Chapter Text
The scent of salt and sweat hung thick in the air. The market square was crowded, the noise a chaotic mix of merchants calling out their wares, sailors bargaining for supplies, and the occasional clash of blades in a drunken dispute. But none of that concerned Hongjoong.
He strode through the filth-ridden streets of the port city, his long coat billowing behind him. His boots crushed discarded scraps of paper and rotten fruit, but his sharp eyes were focused ahead. The auction house loomed in the distance, an imposing stone building with barred windows and a wooden stage at the front.
Hongjoong had no interest in the slaves themselves. He didn’t believe in the trade—not truly. But The Desire needed more hands. His crew was skilled, but they were pirates, not servants. They needed someone to cook, to clean, to tend to the ship while they sailed. And if buying a slave was the fastest way to solve that problem, so be it.
He pushed through the crowd, taking a spot near the front just as the auctioneer’s voice rang out.
“Next! A fine omega, young and strong!”
Hongjoong exhaled sharply, already growing impatient. He wasn’t looking for a weak, pampered omega who’d never worked a day in their life. He needed someone useful.
The omega was dragged onto the stage, and Hongjoong’s attention sharpened despite himself.
He was beautiful.
Even under the grime of captivity, his pale skin glowed under the torchlight. White hair, rare and striking, tumbled over his shoulders, and his wrists were bound in iron cuffs. His frame was lean but delicate, muscles subtly defined beneath the rags that barely passed as clothing. A collar, heavy and rusted, sat against his throat, the unmistakable mark of ownership.
But it was his eyes that caught Hongjoong’s attention the most.
They weren’t filled with fear. Nor were they empty, like so many other slaves he’d seen. No—this omega’s gaze burned. A quiet defiance, buried beneath layers of exhaustion and restraint.
“Two gold pieces!” someone called.
“Four!” another voice rang out.
Hongjoong watched as the bidding climbed. The omega kept his head high, jaw clenched, but Hongjoong could see the faint tremble in his fingers.
He wasn’t like the others.
Hongjoong lifted his hand lazily. “Ten gold.”
A hush fell over the crowd.
The auctioneer gaped at him, stunned. Ten gold for a single slave was an outrageous price, especially one that wasn’t advertised as a bed-warmer.
No one countered his bid.
“Sold!” The gavel came down.
The omega was dragged off the stage, and Hongjoong stepped forward, handing over his coin. The transaction was swift, and soon, the omega stood before him, chains still fastened around his wrists.
“What’s your name?” Hongjoong asked.
The omega hesitated, as if debating whether to answer. Then, voice rough from disuse, he spoke.
“Seonghwa.”
Hongjoong nodded, motioning for one of his men to remove the chains.
“You’re coming with me,” he said, turning toward the docks. “Welcome to The Desire.”
Seonghwa didn’t move at first. Then, with a deep breath, he followed.
Not as a willing participant.
But as a man who had just been sold to the devil himself.
The scent of the sea was different here. Stronger. Saltier. It clung to Seonghwa’s skin as he stood stiffly on the deck of The Desire, hands still itching where the cuffs had been removed. The ship was large, larger than any he’d seen before, and unlike the slavers’ vessels, it wasn’t filled with the stench of despair.
The crew moved with purpose, their voices loud but lacking the cruelty he expected. Some glanced at him with curiosity, others with disinterest, but none with the predatory glee he’d grown used to.
Seonghwa’s gaze drifted to the man who had bought him.
Hongjoong.
Kim Hongjoong, the crewmate said.
A name he had overheard but hadn’t registered. To him, Hongjoong was just another pirate. A man with too much coin and too little concern for what his gold bought. But something about him unsettled Seonghwa.
Perhaps it was the way he carried himself—not just with confidence, but with something deeper. Authority. Power. The kind that couldn’t be faked.
Or perhaps it was the way his crew obeyed without question.
But Seonghwa had no interest in figuring the man out. His focus was survival.
“Wooyoung!” Hongjoong’s voice rang out across the deck.
A younger pirate with sharp eyes and an easy grin turned, wiping his hands on a rag before sauntering over. “Yeah, Captain?”
Seonghwa barely reacted to the title. He knew Hongjoong was in charge—he was the one who had paid for him, after all.
“Take him below deck. Make sure he knows where everything is.”
Wooyoung’s gaze flickered over to Seonghwa, assessing. “You gonna run?”
Seonghwa lifted his chin and answered. “And go where?”
Wooyoung grinned. “Smart.”
He turned, motioning for Seonghwa to follow. Reluctantly, he did.
—
The underbelly of The Desire was nothing like the dark, rotting holds he had been caged in before. The wooden floors were well-maintained, the storage organized, and the air was filled with the scent of salt and spices instead of sweat and suffering.
Wooyoung showed him the kitchen first, then the supply room. “We all do our share of the work here, but since you’re new, you’ll handle the basics—cleaning, making sure the weapons are stored properly, helping in the kitchen.”
Seonghwa didn’t argue. Work was better than rotting in a cell.
Finally, Wooyoung led him to a small cabin. “This is yours.”
Seonghwa blinked. “I get a room?”
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow. “What, you thought we’d throw you in a cage?”
Seonghwa didn’t answer. He had spent too long in chains to believe in kindness.
