Love Shot

by kimsojin10

Summary:

Byun Baekhyun didn't flinch when the sentence came down—life in prison for killing a known predator. As an omega behind bars, he was supposed to be scared, submissive, silent. But Baekhyun isn’t sorry. He doesn’t regret a thing.

Thrown into Cell Block C with two strangers whose faces feel too familiar, Baekhyun quickly learns that prison isn’t just about survival—it’s about power, reputation, and knowing when to bite back. EXO, the most feared gang inside, rules the halls with quiet brutality. And Baekhyun? He doesn’t realize yet that he's already sleeping in their den.

When Chanyeol—an alpha with a temper, a past, and a claim no one dares to challenge—sets his sights on Baekhyun, everything shifts. Because in this place, love is dangerous. And some shots hit deeper than bullets.

Chapter 1

 Baekhyun didn't regret it.

He’d been asked that too many times since his arrest — by lawyers, cops, a judge with narrowed eyes and thin lips. He’d looked them all in the face and said the same thing.

“No.”

And now, shackled and silent, he stepped into Prison with the same clarity.

Murderer. Omega. Life sentence.

He didn’t flinch when the gates clanged shut behind him.

“Byun Baekhyun,” the intake officer read off the clipboard. “Twenty-five. Omega. Homicide.”

Baekhyun nodded. “Correct.”

The officer glanced up. “Park Kiho. Wasn’t that the serial offender?”

“He touched my best friend,” Baekhyun said calmly. “So I made sure he’d never touch anyone again.”

The man raised an eyebrow. “No remorse?”

Baekhyun tilted his head. “Should I have any?”

The officer ignored his response and instead told him to strip his clothes off.

Baekhyun didn’t hesitate. He peeled off the layers of his old life — the faded jacket, the shirt stained with dirt and sweat, the jeans that had carried him through better days. Each cloth folded neatly and handed over, like leaving pieces of himself behind.

 

He was handed a uniform—orange shirt and shorts. He glanced at the officer, raising his eyebrows. As if sensing his question, the officer answered, “Those uniforms are what we give out to omegas. Betas, Omegas, and Alphas have different ones to make it easier.”

“Is the short really necessary?” “Just change”

Baekhyun sighed but didn’t argue. The orange shorts were rough, far too short, riding up his thigh awkwardly. He tugged the shirt down as best he could, but the fabric was thin and the cut unforgiving. It kept on slipping off his shoulders, showing his collarbone. It wasn’t just uncomfortable — it was a reminder. A brand that marked him as different, vulnerable.

The intake officer glanced at him again. “You’ll get used to it. Prison’s all about control.”

Baekhyun’s eyes narrowed, but he kept quiet.

The officer led him down a long, dim hallway in handcuffs. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, flickering intermittently, casting grim shadows on the concrete walls. Voices echoed from behind thick steel doors—some angry, some resigned, some laughing with a bitterness that chilled the air.

“Cell Block C,” the officer said. “You’ll be sharing with two others. Just make sure to be a good little omega and don’t cause any trouble. It’s best for people like you to stay low. We don’t want any unwanted attention from the big bad alphas do we? Keep your hands to yourself. It’s 10pm right now, meaning it’s light out. No one is allowed outside their cell during these times. Meal times are mandatory so whether or not you want to eat, you have to otherwise the next time you’ll be eating is the next day. Lastly, respect the guards. No matter what happens, we are still in charge of you even with your crime, you’re still the same as those worse of scums in here. You still committed murder.”

“He deserved it. People like him deserve to die. What about the victims? Why is it always about protecting the criminal but not the victims? They’re the one who suffered the choices of the criminals.”, Baekhyun said as he stopped walking and faced the officer.

“Whether it’s self-defense or not, you still killed someone and that’s a crime. You should have left it to the judges to take care of it”, the officer said while walking towards Baekhyun.

“If it happened to your family, wouldn’t you have done it? Imagine if it was you in my place”, Baekhyun said, breathing heavily as memories started flashing back in his mind.

Sirens. Screaming. Knife. Park Kiho. Bar.

Baekhyun gritted his teeth, the sting blooming sharp across his cheekbone as his face connected with cold concrete. Again. The rough texture scraped against his skin, but he didn’t cry out. He just stood there, breathing in the sour, metallic scent of the wall, swallowing down the pain and humiliation.

“I said stop justifying murder,” the officer growled low in his ear, fingers tightening on the back of his neck.

Baekhyun didn’t flinch. Didn’t tremble. His lips curled into a bitter smile, even as his head throbbed. “Are you going to keep beating people for telling the truth?”

The officer let out a low chuckle — humorless and laced with venom. “Keep talking, pretty boy. See how far your mouth gets you in here.”

Another shove, not as brutal this time, and then the handcuffs were yanked and dragged forward again. Baekhyun followed, a metallic taste now pooling in his mouth. He didn't spit the blood out — he swallowed it. Quietly.

They reached the end of the hall — a set of thick, reinforced doors. The guard tapped in a code, and the gate buzzed before sliding open.

“Cell C-5,” he muttered. “You’ll be bunking with two others. Don’t start anything, and they won’t gut you in your sleep.”

Baekhyun didn’t respond. Just looked at the tiny barred window in the door. The lights inside were dim, casting shadows that flickered like old memories.

The cell opened with a clang.

Two men were already inside.

One was seated on the lower bunk, arms crossed behind his head like a man perfectly at ease, though his eyes were half-lidded and watchful. The other sat at the small metal desk bolted to the wall, flipping through a worn paperback with fingers that looked too clean for this place.

Both lifted their heads as Baekhyun stepped in.

And something flickered at the back of Baekhyun’s mind.

Familiar.

His feet paused, just slightly. His eyes swept across the cell, then back to the two inmates. Their faces tugged at something he couldn’t place. A strange déjà vu prickled at his skin. It was in the curve of the man’s smirk, the tilt of the other’s jaw. He’d seen them before—maybe on TV? Online? Somewhere, definitely not here.

The officer shoved him one last time inside. “Enjoy your stay,” he said, sarcastic, before the heavy door slammed shut behind him.

Silence settled.

Then the man on the bottom bunk spoke, voice casual but clear. “You’re bleeding.”

Baekhyun glanced down. The corner of his mouth had split; blood was dripping lazily onto the collar of his orange shirt.

He wiped it with the back of his hand, smearing it across his jaw. “Guess I am.”

The man at the desk finally looked up. Sharp eyes. Measuring. Calm like a man who’d seen far too much to be shaken anymore. “Name?”

“Byun Baekhyun.”

“Offense?”

“Murder.”

The one on the bed gave a soft whistle, sitting up a little straighter. “Didn’t think someone like you had it in you.”

Baekhyun shrugged. “He touched my best friend.”

The room fell silent again. The man at the desk nodded once. “Good reason.”

Baekhyun took in the cell—two bunks, thin mattresses, one toilet, and a sink. No privacy, no silence, no escape. And yet, somehow, this felt more like peace than what he’d lived through in the days leading to his trial.

“What about you two?” he asked, voice still even.

The one on the bunk smirked. “Kim Jongdae.”

The one at the desk added, “Kim Minseok”

There it was again. That flicker. Those names. Familiar, somehow.

But Baekhyun couldn’t place it.

Not yet.

Chapter 2

Music rang in his ears as he danced as if it’s his last day on earth. He chugged down the beer he had on his hands as he celebrated his freedom. 

“I hereby declare the defendant not guilty the charges presented against them”

Kiho grins, laughing out loudly; not caring a single thing about his environment. It was a good day for him and this deserves a big celebration. He went to the bar area to order the strongest alcohol as he scanned the crowd searching for prey.

 

He’s been looking for about an hour now but nobody interests him. It’s always those typical omegas who latch on his arm looking for a knot but he's not interested in that. He likes the chase , the thrill . He likes omegas who act like they’re hard to get but deep down inside, they want someone to own them. 

“Another,” he slurred, tapping the counter.

“Coming up,” the bartender muttered, eyes not meeting his, sliding the glass over.

Kiho didn’t notice the pink haired figure watching from the far end of the bar. Lean. Quiet. Burning with a stillness that stood out in the chaos.

—

 

A loud shout woke him up from his dream. Baekhyun opened his eyes, breathing heavily before panicking as he scanned his unfamiliar surroundings. ‘Oh yea, I’m in prison’, he bitterly thought. This was his life now and his first day here. 

“Morning, sunshine! You finally woke up. I thought you’ll be harder to wake up but here we are. Wash your face because you might not get the chance later. We’ll show you around the place. The guard will start waking and letting us out in about 5 minutes for the roll call.”, Jongdae said smiling brightly.

Baekhyun blinked, still feeling sleepy to which his cellmates chuckled

“Well aren’t you cute! You remind me of my little brother back home”, Minseok said laughing while reaching to pinch his cheeks. Baekhyun turned red in embarrassment and groaned before sitting up slowly on the stiff prison mattress. His cheeks still ached from the cold cement and the emotional torture of the past 24 hours. He rubbed his eyes roughly before forcing himself to his feet, trudging toward the tiny sink at the corner of the cell.

The cold water slapped his face harder than he expected, but it helped. A little.

“You’ll get used to it,” Jongdae said gently, watching him with something softer than curiosity. “We all do.”

Baekhyun didn’t answer. He didn’t know how.

Because he had lost the world. Whatever his world was before last night — before Kiho — it was gone.

“You killed someone, didn’t you?” Minseok asked suddenly, leaning against the cell wall, arms crossed but not in judgment. His voice wasn’t cruel. Just curious.

Baekhyun froze, fingers gripping the edge of the sink.

Jongdae elbowed Minseok. “Hyung. Give him a break.”

“I’m not judging,” Minseok shrugged. “He doesn’t look like a guy who did it for fun. He looks like someone who had no choice.”

“He deserves it. People like him don’t get to walk out the court after doing something worse than death to someone.” Baekhyun didn’t turn around.His knuckles whitened against the metal sink. His reflection in the cracked mirror above it looked unfamiliar — a stranger with bloodshot eyes and lips bitten raw from holding back too much. His hair looked messy–as if he hadn't washed it in days, which was true. His shoulders shook once, barely, before he forced them still.

He could still hear Kiho laughing. Still taste the copper in his mouth.

“Hey,” Jongdae said quietly, stepping closer. “You don’t have to talk about it.”

Baekhyun finally let out a breath — slow, shaky, like it had been stuck in his lungs since last night. He didn’t speak, but he nodded once, like a threadbare agreement.

Silence settled over them for a minute, broken only by distant shouting and the faint buzz of electricity in the overhead light.

Then Baekhyun said, almost too softly to hear, “He was a monster.”

Minseok met Jongdae’s eyes and said nothing.

“He got away with it. With everything.” Baekhyun's voice cracked, and he cursed under his breath. “I just… I couldn’t let him walk out smiling like that. I couldn’t.”

He turned then, slowly, like the words themselves drained what little strength he had.

“Is that why you’re here?” Baekhyun asked, voice hoarse. “Because you had no choice either?”

Minseok snorted. “No. I made mine. And I paid for them.”

Jongdae hesitated. Then nodded. “Same. Not proud of it, but… I’m still breathing.”

Baekhyun sat back down on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor like it might offer answers. “Do you regret it?”

“Every day,” Jongdae said. “But not for the reason you think.”

Minseok sighed, pushing off the wall. “It’s time for the roll call. Try not to look like you cried. People will pounce on that.”

Jongdae gave Baekhyun a tissue, and Baekhyun took it without a word. He cleaned his face, stood, and followed them out when the door buzzed open. He walked behind his cellmates with his head down, not wanting to catch any attention. But unfortunately, he doesn’t realize yet that he’s rooming with the two of the most dangerous people here in prison.  The moment they stepped into the corridor, heads turned.

Not toward Minseok. Not toward Jongdae.

Toward him .

The new omega.

And he was walking behind them

Whispers stirred like a breeze through the crowd as the three of them made their way into the yard. Men nudged each other, some sneering, some curious, others merely calculating. Baekhyun kept his eyes on the ground, his steps faltering only when the weight of too many stares became impossible to ignore.

“What the hell’s a fresh omega doing with them?” someone muttered behind his back.

“Think he’s special?”

“Think he’s theirs?”

“Whore probably wants their knot”

Baekhyun flinched.

Jongdae stopped walking. Just for a second. Just long enough to glance over his shoulder and meet the eyes of whoever spoke.They didn’t say anything after that and instead cowered under his gaze.Minseok didn’t even bother looking. His gaze stayed forward, locked ahead, but his presence was enough. People moved out of their way like shadows parting before a flame. Baekhyun didn't understand what was happening. He didn’t understand why other inmates looked at Minseok with a mix of reverence and fear, or why Jongdae—smiling, easygoing Jongdae—could silence a man with a single look. They looked different, as if they weren’t the one who was with Baekhyun in the cell earlier.

The yard opened up before them—gritty, bleak, edged with guard towers and lined with inmates who grouped in packs. Baekhyun instinctively stayed close to Jongdae’s side, catching snippets of conversation, posturing, and the occasional low growl of a warning thrown between the inmates. 

But no one touched them.

No one dared .

They reached a painted line where the guards began calling names, and inmates lined up in formation. Minseok motioned toward a spot, and Baekhyun stood between them, his shoulders stiff, head still down. 

“Park Jinyoung” 

“Choi Youngjae”

“Im Jaebum”

The list goes on and on. Baekhyun scanned the line of inmates. There are at least 10 columns and Baekhyun is at the end of the line at the farthest. The guard kept on calling names, not even glancing at the said person. The yard was huge. It was filled with Orange, Black and Grey colors. There were only a few wearing orange ones so it’s probably for omegas. Majority including Jongdae are wearing Black uniforms with pants so those are probably Alphas, and those who are wearing Grey are obviously Betas, which includes Minseok. 

“Kim Jongdae” “Here”

“Byun Baekhyun.”

He flinched when he heard it. Not because of the name.

Because of the pause after.

One of the guards—tall, square-jawed, with a baton resting loose in his grip—tilted his head.

His gaze slid over Baekhyun from head to toe but he’s eyes lay longer on his legs to and in an instinct, Baekhyun pulled his shirt down

Then he grinned.

“Cute.”

Minseok didn’t move. Jongdae didn’t flinch.

Baekhyun didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

“Say it,” the guard prompted, still smiling. “You’re here, aren’t you?”

Baekhyun’s mouth was dry. He forced it open. “Here.”

The guard checked something off a clipboard, smirk still in place. “Welcome to hell, princess.” before another guard handed him a new fresh set of clothes. Before calling Minseok’s name.

“Here.”

—

He can feel stares on him as he was separated from Jongdae and Minseok to the showers. Apparently, each one has a designated shower areas. Omegas. Alphas. Betas. To which Baekhyun is thankful for because there’s atleast some privacy between them. He doesn’t want to take his clothes off and shower with a knot-headed stupid Alpha like Kiho.

“You’re so pretty, an omega like you deserves someone like me. Someone who can control you, who’ll knot you so fucking good that you won’t want to go look for other dicks.”

He shook his head before getting inside the shower area, which was guarded by an Omega Guard, who just looked coldly at him.

The area is huge, but dirty. ‘Why did I even expect it to be clean’, he thought. There were only two omegas inside. He looked around to see if there were more but there was nothing. The other just glanced at him while the other stared at him even as he peeled his clothes off. 

He moaned as the cold water splashes on his bruised skin. His mind clearing up for once. He puts on the shampoo provided and massages it to his scalp. He carefully puts the soap in his dirty, smelly body. It was a relief. A brutal kind of relief. His eyes fluttered shut as the filth washed away — blood, sweat, and whatever dignity he had left when the guards threw him in the holding cell yesterday.

The soap was rough. The shampoo was cheap. But Baekhyun used them anyway, scrubbing his body until the shame didn’t feel so fresh. Maybe if he scrubbed hard enough, he could forget the way the guard had looked at him. Like he was something to taste.

He didn’t want to be looked at like that ever again.

He didn’t want to be looked at all.

But he’d already seen the way they stared in the yard. Not at Jongdae. Not at Minseok. At him.

And he didn’t understand why.

“You’re the new one,” a voice said casually.

Baekhyun jumped. He hadn’t realized one of the omegas had moved closer — the same one who’d been staring earlier. He had sharp cheekbones and a jagged scar down one shoulder. His scent was faint, buried under layers of soap, but Baekhyun could still feel the dominance in it.

“Yeah,” Baekhyun answered softly, drying himself quickly.

“You don’t smell like a street rat,” the omega said. “You smell like… money. Fancy suppressants. Private school, maybe.”

Baekhyun stayed silent.

“Don’t get quiet now,” the other omega added, voice low, leaning against the tile wall. “You must’ve pissed someone off real bad to get thrown in here. And then land right in EXO’s lap.”

That name again.

Baekhyun stiffened. “EXO?”. The name sounded famiiar

The omega raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

Another scoffed from behind. “Bullshit. Everyone knows EXO.”

The scarred one tilted his head. “Minseok and Jongdae. Top enforcers. Blackline rank. They don’t room with anyone. And now they’ve got you. Either you’re real special…” His eyes swept down Baekhyun’s body again. “Or real unlucky.”

Before Baekhyun could reply, the door opened, which caused Baekhyun to cover himself in instinct. A black haired omega came in. He glared at the other omegas before his eyes landed on Baekhyun. He walked slowly as if he owned the room. Baekhyun glanced at his fellow omegas who moved away from him and quickly washed their bodies. 

The black haired omega stripped his clothes off before folding them carefully.He stepped into the stall beside Baekhyun. Out of all the empty ones, he chose that one.

The water hit his back. Baekhyun tried to keep washing, but his hands had gone tense, his nerves flickering with alarm. His instincts whispered danger — not the loud, aggressive kind like Kiho or the guards, but the quieter kind. The kind that watched.

“You’re the new one,” the omega said flatly.

Baekhyun didn’t respond.

“I heard you were put in with Jongdae and Minseok.”

That caught his attention. He turned slightly, meeting the stranger’s eyes. “You know them?”

The omega didn’t smile. He didn’t blink either. “We’re family.”

Baekhyun blinked. “You’re Minseok’s brother?”

Instead of an answer, all he got is a raised eyebrow. “You already know about his brother?”

Baekhyun looked at him again, properly this time. Shorter than Minseok. Quieter than Jongdae. But something about him felt heavier. His scent, even under the soap and metal-tinted water, had a strange calm to it — like steel right before it swung.

“I’m Kyungsoo.”

Baekhyun swallowed, feeling a sudden mix of relief and tension. Kyungsoo’s presence was different—less fiery than Jongdae’s or Minseok’s, but just as commanding in its own quiet way. The water cascaded down, but Baekhyun’s hands stayed still, his body frozen in place as he absorbed the weight of those calm, steady eyes.

Kyungsoo’s voice was low, almost gentle. “Jongdae and Minseok are good guys. They won’t bite you unless you do something out of line.”

Baekhyun nodded slowly, feeling a strange warmth even under the cold, harsh water. For the first time since he’d been thrown into this brutal place, there was a flicker of something like hope of finding someone who’ll understand him.

“They helped me this morning.”, to which Kyungsoo nodded. He seems like he’s not a man of words but Baekhyun doesn’t care. He doesn’t look like a bad guy.

The shower noise lessened as Baekhyun got his towel and headed to get his clothes from the table he placed it. To his nightmare, all he got is an oversized tshirt that barely reaches his legs and a panty.

‘What the fuck’

Baekhyun held up the thin, scratchy shirt with disbelief, his mouth slightly parted, heart racing. He looked around, half-expecting someone to laugh or tell him it was a mistake. But no one did. The other omegas were drying off, dressing, ignoring him like this wasn’t something unusual.

A panty—a red lace one. No pants. No shorts. Just that flimsy thing and a t-shirt that could barely count as one.

He swallowed thickly, fingers curling around the thin fabric. Was this a joke? Some kind of hazing? His heart pounded. He wanted to scream, but what would that even do here? What power did an omega have in a place like this?

He turned his head instinctively toward the shower stalls.

Kyungsoo was still there, steam rising around him, but those deep eyes were already watching. Like he knew. Like he’d seen it before. He didn’t look happy.

“They give all new omegas that,” Kyungsoo said evenly, his voice barely audible over the dripping pipes. “Especially the pretty ones.”

Baekhyun’s face burned. He didn’t want to be pretty. Not here. Not when pretty made people stare. Made guards smirk. Made alphas say things like someone like me will knot you so good .

He turned his back and changed quickly, pulling the t-shirt down as far as it would go. It barely reached the tops of his thighs. The panty stretched across his hips like a curse. He clenched his jaw and breathed through the panic.“They do it on purpose,” Kyungsoo added, stepping out now and toweling his hair. “They want to see if you’ll cry. Or fight. Or break.”

Baekhyun stayed silent. He wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

But he hated how his skin felt — exposed, vulnerable, available .

“Don’t bend over,” Kyungsoo said blandly, not even looking at him now. “And if anyone tries to touch you, don’t scream. Bite.”

Baekhyun turned to him again, eyes wide.

Kyungsoo finally met his gaze and, just for a second, something shifted in those stoic eyes. Not sympathy. Not pity. But understanding. Like he knew exactly how this felt.

“Don’t ever show any weakness Baekhyun. You’re with Jongdae and Minseok, which means you're safe but that also gives you many enemies. I can’t guarantee that life here will be good but I swear it will be manageable. Whatever you do, don’t show any weakness. When you get out of here, hold your head up high.”

Chapter 3

Notes:

I'm trying to update everyday so I won't lose motivation LOL. Let's hope that I keep getting creative juices. If you have any ideas or prompts, comment here!

“Omegas like you are just made to be breeding stocks” . Kiho laughs as he dives in to kiss the pink haired omega again. Not seeing how his comment made the omega below him glared.

Following what Kyungsoo said, Baekhyun held his head up high as he got out of the shower area. It’s not that he’s insecure about his body. It’s about the shame that he will be spending the day half-naked and being probably the only one to do so. In fact, he’s proud of his body. His waist is so thin, ass fat like how typical alphas like it, legs and thighs smooth as a child’s skin. He probably looks like a desert. Despite his pride, he still has dignity left.

Passing through the echoing corridors toward the canteen, he could still feel the weight of all those eyes on him. He carried his pride like armor. He swallowed deeply before pushing the doors to the canteen open, the guards laughing at him while arousal was in air.

The moment he entered the canteen, everyone stopped whatever they were doing and stared. Gone was the scared, vulnerable Baekhyun. In here is the Baekhyun that Park Kiho saw and liked. the one who dared to be bold, unashamed in his own skin despite the harsh eyes that tried to tear him down.

The canteen fell into a tense silence as all heads turned, measuring him up, whispering behind hands, their gazes flickering between disbelief and something more dangerous — challenge, amusement, maybe even envy.

Baekhyun kept his head up glancing as he passed each table. He headed to the line waiting for food, not minding any side comments, whistles, and the stares. 

He reached the food line, the clang of trays and the chatter dimming around him, the tension thick but manageable. The server glanced at his exposed arms and legs but said nothing, sliding a plate of food toward him with the same mechanical detachment as always. He can still feel the stares. Heck, even the alpha in front of him turned back to stare and smirk at him. He just raised his eyebrow coolly, unbothered at the attention.

Before he met Park Kiho, he was a party boy. Always at the club every weekend, partying till the morning, living for the rush of the music and the heat of the crowd. But here, in this cold, brutal place, that world seemed so distant, like a half-remembered dream. He walked slowly looking for an empty table. He saw Minseok and Jongdae sitting with other people. They’re in the center of the room and probably the only people who aren’t staring at him with hunger. Instead of sitting with them, Baekhyun decided to avoid sitting there because he can handle himself. 

He found a table near the end of the canteen and sat there all alone. Not caring about the alphas, whose arousals he can smell. The food doesn't even taste like one—heck, it doesn't even look like food. It smells like a dead person's body but he eats it anyway, swallowing it.

He's now calm and collected with his chin up and back straight. He looks like the day he killed Park Kiho. The calm, pink-haired omega with predator eyes.

The door opened to Kyungsoo, who just finished showering. The attention turned to the other omega giving Baekhyun the time to breathe. He glanced and nodded at Baekhyun as he passed his table before going to the table where Minseok and Jongdae are sitting.

Baekhyun observed their table. Minseok and Jongdae were eating. Minseok saw him looking and waved, gesturing for him to come, to which Baekhyun shook his head. He didn't want to intrude. He can handle his own. Beside Jongdae is another Alpha, a blonde-haired one, who patted the seat beside him for Kyungsoo to sit. Another Alpha, black-haired laughing with another brown-haired alpha. A beta is sitting in the center of the table. He has the aura of a politician. When he looks to his right, he finds another alpha, a blonde-hair with an undercut staring at him. He felt shivers, not because of fear but because of the intensity of the stare. 

His gaze is unlike the other alphas who've been staring at him ever since he walked in the canteen. It was as if he's observing and sizing him up. Seeing if he's a threat or not. Baekhyun met the stare steadily, refusing to blink first. There was something in him. Baekhyun hadn’t felt anything like that with other alphas. There was something about him.That silence stretched, thick and electric, before the alpha gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod, as if acknowledging a challenge without words. The tension at the table barely shifted, but Baekhyun could feel the room's atmosphere pulse with it.

His gaze was broken when he felt a presence behind him. Instead of looking behind, he ignored it and just continued to eat his food.

“If you wanted a knot, you could have just gone to me instead of walking half - naked here for everyone to enjoy.”

Nothing. Nothing. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Baekhyun ignored the comment and acted like he heard nothing.

“You have a slutty waist and ass, bet I can just push your panties in the side and—-”

The alpha didn't get to continue because he was suddenly on the floor. No one saw it coming. The omega sitting on the table all alone suddenly got up and slammed his tray on his table before getting up and attacking the alpha to the ground. He straddled him using his thighs before laughing out like crazy.

“You think that just because I’m an omega means that I can let you do whatever the fuck you want, huh? That I’ll just drop to my knees and let you use me as any alpha would want? Well, news flash, I’m not that type of omega. You dickhead. If you touch me one more time, I won’t hesitate to kill you. If anyone touches me at all, no one will live to see what happens. I’m here for a reason, aren’t I? I’m not just some innocent omega that you can manipulate and use to your liking. So if I were you, I’ll use whatever's left of that knot-headed brain and mind my own business.”

“YOU BITCH”

The alpha lunged, blind with humiliation, snarling like a feral dog — but Baekhyun was already moving.

With a sharp, practiced motion, he caught the alpha’s wrist mid-swing, twisted it back until something cracked, and shoved his knee into his gut. The air left the alpha’s lungs in a single, pathetic wheeze as he crumpled, coughing and retching.

Baekhyun stood over him, chest heaving but eyes calm. Not a strand of pink hair out of place. Not a flicker of fear in his eyes.

The whole canteen was silent. Trays half-lifted. Bites frozen halfway to mouths. Everyone just watching .

Then Baekhyun laughed.

Not the cute, fluttery laugh from his party days. Not the polite chuckle he'd offer during dinner at someone else's table.

This laugh was sharp. Unhinged . A warning wrapped in melody.

He crouched down again, low enough to meet the bleeding alpha’s gaze. His voice was soft this time — terrifyingly soft.

“You don’t get to call me that,” Baekhyun whispered. “You don’t know me. And if you touch me again… well.” He tilted his head. “Let’s not pretend you’d live to tell anyone about it.”

He stood back up and dusted off his knees as if he hadn’t just dropped a man twice his weight.

The alpha groaned, barely able to roll onto his side. The guards near the door were still laughing, unmoving, and Baekhyun understood then — this was their game. Let the omega get eaten alive and watch him either break or burn.

So Baekhyun smiled, dead-eyed, and raised his voice.

“Anyone else want to test how ‘breedable’ I am?” he asked, arms open wide, voice dripping acid.

The moment Baekhyun stood up, rolling his shoulders like he didn’t just put an alpha on the ground in under five seconds, three other alphas rose from the opposite side of the canteen — older, more built, more dangerous-looking. They moved with confidence. The kind that said they weren’t afraid of a pretty omega with blood on his hands .

One of them had tattoos that ran down his neck like chains. The other wore a grin too wide to be sane. And the third? Silent. Eyes sharp. Calculating.

“You got guts, pretty thing,” the tattooed one said, walking toward him while cracking his knuckles. “But this ain’t a place where omegas pull stunts like that and walk away. You touch one of ours, we touch you.”

Baekhyun didn’t move. He turned just enough to meet their eyes, tray still in his hand.

"Then try," he said quietly, voice low and sharp like broken glass. “Let’s see how many more of you need to leave this room unconscious before you learn not to touch me.”

They laughed. Of course they did.

“Shut the fuck up you lowly omega”

Baekhyun’s gaze didn’t waver. His voice was steady, sharp as a razor. “Lowly? You don’t get to decide that.”

Three more alphas moved in from across the canteen, their eyes dark with menace as they closed the gap.

The crowd held its breath.

Then, from a nearby corner, Jongdae’s voice rang out, loud and clear, cutting through the tension like a whip. “GO BAEKHYUN! WIPE THEIR ASSES”. Minseok also cheered out loud making Baekhyun grin as the Alphas in front of him looked confused on why two members of EXO are cheering on the newbie omega. 

Baekhyun scoffed at the alphas infront of him now looking unsure. He doesn’t know why Jongdae and Minseok’s support affected them that much but he uses that to his advantage as he kicks one alpha in the face, not caring that people can now fully see the panties, which were barely covering him. One alpha tries to grab his by his hair but he just punched him and pulled his shirt into the 3rd alpha. 

Screams, whistles, and support were heard all over the canteen. The tasteless food now forgotten as every inmate watched the half-naked newbie omega fight 3 big alphas. 

“FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT”

“Put that omega to where he belongs to!”

“GO NEWBIE KICK THEIR ASSES!”

 

“ENOUGH.”

Everyone, even Baekhyun, who’s fists are covered in blood, stopped and looked at the owner of the voice. The Alpha, whom he was punching, stopped attacking him too and said, “He started Officer. This Omega is out of control. He needs a leash, he should be in one.”

“YOU FUCKER! If your buddy here minded his own business, this wouldn’t have happened.”, Baekhyun said as he was pushed on his knees by a guard.

“Byun Baekhyun, this is your first day here yet you’re still picking out fights with Alphas bigger than your size?”, the Warden said.

The warden’s cold eyes bore into Baekhyun,the sting from bruised knuckles and the sharp ache in his ribs barely registering beneath the rush of adrenaline. Baekhyun’s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, but his gaze remained steady, fierce, unbroken.

“Picking fights?” Baekhyun spat back, voice low but laced with defiance. “No. I’m standing up for myself. For any omega who’s been stepped on. You want me to be a breeding stock? Fine. But I’ll be damned if I'm weak.”

The guards around him exchanged glances, some nodding subtly, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

The warden scoffed, stepping closer, his shadow falling over Baekhyun’s bent form. “You think you’re something special? This place chews up omegas like you for breakfast.”

Baekhyun’s lips curled into a sharp smile, dangerous and bitter. “Then maybe it’s time someone fought back.”

The guard holding Baekhyun pushed his head to the floor. The warden stomped on Baekhyun’s head before saying, “You’ll be put in solitary confinement for a month then maybe you can learn your lesson”.

Whispers were heard all over the canteen. Solitary confinement is the worst place here. It breaks down even the strongest Alphas. Baekhyun’s vision blurred at the sudden pressure on his head, the sharp sting radiating through his skull like fire. The room tilted, the faces of the guards and the warden merging into a grim tableau of cruelty. Yet beneath the pain, beneath the weight of their oppression, something cold and unyielding hardened within him.

The guards dragged him roughly, their grip like iron shackles squeezing the breath from his lungs . To protect what’s left of his dignity, Baekhyun took a deep breath and just let them lead the way without any complaints, walking with head and chin up. The cheers and jeers from the canteen faded into a distant echo, replaced by the grim silence of the prison hallways as they marched him away. He can hear a faint, “We’ll be waiting for you, Baekhyun!”.

—

The door to solitary slammed shut behind him with a finality that reverberated in his chest. The dim light barely touched the corners of the small, concrete cell. Bare walls, a narrow cot, and a single rusty toilet were all that greeted him.

Baekhyun dropped to his knees, the bruises and aches overwhelming for a moment. But then, he clenched his fists, feeling the simmering fire inside him rise again. He wasn’t broken. Not yet.

A harsh voice cracked from the corridor outside. “Don’t get any ideas, omega. This place will break you.”

Baekhyun’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You’re underestimating me.”

Hours passed—or was it minutes?—in the crushing silence. The isolation was suffocating, designed to erase identity, hope, even the will to resist. But Baekhyun’s mind raced, replaying the fight, the stares, the unexpected nod from the sharp-eyed alpha. That moment had been a spark.

He would survive this and when he comes out, he won’t let anyone stamp on him.

—

They’re all in Jongdae, Minseok, and the newbie’s cell.

“Man, not even a day passed by and it’s just the two of us again and now, I have to wait for a month again to get to know Baekhyun”, Minseok pouted to Jongdae.

“I thought he’ll be like our last roommates who was a crybaby but wow he’s really different from everyone we’ve met so far”, Jongdae said dropping a card, causing Yixing to groan, “Fuck”.

“I talked to him in the showers earlier and he’s not what I expected.”, Kyungsoo said sitting on Baekhyun’s supposed-to-be bed. 

“Why was he sent here, Jongdae and Minseok?”, Jumnyeon asked curiously.

“He said someone hurted his loved one so he killed them.”, Minseok said lying down on his bed with his arms under his head.

“So he already has blood in his hands? No wonder why he fought that way earlier.”, Jongin said beside Kyungsoo.

“I think this is the first time I saw an omega fighting more than one alphas in a long time. The last time was when Soo was in a fight but that was a long time ago.”,Yixinf said, shuffling the cards.

“He was cool earlier. I like him. Looks like Yeol did too judging by how the two of you stared at each other”, Sehun said, nudging Chanyeol, who was deep in thought, which is rare as the blonde Alpha was usually the talkative one out of all them along with Jumnyeon. 

“There’s something about him. I don’t know what it is but he seems interesting. I want to get to know him.”, Chanyeol said, causing Sehun to laugh out loud and tease him.“TOLD YA!”. Chanyeol just laughed before clearing his mind on the pink-haired omega, who’s strong enough to defeat four alphas. Like Minseok, he’ll have to wait for a month to see that beauty again.

Chapter 4

Notes:

short chapter but will try to do double updates.

When’s the last time he smiled? Baekhyun can’t remember it. Life before prison seems distant now. Everyday is just the same. Wake up. Stare at the ceiling. Contemplate his life decisions. He used to be a sunshine. That’s what his friends called him. Not just for his laugh or the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, but because he made people feel warm. Now? The sun hasn’t touched him in days. Not really. Fluorescent lights and cold stone walls don’t bring warmth—they just remind him that he’s trapped. Forgotten.

It’s cold. Always cold. The walls are closer than they were yesterday—or maybe that’s just in his head. Time doesn’t pass here. It drips, slow and thick, like molasses through his skull. Seconds feel like hours. Hours feel like years.

He hasn’t seen another soul in—how long has it been? Days? Weeks?

The tiny slot in the door opens twice a day. Food. Water. Sometimes nothing. He eats when he remembers how.

He talks to himself now. Just to hear something. Anything. His voice is hoarse, dry from disuse. But even the sound of it reminds him he’s real.

He misses home. He misses his life before. He misses partying, studying. He clenches his hands into a fist suddenly remembering Park Kiho

“I’ll make sure you’ll forget everything else, even your name and only remember me.” 

—-

Baekhyun whispers the words aloud before he even realizes it. They fall from his lips like ash—dry, bitter, burned-out. He closes his eyes, but the memory doesn’t fade. If anything, it sharpens.Park Kiho’s voice still echoes in his head, louder than his own. Baekhyun drags in a shaky breath and presses his back to the wall. The concrete is cold, biting through the thin fabric of his prison “uniform”, but it anchors him. It reminds him that Kiho isn’t here. Not physically. But his memory is. Embedded deep like a splinter under skin.

Baekhyun laughs, the sound brittle. “Well, you got what you wanted,” he mutters. “I can’t remember my life before you anymore, but I still remember every single shit you did to me”

He doesn’t cry. He doesn’t have it in him. There’s a dry ache behind his eyes, but the tears dried up days ago. Or was it weeks?

He remembers Kiho’s touch. Warm, controlling. Too tight around his wrist, too firm on the small of his back. He remembers the promises—sickly sweet lies dipped in affection. You’re mine. No one else gets to have you.

The worst part is: he believed it.

Maybe that’s why he’s here now. To pay for his sins, for loving a devil. He shifts on the floor, bones stiff, body curled into itself. The walls don’t speak, but Kiho’s voice still finds a way in. He hears it when he dreams. When he eats. When he stares too long at the cracks in the ceiling.

Baekhyun shivers and presses his forehead to his knees. “Shut up,” he whispers to the ghost in his head. “Just shut up.”

But Kiho doesn’t. He never did.

 

—

“Baek, are you really sure about him? I mean I’m sure you heard the things they say about him, right?”, his friend asks him worriedly.

“How many times have I told you that it’s not true? He’s not like that.”, Baekhyun replied annoyed.

“Aren’t you wondering why he’s surrounded by those kind of rumors? I mean, isn’t it suspicious that almost all rumors about him are that bad, not just like any other gossip?”

“Look Ji-eun, I know you’re just concerned about me but I can handle myself, okay?”, Baekhyun said, stopping his friend as he turned to face her.

“I know that you can handle yourself and I trust you but not him. I just don’t want you to be hurt, you deserve better than someone like him”.

Baekhyun had smiled back then. Not the kind that reached his eyes, not the sunshine kind—just a quick, forced upturn of lips to end the conversation. He’d laughed it off. Deflected. Promised Ji-eun that she was overthinking, that people always made up stories when they didn’t understand someone like Kiho.

And Kiho… Kiho was just misunderstood. That’s what Baekhyun told himself.

Even when Ji-eun gave him that look , the one that said, You’re not listening to me but you’ll remember this later , he had waved her off.

Now, he’d give anything to hear her voice again. Even just to hear her say, “I told you so.”

The regret sits heavy in his gut, like sour milk. All the moments he brushed off his friends' concern, all the times he lied to cover up Kiho’s outbursts, the bruises that “weren’t his fault,” the nights he cried himself to sleep in a locked apartment because he had nowhere else to go. Because he didn’t think anyone would believe him anymore.

Because part of him still wanted to believe in the version of Kiho that only existed when things were good.

“You’re mine, Baekhyun. Say it. Say you’ll never leave me.”

He did. Over and over. Until his words lost meaning. Until his will did, too.

Baekhyun lets out a sound now, something between a scoff and a sob. His fingers curl into the fabric of his pants, fists clenched so tight his knuckles go white. The cell feels smaller again. Suffocating.

If he left him earlier, if he listened to all the rumors and didn’t approach Kiho, he wouldn’t be here. But deep inside Baekhyun, he doesn’t regret killing Kiho. He just regrets how far it had to go and how he dragged other people in this mess just because he liked a boy.

The silence in his cell is absolute, pressing on his eardrums like deep water. But inside his mind, it's loud. Memory after memory, crashing like waves, dragging him under. The screaming. The blood. The way Kiho's expression twisted from fury to disbelief when Baekhyun shouted back. When the knife in his hand—shaking, unfamiliar, desperate —found purchase in Kiho’s chest.

He remembers the weight of Kiho’s body as it slumped to the floor. The silence that followed—true silence, finally. And then the sound of his own breathing, too fast, too loud, too alive .

