1080.

1081.

1082.

1083.

1084.

1085.

1086.

1087.

[The rumors continues through next week]

1088.

1088.

[Meanwhile...]

Sohee texts him. He's gone for over a week and no one has a clue. She doesn't know that he's taken in for a pack trial.

1089.

1090.

Pack Trial Part 1: [3 days after Minhyuk was taken to pack HQ]

"I'm so scared," Minhyuk's mom, Kang Yeon-jin, said for the umpteenth time. She was crying, and no amount of comforting words could console her.

Minhyuk gritted his teeth. "It's not that serious. We didn't commit any crime. They said it's just an inquiry."

"And we're here for three days," his brother, Kang Minseok, reminded them. "No one has come for us."

"The Head Alpha has every right to keep us here. You do realize that, right?" his dad, Kang Namgil asked. "Yeon-jin-ah, don't cry. I'm sure this is all just a huge misunderstanding."

"I still think it has something to do with your relationship with Sohee. Her grandmother is being accused of money embezzlement," Minseok said to him. "They might be trying to intimidate and break us by locking us here." He looked at their mom. "I mean, it's working, isn't it? They need our fear so we would admit to anything we know."

"This is bullshit!" Minhyuk growled. "What does this get anything to do with us? I just fucked Sohee and that Jungkook. There's nothing more to it."

His brother scoffed. "For all we know, he could be enacting his revenge for touching his precious son and two-timing with his niece."

"You—"

"That's enough!" Namgil cut them off. "Can't you see how this is affecting your mother? Stop arguing."

Minhyuk furiously strode to the closed door. "Three days! We're here for three days with no idea about our offense. Just what the hell is going on?" he bellowed, rattling the door with all his might. "Who the hell do you think you are? You cannot lock me inside without reason. I deserve to know what I did wrong and defend myself."

He was furious beyond imagination. They had been in this holding cell for the past three days. Or was it more? They took him down from his office, and he hadn't seen the outside of this wretched floor since then.

The cell had nothing but plain blue walls and a single door. Two bunk beds lined both walls, and a small table with a water pitcher sat in a corner.

Every day someone came to take them to the bathroom down the hall four times a day. Someone delivered food three times on time. Besides that, no one told him or his family why they were locked in there.

Apart from the clothes on his back, he had nothing. Not even his phone.

They even provided clothes to wear. He could tell someone grabbed it from their home. It infuriated him to no extent. They spend almost all night wondering what their crime could be, coming up with nothing. Ultimately, he thought this must be related to Sohee and her family.

When it came to pack affairs, the head alpha was ultimately the final decision maker. There was no higher power than him and the head omega. Even the PRA didn't get involved in pack affairs unless it threatened the peaceful existence of other packs. So Minhyuk had every reason to fear though he tried to be brave.

Was the old wolf taking revenge for what he did to Jungkook all those years ago? Wouldn't it be a shame if the word got out? What crime could he be charged with now? Did he even have it in him to do that?

He paced the small holding cell for hours with no answer. Minhyuk tirelessly demanded answers from every guard who walked in. But no one provided him with an answer. Elite guards weren't new to him. There were always a few in the Jeon mansion. They were trained to handle any kind of situation. People have every reason to fear them and want nothing to do with them.

His parents trembled in fear, behaving as if something unthinkable had happened. What was the big deal? It was just an inquiry, wasn't it? The Head Alpha was just purposefully delaying to piss him off. At least, that's what he tried to tell himself.

That must be it.

Why hasn't Sohee done anything? What about her useless mother?

It took a while for Minhyuk to remember Seoyeon was kicked out of the Jeon mansion. Sohee won't even care if he was gone for so long. Shit. He had no way of contacting anyone.

Then something clicked in his mind. This was something that nightmare warned him about in the group chat. How was the hacker connected in all this? Was it Head Alpha Jeon's doing all this time? If nightmare and the Head Alpha were connected, then it would all make sense.

He didn't dare to voice it out loud. Minhyuk swallowed hard. Was he a target all this time? Did he walk through these halls not knowing he was being hunted?

The next time the guard came to take them to the washrooms, he demanded his phone and said he needed to make a call. But the man behaved as if he was made of steel and didn't hear a word he spoke. Minhyuk was tempted to shake him or steal his phone. But that was a terrible idea. The guard was at least a head taller than him and more muscular. There was no way he could overpower him.

With no connection to the outside world, he was going nuts. He didn't know if anyone was even aware that he was being held captive in pack headquarters.

Not that any of that mattered. This was the real power of a Head Alpha. Their words were law. The government was there to monitor and ensure the packs lived in perfect harmony, to manage the foreign relations, and maintain their economy. The legal and police departments were there to handle common disputes and maintain general peace.

However, within the packs, the Head Alpha could execute someone and no one could stop them. So it would be a lie if Minhyuk said he wasn't afraid. If Jinwan wanted revenge, he could very well have it.

Minhyuk was no longer protected by the former head omega. He wasn't safe anymore. Jungkook definitely hated his guts and wouldn't want anything to do with him.

He paced until his legs were sore and aching. Every meal felt like it was the last with the kind of looks that the guard kept giving him. He was positive that he was losing it.

Finally after an eternity, the next day, someone came to announce that the head alpha would be there shortly for the trial. Minhyuk and his family were told to shower and dress in fresh clothes.

"You have an hour to get ready," the guard announced, leaving them to it.

Minhyuk didn't understand what was going on, but he followed the orders. This wasn't how the inquiry was held for Sohee and her mother. They were in and out in two hours. But he was held inside for three days in a room with no windows.