Wooyoung leaned against the doorway. “Look, I dunno what kind of bastards owned you before, but The Desire isn’t that kind of ship. We’re pirates, not slavers.”
Seonghwa’s jaw tightened. “Pirates are still thieves.”
Wooyoung smirked. “Yeah, but we’re honest about it.”
Seonghwa said nothing. He didn’t trust pirates. He didn’t trust anyone.
“Anyway,” Wooyoung continued, stretching, “the captain will probably call for you later. Just don’t do anything stupid, and you’ll be fine.”
With that, he left.
Seonghwa sat on the small cot, fingers trailing over the rough fabric. It was strange, having a bed. Having a space that was his. He exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling.
This wasn’t freedom.
But for now, it was something close.
—
Seonghwa was summoned that evening.
The dining quarters were filled with pirates drinking and eating, their laughter loud and unrestrained. Seonghwa kept his back straight, shoulders stiff. He ignored the looks he received as he approached the head of the table, where Hongjoong sat.
Hongjoong studied him for a moment before nodding to the empty chair. “Sit.”
Seonghwa hesitated before lowering himself into the seat.
“Eat.”
Seonghwa eyed the food warily. It wasn’t scraps. It wasn’t rotten. His stomach clenched in hunger, but suspicion kept him still.
Hongjoong exhaled. “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have spent ten gold on you.”
Seonghwa hated that the logic made sense. Slowly, he picked up a piece of bread, biting into it. The warmth spread through him, unfamiliar and disorienting.
For a while, there was silence between them. Then Hongjoong spoke.
“You don’t talk much.”
Seonghwa met his gaze. “There’s nothing to say.”
Hongjoong hummed, sipping his drink. “You weren’t born a slave.”
It wasn’t a question.
Seonghwa gripped his cup tightly. “No.”
“What were you before?”
Seonghwa hesitated. The truth lodged itself in his throat.
'I was supposed to be something more.'
Instead, he said, “It doesn’t matter.”
Hongjoong leaned back, watching him closely. “If you say so.”
The conversation shifted after that, Hongjoong turning his attention to his crew, the discussion moving to their next route. Seonghwa listened but said nothing.
It wasn’t until the meal ended and Seonghwa rose to leave that the words finally clicked.
The captain.
The way the crew moved around him. The way they obeyed without hesitation.
And the name that now rang clearly in his mind.
Hongjoong.
Kim Hongjoong.
Not just a captain.
The captain.
The pirate king.
The delta of the century.
Seonghwa’s blood ran cold.
He had been sold to the most powerful delta had ever lived.
—
Seonghwa gripped the edge of the small desk in his cabin, breath coming too fast, too sharp.
Kim Hongjoong.
Not just any pirate. Not just any delta. The strongest delta had ever lived.
His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms. He had been sold to the one person who had the power to destroy him without even trying.
A delta could take any omega they wanted—but a vita belonged to a delta in ways no one else did.
Seonghwa sucked in a slow breath, forcing himself to think. Hongjoong didn’t know. He couldn’t know. If he had, he wouldn’t have treated Seonghwa like a mere servant. He wouldn’t have let him walk freely on this ship, given him food and a bed.
No, Hongjoong thought he was just another omega.
That was good.
That was the only thing keeping Seonghwa safe.
His fingers drifted to his collarbone, where the faintest heat pulsed beneath his skin—a warmth that had always been there, but one he had ignored, suppressed. The mark of a vita.
The only one in the world who could mate a delta.
If Hongjoong ever found out…
Seonghwa closed his eyes, steadying himself. He can’t. He never will.
—
The next morning, Seonghwa returned to work as if nothing had changed.
He scrubbed the deck, helped Wooyoung in the kitchen, and ignored the weight of Hongjoong’s gaze whenever their paths crossed.
But he could feel it. The quiet way Hongjoong watched him, as if trying to figure something out.
Seonghwa refused to react. He was nothing. Just a servant. An omega with no use beyond keeping the ship running.
And yet…
“What exactly were you before, Seonghwa?”
Seonghwa stiffened, hands tightening around the bucket he was carrying. Hongjoong stood near the railing, arms crossed.
Seonghwa kept his expression blank. “A slave.”
Hongjoong hummed. “Before that.”
Seonghwa met his gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”
Hongjoong studied him for a long moment before shrugging. “Maybe not.”
Seonghwa turned away before his mask could crack.
Hongjoong didn’t push further.
But he was watching.
And Seonghwa knew he had to be careful.
—
Seonghwa had spent his life learning how to survive.
He knew when to bow his head, when to keep silent, when to let his pride be stripped from him piece by piece. It was how he had stayed alive. How he had endured.
But here, aboard The Desire, survival felt different.
There were no whips. No cages. No hands reaching for him in the dark.
And yet, the chains had not disappeared.
They were simply invisible now, wrapped around his throat like a silent threat.
Because if Hongjoong ever learned the truth—if he ever discovered what Seonghwa really was—there would be no escaping him.
A vita did not run from their destined delta.
A vita could not.
And so, Seonghwa did what he did best. He swallowed his fear and played the part.
—
Days passed aboard The Desire, and Seonghwa learned the rhythm of the ship.
He spent mornings cleaning, afternoons helping Wooyoung in the kitchen, and evenings keeping to himself. The crew didn’t mistreat him. Some barely acknowledged him at all, while others—like Wooyoung and Yeosang—made half-hearted attempts at conversation.