He doesn’t regret the act. That part of him is still numb. Cold, but steady. He regrets what it took for him to do that. He regrets not listening to Ji-eun. He regrets believing those faux reassurance— “It’s not true, Baekhyun. It’s all just a lie. I didn’t do it, you’re the only one I have. You’re enough for me.” They didn’t ask questions when the police came. Not really. Not when they saw the blood, the bruises, the mess. Not when Baekhyun stared at them like he was born a murderer. They saw a crime and a killer. Not a victim. Not how the dead was the one who did something worse than death.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers now to no one. To Ji-eun. To himself. Maybe even to Kiho—though he doesn’t know why. Maybe because even monsters were once people. Maybe because part of him still believes love should’ve saved them both.

But it didn’t. Instead, it took away lives.

Chapter 5

Notes:

more kiho and ji-eun lore

He didn’t know how many days it had been or if it had even been days but all Baekhyun did was sleep, think, and stare at the empty room. He now understands why the other inmates were whispering when the warden declared solitary. 

Footsteps echoed outside his cell then the cell door rattled and opened. Baekhyun closed his eyes, blinded by the light. “Get up, Omega. Wear this and look presentable.”, the guard said before throwing something in Baekhyun’s face. 

For the first time since he got here, Baekhyun moved from his position and sat up straight and looked at the guard, confused. 

“So now, I’m wearing clothes that are for Alphas?”

“Just wear it quietly and hurry up”.

Baekhyun quickly removed his previous “clothes” — the thin shirt and the panty, which were both given to him during his first day. Ever since he was sent to solitary, he never got the chance to get new clothes and even wash up so it’s safe to say, he smells. After he changed, the guard removed the chains attached to his feet and got behind Baekhyun before handcuffing him.

His legs wobbled as the guard pulled him up. They got out of the cell and it’s the first time Baekhyun fully sees the solitary corridor. There’s many cells, not just his. The corridor is white full of emptiness. The guard’s grip was firm but not cruel, dragging Baekhyun along the sterile corridor. The walls seemed to close in on him, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, casting long shadows that flickered with every step.

Baekhyun’s heart pounded loudly in his ears as they passed cell after cell. Some doors were open, revealing dark, hollow interiors, others shut tight like tombs. He recognized a few faces inside — those alphas from the TV.

The guard finally stopped in front of a large, reinforced door. With a loud buzz, the door slid open, revealing a stark, cold with a table room. Inside stood a tall figure, dressed in a sharp black uniform — the Warden.

“Byun Baekhyun. We don’t usually pull out inmates here when they’re in solitary confinement but we have an update about your case. There’s already a court date.”, the Warden reported.

A knock interrupted the Warden, who was about to say something. “Oh they’re here. That’s my sign to leave. Behave, Omega.”, the Warden said glaring at Baekhyun before walking out the door. As the warden left the room, two more people entered it. The officer behind him gestured to him to sit on the left side of the table while the other two people sat in front of him, making him face to face with each other.

“Byun Baekhyun, I am your lawyer, Park Bo-gum. I’m here to represent you in the court. There’s been new updates on Park Kiho’s last case, which also affects you.”, the man in front of him said, catching Baekhyun’s full attention.

Baekhyun’s fingers curled around the edge of the cold metal chair. Park Kiho. That name struck him harder than the Warden’s threats or the days in isolation ever had.

“What kind of updates?” Baekhyun asked, voice hoarse from disuse.

The man who introduced himself as Park Bo-gum exchanged a brief glance with the person beside him — a woman with a stack of folders and sharp eyes. She gave a single nod, prompting him to continue. 

“Yesterday, someone sent us newfound evidence about the charge you made against Park Kiho before he died. During his last court appearance, he was found not guilty because of the insufficient evidence. However, we found new evidence that suggests he killed Lee Ji-eun and abused you, both affecting you directly. We can either lessen your sentence or turn your story into self-defense.”

‘Lee Ji-eun….it’s been long since somebody else told her name’.

“What kind of evidence?”, Baekhyun asked, raising his eyebrows. He can’t think of anything.

“Ji-eun’s neighbor was apparently washing the car yesterday and decided to check the car’s camera. The footage was still saved in the backup drive. It showed Park Kiho dragging Ji-eun into his house the night she went missing.”

Baekhyun felt everything stop. The air left his lungs. It felt as if there’s light again in the darkness. He stared at Bo-gum, unsure if he’d heard right. “You’re saying… there’s video? From that night?”

Bo-gum nodded, his voice steady. “Yes. Not only that, but audio was recovered too. Screams. Cries. The neighbor didn’t even know the footage existed until recently — the car model backs up everything automatically.”

The woman beside him opened a folder and slid a photo across the table. It was grainy but unmistakable — 3am. Ji-eun’s terrified face. Kiho’s hand fisted in her hair.

Baekhyun let out a sound like he’d been struck in a hole. “She was trying to help me,” he whispered. “That night… I told her to stop meddling. I said she’d get hurt. If I knew what was going to happen, I wouldn’t have left her. I would have stayed with her the entire night. She was like my sister.”

Park Bo-gum’s face softened slightly. “I read everything you wrote in your original testimony. And I believe you, Baekhyun. That’s why I took your case. The prosecution is being forced to reopen the entire trial because this isn’t just about Kiho’s abuse anymore. It’s about a cover-up, negligence, and failure to protect a witness. You were silenced. We’re going to prove that.”

Baekhyun blinked, throat tightening. The weight of it all — Ji-eun’s murder, his arrest, the solitary, the way he was treated like a feral thing instead of a person — pressed into his chest like a crushing stone. But now… there was a crack. A chance.

The woman leaned forward. “We need you to testify, Baekhyun. And it won’t be easy. They’re going to ask about everything. How long Kiho abused you, what Ji-eun knew, what you did to defend yourself. They’ll try to twist it. But if you’re honest, we can make the court listen and maybe Ji-eun can finally get the justice that she deserves.”

“I’ll do it but only for Ji-eun. It’s only right to get her case re-opened but still, I won’t change my claim. I won’t claim that I killed Kiho because of self-defense. I did it because he touched my friend. I don’t care if I stay here for many years. Heck, I don’t even regret doing it at all.”, Baekhyun said, looking them in the eye.

Park Bo-gum exhaled through his nose, clearly expecting that answer. “We thought you’d say that.”

The woman beside him — Baekhyun now recognized her name on the folder as Kim Taeri — didn’t flinch either. “Then we’ll adjust the defense. Not self-defense, but provocation and prolonged trauma. If we can show how he abused and manipulated you, if we can prove that Park Kiho was protected while you were left alone to suffer—”

“No, I don’t want any of that. I just told you that I don’t care whether I stay here for years. I only care about getting Ji-eun the justice she deserves—the one she died for.”

Kim Taeri’s brows furrowed slightly at Baekhyun’s words, not out of disagreement, but because of how deeply it shook her. There was something profoundly jarring about hearing an inmate — an omega — speak with such finality, not pleading for mercy or begging for release, but demanding justice for someone else. It’s the first time she saw someone like that.

Park Bo-gum closed the folder slowly, considering him. “Then we’ll build the case around that. Around your truth.”

“I don’t want to be painted like some tragic, broken omega,” Baekhyun added quietly. “Don’t twist it to get pity. Just tell the truth. Tell them she died because no one listened. And I killed him because someone finally had to and because he deserves it.”

Silence fell for a moment.

Kim Taeri finally spoke again, voice more gentle. “You understand that speaking out means revisiting everything, right? Everyone will want to break you down — they’ll call you a liar, unstable, violent. They'll remind you that you’re an omega who killed an alpha. That… never goes unpunished in their eyes. To them, you’ll just be a merciless omega who killed someone for no reason.”

“Of course I know that. Remember what they called me during Kiho’s last court appearance? They called me a liar, a whore, someone who just destroyed an alpha’s reputation despite knowing how many times he has done this. They defend him just because he has money.”

Bo-gum scanned Baekhyun to find the truth in his eyes and there it is. He sees an omega who’s already given up on people. Someone who doesn’t care about what happens to him anymore.Baekhyun sat there, spine straight despite the cold handcuffs digging into his skin, jaw clenched as if holding back years of screams. His defiance wasn’t loud, wasn’t dramatic. It was in the stillness of his gaze, in the steadiness of his voice when everything inside him had already been broken once, maybe twice. Maybe more.

Park Bo-gum leaned back. “Then we’ll do it your way.”

Kim Taeri nodded once. “The first trial hearing is scheduled in eight days. Between now and then, we need to prep you. You’ll have to relive every moment you gave in that first statement. I know it’s not easy, but we can’t have you freezing up on the stand.”

Baekhyun’s mouth twitched. “I won’t freeze. I already lived it. Saying it out loud again won’t kill me.”

“It never should’ve come to this,” Bo-gum murmured, half to himself. “You were a victim from the start, but they made you out to be the monster.”

Baekhyun’s lip curled. “Because I’m an omega. I wasn’t crying on the floor with my knees tucked in and begging for mercy, so I must have been the problem. That’s how it works, right?”

Silence fell again, heavier than before.

“You’ll be moved out of solitary because the judges need you to be in a safe mindset. You’ll also be seeing a psychologist to see if you’re in the right state of mind to give a testament in court and if all goes well, the hearing is in about a month.”, said Kim Taeri while scrabbling something in her notebook.

Baekhyun gave a short nod, barely reacting to the words “psychologist” or “safe mindset.” As if any of this could undo the nights he spent staring at the white ceiling with a hole in his chest where his dignity used to live.

“I’m not crazy,” he said. “I just lost any hope I had for the world.”

“No one said you were,” Taeri replied calmly, meeting his eyes without pity. “But no one, even the judges, will believe in the credibility of your testimony if you don’t do it.”

“Just get me out of the solitary.”

“Do you have any questions before we go?”, Park Bo-gum asked, fixing his papers into his suitcase.

“Just one thing. What did people say when they found out Park Kiho is dead?”, Baekhyun asked.

“I’m sure you already expected this but people called you merciless. Many were mad and wanted you to rot in hell. Surprisingly, many people, especially omegas defended you and called you killing him justice. People fought because the person you killed was a serial offender. The first time he got behind the bars was for theft, the second time was for the rape but those aren’t his only crimes. He did many more horrible things, some still left in the darkness. You’re the reason why he’s getting exposed and more and more victims came out with their stories.”

Baekhyun smiled for the first time as he was taken away by the guard.

“You’re happy now, huh? Don’t get your hopes up. You’re still a murderer”, the guard sneered as they were walking in the corridor.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t, don’t put words in my mouth.”, Baekhyun replied.

“Now you’re talking back? Remember your place, you filthy omega.

Baekhyun didn’t flinch. He kept walking, shoulders squared, wrists still cuffed in front of him, the chain clinking softly with every step. The overhead lights flickered dimly along the narrow corridor, casting long, cold shadows on the floor. It was useless fighting against alphas like these.

They left the corridor and are now in the holding cells where Baekhyun first entered when he got here. Most cells are empty. ‘It’s probably lunch’, he thought. Until he saw some inmates inside there. His legs are getting tired as he wasn’t used to walking again. Finally, they stopped in Baekhyun’s cell. From there, he can see a group of people inside. He saw his cellmates, Jongdae and Minseok sitting in their bed. There’s a bunch of people too, Kyungsoo’s also there. The guard opened the door and pushed him harshly, making him fall face first. The guard says, “Have fun, slut”, before laughing out loud and running away. 

Baekhyun lets out a painful moan, not feeling his legs. ‘Fuck that guard, fuck everyone here’. Instead of helping himself up, he just laid there, closing his eyes feeling the pain in his body and cheeks.

Chapter 6

Notes:

more lore

Baekhyun lay motionless on the cold concrete floor, the dull ache in his body radiating through every nerve. His breathing was shallow, barely audible in the heavy silence of the cell. The pain felt endless, a crushing weight that kept him pinned down, eyes half-closed, mind clouded.

Across the cell, Jongdae sat on the edge of the narrow bunk, watching him with a mix of worry and frustration. Minseok stood from where he was sitting .Neither spoke, they all just looked at each other.

Kyungsoo stood near the corner, his gaze sharp but unreadable as he observed Baekhyun.

The minutes dragged on, thick with a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating. Jongdae finally shifted, his voice low but firm. “Hey, Baekhyun… You gotta move. Can’t stay down like this.”

Baekhyun didn’t respond. His vision blurred at the edges, every breath a struggle. The pain in his ribs flared sharply when he tried to even slightly shift his weight.

Minseok stepped closer, crouching beside him. “You’re not gonna get better lying there. We’re here, alright? Just lean on us.”

Baekhyun moaned loudly in pain. “Just leave me alone…I'm tired. I wanna sleep.”

Minseok’s brows furrowed, the calm in his expression cracking ever so slightly. “Baekhyun,” he said softly, “if you fall asleep like this, you might not wake up.”

Jongdae pushed off the bunk with a tense exhale and crouched on Baekhyun’s other side. “You’re bleeding,” he said, quieter now, “and if you’ve got broken ribs, lying here might crush something inside. You need to be on the bed.”

Baekhyun didn’t move. Didn’t even open his eyes.

“I said leave me alone,” he whispered, voice hoarse, barely there. “Why do you care? We’re just cellmates. 

“I told you, didn't I? That you remind me of my brother”, Minseok said brushing Baekhyun’s hair.

“I’m not your brother. Unless he’s a murderer like me.”, Baekhyun said laughing, eyes still closed not noticing how Minseok clenched his jaw.

“He’s dead.”

That got Baekhyun to open his eyes and look at Minseok. 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Minseok didn’t answer right away. He just looked at Baekhyun, something cold flickering in his eyes — not anger, not pity, but a quiet grief that settled deep, older than bruises and harder than concrete.

“You didn’t,” he said finally, voice rough around the edges. “You just reminded me.”

Baekhyun blinked, his eyes burning, though from pain or exhaustion or something unnamed, he wasn’t sure. He wanted to say something sharp, something to push them all away — but the words wouldn't come. Maybe because no one had touched him so gently in a long time. Maybe because Minseok’s fingers hadn’t left his hair.

He tried to sit up because he’s having a hard time breathing. The moment he moved, even just slightly, a ragged gasp tore from his throat.

“Shit—” Jongdae’s hands shot out instinctively, steadying him. “Easy, Baek. Don’t rush it.”

“I… can’t… breathe,” Baekhyun choked out, panic creeping into his voice as he clutched at his side, nails digging into his already bruised skin. His chest heaved with shallow, fractured breaths, each one more painful than the last.

Minseok’s hand immediately pressed against Baekhyun’s shoulder, grounding. “Slow down. Don’t panic. You're just making it worse.” His tone was firm, but calm — steady like an anchor.

The brown-head alpha who was sitting against the wall earlier stood up and walked towards Baekhyun.

“Don’t touch me. I swear I’ll kill anyone who does.”, Baekhyun threatened.

“Relax. I promise I won’t touch you anywhere else. I just have to see your injuries. I’m a doctor.”, the alpha said, making Baekhyun let his guard down.

“If you’re a doctor, what did you do to get here?”Baekhyun asked, furrowing his brows.

“Oh. You don’t know us? That’s new. I’m Yixing. Their doctor.”, the doctor introduced himself before checking his body carefully.

“Yixing… that sounds familiar like how Jongdae, Minseok, and Kyungsoo are.”, Baekhyun said before looking at the other people in the cell, finding it weird that all of them are very familiar. “Did I see you guys before?.”

He notices that everyone suddenly looked at each other, seemingly communicating with their eyes.

“I’m sure you’ll find out about it on your own. I’m Kim Junmyeon. I hope we get to know each other.”, the beta who was sitting on the chair introduced himself.

“I’m Kim Jongin, Kyungsoo’s alpha. A pleasure to finally meet you, Baekhyun.”, the blond haired alpha beside Kyungsoo said.

“You're mates?”, Baekhyun asked surprised that there are inmates that have mated with each other.

“Yea. We already were even before we got imprisoned”. It was Kyungsoo who answered his question.

“Huh? So you two know each other. So did tou guys follow each other or did you got here together?”

“The eight of us landed here together.”, the black haired alpha standing against the wall said. “I’m Oh Sehun.”

 “Huh? So you got imprisoned together because of something you all did? As a group?”Baekhyun asked, looking around him, noticing another blonde alpha, who didn’t introduce himself yet. He glanced at the said alpha because of how his uniform is. Instead of the black uniform for the alphas, he’s wearing a black sleeveless tank top showing off the alpha’s big biceps and muscles. There’s also a big tattoo on him. 

“Yup.”, Minseok answered.

“You have two broken ribs,” Yixing said calmly, gently pulling Baekhyun’s shirt up enough to see the bruising underneath. “One might be pressing against your lung. That’s why it hurts to breathe. You’re lucky it didn’t puncture anything.”

Baekhyun flinched but didn’t stop him. His pride usually wouldn’t allow this, but his body was screaming in protest, trembling from the effort of simply staying conscious. “Great. I’m so lucky to be alive.”

“You’re so thin. You need to eat properly. It’ll be hard in here but atleast you’ll get to eat 3 times a day and that’s what’s important.”, Yixing said making Baekhyun groan and turn his face to the dirty floor. 

“No way I’m eating that sad excuse of food”, Baekhyun said.

Junmyeon chuckled lightly, the first sound of amusement breaking the tension in the room. “You’ll change your mind after a week. Hunger doesn’t care about taste.”

“You guys sound way too used to this,” Baekhyun muttered, grimacing as Yixing pressed gently around the bruises. His skin burned where the doctor touched, but at least it was clean pain — not the twisted kind he’d been dealing with since they threw him in here.

“That’s because we are,” Jongdae said, sitting back with a sigh. “This place… becomes familiar. Too familiar. But we keep each other alive and healthy. As long as we’re together, it becomes bearable. That’s what packs are for, right? To be there for each other.”

Baekhyun had never had any pack before. Thinking about it now, he’s always been alone — trapped with Kiho. He let him inside his heart and shutted down the gates after he entered. He had no one but him. Yes, Kiho was only using him because he was bored and wanted a pretty omega by his side but he was still good to him. As disgusting it is to love someone like him, Baekhyun defended him and stayed because he was so desperate to have someone. Because if Kiho left him, who will stay by his side? If not Kiho, then who?

“Don’t move too much, Baekhyun and sleep upright as much as possible. We don’t want any more injuries. Let’s get you to your bed.”, Yixing said before backing up.

The blonde alpha who still didn’t introduce himself came near him. “Don’t panic, I’m Chanyeol. I’ll just touch you to carry you to bed, don’t worry. I won’t do anything else.”. His voice was deep and raspy. 

“I swear if you touch my ass, I will fucking kill you”, Baekhyun said glaring at the handsome alpha towering upon him.

“Don’t worry, I’m not like those scum.”, Chanyeol said before giving the omega a small smile, showing off a dimple. “3, 2, 1”, he says under his breathe before putting his right hand underneath Baekhyun’s leg and the other one on his back. He lifted the pink-haired omega as if he’s light. Baekhyun felt something in his heart upon seeing how easily the alpha carried him. He held onto Chanyeol’s biceps as he walked while carrying Baekhyun, muscles bulging.

Baekhyun’s heart pounded in his chest—not from fear, not from the pain that seared through his ribs, but from the unfamiliar sensation of safety. Of being held. Protected. He hated how good it felt, how solid Chanyeol’s arms were around him. Hated how his instincts, dulled from years of mistrust, didn’t scream danger.

Instead, something inside him whispered, You’re okay. Just this once, you're okay.

“Your grip’s tighter than I expected,” Chanyeol murmured, voice warm but careful not to mock. “You sure you’re not clinging to me?”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, though his fingers didn’t let go. “Don’t flatter yourself, muscles. My body’s just in shock.”

Chanyeol chuckled, deep and low in his chest, and Baekhyun hated that it sounded good. Felt safe.

“You’re brave, you know,” Chanyeol added as he gently set him down on the thin mattress, adjusting the pillow behind Baekhyun’s back so he stayed upright. “You’ve been through solitary, and you’re still biting.”

“I’m not brave,” Baekhyun said, voice brittle. “Just stupid enough not to die.”

“No,” Chanyeol said, brushing away a few strands of pink hair stuck to Baekhyun’s damp forehead, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone with hands made for breaking bones. “You’re surviving. And that takes a different kind of strength.”

Baekhyun looked at him then, really looked. Chanyeol’s face was a study in contrasts—sharp cheekbones and soft eyes, a mouth that could smile or snarl, depending on the moment. And that dimple… Damn that dimple.

“Thanks,” Baekhyun said quietly, looking down at the blanket pulled over his legs. “For not touching me and being like the others.”

Chanyeol’s smile softened. “That’s what an alpha should be. Someone who has basic human decency.

“Wow, an inmate talking about human decency”, Baekhyun joked sarcastically.

“Just because we did things out of the line of the law doesn’t mean that we should forget to treat others with respect.”, Sehun said.

Chanyeol didn’t hold his gaze for long. He stepped back after making sure Baekhyun was settled, giving him space without making it feel like rejection. Baekhyun was used to people walking away, but this felt different — like Chanyeol was waiting for Baekhyun to choose if he wanted him close.

“If anyone of you touches me I swear I will kill you.”, Baekhyun says feeling his eyes heavy.

“No one will. We would rather die than touching someone without their consent. Sleep now, Baekhyun. Let’s talk again later.”, Minseok said making Baekhyun let out a quiet sigh, feeling safe enough to fall asleep now that he’s back in his cell.

—

“Baekhyun…?”

He couldn’t believe that the pink hair omega he met in the bar is his Byun Baekhyun. He didn’t recognize the omega as he changed his hair color and wore heavy makeup. Baekhyun smiled in front of him before pulling something metal in his pants.

“Let’s dance, Kiho.”

Chapter 7

The Baekhyun that Park Kiho knows is gone. Now replaced with someone, a devil, a incubus. Kiho slowly walked backwards recognizing the look in the omega’s eye. It was a look of someone who looked ready to kill.

—

He heard loud noises before opening his eyes. 

“Baekhyun! Wake up. The guard will open the cell in a minute. If you don’t wake up now, who knows what they’ll do to you.”

Baekhyun groaned before opening his eyes. His body felt like it was set on fire. Everything hurts. He stood up slowly before making his way to the sink to wash his face. How many days has it been since he last washed his face? It felt cold but refreshing.

Soon enough, the guard got infront there cell and looked at Baekhyun.

“It’s just my first day back here. I hope you learned your lesson last time. You already know what happens if you defy the rules.”, the guard said, smirking at Baekhyun, who didn’t look at him. He was still sleepy and too tired to talk back. He doesn’t have any strength to fight back. “Are you going to answer me, omega?”. Baekhyun didn’t reply.

“Leave him alone, you fucker.”, Minseok told the guard, making the guard shut up, scared of the beta. The guard silently opened the cell door while glaring at Baekhyun.

The guard’s glare lingered longer than necessary — a look full of unspoken threats and sick satisfaction — before he finally stepped away.

Minseok didn’t stop watching him until he disappeared down the corridor.

Only then did the beta turn to Baekhyun, voice softer now.

“You okay?”

Baekhyun didn’t answer right away. He just gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles white, water still dripping down his face. He looked half-alive, as if sleep had barely brushed him, and pain still clung to his every breath.

“Yea. I’m starving.”

“Let’s get out here then. Stick close to us.” That was all what Jongdae said before he left. Minseok then waits for Baekhyun to go first before going behind him.

—

“He got out early”

“He looks weak”

“Think he learned his lesson?”

 

Those were the words Baekhyun heard as he walked between Jongdae and Minseok. 

Baekhyun didn’t look at them.Didn’t speak.Didn’t blink. It was useless picking a fight now considering his physical state.

Upon entering the yard, the inmates looked at him. Compared to his first day in prison, they looked at him differently now. Back then, they looked at him with lust and hunger —wanting to taste the new pretty omega but now, some looked at him with fear, some looked at him with dominance, presumably wanting to control the omega, who attacked four alphas on his first day with no fear. And a few — just a few — looked at him with respect. The kind that’s earned in blood. Baekhyun didn’t care which it was. His eyes swept across the yard, slow and unreadable. Like he was looking through people, not at them.  The air was thick with tension. Conversations paused. No one got in his way.

Like his first day, they lined up in the farthest line. 

“Byun Baekhyun. The omega who fought off four alphas during his first day.”, the officer starts. starts, his voice thick with sarcasm, reading off the roster like it’s a joke he’s been waiting to retell.Some inmates chuckle. Some stare in silence. Baekhyun doesn’t even blink. He keeps his chin level, face blank. The weak shuffle of exhaustion is gone — replaced with something measured. Cold. There’s no fire in his expression now, only ice. And somehow, it’s more dangerous.

The officer steps forward with his clipboard, trying to match his glare with Baekhyun’s indifference. “I see you’re still alive. Lucky, huh?” Baekhyun says nothing. Behind him, Minseok’s jaw tightens. 

“Word of advice, sweetheart,” the officer sneers, stepping in close, close enough to catch the omega’s scent, still faint with heat residue. “Next time you feel like playing a tough guy, remember who’s holding the keys.”, he continued before another officer handed Baekhyun his clothes.

Baekhyun looks up, very slowly. His eyes are half-lidded, lashes still damp from the sink water, lips chapped and raw.

And yet — something about him looks feral in that moment. Not like a person.

Like a devil in disguise

The officer flinches.

Just barely.

But enough.

The officer then proceeded to the other inmates. Another officer handed Baekhyun a uniform. Baekhyun released the breath he’s been holding and followed the line. He separated from Minseok and Jongdae as their bathrooms are different. When he got there, there was no one yet.

He stepped inside the cracked-tile room that reeked faintly of bleach and sweat. The flickering light overhead cast sharp shadows on the wall, making the room feel colder, emptier than it was. Baekhyun moved in silence. No shuffling. No hesitation. Just the soft patter of his shoes against the wet floor as he made his way to the last sink.

He looked up into the mirror, what little reflection it offered — scratched, cracked down the middle, like him.

His face looked worse under the yellow light. Bruises that were starting to fade into sickly greens and purples. His eye was no longer swollen shut, but the shadows under it were deep. His lip was split again, reopened during sleep from how hard he must’ve clenched his teeth. A reminder of where he'd been.

He removed his clothes one by one, the fabric clinging slightly to his skin from dried blood and sweat. Each movement made him wince, but he didn’t let himself slow down. The bruises scattered across his ribs were yellowing, but still angry. Finger marks bloomed purple around his hips like an accusation, and his back was striped with faint scabs, evidence of the last time he was ‘taught a lesson.’  He turned on the shower and moaned, feeling the cool water hitting his dirty body, which hadn’t been washed for weeks. The last time he took a bath was when he first got here.The water ran down his skin, pooling at his feet, pink-tinged as it swirled with old blood and filth. Baekhyun let his head hang low, hair plastered to his forehead, eyes shut. 

The door opened, making Baekhyun open his eyes and look up. It was Kyungsoo, who paused just inside the doorway.

He didn't speak immediately, didn’t even blink. He just stood there, eyes taking in the sight of Baekhyun — naked under the stream, skin covered in bruises and fading wounds, looking more ghost than man, yet still standing. Still breathing.

"Good morning," Kyungsoo said finally, voice flat, low. “Your body is full of bruises. What happened?.”

“Some guards touched me too during solitary. Not touching me as in that but they sometimes beat me up for talking back.”

Kyungsoo's jaw tensed. He closed the door behind him, walking to the sink beside Baekhyun's shower stall but keeping his eyes on the mirror, not on the omega’s exposed body.

“They’ll pay for that,” he said simply, voice as calm as ice but sharp with quiet fury.

Baekhyun didn’t respond at first. He let the water run over his face, washing away the shame, the anger, the ache that no shower could fix. After a moment, he leaned against the tiled wall, arms crossed over his chest.

“I don't want revenge,” Baekhyun said quietly. “Not like that.”

Kyungsoo met his eyes in the mirror.

“Then what do you want?”

Baekhyun didn’t answer right away. He looked down, watching the water swirl at his feet, still tinged pink. “I just want them to stop treating me like I’m breakable. Like I’m something they can take apart piece by piece.”

Kyungsoo stared at him a moment longer before reaching for a towel and placing it on the hook beside the shower. He didn’t push, didn’t speak. That was the thing about Kyungsoo — he didn’t offer empty comfort or pity. He just stood there, solid and quiet, like a wall you could lean on if everything else was crumbling.

Chapter 8

Notes:

double updates for today since chap 7 is quite short

Baekhyun went to the canteen with Kyungsoo after taking a bath. It’s back to reality for him because once again, his uniform is an oversized t-shirt and this time, a white-laced panty.  His freshly-showered skin still warm under the prison shirt — loose and threadbare and way too short when he moves. The lacy white panties didn't help either. He kept his head straight ahead, chin up looking proud and tried not to hear the subtle gasp from a nearby table or the whistles from horny alphas.

He went straight to the line to get his food. Today there's mashed potato, rice, soup, and coffee. 

“Can you please add extra rice for me? I haven’t eaten in days”, he pouted trying to look cute and helpless, which worked because instead of only 1 serving of rice, he got 3 servings and extra mashed potato. He smiled widely for the caterer. He then got his tray and scanned the canteen for any empty table, looking for a place to sit.

Most tables were crowded with hardened inmates, some glaring, others ignoring him outright. Just as he was about to settle at a lonely corner table, a firm hand caught his wrist gently but insistently.

“Come with me,” Kyungsoo said, voice low and calm. 

“I can handle myself, Kyungsoo”, Baekhyun replied. Eyes still looking around. There’s no safe place to sit here. 

“You can’t handle yourself in your current state. You already know the rest of us so come join us. Trust me, it’s better than being by yourself in your current state. Look at yourself, you’re injured. You can’t afford to pick a fight with anyone. With us, no one stupid will come to you.”

Baekhyun hesitated, the tension in the air thick. His pride screamed to reject the offer, to prove he was strong enough alone. But the weight of exhaustion and vulnerability pulled him down. The bruises under his skin ached, and the thin prison shirt did little to cover the mess of scratches and fading purple marks on his arms. He looked again at the tables and found some alphas staring at him. In the line, he can see the alphas he beatted up during his first day looking at him like they’re about to pounce.

Kyungsoo followed his gaze, then leaned in. “They’ve been waiting for you to be weak. You think they forgot how you made them bleed? They didn’t. And they won’t come at you fair. Sit with us.”

Baekhyun swallowed, jaw clenched. He hated the idea of needing protection, of anyone thinking he couldn’t handle himself. But right now—like this—he knew he couldn’t fight off even one of them, much less a group.

So, without another word, he let Kyungsoo tug him gently toward the far left corner of the canteen.

That table.

The one where they sat.

Jongdae and Minseok were already grinning and waving at him. Jongin and Sehun just stared at them. Suho and Yixing smiled a little. Chanyeol was just staring at Baekhyun up and down with his brows furrowed.

Baekhyun felt the heat of Chanyeol’s gaze like a brand against his skin.

He could feel those sharp eyes dragging over every inch of him—the oversized shirt clinging damply to his back, the pale thighs peeking from under the hem, the absurd lace of the white panties barely concealed when he moved too fast. Chanyeol’s expression wasn’t lustful like some of the others. No. It was something heavier. Something unreadable. Something that made Baekhyun’s spine tighten with awareness.

Baekhyun sat beside the staring alpha, tugging on the shirt uncomfortably before saying, “I hope you don’t mind me trespassing”, to the others.

“You’re not trespassing. Minseok and Jongdae have been crazy about you saying they want you here ever since you went to solitary”, Jongin said before putting some of his rice to Kyungsoo saying he needs to eat more.

Minseok leaned forward with a grin, propping his chin on his fist as he stared at Baekhyun unabashedly. “Jongdae and I made a bet, actually.”

Baekhyun raised an eyebrow. “What kind of bet?”

“That you’d end up at our table before the end of the week,” Jongdae chimed in, lips curled smugly. “I said three days. Minseok said five. You made it in two. I won.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, though a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. “That’s unfair. No one said two days so technically, you both lose.”

Minseok laughed, low and warm. “Alright, then you owe us a favor each.”

Baekhyun narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t agree to that.”

“You sat down. That’s agreement enough,” Jongdae said with a wink, stealing a spoonful of Baekhyun’s mashed potatoes like it was already his payment.

Baekhyun slapped his hand away with the back of his spoon, a tiny grin threatening to break through. “Touch my food again and I’ll stab you with this.”

“You already did that to three guys on your first day,” Sehun mumbled, still staring like Baekhyun was a rare animal in a silk cage. “Not sure that’s a joke.”

Kyungsoo nudged Baekhyun’s tray closer to him, like a reminder to eat. “Ignore them. Just eat.”

“Remember what I told you yesterday, you need to eat more.”, Yixing said.

Baekhyun nodded silently, the soft tone of Yixing’s voice cutting through the din of the canteen like a balm. He scooped up a spoonful of mashed potato and started eating slowly, trying to focus on the food and not the way everyone at the table kept glancing at him—some amused, some curious, and one with a stare so intense it made his pulse tick faster.

Chanyeol hadn’t said a word. He hadn’t looked away either.

Baekhyun tried to ignore it, but his skin prickled under the weight of that gaze. It wasn’t hunger or desire—it was more like scrutiny , like Chanyeol was trying to figure him out without asking a single question.

“You’re staring again,” Baekhyun finally muttered without looking at him, scooping more rice into his mouth.

“I was wondering why you got out of solitary so soon.”, Chanyeol replied, making the others stare.

Baekhyun chewed slowly, letting the weight of Chanyeol’s question sink in. He already knows someone’s bound to ask the question but he didn’t expect it to be the alpha.

“They pulled me out because I’ll be standing in court and they need someone mentally stable to testify so they had no choice but to do that.”, he replied before sipping his coffee.

“Court…?”, Chanyeol asked confused.

“Yea. Just something to do with someone I used to know. I’m going to testify. Says they need to make sure I’m mentally stable and not crazy to do so.”

“Does this have to do with the person you killed?”, Jongdae asked.

“Yes. It started everything.”

—

 

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

The man groaned being woken up by his cellphone under his pillow. He groaned annoyingly upon seeing the time. 3am. He answered the call before closing his eyes again.

“Who’s this”

“Is this Lee Ji-eun’s friend”

“Yes. Who are you? What do you want?”

“What’s your name?”

“Why the hell would I say it to you. Answer me or else I’m going to hang up now”, Baekhyun said annoyed, eyes still closed.

“Lee Ji-eun is dead.”

Chapter 9

Notes:

didn't get to update yesterday cuz i was out the whole day and was drunk at night LOL. Hope u enjoy this. might do double updates tomorrow since chapter 10 is already finished (Chapter 10 is supposed to be the Chapter 9 but then I decided that maybe the timing isn't good yet and maybe the pacing isn't good so I slowed it down a bit so might re-arrange them again.

“What do you guys do the whole day here? Don’t you get bored?” Baekhyun asked Minseok while following him into the gym, arms crossed tightly over his chest, the hem of his oversized shirt barely brushing the top of his thighs. The panties offered little protection from either the cold air or the constant stares.

Concrete floor, rusted weight benches, sweat and alphas in the air. The moment they entered, everything paused. Weights stopped clicking. Conversations died mid-sentence. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

Baekhyun heard the muttering behind clenched teeth. The snickers. The eyes that didn’t bother pretending not to stare. Every gaze pinned to the sharp contrast of his bare legs, the way the shirt clung to his hips, how the panties didn't hide the curve of his ass, and how fragile he looked just standing there.

Minseok, on the other hand, kept walking like he didn’t notice any of it.Baekhyun scrambled to keep pace, resisting the urge to tug the shirt lower.

“They always stare like that?” he muttered, voice low.

Minseok didn’t answer at first. “Only when they’re trying to decide how dangerous you are.”

“I don’t look dangerous,” Baekhyun said.

“That’s the problem.”

They stopped near the far corner. Baekhyun recognized a few faces now—Jongdae with his wolfish grin, lounging across a bench like this was his personal lounge. And—

Chanyeol.

He was already watching.

Leaning against the wall, arms folded, shirtless, his chest slick with sweat and tattoos curling down his sides like inked warnings. His gaze was calm. Detached. But there was something under it—heat, ownership, the kind of hunger that didn’t flinch.

Baekhyun felt it like pressure on the inside of his ribcage. He shifted on his feet, spine drawn straight despite the sting of exposure licking up his thighs. The shirt covered just enough to be legal, and not nearly enough to feel safe. His skin prickled under the weight of a hundred hungry eyes—but none of them hit as hard as Chanyeol’s.

Minseok clapped a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. “You get used to it,” he said casually, though his gaze flickered briefly toward Chanyeol. “Or you learn how to flip it on them.”

“Flip it?” Baekhyun asked.

Minseok’s mouth twitched, not quite a smile. “You’ll see.”

They made it to an open spot near the far wall where a few mats were laid out. Jongdae stretched out like he had nothing better to do than watch the show, and Chanyeol… he was moving.

Slow steps, deliberate. Not rushed, but with the kind of confidence that came from knowing no one would ever stand in his way.

Baekhyun’s breath hitched before he could stop it.

Chanyeol stopped in front of them, towering over Baekhyun with that same unreadable expression. His gaze dragged down, unapologetically slow, tracing the shape of Baekhyun’s thighs, the line of white fabric peeking from beneath the hem of the shirt.

Baekhyun didn’t flinch. Didn’t back away.

But his pulse throbbed in his throat.

“Didn’t think you’d come in dressed like that,” Chanyeol said, voice low and rough. Like he hadn’t spoken much today, or ever.

“I didn’t pick this,” Baekhyun replied, chin tilted slightly higher.

“No,” Chanyeol murmured, eyes narrowing. “But you walked in the gym wearing it anyway.”

Baekhyun felt his stomach tighten, unsure if it was fear or something worse. Something hotter.

“You gonna say something useful, or just keep staring?” he shot back.

The corner of Chanyeol’s mouth curved, not quite a smile, more like a promise. “I could teach you something useful.”

Baekhyun arched a brow. “Like what? How to glare people into submission?”

Chanyeol stepped closer, close enough that Baekhyun could feel the heat off his skin. The scent of sweat, metal, and something that curled under Baekhyun’s ribs like smoke.

“How to make them stop looking at you like prey,” Chanyeol said, voice quieter now. Just for him.

Baekhyun’s heartbeat was a drumline. “And you’re offering that out of kindness?”

“No,” Chanyeol said, deadpan. “I don’t do kind.”

Minseok, watching the exchange, chuckled under his breath. “This is his way of flirting.”

Chanyeol didn’t deny it.

Instead, he tossed Baekhyun a set of wraps from a nearby shelf. They hit him in the chest and fell to the floor at his feet.

“Put them on,” Chanyeol said. “Let’s see if your bite’s as good as your mouth.”

Baekhyun didn’t move for a second. Then he bent to pick them up—slowly, deliberately, giving everyone in the room another eyeful of long legs and his ass. He stood again, meeting Chanyeol’s gaze dead-on.

“I don’t bite,” Baekhyun said, starting to wrap his knuckles.

Chanyeol stepped closer, brushing a hand over Baekhyun’s wrist to correct the angle, rough fingers grazing skin.

“You will,” he said. “If you want to survive in here.”

Baekhyun’s breath caught.

He didn’t pull away.

Chanyeol’s hand lingered for a second longer, not helping anymore—just touching . Fingers pressing into the inside of Baekhyun’s wrist like he was checking his pulse. Or claiming it.

Baekhyun flexed his fingers and finished the wrap himself, eyes locked on Chanyeol’s face. “So this is how it works in here, huh? Stare someone down until they back off or drop their pants?”

Chanyeol's smile was lazy, slow-spreading, and utterly unkind. “Depends on what you’re offering.”

“I’m not offering anything.”

“Sure you are,” Chanyeol said, head tilting as he looked Baekhyun up and down again. “Even if you don’t know it yet.”

Baekhyun hated the way his skin reacted to that voice. Hated that his heart skipped a beat, that his thighs tensed slightly, that he felt seen in a way that made it hard to breathe.

Minseok’s voice cut in before Baekhyun could shoot something back. “You done posturing, Yeol? Or are you gonna help him learn?”

