Tess

“It would be good for husband and wife to receive purification together. Both of you spreading your holes for my purification. Getting on all fours like dogs, begging me to put it in.”

The leader recited his pornographic fantasy. His voice was tinged with madness. His speech accelerated with excitement.

“I’ll pour plenty of seed especially into you. Ah, that would be good too. You put it in her, and I thrust into your hole. It would be quite a sight to see you coming inside her while I take you from behind.”

Growing more excited as he spoke, he grabbed Iliya’s hair and threw him to the floor. Without using synthetic pheromones, he forced his sexual desire into the unprepared, dry place. Every time the leader pressed his head down, the carpet smothered Iliya’s nose and mouth. The devil screamed that the tighter his breath was choked, the more his lower part would constrict. That sound became increasingly distant. His body, consciousness fading, merely swayed with the other’s movements. After finishing his hellish uproar, the leader pulled on Iliya’s shoulder, already covered in blood.

“You’ll have to welcome my brothers too. That’s your path to atonement as an omega.”

His response wasn’t needed.

*

*

“You’ve made a wise decision. There’s no need to escalate this matter unnecessarily.”

The police chief’s intentions were so transparent that Rus felt disgusted. How could anyone miss such obvious signals? The way he was anxious about the case growing larger was pathetic. Rus couldn’t even guess how many people were connected to this. It only revealed how much they had to hide.

“We want a guarantee against recurrence and a sincere apology,” Rus’s lawyer stated firmly. The police chief glanced at Rus nervously.

“Of course. They’ve been wanting to apologize for some time now.”

In exchange for not filing a lawsuit, Rus had requested to meet and receive an apology from the woman who splashed water and that man. Though Holy Church believers rarely ventured outside, they had agreed to send them out as a special exception. If a news article about their reconciliation was published, the suspicions would be somewhat contained. A reporter was waiting outside – the same one who had previously accepted money from the Holy Church. Rus was playing along with this obvious setup because he wanted to see that man again. The man who clearly had something to tell him, twice.

As if summoned by his thoughts, the elevator opened and the man appeared before him. Iliya entered hesitantly with an anxious face, and their eyes met directly. Rus thought he looked more haggard than before. Fatigue was etched all over his body.

Iliya averted his gaze first. Something was different. Previously, he had seemed colder and more upright, but now he appeared somehow defeated. It was also strange how he surveyed his surroundings with anxious glances. It didn’t seem to be just discomfort with the situation. A large man and a young girl followed behind him. The big man was likely a watchdog. Beside them, the police chief kept wiping his flowing sweat with a handkerchief.

“Well then, let’s move to a quieter place.”

The other side needed confirmation that Rus wouldn’t file a lawsuit. It would be troublesome if Rus changed his mind later. The proceedings began with the lawyer present. Iliya spoke first.

“I sincerely apologize. I truly regret my disrespectful words back then.”

“I wonder about that. You were only speaking according to your beliefs, weren’t you?” Rus replied indifferently. It was an oddly lukewarm response from someone who had requested an apology. Why had he called them here then? Iliya suppressed his rising anger. His situation was so desperate and urgent, yet they were wasting time on this trivial matter.

“But isn’t bowing your head to a devil shameful according to your beliefs? Are you compromising with reality?”

“Ah, haha, Mr. Briane, please don’t…” The police chief, caught in the middle, broke into a nervous sweat. Iliya bit his lip tightly. Rus couldn’t take his eyes off those full lips, fearing they might be injured. He had noticed from the beginning how captivating and seductive those lips were. Unaware of Rus’s thoughts, Iliya believed he was being glared at. An arrogant man who even played with people – he had such a wicked disposition. Iliya felt foolish for having considered trusting him briefly.

“We live quietly, keeping our faith without harming anyone. I apologize for any discomfort we caused, but it wasn’t intentional.”

Iliya nudged Nancy in the side. Her face clearly showed reluctance.

“I… went too far.”

It was Nancy’s best attempt at an apology, squeezed out against her will.

“You call that an apology?”

Hmm, Rus rested his chin in his hand. Iliya nudged her side again. Nancy’s angry face flushed red and pale.

“I was wrong! I’m sorry! Happy now?”

Nancy jumped up and stormed out of the room, fuming. When the door slammed shut, an awkward atmosphere filled the office. The police chief intervened again.