Seonghwa did not let himself grow comfortable.
He spoke little. He avoided drawing attention. He worked without complaint.
And most of all, he avoided Hongjoong.
Or at least, he tried to.
But Hongjoong had a way of finding him, even in the quietest corners of the ship.
Seonghwa was kneeling on the deck, scrubbing away the remnants of a storm from the night before, when he felt it again.
That gaze.
He didn’t look up. Didn’t pause in his work. But he could feel Hongjoong’s presence standing a few feet away, watching.
The delta had a way of filling the space around him, of making it impossible to ignore him even when he said nothing at all.
Finally, after several long moments, Hongjoong spoke.
“You don’t belong here.”
Seonghwa’s hands froze against the wet wood. His heartbeat stuttered before he forced himself to breathe evenly.
“I was bought,” he said coolly, returning to his task. “That means I belong wherever you put me.”
Hongjoong exhaled sharply. “That’s not what I meant.”
Seonghwa’s grip tightened on the brush.
Of course, it wasn’t.
Because Hongjoong was watching him.
He had been since the first day. Not like a master overseeing his property. Not like a predator circling its prey.
But like a man trying to solve a puzzle.
Seonghwa straightened, dropping the brush into the bucket. He turned, meeting Hongjoong’s gaze directly for the first time in days.
“I don’t know what answer you’re looking for, Captain,” he said evenly, “but you won’t find it in me.”
Hongjoong’s eyes darkened slightly. “Won’t I?”
The silence stretched between them, thick with something unnamed.
Then, to Seonghwa’s surprise, Hongjoong chuckled—a low, amused sound that sent an unwelcome shiver down his spine.
“You’re different from the others,” he mused. “Most omegas in your position would be too afraid to look me in the eye.”
Seonghwa lifted his chin. “Maybe you’re not as frightening as you think.”
Hongjoong’s smirk deepened. “Or maybe you just don’t know me well enough yet.”
Seonghwa’s pulse leapt at the implication, but he refused to react. He turned away, picking up the bucket and heading toward the railing to toss the dirty water overboard.
Hongjoong didn’t stop him.
But as Seonghwa walked away, he could still feel those eyes on him.
And for the first time, a terrifying thought crossed his mind.
'How long before he figures me out?'
—
The sun had barely begun to dip beneath the horizon when the first shout pierced the air, sharp and frantic.
“Ship! Port side!”
Seonghwa stiffened, his fingers gripping the railing of the deck. He could hear the frantic thrum of footsteps as the crew scrambled into action, the sound of cannons being readied, the sharp orders being barked.
But before he could move, a shadow fell over him.
Hongjoong.
His expression was cold, focused, every inch the pirate king as he took command of his crew. “Prepare for battle!” he shouted, his voice carrying easily above the chaos. “No one takes The Desire without a fight!”
Seonghwa’s heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn’t from the sudden tension of battle. No, it was the other ship, cutting across the water like a predator on the hunt.
He knew that ship. He had seen it from the slavers’ hold once—Carat, a notorious pirate crew known for their vicious tactics and disregard for everything but their own gain.
Their captain, Scoups, a scarred alpha with an insatiable hunger for power, had a reputation for leaving nothing behind but ruins. Seonghwa could feel the flicker of dread in his chest, the scent of his own pheromones rising with his anxiety.
Not here. Not now.
Hongjoong didn’t hesitate. With a few sharp orders, his crew made swift work of preparing to defend the ship. But as Seonghwa stood frozen in place, a powerful, rough hand grabbed his arm, yanking him toward the nearest hatch.
“Get below deck, now!” Hongjoong’s voice was low, urgent, and laced with something that made Seonghwa’s chest tighten.
“I—I can help!” Seonghwa protested, trying to shake Hongjoong’s grip from his arm.
But Hongjoong’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, his jaw set in a hard line. “No. Stay out of sight.”
Before Seonghwa could protest again, the captain was already moving, dragging him toward the stairs. But the moment Seonghwa’s feet hit the deck, the world exploded into chaos.
A roar filled the air as Carat’s ship drew close, the enemy crew launching themselves onto The Desire with terrifying speed.
Seonghwa’s breath hitched. The air was thick with the clashing sounds of swords and the screaming wind. He barely registered Hongjoong’s hand leaving his arm as the captain turned, already facing the threat. His crew followed suit, weapons drawn and ready for the onslaught.
But Seonghwa wasn’t thinking of the battle. His wolf screamed at him, and his mind raced as his body shook, flooded with fear.
Hide. Hide behind your delta. He will protect us.
He turned to sprint toward the nearest doorway, but before he could make it, a rough hand grabbed him from behind.
“Got him!” a voice snarled, a pirate from Carat—his face twisted in a vicious grin as he pulled Seonghwa back, a knife pressed against the side of his neck.
Seonghwa’s body stiffened, his pulse racing. He tried to squirm, but the pirate’s grip was iron-clad, and the blade felt unnervingly sharp against his skin. His pheromones flared with panic, a scent of fear and anxiety flooding the air.
Everything around him seemed to slow. His breath was ragged, chest tight, and he couldn’t think, couldn’t focus.
But then, a voice cut through the noise, cold and steady.