Chanyeol’s eyes didn’t leave Baekhyun’s face. “That depends. He ready to be touched?”

Baekhyun scoffed, the sound brittle, almost a laugh. “Touched? That what you call it?”

Chanyeol stepped onto the mat.

And Baekhyun followed.

It was a choice. A stupid one, maybe. But he wasn’t going to be the one who backed down. Not here. Not now.

Minseok stepped back with a muttered, “Try not to kill each other.”

Jongdae whistled low from the bench. “Bet he taps out in two minutes.”

Baekhyun barely spared him a glance.

Chanyeol stood in front of him, loose-limbed and steady, like he didn’t care whether this was a fight or a fuck. Like either way, he’d win.

“Show me,” Baekhyun said.

Chanyeol raised a brow. “Show you what?”

“How to stop looking like prey.”

There was no hesitation.

Chanyeol moved fast—one hand catching Baekhyun’s wrist, the other slipping behind his thigh, and suddenly Baekhyun was off balance , stumbling forward and crashing into a solid, sweaty chest.

“First lesson,” Chanyeol said against his ear. “Balance is everything. And you’ve got none.”

Baekhyun shoved at him instinctively, but Chanyeol didn’t budge. His hands stayed where they were—one low on Baekhyun’s back now, pressing just enough to keep him there.

“And second?” Baekhyun asked, breath uneven.

Chanyeol’s lips brushed his ear. “Second is knowing when someone’s close enough to hurt you.”

Baekhyun jerked back.

But not fast enough.

Chanyeol caught his wrist again, turned him, and with a smooth step, pinned him to the mat in one fluid motion. Baekhyun hit the ground with a thud , back to the floor, Chanyeol straddling his hips. Baekhyun could feel it .

There was a beat —just one.

Then the room erupted in noise. Laughter. Jeers. Jongdae’s cackle echoing loudest of all.

“Damn,” someone said. “Didn’t even last ten seconds.”

But Baekhyun wasn’t hearing them.

He was staring up at Chanyeol.

Chest heaving. Skin hot. A pulse in his throat like a war drum.

Chanyeol leaned down, forearms bracketing either side of Baekhyun’s head, breath brushing over his cheek, biceps flexing over Baekhyun.

“Last lesson,” he murmured, voice so low it curled into Baekhyun’s spine. “If they pin you like this…”

He shifted his hips just slightly, and Baekhyun felt the heat, the pressure, the power in that body caging him in.

“…you better decide fast if you’re going to fight.”

Baekhyun’s hands clenched into fists.

Chanyeol was right.

Because it didn’t feel like defeat.

It felt like tension drawn to a razor’s edge. Like being on the verge of something not entirely violent, but just as dangerous. Chanyeol’s breath was hot where it ghosted over Baekhyun’s skin, and the weight of him—the realness of his body, his strength, the way he held himself like he had nothing to fear—was impossible to ignore.

Baekhyun didn’t move at first. His fists remained tight, pressed against the mat. His legs were pinned, useless. But his eyes stayed on Chanyeol’s.

If he blinked, he’d lose.

So he didn’t.

Instead, Baekhyun’s voice came out soft, but sharp. “What if I decide not to fight?”

Chanyeol’s expression didn’t change. But something shifted. His head tilted slightly. The lazy amusement in his eyes sharpened.

“Then you better know what it means to surrender,” he said, just as soft.

Baekhyun’s pulse thundered. His lips parted, but he didn’t know what he was about to say. Something reckless, probably. Something that would only dig him deeper.

Chanyeol leaned in. Closer. Their noses almost touched. Baekhyun suddenly changed their positions. Now, he's the one on top. Chanyeol is below him. If he can feel it earlier, he really can feel it now. Baekhyun turned red realizing how they look right now.

“Wow”, was all Chanyeol could muster making Baekhyun say, “Shut up” before getting up.

The room quieted again, like they were all waiting to see what came next. But Chanyeol just clapped him once on the shoulder—hard enough to bruise, maybe, or just enough to make it clear he could —and walked away.

Like he hadn’t just pressed Baekhyun to the floor and whispered heat into his ear.

Minseok stepped up beside him, brows lifted. “Still think you’re not offering anything?”

Baekhyun didn’t answer.

Because the truth was, he didn’t know anymore.

He wasn’t offering anything. Not on purpose.

But Chanyeol had still seen it. Still felt it—like pulling a thread Baekhyun hadn’t known was wrapped around his throat until it tugged.

Baekhyun rubbed his wrist where Chanyeol had held him and stared across the room, where the alpha had picked up a towel and was wiping the sweat from his neck, calm as ever. Barely sparing him a glance now.

It made Baekhyun bristle. It also made something curl deep in his stomach, tight and hot and unforgiving.

Fight or surrender.

Chanyeol had said it like those were the only options.

But Baekhyun had never been good at following rules.

—

Baekhyun returned to his cell alone. Many thoughts wandering in his head. There was really something about Chanyeol that made him react. Not just physically—though fuck , his body had betrayed him in ways that were still buzzing under his skin—but mentally. Emotionally. Like something primal had been scraped raw and exposed under that unrelenting stare.

He hated it. He wanted it.The worst part? He couldn’t tell the difference anymore. The door to his cell shut behind him with a heavy clang. Baekhyun stood in the middle of the room for a long second before sinking down onto the bottom bunk. The metal frame creaked beneath him. His hands were still balled into fists. 

He’s not like Kiho or any other alpha he’s met before. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the footsteps leading to his cell. It was Chanyeol.

“Hey. Did I go too far earlier?”, the alpha asked approaching the omega in the bed.

“No. I’m good”, Baekhyun said making space for the large alpha beside him. Their knees touched each other at their closeness. “What brings you here?”.

“Well, I noticed you probably aren’t comfortable so”, Chanyeol started looking shy before getting something in the pockets off his pants. 

It was pants.

Baekhyun stared at it confused before Chanyeol suddenly got down and kneeled infront Baekhyun before looking up, “May I?”. Baekhyun blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture and the softness in Chanyeol’s eyes. The words hung in the air, heavy with something unspoken—respect? Care? Something new that Baekhyun wasn’t used to.

His throat tightened, and for a moment, he hesitated. But the vulnerability in Chanyeol’s gaze cracked something open inside him. Slowly, almost reverently, he nodded.

Chanyeol’s hands moved carefully, almost tenderly, as he pulled the pants over Baekhyun’s legs while holding it. The thin fabric slid up, brushing over the smooth skin of his thighs, and Baekhyun couldn’t help but shiver at the contact—so different from the roughness he was used to. 

“Lift your ass”, Chanyeol said when it stopped over his thighs. Baekhyun blinked again and blushed before saying, “I can do it myself”, embarrassed. 

Chanyeol chuckled under his breath, the sound low and warm. He didn’t move away, though, still crouched between Baekhyun’s legs, his hands lightly gripping the waistband of the borrowed pants.

“I know you can,” he said gently, eyes lifting to meet Baekhyun’s. “But… let me. Just this once.”

Baekhyun’s breath caught. It wasn’t about dominance—there was no push, no demand. It was something else. An offering. A strange kind of tenderness in a place that had never known softness. Slowly, hesitantly, he lifted his hips off the mattress.

Chanyeol pulled the pants the rest of the way up, his fingertips brushing Baekhyun’s sides as he secured the waistband around him. They were a little big, loose around the waist and long at the legs, but it didn’t matter. For the first time in a while, Baekhyun didn’t feel exposed. He felt… seen.

“There,” Chanyeol murmured, smoothing the fabric gently. “Should keep you warmer.”

Baekhyun dropped his hips back onto the bed and stared at the alpha kneeling before him. “Why are you being so nice to me?” he asked, voice softer than he intended.

Chanyeol looked away for a moment, like the truth was too heavy to hand over all at once. When he looked back, something burned in his eyes—not lust, not pity. Something deeper. Protective. Possessive. Reverent.

“Because you don’t deserve to be treated like you’re nothing,” he said simply. “And because I want to be the one who changes that.”

Baekhyun felt his throat tighten. He wanted to scoff, say something sarcastic to keep the walls up. But the words wouldn’t come. Not when Chanyeol was still kneeling there like Baekhyun mattered. Like he was worth kneeling for.

“Thank you,” he whispered instead, the words foreign but sincere.

Chanyeol gave him a soft smile, then finally rose to his feet. He hesitated like he didn’t want to leave, like he was still trying to memorize the moment.

“I’ll be around,” he said. “You don’t have to handle this place alone, Baekhyun.”

Baekhyun watched him go, the cell door creaking as it opened and shut. The silence that followed was heavy, but it wasn’t as cold as before.

He looked down at the pants still warm from Chanyeol’s hands, fingers brushing the seams as if trying to understand what had just happened.

Maybe, just maybe… this prison wasn’t going to break him.

Not if Chanyeol kept showing up like that.

 

Chapter 10

Notes:

protective

It’s been weeks since Baekhyun got here and in those weeks, he’s been treated with fear and respect because of his friends…? He doesn’t know if they consider him their friend but he likes to think they do because they protect him and treat him like one of their own. Life in prison felt easier when he’s with them.

At 7am sharp the guards unlock their cell door and lets them out for roll call. Baekhyun steps into the hallway with Minseok just behind him and Jongdae yawning as he stretches his arms like a cat. The hallway buzzes with the shuffle of boots on concrete, the occasional barked command from the guards. Inmates line up, falling into random lines in the yard. The guard starts calling their name one by one then after, they proceed to their respective shower rooms.

The shower room for omegas is basically empty. There’s less than 10 omegas here. Luckily, he has Kyungsoo with him. As always, his uniform is just a shirt and a panty — today a pink lace. Baekhyun got used to it at this point and just accepted that he’ll never get shorts.

The cold concrete bit at Baekhyun’s bare feet as he stepped into the omega washroom, the echo of dripping water and low murmurs bouncing off the tiled walls. There were no stalls here—just a long stretch of exposed pipes, shower heads spaced evenly along the wall, all facing the same direction.

Less than ten omegas in total, and most of them kept to themselves. No eye contact. No conversation. Just heads down, shoulders in, and get through it.

Baekhyun adjusted his shirt as he walked toward the far end where Kyungsoo was already rinsing off under the stream. They had formed an unspoken agreement—always use the far corner, always stay close, and never leave the other alone.

He peeled off the thin shirt, folding it neatly on the nearby bench before pulling the lacy pink panty down his thighs. The air hit his skin instantly, raising goosebumps as he stepped under the stream. The water was lukewarm at best, but it washed away the sweat and dirt. 

Baekhyun tilted his head back under the stream, letting the water trail down his face and neck, soaking his hair until it clung in dark strands to his forehead. The pressure was weak, the temperature barely tolerable, but it was the only time of the day he felt somewhat clean. Somewhat alone. Even with the others around, no one looked. No one spoke. Everyone just existed through it.

Kyungsoo stood beside him, silent as ever, methodically running soap over his arms. He never rushed, never faltered. His stillness grounded Baekhyun, made the space feel less exposed.

Still, Baekhyun hated how he stood out. His frame smaller, the lace more visible than it had any right to be. He sometimes caught glances—not from Kyungsoo, never from Kyungsoo—but from others in passing. A flick of the eyes. A twitch of the jaw. No one dared speak. Not with EXO watching. But the tension was there.

He finished quickly, scrubbing his skin until it flushed pink before grabbing his towel, wrapping it tight as he moved to the bench. He dried off, then slipped his panties then the new shirt on, he tugged it down over his thighs to hide the lace panties. No use, really. Everyone always sees it. But still, he tried.

Kyungsoo joined him a moment later, fully dressed and calm as ever.

“You good?” he asked quietly, voice low enough not to carry.

Baekhyun nodded. “Yeah. Just cold.”

It was always cold.

They left the washroom together, footsteps echoing through the corridor as they made their way toward the cafeteria. The rest of the prison had already started buzzing—voices rising, trays clattering, guards barking orders over the din.

The cafeteria was its usual mess of noise and scent. Everyone had already gathered at their usual spots. But Baekhyun’s eyes found them immediately.

Their table was central—not because they wanted attention, but because no one dared take it. Chanyeol sat with one arm draped over the back of his chair, talking to Junmyeon, who sat across from him like a king entertaining strategy. Jongin and Sehun were mid-argument over something, Kyungsoo slid right into the open spot beside Minseok and Yixing without a word.

Baekhyun hovered at the edge of the table for a moment, tugging his shirt lower over his thighs, scanning the group.

His tray was already waiting.

As always.

Extra protein. Warm milk. A peeled boiled egg. Someone had peeled it for him—probably Junmyeon. Chanyeol didn’t have the patience, and Kyungsoo never made it that obvious, even when he cared. But Junmyeon noticed everything. Quietly, strategically. The leader without ever needing to raise his voice.

Baekhyun slid into his usual seat beside Chanyeol, the alpha’s thigh brushing his for a second. It wasn’t accidental—Chanyeol never did it by accident.

“Sleep okay?” Chanyeol asked without looking at him, still focused on whatever quiet discussion he was having with Junmyeon.

Baekhyun hummed. “As much as anyone can, I guess.”

Chanyeol nodded like that was enough, like it answered more than Baekhyun had said. His hand lifted to flick something off Baekhyun’s shoulder—an invisible lint, maybe water from the shower—and lingered just a second too long on his collarbone before pulling back.

It was subtle.

But everyone at the table saw it.

No one said a thing.

Baekhyun poked at the boiled egg, then glanced sideways. “Thanks for the food.”

Chanyeol didn’t reply right away, just leaned back in his seat, arm still slung over the backrest—but now the curve of his fingers ghosted behind Baekhyun’s shoulder, not quite touching, not quite gone.

“You don’t have to thank us for that,” Junmyeon said instead, voice calm but firm, like it wasn’t even up for debate. “You’re one of us.”

The words made Baekhyun’s throat tighten unexpectedly. One of us. He’d hoped, but hearing it out loud did something strange to his chest.

Sehun rolled his eyes, stabbing at his rice. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s all hold hands and sing about friendship now.”

Jongin elbowed him, smirking. “You’re just salty ‘cause Kyungsoo outsmarted you at chess again.”

“I didn’t even lose, ” Sehun grumbled.

“You flipped the board,” Kyungsoo said flatly.

Baekhyun laughed softly, the sound muffled by the clatter and din of the cafeteria. These small moments, they were rare. But they were enough to get him through the rest of the day. 

 

Once the trays were cleared and the guards started barking orders for the next schedule, the table slowly rose to their feet. Baekhyun is on laundry duty. He’s assigned to clean the alpha’s clothes.The laundry room was quiet, save for the low slosh of water and the soft hiss of steam from the back pipe. Baekhyun liked this hour — late enough that most of the inmates were either at meal rotation or locked in their cells. It gave him a pocket of peace, even if it was damp and smelled like bleach.

He was folding a set of white uniforms when the door opened.

He didn’t look up at first.

Until he heard the whistle.

A long, slow, deliberate whistle .

“Damn. No one told me laundry duty came with a view.”

Baekhyun looked up.

The alpha in the doorway was unfamiliar. He had dark hair slicked back, a lazy grin, and a jagged scar over his right brow. His uniform looked almost too clean — new, fresh. A transfer. That much was obvious.

And that smile… It reminded Baekhyun of men who liked to provoke reactions just to see what would happen, men like Kiho.

He said nothing. He folded another shirt.

“You got a name?” the alpha asked, strolling in with too much confidence for someone who hadn’t earned it. “Or do they just call you Pretty Boy?”

Baekhyun’s hands didn’t stop moving. “You want something washed, put it on the table.”

The alpha laughed. “Relax. I’m just saying hi. You’re not very friendly, huh?”

“Friendship isn’t free.”

“Ooh,” the alpha smirked. “Sharp tongue. I like that.”

He came closer, stopping just at the edge of the folding table.

“Name’s Jinhwan,” he offered. “Just got bumped here from C-block. They told me the real fun’s in this wing.”

Baekhyun didn’t blink. “Fun doesn’t happen here. People who think it does usually disappear.”

Jinhwan laughed, low and amused. “So that’s how it is. You got protection? That's it?”

Baekhyun didn’t answer.

Jinhwan tilted his head, still watching him. “What—someone got you already?”

Baekhyun’s jaw tightened.

He could feel it then — the unmistakable creep of heat crawling along his spine. Not from his own body, but the way the alpha was watching him. Assessing. Calculating.

Jinhwan took another half step. “It’s not like I’d mind sharing. Long as you’re polite.”

Baekhyun slammed the folded pile down. Slowly. Deliberately. Then looked up.

“Touch me without my permission,” he said, voice cold, “and you won’t have hands left to fold your own damn clothes.”

The silence that followed was sharp as broken glass. Jinhwan blinked. Then he smiled again — thinner, tighter. “Feisty.”He turned, slowly, backing toward the door with one last glance.

“Catch you later, sweetheart.”

The door clicked shut. Baekhyun exhaled through his nose. Picked up the next damp shirt. Folded it with trembling fingers.cHe didn’t realize how much he was shaking until the pile started to slip. He’s used to alphas like Jinhwan but they still affect him. For the first time in a while, he missed Chanyeol. Not just the protection.But the quiet, steady calm that came with knowing someone would never let someone else speak to him that way. It’s not like he can’t defend himself, a part of him just wishes for someone to defend him because they care about him. He can fight but he wants someone to do the same for him, someone to fight for him. He can fight anyone, hell he already attacked four alphas in his first day and killed someone. The only reason why he wasn’t able to attack Chanyeol was because it’s him.

After finishing the laundry, he came back to his cell. The others were already there. It’s their free time.

Minseok was sitting cross-legged on the lower bunk, flipping through a tattered chess manual someone had smuggled in ages ago. Jongdae was lying belly-down on the floor, sketching something in the margins of a scavenged notebook with a half-broken pencil. The air buzzed softly with murmurs, someone whistling off-key down the corridor, but here, it was almost peaceful.

Baekhyun didn’t speak at first.

He stepped inside then sat on his bunk quietly, fingers curling around the edge of the mattress. His hands still trembled faintly. Not enough to draw attention. Not enough to ask questions.

But Minseok noticed. Of course he did.

“You alright?” he asked without looking up from his book.

Baekhyun nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Minseok didn’t press. But Jongdae glanced up then, squinting. “Someone bother you?” he asked more directly. Jongdae never had the patience for subtlety.

“Yeah. Just spoke to me but didn’t touch me.”, Baekhyun said.

Jongdae’s eyes narrowed. He stopped sketching and pushed himself up onto his elbows, the half-broken pencil rolling to the side. “Who?”

Baekhyun shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I handled it.”

Minseok finally looked up, his gaze sharp behind lashes lowered in thought. “Handled it how?”

Baekhyun hesitated.. “Just walked away. Didn’t give him anything.”

Minseok nodded slowly, thoughtful but not pushing further. That was one thing about Minseok—he knew when to stop asking, when someone was at the edge. Jongdae, on the other hand, looked like he was two seconds away from marching into the corridor and picking a fight. Baekhyun smiled at their reactions ‘They care’, he thought.

Minseok turned a page in his manual, but his eyes weren’t reading anymore. He was watching Baekhyun, silently assessing. Jongdae, meanwhile, was already muttering curses under his breath.

“You tell me if he shows up again,” Jongdae said, tone clipped. “I don’t care if he touched you or not. That kind of talk? That look? It’s not harmless.”

“I said I can handle it,” Baekhyun repeated, quieter this time. The conviction in his voice was weaker now—not because it wasn’t true, but because he didn’t want to have to handle it alone.

“You shouldn’t have to,” Minseok said, finally speaking again. “You’re not here by yourself.”

Baekhyun looked up then, eyes flicking between the two of them. Minseok, calm but firm. Jongdae, tense but loyal. The first people in this hellhole who hadn’t treated him like something to own or use. They saw him not as a prize, not as a threat, not as some fragile thing wrapped in pretty skin. Just Baekhyun. A person. Someone worth looking out for, even if he wasn’t theirs. Even if they never said it out loud. He swallowed, throat tight.

“I’ll let you know,” he said softly.

Minseok gave a faint nod, then turned his gaze back to the manual, pretending like the moment hadn’t just cracked something open in all three of them. Jongdae grunted but didn’t push more, flopping back onto his stomach with a mutter that sounded suspiciously like “I’ll break his teeth anyway.”

Baekhyun let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The weight of the day still clung to his bones, but somehow, it felt lighter now. He leaned back against the cool cement wall behind him, the hum of prison life bleeding in from outside their cell—voices, the clank of distant metal, the ever-present drone of fluorescent lights. But in this little corner, time slowed.

The silence between them wasn’t awkward. It was safe.

His eyes drifted over Jongdae, now scribbling furiously again like he hadn’t just threatened violence a minute ago, and then to Minseok, whose eyes moved slowly across the page but hadn’t flipped it in minutes.

“I hate Alphas,” Baekhyun murmured without thinking.

 

—

During dinner, they were all together again.Baekhyun slipped into his seat last, feeling much better. He could feel the heat of Chanyeol’s gaze the second he sat down, intense and unmoving, like it had been waiting for him. This time, it wasn’t a gaze full of warning or suspicion. It was softer, more… steady. Baekhyun met his eyes and allowed himself a small, genuine smile, feeling safe and protected.

Chapter 11

Notes:

slightly long chap,,,, ngl i was sooooooooo tempted to not write today cuz i was feeling lazy but ik if i dont upload consistently, i'll probably get tired of this fic for good if my fixation ends lol so let's hope that won't happen. anyways, more kiho lore

It was during their free time when it happened. Baekhyun was on the gym with Kyungsoo, Jongin, and Chanyeol. Both he and Kyungsoo were just watching the two alphas workout. Jongin was shirtless, his body glistening with sweat as he moved with practiced grace through a brutal set of pull-ups. Chanyeol was at the weights, biceps bulging and tattoos flexing with every slow, deliberate curl of the heavy barbell. He looked like he was barely trying, which made it worse. Or better. Depending on how Baekhyun looked at it.Kyungsoo caught him staring.

“You’re obvious,” the omega muttered under his breath, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Baekhyun choked on his water. “I am not. ”

“You’re staring at him like he’s the last piece of chocolate in a ration box.”

Baekhyun blushed, ducking his head as he wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s not like that.”

“Sure.”

“It’s not,” Baekhyun repeated, more to himself. “I’m just… observing.”

“Mm,” Kyungsoo hummed, entirely unconvinced.

Suddenly, a beta approached them. “Byun Baekhyun, right? Come with me, the guard’s looking for you.”

“Huh? Why?”, Baekhyun stood up confused. He didn’t do any trouble since his first day here so there’s no reason for the guard to be looking for him.

“I don’t know but come with me”, the beta said before walking out the gym.

Kyungsoo furrowed his eyebrows before asking, “Want me to come with you?”, to which Baekhyun shook his head at and muttered, “I’ll be back.”, before following the beta out. Unknowingly, a certain blonde-haired alpha looked at him.

The two walked in the hallway in silence. Inmates stared at Baekhyun, who’s used to it. 

“He’s not with them”, they say, finding it odd that the omega is alone not with the others. Baekhyun ignored them and kept on walking with his chin up even if he’s half-naked. They walked until they reached the guard’s office. The beta knocked before hearing a, “Come in” and the beta looked at Baekhyun and gestured to him to come inside before leaving.

“Someone’s here for you, Omega”, the guard started before gesturing a tall man wearing turtleneck, looking formal.

“Hello, Mr Byun. I’m Lee Joongi, your psychologist.”, the man introduced himself, holding his hands to shake. Baekhyun hesitated for a moment before standing straight and extending his hand. Joongi’s grip was firm but not overpowering, and there was an unsettling calmness in his eyes that made Baekhyun instantly uneasy.

“I wasn’t told I’d be meeting a psychologist today,” Baekhyun said cautiously, sitting down in the chair opposite Joongi.

“Well, I’m not sure if you still remember giving on how long you’ve been here but the court hearing is in 2 weeks so we’ll need to see if you’re in the right mental state by the time you testify otherwise, you’re statements will be discredited.”, Lee Joongi started before sitting on the table and gestured Baekhyun to do the same in front him. The guard looked at Baekhyun warily before going out.

Baekhyun had been so happy here—well, as happy as one could be in prison. He’d found a strange sort of rhythm in the chaos, a fragile routine built around guarded friendships and fleeting safety. It was easy to forget the outside world, to forget that he was more than just Byun Baekhyun, the newbie omega who’s with EXO.

But the mention of the court hearing hit him like a slap.

He lowered himself into the chair opposite Lee Joongi, suddenly aware of the chill in the room and the thrum of his own pulse echoing in his ears.

“Can I call you Baekhyun? Or do you feel comfortable with Mr. Byun?”, the alpha in front of him asked.

“Call me whatever you want”, Baekhyun replied, making Lee Joongi chuckle saying, “Then Baekhyun it is.”

“So how have you been adjusting here?”, the psychologist asked making Baekhyun laugh.

“Get straight to the point. I know you’re here to determine if I’m crazy or not.”, Baekhyun said, placing his legs up his chair, showing off his panties, which made the alpha look at.

Joongi’s gaze flickered—barely a second—but Baekhyun saw it. The sharp calculation behind those eyes, the moment of instinctive reaction before the professional mask slid back into place.

“You think that’ll throw me off?” Joongi asked calmly, adjusting his posture. “I’ve had inmates try far worse to test boundaries. You’re not the first omega who’s been taught to use themselves as a distraction.”

Baekhyun’s smirk didn’t falter, but something in his eyes dimmed just slightly.

“Didn’t say I was trying to distract you,” he replied, voice light but hollow. “Maybe this is just who I am now. Pretty and broken.”

Joongi didn’t take the bait. “I don’t think you’re broken, Baekhyun.”

“Then you’re a bad psychologist.”

“No,” Joongi said, steepling his fingers. “I just think you’re tired of pretending you’re not scared. So instead, you’re acting like none of it matters.”

Baekhyun stared at him for a moment, long and unblinking. His knee bounced once, twice, before he slowly lowered his feet to the floor and sat straighter.

“Alphas like Kiho deserve to die. Do you know why the court let him go? Because there wasn’t any sufficient evidence. Do you know the first thing he did as soon as he got freed? He went to a bar looking for a prey.”, Baekhyun started.

“So you decided to kill him because he got freed?”

“No. I planned to kill him as soon as I knew the truth.”

Joongi’s face didn’t change, but Baekhyun saw the slight inhale through his nose—measured, clinical. The psychologist didn’t reach for a notepad. He didn’t even write anything down. He just listened.

“What truth?” Joongi asked softly.

Baekhyun’s eyes flicked to the window, watching the filtered sunlight that never quite reached the floor. His voice, when it came, was low and bitter.

“That every single rumor about him was true. That he touched and killed my best friend because she tried to protect me.”

“Is your best friend, Lee Ji-eun?”

“Yes.”

“Were you two just best friends, or was there something more in your relationship”. The question made Baekhyun laugh. They've gotten that question so many times, especially when they’re hanging out.

“Never. I think of her as my sister. She was the only one who believed me when no one else would,” Baekhyun continued, his voice tight, fraying at the edges. “She was the one who repeatedly told me to leave him but I never did because I was scared and didn’t want to leave the rumors.

“By him, you mean Park Kiho, right?”

Baekhyun chuckled before saying, “Who else would I mean? He was the worst person who ever existed.”

“What was your relationship with him?”

Baekhyun paused. The air went cold suddenly which made Lee Joongi shiver at the omega in front of him.

“Is that necessary?”

“Yes”

“He was someone that I used to love and care about. We weren’t mates but he treated me like one. Looking back, I should’ve known he was just using me”

“Using you? For what?”

“I’m sure you know what they say about him, right? We were in college together–met during the first year.”

Joongi nodded slowly. “I’ve read the reports. The allegations. The witnesses who later withdrew. But I want to hear it from you. No filters. No court transcripts. Just the truth.”

Baekhyun’s eyes sharpened, their warm brown dimmed by memory. “It started small. The way most monsters wrap themselves in charm first. He was funny, confident, and older. He knew how to make everyone in a room look at him. And then he made sure I looked at him.”

Joongi’s hands remained still, fingers still steepled, though his posture leaned in a little more now, like he was bracing for the weight of Baekhyun’s words.

“He liked that I was soft-spoken. That I didn’t have many friends. He said I was sweet and needed protection. I thought it was love. Or something close to it. We got close quickly. I was flattered. I mean… an alpha like him paying attention to an omega like me? Everyone told me I was lucky until the rumors started. Apparently, during highschool, he raped someone and got into jail. I didn’t believe it of course. He denied it too then more and more emerged. He said that it wasn’t the truth and I believed him, which was really stupid. Ji-eun got suspicious because there were rumors surrounding him so she told me to think twice and stay away.”

Baekhyun inhaled deeply, his fingers curling into fists on his lap. “I didn’t listen. I was already too far in. And I wanted so badly for it not to be true. I needed it not to be true. Because if it was… then it meant I let myself fall into the arms of a monster. That I ignored every sign, every warning, every instinct, and every hit he did to me.”

Joongi’s voice was calm but threaded with genuine curiosity. “What changed?”

Baekhyun’s jaw tensed. “Ji-eun found something. A girl who had transferred schools. She tracked her down, talked to her. Got her to admit what happened. Kiho had assaulted her in high school and hewent to jail. You know what the crazy part is? He lied. He said he was the same age as me but turns out, he was decades older than me. He was 36 years old and has been in jail about 2 times. 

Joongi’s composure flickered for the first time. His brow twitched ever so slightly. “You’re saying he falsified his identity? Even his age?”

Baekhyun nodded, a bitter, disbelieving smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “He had everything covered. Fake university ID. Social media cleaned up. Documents that looked real enough to fool even the administration. He was charming enough to make everyone look the other way. Professors, staff, students—no one questioned it.”

“And you?” Joongi asked carefully. “When did you start to question it?”

“When I called him when I found out about Ji-eun's death, he didn’t even comfort me. Baekhyun’s voice broke slightly at the edges as he said it— “I even heard him chuckle.” It hung in the air, heavier than anything else he’d said so far. That soft, sick sound in his memory had cemented the truth in a way nothing else had.

Lee Joongi didn’t speak immediately. The silence wasn’t cold or dismissive—it was intentional. A psychologist’s pause, giving space for something sacred and shattered.

“I knew then,” Baekhyun continued, eyes fixed on his hands, “that he had something to do with her death. And he wasn’t even hiding it anymore.”

“What did you do after that?” Joongi asked, his voice low.

“I filed a case against him and lost because the court didn't find him guilty.”

“That’s why you decided to kill him?”

“Do you know the first thing he did after the judge announced that he was clear? He looked at my direction and smirked knowing that he won. He didn’t even act as if he was surprised—he knew that he was going to win.

Baekhyun’s nails dug into his palms as he spoke, but he didn’t flinch from the pain. If anything, it grounded him—kept him from spiraling. Joongi was watching him closely now, and for once, Baekhyun didn’t feel like a subject under a microscope. It felt more like… being seen.

“He walked out of that courtroom like it was a normal day. Cocky. Relaxed. Like he hadn’t just been accused of ruining lives. I didn’t even feel rage at first. Just this… this hollowness.”

Joongi shifted slightly, the sunlight finally reaching the tip of his shoes. “But then the rage came.”

Baekhyun nodded, slowly. “Yeah. It came later when I went home. When I was alone. When I thought about Ji-eun’s body in the ground. About how he laughed when I cried. About all the other people whose stories never got told because he made sure they couldn’t speak. About how much he controlled me and lied to me. How disgusting it was that I loved a devil like him.”

Joongi’s voice was quieter now, almost reverent. “So you killed him.”

“I dyed my hair pink because he always told me I look good in brown. He always hated me wearing pink so chose that color. Coincidentally, he didn’t realize that it was me who he chose to be his prey at the far. It was fun. He was at the bar to choose new prey, not realizing that this time, he was the prey,not realizing his past was about to catch up to him.”

Joongi didn’t blink. “He didn’t recognize you?”

Baekhyun smiled, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Not right away. I changed the way I walked. The way I spoke. I wore heavier makeup, something he used to say made omegas look cheap. I knew what he liked to hunt—and I became it.”

There was something chilling in the way Baekhyun said it. Not boastful. Not proud. Just… matter-of-fact. Like he had rehearsed it in his mind so many times that it had become muscle memory.

Joongi finally reached for his notepad—not to scribble furiously, but to write down one thing, deliberately. Baekhyun watched him with narrowed eyes.

“Do you know how I killed him?”

“How did you do it?” he asked after a beat.

Baekhyun tilted his head slightly. “I thought you’d already read the report.”

“I want to hear it from you,” Joongi said again, tone as steady as before. “Not for the courts. For you. Sometimes when you say the truth aloud, it stops haunting you.”

Baekhyun’s jaw ticked, and he let out a bitter laugh. “That’s where you’re wrong. Saying it doesn’t free me. It binds me tighter.”

But even so, he answered.

“I followed him to the bar. Waited until he was drunk. I knew his type—he liked them small, pretty, scared-looking. I wore a dress. I made sure I looked younger than I was. He came right over. Didn’t even recognize me.”

Joongi’s fingers tightened slightly, then relaxed again. He didn’t interrupt.

“He bought me a drink. Told me I reminded him of someone,” Baekhyun whispered, voice distant now. “I smiled. Told him I was new in town. Let him lead me to the back alley. He liked alleys. He’d done it there before.I kissed him. He kissed me back. When I moaned, he immediately recognized me. Isn’t it romantic?”, he said before laughing.

Lee Joongi observed the omega in front of him. He definitely wasn’t crazy. He’s mentally stable. He’s an omega who used his own justice system to his abuser because he had enough of everything—he snapped.

“B-baekhyun? What the fuck are you doing”

“Hunting you. You’ll pay for your sins, you murderer”, Baekhyun said shouting before getting his knife out of his boots.

“What did you do next?”

“He asked me what the fuck I was doing and told me to stop. Bastard even had the nerve to threaten me. I stabbed him in the chest then his body dropped dead on the floor then stabbed it again and again until I realized what I had done”

“Do you regret it?”. Lee Joongi kept his posture even as Baekhyun’s final words echoed in the quiet room:

“My only regret is that I didn’t leave him sooner and make him die painfully..”

He didn’t flinch, didn’t reach for his pen, didn’t scribble down the weight of the moment like some rookie trying to quantify trauma into tidy lines of ink. Instead, he stared at the young omega in front of him—slender wrists, defiant eyes, too calm for someone who had just confessed to murder. He watched Baekhyun’s face, the subtle twitch in his left eye, the way his body had finally relaxed, just a fraction, like saying those words had uncoiled something wrapped too tight for too long.

Baekhyun didn’t look victorious. He looked… free as if he didn’t care anymore. And that’s what unsettled Joongi the most.

He should feel relief that he’s not in a room with a psychopath. Baekhyun was alive and mentally stable. Clear-headed. Articulate. Not a threat to himself or others, at least except when threatened. He’s the kind of person who won’t stop at nothing to defend himself. The kind of clarity courts liked in a witness. But Joongi didn’t feel relieved. He felt something heavy settle in his chest.

Because behind the facts—the trauma, the predation, the failed systems that let Kiho walk free—there was a truth Joongi wasn’t supposed to acknowledge as a professional.

That Byun Baekhyun, the murderer of serial offender Park Kiho, wasn't crazy. He wasn’t irrational.  He was right.

And that made everything harder.

Joongi had met unstable patients before—delusional, paranoid, mentally unwell. Baekhyun was none of those things. His pain wasn’t imagined. It was factual. Documented. Ignored. And when justice failed, he’d chosen to become his own executioner and that’s how the most dangerous people are born.

 

Notes:

less than 2 weeks yet this alr has 511 hits :0

Chapter 12

Notes:

triple updates cuz im not going to update tom, and on saturday lol. maybe i'll upload in june 1 or 2 idk. tomorrow's my bday (may 30) and im having a party on may 31 so let's see

“Baek, you okay? Soo said that a beta fetched you earlier. What happened?”, Minseok asked as soon as Baekhyun returned to the cell. The rest of the gang is there.

“Yup, I'm good. It's just the Psychologist.”, Baekhyun said before sitting on the floor beside Chanyeol, who patted the seat beside him as if it's reserved just for him.

“Psychologist?”

“Yea. The court wanted me to see one to determine whether I'm mentally stable so my testimonies will be credible.”

“What did they ask?”

“My past. Just my relationship with the man I killed.”

They became silent, deciding not to press Baekhyun further knowing that the omega will say it to them if he wanted. They proceeded what they were doing earlier, playing Uno.

“You good?”, Chanyeol looked at the omega beside him, who was silent.

“Yea. I'm glad that I finally let it out”, Baekhyun said.

Chanyeol hummed softly in response, eyes not leaving Baekhyun’s face. “You looked different when you came in.”

Baekhyun tilted his head. “Different?”

“Yeah,” Chanyeol said, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Baekhyun’s ear. “Lighter. Like something heavy finally got off your chest.”

Baekhyun’s lips parted slightly, surprised by the gentleness in Chanyeol’s voice, the quiet way he always noticed things without needing to ask too many questions.

“It’s the first time that I got to talk about it—about everything,” Baekhyun said. “Usually, people either look at me with pity or disgust. But the psychologist didn’t. He just listened and it looked like he agreed with me, even though he shouldn’t have. He didn’t even stare at me with lust when I purposely let my leg up the table, spreading it showing off my panties just to see if he’ll react like other alphas—if I can lie to him, he saw through it and called me out.”

Chanyeol’s jaw tightened not from jealousy — not exactly — but from something deeper. The thought of Baekhyun feeling like he had to test boundaries that way, to see if someone would treat him like a thing instead of a person, made his blood simmer.

“You didn’t need to do that,” Chanyeol said, voice steady but quiet.

Baekhyun gave him a small, sad smile. “Old habits die hard.”

Chanyeol didn’t respond right away. He just stared at him, eyes unreadable. Then, after a few seconds, he spoke again—voice low, intimate.

“Don’t use yourself like that anymore.”

Baekhyun blinked, brows drawing together. “What?”

“You’re not bait,” Chanyeol said, gazing intensely. “You’re not some test to see if someone’s decent. You’re—”

He stopped, jaw clenching again. Then he looked away, like he had to pull his thoughts back together before they broke loose.

“You’re more than what they tried to make you. And I hate that you think you still have to play their game.”

Baekhyun exhaled, curling his knees up against his chest. “You sound mad.”

“I am,” Chanyeol admitted, not looking away this time. “Just not at you.”

Silence stretched for a few seconds between them, the chaos of the Uno game fading into the background. Baekhyun glanced down at his lap, at the panties. Chanyeol followed his line of sight.

“You know, I’m already used to it I’m used to all the looks alphas give me because I’m walking half-naked in prison. It’s not like I’m ashamed of my body, I’m confident of mine but they underestimate me just because of what I wear. I’m not a slut just because I wear only panties and no pants.”

Chanyeol's gaze darkened—not with judgment, but with fury that had nowhere safe to go.

“You shouldn’t have to explain that,” he said tightly. “You shouldn’t have to defend your body like it’s a weapon you never asked to carry.”

Baekhyun gave a soft chuckle, but it was bitter at the edges. “It is a weapon though, isn’t it? They made it one. This—” he gestured vaguely to himself, to the sheer lace at his hips and the way the fabric clung to his curves. “They give me this to break me, thinking that I’l break down and let them use me but no, I would never do that. I’ll do what they want in my way.

Chanyeol’s fists curled where they rested on his thighs, nails biting into his palms. He wanted to tear the whole damn system apart, wanted to pull Baekhyun out of it and shield him from ever needing to say things like that again.

“I hate that you’ve had to think like that,” Chanyeol murmured. “Like your survival depends on being ten steps ahead of people who see you as less.”