“Mr. Briane, Nancy is still a minor, so please be generous.”

“Are you her guardian?” Rus asked the large man. Iliya stepped forward first.

“I am. Not legally yet, but…”

“What relationship exactly are you referring to? If you say ‘legally,’ that suggests you’re not blood relatives.”

“Do we need to disclose that much?”

“I need to know clearly in order to assign responsibility if necessary.”

“They’re going to get married soon. They’re practically engaged.”

This time, the big man revealed the truth. For a moment, Rus’s expression slightly hardened. Others didn’t notice, but for a very brief moment, he failed to maintain his composure. Even Rus himself didn’t understand why he was taken aback.

*

*

“I’m glad this was resolved smoothly, haha.”

Rus could clearly see the police chief’s inner curses. He must be annoyed at having to mediate between the two sides over such a trivial matter. He probably wouldn’t remain in that position for long. On the surface, they shook hands amicably and concluded the matter.

“Shall we go?”

When the elevator doors opened, Rus entered first. When no one followed, he specifically directed his gaze at Iliya.

“Surely you’re not saying you don’t want to ride with an alpha?”

If he deliberately avoided it when the elevator wasn’t even crowded, it could be seen as discrimination and hatred against alphas. Iliya, who had been hesitating, took a step forward. Nancy was supposed to ride with them, but she turned her head away sharply.

“I’ll take the stairs. I’m afraid of machines.”

“Nancy!”

“Suit yourself, then.”

Before Iliya could stop her, Rus pressed the close button. The doors shut, and they were trapped in the confined space with the alpha. Iliya worried that Rus might detect his omega traits. Judging by his silence so far, he didn’t seem to have noticed.

They say alphas can recognize all omegas, so perhaps he wasn’t an omega after all? But that couldn’t explain what the leader had done to him. The way his body had responded involuntarily was definitely strange. Though he had never taken drugs, he knew this was different.

The few seconds felt excruciatingly long. He wanted to get off quickly and escape this suffocating silence.

Just then, Rus pressed the elevator stop button. Clunk. The sudden halt startled Iliya.

“What, what are you doing!”

“Seems like a malfunction.”

Rus lied with composure. As a panicked Iliya tried to press the call button, Rus blocked his way.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Swish. His approaching face was too close. Iliya flinched and stepped back. Though he wasn’t being threatened at all, he felt like a cornered animal.

“Since we have this time, let’s talk honestly.”

“What… do you mean?”

“You were trying to tell me something, weren’t you?”

Iliya gulped. Back then, it was because Mrs. Rollins had asked him to, he had tried to place even the slightest hope. Though the other had initiated the conversation, it was difficult to trust him rashly. He was a petty man who belatedly insisted on a lawsuit and fixated on an apology.

“I don’t know what misconception you have, but there’s nothing like that.”

“Your eyes were saying otherwise.”

“What…?”

“That you were sorry the woman splashed water.”

“If you want another apology…”

“You know what I mean. It was such a brief moment that probably only I could notice.”

Rus had good dynamic vision, but not being an athlete or police officer, he rarely found use for it. Still, detecting subtle changes in someone’s expression came in handy.

“While your mouth was cursing, your eyes were saying the opposite.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? If you truly believed alphas were devils, you wouldn’t have shown such a reasonable emotion as regret.”

Rus moved even closer. He stared at Iliya intently, as if trying to read his thoughts.

“But then, your dislike for alphas also feels genuine. How should I interpret that?”

Touching his chin, he muttered as if to himself. Iliya thought he was crazy. The idea that he had shown such emotions made no sense. And even if he had, how could this man be so certain? Did he have some telepathic superpower?

“I did wonder. What if I was mistaken? Had I been overconfident in my abilities all this time?”

Rus’s hand almost touched Iliya. Iliya tightly closed his eyes. Rus withdrew his hand that had nearly reached Iliya’s eyes.

“If it happened once, I might doubt myself, but twice is different. Tell me. No one can hear what we say here.”

At the gently whispering voice, Iliya slowly opened his eyes. Rus had stepped back and crossed his arms. Was this an opportunity? If he asked this man for help now, could he escape that place? However strong an alpha might be, could he defeat the leader and his numerous followers? It was questionable whether he would willingly undertake such a dangerous and troublesome task. Iliya feared speaking hastily might put him in greater danger.