Baek Si-ho let his hand rest gently over his flat belly. He was pregnant. It had been difficult to sneak out of the city to see a doctor who didn’t belong to Yoon Tae-joon’s powerful circle — someone who wouldn’t immediately report the news to his Alpha.

He had finally found one who kept no traceable records. His heart felt like it would burst from his chest, and thousands of tiny butterflies fluttered inside his stomach.

It had been five years since Yoon Tae-joon had purchased him at the Virgin Omega Auction, and he had waited all this time for this moment.

The doctors had told him he might never conceive, but the heavens had finally blessed him. Tears of happiness pricked his eyes.

He grabbed his soft wool shawl from the bed and wrapped it around his shoulders.

The wildflowers were in full bloom this time of year. He knew that by the creek the most gorgeous purple foxgloves grew in abundance.

He wanted to pick a beautiful bouquet so their sweet aroma could fill the room.

Of course, nervousness waged war inside him at the thought of telling his love.

Shock would surely be the first reaction on his Alpha’s face.

He played the words over and over in his mind — how he would tell the man he loved that he was carrying his child.

Their relationship had been strained lately, but maybe now that he knew the truth, things would finally brighten.

They could have the future they both deserved. He may have done some irreversible damage to their bond, but he was a forgiving man who loved him unconditionally.

Love would prevail.

Baek Si-ho stepped outside. A warm breeze greeted him. The weather was pleasant enough that he didn’t truly need the shawl, but he knew the temperature would drop once he entered the wooded area surrounding their secluded luxury villa on the outskirts of Seoul.

Twigs and leaves crunched beneath his feet as he walked deeper into the forest. The sound of flowing water reached him, and soon he emerged from the trees.

The clear creek that ran beside their property was one of his favorite places. Flowers in every color lined the banks, bringing life to the green surroundings.

It was a spot where he often came to think about his future and what he truly wanted.

Baek Si-ho didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he deserved to be happy with the Alpha he loved.

Bending down, he began plucking daisies and tulips, the bouquet growing in his arms. A flash of purple caught his eye.

He stood and moved toward the foxgloves. He stopped at the edge of the creek.

The water rushed quickly over the protruding rocks. He took the first careful step onto a flat stone.

He balanced and moved to the next rock. He was almost across when his foot slipped. His arms flailed as he tried to steady himself.

The bouquet flew from his grasp, flowers scattering around him as he fell backward into the chilly water.

Pushing himself up, he stood, but before he could take another step, a sharp cracking sound filled the air.

Pain exploded through his temple. Stars danced in his vision. The world tilted violently.

He tried to push himself up again, one hand instinctively moving to protect his belly. His fingers gripped the edge of a rock.

After several attempts, he managed to reach the other side before collapsing onto the hard ground.

With the solid earth beneath him, the clear blue sky above, and the tall trees surrounding him, Baek Si-ho could almost pretend everything was okay.

A wave of nausea hit him. He rolled over and emptied his stomach. Lifting a hand to his head, he winced at the tender wound.

Blood coated his fingers. As he rolled onto his back, he saw him. A weak smile formed on his lips and he reached out.

He tried to speak, to ask for help, but he was so cold and so terribly tired. He stared into those familiar eyes — eyes he had looked into so many times before during their most intimate moments.

The man didn’t move, only watched him with a pained expression.

Licking his dry lips, Baek Si-ho whispered, “It is your child I carry, my love.”

He placed a trembling hand on his belly.

“Please… please help me.”

He tried to push himself up, but his strength was fading rapidly.

“We had something special, darling. I would have given you everything if only you had accepted what I offered… if you hadn’t betrayed me.”

Angry tears fell onto Baek Si-ho’s cheeks as he fought to stay conscious. Warm blood trailed slowly down his neck.

The man dropped to his knees and cradled him in strong arms, lifting the shawl away.

He stared at the blood-soaked fabric for several long moments, emotions flashing across his face — anger, love, and something much darker.

“Things could have been so different, my love. They could have been so very different. All I wanted was your obedience and trust, but what I received was something else entirely.”

That was the last thing Baek Si-ho heard before darkness closed in around the edges of his vision.

He knew he was going to die here in these woods, surrounded by beauty yet feeling only ugliness.

Before his eyes drifted shut for the final time, he let himself gaze at the purple foxgloves one last time.

**********

The blood rushed through Yoon Tae-joon’s veins like fire. The pounding of his own heart drowned out everything else.

Sweat covered his body and a sickening feeling twisted in his stomach. He knew others were following him, worried about his state.

When he received the call at his office about Baek Si-ho’s accident, the entire world had faded away.

He had broken numerous traffic laws racing back to their villa and would have broken a hundred more to reach his Omega.

He could see the group of people in the distance and quickened his pace. Twigs snapped beneath his feet as he ran. The creek came into view.

As if a switch had flipped, all sound rushed back. He pushed through the sensory overload and stopped at the water’s edge.

The people gathered on the opposite side turned toward him almost in unison. Their expressions — filled with sympathy and sorrow — made his mouth go dry.

