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10 tense minutes later...

Jusang jumped when he received a phone call from an unknown number—no name, not from a familiar code number he recognized—it was one of those internet calls. For a moment he wondered if it was his boss, but the man had gone beyond his logical comprehension and was trying to kick down his door outside.

It wasn't like his editor-in-chief couldn't take the article down if he wanted. The asshole's pride was just as high as the mountain that he would do anything to make Jusang do it. He has done it before and he would do it again. The purebred alpha just loved how he was at the top of the food chain and exploited his power at every turn.

Also, his boss had anger issues. There was only one time he witnessed his boss having such an episode and he destroyed his office that day, injuring one of the office boys. After a warning from the board members he held back. It appeared the money involved was too big if it sent his boss into a spiral.

It was wrong for him to believe his editor wouldn't take the matters outside of the office. He was so so wrong.

Beside him, his mate was a trembling mess. She shook like a leaf caught in a storm as she huddled against the shower wall with both hands cradling her growing bump. "W-Who is that?" she asked, fear dripping from her voice. Her scent, sickly sweet with fear, cloyed his nostrils and his wolf hated that.

His hands trembled as he shakily pressed the answer button. "H-Hello?"

"Is it true your family is in danger?"

Jusang's knees almost gave out as relief flooded him. He was sure he knew who the person on the other end was. "Y-Yes," he almost cried in relief. "He's right outside my door. Can you hear him? He's been made before, but this is the first time he came home," he rushed to explain.

"Because you ruined his plans, and now the one who paid him a fat check to write shitty articles about me is asking for the money back," the voice on the other end said.

"W-What do I do?" Jusang felt helpless as ever. "It's not just me. My wife... Please... I beg you. I don't care what happens to me. Protect her."

"Honey, don't say that," his wife cried. "What will we both do without you?" Then she grabbed the phone. "Whoever you are, if my husband trusts you, then I trust you too. Save us. Help us."

She put the phone on speaker mode when Jusang reached out, body shaking with sobs.

"You have every right to live, Jusang," the voice said. "No harm will come to you or your family."

"Thank you. Thank you." He bowed even if Jimin couldn't see him. Relief flooded him in waves despite the fear clouding him.

"Now here on forth, do as I say, and I promise I'll get you both out of there safe and sound." He spoke fast, yet each word rang with a clarity and finality.

"I'll do anything," Jusang vowed. He jumped when he heard the tell-tale sign of the door rattling. "The door is gonna break. It won't hold up."

"Have your wife make a distress call to the police," the order came firmly. "She must claim that this purebred alpha is beating her husband to death."

"What?" She sucked in a sharp breath.

"There are very few crimes where a purebred can be truly punished. Attempting murder is one. Tell your wife to put on her best act and scream. And you... You go out and open the door. Make sure you take a few hits."

"Oh, I..."

"Nothing will happen to you. Trust me. My team is almost there."

Jusang felt a shudder raking his body as the door rattled again. It was a miracle the old door withstood the abuse up until now.

"And delete the call from your call history."

The call ended while both of them stood dumbfounded. "I'm scared," his wife was the first to break the silence. "Who's he? Can we really trust him?"

"He's our only option." He hurriedly deleted the call from his phone with shaky fingers.

She shook her head, panicking. "W-What if... What if help doesn't come?" He grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him. "Alpha, listen, what if? What if they're using us? We're expendable to them. I don't like this."

"Do we have a choice?" He asked with a defeated smile. "I have to trust him."

"This is a terrible idea. Your boss is a mad man. He will kill you," she cried. "I can't live without you."

He took both her hands in his and kissed her knuckles, dialing the emergency line number. "I know." His smile was tight with determination. "It's a chance I'm willing to take." He kissed her once. "Scream, my love. Protect your husband with everything you have. If help doesn't fast, then you use this chance to get the hell out of here." He dialed the number, thrusting it in her hands, and rushed outside.

The door broke, sending wood splinters around Jusang even before he could touch the door knob. The editor in chief entered Jusang's home, looking like a mad bull. Only if he was in any animated series, there would be literal smoke coming out of his ears.

The first punch sent Jusang's face snapping to the side and made him see stars behind his eyelids. He heard his wife's scream as he crashed against his coffee table, hitting the side of his head on something and falling on the floor. Pain exploded from several places and he curled into a ball.

As the next kicks and punches came Jusang did his best to cover his head and curled his body further to protect his front. In his peripheral vision, he saw his wife running out of the door. A relieved smile played on his lips before dark spots that were already clouding his vision enveloped him, dragging him deeper into the abyss.

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***

That's it for today. See you later.