Baekhyun leaned his head against Chanyeol’s shoulder, voice quieter now, almost distant. “I stopped waiting for someone to save me a long time ago.”

Chanyeol turned his head slightly, looking down at the omega nestled against him. “What if someone didn’t want to save you?” he said. “What if they just… wanted to stand beside you while you kept fighting?”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched.

He turned, just slightly, eyes meeting Chanyeol’s. They were wide—not with flirtation or mischief this time, but with something raw. Naked trust. A question he didn’t know how to ask.

“And what if I don’t know how to stop fighting?” Baekhyun whispered.

Chanyeol’s expression softened, lips parting. He reached out, fingers brushing over Baekhyun’s wrist where it rested on his knee, gentle but grounding.

“Then I’ll fight with you.”

Baekhyun blinked hard, but the tears came anyway—just one or two, sliding silently down his cheek. He didn’t wipe them away. Chanyeol didn’t mention them.

Instead, he tugged gently at Baekhyun’s wrist until their fingers laced together. The contact was small, almost subtle—but it felt like something important, like a promise sealed between scarred skin and bloodied knuckles.

“I don’t want to play anymore,” Baekhyun murmured, voice cracking as he looked down at their joined hands.

“Then don’t,” Chanyeol said. “You don’t have to be anyone’s pawn anymore.”

A loud cheer from the other side of the cell broke the moment—Jongdae had apparently just laid down a +4 wild card, and Junmyeon was groaning in betrayal.

Baekhyun let out a small laugh through his tears, wiping at his cheeks. “They’re so loud.”

Chanyeol smiled, thumb brushing across the back of Baekhyun’s hand. “Yeah. But it’s nice, isn’t it? Not being alone in the noise.”

Baekhyun looked back at him. “Do you think… I can be okay? Even after everything?”

Chanyeol met his gaze steadily, a quiet intensity in his voice as he replied, “You already are. You’re still here. That’s more than okay—that's a strength most people can’t even begin to understand.”

And for the first time since walking back into that cell, Baekhyun allowed himself to believe it.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t broken beyond repair.

Not when someone like Chanyeol looked at him like that.

Not when his hand was held so tightly, like it meant something. Like he meant something.

Chapter 13

Notes:

this was the one i was talking about alst chapter--- this was the original chapter 10 but i figured that maybe it's too fast paced so i wrote chapters in between this. i think this is direction is good now that baekhyun's learning to trust them

“You’re Byun Baekhyun, right?”, an omega asked, coming closer to Baekhyun.

“Yes, why? Who are you?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re with exo, right? Aren’t you scared?”

“Why would I be scared? Is there anything that I should know?”, Baekhyun asked curiously because everyone is very tense around them despite them being good and friendly to him.

“You should be scared, especially now that you’re in their den, being the cellmates with two of their members. 

Baekhyun blinked, trying to read the omega’s face. Their tone wasn't hostile, but there was an undercurrent of anxiety—like they were trying to warn him, not threaten.

“I’m not scared,” Baekhyun said firmly, though his voice lowered. “It’s been days since I got out of solitary and EXO has treated me well. Better than anyone else in this place. Because of them, no alpha was dumb enough to pick a fight with me again.”

The other omega gave him a sharp look. “That’s how it starts. They charm you. Make you feel safe. Then one day, you realize you’re not free anymore.”

Baekhyun’s brow furrowed. “I don’t feel trapped.”

“Yet.”

The word settled between them like a dropped match.

The omega stepped back, glancing around the corridor as if they were being watched. “Just… be careful. Especially with the tall one. The alpha.”

Baekhyun’s stomach twisted. “Chanyeol?”

A brief pause. Then the omega nodded.

Baekhyun’s heart kicked up. “What about him?”

But the omega just shook their head. “You’ll see.”

And then they were gone, slipping into the shadows like they’d never been there at all. Baekhyun was left alone with his thoughts.

—

It was 2pm. Their free time now that they’ve all finished what they’re assigned to do. Baekhyun was in his, Jongdae, and Minseok’s cell alone, laying on the bed thinking of what the omega told him earlier.

“Just be careful of them”

He hated how it clung to him, like smoke on his clothes. The warning hadn’t been cruel. It had felt honest , and that’s what made it worse. Because he had started to feel safe . With Jongdae’s teasing grins, Minseok and Jumnyeon had been so careful with him, always treating him like his brother, Kyungsoo always looking out for him because of them being the only omegas in the group. Jongin looks out for him like how he does for Kyungsoo, Sehun treating him like his older brother. It had surprised him once that he’s older than some of them, Yixing who always hugs him when he wants one and lastly, quiet and observant Chanyeol, who never fails to give Baekhyun’s needs even with him not saying it out loud. The alpha automatically knows . 

But now… there was a seed of doubt. And it was growing.

The door creaked open.

He moved his arm just enough to peek out, expecting maybe Jongdae—but no, it was Chanyeol.

“Hey, here you are! We were wondering where you were. Why are you here alone?”, Chanyeol asked.

His black uniform is rolled up again, showing off his huge biceps and tattoos, both of which Baekhyun secretly enjoys looking at.

Baekhyun sat up quickly, blinking as Chanyeol filled the doorway. The alpha’s presence was always striking, but somehow it felt heavier now, like the warning earlier had sharpened every edge he used to find comforting.

He swallowed.

“I just… wanted to lie down,” Baekhyun said casually, though his voice lacked its usual brightness.

Chanyeol raised a brow as he stepped inside. “Did something happen?”

“No.” Baekhyun shook his head, too quickly.

The alpha’s dark eyes narrowed a little. “You sure? You didn’t come out when Minseok made that terrible excuse for coffee. That’s usually enough to drag you from the dead.”

Baekhyun gave a weak laugh. “I guess I’m just tired.”

Chanyeol didn’t look convinced. His gaze flicked over Baekhyun’s face, then down his arms like he was checking for injuries. It wasn’t forceful—just watchful . Like always.

Too watchful now.

Baekhyun shifted uncomfortably under the attention.

“Where’s everyone else?” he asked, trying to redirect.

“Minseok’s playing chess with Junmyeon. Jongin’s trying to sleep through Sehun, annoying him out of boredom. Kyungsoo and Yixing playing uno, for some reason. And Jongdae went to look for you ten minutes ago.” Chanyeol moved closer, stopping at the edge of the bed. “He’ll be mad I found you first.”

Baekhyun tried to smile, but the words from that omega were still coiled around his brain.
"That’s how it starts. Then one day, you realize you’re not free anymore."

“Are you… always like this with omegas?” he blurted before he could stop himself.

Chanyeol’s expression didn’t change immediately, but something subtle shifted behind his eyes.

“Like what?” he asked calmly.

“So nice. So protective. Like…” Baekhyun hesitated. “They’re your mate.”

Chanyeol went still.

Not tense. Not offended. Just quiet in that way Baekhyun had learned meant he was thinking . Really thinking .

Baekhyun regretted it the moment the words left his mouth—but it was too late to take them back now. His heart thudded unevenly in his chest, and he hated how exposed he suddenly felt, like he’d ripped a bandage off a wound that hadn’t even started healing yet.

Chanyeol finally spoke, his voice low and deliberate. “No.”

He said it without hesitation. No defensiveness. No confusion.

“I’m not like this with just any omega,” he continued, eyes holding Baekhyun’s steadily. “I’ve never been like this with anyone.”

Baekhyun opened his mouth, but Chanyeol wasn’t done.

“I don’t do things out of obligation, Baek. I don’t protect you because you’re an omega. I protect you because it’s you .”

The words knocked something loose in Baekhyun’s chest—something warm, and terrifying, and real.

But the seed of doubt was still there, burrowed deep.

He pulled his legs up on the bed, hugging his knees loosely. “What if I didn’t want protecting?”

Chanyeol’s gaze didn’t waver. “Then I’d stop.”

Baekhyun blinked, startled. “Just like that?”

“Yeah.” The alpha’s voice remained steady, like he meant every syllable. “You’re not mine, Baekhyun. I know that. You’re not something to be owned.”

Baekhyun’s throat felt tight. “But what if I was?”

This time, the silence that followed was thicker. He hadn’t meant to say that either—not like that. It was messy, clumsy, but it was honest. It came from that place in him that wanted, even though he didn’t know what he wanted yet. Only that Chanyeol had a gravitational pull he couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard he tried.

Chanyeol stepped forward slowly, giving Baekhyun every chance to pull back. But Baekhyun didn’t move.

“If you were,” Chanyeol said softly, “then I’d take care of you without holding you down. I’d guard you, not cage you. And I’d wait until you told me that’s what you wanted. Not before.”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched.

It was the most dangerous thing anyone had ever said to him.

Because it sounded too much like love.

He looked away. “Someone told me… alphas like you can’t be trusted. That it starts like this. Then one day, I wake up and realize I’m not mine anymore.”

Chanyeol was quiet for a long moment. Then he crouched down in front of the bed, leveling their eyes.

“I hope one day you’ll realize you were always yours,” he said, voice gentle but firm. “Even if you’re mine too. That doesn’t have to change.”

Baekhyun didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

He felt like his heart was a knot that couldn’t decide whether to unravel or tighten further.

But as Chanyeol stood and turned to leave—giving Baekhyun space, always giving him space—he stopped in the doorway.

“I’ll tell Jongdae you’re in here,” he said, back still to Baekhyun. “If you want me to stay… say something.”

The silence stretched.

Baekhyun stared at the floor.

The seed of doubt and the bloom of something warmer warred in his chest.

“I—” he started, then stopped. Bit his lip.

Chanyeol waited.

Finally, barely audible, Baekhyun said, “Stay.”

The alpha didn’t move right away. But then he turned back, stepping inside again with that same quiet care.

He didn’t touch Baekhyun. Didn’t reach for him.

He just sat beside the bed, back to the wall, shoulder brushing the frame lightly.

Not crowding him.

Just being there .

And Baekhyun, for the first time since that warning, let his shoulders drop. Just a little.

The seed of doubt was still there.

But so was Chanyeol.

And for now… that was enough.

Chapter 14

Summary:

tw.// attempted sexual assault.

“They can’t be trusted,” a part of him whispered again, like a quiet echo threading through his mind.

A shout echoed in the yard.

Baekhyun felt uneasy as he glanced toward the direction the sound originated—sharp, guttural, angry. It wasn’t uncommon to hear noise in this place. Fights. Screams. Even laughter warped by tension. But something about this shout scraped down his spine.

There was a fight going on. The alphas were holding someone back, Baekhyun can’t see who but the Alpha looks strong because suddenly, one of the alphas who were holding the raging alpha was suddenly thrown away. Baekhyun was alone. It’s been a few days since the omega talked to him. Sure, he might have Chanyeol’s word but the damage is done. His walls are up again.

A roar was heard then suddenly, the alpha ran.

Baekhyun’s instincts flared, feet already moving before his brain caught up. He didn’t know who the alpha was—or what had set them off—but that sound, that roar, was primal. Territorial. Dangerous. His heart raced as he backed toward the wall, eyes scanning the yard as inmates scrambled, shouting for guards who hadn’t shown up yet.

And then he saw him.

The charging alpha was huge, built like a freight train and twice as fast. Blood streaked his knuckles. His eyes—dark and feral—were locked onto something. Someone.

No—him.

Baekhyun froze. That look. It wasn’t random. This wasn’t a rampage. This was targeted.

“Shit,” he whispered, stepping to the side. 

The moment the alpha touched Baekhyun, his eyes turned black. Baekhyun’s eyes widened realizing what’s happening.

‘He’s in rut. He’s feral’

Baekhyun bit the hand that the alpha used to touch Baekhyun, heart racing. The alpha shouted and slapped Baekhyun.

The rage hit Baekhyun like fire. Adrenaline surged through him, blinding and raw. He didn’t even feel the sting of the slap—only the taste of copper in his mouth and the thrum of instinct screaming at him to fight.

His fists connected with the alpha’s jaw once, twice, again—each hit wild, fueled by terror and fury. “YOU FUCKER!” he screamed, voice cracking, eyes burning. “I’M NOT YOUR TOY!”

The alpha reeled from the unexpected resistance, stumbling back a step with a guttural growl. But feral or not, he was still stronger. Still in rut. He recovered too quickly, lunging forward with a snarl, grabbing Baekhyun by the waist and slamming him into the wall.

Baekhyun gasped, pain flaring in his spine. His breath caught. The alpha’s body was a furnace pressed against his, breath ragged and feral, hand already tugging at Baekhyun’s panty.

Baekhyun’s vision blurred with panic. He thrashed, hands clawing at the alpha’s face, his shoulders—anything he could reach.

“GET OFF ME!” he screamed, voice hoarse, desperation laced into every syllable. The alpha growled in response, completely gone, feral, driven only by the heat that boiled in his blood and the scent he’d locked onto—Baekhyun.

Baekhyun’s nails raked down the alpha’s cheek, drawing blood, but it only seemed to spur the beast on. The alpha’s hand tugged harder at Baekhyun’s panty, forcing the fabric down, grunting, panting, unhinged.

Baekhyun shouted and punched the guy hard. Suddenly seeing a basketball near them and ran towards it. The alpha followed him and tackled the omega. Baekhyun’s hands reached for the ball and slammed it in the alpha’s head hard.

The thud was sickeningly satisfying.

The basketball cracked against the side of the feral alpha’s skull with a loud smack, enough force to jolt his head sideways and make him stagger. Baekhyun didn’t wait. He scrambled to his feet, panting, hands scraped and raw from the pavement. His vision was swimming, but instinct had kicked into full throttle.

Survive. Move. Fight.

The alpha let out a guttural roar and lunged again—but Baekhyun was ready this time. He ducked low, kicking out with his foot and connecting with the alpha’s knee. The bigger man crumpled, howling in rage and pain, swinging wildly and catching Baekhyun across the ribs, hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

Baekhyun tumbled backward. Pain lanced through his side. He couldn’t breathe. He blinked the tears away, his body trembling, and he braced for the next hit—

‘Where the fuck are the guards’

The man got on top of Baekhyun ready to bite and claim him on the neck. He rutted his hips into Baekhyun’s causing friction. Baekhyun whimpered and used the last remaining of his strength to switch their positions.

“BAEKHYUN!”, a shout was heard. A familiar one.

Baekhyun was on top of the alpha now. Both the alpha and omega bleeding. The alpha was about to grab his hair before Baekhyun grabbed the alpha’s hear harshly and smashed his head against the alpha’s forehead out of instinct.

SMASH.

A sickening crack echoed through the yard like thunder. The sound of bone-on-bone impact jolted everyone still watching, frozen in either horror or awe.

The alpha slumped.

Baekhyun’s vision spun, the sudden pain from the impact roaring in his skull like an earthquake. But he didn’t stop—couldn’t stop—not until the weight beneath him was still, not until the fight, the threat, the nightmare was over.

The feral alpha’s body sagged beneath him, unmoving.

Baekhyun collapsed sideways onto the ground, gasping for breath, head pounding, ribs aching, hands trembling with blood and adrenaline. His panty was torn, his lip bleeding, and his entire body burned with exhaustion and trauma. His scent was everywhere now—fear, fury, desperation—but it was layered with something else too: the thick, sharp musk of rut, of violence, of violation barely escaped .

“BAEKHYUN!!”

This time, he heard it clearly.

A voice—deep, shaking, furious . And then footsteps—rushed, thundering, driven by something primal. Baekhyun blinked toward the source of the sound, and through the haze, he saw—

Chanyeol.

He was a blur at first, but then he dropped to his knees beside him, hands hovering but not touching, his expression a twisted mess of terror and rage.

“Don’t touch me,” Baekhyun gasped, flinching as Chanyeol reached out. “Don’t—don’t—”

“I won’t,” Chanyeol said quickly, both hands rising in the air to show he meant no harm. “Baek, I’m here. It’s me. I’m not touching you. You’re safe now. He’s not moving—he’s not going to hurt you again.”

Baekhyun’s breath caught in his throat. His body started to tremble harder now that it was over—now that survival mode was ebbing away and the pain and fear were crashing down on him like a wave.

“He tried to—” Baekhyun’s voice broke. “He tried to…!”

“I know.” Chanyeol’s voice was low, controlled, but Baekhyun could hear the tremor in it. The fury hiding just beneath the surface. “I saw. I saw it. And I swear to you, I swear on everything, Baekhyun, he’ll never touch you again.”

Baekhyun closed his eyes, a single tear slipping free. His body was aching, his soul screaming.

“I tried to fight. I didn’t— I wasn’t going to let him—”

“I know. You were incredible.” Chanyeol's voice cracked, and this time his hands hovered closer, almost trembling. “You fought like hell, Baek. You saved yourself.”

And then, guards finally arrived.

Late. Too late.

They swarmed in, shouting, dragging the unconscious alpha away and trying to get a handle on the scene, but Chanyeol didn’t move from Baekhyun’s side. He didn’t let them touch him. He stood between Baekhyun and everyone else like a wall.

“I’m taking him to the infirmary,” he growled when one of the guards tried to protest. “Touch him and you’ll answer to me .”

They didn’t argue.

Chanyeol turned back to Baekhyun, his arms open but still not touching. “Can I carry you?” he asked, voice soft now. “Only if you say yes.”

Baekhyun hesitated. His whole body was shaking. But this time, he didn’t feel fear from Chanyeol. Only warmth. Only protection. Something inside him—raw and wounded—reached for it.

“…Okay,” he whispered.

Before touching him, Chanyeol removed his shirt and puts Baekhyun’s legs inside the hole for the neck up to his waist, covering the panty then tying it to his waist, making a makeshift skirt. Carefully, Chanyeol carried Baekhyun, shielding Baekhyun’s exposed skin with his own shirt, holding him like he was made of glass and fire at the same time. Baekhyun trembled against him but didn’t pull away. As they moved through the yard, silence followed them.

Every inmate, every guard, every alpha or beta or omega— everyone —watched.

Because they all saw what happened. They all saw Baekhyun fight. Saw him win. Saw Chanyeol charge into the fire like a man possessed.

Notes:

it gets worse before it gets better

Chapter 15

Notes:

short chap lol,,, ngl i'm losing interest in writing (just lazy) LOL BUT i have the chapters planned out til the ending. Im just too lazy so I'll try to update everyday again to stay consistent

Chanyeol rushed Baekhyun to the infirmary. He was unconscious now. Hands and head bleeding. His pink hair is covered with blood. Chanyeol didn’t even wait for the guards. He carried Baekhyun himself, arms locked tight around the omega’s limp body. Blood soaked through the front of his shirt, Baekhyun’s pink hair matted and dark from it. His breathing was shallow, uneven.

“OPEN THE FUCKING DOORS!” Chanyeol barked as they neared the infirmary wing.

The metal clanked open fast—too fast. Word had spread.

The nurse and two other betas rushed to assist them, patting at the empty bed. Chanyeol laid Baekhyun down gently, but his hand stayed locked around Baekhyun’s wrist, fingers checking the thready pulse over and over again.

“Pulse is weak. Concussion. He’s burning up—fuck, his scent’s off,” one of the nurses muttered, cutting through Baekhyun’s shirt to assess his injuries.

Chanyeol hovered, shaking .

Not from fear—but rage. The kind that turned his veins to molten steel.

“I’m not leaving him,” he said when a guard tried to pull him back.

“No one’s asking you to,” the nurse named Dara said. She knew better than to test an alpha with blood on his hands and his mate nearly dying.

“Baekhyun. Baek ,” Chanyeol whispered, brushing matted pink strands from the omega’s face. His voice cracked. “Come on, don’t do this. Don’t you fucking leave me, you hear me?”

Baekhyun didn’t respond. Just a quiet groan escaped his lips, twitching slightly under the weight of painkillers being pumped into his arm.

They started cleaning the blood from his temple—six stitches needed. His hands were shredded from punching, clawing, and the final headbutt that saved him. One nail was broken clean off.

“He fought like hell,” the nurse muttered. “He shouldn't be alive.”

Chanyeol smiled softly. “He’s not just anyone.”

—

Baekhyun stirred.

The white of the infirmary ceiling was too bright, but the scent next to him was grounding. Warm. Alpha. Familiar.

“Chanyeol…?” his voice was raspy, barely audible.

“I’m here,” Chanyeol said instantly, pulling the chair closer, his hand already covering Baekhyun’s.

Baekhyun blinked slowly, disoriented. Then his eyes welled.

“I didn’t… let him… I didn’t…”

“You fought , Baek. You did more than anyone expected. You kept him off. You’re safe now , baby. No one will touch you.”

A quiet sob broke through Baekhyun’s lips. “I didn’t want to go back to being prey.”

Chanyeol leaned in, pressing their foreheads together gently.

“You’re not. Not here. Not with me. Not ever again.”

Baekhyun swallowed hard, his throat raw.

“Is he dead?”

“No,” Chanyeol said quietly. “But he’ll wish he was.”

There was a pause. Baekhyun closed his eyes, tears slipping sideways.

Then his fingers curled weakly into Chanyeol’s shirt.

“Don’t leave.”

“I won’t.”

“I mean… after this. After I’m disgusting and—”

“You’re not,” Chanyeol interrupted fiercely. “You’re beautiful. You’re strong. You’re mine .”

Baekhyun let out a weak, broken laugh.

And Chanyeol kissed his forehead, staying exactly where he was—guarding the door of Baekhyun’s silence and recovery.

Baekhyun didn’t leave the infirmary for forty-eight hours.

Chanyeol didn’t either.

He slept on the chair, sometimes standing at the window with his fists clenched, watching every guard that passed. The scent of fury rolled off him in waves, even after they'd sedated him once just to get Baekhyun some rest.

When Baekhyun finally sat up, IV still in his arm and lips cracked dry, the first thing he saw was Chanyeol pacing like a caged wolf. Face bruised from his own fight. Knuckles still raw. But his eyes—those wildfire eyes—softened the second they met Baekhyun’s.

“You should’ve left me,” Baekhyun murmured.

“You should’ve screamed louder,” Chanyeol shot back hoarsely, but his voice broke at the end.

Baekhyun lowered his gaze. “I didn’t want him to hear me beg.”

Chanyeol walked over, crouching at Baekhyun’s bedside, their faces nearly level. “You didn’t beg. You fought . And I swear to god, Baekhyun… if I hadn’t found you when I did—”

“But you did,” Baekhyun whispered. His fingers trembled as they reached up, resting against Chanyeol’s jaw. “You always do.”

Chanyeol didn’t respond. He just leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Baekhyun’s palm.

—

 

The door opened quietly.

Suho entered first. Calm, composed, but his jaw was locked tight, the storm behind his eyes controlled but present . Behind him came Jongin, Kyungsoo, Chen, Xiumin, and finally Sehun—each of them looking murderous .

Baekhyun blinked slowly, unsure what to say.

“Hey,” Suho said gently, pulling up a chair. “You look like shit.”

Baekhyun laughed, choked, winced. “Feel worse.”

Kyungsoo sat down on the other side. He reached over and placed a peeled orange on Baekhyun’s lap without a word.

“I told you guys not to come,” Baekhyun murmured. “I didn’t want… pity.”

“Then good thing we’re not here for that,” Jongin said. “We’re here to talk business.”

Chanyeol raised an eyebrow. “Business?”

Suho’s voice was cold steel. “The alpha who touched him is now in solitary. Apparently, someone messed with his suppressants that’s why he went feral.

Chanyeol’s fists clenched.

“No one lays hands on our own and walks away,” Xiumin said, voice calm and cruel. “He’s in isolation now. But when he comes out... we’re going to make sure he never even looks at another omega again.”

“I want to do it,” Baekhyun said suddenly.

The room stilled.

“I want to take him down myself,” he said, voice shaky but sure. 

Suho’s eyes narrowed. “You’re sure?”

Baekhyun nodded, fire glowing beneath the bruises.

“I’m not prey,” he whispered. “And I’m done surviving. I want revenge.”

Chanyeol reached for his hand and squeezed.

“You’ll get it,” Suho promised. “But until then… we’ve got you.”

Chen cracked a rare, grim smile. “No one in this prison will touch a strand of your pink hair again.”

Sehun snorted. “Unless they’re asking to die.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Baekhyun smiled. Bloodied, bruised, bandaged—but smiling.

Chapter 16

Notes:

alr wrote the outline for the next chap so HOPEFULLY i have enough energy to edit it tomorrow

also,,

im currently writing another one,,, this time it's a fantasy au based on the MAMA mv. ofc it's still chanbaek but instead of prison, it's in somewhere else,,, im really fixiated on half-angel baekhyun rn and wrote all the notes and plans i have for it so let's hope it turns out good andd DWWWW i won't abandon this i swear,,, i'm just having a hard time organizing my thoughts when im writing lol. i'll announce when i alr published the other au when i organized everything! also commment down anything you want to see in this au lol, i'll try to write it. like anything you want to know

“You’re mine, Baekhyun. No one gets to have you like this. Every part of you belongs to me only.”, Kiho said before kissing Baekhyun.

 

Baekhyun opened his eyes. He was still in the infirmary. It’s been days since the incident happened and not even once did Chanyeol leave his side. That alone made Bakehyun soften his walls again despite the warning he received from the omega before. Chanyeol was different. He saved Baekhyun again and again, going against his alpha instinct. Baekhyun has never met an alpha as soft and protective as Chanyeol. He always treats Baekhyun as his equal, not as someone below him. Even now, even in this hell, the alpha didn’t try to cage him, didn’t demand obedience, didn’t use dominance as a leash. He shielded Baekhyun with teeth bared to the world—but never to him. His hands were big, scarred, lethal—and always, always gentle with Baekhyun.

It’s his first time to have someone take care of him instead of the other way around. Baekhyun had always been the one to patch wounds, to smile when his world was falling apart, to keep the others alive by making himself smaller, quieter, more obedient. He learned how to survive by giving—never expecting anything in return. Not love, not kindness. Especially not protection.

But Chanyeol flipped that reality on its head.

Even now, as Baekhyun blinked away the remnants of that haunting dream—Kiho’s voice still echoing like poison in his ears—he found warmth beside him. Chanyeol had fallen asleep in the chair beside Baekhyun’s bed.

Baekhyun shifted slightly, careful not to make any noises. The ache in his ribs reminded him he wasn’t invincible. The memory of Kiho’s kiss, voice, and power came back. Baekhyun had forgotten all about him but that feral alpha took him back in his mind though it no longer had the same power. Because this time, Baekhyun wasn’t alone. This time, he didn’t have to run or fight by himself.

He reached over and brushed Chanyeol’s messy hair from his face carefully. The alpha stirred, eyes cracking open, the softest smile blooming the moment he registered Baekhyun was awake.

“Hey,” Chanyeol murmured, voice hoarse with sleep. “You okay?”

Baekhyun hesitated. Then nodded. “I think so.”

Chanyeol sat up properly, joints stiff from sleeping in a chair too small for him. He stretched with a grunt, but his eyes never left Baekhyun’s face.

“You looked scared,” he said softly.

Baekhyun didn’t lie. “I was.”

“Because of him?” Chanyeol asked, gaze darkening.

Baekhyun nodded again. “He said the same thing… same words as the alpha I killed. It felt like the past came back and climbed into my skin.”

Chanyeol didn’t flinch. Didn’t ask questions that didn’t need answers.

Instead, he reached for Baekhyun’s hand again—this time lacing their fingers.

“He’s not coming back. And no one— no one —gets to take that power from you again.”

Baekhyun looked down at their joined hands.

“I don’t feel weak when I’m with you,” he admitted. “Even when I’m shaking.”

“You’re not weak, Baek.” Chanyeol’s voice was firm now. “You never were.”

There was a moment of silence. Then Baekhyun, tentative, asked, “Why are you still here?”

Chanyeol didn’t even hesitate. “Because I want to be.”

“But you don’t even know everything—”

“I don’t need to know everything to care about you,” he said simply.

Baekhyun blinked, breath catching in his throat. That kind of trust—that kind of quiet, steady love—it was terrifying. And yet, the most grounding thing he’d ever felt.

“I’m scared,” Baekhyun whispered.

“I know,” Chanyeol said, bringing Baekhyun’s knuckles to his lips. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

And for once, Baekhyun let himself believe it.

Let himself lean into the warmth.

Let himself be held—not as someone broken or tainted, but as someone loved .

Because maybe, just maybe… he deserved it.

—

“You look worse than the last time I saw you.”, Lee Joongi, his psychologist said as Baekhyun sat in front of him wearing patient clothes.

Baekhyun gave a weak smirk, arms folded loosely across his lap. “You say that every time.”

“That’s because it’s always true,” Joongi replied, setting down his notepad. He leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp but not unkind. “But this time… it’s psychically.

Baekhyun didn’t respond right away. He shifted in his seat, the thin cotton fabric of his clothes clinging to his still-healing skin. The bruises had faded into sickly yellow and green, but the ones in his chest—the ones no one could see—felt darker than ever.

“I heard what happened to you. The guards told me. Is it okay if we talk about it?”Joongi asked, getting his pen from his suit.

“Yea,yea, whatever”, Baekhyun said, crossing his legs knowing what the other was going to ask.

“How did you feel when the alpha pinned you on the ground?”.

Baekhyun clenched his jaw, heart racing as memories of what happened rushed to him. 

“…Like I was back there again,” Baekhyun said, voice low and rough. “Back in that apartment. Under him .”

Joongi didn’t interrupt. He let the silence stretch, pen unmoving, gaze steady. Baekhyun hated it sometimes—how Joongi never rushed him, never filled the silence with pity or noise. It forced Baekhyun to sit with his own truth.

“He smelled like him too,” Baekhyun added after a moment, hands now gripping the edge of the seat. “Not exactly, but close enough. That kind of scent doesn’t fade easily, even when you try to scrub it off.”

“Your body reacted like it was back in the moment,” Joongi said gently. “That’s not a weakness, Baekhyun. That's a memory. Trauma lives in the body.”

Baekhyun gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “Great. So even my bones remember him.”

“They do. But they can also learn something new.”

Baekhyun looked away, eyes fixed on the crack in the far wall. “I almost killed him.”

Joongi nodded. “But you didn’t.”

“Sadly”.

“If you had the chance to do it, would you have killed him?”

Baekhyun paused for a second, thoughts swirling in his head. Would he have killed him if the alpha didn’t stop? If he hadn’t passed out? Would he have smashed the alpha’s face to the floor repeatedly?

“I think," Baekhyun started, licking his dry lips. “If he hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have cared to touch or fight him but he touched me and I only reacted that way in self-defense. Not because I wanted to randomly beat up someone.

Joongi tapped the end of his pen lightly against the pad but didn’t write. He was listening—really listening—something Baekhyun didn’t realize he’d craved so desperately until now.

“You reacted to a threat,” Joongi said, voice still calm, steady like stone in a river. “That’s not the same as aggression. And it’s definitely not the same as murder.”

Baekhyun tilted his head back, blinking up at the ceiling. The fluorescent light hummed above them. “But it felt good. I was even happy that I had the strength to fight him—a feral alpha.”

Joongi nodded slowly, acknowledging the weight behind Baekhyun’s words. “That feeling… It's important. It means you still have power inside you. Power that isn’t just about survival—it’s about reclaiming yourself.”

Baekhyun let out a short, bitter laugh. “Reclaiming myself, huh? Feels more like I’m just digging up old wounds to see if they still bleed.”

“Sometimes you have to dig before you can heal,” Joongi said gently. “Pain is part of the process, but it’s not the whole story.”

Baekhyun’s hands tightened into fists on his lap. “It’s not just pain. It’s fear, humiliation… and anger. That alpha thought he could break me. Maybe he almost did.”

Joongi leaned forward, eyes intense but kind. “Almost, yes. But not completely. You’re still standing. Still fighting. That matters more than you realize.”

Baekhyun swallowed hard. “Does it matter if I hate that I had to fight? That I wished I could have hurt him worse?”

“Absolutely,” Joongi said. “Hating it means you want something better for yourself. But wishing to defend yourself—even with force—means you’re not powerless. And that’s a step toward strength.”

Baekhyun looked at Joongi, eyes searching. “Do you think I can ever be okay? After everything?”

Joongi smiled softly. “I don’t just think about it—I know it. You’ve already survived the worst. Now, it’s about finding peace in the pieces left behind.”

Baekhyun exhaled slowly, the tightness in his chest loosening just a bit. “Do you think it’s possible to find peace here in prison?”.

“I don’t know but peace isn’t something you can find anywhere. Peace is something you find in people—the ones who make you safe. Peace isn’t a place, it’s a person. Now, the question is, did you find people here who made you feel safe?”

Baekhyun went quiet.

The question hung heavy in the sterile air, more loaded than anything else Joongi had asked.

He thought of the others—of Jongin and Kyungsoo concerned glances, Suho and Yixing’s presence, Minseok’s quiet kindness, Jongdae cursing everyone who looks at him. Sehun who treats him like his older brother. He thought of Chanyeol… the one who always holds him, knowing that Bakehyun needs it even without being told, the one who hadn’t said much, but whose eyes had burned with something protective and unreadable.

“I think…” Baekhyun started, voice hoarse. “I did.”

Joongi raised an eyebrow. “More than one?”

Baekhyun’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Maybe.”

“Good,” Joongi said simply, jotting something down for the first time in a while. “Because people are what keep us grounded. Not cells or chains or therapy sessions. People.”

Chapter 17

Notes:

KYUNGSOO WENT TO BAEK'S CONCERT TODAY!!!!!!! i screamed. hopefully one of the members who r still in sm or YIXING goes too. i miss exo crumbs. double update for today since this chap is quite short. i hope you guys understand the kind of person baekhyun is here in my au. his mindset is complex but it's simple once you understand what he said here.

Joongi didn’t press further, but the silence stretched again, charged now with something warmer than before.

“Is there someone… in particular?” he asked carefully, his pen stilled again.

Baekhyun didn’t answer right away. His thumb grazed over the tender skin of his wrist, where bruises had once bloomed. His eyes stayed downcast, but his voice came quietly.

“There’s this alpha,” he said. “He’s different. He doesn’t seem like he’s dangerous but I know he is. You know, there’s this strange thing that I feel about him. It’s like he’s so familiar but I can’t seem to find the place where I’ve met him. 

Joongi looked up, thoughtful. “Do you trust him?”

Baekhyun hesitated—then nodded. “I don’t know why, but yeah. I do. From the moment that our eyes met during my first day, there’s something about him that makes me feel safe. That I don’t have to adjust anything for him to accept me the way I am. 

Joongi smiled faintly. “Then that might be where your peace begins.”

A sharp knock on the door broke the moment.

Joongi’s eyes flicked toward it. “I told the guards—”

The door creaked open, and one of the nurses poked her head in. “Sorry, Doctor Lee. They need him back in the wing.”

Joongi frowned but nodded. “A few more minutes?”

The nurse gave a tight-lipped nod and closed the door again.

Baekhyun stood slowly, as if his bones remembered every blow. He adjusted his sleeves.

“Time’s up?” he asked.

Joongi gave him a look. “Yes. I’ll see you next time. But Baekhyun, don’t forget to ready yourself. The trial is sooner than you think. Time flies so much.”

“When is it now?”

“Two weeks from now. We only have one session left.”

Baekhyun paused before saying, “Do you think my words will change anything? Would it help Ji-eun get the justice that she deserves?”

Joongi's face shifted—just slightly—but enough for Baekhyun to see the weight of the question settle across his expression.

“She deserves more than justice,” Joongi said quietly. “She deserves to be remembered as more than just a case file, more than someone whose murderer was murdered in revenge..”

Baekhyun’s gaze dropped to the floor. “She was the only one who cared about me. I didn’t care about anything else, only Kiho but she cared about me no matter how many times I pushed her away and didn’t hear her suspicions out.”

Joongi’s expression softened, a quiet ache surfacing in his eyes. “You were surviving, Baekhyun. You can’t blame yourself for not seeing clearly when you were surrounded by shadows. You were being manipulated”

Baekhyun shook his head, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “But she saw him for what he was. She knew something was wrong before anyone else. Before even I admitted it to myself. She tried to warn me, tried to pull me out. And I… I chose Kiho.”

Joongi didn’t interrupt. He let the silence stretch, respectful and still.

“It’s not your fault. You’re the victim—you both are. Now, you have the chance to save Ji-eun, give justice to her as her friends, her loved one by speaking your truth. Of course there will still be some that won’t believe you but at least you did something about it. You’re not doing it for them—you’re doing it for Ji-eun and for yourself to heal. Though, it doesn’t change the fact that you killed someone but it changes everything—it changes the fact that Kiho isn’t innocent like some people believe him to be. He’s already a known offender and an alleged predator so you speaking out is also for people like you, whose lives are ruined.”

Before Baekhyun could even reply, the guard came in and said, “Time’s up”. Lee Joongi just nodded at the omega in front of him and smiled. “See you next week, Baekhyun.”. 

Baekhyun stepped out into the corridor, hands in cuff with the guard holding his arms, the sterile air of the facility hitting him like a wave.

The guards didn’t say much—just gestured for him to follow—and he did, slowly, every step echoing the fatigue in his bones. His head was full of Ji-eun’s voice. Her laughter. Her warnings. Baekhyun walked in silence, the soft clink of his restraints the only sound in the corridor. The weight of everything—of Ji-eun’s memory, of the trial looming like a shadow on the horizon, the feral alpha, and Kiho.

His feet dragged a little, not from defiance but from the sheer weight of remembering. Ji-eun’s voice echoed in his ears—not just her laughter, but her frustration, her fear. "Baek, he’s not who you think he is." How many times had she said that? How many times had he ignored it, convinced that love was enough to silence the truth?

The guard gave him a nudge at the base of his back, not rough, but insistent. Baekhyun’s thoughts scattered.

The hallway turned, sterile white becoming washed in yellow as a flickering light overhead buzzed faintly. When they passed the cafeteria window, he caught a glimpse of the familiar figure at the far end—broad shoulders hunched over a metal table, fingers curled loosely around a plastic spoon. Chanyeol.

The alpha looked up, as if sensing the weight of Baekhyun’s stare. Their eyes met through the glass.

It was brief. But something in Chanyeol’s gaze arrested him—something sharp and unreadable, like he saw straight through the layers Baekhyun had carefully stacked to hold himself together.

And yet… not a flicker of judgment. Baekhyun was yanked gently forward again. They walked to the office of the warden.

Chapter 18

Notes:

long chap LOL this was 6 pages in my gdocs. any theories on who exo REALLY is?

The warden’s office was dimmer than usual, the blinds half-drawn against the harsh afternoon light. Baekhyun sat cuffed to the metal table, hands folded, the cool steel biting faintly into his skin. He didn’t fidget. He didn’t speak. He just stared at the opposite wall until the silence became unbearable.

The Warden is a tall man with the kind of stillness that unsettled even the guards, flipped through the thin file on his desk. His eyes scanned the pages without expression. Then he looked up.

“You’ve been talking,” he said simply.

Baekhyun didn’t reply.

“To Dr. Lee. To the guards. You’ll be talking to the court in two weeks.”

The words felt heavy in the air.

Baekhyun finally lifted his gaze. “You think it’ll change anything?”

The warden regarded him coolly. “Maybe not for you. But for her? Maybe. For the others? Possibly. Sometimes the truth doesn’t fix everything—it just stops the bleeding.”

Baekhyun flinched at that, not visibly, but inwardly. He could still feel the warm blood between his fingers from that night. His own, Kiho’s, Ji-eun’s memory soaked in crimson.

Warden Park studied him. “Dr. Lee says you’ve shown signs of post-traumatic clarity. That’s good. The court likes it when victims are articulate.”

“I’m not a victim,” Baekhyun said, voice quieter now. “Not anymore.”

The warden didn’t correct him. “You’re scheduled to testify in two weeks. You’ll be transported under high security. Until then, your privileges are changing—more common room time, continued therapy, and monitored interactions.”

“Monitored?” Baekhyun raised a brow.

“Because we’ve noticed… someone or rather a group of people have taken an interest in you.”

