tavern

@lee dongmin The past comes and haunts me, but I must look at the future and trust my gut feeling...

Further realization brings Naeun out of her reverie when all of a sudden that scent hits her and the hairs on her neck are rooted high up, erected and attentive nonetheless because how is it that the scent of sandalwood and bergamot leaves her memories so quickly? Alas, that's when the mind plays tricks on you, memories aren't long forgotten as they say, maybe with some people but not for Naeun, not an alpha... maybe not with the wolves in general. They mate for life usually, unless one dies or somehow they fall out of love... causing repercussions unexplainable. She doesn't dare think back to the numerous occasions when she would beg Dongmin to give her that mating bite, ridding the loneliness and anguish she felt in her empty life time and time again.

Who knows maybe Dalsun was guiding her all along with the eerie glow raining down and tainting her beautiful white-colored fur with an icy steel gaze and firm heart. Where she's soft and warm, she also is tough and cold, an encounter so life-changing that she thinks that Dalsun surely looked on over and wished for her to find another way to become who she is today. An alpha that she's proud of, a confident, charming, and poised woman, commanding those around her effortlessly. The moon guided her knowing all too well that, *some things you may want aren't the things right for you* — proven in the fact that her relationship with Dongmin was in shambles over time.

They weren't fated, he was nothing more than a growing pain, a lesson learned in cold, harsh words. Stunned into silence as the said male walked on over to their little cozy gathering, Naeun's frame immediately reacted, maybe due to instinct or perhaps old habits die hard. Her body answers when he's close and she feels rather ashamed to be leaning into him. For that tell-tale comfort and the yearning she always had when he was near. Wanting his attention, arms around her lithe frame, swaying them to the beat of nothing but their own breaths. Innocent, pure, and extremely potent were her love and feelings for the other.

Proud wouldn't be the word she'd use to describe her body's reactions to the other alpha, instead, she was humiliated when Hyunsik had to keep his arm tightly around the woman and keep her seated. Not inching further or wishing to run off as she so desired. "My, my Hyunsik, have you been spouting things about little Ole me? To a handsome alpha nonetheless? Aren't you wary that I might find company in his stead?" Her words are low and breathy, almost icy, a delicate *joke* but the threat underlies either way as she shifts slightly and tries to rid the man's heavy arm around her slender shoulders.

If she wanted to — the CEO would be on his on the floor, she doesn't take lightly having him being possessive of someone such as the likes of Naeun's Job description. She belongs to herself, no one but herself. And her steely gaze is sure to show that as it flashes a little crimson around a light Grey hue in her irises.

"I need to use the restroom. Would you kindly excuse me? Seems your friend would like to have some time with you as well, don't you dare say anything horrible about me now," Leaning closer with a tug on the man's askew tie, her words are low and purred with a tremor sounding, "surely, I wouldn't expect from you to prevent another job opportunity for me hm?"

There it was, her job description out in the open for the flame haunting her from her past, eyes finding Dongmin's and a hint of a charming smile splaying across rosy couplets. "In case you need a date for any event. Don't be shy in asking my wonderful friend right here for my contact, handsome." With the ending words, Naeun's palm even shifts up to flirtatiously rub across Dongmin's chest, bitter flashes of their past intimacy flop through her mind in rapid succession and she tries to mask her features, wishing that Dongmin would dare not see that she still holds onto some bits and pieces of their past.

After all, their relationship wasn't all bad — and today, Naeun is most thankful to the other for giving her the heartbreak of her life to bring her into the ruthless woman she is today. With one last look at her client for the evening and a brief flicker of a knowing gaze given in her ex's direction, the young woman walks over to the bathrooms, head held high and hips swaying in hopes of tantalizing the stupid CEO she accompanied, after all, even if he ticked her off and she took petty revenge, the woman dare not wish for him to get genuinely angry to retract her hefty sum for the night to come.

Once she's in the bathroom, her eyes are haggard, lips parted as stuttered breaths come out, and eyes haunted by the past— a past Son Naeun that she despises so very much, weak, fragile, and desperate for attention, seeking it in places where she was never wanted in the first place. Where she's expected to be ruined, bitter, angry, melancholy, crying a river, a soft chuckle emits, eyes wild and a new wave of confidence slithers over her entirety. Washing her hand, her fingers thread through her strands as she thanks the moon for bringing the alpha back into her life. After all, she wants to give him her gratitude.

