Chapter 2

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　　Thoroughly washed and her hair completely dry, No. 13 knelt on the floor wearing nothing but a bathrobe. She positioned herself so the moment her new Mistress, the one who had bought her at auction, opened the door, she would see her right away.

　　Sitting a short distance from the doorway, she pulled the edges of her open robe tightly together. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous pounding in her chest.

　　After an auction ended, the winning bidder had twenty-four hours to inspect their purchase however they saw fit. Most dominant Omegas completed the inspection right in the hotel where the auction was held before heading home.

　　If anything unsatisfactory occurred during those twenty-four hours, the buyer could request a full refund minus a fee. The Alpha would be returned to the agency, and the dominant Omega would receive eighty percent of their money back. But once twenty-four hours passed, the Alpha became the buyer’s property for as long as the dominant Omega wished.

　　So these twenty-four hours were crucial for No. 13. Her lips grew dry as she waited for the door to open. She had lost track of time, but judging by the numb, prickling sensation spreading through her legs, she had been kneeling for quite a while.

　　She could have rested comfortably until her Mistress arrived, but No. 13 steadfastly remained in place. She knew better than anyone that naivety got you nowhere in this world. She understood that life was easier if you were suitably selfish and calculating. But her innate nature made it impossible for her to act that way. Instinct was a stubborn thing.

　　Sweat began to trickle down No. 13’s face. Just as she lifted her robe sleeve to wipe away a drop reaching her chin, the electronic keypad chimed, and the handle turned.

　　No. 13 lifted her head. The door swung halfway open, and the overhead sensor light flared to life. Yeojin, standing in the doorway, and No. 13, kneeling before her, finally met each other’s gaze.

　　Yeojin stared in mesmerized fascination at No. 13’s eyes, which shone like polished rubies. She knew all too well how fiercely dominant Omegas fought to claim an Alpha with eyes that burned such a vivid, clear red.

　　The Omega who had birthed Yeojin had borne countless daughters through various Alphas. Those sisters, in turn, had brought endless children into the world. That endless cycle was still continuing even now. In her family, bonds of affection or genuine warmth did not exist. There was only a twisted desire to possess more rare, exquisite dolls than anyone else. That was what family meant to Yeojin.

　　“…Get up,” Yeojin said.

　　No. 13 placed both hands on the floor and slowly pushed herself up. Closing the door behind her, Yeojin walked toward the sofa in the center of the room. She sat down, picked up the remote on the coffee table, and pressed a button. The heavy curtains parted automatically, revealing the sprawling night sky beyond the glass on the hundred twenty-third floor.

　　“Don’t just stand there like a statue. Come sit down.”

　　Her voice was dry and emotionless. It was a voice carefully constructed to hide her nerves, to appear unfazed, composure intact, as if none of this bothered her in the slightest.

　　No. 13 moved without hesitation. Yeojin reached for the bottle of whisky set at the edge of the table. Moving quickly, No. 13 dropped to her knees beside the table and placed both hands over the bottle Yeojin held.

　　Yeojin stiffened, freezing mid-motion. No. 13 righted an overturned crystal tumbler in front of Yeojin and poured the amber liquid.

　　“Would you like ice, ma’am?” No. 13 asked.

　　It hit Yeojin that this was the first time she was hearing No. 13’s voice. Struck by the sound, Yeojin didn’t answer right away, simply staring at her. Contrary to her appearance, which was that of a feral, abandoned beast, her tone was remarkably tender.

　　If a dark, solid voice were drenched in honey, would it sound like this? Yeojin wondered, gazing at the Alpha.

　　“Mistress, should I fetch some ice?” No. 13 asked again when Yeojin remained silent.

　　Gazing into the crimson eyes fixed on her, Yeojin eventually shook her head. She picked up the tumbler, half-filled with whisky, and downed it in a single gulp.

　　She was someone who rarely drank, let alone strong spirits like whisky. Yeojin squeezed her eyes shut as an agonizing heat tore down her throat, yet she welcomed the sharp pain. Letting it consume her mind felt better than sitting with her anxiety. As the scorching alcohol burned down her esophagus and settled in her stomach, her tension forcefully dissolved.

　　“What’s your name?” Yeojin asked, sinking deep into the cushions.

　　No. 13 answered that her name was Nam Jujak. Yeojin repeated the name silently, rolling “Jujak” around her mouth like candy, savoring the sound on her tongue.

　　“An unusual name.”

　　“I didn’t have a name originally, but the agency gave it to me because my burn scar looks like red wings.”

　　Despite her naive initial impression, the Alpha spoke with striking clarity. Yeojin tilted her head, looking down at Jujak kneeling at her feet. Noticing the gaze, Jujak turned her body while remaining on her knees, offering her back to Yeojin.

　　Quick-witted, too. Yeojin was quite pleased with her sharp responsiveness. Jujak untied the belt of her robe and slipped it off her shoulders. The deep, fiery scar covering her entire back truly resembled a pair of flaming wings spread wide.