Baekhyun’s stomach twisted.

“Park Chanyeol,” the warden said. “Alpha. Violent record, but clean behavior since transfer. You know him? Do you know EXO? Those alphas and betas you hang out with?”

Baekhyun hesitated, doubt entering his heart again. “Why?”

The warden’s gaze narrowed. “Be careful. He’s not your friend—they aren’t.Regardless, don’t forget where you are, Baekhyun. No one here is harmless—not even you. Though you’ve shown everyone here countless times that you’re untouchable, that you won’t hesitate to fight anyone who touches you. Omegas like you are the most dangerous ones—you shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Baekhyun's jaw tightened.

He didn’t want to give the Warden the satisfaction of seeing him react, but the words sank deep, curling into the edges of his ribs like iron hooks. Untouchable. Dangerous. Omegas like you. It wasn’t his fault that alphas like to look and touch him without consent. He wasn’t even doing anything to get their attention. Heck, he was only protecting himself and now, he’s being called dangerous. The way the words dripped from the Warden’s mouth—like both a warning and an accusation—set something smoldering in Baekhyun’s chest. 

“I never asked to be any of that. It was your fault for doing nothing. It’s the guards’ fault for not protecting the omega from being attacked by a feral alpha. He nearly claimed me. If the headbutt didn’t work—if it wasn’t strong enough, I would be unconscious with no one to defend me from some random alpha. It’s your responsibility as the warden to see the safety of your subjects, right? Why were the guards only staring at us when the alpha was literally assaulting me out there in daylight? If I hadn’t protected myself, I would have been bonded to someone I don’t even know. You don’t get to call me dangerous when you don’t even acknowledge why the fuck I did that. All those other times I fought those alphas was just me protecting myself. If anything, they’re the ones causing the trouble. Why is it always us, the victims who are being blamed?”

Warden Park didn’t interrupt.

He let the outburst hang in the room. Baekhyun’s breathing was ragged now, the kind of uneven inhale that comes after pressing too long against everything unspoken. His knuckles were white where his fists had clenched on the table, wrists still chained but posture unbowed.

Warden Park finally closed the file, slow and deliberate.

“You’re right.”

Baekhyun blinked.

The words weren’t an apology. They didn’t come with softness or remorse. But they rang with something else—acknowledgement, maybe. Or the quiet weight of someone who’d seen too much and done too little.

“You’re right,” the Warden said again. “And that’s what makes this place dangerous for you. Not because you’re weak—but because you won’t break the way they want you to.”

Baekhyun’s expression didn’t change, but something in his shoulders shifted—just barely.

The warden stepped around the desk, arms behind his back. “I’m not defending them. I’m not even defending myself. But if you’re going to survive the next two weeks—survive them —you need to be smarter than rage. I know what you did was self-defense. I also know that in here, self-defense makes you a threat. Especially when you’re an omega who doesn’t flinch.”

He paused.

“You’ve got something they don’t: fearlessness. Control. That makes alphas uneasy.”

Baekhyun’s eyes stayed fixed ahead, but he was listening now.

“And it makes men like Park Chanyeol interested .”

That name again.

Baekhyun stiffened, but he covered it with a scoff. “He’s not interested.”

“Oh, he is,” the Warden said, voice low. “But it’s not just about interest, is it? He’s watching you. EXO is watching you. You think they care about therapy reports or court testimony? No. They care about one thing: power. And you’ve got it. Even if you don’t want it.”

Baekhyun’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“They aren’t like that. They’re my friends.”

The Warden’s brow twitched, almost imperceptibly. “Aren’t they?”

His voice was quieter now, too calm. He leaned forward just enough that Baekhyun could feel the cold press of authority between each syllable.

“I’ve seen alphas pretend to be protectors until they got what they wanted. Until their instincts took over and it wasn’t about the omega anymore—it was about winning. About possession.” He tilted his head slightly. “And Park Chanyeol? He’s not like the others. He’s worse.”

Baekhyun's nostrils flared.

“You think I don’t see it? That I don’t know how to tell the difference between an alpha who wants to hurt me and one who…” He stopped short, jaw working, something dangerous gleaming beneath the surface. “You think I can’t feel the difference?”

“I think,” the Warden said, voice like smoke, “that you’re too used to being hunted to recognize when someone’s circling you slowly instead of sprinting. Chanyeol’s been patient. Calculated. That’s not softness, Baekhyun. That’s strategy.”

Baekhyun’s tongue felt thick behind his teeth.

The memory of Chanyeol’s eyes lingered—dark, yes, but not cruel. Not yet. The way he’d hovered but never pushed. The way his voice dropped when he asked, “Did he hurt you?” That wasn’t strategy. That was… something else. It had to be.

“He protected me—they protected me”

“Byun Baekhyun, tell me, do you know why they’re here? Not everyone here in prison got here like you. You are here because you were betrayed by the system—because you brought justice to your oppressor but have you ever stopped and think for a minute that maybe they’re just like him? Like Park Kiho? They’re here for a reason. Think about why everyone is scared of them. Think about why even though you’re an omega, no one barely touched you. You’ve attracted a lot of attraction and that’s true but what alphas want is to put an omega in place and you are exactly the type of omegas want.”

“That’s not true. Alphas don’t touch me because they know what I’m capable of.”

“I hate to burst your bubble but it’s certainly not you. Alphas won’t place their pride down just because they’re scared of an omega. No, no. It’s not you, it’s them . They’re the ones the inmates are scared of.

Baekhyun stared, breath caught in his throat, heart pounding like a fist against the bars of his ribs.

No .

That couldn’t be true.

The warden’s words had a quiet precision, like needles slipping into the cracks of his armor. Not aggressive, not cruel—just accurate . That was worse.

“They’re protecting what they’ve already claimed,” Warden Park said, stepping back behind the desk. “You think they’re your friends, but have you ever asked yourself what would happen if you said no to one of them?”

Baekhyun swallowed hard, throat dry. “They wouldn’t—”

“Wouldn’t what?” the warden cut in sharply. “Wouldn’t force you ? Maybe. But that’s not the only kind of coercion, Baekhyun. Alphas don’t have to hurt you to own you. Sometimes all they need is silence. Pressure. Presence.”

Baekhyun’s hands clenched on the table again, wrists jerking faintly in the cuffs. His jaw hurt from how tightly it was locked.

He hated this.

Hated how the words echoed in the hollow places he tried not to visit. Hated how some of them made sense .

EXO didn’t touch him like the others. They didn’t leer or circle or snap. But they watched . Closely. Constantly. Especially Chanyeol .

And there had been something in that gaze, hadn’t there?
Not hunger.
Not malice.
But not innocence either.

Possession.

“I don’t belong to anyone,” Baekhyun said, voice sharp, brittle.

“No,” the Warden replied, “but how long do you think that’s going to last?”

The silence that followed was thicker than before.

Baekhyun didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His thoughts were louder than anything he could’ve said aloud.

Warden Park finally sighed, voice quieter now. “You’re smart, Baekhyun. Smarter than most who walk into this hellhole. You’ve survived what would’ve broken others. That doesn’t make you invincible—but it makes you dangerous in a different way.”

The silence was cold. Oppressive. The metal cuffs burned more than they chafed now, and Baekhyun couldn’t tell if it was the weight of the Warden’s words or his own thoughts sinking heavy into his bones. He just watched him, a thin line drawn between his lips, expression carefully shuttered. He’d long learned how to mask his fear, to tuck vulnerability beneath sharpness and silence. But right now, he felt naked—like someone had torn the gauze off a wound he hadn’t even realized was still bleeding.

“You don’t have to believe me,” the Warden said, almost conversational now. “But you should be prepared. You think you’ve built a wall, but you’ve only stepped inside someone else’s.”

Baekhyun finally looked at him. “And what do you think I should do? Run? Isolate myself again? Let the rest of the animals try their luck while they watch from the side?”

Warden Park’s expression didn’t change. “I think you should observe. Be cautious. And when you walk into that yard, don’t look for protection. Be the threat they think you are.”

The words rang sharper than any insult.

Because it wasn’t advice.

It was a sentence.

A knock came at the door. One of the guards peeked in. “Time’s up, sir.”

The Warden nodded. “Uncuff him.”

Baekhyun didn’t move as the guard approached. His wrists stung when the metal gave way, skin flushed and red, blood rushing back into joints stiff with tension. He flexed his fingers slowly, deliberately.

As he stood, the Warden gave one last glance his way. “Remember, Baekhyun—being feared isn’t the same as being safe.”

Baekhyun didn’t respond. He didn’t look back.

He walked out of the office with his head high and spine straight, even as the weight of those words pulled deep inside his chest like a second heart.

—

The yard was quiet when he stepped out. A few heads turned. Some watched him openly. Most didn’t.

But a certain group near the far wall did.

EXO.

Chanyeol was sitting against the cement, back resting on the wall, one leg stretched out lazily. Jongin beside him, Kyungsoo flipping through a deck of worn cards. Minseok was half-dozing with his eyes trained on the gate. All of them looked casual.

But all of them noticed the moment Baekhyun emerged.

Their attention didn’t feel like scrutiny.

It felt like gravity.

Baekhyun didn’t walk toward them. Not yet.

He sat alone on the edge of the courtyard bench, spine straight, hands clasped between his knees. He could feel their gaze. Especially Chanyeol’s. A prickle at the back of his neck that wouldn’t go away.

When he finally glanced over, Chanyeol didn’t look away.

The alpha’s stare wasn’t smirking or smug. It wasn’t soft either. Just… watchful. Careful. And something deeper that Baekhyun couldn’t name.

He hated how much he noticed it.

He hated how much of him still remembered how it felt when Chanyeol stood between him and that other alpha. How his fists didn’t shake, how his voice was low and dangerous but never cruel. How afterward, Chanyeol hadn’t asked for anything. Just offered a seat. A quiet word. A crooked smile.

It wasn’t nothing .

But it wasn’t safe either.

Baekhyun’s heart twisted.

The Warden’s voice echoed in his mind: Sometimes they don’t hurt you. Sometimes they just wait until you stop running.

He shivered once, sharp and fast, before pushing it down.

He would keep watching. He would keep waiting.

Because Byun Baekhyun didn’t belong to anyone.

And if EXO—or Chanyeol—forgot that, he’d remind them.

Even if it broke something inside him to do it.

Chapter 19

Notes:

who's exo :0 ALSO MORE BACKSTORYYY

The next day, he ignored them, which was impossible—Jongdae and Minseok were his cellmates, after all. They breathed the same recycled air, walked the same corridors, ate from the same stained trays. And both of them—especially Minseok—were good at noticing.

Minseok saw how Baekhyun held his mouth just a little too tightly during conversations, like he was physically stopping himself from chiming in with a joke or a comment. How his gaze would flick to them when something funny was said, then dart away, like he was punishing himself for still wanting to laugh with them.

At the canteen, Baekhyun sat further than usual—close enough to not draw attention, but not beside them like he used to, like he belonged there. He ate with his head down, listening more than participating, a ghost of the man who used to steal pieces of Jongdae’s bread roll just to provoke an argument.

Minseok didn’t say a word. He just watched.

In the yard, Baekhyun lingered near the edge of the fence instead of tagging along with them like usual. He didn’t join their circuits around the perimeter or their half-hearted push-up competitions. When Jongdae tossed him a bottle of water mid-exercise, Baekhyun caught it but didn’t say thank you. He only gave a stiff nod before turning away. 

Minseok watched as Chanyeol got up to follow the omega only for Jumnyeon to hold his hand and say, “Give him some space, Yeol.”

Chanyeol hesitated, jaw clenched. His eyes remained locked on Baekhyun’s retreating figure, tense with barely restrained emotion. “He’s not okay.”

“No, he’s not,” Junmyeon agreed, his voice quiet but firm. “But crowding him now might push him further. Let him come to us when he’s ready.”

Chanyeol didn’t look convinced, but he sat back down heavily beside Junmyeon, still facing the fence where Baekhyun now stood alone, back to everyone.

Minseok’s gaze drifted to Jongdae, who was staring at his food like it personally offended him.

“He’s shutting us out,” Jongdae muttered eventually. “And we’re just supposed to accept that?”

Minseok folded his arms, voice low. “He’s trying to survive something in his head. He’s not shutting us out because he stopped caring. He’s doing it because he thinks he has to.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

“It’s his way of protecting himself from getting hurt. He’s shutting us down, distancing away from everyone he cares about so he won’t have to worry about getting betrayed or hurt by people.”

“He heard something about is, didn’t he?”

“That’s the only reason I can think of that would make him avoid us, unless Chanyeol did something.”

They all turned to Chanyeol, who wasn’t listening at them and was staring at the omega they were talking about.

Chanyeol's jaw twitched.

He hadn’t moved from his seat beside Junmyeon, but the tension in his frame was so tight he looked like he might snap in half if anyone touched him. His hands were clenched into fists on his knees, and he hadn’t taken his eyes off Baekhyun once. Not when Jongdae spoke, not when Minseok theorized. Not even now, when they were all silently waiting for him to say something.

Eventually, he dragged his eyes away and looked at them.

“No,” Chanyeol said, voice low and raw. “I didn’t do anything.”

Junmyeon placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, but Chanyeol didn’t even seem to feel it.

“I didn’t touch him. I didn’t push. I didn’t... I wouldn’t.” He swallowed hard. “I told him he wasn’t alone. That I was here. That we all were.”

Minseok nodded slowly, not in disbelief but in confirmation. “Then it wasn’t you.”

Chanyeol looked back at Baekhyun, who was standing too straight, arms crossed like armor, as if the entire yard might charge at him if he blinked wrong.

Jongdae rubbed a hand over his face. “So what did he hear?” he muttered. “What could mess with him this badly?”

Junmyeon exchanged a glance with Minseok. “Maybe he heard about who we are.”

“You think so?”

“If he knew who we were in the first place, he wouldn’t have gotten close to us, especially you guys considering most of you are alphas. Remember why he’s here. I’m sure he wouldn’t have liked to be with us the moment he knew the truth.”, Kyungsoo said.

Jongdae scoffed, sharp and bitter. “He knows who we are.”

“No,” Minseok said quietly. “He knows what we showed him. What we let him see.”

—

“I swear on my entire life, Baek—those rumors aren’t true. None of them.”
Kiho was on his knees on the kitchen floor, hands gripping Baekhyun’s wrists like a lifeline. His eyes were red-rimmed, his lips trembling with desperation. “Please. You have to believe me. I’m not a rapist. I’m not a serial offender. I didn’t do those things.”

Baekhyun stood above him, barefoot and shaking, the hem of his sweater sleeves clenched tightly in his fists. His eyes were swollen, his chest ached like something vital inside him had cracked hours ago and refused to stop bleeding.

“I tried,” Baekhyun whispered, voice hoarse. “God, Kiho, I tried to understand you. I defended you to everyone, even when it didn’t make sense. I begged myself to believe you because I loved you. But I can’t do this anymore.”

Kiho surged forward, hands wrapping around Baekhyun’s thighs like he could physically anchor him there. “No. No, don’t say that. Don’t give up on me, Baek. You love me, don’t you? That has to mean something!”

“It does,” Baekhyun said, tears slipping silently down his cheeks. “It means I hate myself a little more every time I let you convince me none of this is real. Every time I doubt my instincts just because you sound so sure .”

He pulled back. Kiho’s grip slid from his legs and hit the floor like a weight dropped from too high.

“Don’t do this to me,” Kiho whispered.

Baekhyun backed away, grabbing his coat with trembling hands. His suitcase had already been packed. It sat by the door like a decision he’d made hours before his heart caught up.

“I’m not doing this to you,” he said, voice cracking. “You did this. You and your secrets. You and your stories that change every time someone else opens their mouth.”

He opened the door.

“No, no, Baekhyun please. I love you, you love me. We can’t do this. You won’t do this.”

“Not anymore, Kiho. Let’s stop this. We were never even together to begin with. Ji-eun was right. I should have listened to her in the first place.”, Baekhyun said as he watched Kiho frowning at the mention of his friend.

Kiho’s face twisted, something feral flashing behind his eyes as Baekhyun spoke Ji-eun’s name. His hands curled into fists on the floor, shoulders taut like a wire pulled too tight.

“Ji-eun?” he spat, standing slowly, like venom creeping up a spine. “ She’s the one you’re listening to now? That bitch has hated me since the beginning. She never wanted you to be happy.”

“No,” Baekhyun said firmly, backing further into the hallway, hand tightening around the handle of his suitcase. “She never wanted me to be blind .”

“Blind to what?” Kiho snapped, stepping forward, eyes wild. “To lies? To jealousy? She was always jealous of us. Of what we had. She poisoned you, Baek. That’s what she does—she makes you question the people who actually care about you.”

Baekhyun flinched at the sharpness in his tone, but he didn’t step back. Not anymore. Not now that the words were out, not now that he’d seen Kiho’s mask slipping clean off.

“She didn’t have to poison anything,” Baekhyun whispered. “You did that all by yourself.”

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Kiho’s breathing was heavy now, erratic, like rage had taken the place of grief.

“You’re not thinking straight,” he hissed. “You’re tired. You’ve been crying. I know you, Baekhyun. I know how easily you panic and—”

“ Don’t ,” Baekhyun interrupted, voice low and sharp, “don’t gaslight me. Not again.”

Kiho stilled, frozen like a cornered animal. His lips parted like he wanted to say something—deny it, explain it, twist it again—but for the first time, Baekhyun saw the hesitation. The flicker of guilt he’d been praying for. But it didn’t feel like redemption.

It felt like proof.

“I’m leaving,” Baekhyun said, lifting his chin. “And you’re not going to follow me. You’re not going to call. You’re not going to show up at my job or my friends’ places or try to find me again.”

“And if I do?” Kiho challenged, voice low, dangerous.

Baekhyun stared him down, shaking but steady. “Then I’ll go to the police. And this time, I won’t protect you.”

“You wouldn’t”, this time Kiho was glaring at him but Baekhyun didn’t flinch and say, “Wanna test that out?”

Kiho’s glare faltered for just a second.

Baekhyun saw it—the way his pupils flickered, his jaw clenched tighter than before. It wasn’t fear. It was recognition. For once, Kiho understood Baekhyun wasn’t bluffing. That the man standing in front of him wasn’t the same one who used to shrink away from conflict, who used to cry and apologize just to keep the peace.

This Baekhyun had nothing left to lose.

“I gave you everything,” Kiho said, voice barely a rasp. “My time. My love. My soul.”

“You gave me your lies,” Baekhyun replied quietly. “And I let them rot me from the inside out.”

Kiho's face crumpled—rage contorting into something brittle, cracked down the middle with disbelief. He opened his mouth again, but Baekhyun was already turning away.

He stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind him before Kiho could speak again. Before he could throw out another plea, another threat, another manipulative hook masked as love.

The door clicked.

Silence.

Baekhyun stood there for a second, eyes closed, heart thudding loud in his chest like a final warning. Then he walked. Down the stairs. Out of the building. Into the night.

The air was cold and sharp, and the suitcase wheels rattled like bones on the pavement behind him.

Ji-eun’s apartment was ten blocks away, but Baekhyun walked the distance instead of calling a cab. His phone buzzed once—Kiho’s name lighting up the screen—and he powered it off without hesitation.

—

Ji-eun didn’t say a word when she opened the door. She just wrapped her arms around him and held him until his breath stopped shaking.

She didn’t ask what happened. She didn’t have to.

Baekhyun never forgot how warm Ji-eun’s arms had been that night, how fiercely she’d held him, like she was his new born son.

The news came the next morning.

Lee Ji-eun is missing.

That was the last thing Baekhyun heard about Ji-eun.

—

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

Ring ring

The man groaned being woken up by his cellphone under his pillow. He groaned annoyingly upon seeing the time. 3am. He answered the call before closing his eyes again.

“Who’s this”

“Is this Lee Ji-eun’s friend”

“Yes. Who are you? What do you want?”

“What’s your name?”

“Why the hell would I say it to you. Answer me or else I’m going to hang up now”, Baekhyun said annoyed, eyes still closed.

“Lee Ji-eun is dead.”

Chapter 20

Notes:

if i keep up w the consistent updates, i think we'll see the end sooner than we think, which is sad cuz im not ready........ any theories as to who exo is and what happened ? THANKU FOR ALL THEE LOVE N SUPPORT ! it's so crazy that it's been less than a month since i released this nd there's already 1,208 hits. thank u everyone! ALSO QUESTION, is the pacing too slow or messy? or is it too fast

“Lee Ji-eun is dead”

Baekhyun’s eyes opened as he sat up straight. “What? No she isn’t, she’s missing for a week now”

“She’s dead”

 The phone drops in Baekhyun’s hands. 

“What?”

Baekhyun stared at the ceiling, the phone speaker hissing faintly with static where it had fallen between his fingers and the pillow. He didn’t move. Couldn’t.

A breath escaped him. Then another. Then—

“No, she’s not,” he said aloud, barely more than a whisper. “She’s not.”

He picked the phone back up, hands trembling. “ What kind of sick joke—”

“Her neighbors said they heard screaming and loud shouts for a while then said that it died down so they decided to check.” the voice said flatly. Unfamiliar. Male. Mechanical, almost. “There was a lot of blood.”

“She can’t be dead.” 

“Please come here to her house, we’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“Tell me that this is just some joke that she wanted to do to me.”

There was a silence on the other end, as if the man wanted to give respect.

“Please come to her apartment as soon as possible. The address is—”

“I know the address,” Baekhyun cut in quietly. His voice cracked. “I know.”

The call ended.

He didn’t remember putting on clothes or grabbing his keys. Everything felt like he was underwater—his heart pounding in slow motion, his limbs heavy and sluggish. The street outside was still and dark, just before the first light of dawn, but it didn’t feel like the world had paused. It felt like it had ended .

By the time he got to Ji-eun’s apartment, police tape was strung across the entrance like a cruel joke. It’s still midnight—3am. It war so dark yet there’s police cars flashing silently over the broken rhythm of footsteps and hushed conversation. A few neighbors lingered near the building’s edge, whispering. Watching him.

A uniformed officer stepped forward when Baekhyun approached. The officer nodded once, then waved over another man—a detective in a long gray coat with tired eyes and a notepad already in hand.

“Mr. Byun?” the detective asked, voice clipped. “I’m Detective Nam. Please come with me.”

Baekhyun’s stomach churned as he ducked under the tape and followed the detective up the stairs. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until they reached Ji-eun’s floor.

The door was wide open.

Inside… the smell hit him first. Metallic. Sharp. Wrong.

The living room was exactly as he remembered—except for the blood.

So much blood.

Dark, dried patches soaked into the rug, streaked toward the hallway. The couch had been pushed aside. Her coffee mug was still on the table. The small, cozy apartment that had always felt like a refuge now looked like a crime scene from a movie. Cold. Violated.

Baekhyun’s breath caught in his throat.

“Don’t step inside yet,” Nam said firmly, holding up a hand. “We’ve already begun forensic processing. You can come in later. We just need to ask a few questions.”

Baekhyun nodded. He didn’t trust his voice.

“Do you know if Lee Ji-eun had any enemies?” Nam asked, flipping a page in his notebook.

Baekhyun shook his head slowly. “No. Not really. She wasn’t… that kind of person. She was loud, sure. Blunt. But she wasn’t cruel.”

Nam hummed, pen scratching. “Sometimes it doesn’t take cruelty. Sometimes it just takes being in the wrong place, with the wrong person. When did you last see her?”

“A week ago. The night she disappeared.”

Nam’s eyes sharpened. “You were the last person to see her alive?”

Baekhyun hesitated, then nodded.

“What time did you leave?”

“I… around eleven. Maybe later. I can’t remember. I didn’t look at the clock.”

“And what was her condition at the time?”

“She seemed like the usual. She was comforting me, I was too busy crying so I didn’t really take note if she wasn’t okay.”

Officer Nam stopped writing and looked at Baekhyun, “Why were you crying?”

“I don’t see how that will help you but it’s a personal matter.”

Nam didn’t respond right away. The silence stretched between them like a wire pulled taut.

Finally, the detective lowered his notebook slightly. “Mr. Byun, I understand this is difficult, but you were the last known person to see Lee Ji-eun alive. Everything matters now—every conversation, every emotion. Especially if you were emotional and she was comforting you. We need to understand the context.”

Baekhyun pressed his lips together, jaw tight. His eyes were glassy, but he didn’t blink.

“I just ended things with someone I liked because I can’t take everything anymore. Ji-eun was my only best friend and family. That's why I ran to her straight and she comforted me.”

“Was this person your mate?”

“No. I don’t know. We didn’t become officially mates but he considered himself as my alpha. We didn’t exactly have any label too so it’s difficult but that’s it.”

Officer Nam suddenly raised an eyebrow before asking, “So he’s an alpha? What’s his name? It may seem out of place but I have a question for you. Has there been any instances wherein that person was ever jealous of Lee Ji-eun? I mean, it’s normal for an alpha to feel jealous of another alpha. Even if she was female, Ji-eun is still an alpha and you know that alphas are very territorial, especially to someone they see as a mate.”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched.

“She’s—she was an alpha, yeah,” he murmured. “But no, I don’t think he was jealous. At least, not in an obvious way. He never said anything. He always seemed kind of distant when I brought her up, but that’s just how he is. He doesn’t really… talk about feelings. He’d just change the subject or go quiet.”

“Did they like each other?”

“No, she never did like him. It’s the same for him.”

“Did she ever tell you why?”

Baekhyun darted his eyes in the corners of the room before closing his eyes and sniffling. He opened them and breathed out before saying, “There were certain rumors about him that made her suspicious and curious as to why.”

“Like?”

“Rumors of him about raping some girls, and being sent to jail for how many times.” That got the officer’s attention as he suddenly stopped writing again and looked at him in disbelief.

“Are you saying the man you were involved with has a criminal record for sexual assault?”

Baekhyun's heart dropped. His voice trembled, shame curling like ice in his stomach. “I… I never found any proof. Ji-eun warned me to stay away, but I didn’t listen. He told me it wasn’t true. That people were just out to ruin him. He looked me in the eye and swore it wasn’t real.”

Nam stared at him. The air between them grew heavy.

“Do you remember his full name?”

“Park Kiho.”

Nam’s pen hovered over his notepad for a beat too long. Then he wrote the name down in clean, blocky letters.

“Park Kiho,” he repeated aloud. “Do you know his current whereabouts?”

Baekhyun shook his head. “No. We… we haven’t spoken since yesterday. I blocked him after I left Ji-eun’s place. I haven’t heard from him.”

Nam’s jaw tightened. He looked toward the bloodstained rug, then back at Baekhyun. “You understand that if Park Kiho has a prior criminal record and is known to be aggressive, especially toward omegas, we have to treat him as a person of interest—immediately.”

“I understand,” Baekhyun said quietly. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, knuckles pale. “I should’ve listened to her.”

Nam’s voice softened slightly, but it didn’t lose its edge. “We don’t have the full picture yet. That’s what we’re here for. But if there’s any chance he’s involved…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “We’ll find out.”

He flipped his notebook closed, then gestured to one of the officers standing near the taped-off hallway. “We’ll get your statement formally at the station. I’ll have Officer Jang take you now.”

Baekhyun barely heard the words. His eyes had drifted back to the corner of the living room where Ji-eun’s throw blanket was half-draped over the side of the couch. She always sat there, cross-legged with tea, listening to him complain about the world.

Now all that was left was a stain.

“Mr. Byun.” Nam’s voice was sharper this time. “We’re going to need your cooperation from here on out. If you remember anything , even the smallest detail, call me directly. Understood?”

Baekhyun gave a small, choked nod before saying, “Can I please see her first?”

Officer Nam looked at him worriedly and said, “Are you sure?”

Baekhyun nodded slowly, though his body screamed at him to do the opposite. “I need to,” he whispered. “Just for a second.”

Nam studied him for a long moment, the hesitation flickering clearly in his eyes. But eventually, he sighed and gestured toward the hallway. “Alright. She’s in the bedroom. But only for a moment. The scene is still being processed, and I need you to prepare yourself.”

He didn’t feel prepared. He never would be.

Officer Jang led him down the hallway, the walls closing in tighter with each step. Ji-eun’s door was slightly ajar, like someone had left in a hurry. Or like she’d been taken. A flash of her perfume ghosted by—lavender and rain—and Baekhyun’s knees nearly buckled.

Jang pushed the door open the rest of the way.

She lay there, still. Sheets rumpled around her, her body too quiet. Blood soaked the mattress, dried in a terrifying pattern that told more truth than Baekhyun could handle. Her face was partially covered, but he could still see her mouth. Slightly open, as if she’d been mid-sentence. Like she was about to laugh again. Tell him he was being dramatic, or that she loved him.

He took one step in.

“Ji-eun…” The name cracked in his throat.

This wasn’t her. Not really. Ji-eun was warm. Alive. Her voice filled rooms. Her smile made people feel less alone. She wasn’t meant to be this—still and surrounded by strangers, part of a report, a photograph, a file.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, tears spilling freely now. “Ji-eun, I'm so sorry, please don’t leave me. Tell me this is just a joke. Please. I can’t lose you.”. He kneeled at the bed crying as the officers just watched him. Officer Nam gestured to the other officers to leave the omega first for privacy and respect.

The room emptied quietly behind him. Footsteps faded, the soft creak of the door folding shut left Baekhyun alone in a silence so thick it felt like the walls were mourning with him. The only sound was his breathing—sharp, ragged, desperate.

He reached for her hand. It was cold.

His fingers brushed over hers but he couldn’t bring himself to hold it properly. Not like he used to. Not like she used to hold his every time he cried or laughed too hard or felt the world cave in. Ji-eun had always been the one thing in his life that never wavered, never faltered.

And now she was—

“No,” he whispered again, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth to stop the sob tearing through him. “This isn’t real. This can’t be real.”

But the blood was real. The body was real. And the hollow, shattering ache in his chest was the cruelest reality of all.

He buried his face in the edge of the mattress, shoulders trembling as grief poured from him in broken sounds. “I didn’t protect you,” he whispered. “Ji-eun, I'm so sorry. Please just wake up and tell me that this is all a joke—that you even got the officers to go along with you. I’ll forgive you.”

Baekhyun cried and cried until his throat hurted. Why did Ji-eun die? Who killed her? Why her? 

“I shouldn’t have left your apartment that day. I’m sorry.”  His vision blurred as he sank to his knees beside the bed, just out of reach of her hand. “I should’ve been there,” he choked. “You were always there for me, and I—” He couldn’t finish. His voice gave out, swallowed by the silence of the room.

Officer Jang stood back respectfully, gaze averted, giving Baekhyun a fragile moment of goodbye. The detective’s voice called softly from the doorway after a while, gentle but firm. “Mr. Byun, we need to leave now.”

Baekhyun reached out a trembling hand, brushing the edge of the sheet that covered her. Not her skin. Not her warmth. Just cotton. Just distance. He swallowed thickly, then stood, staggering slightly as he turned away.

Away from the lifeless body of his best friend.

Chapter 21

Notes:

this was supposed to be the chap where i'll finally reveal it but i think we need to build it up more lol. it's so crazy that we alr have 1,406 hits,,,this is so insane!!

It was the same as always. Rollcall. Shower with Kyungsoo. Canteen. But this time, Baekhyun was looking for someone. As always, he sat with EXO. Like the past few days, he’s been distant to them and today’s not an exception. 

“Baek, did I do something? What’s happening?”Jongdae confronted him after lunch in the laundry room.

Baekhyun didn’t answer right away. The hum of machines, the wet thud of damp fabric, and the heat of the laundry room made it feel more suffocating than usual.

He folded a shirt mechanically, eyes trained on the cloth, like it held all the answers he was scared to face.

Jongdae waited—tense, unusually quiet. When Baekhyun finally looked up, his voice came out soft but sharp-edged.

“Why do you even care? It’s not like I’m part of you guys”, Baekhyun said, trying to act as if he doesn’t care about them—as if he didn’t consider them his pack. “I’m not part of your pack, Jongdae. I’m just the omega who’s rooming with the mighty Minseok and Jongdae.”

Something flashed in Jongdae’s eyes—maybe rage or maybe hurt but Baekhyun pretended his heart didn't shatter as he said, “Stay away from me, please.”

Jongdae’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything right away. He just stood there—chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, like he was keeping something locked in. The buzz of the dryer, the dripping faucet, and Baekhyun’s forced indifference wrapped around them like static.

“You don’t get to decide that,” Jongdae finally said, low and controlled. “You don’t get to decide if we want to cut you off or not. If we didn’t want to be friends with you, I promise you’ll be the first to know. If we didn’t want you in our pack, we wouldn’t have protected or invited you to us in the table.

Baekhyun’s breathing stuttered. The voice in his head was sharp, biting — cruel in the way it twisted the truth, warped every kindness into a threat.

He’s lying. They all are. Just like Kiho. Smile at you, feed you, praise you… until they turn you inside out and leave you hollow.

His hands curled into the damp fabric in his lap. “I didn’t ask for your protection,” he said, voice brittle. “I didn’t ask for your friendship. I didn’t even ask you guys for anything. You were the ones who invited me in the table even though I can handle myself. You were the ones who wanted me, not the other way around.

Jongdae looked at him, silent. Hurt blooming behind his eyes, slow and visible, like a bruise forming.

Baekhyun hated it.
He hated how it made him feel—
Like he was the one cracking.
Like he was the one being cruel now.

“I know,” Jongdae said softly, after a long beat. “We were the ones who wanted you. You didn’t ask for it. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t deserve it, Baek.”

Baekhyun looked away. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt. Because that word— deserve —never belonged to him. Not after what Kiho told him. Not after what Kiho did.

“Did we do anything that made you uncomfortable? Were we too protective for your liking? Did I annoy you?”, Jongdae asked again despite knowing the reason the omega distanced from them. He—they just needed to hear it from Baekhyun himself.

Baekhyun shook his head, too fast, too automatic. But Jongdae wasn’t buying it, and Baekhyun knew it.

His fingers twisted the edge of the shirt in his lap until the seams threatened to tear.

“No,” Baekhyun admitted in a whisper, then louder, “No, you didn’t.”

He finally met Jongdae’s gaze. His own eyes were glassy, rimmed red from holding back too much for too long. “That’s the problem.”

Jongdae furrowed his brows, stepping closer. “What do you mean?”

Baekhyun exhaled shakily, the words slipping out like confession and curse in one. “You didn’t do anything wrong. None of you did. You were kind. You were patient. You treated me like I mattered.”

He swallowed, voice cracking. “That’s what scares me.”

Jongdae’s eyes softened, and he looked like he wanted to reach out—but he didn’t. Not yet. Maybe he knew Baekhyun wouldn’t let him. Maybe he knew Baekhyun would break at even the smallest touch.

“You think we’re gonna turn on you, use you” Jongdae said, not accusing, just stating it like a truth. “Like what alphas do. Is that it?”

Baekhyun went silent, not knowing what to say. He just stared at the crumpled shirt in his hand, fighting the voices in his head.

‘He’s just like them’

‘Kuho was sweet and protective like them at first’

‘They’re just using you’

“Look, If you think we’re just using you or something, think about the reason why Kyungsoo an omega like you would stick with us if we really did that. You trust Kyungsoo, right? Then trust his judgement in us too.”

Baekhyun’s lips parted—just slightly, just enough to breathe around the weight of that truth.

He did trust Kyungsoo the most aside from Chanyeol and his two cellmates. Implicitly. Quietly. Fiercely.

Kyungsoo, who never pried. Who never pushed him to talk when he wasn’t ready. Who stood beside him in the showers without looking at his body like it was meat. Who made space for him in the canteen even when Baekhyun sat like a ghost among them.

Kyungsoo, who chose to sit with the pack every day and stay with them, feeling safe despite being the only omega before Baekhyun came.

The twisting in Baekhyun’s gut pulled tighter. But still, he denied it. “Maybe he’s doing it just for Jongin. I don’t know Kyungsoo deeply, who knows maybe he’s fucked up and is just hiding it. Maybe like you guys.”. He gulped as memories of Kiho flooded in his mind again, “You don’t know how love makes you do the scariest things. Love makes you crazy and fucks you up until you don’t recognize yourself.”

He watched as Jongdae’s concerned eyes was slowly clouding with rage. Baekhyun gulped realizing that he said the wrong thing but it had to be said. Love does make you crazy. He knows how crazy love makes a person do. 

Jongdae’s voice dropped, low and controlled—but this time not with patience. With fury. The kind of fury that simmers when someone you care about has been hurt in ways you can’t fix.

“Baek, I know you’re scared but you didn’t have to talk about Kyungsoo like that. We’ve been nothing but good to you. Kyungsoo admires you, he likes you so much like how Minseok likes you. You don’t get to talk about him like that. I understand that you’re having a hard time now, really, I get it but I swear if you speak like that about Kyungsoo or the others, I won’t hesitate to fight you.”

Baekhyun flinched, acting as if he’s unaffected. He scoffed before saying, “Wow. Now your threatening me?”

Jongdae’s tone didn’t waver as he stepped closer, his voice low, not taunting—just honest.

“I’m not threatening you, Baekhyun. I’m warning you. Because I care . And people who care? They draw the line when someone they love gets disrespected. Especially someone like Kyungsoo, who’s done nothing but show you patience and kindness.”

Baekhyun opened his mouth—to fight back, to deflect, to run—but no words came. Because something in Jongdae’s words hit too close to the bone. Love. That word again.

And wasn’t that the worst part of all this?

The way they looked at him like he mattered. The way Kyungsoo laughed softly when Baekhyun made a sarcastic comment under his breath. The way Minseok always made sure there was a spot open beside him in the canteen. The way Sehun always annoys him when he knows that Baekhyun isn’t in the mood. The way Jongin was overprotective to him too like how he is to Kyungsoo. The way Jumnyeon talked to the guards when they saw how they treated Baekhyun. The way Yixing always ruffles his hair during free time.The way Chanyeol never looked at him like the others had before—never with hunger, never with expectation, just... calm and always puts on a cloth on Baekhyun’s laugh to cover his panties. The way everyone was protective over him after the incident happened and the way Jongdae was standing here now, furious for him, not at him.

Baekhyun suddenly felt small—cornered by his own fear and anger and the aching truth that maybe he did want to be part of this pack, that maybe he’d wanted it from the start.

But he didn’t know how. Not without waiting for the catch. The betrayal. The leash.

Baekhyun blinked, suddenly too aware of the burning in his eyes, the tightness in his chest. He hated crying in front of people—especially alphas. It made him feel like he was proving them right. Weak. Fragile. Something to be broken.

But Jongdae didn’t move. Didn’t press. He just stood there, fists clenched at his sides like he was holding himself back from stepping too close. Too soon.

“You’re allowed to be scared,” Jongdae said, his voice softer now, raw at the edges. “But don’t push us away because of something someone else did. We’re not like the others.

Baekhyun let out a shaky breath, fingers still twisting the damp shirt in his lap. He didn’t speak. Couldn’t. The silence stretched, heavy between them, humming with things unspoken—trauma, guilt, hope, fear. He wasn’t sure what hurt more: the pain in his chest or the possibility that Jongdae might actually mean everything he said.

Jongdae’s eyes didn’t leave him. “You don’t have to trust us overnight,” he added gently. “But don’t punish yourself by being alone just because someone taught you love means pain. It doesn’t. Not with us.”

Baekhyun swallowed thickly, throat burning. His voice, when it came, was barely audible. “You say that now.. but what will happen if you’re just like the others?”

Jongdae’s eyes didn’t flinch. He didn’t look offended. He didn’t try to force promises or comfort down Baekhyun’s throat. He just… nodded. Slowly. Like he understood. Like he really understood.

“Then we’ll prove we’re not,” he said simply. “Every damn day, if we have to.”

