Chapter Four — Predators in Velvet
The doors of the mansion opened, heavy wood groaning as Taehyung stepped inside. Jungkook followed reluctantly, his shoes clicking against polished marble.
The entrance hall stretched wide and cold. Black marble veined with gold gleamed under chandeliers, the light fractured into crystal shards. Twin staircases curved upward like arms welcoming intruders into a throne room. But there was no welcome here — only a chill that sank into his bones.
A group stood gathered near the center. They hadn’t been expecting company, but their sharp gazes snapped to the stranger at Taehyung’s side the instant he entered.
The tension was immediate, thick, hostile.
min yoongi
“Who the hell is that?” The voice was low, clipped.
It came from Min Yoongi. Male, twenty-eight, Alpha, the Consigliere — Taehyung’s right hand, strategist, and the brain of the syndicate. His posture was deceptively lazy as he leaned against a pillar, but his gaze was sharp, dissecting Jungkook as if he were a puzzle that didn’t belong.
Kim taehyung
Taehyung didn’t bother to stop. “No one important.”
Jungkook’s chest tightened at the words.
A mocking laugh rang out. Park Jimin. Male, twenty-seven, Omega, the Head of Vice Operations — controlling the syndicate’s clubs, pleasure houses, and underground dealings. His golden hair glowed under the chandelier, his smile edged with poison.
park jimin
“An omega?” Jimin’s tone was velvet over glass. “Since when do we bring home strays?”
He tilted his head, circling Jungkook slowly, his gaze sliding over him like a touch that burned.
park jimin
“Cute stray, though. Might bite if cornered.”
Jungkook swallowed hard, refusing to shrink back.
Jung hoseok
“Or maybe bait,” a deeper voice rumbled. Jung Hoseok. Male, twenty-nine, Alpha, the Chief Enforcer. His shoulders were broad, his presence suffocating. Hoseok’s role was simple: he kept order through fear and violence. His narrowed eyes studied Jungkook like a threat. “How do we know he’s not planted to get close and gut you in your sleep?”
Jungkook’s palms grew damp.
Another voice broke through, calm and deliberate. Kim Namjoon. Male, thirty, Alpha, the Underboss — second only to Taehyung in command. He oversaw daily operations, held the empire together, and ensured loyalty. His suit was sharp, his glasses glinting under the chandelier as he adjusted them.
Kim namjoon
“He’s trembling. He’s untrained. Hardly spy material.” Namjoon’s voice carried reason, but his gaze didn’t soften. “Still… unusual.”
From the staircase above, smooth words floated down before the man himself appeared. Kim Seokjin. Male, thirty-one, Beta, the Advisor and Social Face of the syndicate. Where Taehyung ruled with iron and Yoongi with precision, Seokjin ruled with elegance. He descended in silk, handsome enough to disarm, dangerous enough to never be underestimated.
Kim seokjin
“Unusual or useless?” His smirk was cruel, his eyes sweeping Jungkook from head to toe. “He looks like he’d break if someone shoved him too hard.”
Jungkook’s blood boiled. His fists curled at his sides.
Kim taehyung
Taehyung stopped mid-step, his voice smooth and commanding. “Louder.”
Jeon jungkook
Jungkook’s throat constricted, but he forced his voice steady. “I said, try me. I’m not useless.”
Kim seokjin
Seokjin’s laughter rang out, sharp and cruel. “Oh, he has spirit. How… entertaining.”
From the far corner, another voice joined — soft but cold. Somi. Female, twenty-five, Omega, the Chief Intelligence Officer, master of spies and networks. Her long black coat brushed the marble as she stepped into the light, eyes like ice.
somi
“Spirit won’t keep him alive here. He’ll either die quickly or adapt quickly. Either way, he’ll serve a purpose.”
The weight of their hostility pressed down on Jungkook like a cage. He wasn’t welcome. He wasn’t trusted. He was prey among predators.
Taehyung finally stopped, turning just enough for his sharp gaze to sweep the room. His voice cut through the hall, smooth and detached.
Kim taehyung
“He stays because I allow it.”
Kim taehyung
“From this moment, his life belongs to me,” Taehyung continued, as if he were stating a business deal. “If he proves useful, he remains. If he fails, he dies. That’s all you need to know.”
The words dropped like a blade. No one argued — they knew better. Even the doubtful lowered their eyes.
Jungkook’s chest rose and fell, breath unsteady. Taehyung hadn’t saved him. He hadn’t protected him. He had simply… decided his fate.
Without another glance, Taehyung turned and strode deeper into the mansion. His command floated back, cold as ice.
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