　　“May I touch it?”

　　“Yes, ma’am.”

　　Jujak shuffled backward on her knees, moving carefully so Yeojin could reach her easily. Yeojin gently brushed her fingertips over Jujak’s back. The scarred flesh felt smoother than expected, though it looked excruciatingly painful.

　　“Does it hurt when I touch it?”

　　Before Yeojin could finish her question, Jujak shook her head vigorously. Her silky white hair swayed, scattering a lovely scent. Yeojin asked her to pour another whisky. As Jujak obeyed her repeated demands for “more, more,” the crystal glass was soon filled to the brim. Yeojin downed the potent drink in one shot, then ordered Jujak to take her to the bedroom.

　　“Mistress, could you tell me where the bedroom is?”

　　“The room with the biggest door…”

　　Yeojin whispered, her tongue slightly thick as she tried her best to articulate. Jujak nodded firmly, catching her meaning. She lifted Yeojin lightly into her arms and walked toward the largest door in the suite.

　　Yeojin grew rapidly intoxicated during that short walk. She made no effort to fight the drunkenness, sensing that being drunk was the only way she could go through with what she had started.

　　By the time Jujak found the bedroom and laid Yeojin down on the massive bed, Yeojin was panting, her eyes half-lidded as the alcohol washed over her. Jujak gently cradled Yeojin’s shoulders and poured water over her parted lips. Her actions were swift, precise, and completely unhesitating. This was not something she had been taught at the agency, but an instinctive tenderness.

　　Jujak fed her slowly and calmly, letting only small sips trickle in so she wouldn’t choke. Yeojin’s tongue, as red as her lips, licked her mouth thirstily in search of more water. Once her throat was moistened, her ragged breathing began to settle.

　　Only then did Jujak lay her back onto the mattress. Placing a pillow beneath her head, she gathered Yeojin’s long black hair and arranged it neatly over the pillow.

　　“Mistress.”

　　“…Mmm.”

　　“What should I do about your clothes?”

　　Instead of answering, Yeojin forced her eyes open, trying to focus on the blurred, shifting silhouette of her Alpha. Giving up, she squeezed her eyes shut and let out a soft sigh, telling Jujak to leave her dress on.

　　Jujak immediately pulled back. She started to drop to her knees on the floor, then hesitated and stood up, shuffling toward the foot of the bed. She carefully removed Yeojin’s high heels one by one.

　　Constricted inside her heels for hours, Yeojin’s toes were pale and bloodless. Jujak cradled Yeojin’s foot in both hands and began massaging it. A faint moan escaped Yeojin’s lips, in a sound of deep satisfaction. Jujak glanced up at Yeojin’s face as her hands firmly kneaded the long, pale foot.

　　One million dollars. Jujak thought of the winning bid Yeojin had placed for her. Even after the agency took half, five hundred thousand dollars remained. The realization that she could pay for her little sister’s surgery without worry made her feel as though she were floating.

　　To Jujak, who had worried she wouldn’t receive a single bid because she couldn’t perform properly on stage, Yeojin had become her saviour when she offered the highest bid of the auction.

　　Overwhelmed by surging emotion, Jujak instinctively pressed her lips to the foot she was massaging. She would do far more than this if asked. She would roll on the floor if ordered, pretend to die if commanded, and once her little sister Jinjin’s surgery was successful, she would willingly give up her life if asked.

　　Kissing the top of Yeojin’s foot, Jujak extended her tongue and began to lick her skin. The impossibly soft flesh felt like it was melting against her tongue. Her tongue trailed up from her foot to her calf. Laying flat on the sheets, Jujak lifted the hem of Yeojin’s dress with her head and licked her leg with utter devotion.

　　Yeojin’s eyelids twitched at the hot, damp touch. Her eyes fluttered open, heavy-lidded. She saw the hem of her form-fitting satin dress lifted, and beyond it, Jujak bowed low, the red wing scar on her back trembling violently.

　　“…What do you think you’re doing?” Yeojin demanded in a stern, commanding tone.

　　She released a surge of her dominant Omega pheromones. Still licking Yeojin’s calf, Jujak let out a choked gasp and wrapped both hands around her own throat.

　　The unique pheromones only a dominant Omega possessed could seduce, subjugate, paralyze, or even kill a target depending on how they were deployed.

　　Alphas were particularly defenseless against them. Jujak writhed on the bed, groaning in agony. Her shaft, quiet until now, swelled violently. Tears spilled from Jujak’s eyes as she felt her body react against her control. Crawling across the mattress, she pressed her forehead to the bed before Yeojin, pleading for forgiveness.

　　“I’m… sorry… I was just so grateful… agh!”

　　“Is this how you express gratitude? By secretly molesting me?”