Baekhyun blinked hard, lashes wet. That wasn’t the answer he expected. Not some flowery promise, not some oath sealed in affection. Just consistency. Just effort.

Jongdae turned slightly, taking a step back—giving space, not leaving. “I’m not going to pretend to know what you’ve been through,” he said, voice gentler now, but still steady. “But I know what it’s like to live like you’re waiting for the ground to break beneath you.”

He looked Baekhyun in the eye, calm but firm. “We’re not asking you to fall. We’re just asking you to sit with us. Eat with us. Let us exist next to you without you thinking we’ve got a knife in our back pocket.”

Baekhyun’s chest trembled with a breath he didn’t know he was holding. The damn shirt was wrinkled in his lap, crushed by his fists.

“What if I can’t stop thinking that?” he asked, voice a whisper.

Jongdae’s expression didn’t falter. “Then we’ll sit through it with you. Until one day, maybe, you’ll think something else instead.”

Baekhyun closed his eyes. That maybe was terrifying. But it was better than nothing. Better than pretending he didn’t care. Better than letting the fear of love strangle the chance of anything good.

The dryer buzzed behind them, ending its cycle. The hum of the room continued as if nothing monumental had just passed between them.

And maybe it hadn’t. Maybe it was just words.

But words mattered.

Jongdae finally moved again, toward the door. “Laundry detail ends in ten,” he said quietly. “I’ll leave you to fold in peace.”

He turned, hesitated—then added, without looking back, “We miss you. Not because you’re an omega. Because you’re you . Baekhyun.”

“Wait, Jongdae”

Baekhyun’s heart raced fast as he took a deep breathe—as if he’s trying to find the courage to say the one thing that’s been on his mind.

“Why are you guys in prison? Who are you all really and why is everyone so scared of you?”

Chapter 22

Summary:

long chap ahead!

Notes:

the reveal! LMAO won't update this for how many days just to leave y'al in a cliffhanger but the next chap is alr written so. hope i didnt disappoint and happy chanbaek day! they're actually based on toman (iykyk LOL if u like tokyo rev, maybe you'll want to look at my profile to see some stories). anyways, thankyou for all the love and support! we're nearing the end now, which is really sad. i feel like we have less than ten chaps left now....

Jongdae paused in the doorway, his shoulders going still. For a second, Baekhyun thought he wouldn’t answer—that he’d pretend he hadn’t heard, or give some half-truth like everyone else did. But then Jongdae turned his head just slightly, just enough that Baekhyun could see the curve of his jaw, the tension behind it.

“Please Jongdae, tell me. So I know if I can trust you again. I need to know this, no one will tell me anything.”

Jongdae looked at him surprised and said, “I thought you already knew about it, that's why you’re avoiding us.” Baekhyun shook his head. “You sure you want to know that?” Jongdae asked. His voice wasn’t cold. It wasn’t defensive either. It was calm.

Baekhyun swallowed, his fingers curling tighter around the edge of the dryer behind him. “I think I already do. Not the details… but the weight of it—of your crimes.

“Fine. We’ll talk about it later, as a group. Go back to our cell when you’re done here, we’ll be waiting for you”, Jongdae said before going out.

The door clicked shut with a soft finality, but the sound echoed in Baekhyun’s chest like a gunshot.

Baekhyun stood there long after Jongdae had gone, the heat of the dryer now faded, leaving only cold metal beneath his palms. His heartbeat was still too loud. His mind was louder.

He’d asked for the truth—and Jongdae had said yes. They were finally going to tell him.

And even if that truth cracked open everything Baekhyun thought he knew… Maybe it was time.

He picked up the warm, wrinkled shirt he’d been gripping for so long and folded it with more care than necessary. Then another. And another. The task grounded him, quieted the noise in his head just enough to breathe.

—

As Baekhyun walked down the hallway, his footsteps echoed louder than they should’ve. It was free time, which meant the rec room and yard were crowded, but the path to their cell block was empty—too empty. The kind of silence that pressed in on your chest, demanding attention.

He tried to steady his breathing. Whatever they’re about to tell me… it will change everything.

He reached the cell, the familiar one down the far corner—extra space, extra eyes, extra silence. His hand hovered over the doorframe for a second before pushing in.

They were all there.

Junmyeon sat on the metal desk, arms folded, eyes already on him. Yixing leaned against the wall near the window, gaze calm, but unreadable. Chanyeol stood at the foot of the bunk—Baekhyun’s, head tilted like he’d been listening for Baekhyun’s steps long before he arrived. Kyungsoo was on the lower bunk, quiet and still as stone. Jongin sat beside Sehun on the opposite bed, both of them glancing up at him at the same time—like mirror images, one sharp-edged, one soft, but both waiting. And Jongdae stood, not quite in the center, but clearly the one who’d pulled them all into this.

Baekhyun hesitated, the warden’s words echoing in his mind: “EXO is watching you... They care about one thing: power. And you’ve got it.”

Junmyeon noticed his hesitation and let out a small nervous sign and said, “Come in, Baekhyun. It’s not like we’ll hurt you.”

Baekhyun glared at him and said, “How can I be sure of that? That you aren’t like what people tell me?”

Silence answered him. The others just stared at him, unsure of what to say to help the omega.

“You’re fully capable of defending yourself against anyone and what makes you think that we’ll hurt you? If we wanted to hurt you, we wouldn’t have gotten closer to you in the first place. If you don’t trust us, then sit beside Kyungsoo as his fellow omega. Whatever makes you feel safe.”, Minseok was the one who spoke up.

Baekhyun took a deep breath before stepping inside the wolf’s den. Yixing pushed away from the wall and closed the cell door behind Baekhyun with a quiet click. Not a trap. A circle.

Baekhyun’s fingers twitched. “You said you’d tell me. Give me the full truth. Not the half-assed — everything.”, he said as he walked towards Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo shifted slightly, just enough to give Baekhyun space on the narrow bunk beside him. Not too much. Just enough that Baekhyun wouldn’t feel crowded—but not alone either.

Baekhyun sat down, his body stiff with tension. Every instinct screamed at him to bolt. To protect himself. But he stayed. He’d asked for this.

The others didn’t sit. They didn’t move like they were preparing some grand reveal. They just looked at each other. Waiting.

And then Junmyeon spoke.

“You know our name,” he said. “EXO. That’s what the guards call us. What everyone whispers. What the warden warns you about.”

“You might have seen us in the news, that’s why you always say that we seem so familiar.”, Jongin continued.

“The eight of us grew up together but we were seven originally before we met Sehun, who was years younger than us. You can say that we were all childhood friends. We met each other at elementary school.”

Baekhyun’s brow furrowed at that. He hadn’t expected the story to start there—so soft, almost mundane. Friends since childhood? That didn’t fit the image he’d built of EXO. Criminals. Kingpins. Mafia. Murderers.

But no one was smiling. No one was romanticizing it.

Minseok leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “We didn’t come from privilege, Baekhyun. Most of us were born into shit. The kind of homes where silence meant danger, and crying got you hurt. We only had each other.”

“We were smart,” Yixing added, voice low but steady. “Smarter than the streets we grew up on. Smarter than the schools that gave up on us. We figured out early on that loyalty was stronger than blood.”

Junmyeon’s gaze never wavered. “So we built something. Something that will help us survive. 

Baekhyun didn’t speak. He didn’t trust his voice to come out steady.

Junmyeon continued, slower now. “It wasn’t a gang. Not at first. Just… a network. A family, really. Stealing food. Getting each other out of trouble. Making deals to keep our heads above water. Then we met Sehun, who was 14 years old at the time, nearly dead because of his useless family.”

Junmyeon glanced at Sehun as he spoke, and the youngest merely dipped his head, not in shame—but in memory. In quiet rage.

“He wasn’t the first we helped,” Jongin said, voice barely above a murmur. “But he was the first we kept . Took him in, fed him, trained him. Not like a soldier. Like a brother.”

“He almost died,” Kyungsoo said flatly. “And no one would’ve cared. Not the cops. Not the school. Not even his own damn family. So we decided that if no one else would protect our people, we’d do it ourselves.”

Baekhyun’s hands curled in his lap.

“And that’s when things changed,” Minseok added. “We stopped waiting for scraps. We stopped playing by anyone else’s rules. We made our own.”

“The streets started calling us EXO,” Chanyeol said from the foot of the bunk, his deep voice slow and sure. “We didn’t give ourselves that name. It was what others started whispering when something went wrong in the city and no one could explain it. A gang disappears overnight? EXO. A corrupt officer ends up in the hospital? EXO. A whole trafficking ring burned down to the ground? EXO.”

Baekhyun looked up sharply. “Wait… burned down?”

“EXO wasn’t just us eight. EXO is everyone we care about. Think of it as a brand name and we were the founders. What started because of teenagers who wanted to survive the streets became the destroyers of those exact streets”, said Jongin.

“Our biggest mistake was trusting too many people. Like Jongin said, EXO is a brand. We were huge. We have many people under us, which makes it hard to control. Not everyone is loyal.”

Minseok’s words hung in the air like smoke—slow, curling, impossible to ignore. Baekhyun could feel the weight behind them. Betrayal. Blood. Collapse.

“We didn’t even realize it at first,” Junmyeon added. “That someone was leaking our movements. Selling information. Using our name to move weight, to hurt people, to cover their own crimes. We tried to stop it early, but by then the rumors were bigger than the truth.”

“The media called us monsters,” Yixing said, his voice softer than ever before. “And the worst part is… we let them. We thought if they feared us, they’d stay away. That it would protect the people we loved.”

“But that power attracted the wrong kind of people,” Chanyeol said grimly.

“What do you mean?”

Junmyeon looked at Kyungsoo as if asking for permission, which Kyungsoo nodded to.

“We were powerful, people feared us. Since EXO is a brand, anyone we consider a friend is also EXO. One day, we met Minseok’s brother”, Kyungsoo said, making Baekhyun perk up, it’s the first time Minseok’s brother was mentioned again. The beta always says that Baekhyun reminds him of his brother. “He was an alpha. At first, he was really sweet. Take note, he’s like 25 years old while Minseok was 18 at the time so he’s still young. I was 16 at the time. He was cool, treated us as if we were all his brothers. One day, we heard a rumor that EXO are rapists. That’s when the line was crossed.”

“Sure, we hurt people when they hurt the ones we swore to protect. But touching someone—an omega without consent is a different type of crime. We knew that none of us would do it so it makes sense that someone did it under EXO. We didn’t really know who did it until he touched one of us.”, Yixing said, making Baekhyun’s eyebrows furrow in question, “One of you…? You mean…. Kyungsoo?”, Baekhyun pointed before looking at the omega beside him.

Kyungsoo gave him a small smile before continuing what Yixing was saying. 

Kyungsoo’s voice was calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that meant danger had passed, but damage remained.

“No,” he said. “It wasn’t me.”

The cell grew quieter, the silence turning from tense to electric—anticipation and dread mingling in the heavy air.

“It was me,” Minseok said, stepping forward from the wall. His eyes were locked on Baekhyun’s. “He touched me .”

Baekhyun felt the world tilt for a second.

Minseok, who never flinched. Minseok, who always stood straight, who kept the others in line, who spoke with certainty and power. Minseok, the one who looked at Baekhyun like he was watching a ghost.

“I was young. Stupid. And he was my brother,” Minseok continued, voice quiet but steady. “I trusted him, like how any younger brother would feel about their elder sibling.” Minseok’s gaze didn’t waver, and neither did his voice, but something in the way he stood—shoulders too still, jaw too tight—said more than words ever could.

“I didn’t tell the others at first,” he went on. “I thought… maybe it was my fault. Maybe I misread something. Maybe I was just weak.”

“No,” Baekhyun said before he could stop himself, the word torn from his throat. “You weren’t weak.”

Minseok blinked, startled—not by the word itself, but by the intensity in Baekhyun’s voice. It was the first time the omega had spoken with something close to fire.

“I know that now,” Minseok said, nodding. “But back then… I buried it. We all had shit to deal with. And I couldn’t bear the idea of turning my family against itself. I told myself if I just kept going, it would stop.”

“It didn’t,” Jongdae said, voice dark, fists clenched at his sides.

“No,” Minseok agreed. “It didn’t. He got bolder. Started doing things—crimes that are too violent for our liking. Showing interest in Jumnyeon, the only beta after me and Kyungsoo, the only omega in the pack.

Baekhyun’s breath caught. He didn’t expect Minseok’s brother to be like that. When Minseok said to him before that he reminded him of his brother, he thought it’s because they look similar. Now, he can’t even see what Minseok seems on both of them that made him think that way.

Minseok’s jaw clenched. “When he cornered Kyungsoo one night—tried to claim him like he was his alpha, Jongin accidentally came in.”

Jongin’s eyes darkened at the memory. “I wasn’t supposed to be there,” he muttered. “I forgot my wallet. Walked in just as he had Kyungsoo pinned against the wall.” He swallowed, and Baekhyun noticed how Sehun subtly reached over, placing a calming hand on Jongin’s back.

“I saw red,” Jongin continued. “Didn’t even think. I threw him off Kyungsoo and broke two of his ribs. Would’ve broken more if Junmyeon hadn’t dragged me off.”

Junmyeon nodded grimly. “That was the night everything changed.”

“We confronted him,” Kyungsoo said, voice sharp. “We called the police despite knowing that we might be sent to jail but that doesn’t matter because we, the gang we created to survive, and help each other, were used by others to take advantage of other people. Our brand was already damaged. What mattered was at least we were all still together.”

Baekhyun sat frozen beside Kyungsoo, his breath shallow as he took it all in. The pieces that never fit—the quiet sorrow in Minseok’s eyes and the way he observes his surroundings first before speaking, the way Jongin’s protectiveness over Kyungsoo, the fierce protectiveness that wrapped around all of them—now made a brutal kind of sense.

It wasn’t just loyalty that bound them. It was survival, yes—but more than that, it was pain. Shared and endured. Transformed into something unbreakable. Their bond.

“We gave our statement,” Junmyeon said. “We told the truth. Every detail. Every bruise and every threat. And we had proof—Jongin’s injuries, Kyungsoo’ and Minseok’s testimony and we even found girls that he victimized. It was only then when we knew we had to shut up the gang—to disband it because its purpose was already fulfilled when people left us alone. It was only then when we realized the damage that Minseok’s brother did. What he did behind our backs.”

“Was he sent to jail?”

“No, because we killed him.

Baekhyun's breath caught. Junmyeon had said it without pause. Without shame. Without the theatricality of a confession. Just the truth. The kind that wasn’t up for debate.

Baekhyun’s voice came out quieter than he intended, almost lost in the stillness. “You… killed him?”

“Yes,” Junmyeon said. “All of us.”

“We planned it,” Minseok added. “Not in rage. Not in the heat of the moment. Calmly. Together. We made a decision. We weren’t going to let him use our name. We weren’t going to let him hurt anyone else.”

“It wasn’t revenge,” Yixing murmured. “It was justice. Our kind of justice.”

Justice….just like what Baekhyun did when he killed Kiho.

“If that’s what your brother did, then why did you say I reminded you of him? I don’t see any similarities. If anything, he’s similar to the man I killed.”, Baekhyun asked, looking at Minseok.

“I have two brothers. The one that I told you was my older brother then the one you remind me of is Jae-won, my younger brother. I’m the middle child.

Baekhyun flinched as memories flooded his head right again.

—

‘Do you have any family members?’Baekhyun asked, sipping his coffee while looking at his date.

“I only have one but he’s dead. His name is Jae-won. Kim Jaewon.’

—

 ‘ He faked his identity, Mr. Byun ’, the officer told Baekhyun back then while holding the report on the investigation.

—

“Minseok…what was your older brother’s name? The one you just told earlier?”, Baekhyun asked slowly, feeling his heart beat.

“Kiho. Kim Kiho.”

Baekhyun felt the world crack open beneath him. The monster living in his head wasn’t just part of his past. He was part of theirs.

Chapter 23

Notes:

IM BACK! i have to finish this story within this month LOL. im currently writing another chanbaek au inspired by mission impossible/avangers (black widow),,, i was scrolling on twitter the other day then found this tweet something bout omegaverse smut in prison then someone asked if there's a chanbaek one then another user sent a link of this,,,i swear my heart raced then suddenly like i swear within hours my notifs was flooded with comments from ao3 then the view went up to 2k. thank u for the 2,160 hits! i'll try to update tom lol i already have the draft of the next chap

“If you killed Kiho, then what happened to Jae-won?” Baekhyun asked, his voice trembling despite his steady gaze on Minseok. None of this made sense—yet somehow, everything felt connected. It had to be.

Minseok’s gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders curling inward for the first time since Baekhyun had met him. The man who always stood like stone now looked—small.

“We lost him,” Minseok said, the words dragging from his throat like they physically hurt to speak. “After Kiho disappeared… after we killed him, I went back to find Jae-won.” His hands clenched at his sides. “But he was already gone.”

“Gone?” Baekhyun whispered.

“Yea, he’s gone. I don’t know what happened to him but I haven’t seen him since then.”, Minseok said.

—

Baekhyun’s footsteps echoed in the hallway, sharp and uneven, like the way his heart thudded painfully in his chest. Kim Kiho. Minseok’s brother. The weight of it sat like a stone in Baekhyun’s gut, but not because he regretted what he’d done.  He didn’t. Not for a second.

Kiho deserved to die.

His breathing hitched as he stumbled into the omega bathroom and locked the door behind him. He immediately went to the sink. His knuckles turned white from the force he used to grip the sink. His stomach twisted, but there was nothing to vomit.  He wasn’t sick of killing Kiho.  He was sick because it mattered to Minseok. It mattered to them

What should I do? What do I do now? Do I tell them?

Would Minseok still look at him the same way if he knew? Would Chanyeol?

The truth wouldn’t erase what Kiho had done. Baekhyun knew that. But would they see the monster Baekhyun had killed—or would they see the brother they had lost? Would they understand Baekhyun? Will they still take him as their friend? Will Chanyeol stop caring about him?

Baekhyun’s jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

He didn’t regret it. He couldn’t. Kiho destroyed people. Baekhyun’s best friend. Baekhyun’s life.

I would kill him again. I would kill him a thousand times.

But why did it feel like his hands were shaking anyway?

Why did it feel like he had betrayed someone?

A knock came at the door. Kyungsoo’s voice, soft and careful.
“Baek? You okay?”

“Yea, yea, I am. I just need to process everything. I need some space.”

He wished it wasn’t connected. But now, everything made sense.Kiho had never talked about his past—except once, when he mentioned having a brother named Kim Jaewon. Baekhyun’s stomach twisted painfully as the memory crashed into him. The phone call. The officer’s voice. It had been only days after Ji-eun was found dead..He remembered how his hands shook as he slipped on his jacket, how his breath wouldn’t settle as he made his way to the police station. 

 

—

“Mr. Byun, please come to the police station as soon as possible. This is important.”

Baekhyun arrived, his steps fast, nervous. The officer in charge gestured for him to sit. Laid a manila folder on the desk between them.

“We’ve completed the investigation on Park Kiho’s background,” the officer said. “There’s something you need to know.”

Baekhyun’s throat dried up. “What is it?”

“He faked his identity, Mr. Byun”, the officer said holding the report.

Baekhyun’s stomach twisted, a dull ache blooming deep in his gut. “What… what do you mean?”

The officer’s face was carefully neutral, but his fingers tapped twice on the folder, like he wasn’t sure how to soften the blow. “His records—birth certificate, school files, even his age—none of them were real. He’s been living under a false identity for years. His real name isn’t Park Kiho.”

Baekhyun’s breath caught. His hands tightened into fists in his lap. “Then… who is he?”

The officer flipped the folder open and turned the first page toward Baekhyun.

“His real name is Kim Kiho.”

“Huh?”

Baekhyun could do nothing more than stare like a fool at the officer. Was everything that Kiho even told him true? Was he just a toy to him? Someone to play with and control?Did he kill Ji-eun?

“Last time, you told me about him having rumors about being a criminal, right? Well, we found something.”The officer looked straight at Baekhyun, his expression darkening as he tapped on the page. “At first, it was hard to track him because his records were wiped clean. But after cross-referencing some old case files and witness accounts, we found something that slipped through. Apparently, all the rumors about him are true. He’s a serial offender, who’s been in jail before.”

Baekhyun’s throat felt tight, like he’d swallowed broken glass. “What…what kind of crimes?”

The officer’s eyes narrowed slightly as he flipped another page toward Baekhyun, revealing a list of charges. “Assault. Harassment. Stalking. And worst—sexual violence. Most of his victims were omegas.”

Baekhyun’s chest caved in, nausea crawling up his throat. His hands trembled as his eyes skimmed the words. They blurred together, but the weight of them hit hard.

The officer continued, “He’s changed identities multiple times. He’s been slipping through the cracks for years. And this—” He tapped Kiho’s most recent alias. “—this Park Kiho identity was his longest run. Five years undetected.”

Baekhyun’s breath quickened. The Kiho he knew. The one who laughed, who whispered sweet things just to keep Baekhyun close, the one who told him he was precious—was that all just a facade?

“Why didn’t anyone catch him sooner?” Baekhyun asked, his voice breaking, part horror, part disbelief.

“He was smart,” the officer admitted. “He knew how to manipulate people, how to slip away before anyone got too close. Even those who thought they knew him—didn’t.”

Baekhyun could only stare at the officer, his heart heavy feeling guilty. If he only had listened to Ji-eun in the first place then this wouldn’t have happened. She would be here—not missing. He should have realized that something was off about him the first time they slept together. Kiho said that omegas like him deserve to be a breeding stock. He should have left right then. He should’ve run. Fought. Told someone. Anyone.

But he didn’t.

Baekhyun’s jaw clenched painfully as guilt churned in his gut, thick and suffocating. He thought he was smarter than this. It wasn’t his first time liking someone but fuck—liking Park Kiho is a fucking mistake. He destroyed he and Ji-eun’s life.“If he’d never met Kiho, he and Ji-eun would still be here. He’d still be happy. He wouldn’t have someone controlling his life.”

He should have run. He should have left. Fought. Screamed. Anything. But instead, he stayed. He let Kiho twist his mind, let him dress his cruelty in soft touches and sweet lies. And now, Ji-eun was gone, and Baekhyun was left with this—this crushing weight of being too late.

“That night that Lee Ji-eun went missing, you told us that you and Kim Kiho had a fight, is it true?”

Baekhyun’s heart was hammered in his chest. His mouth felt dry, like every answer he could give would carve another scar into him.

“Yes,” he said, barely more than a whisper. “We fought.”

The officer’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he wasn’t accusing. He was asking—digging. “What was the fight about?”

“I couldn’t take the rumors anymore. At first, I believed him that maybe someone was spreading those about him but everytime I ask who or what really happened, his story changes every time. My gut feeling was telling me that something was wrong. The turning point was Ji-eun found someone who was apparently one of his victims. She didn’t know him by name but by his face. After that, I told him we should stop talking and he didn’t like that so we ended up fighting.”

The officer leaned forward slightly, his hands folded on the table, listening intently. “Did you mention it to Kiho? That she was the one who found proof?”

“No—not really but I mentioned something like I should have listened to her then that’s when he started to get mad, calling her a bitch.” The officer’s jaw tightened, his pen tapping against the desk, but he stayed quiet, letting Baekhyun continue at his own pace.

“Do you think he’s the one who made her disappear?” the officer asked carefully.

Baekhyun’s hands clenched into fists on his knees. “I know he did. I don’t have proof but… I know .”

“What made you think so?”

“I doubt it’s a coincidence. What you just discovered is additional proof hat he can do something as killing someone. He has no alibi the night Ji-eun went missing. It’s not a coincidence that Ji-eun went missing the day after I ended things with Kiho because of what Ji-eun said. Do you know what he said when I told him Ji-eun was missing? He laughed.

The officer’s expression hardened, his jaw ticking as he processed Baekhyun’s words. “He laughed?”

Baekhyun nodded slowly, the memory tightening around his throat like a noose. “Not a laugh like he was nervous or shocked. It was like… like he already knew. Like he’d already planned it.” His hands trembled, curling tightly into fists on his lap. “I should’ve known. I should’ve stopped him.”

“You were in danger too,” the officer said, his voice steady but his gaze sharp. “It sounds like he was manipulating you just as much. Don’t put this all on yourself.”

But Baekhyun could only shake his head. “I shouldn’t have left her the next day. Maybe if I stayed there she would still be here.”

The officer didn’t push further, perhaps realizing that guilt had already wrapped itself too deeply around Baekhyun’s ribs to pull free. Instead, he quietly closed the folder and slid it aside.

“Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Byun. We’ll update the investigation record. But you have to understand—without Ji-eun, without more physical evidence, we may never be able to close this case properly.”

“Can I take this to court?”

“Not yet. We don’t have enough evidence yet. But if we do find one, we can.”

The officer’s voice was careful, but there was a quiet finality to it. “We need something that will directly tie him to Ji-eun’s disappearance. Something more than circumstantial evidence, more than a motive. Without that, if we push it to court now, we’ll lose. And if we lose, he walks free forever. No second chances.”

Baekhyun swallowed hard, the weight of that reality crashing down on him. “So you’re telling me… even if I know, even if you know… it doesn’t matter?”

“It matters,” the officer said, his gaze steady. “But it’s not enough to make the law work the way you want it to.”

Baekhyun’s fingers curled into tight fists on his lap. “So what should I do? Just wait? Let him walk around like nothing happened? Pretend he didn’t destroy everything?”

The officer’s silence said more than words ever could.

Baekhyun pushed back from the table, standing on legs that barely felt steady. His jaw was set, his eyes burning. “Thank you for the update,” he said stiffly.

The officer gave a nod, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of understanding, of resignation. Like he knew what Baekhyun was about to do. Like maybe he had seen it before.

“Be careful, Mr. Byun,” he said as Baekhyun turned to leave—now finding a motive to make Kiho pay for what he did.

Chapter 24

Notes:

LOL FUCK ITTT I NEED TO FINISH THIS AU THIS WEEK . if not, then i'll try to update when i can. THANKU FOR 2,429 HITS!

“It’s been days since he’s been doing this”, Sehun whined to Yixing, who only ruffled his hair while giving him a sad smile.

“We have to give him space, Sehun. Minseok and Jongdae, is he avoiding you two?”, Junmyeon asked.

They’re all currently in the courtyard. They were complete except for Baekhyun, who’s avoiding them. He’s most likely in his shared cell with Minseok and Jongdae. It’s been days after the talk but it didn’t help—in Chanyeol’s opinion, it just made Baekhyun farther from them. He’s been avoiding all of them, especially Chanyeol. Junmyeon keeps telling them that Baekhyun just needs space but they all know that it’s more than that. Is he disgusted? Were they the type of alphas he didn’t like? Did he not like them anymore?

“I guess he’s avoiding us too. He’s been extra quiet but I feel like he’s avoiding Minseokie more since he can’t even hold eye contact with him anymore.”, Jongdae answered leaning back to the beta.

Minseok didn’t say anything at first. His eyes stayed fixed on a crack in the concrete, jaw clenched so tightly Yixing could see the muscle jump.

“He won’t even sit in my bed anymore,” Minseok finally said. His voice was quiet, but steady. “He doesn’t wake me and Jongdae up anymore in the past few mornings.Then he pretends not to hear me calling out his name.”

Jongin sighed, carding a hand through his hair. “I don’t get it. Weren’t you guys getting closer? He even told Minseok about the nightmares.”

“He did,” Minseok murmured. “And now he won’t even look at me.” Silence wrapped around the group like a cold wind. Chanyeol sat on the edge of the stone bench, elbows on his knees, hands locked tight. He hadn’t spoken since they got here. Not since Baekhyun refused to meet his eyes in the hallway earlier that morning and turned the other way.

“I’m going to ask him later.”

Junmyeon looked up sharply. “Ask him what?”

“Why he’s running,” Chanyeol said simply, eyes still fixed on the dirt. “Why he won’t look at us—at me.”

“Yeol—” Jongdae started, but Chanyeol shook his head.

“No. I’m not gonna corner or force him, I swear. I’ll ask if he wants to talk to me.. I’ll ask calmly. I just… I can’t take not knowing anymore. You guys know I hate silent treatments.”

Minseok studied him for a long moment, then gave a small nod. “Just don’t push. If he shuts down more, we might not be able to pull him out.”

Chanyeol gave a dry laugh, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You think I don’t know that?”

The bell rang faintly in the distance, signaling the end of their free hour. One by one, they stood and began heading back toward the buildings, their steps slower than usual.

As they walked, Jongin bumped Chanyeol’s shoulder lightly. “If he says something stupid like ‘I’m better off alone,’ don’t punch a wall, yeah?”

“No promises,” Chanyeol muttered, and that earned him a small smile from Jongin.

—

Later turned out to be the next day—because once again, Baekhyun avoided them like a plague during dinner. He didn’t turn when Kyungsoo called out to him across the canteen. He didn’t acknowledge Jongin when the younger alpha tried to pass him a tray of extra fruit. Even Sehun, who usually had a way of getting a reaction out of Baekhyun, was met with a cold shoulder and a low muttered, “I’m not hungry.”

Chanyeol sat rigid at their usual table, eyes fixed on Baekhyun’s figure, who was walking towards the table he first sat before they invited him to sit with them. Minseok kept glancing his way, but he said nothing, quietly accepting Baekhyun’s distance. Jongdae still cracked jokes at their table, but even his laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes. They were the ones especially affected by the sudden distance, especially since they’ve been with Baekhyun since the day he landed in prison

Park Chanyeol was never one to sit back and wait. Confrontation was easier than silence—and that’s exactly why he grabbed his tray and headed straight for Baekhyun’s table. The clatter of the canteen buzzed around him, but as he dropped his tray in front of Baekhyun with a loud, deliberate thud, the noise seemed to quiet in his head. Baekhyun’s shoulders visibly stiffened, his fork pausing mid-push as if he’d been caught.

Chanyeol sat down across from him, his large frame blocking Baekhyun’s easy escape. “You’re done ignoring us.”

Baekhyun didn’t look up. “I’m not ignoring you.”

“You haven’t looked me in the eye for days, Baekhyun.” Chanyeol’s tone was calm but edged, a storm waiting to break. “You’re sitting here alone like we’re strangers again. Like you didn’t crawl into our lives and make us care about you.”

“I didn’t ask you to care about me.” Baekhyun’s fingers trembled slightly around his fork. He didn’t look up. If he looked up, the cracks might show.

“Well, too bad. I do.” Chanyeol leaned forward, his elbows planted on the table, his voice dropping low. “I don’t care how long you try to push us away. I’m not leaving you alone. I know you’re hiding something. And I know you’re breaking yourself apart because of it.”

Baekhyun’s throat bobbed as he stared hard at his tray, his fingers tightening around the edge. “You wouldn’t understand.” 

“Try me.”

“I can’t.” His voice cracked. “If you know, you’ll hate me.”

“I won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

Chanyeol’s jaw tightened. “I know you. I know you’re not the kind of person who would do something without a reason.” Baekhyun stared at him as if assessing whether he should tell him or not.

“Yes, but I don’t know you.”, Baekhyun said coldly, to which Chanyeol replied, “You can’t push me away, Baekhyun.”

Baekhyun scoffed softly under his breath, but there was no bite in it—just exhaustion. “I already did.”

“No, you didn’t.” Chanyeol leaned forward. “You’re still here. You’re still talking to me.”

Baekhyun’s hands tightened around the edge of the table, eyes cast low. “That doesn’t mean I trust you.”

“I’m not asking you to trust me all at once,” Chanyeol said, voice steady but low, “I’m asking you to let me in a little . Let me carry a piece of whatever the hell is weighing you down.”

Silence. The kind of silence that feels like a cliff’s edge—one wrong step and everything falls apart.

“Why are you like this?”Baekhyun asked, sighing. “You’re always doing things for me. Things that no normal person would do to their friends.”

Chanyeol’s lips curved, just slightly—not a smile, but something more bitter. “Maybe I’m not a normal person.”

Baekhyun looked at him, searching for some kind of sarcasm, a joke, a wall to hide behind. But Chanyeol’s expression was stripped bare. Honest in a way that made Baekhyun’s throat tighten.

“I don’t do these things because I have to,” Chanyeol continued. “I do them because I want to. Because seeing you hurt makes something in me twist in the worst way. And I can’t stand sitting back while you push us away and pretend you’re fine.”

“See, that’s the problem Chanyeol. You don’t have boundaries. You treat me like a vulnerable omega—your omega.”

Chanyeol didn’t flinch at the accusation—but he did inhale sharply, jaw tightening as Baekhyun’s words settled between them like a freshly drawn line.

“I never said you were mine,” Chanyeol said slowly, voice low and steady. “But you are vulnerable right now. That’s not an insult, Baekhyun. It’s just the truth.”

Baekhyun’s lips curled into something bitter. “Don’t you think I know that? Everyone in this place already looks at me like I’m breakable. I don’t need you doing it too.”

“I’m not treating you like you’re breakable,” Chanyeol shot back. “I’m treating you like someone I care about. Someone who shouldn’t have to carry all of this alone.”

Baekhyun’s shoulders tensed, but his eyes flickered—like something in him wavered.

“I don’t need saving,” he muttered.

“I’m not here to save you,” Chanyeol said, softer now. “I’m here to stay . Even if it means sitting next to you while you fall apart. Even if you never let me fix it.”

Baekhyun stared at him, the anger in his expression faltering, slipping into something raw and weary.  “Are you like this to other people too?”

Chanyeol shook his head slowly, gaze unwavering. “No. Just you.”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched—quiet, almost invisible—but Chanyeol saw it like a flare in the dark.Saw how the words unsettled him, settled deep somewhere under all that guarded exhaustion.

“Why?” Baekhyun asked, the question escaping before he could stop it. “Why me?”

Chanyeol didn’t answer right away. The noise of the canteen buzzed faintly behind them, but in their little corner, time stood still. He leaned back, eyes steady. “Do you really want to know?”
Baekhyun hesitated, staring at the alpha in front of him—looking at him softly, looking like he really cared about Baekhyun. A voice in his head warned, Don’t do it. Don’t trust him. But the look in Chanyeol’s eyes—unflinching, warm, steady—cut through the fear. Baekhyun swallowed hard, then gave the faintest nod.

“Yeah.”

Chanyeol’s voice was quiet but resolute. “Then come with me. My cell. Just us and no one else.”

—-

The hallway was quiet. Guards lingered at a distance, but they didn’t stop them. Instead, they just stared at them and whistled at Baekhyun, who glared at them. Chanyeol opened the cell door and held it for him. Baekhyun paused, just for a second, then stepped inside.

It was neat. Too neat. The bed was made, books stacked along the wall, a clean shirt draped on the edge of the bedframe. Baekhyun stood awkwardly in the center of the small space, arms folded across his chest like a shield.Chanyeol shut the door.

No one else. No canteen noise. No eyes watching.

Just them.

Baekhyun didn't speak. His eyes moved over the room like he was trying to memorize it, avoid looking at the alpha who hadn’t taken his eyes off him.

“Sit,” Chanyeol said gently, nodding toward the bed before something underneath his bed.

Baekhyun didn’t move.

“Baek. Wear this.”, Chanyeol said, handing him extra pants. “I know my waist is bigger than yours but that’s better than you walking around just in panties. I’ll just tie it.”

Baekhyun stared at him in disbelief. “Is that dirty?”, making Chanyeol laugh and reply, “No, I stole it from the clean laundry.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes but took the pants anyway, muttering under his breath, “You didn’t have to.”

Chanyeol shrugged, grinning. “How many times have I told you that I wanted to? Call it survival. You really want to give those guards another excuse to stare?”

That made Baekhyun pause, lips pressing into a thin line as he looked down at himself. With a sigh, he turned around and stepped into the pants, holding the waistband awkwardly while Chanyeol stepped closer.

“Here, let me.”

Baekhyun tensed but didn’t stop him as Chanyeol reached out and carefully tied the drawstring tighter around his slim waist. His fingers brushed against Baekhyun’s sides—barely there, but enough to make the omega shiver.

“Not bad,” Chanyeol muttered, stepping back to admire his work, though his voice was quieter now. “Still a bit loose, but you look less like someone the guards are trying to corner.”

Baekhyun avoided his eyes, tugging the hem of the oversized pants down. “You shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Doing what?”

“This,” Baekhyun waved vaguely between them, voice strained. “Giving me clean clothes. Tying my waistband. Talking to me like I’m someone you want to be your mate. Like you care about me”

Chanyeol’s smile faded, replaced by something softer. He reached out but stopped short of touching him. “You never stopped being someone I care about. Even when you act like you don’t want anyone to.”

Baekhyun’s breath caught in his throat. The silence between them stretched, thick with everything unspoken.

“Chanyeol, be honest with me. Please. Do you like me? Or are you just so friendly that you act like this with any other unmated omega?”

Notes:

next chapter's alr written out,,,, but i think i'll write atleast 3 or 4 chapters first and check them then upload just to keep the consistency and so i can upload everyday

Chapter 25

Notes:

more chanbaek moments in the next chap! at first, i decided that i should finish this without chanyeol confessing BUT that's not what i want. i want prison romance (which is why i wrote this in the first place) so i'll give you all that and add the prison dynamics. i feel like the next chapter won't be that important, just a filler containing their moments before everything gets serious again. i don't like slowburn when it's obvious that a character likes the other. hopefully, you guys enjoy this. thanks for the 2,595 hits! pls comments ur tots

Chanyeol stared at Baekhyun for a moment, heart racing before saying, “Yes.”

“Why?” Baekhyun asked, the question escaping before he could stop it. “Why me?”

Chanyeol didn’t look away, didn’t hesitate. “Because you walked into that cell looking strong. You stood your ground against those alphas who sexualized and tried to touch you.. You’re not the type of omega who’ll let anyone step on you without fighting back and I find that admirable. During your first day in prison, I can’t stop looking at your beauty. You immediately caught my attention and when I saw you fight those alphas for talking shit about you, I admired your bravery. You’re a strong person, Baekhyun and I like you for that. I know it may be fast for you or hard to believe but I like you, Byun Baekhyun. Not just because of your face or body but also because of the qualities you have. You’re strong, brave, and someone who sticks to their beliefs. You fight for yourself despite knowing that other people will beat you up for doing that. You never fail to make me smile. Before you came here, I found no reason to want to get out of here and now that you're here, it makes me want to get out with you and the others so I can treat you outside. I want to get to know you as a person—-the Baekhyun before prison. I want you to let your guard down around me knowing that you trust me. I’m not looking for anything more from you, I swear. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I’m here by your side. No matter what you say or do, you can’t push me away.”

Baekhyun stared at him. There was no noise in the cell except for the faint humming of fluorescent lights and the distant echo of boots on concrete outside. And yet, it felt loud. Loud inside his chest. Loud inside his head.No one had ever said things like that to him— not even Kiho. Not with that kind of steady, unwavering conviction as if Chanyeol is so sure about him.

His first instinct was to laugh it off—to joke, to push Chanyeol away again with sarcasm or indifference. But the look in Chanyeol’s eyes stripped all that armor away. It wasn’t just sincerity. It was real. Unshakable.

He hated how badly he wanted to believe it.

“That’s not fair,” Baekhyun whispered, voice thin. “You’re saying it as if you won’t leave and just use me to get whatever the fuck you want. Chanyeol, I’m not someone you should play with. I can take it if anyone plays with me but if it’s you, I won’t be able to take it.

Chanyeol stepped closer, his expression softening but not faltering—not for a second.

“I know,” he said, his voice low, steady. “That’s why I’m not going to play with you. I swear on everything I have left in this life, Baekhyun—I won’t touch you unless you want me to. I won’t take unless you give. I won’t lie to you. You’ve been through enough.”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched. His throat worked like he wanted to speak but couldn’t. His walls were trembling now—not crashing down, but shifting, cracking.