@son naeun ✹ "some memories never leave your bones. like salt in sea; they become a part of you and you carry them."
— april green.

primrod spine, squared broad shoulders and both elbows perched atop the lacquered bar counter. his forearms pressed against the cool surface, a glencairn glass holding a perfectly spherical ice ball sandwiched between his of calloused palms.

except the deliberate fall of few strands on his forehead, the ravern hair was swept back finessed by his frequently commissioned hairstylist.

dongmin's ensemble was organised, rather thoughtlessly. for he was nothing more than a reluctant participant to a blind date, devised by his beloved mother.

yes, undeniably, his mother was a loving and kind woman but her virtue failed at practicing patience. often complaining that her hair had turned grey awaiting for her son's romantic life to blossom.

however,

such lamenting seemed fruitless, dongmin would laugh in amusement and divert his attention back to work.

naturally, mrs.lee took the matters to her own hands. funnily enough, when he finally agreed to the date, he got stood up with a curt text message from an unknown number, that stated:

'—sorry. something happened and I cannot come.'

a sigh of relief, involuntarily escaped from his fleshly lips, developing into a broad grin as he stepped out from the quaint café and darted across the road towards the bar, that was owned by an acquaintance.

presently,
dongmin was exchanging an interesting conversation with the bartender, more aptly taking the role of an enthused listener as the latter, explained in detail about the whiskey making process.

the place wasn't crowded, but gradually picking pace. hence, when the bartender asked to be excused, he did so with a quick nod of encouragement and a gentle reminder to refill his glass, again.

jazz music and flitting chatters reverberated within the velvety walls of the rustic tavern. though unaccompanied, unlike most of the patron within the establishment, dongmin felt comfortable on his own, reaching for the phone in his pocket to read the emails and regular hotel updates posted in the group chat.

until, an unforgettable scent wafted in and aded his olfactory.

the male was stuck on a carousel of nostalgia, time rewinding to his adolescent years. an immature young boy, navigating life, struggling to balance work, academics and love. then failing miserably, at least, as a decent lover. perhaps, that was the responsibility he bore for being granted a highly privileged life.

albeit grateful, he couldn't abandon the immense guilt that he still carried, even after all these years.
broken promises, broken heart, tearful but loving eyes and premature goodbyes...everything was his own fault.

looking over his shoulder, a pair of frantic dark orbs searched for the owned of the scent, the leaden feeling collected beneath his chest immediately dropping into the depths of his belly as the sight in front of him.

his old flame was radiant as ever. but the man who filthy arm was briefly latched over her shoulders, that catalysed his favourable visage to contort, disdainfully.

kim hyunsik, was a well-known business monger. although, he gained popularity for all the wrong reasons. human trafficking and ties with the mafia, amongst other things. granted they were just allegations, but from personal encounters, dongmin knew the man was bad news.

a large swig of his drink before the alpha stood up on his feet, fixing the hitched up jacket before approaching the pair with his usual business smile.

"mr.kim, fancy meeting you here." dongmin began smoothly, certainly aided by the alcohol, extending his an arm for a handshake.

"and if I am not mistaken, she is the charming lady you mentioned in our previous meeting?" he enquiry, acknowledging naeun's presence with a courteous bow.

his hand was received enthusiastically, almost too much of it, actually, making him wince internally.

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@lee dongmin Her look & vibe: https://i.imgur.com/IWcop4v.jpeg

They say if you carry the bricks from your past relationship, you will end up building the same house. Truthfully? Son Naeun has been growing, healing, burning, and learning, all from the relationships she may have encountered in the past. What did she learn? Numerous things, she also met the best version of herself while healing from the past relationship that burnt her so bad, that she thought she might never recover. Fickle was her heart, as embarrassing as it is to think about now. Looking at the handsome man next to her, a prestigious Beta, his scent, was not as prominent as it would be with an Alpha or Omega, either way, his cologne had a soothing, divine scent to it that tickled her nostrils. The man hired her yet again, this would be the third time doing business with Mister Kim Hyunsik, he's pleasant thus far, for the two jobs prior, he never once pressed Naeun to do anything that she wasn't comfortable with. People may look at her, a young girl dangling off of rich men's arms, and instantly call her a 'gold digger' a popular term for Naeun and her co-workers night after night. However, Naeun rarely 'sleeps' with her clients, if she's in a particular mood, then the need to satisfy those instincts and urges is quenched with some extra cash coming into her pocket at the end of the night.