　　Jujak sobbed, her entire body flushing a feverish crimson. Saliva dripped between her trembling lips as she fought for air. Her tall frame, over six feet, curled into a tight ball.

　　She had heard that aggressive pheromones inflicted pain akin to electric shocks, tearing through every nerve in the body. Because it forcibly induced an erection, for an Alpha, it felt like a relentless assault on her most vulnerable spot.

　　Yeojin had never used her pheromones defensively before, but she had never been exposed to such danger. Watching Jujak writhe in agony startled her. Yet alongside the novelty, Yeojin found herself spiking with sexual arousal, matching the sudden erection straining between Jujak’s legs.

　　“I need to see if you’re functional. Do it in front of me.”

　　Yeojin leaned against the headboard, tilting her chin in feigned arrogance. She softened the aggressive edge of her pheromones and Jujak gasped, her chest heaving as she sucked in air. The agonizing pain tearing at her flesh vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep, maddening tingling between her legs.

　　“Hurry up and please me,” Yeojin commanded, her face cold and impassive. Yet her cheeks, flushed with whisky, glowed softly, and her large, dark eyes were glazed over with seductive languor.

　　Jujak stared at Yeojin’s parted lips. Then, her hand gripped her fully erect shaft, which pressed hard against her lower abdomen.

　　Though unsaid, her length was impressive. Curving sharply upward, the shaft was so fair it looked almost pristine. The thick body was smooth, and the distinct, split tip was a delicate pale pink.

　　Yeojin had never cared for sex, so she had never seen an Alpha’s anatomy up close. Even so, she knew instantly that the Alpha she had bought possessed an exceptionally fine piece.

　　Yeojin released more pheromones. This time it was a seductive, intoxicating scent devoid of hostility. Jujak let out a thick, heavy groan, her shoulders slumping. Her large, pale frame collapsed onto the sheets, trembling in agonizing pleasure.

　　“Do it properly. Do you want to be thrown out for throwing a fit?”

　　“Hah, just a little… the pheromones, Mistress… ah!” Jujak pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

　　“Didn’t the agency teach you any tricks to please your owner before putting you on the block?”

　　Jujak shook her head frantically. She squeezed out a desperate response, gasping that she didn’t know, that she wasn’t good at such things. Realizing Jujak was as inexperienced in desire as she was, Yeojin found herself pleased.

　　“Look at you. Dripping all over like that. Straighten your back.”

　　Yeojin extended her long leg and used her foot to push Jujak’s hunched shoulder back. Her broad shoulders lifted to reveal a tall, lean frame that looked delicate yet solid. Feeling the firm muscle beneath her sole, Yeojin gathered the skirt of her dress, pulling it up her thighs.

　　Jujak bit her lip and averted her eyes, her flushed ears quivering. Her hand began to stroke her length slowly. Thick veins bulged along her neck and chest with each ragged breath. Sweat soaked her soft white hair, and her tear-filled red eyes glowed an even deeper crimson.

　　“They said you were shy, and it seems they weren’t lying. Are you really not going to look at me?” Yeojin murmured teasingly, a hint of amusement in her tone.

　　Only then did Jujak turn her head back to gaze at Yeojin.

　　Looking at the Alpha blinking up at her, Yeojin thought she resembled a mythical spirit. She had never seen such a beautiful creature. Yeojin lowered her foot from Jujak’s shoulder and reached toward her lips.

　　“Suck.”

　　Jujak took Yeojin’s fingers into her mouth. Making wet, squelching sounds, she lapped at every finger, tracing the spaces between them, her palm, and the back of her hand. Matching her rhythm, Yeojin toyed with the inside of Jujak’s warm mouth with her fingertips.

　　Jujak stroked her shaft faster, harder, the heavy flesh smacking against her stomach.

　　“Hold the tip. Don’t come until I tell you to.”

　　Jujak bit her lip hard, clamping her thumb tightly over her tip. The veins along her shaft swelled alarmingly. Looking as though it might burst at any moment, the Alpha’s length was obscenely hot.

　　“My fertile period will last for the next five days. You will serve me faithfully for those five days. Do you understand?”

　　Jujak trembled violently, barely able to nod.

　　“I won’t be doing this again. So you must plant a child in my womb.”

　　As Jujak fought the desperate urge to release, her body looked ready to collapse. The sheets rustled loudly with her intense shivering.

　　“If I don’t get pregnant, I’ll kill you.”

　　The moment the threat left Yeojin’s lips, Jujak broke. Unable to hold back any longer, she released everything inside her, crying out like a wild beast as her thick fluid splattered across the bed.

　　Yeojin wiped the drops that had splashed onto her face and dress with her hand. She was startled, but it didn’t feel bad. In fact, she was surprised to find that having someone else’s fluid spill over her didn’t disgust her in the least.

　　Yeojin stared at the warm liquid before wiping her hand on the sheets. Then, she began unzipping her soiled dress.