Trapped In A Novel As The Breeding Mate For Four Powerful Alphas

"Will you trust me?"

That question... All of a sudden?

Why was he asking such a question at a time like this?

It made me assume that we had come to a dangerous place, and he didn't want me to misunderstand, so he was asking me to trust him.

Seriously?

I wanted to scoff and just assume I was overthinking again. Maybe say something sarcastic and play it safe but the look in his eyes... The way he pleaded with no words and assured me that he had everything under control, still with no words... It made me purse my lips, and I gulped, feeling my throat tighten from the tension.

His hand on my chin was gentle and warm but gradually, that warmth grew. It started to burn as if there was a fire lit at the tip of his fingertips.

But that wasn't where the fire was. The fire was lit in my heart and what lit that fire was the torch blazing in his wild eyes.

Ah, those eyes.

They might be the death of me.

(Okay, so far we know Jo-Pil is weak to three things in particular. Handsome faces, Jin-Yeok's voice, and now Seo-Jun's eyes. If you noticed any other thing Jo-Pil has been weak to, just let me know. Oh, and let's not forget his insatiable appetite for a delicious meal)

I rolled my eyes away, as if I was shy, well, I was. And then I opened my mouth, parting my lips softly, and decided to just go ahead with the flow.

Whatever it was that he wanted me to trust him with, I would give it a try.

I took a breath and met his striking red eyes again.

"I... I'll try." I said. "Then please," I gulped once more, pursing my lips and licking them inwardly with my tongue. My breath was caught but I wouldn't stop. I would say what I wanted to. "...take care of me."

Ah, that sounded so much like I was telling him this; 'I'm letting you in, so please don't break me.' I'd like to think I didn't exactly hint at that but it couldn't be helped if he interpreted it that way.

Seo-Jun paused for a moment, making me think he had indeed interpreted it that way.

Should I break the ice?

I was hesitant, still wondering what he was thinking so long about when he blinked once, recovering from the words that had caught him off guard, and then he pulled the mask down, leaning in to kiss me regardless of our current position, and my eyes traveled to the front seat in shock.

The driver... What was he doing?

He was watching us in shock and a bit of confusion.

Gosh, Seo-Jun. Don't you know you're doing the right thing at the wrong time?

"Jo-Pil," he called my name sweetly as he pulled away from the kiss right away and smiled at me.

It wasn't the usual smirk that he wore but a soft smile, as if assuring me that I was in good hands.

"Say that again." He suddenly said and I blinked.

"Wh-what?"

"Say that you'll try. And that you want me to take care of you."

He was taking this too personally. I knew I shouldn't have said that last bit.

I hesitated, feeling I had said too much, and giving him what he wants now would only grow his ego, but then he pressed his forehead against mine, our eyes meeting more closely than before.

He could barely hold back how excited he was and that made me feel good for some reason. Fulfilled, because I was the reason he was like that.

So, I decided to just say it.

"I'll try to trust you, master. So please, take care of me."

There. I said it. Now what?

I heard him sigh. It sounded like an exasperated sigh but then it had a mix of excitement, which didn't sound right. His shoulders quaked as well, containing what seemed like laughter.

But then his tone changed. I could feel it in the air around him, and then he raised his head, met my eyes with what looked like a guilty expression, and asked.

"Are you sure you won't regret this?" This caused my eyebrows to furrow in suspicion and I immediately reacted.

"Do you want me to take it back then?" I asked right away, as if I were waiting for such a question all along.

"No!" He immediately responded.

I was already skeptical about giving him my trust. He could make it so easy for me to take it back by planting the seed of doubt inside me.

But he placed his hands on my shoulders, bowed my head as if reluctant to say the words he wanted to say, and then raised his head.

He looked... Happy?

Gosh, why did his expression keep shifting like that?

"Don't take it back." He said. "You don't know what you're doing to me right now, Jo-Pil." The bottom of his lips quivered and his eyes lingered away from mine. "But I'll behave. I'll be good." He shifted his eyes back to me and added. "For you."

My heart skipped a beat at that moment.

He did not just say that bad boy line. Damn.

"I'll definitely take care of you, Jo-Pil." Seo-Jun said as he turned his head away once again and I saw the blush on his ear. Then I heard him mumble, "Even if I don't deserve it." He said it so quietly that I almost didn't catch it and my eyes widened in shock.

What did he just say? Did I mishear?

No, I didn't. He definitely said it.

Those words, which he said in such a quiet tone, rang louder than anything else in my sensitive ears.

First that and then this?

(He means the bad boy line and then this 'even if I don't deserve it,' line)

Was that something 'the' Seo-Jun was capable of saying? And he was saying it to me?

Should I see this as a good sign?

Was Seo-Jun in love with me right now?

How come? When did that happen?

I didn't even do anything yet.

How... How is he making my heart flutter like this with simple assumptions? I was thinking too far and thinking maybe I had already succeeded in catching yet another big fish without even setting any bait.

No offense, masters.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

Ahem.

"What's wrong?" He asked, reaching for my cheek that was burning in excitement and confusion.

Then, he smirked and asked,

"What's this? Are you falling for me already? I know I'm very handsome but isn't this too fast?"

He was so full of himself and yet I couldn't stop blushing.

"At least, allow me to make my moves first, Jo-Pil." He added and I pouted.

"You're just overthinking right now," I said to him. "Who's falling for you?"

He laughed.

"Right. I thought so." He said and

I could feel my heart racing even more and somewhat at the base of my neck, like I would throw up my heart any moment.

I wasn't in shock and didn't feel a gag in my belly either but this feeling... It was strong and wild. It was unsettling.

"Come on, come on, let's get out." He said, getting out of the car first, and stretched his hand towards me to help me out.

I looked at his hand and then looked away.

Things were moving faster than I could comprehend.

"Are you going to leave my hand hanging?" He asked, still having that warm smile on his lips and I took his hand.

He helped me out of the car and I reached towards his face, pulling down the nose mask.

No good would come from him getting recognized anyway.

"Oh, that." He simply exclaimed and turned to the driver to pay for the ride.

I stared at the place he had taken me to and my eyes widened.

This... It was an aquarium.

"How's it?" He asked, reaching for my hand, and interlocked our fingers. He raised out hands and then kissed mine. "You're impressed right?"

Well, as long as he didn't end up buying out the aquarium, this was fine.

I laughed and said,

"Yes, very."

"Then, let's go in. I have the tickets." He pulled me along and I watched his back.

I didn't expect him to take me on a 'normal' date like this. In fact, I didn't know what to expect.

I guess that's why I'm so impressed that the likes of him could think of something like this.

And he was excited too. Just like a child.

'He has such a cute side.' I thought, chuckling to myself and he glanced back but didn't say anything and looked forward again.

It made me look forward to this day even more.

At that moment, I didn't know that deep down, my sadistic master might've actually longed for something more... Natural.

A normal and emotionally fulfilling relationship and I just so happen to be the one that caught his fancy.

It was a relationship that he wanted to try his best for and smile upon seeing the results of his 'best'.

He never asked to turn out like this and that was why he would give it his all. He would try to have a normal relationship with me, one where he wouldn't end up hurting me even though it was subconsciously.

That was what he was striving for.

But this truth... I won't get to know about it until much later.