“Mingyu. Take your hands off.”
Seonghwa’s heart skipped a beat as he looked up to see Hongjoong standing on the edge of the deck, his figure outlined by the red light of the setting sun. The air seemed to shift around him, thick with the force of his presence, as if the very world itself obeyed his command.
Seonghwa’s stomach tightened, a flood of conflicting emotions rushing through him, but there was no time to process it. The pirate who had grabbed him grinned, tightening his hold on Seonghwa, raising the knife higher.
“I don’t think so, King.”
Hongjoong’s lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “I’m not asking.”
With that, the fight began in earnest. Hongjoong was a whirlwind, moving faster than Seonghwa could track, his blade flashing through the air as he cut down the pirate with terrifying precision.
In a heartbeat, Hongjoong was at Seonghwa’s side, his arm wrapping around Seonghwa’s waist, pulling him close, his body a shield between Seonghwa and the chaos.
“Are you hurt?” Hongjoong’s voice was low, urgent as he looked down at Seonghwa, his grip tightening around him.
Seonghwa could barely think. His heart was still racing, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as Hongjoong turned to face the remaining pirates, cutting through them with brutal efficiency. The air around them was charged with tension, and Seonghwa could barely keep up as Hongjoong moved, guiding him away from danger.
“I'll protect you from whatever happens, so stay behind me.” Hongjoong commanded, his voice laced with authority.
Seonghwa nodded, though he felt like his legs might give way beneath him. The Carat pirates were faltering now, their numbers dwindling as Hongjoong’s crew fought back with savage determination.
But Seonghwa couldn’t shake the feeling that the real danger had just begun.
The moment the last of the enemy pirates were pushed off the ship, Hongjoong turned to Seonghwa, his expression unreadable.
Seonghwa’s chest was heaving, and his pheromones were still swirling in the air—a mixture of fear, confusion, and something else that he couldn’t name.
Hongjoong’s eyes flickered to Seonghwa’s neck, where his scent was thickest. He inhaled sharply.
“What the hell are you hiding, Seonghwa?” Hongjoong’s voice was low, and his gaze never left the omega.
Seonghwa’s heart hammered in his chest. He instinctively stepped back, but Hongjoong reached out, his fingers brushing against Seonghwa’s arm, holding him in place.
Seonghwa swallowed. “I—nothing.” His voice was shaky, the lie feeling heavy in his chest.
Hongjoong’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll talk about this later.”
He didn’t wait for Seonghwa to respond, turning away to give orders to his crew, but Seonghwa could feel his presence like a weight on his back.
The tension between them was thick, and Seonghwa knew—knew—that Hongjoong was no longer simply intrigued by him. He suspected something.
Something dangerous.
—
The night passed in a blur.
Seonghwa barely slept, his thoughts tangled in the chaos of the battle, his body still trembling from the aftermath. The pirates from Carat had been repelled, but the sense of unease still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. The crew had returned to their duties, but Hongjoong’s presence loomed heavily over Seonghwa, and the silence between them stretched longer than either of them had anticipated.
Seonghwa had never been more acutely aware of his place on the ship. He had been bought, a mere possession to be used and discarded. But with each passing hour, with each time Hongjoong looked at him, there was a tension Seonghwa couldn’t shake—a feeling of being drawn in, closer and closer to something he couldn’t escape.
He sat at the edge of the crew’s dining table, hands folded tightly in his lap, staring into the cup of water before him. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since the attack. Wooyoung and Yeosang had tried to make conversation, but Seonghwa had been too distracted, too consumed by the weight of Hongjoong’s unspoken questions.
The scent of his pheromones still lingered on the air—sharp, like a storm ready to break. He could feel it, the way his scent flared under pressure, when Hongjoong’s gaze lingered just a bit too long, when his voice dropped low with that dangerous edge.
Seonghwa’s mind was spinning, torn between the overwhelming desire to run and the undeniable pull he felt toward the pirate captain.
A knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. His heart skipped in his chest as he looked up, wondering if it was one of the crew. But when the door opened, it was Hongjoong who stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
The moment their eyes met, Seonghwa felt the air shift, a tension thick and undeniable. Hongjoong’s gaze dropped to Seonghwa’s scent glands, just for a second, before meeting his eyes again.
Seonghwa didn’t speak.
Hongjoong, for his part, remained silent for a long moment.
“You’re still in here." Hongjoong said quietly, voice softer than usual.
“You should rest. The crew is taking the night off after the attack.”
Seonghwa gave a small nod, though he didn’t feel like resting. His body ached from the tension, from the strange pull he couldn’t ignore. His head was heavy with thoughts of the past, of the future, of Hongjoong’s growing suspicion.
Hongjoong took a steady breath. “We need to talk, Seonghwa.”
Seonghwa’s stomach twisted. His throat felt tight, his words caught behind the wall he had built.
Hongjoong’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you’re hiding, but it’s not just your pheromones anymore.” He took another step, his presence overwhelming. “The way you reacted earlier… The way you reacted to me.”
Seonghwa swallowed, his hands tightening in his lap. “I—I don’t know what you mean.”
Hongjoong was silent for a moment, studying him carefully. The weight of his gaze felt like a vice around Seonghwa’s chest. Finally, Hongjoong sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“We’ll talk about it when you’re ready." he said, voice a low murmur. “But know this, Seonghwa.”
