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Han Yoojin had always been careful, always trying to stay in the background, never letting his guard down. But now, the weight of the world felt heavier than ever. He wasn’t just an ordinary hunter—he was Han Yoohyun’s older brother. In a world dominated by strength and power, being an omega was a vulnerability that could not be easily shown, especially for someone like him who was constantly in the orbit of the S-Class elite.
But even as he kept his head low, trying to remain inconspicuous, there was one person he could never hide from—his younger brother. Han Yoohyun, the cold, unreadable alpha who had risen to incredible heights, far beyond where Yoojin could follow.
Yoojin sat in the quiet darkness of his apartment, staring at his reflection in the glass window. He could still see the small scars on his hands from years of working alongside weaker awakeners. A faint smile crossed his lips as he thought about how much things had changed since those days.
Now, he was considered invaluable—more than just a monster tamer, more than just Han Yoohyun’s brother. Yet, deep inside, the doubts never faded.
If only I was stronger…
The lingering regret gnawed at him. Ever since the regression, Yoojin had struggled with the overwhelming guilt that he wasn’t enough for Yoohyun, that he couldn’t protect him when it mattered most. That gnawing sense of inadequacy only deepened whenever Yoohyun looked at him with those cold, possessive eyes—like he was something fragile, something that needed to be shielded at all costs.
The bond between brothers had always been strong, but there was an unspoken tension growing between them now. Every word, every glance seemed loaded with meaning. Yoohyun was more distant, and Yoojin could feel it like a wound that never quite healed.
And then, there was Sung Hyunjae.
Yoojin exhaled softly, thinking of the silver-haired alpha whose presence was both suffocating and strangely comforting. Sung Hyunjae wasn’t like the others. He never played by the rules, always standing at the edge of chaos, and Yoojin knew better than to trust him. But somehow, despite his better judgment, he found himself drawn to Sung Hyunjae’s playful smirks and the way he saw through Yoojin’s walls.
Every interaction with Sung Hyunjae was a dance on the knife's edge. There was something electrifying in the way their words tangled, a strange kind of anticipation that made Yoojin’s heart race. But he couldn't let himself get too close. Sung Hyunjae was dangerous, unpredictable—and Yoojin couldn’t afford to get tangled in something he couldn't control.
Especially not now…
A sudden knock on the door snapped Yoojin from his thoughts. He quickly adjusted his posture, putting on the usual calm mask he wore around others. The door creaked open, revealing Yoohyun standing there, his dark eyes scanning the room like he was searching for something.
"Hyung." Yoohyun's voice was cool, distant.
Yoojin smiled faintly, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "You could knock louder, you know. It’s not like I’ll bite."
Yoohyun didn’t respond to the teasing. Instead, he stepped inside, his presence heavy, filling the small room. There was a tension in the air that made Yoojin’s smile falter.
"What’s wrong?" Yoojin asked, his tone softening.
Yoohyun stared at him, his jaw clenched. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, in a voice that barely masked his frustration, Yoohyun finally said, "Why do you keep pushing yourself, hyung?"
Yoojin blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "What do you mean?"
"You’re always putting yourself in danger. I told you, you don’t have to handle everything by yourself anymore." Yoohyun's eyes darkened with an intensity that Yoojin recognized too well—possessiveness mixed with worry.
Yoojin sighed softly, shaking his head. "It’s not about handling things alone, Yoohyun. I just… I need to feel useful. I can’t sit on the sidelines while you—"
"While I what? Protect you? That’s my job, hyung."
The sharpness in Yoohyun’s tone cut through the air, and Yoojin flinched inwardly. He hated this, the way Yoohyun treated him like something fragile, like someone who needed constant protection.
"You’re not my keeper, Yoohyun," Yoojin said quietly, his voice steady but filled with a quiet plea. "I’m your brother."
Yoohyun’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, Yoojin saw something raw in his gaze. Hurt? Anger? It was hard to tell. But whatever it was, it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the same cold mask Yoohyun always wore around him.
Without another word, Yoohyun turned and left the room, leaving Yoojin standing alone in the heavy silence.
The door clicked shut, and Yoojin exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He hated these moments, hated the way things had changed between them. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
But there was no going back now.
The phone buzzed on the table, breaking the quiet. Yoojin picked it up, seeing a message from Sung Hyunjae flash on the screen:
"Miss me already?"
Yoojin couldn't help but let out a soft, bitter laugh. Of course Sung Hyunjae would pick the worst possible moment to stir things up. But, despite the heaviness in his heart, he replied:
"Not even close."
Yet, as he stared at the message, a part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated.
And he wasn’t sure he was ready for it.