They parted slowly, revealing the small, fragile form lying on the ground.

Yoon Tae-joon crossed the creek in seconds and fell to his knees beside Baek Si-ho.

The Omega’s  clothing was soaked with water and blood. Leaves and dirt clung to the fabric.

Tears burned in his eyes, but he was aware of the many people watching. Some were household staff; most were authorities.

Baek Si-ho’s dark short hair fell across his pale forehead. Yoon Tae-joon reached out and brushed it aside with trembling fingers. Baek Si-ho looked so fragile.

Overwhelming emotion crashed over him as he gathered Baek Si-ho into his arms. He buried his face in the Omega’s neck, letting his tears fall freely despite the audience. His body was so cold. He tightened his hold, desperate to warm him.

He had only had five years with Baek Si-ho. Five short years. He had wanted so much more — even if Si-ho had grown distant lately.

He wanted to see him nurture their children. He would have made a wonderful sire. His body shook as murmurs rose around him.

They blamed him for this. And maybe they were right. If he had kept a tighter hold on his Omega, if he had been stricter, Baek Si-ho wouldn’t be lying lifeless in his arms right now.

“Si-ho…” Yoon Tae-joon whispered, his voice breaking as the last of his composure shattered.

Two years later

Yoon Tae-joon pulled himself back into the present. Sitting at his desk in the heavy silence of his office, his mind always drifted back to that day — the day he held Baek Si-ho in his arms for the last time.

His late partner was a constant presence in his thoughts, but he knew he eventually had to move on and let the memory rest in peace.

He often pictured Baek Si-ho still alive, running around with the child that had been growing in his belly.

They had to physically pull Yoon Tae-joon away from his body. When the physician informed him that his Omega had been pregnant, all he wanted was to go back and hold him again.

Their relationship had been tense for months before the tragedy, and the guilt still ate at him.

It had taken a long time to even consider moving forward, but now, two years later, he felt like he might finally be ready.

Glancing down at the files on his desk, it had taken every bit of strength he possessed to request them.

Each young Omega pictured in the files was more beautiful than the last. Growing up, Yoon Tae-joon had thought the Virgin Omega Auctions were barbaric, but as he grew older, his father had drilled into him that they were a necessary tradition among the elite.

When the auctions first became legal decades ago, it was due to extreme poverty and legalising trafficking.

Officials had legalized the system to boost the economy and ensure suitable matches for powerful Alphas.

In the beginning, many Omegas from poor backgrounds were exploited, but now the process was far more refined.

Only carefully raised, pure Omegas bred and educated for high-society bonding were presented.

At twenty years old, they were placed on the auction block and examined by prospective Alpha buyers.

These Omegas knew exactly what they were entering, and most seemed to accept their fate.

At least, that was what Yoon Tae-joon assumed. He had only attended the auctions once before and had never mingled with the circle of powerful Alphas who inspected the Omegas like precious goods.

His own mother had once been an Omega from the auctions. Though his father was nearly two decades older, they had eventually grown to love each other.

Yoon Tae-joon remembered the first and only time he had gone to the auctions — his father had convinced him, saying he was already thirty-three and still unbonded.

His father desperately wanted grandchildren. The moment he saw Baek Si-ho on the bidding stage, everything else had disappeared.

They had tried for five years to conceive and… No. He wouldn’t think about that now. Not when his evening plans involved attending the annual auction again.

He had to move on. It wasn’t healthy to remain trapped in the past. He would go tonight, but that didn’t mean he had to purchase anyone.

At thirty-eight, he was still young compared to many of the Alphas who attended — most were his father’s age.

Turning in his chair, Yoon Tae-joon looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows behind his desk. He was on the thirty-sixth floor, yet taller skyscrapers still towered over his building in the heart of Seoul.

He reached for the glass of scotch on his desk and took a slow sip. The sky above was a murky grey, an impending storm threatening to wash over the city.

“Master Yoon?” His assistant’s voice came through the intercom.

“Yes?” He took another sip and continued looking through the files.

“Director Lee would like to know if you can reschedule tomorrow morning’s investment meeting to this evening.”

Various photos of elegant young Omegas covered his desk. Amid the sea of dark and light hair, a soft, striking face with delicate features caught his eye.

Yoon Tae-joon pushed the other files aside and picked up the photograph.

The young Omega staring back at him was breathtaking. He had silky dark hair that framed his beautiful face gently. His eyes were large and green, carrying a quiet, almost ethereal softness.

“No, I have plans for this evening,” Yoon Tae-joon replied, his gaze never leaving the photo. He slowly ran his finger along the soft line of the Omega’s jaw.

He hadn’t felt interested in anyone since Baek Si-ho, even during his rut he never wanted anyone, but something about this young Omega — who would be at the auction tonight — stirred the deep, possessive Alpha instincts inside him.

Maybe his broken heart could finally begin to heal with a twenty-year-old pure Omega.

...            ...

The minimum to attend the virgin omega auctions was earning six figures a year.

If an alpha didn't earn at least that, then there was no way they would be permitted to even enter the establishment.