Seonghwa looked up, meeting his eyes, and his breath caught at the intensity there.
“I’m not going to force you." Hongjoong continued. “But you’re part of my crew now. I protect what’s mine.”
Seonghwa’s chest tightened. He wasn’t used to hearing those words directed at him—not with sincerity.
“Get some rest.” Hongjoong added, his voice softening just slightly. “You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
With that, he turned and left the room, the door closing behind him with a quiet click.
Seonghwa remained frozen, his heart hammering in his chest.
He said that we belong to them! Go talk to delta, he'll understand us. His delta knows about me but I said not to tell the pirate because of you!
For a long time, he just sat there, trying to steady his breath, to quiet his wolf that were spiraling out of control. Hongjoong was dangerous—not just because he was a delta, not just because he was the pirate king. But because he was so much more.
The captain was starting to piece things together. And Seonghwa had no idea how long he could keep his secret hidden.
—
The days that followed were filled with a tension that seemed to tighten around Seonghwa’s chest every time Hongjoong was near. He couldn’t escape it—the silent question that hung between them, the unspoken understanding that something was wrong, that Seonghwa was hiding something.
Hongjoong didn’t press him further, but Seonghwa could feel it. The captain was watching him with a patience that was as unsettling as it was comforting. Hongjoong was waiting, waiting for Seonghwa to break, to confess.
—
That evening, after a long day of work, Seonghwa found himself alone on the deck. The sun had set, and the stars twinkled brightly above the ship, their light reflecting off the water like a thousand shards of glass.
Seonghwa leaned against the railing, his thoughts far from the peaceful scene in front of him. He could hear the faint sounds of the crew below deck, but his mind was focused on one thing:
Hongjoong.
What would happen if Hongjoong ever found out the truth?
And what if he already knew?
Seonghwa’s breath caught in his throat as he suddenly felt a presence behind him. Before he could turn, a hand touched his shoulder, and he flinched—his body reacting to the sudden contact before his mind could catch up.
“Seonghwa,” Hongjoong’s voice was quiet, but the weight of it settled over him like a heavy cloud.
Seonghwa stiffened, but he didn’t pull away.
“We need to talk.” Hongjoong said again, and Seonghwa felt the air between them crackle with tension.
He turned slowly, meeting Hongjoong’s gaze. For a brief moment, they just stood there, the sound of the ocean filling the silence.
But then Hongjoong spoke again, his voice low, steady.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Seonghwa. But I can feel it. Something’s not right.”
Seonghwa swallowed hard. “I’m just tired, Captain.”
Hongjoong took another step forward, his eyes soft but firm. “You don’t need to hide anything from me. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together.”
Seonghwa’s chest tightened, and for the first time, he didn’t know how to lie his way out of it. He didn’t know how to keep the secret anymore.
“Seonghwa…” Hongjoong’s voice was barely a whisper, his hand gently reaching for Seonghwa’s.
Seonghwa froze, his heart racing.
“I’m not asking for your secrets. Not yet,” Hongjoong continued, his touch lingering just for a moment longer. “But I will. And when you’re ready, we’ll talk about this.”
Seonghwa’s breath hitched. “I don’t—”
Hongjoong cut him off gently, his hand still resting near Seonghwa’s. “When you’re ready,” he repeated, voice soft but firm. “We’ll talk about this.”
Seonghwa stood there, unable to move, caught between fear and something else—something that made his heart ache in a way he couldn’t explain.
Seonghwa’s heart raced, each beat echoing in his chest like a drum, steady and unyielding. The weight of the secret he had carried for so long—one he had protected with every ounce of his being—was unbearable. It was like a storm had finally broken inside of him, the clouds tearing apart in a torrent of fear and vulnerability.
Tell him! Tell the delta that we're his! We're his mate, tell him!
When Hongjoong stepped back, leaving a few feet of space between them, it should have been a relief. But it wasn’t. Not this time. The words that had been told by the wolf in Seonghwa for days—no, for weeks—were pushing against his lips, desperate to be released. He could feel them pressing up from within, and he knew there would be no peace until they were out.
Seonghwa took a deep breath, trembling slightly. Hongjoong’s eyes were still on him, dark and intense, waiting, always waiting.
He had spent so much time lying, hiding, pretending. But Hongjoong’s patience was stretching thinner with each passing moment, and Seonghwa couldn’t keep it from him any longer.
It was now or never.
Without thinking, without even meaning to, Seonghwa’s voice broke through the tension.
“H-Hongjoong!"
The name felt foreign on his tongue, fragile and heavy, yet somehow it slipped out like it had always belonged there. His gaze locked with Hongjoong’s, and for a brief moment, he saw something flicker in the captain’s eyes—concern, confusion, and something darker, something like realization.
Seonghwa’s breath hitched, but he didn’t look away. His hands clenched at his sides, his body tense with the weight of his decision.
“I—I’m not just any omega.”
Hongjoong took a step closer, but Seonghwa held up a hand, stopping him. His voice shook, but his words came out with a desperate clarity.
“I’m a vita.”
The word hung in the air between them, as if time itself had stopped. Seonghwa’s pulse thudded in his ears, and for a moment, all he could hear was the distant crash of waves against the ship’s hull.
