Heat Bound

Evening clouds thickened across the sky, a heavy curtain of gray dulling the silvery glow of the moon. It struggled to illuminate the darkness that swallowed the narrow ravine below. At the bottom, an overturned MPV lay crushed and motionless, its frame twisted from the violent descent. A young man, his silver hair streaked with blood and dust, crawled through the shattered side window. His sapphire blue eyes were wide with panic as he pulled himself free, gasping for air that tasted of smoke and oil.

Once outside, he turned, ignoring his pain as he reached back into the wreckage. "Mom! Come on, just a little more!" he urged, his voice trembling, hand outstretched into the wreckage.

Inside, a woman's frail hand weakly brushed against his. "No, my son... go... before they come..." she whispered, her voice soft yet resolute, her breaths shallow.

Tears blurred his vision. "How can you say that? I can't leave you both!" His gaze darted to the driver's seat where his father lay slumped, unconscious. Desperation clawed at him as his mother shook her head gently, trapped beneath the crushing debris.

"No matter what happens... we'll always love you..." she whispered, offering him a fragile smile before her eyes fluttered shut, the last remnants of life slipping away.

The young man screamed a raw, heart-wrenching cry that echoed through the ravine, reverberating off the cold, unfeeling stone walls. Flames erupted from the car, a fiery bloom that consumed everything. The explosion pushed him backward, leaving nothing but ash, twisted metal, and loss in its wake.

Staggering, dazed, and alone, he turned away from the inferno, each step leading him into the unknown. Grief carved a hollow path in his chest as he stumbled through the dark night, his future now uncertain.

***

One Month Later – Geumjong District, Busan

The rhythmic pounding of fists against leather echoed through the otherwise empty gym, the sharp sound breaking through the oppressive silence. Kang Sunghwa-one of South Korea's top Alpha boxers-moved like a machine. Each punch was precise, his body a perfect blend of muscle and control, honed through years of relentless training. His movements were fluid, but his mind was anything but.

The 27-year-old Alpha gritted his teeth, a sheen of sweat coating his tan skin as he slammed his fists into the sandbag again, and again, and again...

"Haa... damn it..." Sunghwa muttered under his breath, resting his forehead against the bag. His chest rose and fell with the heavy rhythm of his labored breathing, his body pulsing with tension. But the frustration gnawing at him was not just from the training. It was his rut. A ferocious, unrelenting storm of need roared beneath his skin, clawing at his every nerve.

No Alpha could fully control their rut cycle, but this one felt different... more intense and more unbearable.

He'd taken the medication, hoping it would dull the ache, but it barely took the edge off. His instincts screamed at him, his body aflame, craving a release he stubbornly refused to give in to. There was a fight coming in just a few days, a fight he couldn't afford to lose. But his rut had other plans.

"Shit..." He hissed, slamming his fist into the bag one last time before stepping back, muscles rippling with effort. His body was on fire.

Without another word, Sunghwa stormed toward the gym's bathroom, shedding his clothes as he went, desperate for relief from the stifling heat. Under the cold spray of the shower, he clenched his fists, letting the freezing water pour over his overheated body. The icy sting helped, if only for a moment. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes, feeling the water trickle down his muscles as his mind raced.

The rut was worse than ever this time. No matter how strong he was, no matter how much willpower he had, his body screamed for something more... for someone.

After what felt like an eternity, the heat began to subside. Sunghwa quickly dried off, running his fingers through his black hair. His golden eyes seemed sharp in the mirror as he stared at his reflection. He looked like a wild beast, barely restrained by the thin veneer of control.

Frustrated, he packed his gym bag and left the locker room. He glanced at his watch: 9 p.m. He was supposed to train for another hour, but there was no point in continuing. Not like this. He needed to get home and rest before he did something reckless.

Just as he reached the parking lot, his phone buzzed. It was his coach.

"Where the hell are you?" the gruff voice on the other end demanded.

"I had to leave early," Sunghwa replied, irritation creeping into his voice.

"You didn't think to tell me? You've got a big fight coming up and you're bailing on training? What the hell's going on, Sunghwa?"

"I've got it under control," he snapped, more forcefully than intended. "Don't worry about me."

There was a long pause. "This better not be about your rut. You need to focus."

"I said, I've got it," Sunghwa growled, hanging up before his coach could say anything more. He wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

Sunghwa climbed into his sleek, black electric sports car, revving the engine as he pulled out of the parking lot. The city streets were quiet, bathed in the glow of streetlights as he sped through the narrow roads. His mind raced, his body still thrumming with the remnants of his rut.

As he turned onto a darkened street, something moved in the shadows; a figure darted out into the road.

Sunghwa slammed on the brakes, swerving just in time to avoid hitting them. His heart pounded as the car screeched to a halt. He cursed under his breath and jumped out to check on whoever had nearly gotten themselves killed.

Lying on the asphalt was a young man, barely conscious, with silver hair that gleamed faintly under the streetlights. His clothes were torn, his body covered in bruises and wounds, and there was something else; an intoxicating scent, sweet and heady, lingering in the air.

An Omega.

Sunghwa knelt beside the figure, his sharp gaze scanning the young man's frail body. He was a foreigner, that much was clear. His delicate features, pale skin, and small stature were unlike anyone Sunghwa had seen around here.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Sunghwa asked, shaking the man's shoulder gently.

No response. The Omega remained still, his breathing shallow.

"Shit..." Sunghwa muttered under his breath. The scent coming off the young man was almost overwhelming. His instincts flared, and his temporarily subdued rut roared back to life, igniting his body with an uncontrollable desire. But Sunghwa pushed it down. This wasn't the time for that. The Omega needed help.

He lifted the young man into his arms with ease, feeling the warmth of his fragile body against his own. There was no denying it. This Omega wasn't just any stranger. Something about him called to Sunghwa on a primal level, stirring an instinct he hadn't felt before.

And that terrified him...