“You scare me,” Baekhyun admitted quietly. “Not because I think you’ll hurt me. But because I know I want to believe you.”

“I want you to believe me,” Chanyeol said, slowly reaching out. “Not today, not all at once. Just… eventually. Even if it takes time. Even if it takes everything in me to prove it.”

His fingers brushed Baekhyun’s wrist, gentle, waiting. “I can wait.”

“You say that now.”

“I’ll keep saying it,” he said, voice firm, eyes never leaving Baekhyun’s. “As many times as it takes. I’ll prove it.”

Baekhyun finally looked up at him—really looked. His eyes were rimmed red, shining with unshed emotion, but he didn’t look away.

“Why are you like this?” he asked softly, brokenly. “Why are you being so… good to me?”

Chanyeol reached out then, slowly, giving Baekhyun time to pull away. But the omega didn’t move as Chanyeol’s hand gently cupped his cheek.

“Because someone should be,” he whispered. “And I want it to be me.”

Baekhyun’s lips parted, breath stuttering.

He didn’t kiss him. Chanyeol didn’t move closer. He just held him like that—warm, steady, unafraid.

And for the first time in weeks, Baekhyun didn’t pull away.

He leaned into the touch. Just slightly. Just enough to let Chanyeol feel the shift.

“Baekhyun, I’m not pressuring you to like me back. I just want you to know that I admire and respect you greatly. I want to be the person who helps carry the weight on your back, if you let me. Whatever it is you’re hiding, I want you to know that you can tell it to me.”

Baekhyun’s throat tightened again, and he looked away.It was too much.Too gentle.Too sincere. Too unlike anything he’d ever been given before because he was always the one giving love away—never once has he ever been on the receiving end. Kiho doesn’t count because he was just using him.

“Don’t say things like that if you don’t mean it,” Baekhyun said quietly. “Because if I let myself believe you—if I start depending on you—and then you leave too…”

“Baekhyun, I swear my whole life that I won’t be like the other alphas. I’ll work hard to be the alpha who deserves you. I will protect you and treat you the way you deserve.”

He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared at Chanyeol, like he was trying to decide whether to believe him or run. “You shouldn’t say things like that,” Baekhyun whispered, voice rough. “You don’t know how much I want to believe you.”

Chanyeol didn’t move. Didn’t let go. His hand stayed cupped against Baekhyun’s cheek like it belonged there—steady, warm, real.

“I do know,” he said quietly. “That’s why I’m saying them.”

Baekhyun’s eyes fluttered shut. Just for a second. Just to keep the tears at bay. Because something inside him was cracking—not the kind that shattered and scattered, but the kind that made room. Room for air. For hope.

“Chanyeol, you do know that we’re in prison, right? I’m not a good person. I’m not a normal omega.”

Chanyeol gave the faintest smile, the kind that held no amusement—only understanding. His thumb brushed softly along Baekhyun’s cheek, gentle even as his voice held conviction.

“I know exactly where we are,” he said. “I know what this place does to people. And I know you’re not normal, Baekhyun. That’s part of why I see you.”

Baekhyun swallowed hard, his breath catching. “You don’t even know what I did to end up here.”

Chanyeol’s gaze didn’t waver. “I know that you were sent here because you killed someone.”

Baekhyun flinched—not because Chanyeol said it, but because he said it so calmly. No judgment. No disgust. Just a quiet statement, like it was something he’d already accepted.

“You knew?” Baekhyun asked, voice low.

Chanyeol nodded. “Yeah. Minseok told us. Not the details, just… that you killed someone. But he also said you didn’t talk about it, and that we shouldn’t ask unless you wanted to share.”

Baekhyun looked away. “So you knew, and you’re still standing here?”

“I’m still standing here,” Chanyeol said, stepping closer again. “Because I also know why.”

Baekhyun’s chest tightened, jaw clenched. “You think you do.”

“I think I know you. ” Chanyeol said gently. “And I know you wouldn’t have done it without a reason.”

Baekhyun stared at Chanyeol full of emotions. He felt like crying, he felt as if the alpha could see through him and understand him with a single look. It made his throat close up, his heart racing painfully behind his ribs. He hated how much he wanted to believe in Chanyeol. Hated how desperate he was to be seen—not as an omega, not as a convict, but as a person.

Baekhyun's voice came out small, brittle. “He used me... We weren’t mates or anything, but I considered him my alpha. There were many rumors surrounding him and it was all bad—like him being a serial offender. Him assaulting other omegas, and worse, raping them. He told me that they were all lies and I believed him…”

Chanyeol didn’t speak, didn’t interrupt.

Baekhyun looked down, ashamed, his voice trembling. “I defended him. I told others they were wrong. That he was kind. I let him into my apartment. I let him touch me. And every time it hurt or I didn’t want to, he said I was being difficult. That it was normal for omegas to be scared. That I just needed to trust him. My best friend, Ji-eun used to always tell me that there’s a reason why there are rumors about him. She never liked him, said he looked manipulative and always defended me. Then she found one of his victims and told me. I ended things with him because it was getting too much and I started doubting him then I went to Ji-eun. The next day, she went missing and was found dead the next week.”

Chanyeol stood still. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t made a sound. But his jaw was locked, and his eyes had gone sharp, dark—not in anger at Baekhyun, but in quiet, seething rage at the alpha who had done this. He let Baekhyun speak, didn’t interrupt, because he knew how hard it was to keep going. He knew if he stepped in too soon, Baekhyun might never speak of it again.

Baekhyun kept his gaze down, ashamed, but the words were spilling now—raw and jagged. “The police asked me if I knew of any one who might hate or dislike her then I told him—Kiho.” Chanyeol’s ears perked up at the name, his muscles tensing subtly, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t interrupt. He knew Baekhyun needed to say it all. 

“We went to court then he wasn’t imprisoned. I know deep inside that it was him who killed Ji-eun. He laughed when he found out she had died. I know it’s him. You know where he went once he got out? At the bar. I followed him and changed my hair to this, knowing what he likes. I seduced him and when we got out, I killed him. It wasn’t an accident. I wanted to kill him. He deserved it.”

Chanyeol’s chest rose and fell with the weight of each word Baekhyun said. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. But Baekhyun could feel the storm brewing behind the stillness—the way the alpha’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white, the sharp flare of something dangerous in his dark eyes. But none of it was directed at him.

Baekhyun kept going, even though his voice trembled. “I looked him in the eyes before I did it. I wanted him to see me—me, not the scared omega he used to manipulate. I wanted to be the last thing he ever saw, and I didn’t want him to die wondering if someone loved him. I wanted him to know that no one ever did.”

He exhaled shakily, like something inside him had finally been ripped out by force. “That’s the truth. I’m not sorry. And I’d do it again.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. It was charged. Heavy. It pressed into the small space like a heartbeat—one they shared.

Then, finally, Chanyeol moved.

He stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and gently placed both hands on Baekhyun’s arms. His touch was grounding, firm but careful, like he was afraid Baekhyun might shatter if he pressed too hard.

“You know what I think?” Chanyeol said, voice low and rough with emotion. “I think you did what the system should’ve done. I think you did what no one else had the guts to do. And I don’t give a fuck if the law says that makes you a criminal. Because to me?” He looked into Baekhyun’s eyes, unwavering. “You’re a survivor. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met.”

Baekhyun’s breath stuttered. “You’re not disgusted?”

“I’m furious,” Chanyeol admitted. “But not at you. At him. At the people who let him walk free. At a world where you had to choose between living in fear and becoming what they call a monster.”

Baekhyun’s throat bobbed, his lip trembling. “I am a monster.”

“No, Baek,” Chanyeol said firmly, and it wasn’t the first time he used the nickname, but it hit differently now—like a lifeline. “You’re not a monster. You’re a fighter. You were cornered, and you fought back. That doesn’t make you a monster. That makes you human .”

Baekhyun closed his eyes, as if the words were too much to take. Then he leaned forward, forehead pressing gently into Chanyeol’s shoulder. Not quite a hug, not quite a collapse—just a surrender to the safety he hadn’t known he needed.

Chanyeol didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around him and held him tight.

“Are you disappointed that I’m not a perfect omega?”Baekhyun mumbled on the alpha’s shoulder.Chanyeol exhaled slowly, his breath warm against Baekhyun’s temple. His arms tightened just slightly, as if the question physically pained him.

“No,” he said, his voice low and rough. “I’d be disappointed if you were perfect.”

Baekhyun blinked against his shoulder, confused. “What?”

“I don’t want perfect,” Chanyeol said, pulling back just enough to look at him, hands still firm on Baekhyun’s arms. “I want real . I want someone who’s been through hell and still finds the strength to survive. That’s who you are, Baek. You’re not perfect—but you’re braver than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Baekhyun stared at him, jaw trembling again, and he hated how easily the tears threatened to come. He’d spent his whole life keeping his head above water, pretending he wasn’t drowning. And here Chanyeol was—offering to swim with him, no matter how deep it got.

“I don’t know how to be with someone,” Baekhyun whispered. “I don’t even know how to let people stay. I’m not used to people choosing me and meaning it.”

“Then let me be the first,” Chanyeol said. “You don’t have to give me anything back. Not now. Not until you’re ready. But let me stay. Let me fight for you the way you’ve always fought alone.”

Baekhyun shook his head slowly. “I’m not easy to love.”

“Good,” Chanyeol said, lips quirking slightly despite the storm in his eyes. “I’m not looking for easy. I’m looking for you .”

Baekhyun’s breath hitched, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The silence was heavy—but not suffocating. It was full. Safe.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Baekhyun believed— just maybe —he didn’t have to carry the weight alone anymore.

“Okay,” he whispered, so soft Chanyeol almost didn’t hear it. “You can stay.”

Chanyeol smiled. Not the cocky kind. Not the teasing kind. The kind that cracked something open inside him.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

And in the dim light of that quiet cell, with no one else to witness it, Baekhyun let himself believe—for the first time—that maybe he wasn’t broken beyond repair.

Maybe he wasn’t a monster.

Maybe he was still worth loving.

Chapter 26

Notes:

no plot. just chanbaek flirting (which I assume is the reason y'all clicked this fic). also this is like the longest chapter i've written so far in this fic because this is 10 pages in gdocs wtf. tnx for 2,888 hits :)

The next morning, things went back to normal. Baekhyun started sitting with them again—specifically beside Chanyeol. If before, there was still something holding Chanyeol back from going full alpha mode on the omega, now, there was nothing. No mask. No restraint. He didn’t hide it anymore—the way his hand naturally rested on the small of Baekhyun’s back, how his body subtly leaned into Baekhyun’s space as if it were second nature. Even the guards noticed. Especially them. Because alphas didn’t usually act like that in prison—not unless they were staking a claim or sending a warning. But Chanyeol wasn’t doing it to intimidate anyone. He was just... there . Fierce when he needed to be, gentle when it came to Baekhyun. And that alone was confusing the hell out of everyone.

He made sure to steal extra sweatpants in the laundry again to give to Baekhyun the next day and cover his panties with pants. Because he knows that the omega will feel more comfortable wearing them. Like the first time, he also personally put the pants on Baekhyun’s legs, treating him like a princess. He also lined up and got two trays of food—one for him and the omega he likes.

“You don’t have to do this”, Baekhyun said with hands on the alpha's shoulder, blushing as he taps his thighs to signal the omega to lift his ass to put on the pants.

“I want to do this for you. I told you, didn't I, that I’ll treat you the way you deserve.” Baekhyun bit his lip as he raised his hips, allowing the alpha to slide the pants up his legs. The cotton brushed against his soft skin, and his blush deepened at how careful Chanyeol was, fingers gentle and eyes never straying inappropriately. Chanyeol wasn’t just doing this for show. He was doing it because he wanted to.

The moment the pants were on properly, Baekhyun tugged the oversized shirt over his lap for good measure and peeked up through his lashes. “You’re making other people stare.”

“Just let them stare—no touching. I’ll kill them if they do that.”

Baekhyun’s heart stuttered in his chest. The words were possessive, protective, and terrifyingly sincere. But instead of fear, all he felt was warmth spreading through him. A kind of safety he hadn’t known he could feel in a place like this.

“You really mean that?” he asked quietly, voice barely above a whisper.

Chanyeol crouched down to his level, tray in one hand, the other reaching out to brush a thumb against Baekhyun’s cheek. “I mean every word when it comes to you.”

“Shut up please. Let’s go to the table and eat.”, Baekhyun said flustered.

Chanyeol chuckled, standing up with a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Fine, fine,” he said, tone teasing but fond. He offered a hand, which Baekhyun ignored—though his face was already red enough that even the guards nearby exchanged knowing glances.

They walked to the table side by side, Chanyeol placing both trays down before sitting close beside the omega, their shoulders brushing. The others smiled at the two.

“Good to see you again, Baek.”Yixing sent him a knowing smile.

Baekhyun returned the smile shyly, still trying to ignore the warmth blooming in his chest from Chanyeol’s proximity. “Hi, Yixing,” he mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear and sitting straighter, adjusting the oversized sweatshirt that hung over his frame.

Junmyeon nudged a glass of juice toward him. “Eat up. You’ve been looking tired again.”

Suddenly, it was like they were back before.

“You need to eat more,” Chanyeol said as he pushed one of the boiled eggs onto Baekhyun’s tray. “You barely touched your food yesterday.”

“I heard a couple were found fucking yesterday in the laundry”, Jongin gossiped.

“Really? Who was it?”, Sehun asked, ever the curious guy.

“Why are you bringing that up now that we’re eating?”, Minseok said, disgusted.

Jongin just shrugged, a grin playing on his lips. “What? I’m just saying. It's a prison. People get desperate.”

“Still gross,” Minseok muttered, stabbing his food with unnecessary force.

“Who do you think it is?”, Sehun asked.

Baekhyun glanced between them, amused despite himself. He hid a small smile behind his juice as the familiar banter continued around the table. It felt…safe. Like something normal in a place that wasn’t.

“You okay?” Chanyeol leaned in to whisper beside him, his breath brushing Baekhyun’s ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

Baekhyun nodded, eyes forward. “I am now.”

Chanyeol’s gaze lingered on him for a second longer before he returned to eating, but his body remained close, a silent shield.

Jongdae clapped his hands. “Alright, bet on who’s next to get caught. I’m putting twenty on one of the guards hooking up with that alpha from block C.”

“Which guard?” Kyungsoo asked, deadpan. “Because Officer Kang has been staring like he wants to eat someone alive.”

Baekhyun laughed quietly, the sound soft but real.

Chanyeol turned to him with a proud grin like he’d just won a fight. That single sound was everything.

“Eat more,” the alpha said again, this time nudging a spoon toward Baekhyun’s lips.

Baekhyun rolled his eyes but opened his mouth obediently. “You’re too much.”

“I know.” Chanyeol winked. “But you like me this way.”, making Baekhyun laugh. Minseok stared at them with a huge smile, feeling happy that the omega was back sitting with them. He may not know what caused the other to distance himself from the group but one thing is for sure: They found a home in each other.

“Finally,” Minseok muttered under his breath, nudging Jongdae beside him. “Told you he’d come back once he felt safe again.”

Jongdae nodded, biting into his bread. “Yeah, well. Took a giant alpha babysitting him every second of the day, but hey, whatever works.”

Baekhyun caught the comment and narrowed his eyes playfully. “I can hear you, you know.”

“We know,” Jongdae and Minseok said in unison, grinning.

It was warm here—noisy, familiar, real. The kind of warmth that made the cold, sterile prison walls blur at the edges. Baekhyun glanced around the table, his eyes landing on each of the boys—Yixing carefully peeling his orange, Sehun whispering something to Jongin with a smirk, Kyungsoo cutting his food with the precision of a surgeon, Junmyeon watching it all like a quiet parent. Jongdae and Minseok smiling at him and Chanyeol beside his side.

—

After breakfast, they had their own shifts. Kyungsoo headed back to the kitchen to help prepare for lunch, sleeves rolled up, already grumbling about the bland seasoning. Jongin and Sehun were assigned to the storage rooms, while Yixing went to assist the infirmary. Minseok and Chanyeol had hallway sanitation, and Junmyeon, as always, supervised a bit of everything.

Baekhyun was on laundry duty—again.He didn’t mind it as much as before. The rhythm of the machines, the faint scent of detergent, and the temporary peace it offered… It helped clear his mind. He grabbed the plastic bin filled with folded uniforms and began sorting them into neat stacks.

He wasn’t alone for long as Chanyeol slipped inside quietly, the door clicking shut behind him. Baekhyun didn’t need to turn around to know it was him—he felt it in the way the room changed. Felt it in his own chest.

“Busy?” Chanyeol asked, voice low as he leaned against the wall near the dryers.

Baekhyun didn’t look up, but his lips twitched. “Can’t you see?”.

“Rude.”, Chanyeol said, going near Baekhyun till he was directly behind the omega.

Baekhyun paused mid-fold, the warmth of Chanyeol’s presence brushing down his spine. He didn’t turn around, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”

Chanyeol leaned down, his breath ghosting over Baekhyun’s neck. “They won’t know I’m here.”

“There’s no way they’ll notice a big, tall alpha like you missing from his duties. Now, tell me why did you ditch your shift and come here?”

Chanyeol shrugged, voice casual but his eyes never leaving Baekhyun’s profile. “I missed you.”

Baekhyun snorted softly. “You saw me at breakfast.”

“I miss you all the time. I need to be near you 24/7”, Chanyeol said, pouting, making Baekhyun laugh.

“What would the other inmates say when they find out you’re soft like this with me? Imagine the famed scary Park Chanyeol admitting he misses me, Byun Baekhyun the omega in panties.”

Chanyeol chuckled, low and shameless. “Let them talk. They already know I’d kill for you.I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. I only care about you and our pack’s thoughts.”Baekhyun rolled his eyes, grinning at how Chanyeol included him in their pack. Chanyeol’s fingers brushed over Baekhyun’s waist, not grabbing—just resting there, grounding them both in the quiet hum of the laundry room. “You’re part of us. You were from the first second I saw you,” he murmured, voice deep and certain.

“I know. I hope you know I love you guys”, Baekhyun said, giving the alpha a soft smile. Chanyeol teased him by saying, “Us? Not just me?”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes fondly, grabbing another folded shirt to avoid looking directly at Chanyeol. “Don’t push it, Park.”

Chanyeol grinned, stepping forward again, just enough to invade Baekhyun’s space in that easy, natural way he always did. “Come on, just say it once. I won’t ask again.” He paused, then added mischievously, “Today.”

Baekhyun sighed, cheeks warming. “You’re so annoying.”

“But lovable,” Chanyeol quipped, bumping his shoulder lightly against Baekhyun’s. “That’s what you meant, right? You love us … but you love me more.”

Baekhyun turned to glare at him, but the spark in his eyes betrayed the smile trying to break through. “You really need constant praise, don’t you?”

“From you? Absolutely.”

Baekhyun didn’t reply at first. He stared at the alpha for a moment, at how utterly sincere he looked despite the teasing. And maybe it was the quiet of the laundry room or the fact that Chanyeol had been with him through the worst of it—but he said, softer than he meant to, “Fine. I do.”

Chanyeol blinked. “What?”

“I love you,” Baekhyun said, still facing the laundry but his voice was clear now. “More than the rest of them. There. Happy?”. He stared at the alpha, who stared back at him like he’d been struck in the chest. “Say it again.”

Baekhyun smirked. “Nope. Once is enough.”

“Baek—”

“Nope.”

“You’re being unfair”

“Go back to your shift now before the others think we’re fucking”

“Maybe I want them to think that”.

Baekhyun whipped around, eyebrows raised. “ Excuse me? ”. Chanyeol was staring at him with a smirk, “You’re excused.”

“What makes you think that I want to be fucked by you?”

Chanyeol tilted his head, stepping just close enough for Baekhyun to feel the heat radiating off him. “Because you like me.” His voice was low, rich with confidence and something darker. “Even if you don’t say it out loud, I know you do.”

Baekhyun is frozen, unable to think of anything to say. Chanyeol took it as his chance to say another word. “I’m not pressuring you, just so you know. But I hope you know that I really like you and I’m serious about you.”

“I don’t know what to say. But I appreciate you too, Chanyeol—more than you know. 

Chanyeol gave a dimpled smile which made Baekhyun glance away, cheeks still warm, heart pounding. It felt like something had shifted—like a door had opened that he didn’t know he was standing in front of. Unable to say anything, he changed the subject and asked, “Aren’t you going back to your duties?”

Chanyeol’s smile didn’t falter. “I will. In a bit.”

“Don’t you get tired of watching me? I mean, you see me every single time and now, you’re spending time with me again.”

Chanyeol leaned his shoulder against Baekhyun while his back was at the washing machine, arms crossed, eyes soft but unwavering. “I don’t get tired of you, Baek.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched like they were trying not to smile. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Maybe.” Chanyeol shrugged. “But it’s true. I like being around you—even when you’re folding uniforms or drooling in your sleep when we hangout in your cell and do you know that when you eat, you look like a puppy and I think it’s cute how you get all happy because of some ass food.”

“You watch me sleep?”Baekhyun raised his eyebrows while blushing at what the alpha said.

Chanyeol didn’t even try to look guilty. “Yeah,” he said easily, reaching for another towel to fold. “It’s not like I do it creepily . You just… fall asleep while we’re talking, and I don’t wanna wake you. You look peaceful.”

Baekhyun opened his mouth, then closed it, flustered. “That’s—still weird.”

“Maybe,” Chanyeol said again, grinning wider now. “But it’s kinda your fault for being so damn soft when you’re tired.”

Baekhyun turned away, tossing the folded towel onto the pile a little harder than necessary. “You’re annoying.”

“I’m observant,” Chanyeol corrected, inching a little closer. “Like how you always pretend you’re not blushing when I say something nice. Or how you hum when you’re concentrating. Or how you always share your food even though you complain about being hungry all the time.”

Baekhyun froze for a second before turning to squint at him. “You are creepy.”

“I like you, Baek,” Chanyeol said, voice soft now. “I notice you. That’s all.”

Baekhyun’s heart raced again and he found himself pushing the alpha towards the door saying, “Go back to your duties now, alpha. They’ll really think we’re fucking.”

Chanyeol let himself be pushed, but he laughed quietly, eyes warm. “Let them think about what they want. You’re the one who said they already do.”

—

Baekhyun is currently bored. It’s their free time, so they can go wherever they want, since of course, there are guards stationed at every corner. All the guys were at the gym. He wasn’t one to care much for working out—his build was lean enough, and he didn’t care to bulk up—but there was nothing else to do. Plus, a part of him—maybe the dumbest part—wanted to see a certain alpha drenched in sweat, forehead glistening, arms flexing as he lifted weights like it was nothing.

When he stepped inside the gym, the scent of testosterone, metal, and sweat hit him immediately. Loud music thumped in the background, and the clang of weights echoed across the wide room.He spotted them instantly. Jongin was on the treadmill, Sehun doing crunches on the mat beside him. Minseok was spotting Junmyeon at the bench press. Yixing was at the pull-up bar. Kyungsoo was boxing. Jongdae was on the floor sitting, watching them while covered in sweat. Lastly, Chanyeol was lifting a huge dumbbell with his biceps bulging.

Baekhyun blinked at the sight. It was like a scene from Superman or Avengers where Clark and Captain America are working out or shirtless, except this time, it was Park Chanyeol. His Park Chanyeol. Well—not his. But still. The alpha’s skin glistened with sweat, jaw clenched in concentration, and biceps flexing with every lift like the gods sculpted him for violence and gym thirst traps.

Baekhyun didn’t realize he was staring until Jongdae whistled. “Well, well, look who finally came to admire the view,” Jongdae teased, still seated but now grinning wickedly at him.

“Oh shut up please.”, the omega said, making his way to the other alpha seated on the floor.

Chanyeol didn’t even glance Baekhyun’s way at first, still focused on his set—his arm flexing under the weight of the dumbbell, veins prominent, jaw clenched. Baekhyun sat down beside Jongdae, legs folded beneath him, trying not to look again.

But of course, his eyes drifted.

“What do you think about Chanyeol?”

Jongdae’s voice was too casual, but Baekhyun knew better. He didn’t take the bait at first, just shrugged, pretending to focus on Kyungsoo’s boxing form across the room. “What about him?”

“Oh, come on,” Jongdae said, leaning in with that infuriating smirk. “Don’t act like you weren’t just drooling over him. I saw the look. Hell, I heard the pause in your breath.”

Baekhyun narrowed his eyes. “It’s not like that.”

Jongdae tilted his head. “You like strong arms, huh?”

“I like peace and quiet, actually,” Baekhyun deadpanned, nudging Jongdae with his shoulder.

“Too bad you were destined to be with us the moment you got kicked into me and Minseok’s cell," Jongdae shot back.

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Don’t remind me. That was one of the worst days of my life.”

“Well, at least you met us. But either way, even if you haven’t been rooming with me or Minseok, I think you’ll still end with us. You were very cool on your first day here.”

Baekhyun let out a soft scoff, but it lacked heat. “Cool? I was terrified.”

“You didn’t show it,” Jongdae grinned, leaning back on his palms, sweat making his shirt cling to his frame. “You walked in here with that chin up and stared down three alphas like you owned the place.”

Baekhyun snorted. “That’s because I thought I was going to get eaten if I didn’t. Fake it till you make it, right?”

“Worked out for you,” Jongdae said, eyes darting toward Chanyeol. “Now you’ve got that lifting weights in front of you every other day.”

Baekhyun didn’t look this time. “I don’t care about Chanyeol’s muscles,” he lied.

Jongdae hummed. “Sure. That’s why you keep sneaking glances like you’re studying for an exam.”

Baekhyun glared at him but Jongdae just laughed.

“Alright, alright,” Jongdae said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I won’t tease you. But if you’re going to keep eyeing him like that, you better hope he doesn’t catch you doing it. That man's eyes are sharper than Kyungsoo’s knives.”

“I’m not eyeing him,” Baekhyun muttered.

Just then, as if summoned by their conversation, Chanyeol finally glanced over. Baekhyun looked up right at that moment—and their eyes met. The alpha didn’t smile, but something flickered in his gaze. A silent acknowledgement. Then he looked away and resumed his workout.

Baekhyun’s stomach did something weird. He hated it.

“Uh huh,” Jongdae said, smirking. “Not eyeing him at all.”

Baekhyun elbowed him in the ribs. “Die.”

“Already did,” Jongdae replied dramatically, flopping sideways on the mat. “Death by witnessing unresolved sexual tension.”

“Shut up please.”

“Shut up, please.”

Jongdae only groaned louder, rolling onto his back and tossing an arm over his eyes. “Baekhyun, if I die today, tell Minseok he was the only one I ever loved, not you .”

“You say that every time yet you guys treat me like your kid” Baekhyun muttered, pulling a towel from his bag and dabbing sweat from his neck. “Also, he’s literally over there, Jongdae. Alive. You could just—talk to him.”

“I like the drama of near-death better,” Jongdae sighed wistfully.

Baekhyun shook his head, a laugh escaping before he could stop it. “You’re insane.”

“And yet, you still hang out with me,” Jongdae grinned, cracking one eye open. “Says a lot about you, too.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes again, but he didn’t reply this time. As if on cue, Chanyeol was staring at them and smiled at him, showcasing his dimples. Baekhyun felt his face go red before Jongdae bumped his shoulder teasing him as the alpha walked his way.

Baekhyun’s breath caught, and he immediately looked down at the floor, pretending to be fascinated by the stitching in the gym mat. But he could still feel the heat of Chanyeol’s presence approaching—each step like a slow, heavy beat in his ears.

“I’m surprised you’re here at the gym,” Chanyeol said, voice low, slightly breathless, and far too close.

Baekhyun looked up, and it was a mistake.

Chanyeol was still glistening with sweat, shirtless with shirt slung over his shoulder, muscles taut from the workout. His biceps bulged as he dried his hair, and his eyes—those intense, dark eyes—were locked onto Baekhyun.Baekhyun swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how dry his throat was. He tried to look away, pretending like he wasn’t affected, but it was hard when the alpha looked like that—like temptation personified.

“Well, I was bored so I’m here to judge all the smelly alphas.”. Jongdae snorted beside him and said, “Please, you were just judging Chanyeol’s muscles.

Chanyeol chuckled, deep and unbothered, like he heard that kind of teasing all the time—and maybe he did. “Was I passing your inspection then?”

Baekhyun choked on his own breath, eyes snapping wide as Jongdae cackled next to him. “You—what—no,” he sputtered. “You don’t just ask people that!”

Chanyeol tilted his head, smirking like a wolf who knew exactly what he was doing. “Why not? You’re here to judge, right? Thought I’d help.”

Baekhyun narrowed his eyes, scowling mostly to cover the fact that his heart was pounding in his chest like a drumline. “I’ll pass on commenting.”

Chanyeol leaned closer, lowering his voice so only Baekhyun could hear. “That means yes.”

“Your face is so red,” Jongdae whispered gleefully, elbowing Baekhyun in the ribs.

“Shut up,” Baekhyun muttered back, smacking his arm lightly.

Chanyeol finally straightened up, smiled lazily, gaze lingering just a moment longer than necessary. “I’ll be at the bench press if you change your mind.”

Baekhyun waited until he walked away to groan and bury his face in his hands. “I hate this gym.”

“No, you love this gym,” Jongdae said with a shit-eating grin. “This gym has Chanyeol.”

“Jongdae, I love you but please, shut up.”

Jongdae snickered, clearly not planning to shut up anytime soon, but Baekhyun had already tuned him out.

His heart was still hammering from the way Chanyeol’s voice dipped low, like a secret pressed to his skin. It wasn’t fair. No one should be allowed to look like that—especially not in prison. Especially not Chanyeol, who always acted like Baekhyun wasn’t just another inmate, but someone he actually noticed .

Baekhyun peeked through his fingers, gaze trailing toward the weights section. Sure enough, Chanyeol was at the bench press, lying back, arms flexing as he lifted with a smooth, confident rhythm. A few other prisoners glanced his way, but Baekhyun was sure none of them were looking with the same heat he was trying—and failing—to hide.

“Ugh,” Baekhyun groaned again, collapsing dramatically on the mat. “I am so screwed.”

“Not yet,” Jongdae chirped, biting back a laugh. “But if you keep looking at him like that? Give it a week.”

Baekhyun threw his towel over his face. “I’m going back to our cell.”

Jongdae stood and offered a hand, clearly still amused. “You gonna walk, or you want me to drag your love-struck corpse back?”

“I’ll crawl.” But he took the hand anyway.

As they walked out, Baekhyun resisted the urge to look back. Yeah. He hated this gym. But maybe, just maybe, he didn’t hate all of it.

Notes:

this is like nearing the end THOUGH i can't decide if I want the court scene to be the end or after that or a timeskip

Chapter 27

Notes:

THANKS FOR 3,162 HITS!! we're near the end now. i alr drafted the court scene but it's still a few chapters away. thank u for all ur comments, everyone! i appreciate it sm. anyways, i'll try updating once a week. starting next week, i'll be really busy soooooooooooo.... comment ur thoughts!

“You’re looking better than the last time I saw you. Seems like prison life is treating you well.”, the therapist said to Baekhyun, who smiled at him.

“Yeah, you can say that.”, Baekhyun said.

“It’s our last session today. How are you feeling?”, Lee Joongi asked.

“Good, I guess. I mean I’m good for someone who’s imprisoned for murder.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Are you nervous for the hearing? It’s getting nearer.” 

Baekhyun frowned and asked, “Aren’t you going to ask questions related to how I’m doing to see if I’m in the right state of mind to speak in court?”

“I can already see that you’re in the correct state of mind so nevermind that. Let’s switch things up. When you get out of here, what do you want to do?”

Baekhyun blinked, surprised at the question. It never crossed his mind—not even once. “I don’t know…. I’ve never thought about it. I mean, I’m content here. I have friends who make my stay here enjoyable and food so I can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Lee Joongi gave him a look that was part amused, part exasperated. “That’s not the question I asked, Baekhyun.”

Baekhyun tilted his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But it’s the honest answer.”

“Contentment in a cage is still a cage,” the therapist said softly. “You’re adapting, which is admirable—but surviving is not the same as living. If the door opened tomorrow, what would you do with your freedom?”

Baekhyun looked down, expression thoughtful. The room fell quiet. The ticking of the wall clock filled the silence.

“I’d visit Ji-eun’s grave and tell her that I finally found the one.”, Baekhyun said with a small smile.

“ The one …?”

Baekhyun looked down at his fingers cuffed in front of him, a faint pink rising to his cheeks. “Yea. She always used to tell me that Kiho wasn’t the one and I’ll meet mine someday. Funny to think that I met mine here in prison for killing her killer.” The room fell silent at Baekhyun’s words. Dr. Lee Joongi didn’t speak right away . He didn’t expect that their conversation would lead into this— prison romance. He scanned the omega’s face, finding him looking determined before he asked, his voice softer than before, “Do you believe Ji-eun would’ve approved?”

“She wouldn’t at first, she’ll lecture me then when she sees him and sees the way he treats me everyday, she’ll understand and say that I deserve to be treated like that—as if I’m a princess and he’s my prince.”

A gentle smile touched Joongi’s lips. “That sounds like someone who truly knew you.”

Baekhyun gave a short chuckle, eyes glassy but warm. “She did. More than anyone. She used to say I give too much of myself to people who wouldn’t bleed for me. But he would. He has. And I think… I think she’d see that.”

There was a moment of silence before Joongi leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. “How can you say that he’s not like Kiho?”

“Well, for starters since the moment we first talked, he never did anything that would make me uncomfortable or touch me without my permission. Kiho was the exact opposite as he didn’t care about me nor my well-being. Chanyeol always respects my space and treats me well. He even went as far as stealing pants from the laundry to cover me since I wasn’t given one. He always makes sure to be by my side and protects me from other alphas not because he thinks I’m weak but because he wants me to experience being protected. That was something I wanted in the past—to be treated and respected well enough without even asking and Chanyeol gave me that. 

“So you like him because he treats you well?”

Baekhyun blinked, startled for a moment by how simply Joongi phrased it—how stripped down it sounded. But then he nodded, slowly, deliberately.

“Yes,” he said, voice firmer now. “Because he treats me well. And not in a way that feels transactional, or forced, or like he's keeping score. He doesn’t hold it over my head or expect me to repay him in any way. He just... does it. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world. But that’s not the only reason why I like him. I like him because he sees me—not as some delicate thing to pity, not as someone broken beyond repair—but as a person. He tells me I’m strong, but he also makes it okay for me to not be, sometimes.”

His voice lowered, thick with something unspoken. “And he never tries to fix me. He just... stays. No expectations. No pressure. Just this quiet, gentle kind of presence that makes everything feel less unbearable.”

Joongi sat back slightly, watching him with a searching gaze, but said nothing.

Baekhyun smiled faintly. “I like him because when I’m with him, I don’t feel like I’m surviving anymore. I feel like I’m starting to live again.” The room was quiet now, the weight of his words settling over Joongi. 

“That’s how I know he’s nothing like Kiho. Because he’s everything Kiho could never be.”

Joongi sat back slowly in his chair, absorbing the emotion woven into Baekhyun’s words. His eyes softened, no longer probing, but almost… understanding.

“You know,” he said after a pause, “a lot of people in this place don’t get to feel that. Especially not with someone they met inside.”

Baekhyun lowered his gaze, thumb fidgeting against the seam of his prison pants. “I didn’t expect it either. I didn’t come here to—feel anything. It felt as if I had nothing because Ji-eun was the only one I had before and I didn’t feel any regrets about killing Kiho. Then during the first day, I just wanted to survive and not be the kind of omega that they’ll eat.”

“And now?” Joongi asked, voice quieter.

Baekhyun lifted his head. “Now I want more than just to survive. I want to be with someone who makes the world feel less cold. Someone who sees me as more than a pretty face or a submissive omega. Chanyeol doesn’t look at me like I’m breakable. He looks at me like I’m… worth something—like I’m his.

Joongi tapped his pen against his notepad, then stopped. “You know this thing with Chanyeol—it won’t be easy.”

“I know,” Baekhyun said without hesitation. “But I’ve already worked hard. I’ve done pain and loss and silence. I’m not afraid of something real.” The omega paused before opening his mouth, “You think prison romance is something possible?”.

Joongi huffed a dry laugh, setting his pen down. “I think anything’s possible here, Baekhyun. People start wars over less. Fall in love faster. Break harder.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “But I also think most of it burns out just as quick. Pressure cooker love—it’s intense, overwhelming, and most of the time, it’s built on desperation.”

Baekhyun stayed quiet, absorbing the warning.

“But you,” Joongi continued, “you don’t talk about Chanyeol like he’s an escape. You talk about him like he’s a choice. That’s rare.”

Baekhyun looked down at his hands, his voice softer now. “He never tried to fix me. He just stayed. He made it easier to breathe when everything felt like it was choking me. It doesn’t feel like desperation… it feels like hope.”

Joongi let the silence linger before nodding once. “Then maybe—just maybe—you found something real in the most unreal place.”

Baekhyun glanced up, eyes glassy but determined. “If I did… I won’t let it go. Not even when I get out of here.”

Joongi smiled faintly. “Good. Because life after this place—it’s the real battlefield. If your love can survive these walls, it might just survive the world.”

“Is it bad that I don’t even want to get out of here just because I want to stay with them—him?”

Joongi didn’t answer immediately. His eyes flicked down to his notepad, though he didn’t write anything. Instead, he studied Baekhyun with a knowing gaze, like he was watching someone walk a tightrope between truth and delusion.

“It’s not bad,” he finally said. “It’s human. But it’s also dangerous.”

Baekhyun’s brows furrowed, lips parting as if to argue, but Joongi held up a hand.

“This place… it warps everything. Makes poison taste like medicine and bars feel like home. You get so used to surviving that when something kind feels good, you cling to it like it’s your only oxygen.”

He leaned forward again, quieter now.

“But Baekhyun… you don’t belong here forever. You’re not like the others. You still have something pure in you—and it’s not meant to rot in this place.”

“What do you mean not like the others? I’m an inmate like most of the prisoners here. I murdered someone with no remorse, how the fuck does that make me pure?”

Joongi didn’t flinch. He sat there calmly, as if he’d expected the outburst. His pen tapped once against the page before he set it down.

“You think remorse is the only measure of purity?” he asked quietly. “Baekhyun, you killed someone, yes. But you did it to protect someone else. You did it because of how much you felt. That’s not the absence of humanity. That is humanity.”

“If that is humanity, then why am I here in prison? Why was Kiho not placed in prison despite doing horrible sins? Why the fuck was Ji-eun killed? Who was I even protecting because I know I killed Kiho as revenge, not to protect anyone.”

Joongi was silent for a moment, the air between them heavy with truth and grief. Then, gently, “You’re right to ask all that. You’re not wrong for being angry.”

Baekhyun looked away, jaw clenched. His hands trembled slightly in his lap.

“You didn’t kill him to protect Ji-eun, not exactly,” Joongi continued. “You killed him because everything he took from you, from her, from who you used to be—he turned you into someone who needed to take power back, even if it meant destroying him.”

“Still, I killed someone. But I really don’t give a fuck. Stop saying that I’m not like the others just because I’m an omega you pity on. If I was an alpha, you wouldn’t say that to me.”

Joongi didn’t flinch. He just sat there, meeting Baekhyun’s eyes, not with pity—but something steadier. “You think I’m saying this because you’re an omega? I’ve seen alphas who begged for forgiveness for crimes they meant to commit, and I’ve seen omegas who smiled while setting the world on fire.” Baekhyun didn’t speak.

Joongi leaned forward. “I’m saying this because I see what the system did to you. What Kiho did. What everyone let happen. You snapped—but not because you’re broken. You snapped because no one else would listen unless something cracked.”