Hongjoong’s expression froze. His eyes widened slightly, disbelief flickering across his face before it settled into something Seonghwa couldn’t quite name—something darker, more dangerous.
“The vita?” Hongjoong murmured, his voice low, almost reverent. He took another step forward, his gaze narrowing, as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle he’d only just discovered. “The only mate of a delta.”
Seonghwa nodded, feeling the weight of his confession pressing down on him. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. But there was no turning back now.
“I didn’t ask for this,” Seonghwa said, his voice low, a tremor in every word. “I didn’t want it. But I—I am the vita. The one meant for you.”
Hongjoong was silent for a long time, his eyes never leaving Seonghwa, as if the weight of the words were sinking in.
Seonghwa could feel his body trembling now, but he didn’t look away. His pheromones, which had been pulsing with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, now swirled around him, mingling with something deeper, something primal. The scent of him—the true scent of him—was there, undeniable. He was the vita. The only one bound to Hongjoong, whether they wanted it or not.
“You… you’ve known all along?” Hongjoong asked quietly, his voice barely a whisper. There was something unreadable in his eyes now—something fierce, something possessive.
Seonghwa’s stomach twisted. He nodded slowly. “I—I didn’t know at first. But when I saw you, when I smelled you, I—” He stopped, swallowing thickly, unable to continue. “I knew it, for a while. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
Hongjoong took another step closer, his presence overwhelming, like a storm gathering around Seonghwa. His gaze flickered from Seonghwa’s eyes to his neck, where the scent was strongest, and something raw flared in Hongjoong’s expression—hunger, possessiveness, confusion.
“You’re mine.”
The words were so soft, yet they landed with the weight of a command. Seonghwa’s breath caught, his heart stuttering in his chest.
“I’ve suspected,” Hongjoong continued, voice low and dangerous. “But I wasn’t sure. And now you’re telling me… that you’ve been hiding this from me.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Why, Seonghwa? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I—I couldn’t,” Seonghwa said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. “I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t want to be bound to you, Hongjoong. I didn’t want to be just another slave. Just another possession.”
Hongjoong’s jaw clenched at the word slave, and Seonghwa could see the way it struck him—deep, sharp.
“I didn’t want to be a burden,” Seonghwa continued, his voice softer now, almost breaking. “But I am. I can’t change what I am. And I—I didn’t want to be your mate. Not like this. Not when I’m nothing more than a slave.”
The room was silent, save for the sound of Seonghwa’s uneven breathing. He couldn’t stop it now—everything was spilling out, all of his fear, all of his anger, everything he had buried inside for so long.
Hongjoong stood still, his face unreadable, his expression flickering between a storm of emotions. But then, with a sudden motion, he reached forward, gripping Seonghwa’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze.
“You think I don’t know what it means to be bound like this?” Hongjoong’s voice was low, filled with a dangerous calm. “You think I don’t see you as more than just a vita or omega? You think I don’t care about you?”
Seonghwa’s breath hitched. His heart was racing, but Hongjoong didn’t give him a chance to respond.
“I want you, Seonghwa,” Hongjoong continued, his voice dark and steady. “You’ve always been mine, even before I knew. And no matter how much you fight it, no matter how much you try to hide it—you’re mine. And nothing will change that.”
The words echoed in Seonghwa’s mind, his breath caught, his heart pounding in his chest. He was caught, trapped between the truth of his own nature and the undeniable force of Hongjoong’s presence. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do, but Hongjoong was right.
This was no longer a question of whether or not he could hide. It was a question of what would happen now that the truth had come to light.
And deep down, Seonghwa knew there would be no escape. Not now. Not ever.
—
The ship seemed quieter after Seonghwa’s confession, the tension between him and Hongjoong palpable. The night stretched on, and though Hongjoong had returned to his quarters alone, there was a shift in the air—a change that couldn’t be ignored. The crew had no idea what had transpired between the captain and the omega slave, but Hongjoong had made up his mind.
His steps were purposeful as he walked down the corridors, his usual calm demeanor now carrying a weight that only those closest to him might notice. His mind raced as he approached the crew’s common area. The men and women were gathered, chatting quietly about the recent attack from Carat, but as soon as Hongjoong entered, the room fell silent.
“Captain?” Yeosang, the navigator, called out first, his eyes keenly observing Hongjoong.
Hongjoong smiled tightly, but it wasn’t the same smile they were used to. There was something more serious in it—a rare glimpse into his inner thoughts.
“I have something to share with all of you,” he said, his voice steady but carrying an undertone that made everyone pause. “It concerns Seonghwa.”
The crew exchanged confused glances. It was unusual for Hongjoong to bring up matters of the crew’s personal life in front of everyone, and even more so when it involved Seonghwa, the slave they all knew was bound to the captain.
“What happened?” Mingi asked, his voice cautious but curious. His arms were crossed, the large first mate’s build intimidating but his expression open, waiting for Hongjoong to speak.
Hongjoong stood still for a moment before he spoke again, his voice lowering. “Seonghwa is not just any omega. He’s the vita.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Yeosang’s eyes widened, and even Wooyoung stopped mid-chew, his spoon frozen in the air. The term vita was one that was known, but rarely spoken aloud. The vita—the only mate of a delta. It was a bond that couldn’t be denied. A connection that was fated, unbreakable.