More times than not the woman declines the offer, not feeling as desperate to take advantage of a kind, not-so-kind offer - after all, it's not simply her wanting to use someone for her very own pleasure now is it? It works both ways, she rarely feels a sense of guilt. Usually, Naeun prides her Alpha's instincts on working overtime to protect her from choosing and accepting the wrong clients, however, it may seem that something about Mister Kim seems off, even her boss told her to be careful, yet the Alpha doesn't get that gut-wrenching feeling when being this close to the man. Sometimes he may come too close when he takes a drink, the alcohol making his inhibitions glide right out the door in an annoying, clingy fashion. Something Naeun despises with an avid heart. She's okay with her being clingy when she wants something, but to have someone be that way with her? A turn-off.

If one was to describe the Alpha, one may say she's similar to that a feline, 'wanting affection when it pleases and suits her, if someone does it when she doesn't want it, she's going to throw a fit.'

The tavern has always been a hot spot for casual hangouts, normally Naeun is so used to attending prestigious events, glamorous functions with fancy frills on her dresses, and an immaculate man standing by her side dressed in the finest suits. Tonight, however, she's in a simple tavern, the ambiance is decent nonetheless, but it's a far cry from what she's used to. Not her first gig in this particular tavern since coming to the city, but the majority of the time she tends to come by for a drink or two on her own and maybe leave with a stranger for a mindless night of fun. With curious, obsidian-filled orbs, the woman glances around the room a bit warily, already bored out of her mind. She always loved being in the spotlight, being the center of attention, listening to loud music, and chasing that vibe of letting loose. If he wanted a casual night, would it have hurt to visit the nightclub?

A defeated sigh leaves her lips and she catches the man's attention all too quickly. Clearly, Hyunsik was paying close attention to the she-wolf, and her pink petals pulled into a sheepish smile, "don't mind me, love, you discuss your work with your co-workers and clients, I'm just----" her breath cuts short and the air gushes out of her nostrils, parted lips as her eyes hood over, a wave of nostalgia and foreboding memories slap her in the face back to back. A whiplash of impending, dark emotions washed over her, suffocating and keeping her in a steady chokehold. For a moment, Naeun is that little girl once again, back when they were dating, the needy, clingy, annoying, attention-starved girl, always desperate for his attention. Vying and begging for half of her efforts to be returned, even a quarter if possible, alas, they broke up, and he disappeared from her life, leaving her to pick up the pieces and build herself back all over again. A flurry of mixed feelings bombarded her all at once but eventually, that simmered down and the deep sense of gratitude lingers in her veins; a forlong smile toying on her pink petals was enough to show just how much he helped her in more ways than one.

Breaking the Alpha and having her rebuild herself piece by gratifying piece, slowly but surely, was the greatest thing he could've done for her. "Naeun-ssi? Are you okay?" A warm arm slinks its way around her shoulders and she doesn't know if it's the sight of her ex, her first true love, or the fact that the man did that without getting her to consent to it, grimaces showcase on her features bold and clear. Her brown eyes flare a deep crimson briefly as she turns to him and grunts out, "Please remove your arm," he didn't need to be told twice, eyes wide and his brows furrow, lips twisted in a sneer, clearly not pleased by being spoken to like that by someone whom he's paying his money to, to act like his lover for the evening. Usually, Naeun wouldn't dare speak to a client as such- she allows so many reckless behaviors when doing the job, she must stoop to conquer after all, sadly, she has a reputation to upkeep if she wants to keep being a premium gold membership employee for their services. A woman on top, so she simply slouches down in her seat and plasters on one of her best fake smiles at the glowering male, "Sorry darling, I thought I saw someone from my past, got me all shades of moody for a moment, I didn't dare mean to snap," her eyes are solemn, gaze looking down with the show of being very disheartened as she couldn't care less. A pout rimmed and eyes sneaking glances off to the side to spot the mysterious male from her past she swore she saw a moment ago.

Lee Dongmin...

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