—-

“Ji-eun, look at that guy. He looks hot. I want him.” Baekhyun said before pointing at an alpha to his best friend

“Ew. He’s not, he looks like a fucking garbage, Baek. Get your standards up.”, Ji-eun disapproved.

Baekhyun let out a dramatic gasp, grabbing Ji-eun’s arm. “Excuse me? He has broad shoulders, messy hair, and a bad attitude. That’s my exact type.”

Ji-eun rolled her eyes. “No, your exact type is ‘anything that walks and breathes and looks like they’d ruin your life in bed.’”

“Okay, rude—but not wrong,” Baekhyun snickered, taking another sip of his cocktail as they leaned against the bar. The club was pulsing with lights, and music vibrated through the floor beneath them. It was one of their usual Friday nights—Baekhyun in skin-tight jeans and a silk shirt half-unbuttoned, Ji-eun in a crop top and leather skirt, both glowing under the strobe lights.

“I’m serious, though,” Baekhyun said, his voice softening. “You know what I really want?”

Ji-eun blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. “What?”

“Ideal type? Someone who listens to me talk about dumb shit for hours and still thinks I’m brilliant. Someone who—” he paused, looking out over the crowd. “Someone who sees me, not just some hot omega they can sleep with and toss aside.”

Ji-eun’s teasing expression faltered, and she reached for his hand. “You deserve that, Baek.”

Baekhyun squeezed her fingers, the corner of his lips lifting. “You think I’ll find him?”

She smiled, full of certainty. “Yeah. I’m sure you’ll find it when you’re not even looking or thinking of finding them.” Baekhyun snorted, saying, “Yea right—” but he never finished that sentence because he saw an alpha— a handsome one staring at him.

The alpha wasn’t ogling like the rest, wasn’t undressing him with his eyes. His gaze held something else—curiosity, maybe. Or a kind of stillness that cut through the noise and the strobe lights and the bass vibrating against Baekhyun’s chest.

Baekhyun blinked, suddenly hyper-aware of the warmth of Ji-eun’s hand in his. “Is he looking at me?”

Ji-eun turned, following his gaze, then scoffed. “That one? Yeah, totally your type. Tall. Looks like he can throw you. Cat eye. I don’t like him, he looks like a fuck boy.”

“Yea, he’s totally my type. Don’t wait for me if I disappear.”, Baekhyun said downing a shot then half-hugging Ji-eun, who groaned and said, “You’re fucking insane. You’re leaving me alone?”.

“As if you hadn't done that to me last time. It’s my turn now”. Baekhyun weaved through the crowd, heart racing—not with nerves, but excitement. The kind that always followed him when he knew he was being watched and wanted. But as he neared the alpha, the man didn’t smirk or leer. He just raised a brow, eyes sweeping over Baekhyun slowly, calculating.

“I’m Kiho,” the alpha said over the music, voice smooth but firm. Confident, but not loud. That alone made Baekhyun lean in.

“Baekhyun,” he replied, grinning.

Chapter 28

Notes:

long chap ahead! more lore,,, i think we'll have 3-4 chaps like this before going back to the present since if we go to the court scene without this, it might become unmeaningful or more undeveloped since i just wrote about their "relationship" and didn't show it. because of that, i think we'll have atleast 7-8 chaps then it ends, though i'm not sure yet. i have like 3 other chanbaek aus written: spy x marvel x mission impossible inspired , univ roommates gymrat cy , univ basketball varsity cy and bh volleyball, and canon au "exo is back" thanks for 3,300 hits! we're really near the end im still not ready (im too lazy to write the court chapter LOOOOL)

“Omegas like you are made to be breeding stocks”, Kiho laughs as he dives in to kiss the blonde haired omega.

—

“How was last night?”Ji-eun asked the omega, who’s laying on her bed. Baekhyun sighed before saying, “It was good I guess. The sex was good but he said something I can’t get out of my mind.”

“What is it?”Baekhyun pulled the blanket up to his chin, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. “He laughed after and said, ‘Omegas like you are made to be breeding stocks.’ Like it was nothing. Like it was just a joke.”

Ji-eun stilled, her breath caught in her throat. “He said what ?”

“He was laughing,” Baekhyun said quickly, like he was trying to defend the moment even as it unsettled him. “Like maybe it wasn’t serious. Maybe it was just dirty talk that went too far.”

“Baek,” Ji-eun said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “That’s not dirty talk. That’s dehumanizing.”

“Well maybe it was just him being drunk.”

Ji-eun's eyes narrowed. “Being drunk doesn’t make someone say things they don’t already believe. It just makes them brave enough to say it out loud.”

“Well, I don’t really care about it now so nevermind.”

Ji-eun didn’t respond right away. She studied him—the way he looked down, not quite meeting her eyes. The way his fingers clenched the hem of his oversized shirt just a little too tightly. “Baek, I don’t want you to meet this guy again. Please don’t keep contact with him even though the sex is good.”

Baekhyun suddenly froze and gulped making Ji-eun question him, “Wait, were you planning on meeting him again?” Baekhyun didn’t answer right away.His silence was loud. Ji-eun’s face dropped.

 “Baek…”

“I agreed to meet him at a coffee shop tomorrow after class…”

Ji-eun stared at him, stunned. “You what ?You’re going on a date with him? The alpha you slept with ? Kiho?”, Ji-eun asked in disbelief.

“It’s not a date if we’re just getting to know each other,” Baekhyun said, eyes not meeting hers. 

“Baek, he literally called you a breeding stock. Why the fuck are you going with him?”

Baekhyun flinched at her words, the memory of Kiho’s voice slurring that sentence flashing behind his eyes like a slap. Still, he kept his tone neutral. “Maybe he didn’t mean it like that. Maybe it was just… drunk talk. You know how some people get.”

Ji-eun’s jaw tightened. “No, Baek. That wasn’t ‘some people.’ That was him . That was what he thinks —about you, about omegas.”

Baekhyun sat on the edge of the bed, picking at a thread in his sleeve. “I just… I don’t know. It’s not like anyone else is lining up to ask me for coffee. I’m not saying I like him. I just—”

“You don’t need to be liked by someone who disrespects you, Baekhyun,” Ji-eun snapped, voice sharp, but not out of anger. Out of fear. “Baek, he already said something. That’s a sign for you to stop talking to him. You guys just slept together one time and that’s it. Don’t go back and get to know him before you get pulled in. I’m telling you, I have a bad feeling about him. You can go and sleep with alphas for all I care but not him—he’s bad news.”

Baekhyun’s lips parted, but no words came. He just stared at the floor like it could give him answers—like if he looked hard enough, he could convince himself Ji-eun was overreacting. That he wasn’t reaching for something he already knew would burn him.

“He’s different,” Baekhyun said, the words falling flat even to his own ears.

“No, Baek,” Ji-eun said, kneeling in front of him so he’d have no choice but to meet her eyes. “He’s not. He’s the same as the rest. Worse, maybe—because he’s already showing signs this early, and you’re still trying to paint over them.”

“I’m not trying to paint over anything.” Baekhyun’s voice rose just slightly, brittle. “I just—what if he’s not as bad as he came off? What if it was just the heat of the moment, and maybe if I get to know him properly—”

“ Why do you want to know someone who already made you feel like shit? ” Ji-eun’s voice cracked. “Do you hear yourself right now?”

Baekhyun’s jaw clenched, his hands tightening around his sleeves. He didn’t answer.

Ji-eun exhaled shakily, softer now. “Baek… I love you. You know that, right?”

He nodded, eyes stinging.

“That means I’m not going to sit back and watch you let someone chip away at you because you’re lonely or curious or because it’s easier than waiting for someone who’ll treat you right from the start. You don’t need to lower your standards to feel wanted.”

—

“You’re all dismissed.”

The lecture hall buzzed as chairs scraped and students stood, some stretching, others already filing out the door. Baekhyun didn’t move right away. He sat near the back, a little more withdrawn than usual, his notebook half-filled with barely legible notes.

Ji-eun nudged him gently with her elbow. “Come on. Let’s go. You’ve been zoned out all day.”

Baekhyun blinked and looked up. “Sorry. Just tired.”

“You’re still going on that coffee date with Kiho?”

“Yeah”

Ji-eun stopped walking. “You what ?” she asked, her voice low but tight with disbelief. “I thought you said you cancelled. You told me you blocked him.”

Baekhyun shifted on his feet, avoiding her eyes. “I did… for a day. But he messaged me through another number. Said he just wanted to talk. That he was sorry if he said something that came off wrong.”

“Came off wrong ?” Ji-eun scoffed, incredulous. “Baek, that wasn’t a slip-up. That was who he was showing .”

“I know.” Baekhyun swallowed hard. “But I want to hear it from him. If it was really just a bad joke—if he says it again, I’ll walk out. I just need to be sure .”

Ji-eun stared at him. “You’re already sure . You’re just hoping you’re wrong .” Silence.

“I’m not mad,” she finally said. “But you can’t keep giving people auditions to hurt you.” Baekhyun’s lips trembled just slightly. “I’ll be careful.” Ji-eun looked at him for a long moment before nodding tightly. “You’d better be. I don’t trust him, Baek. ”

—

The café Kiho chose was a sleek, modern place tucked into a quieter street near campus—clean white walls, brass pendant lights hanging over wooden tables, and soft indie music playing in the background. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with hints of vanilla and cinnamon wafted through the air. It was warm and comfortable, but still curated—clearly one of those places that tried to look effortlessly casual while still charging twelve dollars for a latte.

Baekhyun stepped inside, eyes scanning the space as he tugged at the hem of his soft beige sweater. It was oversized and cozy, paired with simple black jeans and sneakers. He didn’t dress up much since he doesn’t want to seem like he’s impressing the alpha when in fact, he should be the one to be impressed. He spotted Kiho at a corner table by the window, where the afternoon light framed him neatly—chosen, clearly, to be visible. The alpha didn’t get up or wave. He simply leaned back in his seat, a coffee already in hand, watching Baekhyun approach with that same amused expression he wore the night they met.

“Hello, Baekhyun. It’s nice to see you again.” Kiho said, nodding toward his clothes. Baekhyun smiled and sat in front of him saying, “Likewise”.

His gaze lingered—measured and sharp, as if still assessing whether Baekhyun matched whatever version he’d constructed in his head. Baekhyun let it stretch a moment before crossing his legs and casually picking up the menu.

“Did you already order?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kiho replied. “Thought I’d surprise you. Hope you like matcha lattes and lemon scones.”

Baekhyun gave a tight smile, setting the menu back down. “Sure,” he said. “I hope that it tastes good.”

Kiho chuckled, leaning back in his seat. “You know, I’m glad that you agreed on meeting me here again. You didn’t seem like someone who’ll go on a date with a one night stand.”

“Well, I’m not the type to refuse free food.”

You strike me as someone who’s used to attention,” he said, tilting his head. “You’re… bold for dressing simply like that during the first date. Usually, people put in more effort during the first date.”

Baekhyun blinked. “Well, I’m the type of omega who won’t sacrifice comfort just to impress someone. If they don’t like me when I’m not dressed up, then so be it.”

“Hmmm. That’s good.” Kiho swirled his drink lazily. “What are your interests?”

“Music, mostly. I like singing, dancing too—I used to do it for fun. And I do hapkido.”

Kiho raised a brow. “That’s unexpected. I thought you’d be more into fashion or makeup.”

Baekhyun tilted his head. “Why’s that?”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. You just give off that vibe. I mean—look at you. You’ve got that soft-but-sharp thing going on.” He laughed, like it was a compliment.

Baekhyun offered a neutral smile. “I enjoy makeup. But I don’t like being boxed into one thing.”

Kiho nodded slowly. “Fair. I like someone with range.” He leaned in slightly. “Hapkido, though? That’s rare for an omega.”

“Why?” Baekhyun asked evenly.

Kiho gave a small laugh, trying to sound casual. “No offense. Just... most omegas I’ve met aren’t really into combat sports. It’s more of an alpha thing.”

Baekhyun stirred his coffee. “Self-defense shouldn’t be limited to one dynamic.”

“Of course,” Kiho said quickly. “You’re right. It just makes you more interesting.”

“I started learning young,” Baekhyun added. “It helped with confidence.”

“I bet it also helps you keep alphas in line,” Kiho grinned. “You strike me as someone who doesn’t let anyone walk over them.”

“Only if they try,” Baekhyun said, holding his gaze.

Kiho’s grin lingered, but there was something else behind his eyes now—curiosity threaded with challenge, like he wasn’t used to being told no.

“So,” he said, swirling his cup, “are you seeing anyone right now?”

Baekhyun shook his head. “No one’s caught my eye yet.” Kiho smiled, slow and deliberate. “Hard to believe.”

Baekhyun shrugged, unfazed. “Most people don’t make it past my tests.”

Kiho raised a brow, intrigued. “Tests?”

“You know, the small details. The attitude. Personality. Interests—just to see if they’re worth my time.”

Kiho chuckled. “So what about me? Did I pass?”

Baekhyun smirked, sipping from his cup. “I’m still deciding.”

“I like that,” Kiho said, leaning in slightly, eyes fixed on him. “You’re not like the others. Most omegas I’ve met are eager to please. But you—” He paused, his gaze lingering. “You make me work for it.”

Baekhyun let out a soft laugh, taking it as a compliment. “I like to keep people on their toes.”

Kiho nodded, eyes gleaming. “It suits you. You know what you want. You don’t settle.”

Baekhyun smiled at that, the words sinking in like warmth. “Exactly.”

Kiho tilted his head. “You ever think that maybe you’re just hard to please?”

Baekhyun blinked, surprised by the shift in tone. But Kiho smiled immediately after, chuckling like he was only teasing.

“Don’t take that the wrong way,” he added quickly. “It’s a good thing. It just means I have to work harder.”

Baekhyun’s laugh returned, softer this time. “You like a challenge, don’t you?”

“I like control,” Kiho said, then grinned like it was a joke. “Kidding. Mostly.”

Baekhyun didn’t read too much into it—chalked it up to alpha humor and confidence. “Well, good luck passing the rest of the tests then.”

Kiho raised his glass. “Challenge accepted. So where do you study?” 

Baekhyun swirled the straw in his iced coffee and answered casually, “Seoul University. Performing Arts major. I’m in my third year.” Kiho’s smile widened. “Ah, that explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“You,” he said simply, eyes roaming over Baekhyun’s face in a way that made the omega pause. “You’ve got that… polished look. You look confident about yourself and hold your head high.”

Baekhyun felt the compliment slide over him, warm and smooth. “You flatter easily.” “I don’t,” Kiho replied, his tone a little lower. “I just say what I see.”

Baekhyun tried to suppress the heat crawling up his neck. “What about you?”

“Psychology.” Kiho leaned back, letting the word sit. “Same university.”

Baekhyun blinked. “Psychology?”  Kiho gave a nod, his smile lazy. “Yeah. I like studying people—how they think, how they work. Why they do what they do.” There was a pause. Baekhyun tilted his head, intrigued. “That’s... intense. Are you planning to be a therapist or something?”

“Something like that,” Kiho said smoothly. “I like figuring people out. Watching them. Seeing what makes them tick. There’s always more under the surface, you know?”

Baekhyun chuckled. “That sounds kind of ominous.” “Does it?” Kiho grinned, then added in a more playful tone, “I mean it in a good way. I like people. They’re fascinating.”

Baekhyun nodded slowly, sipping his coffee. He didn’t catch the way Kiho’s eyes never really left his face, how they lingered just a little too long—not fascinated, but studying. Measuring.

“So… have you figured me out yet?” Baekhyun asked, teasing.

“Not yet,” Kiho answered, setting down his cup with a quiet clink. “But I plan to.”

Baekhyun laughed, brushing it off as flirtation. “Well, good luck. I’m not that easy to read.”
Kiho’s smile deepened. “I don’t mind a challenge.” Before Baekhyun could start another conversation, their orders came. The omega immediately got his matcha and took a sip before asking, “Do you have any family members?” while looking at his date. His tone was light, casual—just making conversation.

Kiho didn’t answer immediately. He set his cup down gently, eyes flicking toward the window for a second too long before answering. “I only have one, but he’s dead.” His voice was even. “His name was Jae-won. Kim Jaewon.”

Baekhyun blinked, surprised by the bluntness. “Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Kiho smiled faintly, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Don’t be. It was a long time ago. He was younger than me.” Baekhyun tilted his head slightly, brows drawing together. “Wait… Kim Jaewon? But your surname’s Park, isn’t it?”

Kiho didn’t flinch, but he didn’t answer right away either. There was a brief flicker in his expression—just enough to catch Baekhyun’s curiosity before it vanished behind another easy smile.

“He took our mom’s last name,” Kiho said smoothly, eyes flicking back to Baekhyun. “Split household. Complicated family stuff.”

“Oh,” Baekhyun said, nodding slowly. “Got it. That makes sense.”

Kiho leaned forward again, tone lighter now. “Anyway. He was a good kid. Soft-spoken. Smart. Everyone liked him.”

Baekhyun gave a gentle smile. “Sounds like someone I would’ve liked, too.”

For the first time that afternoon, something cold passed behind Kiho’s eyes, but the omega failed to notice that since he was too busy trying out the food. “Yeah,” he said, fingers curling slightly around his coffee cup. “People usually did.”

The rest of the date passed easily. Kiho was attentive, charming, and sharp with his words. He asked questions that made Baekhyun feel seen, offered compliments that landed just right, and listened with a focus that made Baekhyun feel like the only person in the room.

So when Kiho insisted on walking him to his apartment afterward—even though Baekhyun said he didn’t need to—he let him.

When Kiho rested a hand lightly on the small of his back as they crossed the street, Baekhyun didn’t flinch.

And when Kiho said, “I already know I’m going to want to see you again,” Baekhyun just smiled.

Chapter 29

Notes:

short chap,,, will TRY to upload next one this week too . thanks for 3,598 hits! i swear the only reason why im getting slow on updates is cuz i don't feel like writing / idk how to write it properly BUT i swear i won't abandon this. i think we have atleast 5-6 chaps left (depending on how i break it down. as much as i want this au to be finished, i don't want to fuck up on the pacing. so,,,

It’s been a few days since their first coffee date, and Baekhyun was—slowly, cautiously—falling.It wasn’t like he planned to. In fact, he’d promised himself that he wouldn’t. Not after that first night. Not after what Kiho said. But there’s something about the alpha that draws Baekhyun in—and he intends to find that out. Or maybe that’s just what he’s telling himself. And Ji-eun.

He kept repeating it like a prayer every time Ji-eun gave him that look—the one that said she wanted to scream but loved him too much to do it. Every time she asked, “Are you sure about him?” he would shrug, sip from his straw, and murmur, “I’m just curious.” And curiosity, he told himself, wasn’t the same as falling.

But then came the little things.

Kiho started texting good night and good morning. Started sending pictures of his cat, of skies he thought Baekhyun might like, of inside jokes they'd barely built.  Weird. Cute. Harmless. Baekhyun found himself smiling more than he wanted to admit. Laughing at messages long after reading them. Checking his phone during breaks and pretending not to care when Kiho took too long to reply.Maybe it was dangerous. Maybe Ji-eun was right.  But maybe she wasn’t. Maybe not this time.

—

He doesn’t know when it started but it became their routine. Baekhyun would update Kiho, which he never did with any one night stands then go out with him every single day, not because he invites the alpha but it’s actually the other way around. 

“You went out with him again?”, Ji-eun asked, lying down on Baekhyun’s bed. They’re currently in Baekhyun’s apartment. Baekhyun was laying down beside her, currently scrolling on his phone.

“Yea, we studied together.”

“You studied with an alpha you fucked? That’s new.” Baekhyun snorted, not looking up from his screen. “He’s not just an alpha I fucked, Ji-eun.”

 “That’s what you said about the last one,” she said flatly. Baekhyun ignored her, scrolling through the unread messages from Kiho—half of them little check-ins, half of them telling him to “be careful” when he went out, to “text when you get home,” even when Baekhyun was literally just at the campus library. Cute… mostly. A little much, maybe. But cute.

“He’s nice,” Baekhyun added. “And he actually listens when I talk.”  Ji-eun hummed like she didn’t believe him. “I listen to you too. Listening is just the bare minimum.”

Baekhyun tossed his phone onto the blanket, more to stop himself from rereading Kiho’s last message than to make a point. “You’re overthinking. He’s just… interested.”

“Interested,” Ji-eun repeated, raising a brow. “As in, asking who you’re with, what time you’ll be home, what you’re wearing—”  “It’s not like that.” Baekhyun cut in too quickly, and he hated that he sounded defensive. Ji-eun didn’t push.

“Baek, let’s go to this new cafe together. I heard the cashier’s cute. I wanna see him”, Ji-eun said, wiggling his eyebrows.

“What is he? Also where’s that cafe?”, Baekhyun said laughing at his bestfriend’s interested face

“He’s an alpha and it’s just near campus, five minutes walk,” Ji-eun said, already grabbing her bag.

Baekhyun grinned, sitting up. “Fine, but if he’s ugly I’m blaming you for wasting my time.”

They were halfway to the door when Baekhyun’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, expecting a random group chat notification, but it was Kiho.

Kiho: Where are you going?
Kiho: You just finished class, right?

Baekhyun frowned for a second, thumbs flying over the screen. Going to a cafe with Ji-eun.
The reply came instantly.

Kiho: Which cafe? I’ll meet you there.

Ji-eun groaned the moment she caught the look on Baekhyun’s face. “What is it? Wait, don't tell me…”

“He just wants to join,” Baekhyun said, tucking his phone away with a small smile. “It’s fine.”

“I can’t believe you’re letting him join. This is supposed to be us alpha hunting.”, Ji-eun said glaring at the omega. “You’re always with him already. This was supposed to be just us hanging out.” The omega felt guilty because what his friend said was true. He was always talking to Kiho whether it be through chat or on dates. There was not a day wherein he’s alone or hanging out with other people since the alpha came to his life. “I can tell him to go away”. Baekhyun hesitated, staring down at his phone. His thumb hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he typed:

Baekhyun: Hey, maybe we can meet up later instead? I’m going to hang out with Ji-eun for a bit.

The reply came the moment he pressed send.

Kiho: Why? I can hang out with both of you. Don’t you want me there?

Baekhyun chewed his lip, not wanting to reject the alpha as he’s always been someone who can’t say no to people.“If you cave, I swear, Baek…”, Ji-eun said, looking ahead at the streets.

Baekhyun: It’s not that. We just wanted it to be just us hanging out. It’s been a while since we last hung out with each other.

Kiho: Fine. Have fun.

Baekhyun smiled in relief that the alpha wasn’t mad despite the cold response. Ji-eun glanced at him before saying, “What’d he say?.”

“He says it’s okay.”Ji-eun raised an eyebrow. “That didn’t sound convincing.”

“It’s fine,” Baekhyun said quickly, adjusting the strap of his bag. “He’s not upset.”

They reached the café a few minutes later, the bell above the door chiming as they stepped inside. The place smelled like roasted beans and fresh pastries, the warm hum of conversation filling the space. Ji-eun’s eyes immediately scanned the counter, lips curling into a grin. “Okay, they were right to come. He’s cute. ” Baekhyun laughed, following her to the counter. 

“Hey, Jong suk”, Ji-eun greeted, reading the barista’s name tag. “Can I have one biscoff latte and a nutella croffle for dine-in?” Baekhyun stepped up after her, glancing at the pastries in the display before ordering his usual. “I’ll have an iced vanilla latte, less sweet. And… one of those matcha cookies.” Jongsuk smiled, punching it in. “Coming right up.”

They found a small table near the window, and Ji-eun was already leaning in with that conspiratorial sparkle in her eye. “I swear, Baek, if you don’t at least look at him, I’m going to set you up myself.”

Baekhyun chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m not here to flirt. That’s your mission, remember?”

“Uh-huh. I have to get his number. He’s so hot.,” Ji-eun said, throwing heart eyes at the barista, who’s facing his back at them. Baekhyun rolled his eyes but glanced at his screen anyway—two unread messages from Kiho.

Kiho : Send me a picture of you and the cafe right now.

Baekhyun typed back quickly under the table: We’re just hanging out, I’ll send you later.

A reply came within seconds.

Kiho: Just now. Please.

He sighed, snapping a quick photo of his coffee and the table setup. “You’re with me right now, yet you're chatting with that alpha again.”, Ji-eun commented, annoyed. “Give me your phone. I’ll give it back to you again before we go home. Baekhyun chuckled and gave him his phone without any thoughts.

Baekhyun chuckled and handed his phone over without a second thought. Ji-eun slid it into her tote bag with a satisfied hum.

“Finally, I get your full attention,” she teased, nudging him toward an empty table by the window.

They chatted between bites of croffle and sips of latte, Ji-eun occasionally stealing glances toward the counter when Jong-suk walked by. Baekhyun rolled his eyes but didn’t comment—he was too busy enjoying the rare, phone-free moment with her.

“You know, you should ask him out.”, Baekhyun said as Ji-eun was staring at the alpha again.

“Baek, he smells so nice. Do you think he’s single? If he is, do you think I have a chance?”, Ji-eun asked, not taking her eyes off the alpha barista.

“I don’t know but he doesn’t have any mating bites so maybe he is. Why don’t you ask him?”

Ji-eun bit her straw, grinning. “What if he rejects me? You’ll have to fake a phone call and drag me out of here so I don’t die of embarrassment.”

Baekhyun snorted. “I’ll make it dramatic. Like—‘Ji-eun, we need you here, it’s an emergency!’”

She laughed, finally tearing her gaze away from the barista to swat Baekhyun’s arm. “You’re an idiot.”

“But I’m serious. I can see why you can’t stop staring at him. He looks like an angel. I approve of him.

Ji-eun smirked. “Glad I have your blessing, oh mighty omega.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, sipping his latte. “I’m just saying, you deserve someone who makes you smile like that.”

“Mm, and you deserve someone who doesn’t make you check your phone every five seconds,” Ji-eun shot back without missing a beat.

“Oh please, shut up and go ask for his number while he’s not busy.” “Do I look good?” “Yes, you do. Go get him!”

Ji-eun grinned, smoothing her hair before standing. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” Baekhyun said, waving her toward the counter. The omega watched the other go to the counter and flirt at Jongsuk, who was smiling at her. Ji-eun’s right, Jongsuk is cute, he looks like a prince with hair and a smile like that. They look quite good together. Ji-eun leaned casually against the counter, her tone playful as she ordered a refill she probably didn’t even want. Baekhyun couldn’t hear their words over the chatter of the café, but he didn’t need to—Ji-eun’s coy smile and Jong-suk’s amused expression said enough.

Baekhyun sipped his latte, pretending not to watch too closely, when the bell above the café door chimed again. He didn’t think much of it until a familiar scent hit him—sharp, and strong like a charcoal. His fingers tightened around his cup before he even looked up. Kiho.

The alpha stood at the entrance, scanning the room with an unreadable expression before his gaze landed squarely on Baekhyun. That small, deliberate smile formed on his lips—the kind that didn’t quite match his eyes. Baekhyun’s stomach dipped.

He hadn’t told him which café he went to.

Chapter 30

Notes:

I'M BACK!!! thanks for the 3,978 hits!! THANKYALL SM!! we're nearly in the finish line,,,, like 90-95% ,,,, i don't really want this to end yet but i re-read it and realized how much i've dragged it so,,,

Kiho began walking towards Baekhyun’s table. The omega was confused as to why the other was here when he specifically told him that they’ll hang out too some other time.

“What are you doing here?”Baekhyun asked, unconsciously raising his voice out of his surprise. The alpha in question raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, “Why? Can’t I be here? You weren’t answering me so I thought something happened to you.”

Ji-eun, still at the counter, glanced over for a moment to check on her friend and was surprised to see that bastard alpha in front of the omega. She paused her flirting to Jongsuk, who was handing her the receipt. He followed her gaze and said, “You have an alpha?”, while raising his eyebrow.

Ji-eun forced a small laugh, slipping the receipt into her bag. “No, I don’t. You can apply if you want to though,” she said quickly, though her tone was edged with irritation.  Jong-suk chuckled at her boldness, but his eyes lingered a second longer on Kiho, as if trying to size him up from across the café. “Noted,” he said with a smirk, handing her the change. “I’ll keep my schedule open.”

“As much as I want to talk with you, I have to go save my friend from that stupid alpha.” Jong-suk’s smirk softened into mild curiosity. “Is he bothering your friend?”

Ji-eun gave a noncommittal shrug, already stepping back from the counter. “Let’s just say he doesn’t know how to respect boundaries.”

Without waiting for a response, she made her way toward Baekhyun’s table. From a distance, she could see Kiho leaning down slightly, his hand braced on the back of Baekhyun’s chair, posture a little too possessive for her liking. Baekhyun was nodding along to whatever he was saying, a polite smile on his lips, but Ji-eun could read the tension in his shoulders from a mile away.She slid into the empty seat opposite Baekhyun, placing her cup on the table with a deliberate thunk .

“Wow,” Ji-eun said cheerfully, though the glint in her eyes was anything but. “Didn’t realize we were inviting guests.”

Kiho’s gaze flicked toward her, calm but heavy. “I was just checking on him. He wasn’t answering his phone.”

“That’s because he gave it to me,” Ji-eun said, sipping her drink slowly, “so we could hang out without interruptions.” She said keeping eye contact on the alpha.

Kiho’s smile tightened just a fraction, a shadow passing over his calm expression. “I see,” he said slowly, letting the words hang in the air. “So… I’m not exactly welcome then?”

Ji-eun’s eyes narrowed slightly, the playful edge in her voice now carrying a warning. “Yes it is. You can’t just show up here knowing that me and Baek have plans. You’re already with him almost every day, and now you just… appear out of nowhere?”

Kiho’s gaze didn’t waver, calm but intense, and Baekhyun felt a shiver run down his spine. “I didn’t mean to intrude,” he said evenly, though there was a faint tension in his jaw. “I just wanted to make sure he was… okay.”

Ji-eun’s lips curved into a small, sharp smile. “Oh, I’m sure he’s okay. But let me tell you something about boundaries, alpha. Baekhyun isn’t your omega. If you have feelings for him and are serious, then you must understand that his life doesn’t only revolve around you. He also has other friends and can hang out with them whenever he wants without a stupid, possessive alpha breathing down his neck. Baekhyun is a grown adult omega, who can make decisions for himself.”

Kiho’s eyes flicked toward Baekhyun, a brief shadow of something unreadable passing over his features. “I… understand,” he said softly, though there was a tension underneath the calm tone, a barely-there edge that made Baekhyun’s stomach tighten. “I just—”

“You just what?” Ji-eun cut in, leaning forward slightly, voice sharper now. “You just assume you can follow him around and show up wherever he is because you think you have some right over him? Newsflash, alpha, you don’t. Not yet. Not until he chooses you freely.”

Baekhyun shifted uncomfortably between them, the warmth he usually felt around Kiho now mingled with a flicker of unease he couldn’t ignore. Kiho’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he let a slow, calculated smile spread across his face, soft and disarming—but Baekhyun could sense the undercurrent. Something in that smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“I… I didn’t mean to cross a line,” Kiho said carefully, his voice low. “I just… care. That’s all.”

Ji-eun snorted, rolling her eyes. “Caring doesn’t mean controlling, you know. There’s a difference between concern and… what you’re doing right now.” She glanced pointedly at Baekhyun, who swallowed hard, feeling the truth in her words but also a tug at something he couldn’t name yet.

Kiho’s gaze lingered on Baekhyun a moment longer, and though his voice remained calm, there was a subtle, possessive edge hidden beneath the surface. “Noted,” he said finally, turning slightly as if to step back—but the warning in his eyes remained.

Baekhyun exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. Something about Kiho’s presence, so polished and controlled, made his chest tighten in a way he wasn’t sure he liked. He forced a small, nervous laugh, trying to mask the unsettled feeling. Ji-eun noticed immediately, raising an eyebrow.

“See?” she murmured under her breath. “I told you. There’s something off about him. Keep your eyes open, Baek.”

Baekhyun’s stomach churned, and deep down, he knew she was right.

—

“You what?”

“I know you’ll get mad but–”

“I can’t believe you, Baek!”Ji-eun raised her voice at her friend. “After all the shits I told him in the cafe with Jongsuk watching, you’re telling me right now that you fucking accepted his half-assed apology? I don’t understand you. What even is so great about Park Fucking Kiho that you turn blind?”

Baekhyun’s chest tightened, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. He looked down, forcing himself to take a slow breath. Ji-eun’s words stung, sharper than he wanted to admit, but he couldn’t let her see him waver.

“I… I don’t know,” he admitted, voice low, almost a whisper. “It’s not like I should like him. I just… I can’t help it.”

Ji-eun shook her head, exasperation clear in every movement. “Can’t help it? Baek, you’re literally letting him walk all over your time, your space, and your feelings. Do you even see the way he—” She stopped, realizing the intensity in Baekhyun’s gaze as he finally met her eyes.

“Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, Ji-eun, please. Just trust me.”

Ji-eun stared at him, her brow furrowed. “The benefit of the doubt, Baek? This isn’t some silly game. He’s an alpha who doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. You’re not just risking your time—you’re risking your peace of mind.”

Baekhyun swallowed, the weight of her words pressing on him. He wanted to argue, to defend Kiho, but the unease curling in his chest made him pause. “I know… I just… I like him, okay? I like him more than I probably should. And even if he’s… intense, I can handle it.”

Ji-eun exhaled sharply, leaning back against the couch. “Baek… sometimes you don’t even realize when you’re being pulled in the wrong direction until it’s too late.”

He looked down, fiddling with the edge of his hoodie, trying to steady the nervous flutter in his chest. “I’ll… be careful,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I promise.”

Her expression softened slightly, though her concern didn’t fade. “I know, Baek but there’s something about this guy. I don’t like him. He seems controlling when it hasn’t even been a month since you two met each other. He seems entitled.”

Baekhyun’s throat tightened. “He’s not… bad,” he said, but his voice lacked conviction. “He just… worries about me.”

Ji-eun’s eyes hardened. “There’s a difference between worrying about someone and trying to own them, Baek.” She leaned forward, her tone firm but quiet. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re talking to someone else—like they’re trespassing on his property. That’s not care. That’s control.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The image she painted felt uncomfortably close to the truth, and he hated that part of him wanted to brush it off just to keep feeling the rush of Kiho’s attention.

“Look,” Ji-eun continued, “you’re my best friend. I’m not saying this because I’m jealous or because I want to ruin something for you. I’m saying it because I’ve seen alphas like him before, and it never ends well.”

Baekhyun bit his lip, a flicker of doubt passing through him before he forced a small smile. “I know Ji-eun. I can handle it.”

Ji-eun’s jaw tightened, her eyes locking on him with a mix of frustration and worry. “That’s what scares me, Baek. You think you can handle it… until one day you realize you’ve been making excuses for him more than you’ve been making choices for yourself.”

Baekhyun looked away, the weight of her words settling uncomfortably in his chest. “I’m not making excuses,” he said softly, though the defensive edge in his tone betrayed him.

“Yes, you are,” she replied, her voice gentler now but still firm. “And maybe you don’t see it yet, but I do. Just… promise me, if something doesn’t feel right—really feel right—you won’t ignore it just because you like him.”

There was a long pause before Baekhyun nodded. “…Okay. I promise.”

Ji-eun gave him a small, searching look, as if trying to decide whether she believed him. “Good. Because I’ll be watching. And if Kiho tries to pull anything again, I’m not going to hold back.”

Baekhyun forced a laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, I know. You’d probably throw a croffle at his head.”

Her lips twitched into a half-smile. “Don’t tempt me.”

“By the way, did you get his number? Jongsuk’s?”

Ji-eun’s expression immediately brightened, the tension between them easing just a little. “Of course I did,” she said, leaning back with a smug grin. “Do you think I’d spend all that time at the counter for nothing?”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes but smiled. “So… what’s the plan? Gonna text him tonight or wait a few days to play it cool?”

“Text him tonight,” she replied without hesitation. “I’m not about to let some other omega swoop in while I’m over here pretending to be mysterious.”

Baekhyun chuckled. “Bold. I like it.”

“Bold is how you win, Baek,” Ji-eun said, flipping her hair with exaggerated flair. “Maybe you should try it with Kiho. Or, you know, with someone who isn’t a walking red flag.”

He groaned. “And we’re back to that conversation again…”

She smirked. “We never really left it. But I’m serious Baekhyun, I don’t like that alpha for you. My gut is telling me that there’s something with him.”

—

“Is he your mate, Baekhyun?”, one of Baekhyun’s classmates, Dahyun asked. “Who?” “Kiho,” Dahyun said, leaning forward over her desk with a knowing smirk. “ That alpha who keeps picking you up after class. Everyone’s talking about it.”

Baekhyun blinked, caught off guard. “What? No, he’s not my mate.”

Dahyun raised an eyebrow. “Could’ve fooled me. The way he looks at you… it’s like he’s ready to bite you any second.”

Heat crept up Baekhyun’s neck. “He’s just… protective,” he mumbled, hating how weak it sounded.

“Protective,” Dahyun repeated slowly, as if testing the word on her tongue. “Or possessive?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you tell me that you aren’t mates but he treats you like one. He’s always waiting for you after class and sometimes even glares at those who are talking to you when he’s there. He seems like he wants your attention only on him. Look, he’s there again outside the class. You sure he’s not your mate? I mean, obviously, he’s interested in you otherwise he won’t do any of that but maybe set some boundaries i guess? Are you interested in him though?” Dahyun asked, putting her chin on her hand.

“Well, at first honestly I feel like I was just fooling myself into thinking that I’m not interested in him and maybe I just like the attention but now, I’m starting to think that I like him.”

“Does your heart beat fast when you see him like you want to see him everyday?”

“Yea, I guess.”

Dahyun’s smirk widened knowingly. “Then you do like him. That’s not just casual interest, Baekhyun. That’s your instincts talking. Do you see him as your mate?”

“I’m not sure right now if I like him to the point that I’ll consider him my mate but I know Ji-eun doesn’t like him but I really really like him.”

Dahyun’s eyes softened. “Why does Ji-eun not like him?”

Baekhyun chewed on his lip, his gaze drifting toward the classroom window where Kiho’s tall figure was waiting like always, posture straight and unreadable. He fiddled with his pen, buying himself a few seconds before answering.

“She thinks he’s… controlling,” Baekhyun admitted quietly. “Like, the way he shows up without telling me first, or how he sometimes looks at people when they talk to me. Ji-eun says it’s a red flag. That he doesn’t respect my space.”

Dahyun tilted her head, studying him. “And you? Do you feel that way?”

“I don’t know.” Baekhyun’s shoulders slumped. “Sometimes I feel… safe, you know? Like he won’t let anything happen to me. But other times…” He hesitated, remembering the weight of Kiho’s gaze when Ji-eun had stepped between them in the café. “Other times it feels… too much. Like he wants all of me before I even know if I’m ready.”

Dahyun was quiet for a moment, tapping her nails against her notebook thoughtfully. “That’s the thing, Baekhyun. Protection is supposed to feel like comfort, not pressure. If it ever starts to feel heavy—like you can’t breathe—then maybe Ji-eun has a point.”

Her words sank deep, making Baekhyun’s stomach twist. But before he could answer, the dismissal bell rang, and a wave of chatter filled the classroom.

“Anyway,” Dahyun said, slinging her bag over her shoulder, “just… don’t ignore what you’re feeling. Liking someone is good, but don’t confuse intensity with love. There’s a difference.” She gave him a small smile before walking off.

Baekhyun packed his things slowly, his chest tight. When he finally stepped out of the classroom, Kiho was right there, leaning casually against the wall as if he’d been waiting for hours. His eyes lit up the second they met Baekhyun’s.

“There you are,” Kiho said smoothly, straightening. “I thought you’d never come out.”

Baekhyun’s heart gave that familiar skip, but Dahyun’s voice echoed in his head like a warning: don’t confuse intensity with love.

—