“The vita?” Yeosang repeated, his tone incredulous. He glanced at Wooyoung, who had set down his spoon with a clatter. “Captain, are you sure?”
Hongjoong nodded, his expression firm. “Yes. He’s the one, the only mate I could ever have.”
For a moment, the crew was silent. It wasn’t just the words that took everyone aback; it was the weight of what they meant. The crew had seen the way Hongjoong had treated Seonghwa—carefully, possessively, but they hadn’t known the full extent of the relationship. They hadn’t known that Seonghwa wasn’t just an omega—the vita—the one and only omega destined for the captain.
“Does he know?” San finally asked, breaking the silence. “I mean, does Seonghwa know that he’s…”
“Yes,” Hongjoong replied sharply, his voice carrying a quiet authority. “He knows.” His gaze flickered toward the floor for a brief moment, as if the weight of the revelation was something he himself was still processing. “But he’s been hiding it from all of us. I didn’t know at first either. But when I realized, I knew I had to make sure he understood it too.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence. The news was big, bigger than anything any of them had anticipated. To hear that Seonghwa—the slave who had always been quiet, who had always kept to himself—was the vita was beyond anyone’s expectations. They had all known something was different about him, but this? This was on a whole different level.
Mingi was the next to speak, his voice thoughtful. “So… what does this mean for the ship? For us?”
Hongjoong met his gaze. “It means Seonghwa is no longer just a slave. He’s my mate. And as my mate, he’s part of this crew—whether he’s ready to accept it or not.” His voice softened slightly. “And I’ll make sure he does, one way or another.”
The crew exchanged looks, each of them processing what this meant. Hongjoong’s words were clear: Seonghwa was his, bound to him in ways that no one could deny, and the captain was not going to let anything stand in the way of that bond.
“I don’t think he’s ready for all of this,” Yunho said quietly, his brows furrowed in concern. “The vita bond isn’t something anyone can just accept overnight. And you know how Seonghwa is. He’s not like the other omegas we’ve had on board.”
Hongjoong nodded, his gaze distant. “I know. And that’s why I’m giving him space. But I will not let him go. He doesn’t get to choose that.”
Jongho, who had been quiet until now, spoke up with a surprisingly soft voice. “So… does this mean that everything changes now?”
Hongjoong’s expression hardened slightly, but there was something behind it—a quiet resolve. “It means that Seonghwa is not just anyone. He is my mate, and he’s part of this crew. From now on, we treat him as such.”
There was a long pause, and then Wooyoung, the always-lighthearted cook, let out a low whistle. “Well, that explains a lot, doesn’t it? The way you’ve been looking at him lately… I thought we were going to have to stage an intervention for you, Captain.”
Hongjoong shot him a dark look, but it lacked any real venom. Instead, it was just tired—tired from the weight of the realization that his life had just shifted in ways he hadn’t expected. He had always known he was different from the rest of the deltas, but this? This was something else entirely.
“We’ll talk more about this later,” Hongjoong said, his voice firm. “Right now, I need to figure out how to make sure Seonghwa’s ready for this. I’m not going to push him too hard, but I won’t give up on him either. He’s mine.”
The crew nodded in understanding, the tension in the air thick but not unpleasant. They all knew Hongjoong well enough to understand what this meant. He wasn’t one to give up easily. And Seonghwa, it seemed, would be just as hard to get through to as Hongjoong himself.
“Understood, Captain,” Yeosang said, his voice calm and accepting. “We’ll support you, however you need us to.”
Hongjoong gave a slight nod of appreciation. “Good. Now, let’s make sure this ship stays in one piece. I don’t want any more surprises like that Carat attack.”
With that, the crew returned to their duties, but there was a new sense of awareness in the air. They had learned something important about Seonghwa, something that would forever change their dynamic with him—and with Hongjoong.
As Hongjoong watched them go about their tasks, a strange sense of calm washed over him. The hardest part was over. He had claimed what was his. Now, he just had to make sure Seonghwa knew it, too.
—
The night was cool and crisp, the ship swaying gently beneath the moonlight. The air smelled of saltwater and fresh sea breezes, the vast ocean stretching out in every direction. On the deck of The Desire, a quiet hush had settled over the crew, each member going about their duties in silence. But none of them were paying attention to the work in front of them, not when the soft murmur of voices carried from the captain’s quarters.
Hongjoong had requested Seonghwa’s presence for a private conversation, and the rest of the crew had complied, though they couldn’t help but feel the gravity of the moment. There had been whispers among them after Hongjoong’s earlier announcement about Seonghwa being the vita. No one had quite known what to expect, but there was an air of anticipation surrounding it all. They could only guess what would come next.
Inside the captain’s quarters, Hongjoong sat at the desk, his usual confident demeanor now replaced with a quiet intensity. His fingers drummed lightly against the wood as he stared at the door, waiting for Seonghwa to enter. He wasn’t nervous—he had made his decision, and it was final. But there was something about tonight that made everything feel different. The stakes were higher now, and the bond between them had shifted into something much more profound than either of them had anticipated.
The door creaked open, and Seonghwa stepped inside. He looked as graceful as always, but there was a wariness in his eyes, something that hadn’t been there before. The vita was no longer a secret between them, and now, the truth weighed heavily on both their shoulders.
