

His knees buckled. The world tilted.

And then—nothing.

* * *

Kim Do-Jin wasn't sure why he felt uneasy.

Something about the way Hyun-So left. The way the air shifted.

He sighed, stepping outside—just in time to see a shadow following Hyun-So down the street.

His eyes narrowed.

No. That's not right.

The bad feeling settled deep in his gut.

He moved.

Fast.

By the time he reached the street, Hyun-So was gone.

"…Shit."

His eyes darted around. The place was nearly deserted. But a nearby shopkeeper was locking up.

Kim Do-Jin walked up, voice calm but urgent. "Did you see where he went? The guy with dark clothes?"

The woman blinked. "Oh, yeah. Some guy took him to that building down there. Basement level."

Kim Do-Jin didn't wait.

The door creaked as Do-Jin stepped inside.

A dimly lit room. A disgusting mattress. And Hyun-So—half-conscious, unmoving.

Do-Jin's jaw tightened.

The kidnapper stepped out of the bathroom, whistling—only to freeze when he saw Do-Jin.

"…Who the hell—"

Do-Jin punched him in the stomach.

The man wheezed, collapsing to the floor.

Kim Do-Jin crouched, slamming an elbow to his jaw. Out.

Without missing a beat, he turned to Park Hyun-So.

"Hyun-So. Hey. You with me?"

He groaned. His body wouldn't move.

Kim Do-Jin lifted him, picking him up outside.

"Let's go."

Kim Do-Jin wasn't the type to panic.

But right now, as he carried Park Hyun-So's barely responsive body through the empty streets, his patience was hanging by a thread.

Hyun-So was breathing, but weak. His head lolled slightly against Do-Jin's chest, eyes half-lidded.

Kim tightened his grip. "Just hold on."

Park made a noise—something between a groan and an attempt at speech.

Kim Do-Jin didn't slow down.

His car was close. His house was far. But he wasn't going to risk staying here.