Taesan’s POV

I slash the sword in front of her and she doesn’t scream.

She just turns her head to the side, clamping her lips together and breathing through her nose like someone that has accepted death.

Like a fucking betrayer.

Flashback

’She isn’t eating?’ Yuki asks as she peeks into my office.

She’s new, she hasn’t even earned her first salary, yet she’s being concerned about the little girl on my lap.

Maybe she knows that I had spent the past thirty minutes saying, ’Sooin-ah, ahh’

But Sooin isn’t cooperating, she doesn’t want to eat, she wants her mother and I’m fucking frustrated.

’It’s none of your business, get back to your work’ I say coldly but Yuki cocks a brow, young and sassy as she steps in my office.

’Hello princess’ she says to Sooin in a bright voice that gives me a headache, but I hold back my complaint when Sooin responds with a small hello.

My daughter is shy, she doesn’t interact much, unless it’s someone she knows well enough, like Junho or unfortunately...Choyeon, the woman Jaemin sent to look after Sooin in his place.

’You’re so cute! You’re a real princess aren’t you?’ Yuki asks, squatting in front of my pup and I.

’Dad, am I princess?’ Sooin asks as she turns her head to look at me and I give her a nod.

’Dad says I’m princess, are you princess too?’ the little girl asks and Yuki’s smile grows even brighter.

’Hi princess! Now let’s eat your princess food, okay?’ the young woman says and Sooin nods earnestly.

That was the moment I adopted her.

She came to work in a fashion company, but I chose to take her in, protect her and look after her like a pack member.

Like family.

Present

"Get out" I growl as the ropes fall to the ground around her legs.

I didn’t hurt her, I would never do that, I would rather smash my heart against a rock than hurt her.

Maybe this is why grandfather is more powerful than me.

I started this fucking journey with one goal in mind: overthrow my grandfather in the way my parents couldn’t do.

My parents were soft, but I was going to be hard, I was going to be like grandfather...but I can’t be that way.

The moment Sooin came into this fucking world, that ideology changed.

My sword drops to the floor with a loud clang, and the noise echoes through the dimly lit room.

My wrist hurts and my head is starting to ache.

Yuki doesn’t move, she keeps her head turned away.

Her bob covers her features and I can’t see anything, but I can tell she’s crying from the way her shoulders are shaking.

"Didn’t you hear me? I said get out" I say in a voice that is more calm than what I’m feeling right now.

She gave my daughter to my grandfather, it’s too much.

I should push my sword through her chest, pull it out and stab her again.

I should do it again and again till pieces of her inside start to spill out.

"Kill me" she whispers and I laugh.

It’s short and bitter, but I step away from her, ready to leave the room.

I have better things to do, my mate is lying in bed, and my daughter is waiting for her father.

"Kill me! Oppa, don’t walk away from me like this" Yuki yells and falls out of the seat, she’s crying hysterically now.

Oppa...a title she uses when she’s feeling happy.

"Don’t call me Oppa, we are no longer family. Don’t ever let me see you" I warn her calmly and walk out, leaving her on the floor sobbing.

Her cries are so loud that I can even hear them through the door.

"Take her out of here, use the back door, my family shouldn’t see this mess" I say to the guard at the door and he bow his head.

"Yes boss" he says and I leave.

My alpha is howling at the loss of a pack member.

He’s mourning the loss, but I push it down, I have chosen to let her go in the same way I chose to adopt her.

I leave the silent staircase of the basement and follow the noise of my daughter’s happy giggles.

I find her in the kitchen with her favorite maid, the one called Jisu.

Jisu is showing Sooin a cookbook, and I stand by the door with my arms folded, watching their interaction.

Maybe it’s because Jisu is the youngest, but the way she takes care of my pup feels real, like she’s an older sister and not an employee.

"This one looks delicious" Jisu says, pointing at something and Sooin pouts.

"This one is more delicious Unnie" she says, pointing at another picture.

"How do you know?" Jisu asks and Sooin starts to tell a made up story that makes the older girl laugh.

I step into the room and they both look up at me.

Sooin’s pout turns into a big smile, and Jisu’s smile turns into a wary expression.

"Good morning, sir Kang" she greets, getting up to bow to me and I nod at her.

"What are you two doing?" I ask, clearing my throat to sound less...maniacal.

"We are choosing breakfast for daddy!" Sooin says and Jisu nods along with her, she looks terrified, just the way I like it...but not the way I want it right now.

"Hmm, so...what is daddy having this morning?" I ask and Sooin lifts the book, showing a bowl of ramyeon.

"Ramyeon?" I ask and she giggles.

"Dad, ramyeon is delicious, and if daddy eats ramyeon, daddy will be tall!" my daughter explains and I feel a fond smile tugging at my lips.

"Is that so?" I ask and she nods, coming to hug me.

"Jisu, what’s your say on this?" I ask and the girl’s eyes widen.

"Um...well, Ramyeon is good" she says and I pick Sooin up in one swift motion, needing her soothing scent to forget about Yuki, I try to keep my hurting wrist away as I hold her.

’My pup is safe, she’s here, that’s all that matters’ my alpha says and I growl quietly in agreement.

"Let’s cook it before he wakes, is that good?" I ask and Sooin squeals.

"Yes!" she says.

Captain can worry about other things tomorrow, but today, I’ll be with the family I love.