Seonghwa closed the door behind him softly and stood there for a moment, his eyes meeting Hongjoong’s. The silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken words.
“Seonghwa,” Hongjoong began, his voice low, steady. “I know we’ve had our misunderstandings, and I know I pushed you when you weren’t ready. But I need you to know that I’ve never intended to hurt you. I never will.”
Seonghwa’s gaze softened, his fingers twitching at his sides. The words hung in the air, and for the first time, he felt the full weight of what Hongjoong was offering. The bond was undeniable now, and as much as he had fought it, a part of him knew it had always been there. Hongjoong wasn’t just claiming him as a mate. He was claiming his heart as well.
“I never wanted to be yours,” Seonghwa admitted quietly, his voice trembling slightly. “But somewhere along the way, I couldn’t help it. And now… I don’t know what to do with all of this.” His eyes darted to the floor briefly before meeting Hongjoong’s again. “I was scared. Scared that you’d see me as nothing more than a slave. But… maybe… maybe I don’t mind anymore. Being yours, I mean.”
Hongjoong’s heart skipped a beat. The raw honesty in Seonghwa’s voice touched something deep within him, and the fierce protectiveness he had always felt for the omega burned brighter now, fiercer. He stood up and walked slowly towards Seonghwa, his eyes never leaving him.
“Seonghwa…” Hongjoong’s voice was barely a whisper as he reached out, cupping Seonghwa’s cheek gently, a tenderness that contrasted with the intensity in his gaze. “You are not just anyone to me. You are my mate, my other half. And I want you to know that, no matter what you’ve feared, no matter what you’ve been through… I’ll be here. Always.”
Seonghwa’s breath caught, his chest tight as the words settled in. They were exactly what he had wanted to hear, exactly what he needed to hear. Slowly, he closed the distance between them, pressing his forehead to Hongjoong’s, his voice barely audible.
“I don’t know what comes next. But… I want this. I want you.”
And then, with the moonlight spilling softly through the windows, Hongjoong leaned in. The kiss was soft at first, a slow, tentative exploration. But it quickly deepened, the heat between them rising as their lips moved against one another, a sense of rightness settling in their bones. The kiss was everything they had both denied, everything they had both fought against. It was the culmination of everything they had been through together, the silent understanding between them becoming clearer than ever.
As they pulled away, breathless and lost in the moment, the sound of a muffled gasp came from the corner of the room. Seonghwa’s eyes flew open, and Hongjoong froze. For a split second, they were both too stunned to move.
Wooyoung had been sneaking around the corner, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening in the captain’s quarters. But it wasn’t just a glimpse—he had caught the whole thing, and his loud gasp had clearly alerted the rest of the crew, who had been hiding behind the walls, trying to listen in.
Hongjoong raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. “You’ve been listening, haven’t you?”
Seonghwa’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, and he quickly stepped away from Hongjoong, looking around for an escape. But before he could say anything, Wooyoung’s voice rang out, loud and unmistakable.
“Oh my god, did they just kiss?!”
The entire crew, who had been hiding behind the corners and in the shadows, jumped out in surprise. Yeosang, Yunho, Jongho, Mingi, and even San all stood there, eyes wide, mouths open in surprise. But it wasn’t the shock on their faces that Seonghwa noticed—it was the grins. The wide, knowing grins.
“Well,” Yeosang said with a teasing smile, “looks like we weren’t the only ones who were waiting for this moment.”
Seonghwa’s embarrassment only deepened as he realized they had all been listening. Hongjoong, on the other hand, seemed completely unphased by the sudden interruption. He shot Wooyoung a look, and the cook immediately straightened up, blushing as he scratched the back of his neck.
“Uh, oops,” Wooyoung muttered sheepishly. “Guess we got a little carried away.”
“Just a little?” Mingi raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed as he eyed Seonghwa. “I think we’ve been waiting for this moment since we first saw you two together.”
Seonghwa groaned, covering his face with his hands. He could feel the heat of his embarrassment rising, but there was something undeniably warm about the crew’s reactions. They weren’t mocking him or Hongjoong; they were simply happy for them.
Hongjoong let out a soft chuckle, pulling Seonghwa closer, his arm draping around his shoulders. “Guess we’re not as sneaky as we thought, huh?”
The crew laughed, the tension that had been building between Seonghwa and Hongjoong breaking into something much lighter, warmer, more familiar.
“Well, now that the cat’s out of the bag,” Wooyoung grinned, “Let’s celebrate!”
With that, the crew quickly rallied, setting up a small feast on the deck. The laughter was light and carefree, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Seonghwa felt at ease. Hongjoong, standing beside him, wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close.
“I’m glad they know,” Hongjoong whispered into Seonghwa’s ear. “And I’m even gladder that you’re mine.”
Seonghwa leaned into him, a soft smile curling on his lips. “I think I’m starting to believe that too.”
The night stretched on, filled with laughter, food, and the warmth of a family that had grown even closer. Hongjoong and Seonghwa, no longer just captain and omega, but mates—united in a way that felt unbreakable. And the rest of the crew, with their teasing and laughter, added to the sense of home, warmth, and belonging.
As the stars twinkled above them, the crew of The Desire knew one thing for certain—they were a family, bound by more than just blood, but by love, loyalty, and the unshakable bond between their captain and his mate.