Ryu Ga-in stood in front of the mirror, inspecting her reflection with a critical eye. The simple black dress she'd chosen hugged her figure in all the right places without being too revealing. It was elegant but still playful enough to fit the occasion. She ran her fingers through her hair, tousling it slightly for that effortless look she had perfected over the years. Satisfied, she grabbed her clutch and turned to leave.
Clara, standing by the door with her arms crossed, gave her a long, exasperated look. "Ga-in, I know it's a party, but can you at least try to behave tonight? Just this once?"
Ga-in rolled her eyes, slipping into her heels. "Clara, it's a birthday party, not a crime scene. What do you think I'm going to do? Steal the cake?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Clara said, her tone firm. "Stop playing with alphas like they're toys. You're going to get yourself into trouble."
"Relax," Ga-in said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It's not like I'm planning to flirt with the entire room. Just a few, maybe. For fun." She shot Clara a cheeky grin, but her friend wasn't amused.
"Ga-in—"
"I'll be fine," Ga-in interrupted, grabbing her coat. "Don't wait up."
Without waiting for Clara's response, she stepped out the door, letting the cool night air wash over her.
---
The birthday party was already in full swing by the time Ga-in arrived. The sound of laughter and music filled the air as she made her way through the lavishly decorated garden. Park Hana, her college friend and the birthday girl, greeted her warmly before disappearing into the crowd.
Ga-in blended in effortlessly, her charm and confidence drawing attention as usual. She chatted with a few alphas here and there, effortlessly keeping them entertained. But as the night wore on, the same old routine began to bore her. The alphas were predictable, their compliments rehearsed, their intentions all too obvious.
When one particularly persistent alpha leaned in a little too close, Ga-in decided she'd had enough. She smiled politely, excusing herself as she turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" the alpha called after her, but Ga-in didn't bother to answer. She was already making her way toward the exit, weaving through the crowd as she glanced over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't following.
Distracted, she didn't notice the figure in front of her until it was too late. She collided with him, the sudden impact nearly sending her off balance.
Strong hands caught her before she could fall, one arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. For a moment, she froze, her face mere inches from his.
He was tall, with sharp features and piercing dark eyes that seemed to hold her in place. His grip on her waist was firm but not rough, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"Careful," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Ga-in blinked, her breath caught in her throat. Something about him felt… different. Dangerous.
Snapping out of her daze, she shoved him away, scowling. "Watch where you're going," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't explain.
The man watched her retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly. The faint scent of her omega pheromones lingered in the air, stirring something primal within him. His irises flickered red for a brief moment, the wolf inside him growling in recognition.
"She's… different," he murmured to himself, his gaze still fixed on her. He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he knew one thing for certain.
He wanted to see her again.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Han Yeon-jun adjusted his jacket and made his way into the party.
---