The last time Yoon Tae-joon attended, the minimum going rate for an untouched omega was fifty thousand dollars.

That had only been five years ago, but Yoon Tae-joon had heard the price had almost doubled since then.

Stepping up to the heavily guarded entrance he held his hand out, palm up, as the security officer ran the identification scanner over his palm.

The device was a technologically sophisticated piece of equipment. Not only would it reveal his name and all personal and relevant information, it also secured the admission fee to enter the facility.

The burly man blocking the entrance nodded in acknowledgment and stepped to the side, opening the door for Yoon Tae-joon to enter.

"Welcome, Master Yoon. Enjoy your evening."

The first thing he saw upon entering was the large wooden stage in the center of the opulent room.

Velvet drapes hung like dripping black ink. The stage was glossed to perfection. An attendant scanned his hand once again and led him to his seat.

Yoon Tae-joon didn't miss the fact many of the alphas in attendance stopped their conversations to stare at him.

He knew the rumors that were still circulating around the city about Baek Si-ho's death, even years later.

Yoon Tae-joon also knew a lot of the alphas that attended these auctions could be cruel to their young and innocent omegas.

By contrast he had been gentle and comforting with Baek Si-ho, traits that were frowned upon by many of the alphas that ran in the same circles as he did.

His watch showed the auction would start momentarily, and that was confirmed when the lights dimmed and the others took their seats.

The first person to step on the stage was a beautiful omega with café au lait skin. There were hushed murmurs from the alphas around him that spoke of lascivious things.

The omega stopped in the center of the stage, his head lowered and his hands clasped behind his back.

He was the perfect specimen of what a virgin omega should be: Docile, submissive, and eager to please.

When the attendant finished displaying the young omega's assets, the bidding started.

The auction was silent, with prospective buyers entering their interest into the small bidding panels attached to the armrests of their seats.

Although the omega was undeniably beautiful, he was not the one Yoon Tae-joon had come here for.

Omega after omega graced the stage as Yoon Tae-joon sat patiently. When the announcer finally said his name, the omega he'd been waiting for, he felt his blood rush through his veins.

Ryu Ji-ahn.

It was a name that had his cold and broken heart beating wildly again. Ryu Ji-ahn stepped tentatively onto the stage. His head was lowered and his hands clasped in front of him.

The alphas around him started speaking adamantly and Yoon Tae-joon knew that he wasn't the only one that had seen something special in him.

His fists clenched as he heard the alpha beside him speak in a hushed tone about the filthy things he could do to him.

They were vile, sadistic creatures that got more pleasure out of inflicting pain on these innocent beauties than experiencing a relationship that would last the rest of their lives.

It wasn't uncommon for them to buy a handful of virgin omegas, creating their own harem for the sole purpose of finding as much selfish pleasure as they could.

It was a disgusting display of their power and the true nature of their souls.

Ryu Ji-ahn's measurements were announced to all.

The attendant stepped beside him and untied the robe. When the material dropped to the ground, the whispers around him became aflame with interest.

His small delicate cock was on display, his nipples were of the colour pink and so pretty.

As Yoon Tae-joon let his eyes take in the gentle sweep of his body and the creamy peach-colored hue of his skin, he felt himself grow hard.

Ji-ahn was small in comparison to many of the other virgins, but compared to him he was utterly tiny.

His bone structure was delicate, so soft and fragile in appearance that he reminded him of a porcelain doll.

Despite his petite frame his body was beautifully formed. His cock grew even harder and he found the need to shift in his seat to relieve the discomfort that was quickly settling behind his fly.

He didn't know what it was about him that called to him with such a rush of emotion, but he wasn't about to ignore it.

As the attendant started speaking about his tight virgin hole in an almost vulgar manner Yoon Tae-joon saw his cheeks redden.

He was sweet and shy, and the knowledge that these alphas surrounding him were getting a look at him in such an intimate manner had fury building swiftly inside of him.

As if this was the one moment that would define the rest, he was told to raise his head.

His pulse quickened as his startling clear eyes stared straight ahead. Of course he couldn't see into the crowd of onlookers, but when his unseeing gaze swept over him, settled there for a suspended moment, he wished that he could see him.

He would have reassured him that the worries clearly written on his face were unjust. He wasn't about to let any other alpha have him.

As soon as he was done being put on display the flurry in the audience increased.

Hands started tapping out bids, but Yoon Tae-joon waited patiently. Paper was being shuffled around on the sidelines as officials tried to keep up with the overwhelming interest that Ryu Ji-ahn had stirred.

Right when the bidding would have ceased, he entered his amount, which surpassed even the most astronomical figure currently holding the lead.

There weren't many that had his kind of wealth, and if someone did exceed his bid, well then, they didn't know that if Yoon Tae-joon wanted something he would stop at nothing to acquire it.

Yoon Tae-joon looked at the small glowing screen on his armrest. With only five seconds to go and his bid well above the original high bidder, Yoon Tae-joon had no doubts he would come out victorious.

Once the counter ended there was a collective whisper, which probably had more to do with him being who he was and buying another omega than the small fortune he paid for Ryu Ji-ahn.