Swallowing the rising anger, he went through the motions robotically. Perhaps Jinwan just wanted to intimidate him. He was still Sohee's fiance. Jinwan wouldn't just touch him or torture him like that, would he?

He thought about all the questions he could expect and prepared readymade answers. As he showered, he repeated the answers in his head.

Minhyuk relaxed a bit more after the shower. If the word got out, this would only affect the Jeon family reputation. He smiled. "You're safe, Minhyuk," he told himself. "Just pretend you're still a loyal pack member. If this has anything to do with grandma or Sohee's dad then you don't know anything."

With several deep breaths, he went outside to join his family. His dad and mom looked the worst. They were too stressed and his mom kept bugging his dad while his brother behave indifferently. When he entered the room, he locked gazes with his brother once and nodded.

"Listen, stop shaking too much and just answer the questions they ask. Follow my lead if you have any doubts," Minhyuk quickly whispered to them. "Don't say anything that will get us into trouble. Got it?"

His parents and brother nodded. They always supported him when he courted Jungkook. His brother even gave him dating ideas on how to woo an omega. They were always thick as thieves.

This inquiry was nothing. By the time they were led to a bigger office room, Minhyuk had decided what he wanted to do. He always kept his distance from Jinwan after his breakup with Jungkook and played coy. He would do the same today.

What could be the maximum damage he could do? Minhyuk might get fired from the Jeon Group. But Jinwan won't be able to do anything publicly just because he used to date the current Head Omega in the past.

His confidence might have rubbed on the others because they too looked a bit okay. He nodded his head at them, silently telling them it'll be alright.

They entered the office one after the other and Minhyuk was disappointed to find it empty. It was the Head Alpha's office and certainly the biggest. Bigger than the Chairman's office on the floor above. A huge Jeon pack emblem—two wolves embracing each other—decorating the wall told him so. A leather chair sat behind a huge Mahogany desk. Photos of the head alpha and his family decorated the walls.

Seeing Jungkook as a baby, smiling toothless at the camera stirred so many memories from their childhood. He'd seen Jungkook at his best and worst and he was the reason for the latter. He tore his gaze away from the photos.

This seat would have belonged to him if he hadn't fucked up—a momentary weakness. Maybe he was never one for commitments. He should have marked Jungkook when he had the chance. Then he would have had no chance to leave him. He was so young and tempted.

Minhyuk went to sit on the visitor's chair only to be stopped by a guard. "You won't sit before the Head Alpha," he said. "Go, stand in the front." He pulled at his elbow and pushed him forward.

Minhyuk growled but it was cut off by an even louder one from another guard. He wisely choked on the next growl and stood before the desk as instructed. His mother shook like a leaf, clutching his father's hand. Her fear rolled off her in waves. His brother stood steady beside him.

"Heads down," the guard instructed again.

He followed grudgingly. His mom let out a whimper, and his father immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her.

"Mom, keep it together," his brother hissed.

"What did you guys even do?" she cried. "Why are we being treated like criminals?"

Because the head alpha was still salty, Minhyuk wanted to reply.

"The Head Alpha has arrived!" A loud voice announced, and there was a flurry of activities outside.

Loud, purposeful footsteps echoed down the hall, advancing toward their room. Minhyuk frowned. He was never inside the pack office before. He knew the Head Alpha and Head Omega were highly regarded, but he must have overlooked it all these years because he was dating two of the Jeon family members back to back.

A fresh scent of Cocoa and Coffee reached them first. Minhyuk's frown deepened. What is he doing here? Did Jinwan start using him for pack business too? He glanced behind him. A Park wolf had no business in Jeon pack's affairs.

Only a few seconds later, Park Jimin burst through the double doors as if he owned the place. The two guards inside the room immediately bowed, standing in attention as he passed through.

He wore a dark gray suit with a black shirt. Long, black hair divided in the middle and styled to frame his face. His boots shone black, and his heels clicked on the marble with an authoritative thud. He oozed an air of dominance and commanded respect.

Minhyuk shrank back without meaning to. He didn't understand what was going on. Memories of the slaps he received and the muted punches in the cafeteria surfaced in his mind. He wondered what his business was here. Surely it got nothing to do with him, right? Perhaps he was here to settle a dispute regarding the Park pack. But it still didn't make sense why everyone bowed to him.

One guard kicked the back of his knee. "Bow to your Head Alpha!"

Head Alpha?

Strong and potent alpha pheromones quickly filled the space, demanding utmost respect and submission. Minhyuk couldn't stay standing even if he wanted to. He fell to his knees along with his parents and brother. His body trembled.

Where is Jeon Jinwan?

What the hell is going on?

Jimin glanced at them before going around the desk to sit on that leather chair. From Minhyuk's kneeling position, he could see how he crossed his legs at the knee and leaned comfortably in the chair that was engraved with the Jeon emblem.

Minhyuk lifted his gaze to see the smirk lifting the corners of the alpha's mouth.

"We meet again, Kang Minhyuk," Jimin greeted, and his words held a promise only Minhyuk knew of.

"I'm gonna end you if you didn't end me first. I'll give you another chance, asshole. Give it your all this time. You don't have much time left before I come for you.

"Your time is ticking."

His words echoed in his head.

I'm dead.

***

A/N: Hope you're all good. Work is keeping me busy but I've also been in and out of hospital lol. I'm okay now. Took two days off from work to rest. I'm feeling better now. Upcoming weeks are gonna be hectic as well. I'm trying to write in between. Anyways, see you soon hopefully. Keep an eye on Twitter - chimmyxkookies