Chapter Text
Taeyong walked stiffly through the halls of his mother’s extravagant mansion. It wasn’t his too, it was always just his mothers. Never a home to begin with. The long hallways suited her perfectly, chilling and impersonal. Despite making a sad childhood, Taeyong was always relieved that he didn’t fit into the jarring space. His mother’s only imperfection, as she liked to remind him.
Turning a corner, he smoothed out his unsteady gait to be graceful and light, how his mother wanted him to be. Taeyong fit this role to a tee, having been forced into the mould his entire life. He supposed that it had given him the skill of adapting into anything he needed to be, but he would also argue that it left him unsure of himself and his actual interests. The glasshouse came into view, and he lowered his head submissively, staring at his hands laced together in front of him, letting his back hair fall over his eyes shyly. A man opened the door for him as he glided in, just in time to be greeted by his mother’s and another woman’s delicate laughter.
“Taeyong, my dear!” She gasped as he came into view, sweeping over to him and cooing over him like the perfect mother, “Lillian, this is my beautiful son, Taeyong.”
She sounded like she was trying to sell products on the streets, convincing passing people of the worth and value of her product. The words made Taeyong want to curl his hands into fists and snarl in her face, but he didn’t. He didn’t quite know why, but he wasn’t willing to fight his mother. As if she could sense this, she leaned over to whisper into his ear, smirk evident in her tone.
“Now, now, dear,” She cooed mockingly, “You know you’re worthless to me otherwise so be a good little Beta for mummy and smile.”
She spat the word with such contempt.
Beta.
Not a strong Alpha, a proud heir to her business, or an Omega, an offering to create possible business partners.
Taeyong tipped his head up slightly when he felt her nails dig into the skin of his shoulder slightly, hair falling away to reveal his pretty face, a demure smile coming to his pink lips.
“Oh, he is pretty, Margret.” The other woman, Lillian, purred, coming over to tilt his head this way and that, “He’ll do nicely.” She remarked as if inspecting nothing more than cattle.
His mother’s nails digging into his shoulder even more stopped him from breaking the persona he had been tasked with crafting and lashing out at the other woman.
“He is,” His mother nodded sagely, “Such a docile little thing, perfect for an Alpha of such a high calibre like your son.”
Taeyong couldn’t lie and say he was unaware of the business deal. Unaware that he was being sold like a piece of meat to an Alpha he didn’t even know. Never mind the fact he wasn’t even an Omega.
“But Mother, you can’t just sell me.” He growled, “I have a life, dreams and desires-“
“There you go again with your stupid ‘dreams and desires’.” She mocked, standing from the leather armchair, looming over Taeyong despite being behind her massive desk, “I’ve had enough with you. You’re a disappointment to this bloodline.”
Taeyong let the hurtful words slide off him effortlessly. Not like he hasn’t heard them before.
“This is ludicrous, you’re proposing that I mate to an Alpha who is under the belief I am an Omega.”
“There is nothing ludicrous about it.” She snapped, storming around the desk to stand in front of him imposingly, “At least this way I can use your only value for good.”
A thin, sharp finger came to push his cheek to the side, and he let it.
“Finally able to use those pretty looks for good.” She mussed.
“Smells lovely,” Lillian mused, moving back to her seat already, “Just like summer fruits. He’ll compliment Jaehyun’s quite nicely. They’ll have good pups.”
All of that was scent spray easily provided in any pharmacy near scent blockers.
His mother’s ruby lips curled into a sinister smile; the other woman oblivious to her sweetly spoken lies.
“You know me well, Lillian,” Her sickening laughter echoed through the small space, “I’d never tolerate anything less than perfect.”
Taeyong stood there silently as the women continued pleasantries like the submissively little Omega son was meant to, biting his tongue when they said something insensitive or outright rude. Anger burned in his stomach, but he swallowed back the bile. He knew why he was actually doing it. As soon as this goddamned mating went through, he’d finally be freed from his mother’s disgusting clutches. He didn’t give a fuck about whoever this Jaehyun was, he’d do this for his freedom. Even if it seemed unforgivable.
“Omega!” Lillian snapped, calling his attention haughtily.
Taeyong turned to face her silently, head trained on the ground. He could feel his mother’s satisfaction when he complied to Lillian’s indignant demand.
“Yes, Madam?” His voice was deep with disuse, and he almost smiled when Lillian seemed to pause in shock before continuing.
“In a week, I shall return for dinner. You will meet your mate then.” Lillian stood with his mother and stepped closer to him. “Dress up nice, omega. My son deserves the best.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He nodded his head respectfully, biting his cheek to stop his smile. He knew those words were not what either woman wanted to hear.
“And you shall speak up to him.” Lillian continued, hostility evident in her eyes, “You will serve him and comply to his requests. You will be respectful and grateful if he so much as looks at you. You will speak when spoken to and only eat once he permits you to. If he does at all, you could stand to lose a couple pounds.” Ignoring the fact Taeyong was already skin and bones, already underweight. By a lot.
Taeyong refused to bow to the woman but spoke the words they both wanted to hear.
“Of course. It would be an honour to serve your son. My Alpha deserves the best.” The words tasted like ash in his mouth, even as they rolled out smoothly.
Satisfied, Lillian glided past him, suffocating him in an expensive cloud of perfume. Taeyong’s mother rested a hand on his shoulder as he passed, probably meant to seem affectionate in front of Lillian. Taeyong was confused when the hand slipped away without inflicting any damage, his heart panging sorrowfully before he stopped and straightened. It was to mess with him, he was sure.
Taeyong waited patiently in the foyer as his mother bid Lillian farewell. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a maid pause to whisper something in his companion’s ear while looking at Taeyong. Normally, he’d let it slide, uncaring, but right now, he was agitated and looking for a fight.
“What?” He demanded, head rolling to the side so he could glare at them dangerously.
They paused with a squeak, eyes widening in fear of being caught. He clicked his tongue when they remained quiet.
“Well? Care to share with the class?” He asked mockingly, “Or has the cat got your tongue?”
The young men remained silent, blood draining from their faces and Taeyong grudgingly softened, pulling his anger back with a sigh.
“Just don’t talk smack about people when you know nothing about them.” He murmured and they nodded fervently, speeding away without another word.
A small noise of disappointment drew his attention to the door, where his mother stood in all her Alpha glory.
“Shame.” She murmured, “I wanted to see what you’d do with them.” She finished with a sigh and Taeyong ignored her.
She moved toward her study, and he followed silently.
“What do you want, Taeyong?” She asked, voice bored and hard.
“What are you going to do when I can’t give them pups?” He demanded.
“Throw you to the wolves, I suppose.” She sighed, sitting at her desk, pinning him with a dissatisfied look, “Tell them you lied to me about your presentation?”
Taeyong clenched his jaw. Of course, he’d take the fall, he always did.
“And if I don’t go through with your plan?” He dared, raising an angry eyebrow at her.
Instead of angering her like he expected, her full lips curled into a smile, looking far too threatening on her black face.
“Then that friend of yours… Jisung? Would be paid a little visit.” She said slyly and Taeyong stiffened.
Taeyong had grown up looking after the younger, a poor boy he had found starving on the streets when he was ten. Jisung, at the time, was almost four. Taeyong had practically raised him, using his pocket money to keep him alive and happy.
Taeyong turned and stalked out of the room without a word. Words would get him nowhere now.