* * *

“Baby brother, are you okay? That guy didn’t do anything weird, did he?”

“We were so worried when you disappeared! Are you hurt anywhere?”

When I appeared, my third and fourth brothers rushed to check on me, their concern turning into anger directed at Taeshin.

“Lee Taeshin, did you really take good care of our baby brother? He looks thinner!”

“Are you lying about our baby brother being fine? Can’t you see he looks like he’s about to collapse?”

Their concern for me made my heart ache, but their harshness towards Taeshin infuriated me.

“Stop it, guys! I was fine, just like Taeshin said! And how long has it been since you saw me that you think I’ve lost weight?”

“Baby brother, did you just yell at us? Hey, Lee Taeshin! What did you do to our baby brother?”

“Baby brother, no matter what he told you, don’t believe him! All alphas are beasts!”

Their relentless scolding of Taeshin and refusal to listen made my head ache.

“Calm down, and let’s talk… Ah!”

“Let’s go, Moon Sunwoo!”

“Let go!”

As I tried to calm them, Moon Jinwoo grabbed me by the nape and started dragging me towards the house. I struggled, but the difference in strength was overwhelming.

“Let go, hyung! Taeshin…!”

I called out to him as I was dragged away like a puppy.

“Taeshin!”

“Please let Sunwoo go, Jinwoo hyung.”

“You…!”

Taeshin blocked our path, his hand around my shoulder and gripping Moon Jinwoo’s wrist tightly. Moon Jinwoo’s eyes flared with rage.

It was one of those rare moments when Moon Jinwoo snapped. I inhaled sharply. If Moon Jinwoo lost it, punches would fly.

Realizing what was about to happen, I threw myself in front of Taeshin without thinking.

No, Taeshin! It’s dangerous!

“This bastard is crazy…!”

“Don’t do it!”

Smack!

“Don’t hit Taeshin!”

I spread my arms wide, shielding Taeshin and trembling at the thought of the incoming punch. But I couldn’t let him get hit by Moon Jinwoo. Anticipating the blow, I screamed out.

“You guys are really terrible! What exactly did Taeshin do wrong to deserve this anger? Taeshin didn’t do anything wrong, and he certainly didn’t do anything to deserve being cursed and threatened by you! And I’m the one who wants to date and marry Taeshin, so why are you opposing it? To be blunt, it’s me who’s getting married and having kids, not you! Yet you keep tormenting Taeshin… I really hate you guys!”

I was infuriated by their incomprehensible attitude. As I spoke, I glared fiercely at Moon Jinwoo, who was standing there, frozen, with Taeshin gripping his arm.

“Moon Sunwoo, are you crazy? What if you get hit?”

“So what? It’s not like I haven’t been hit by you before! And why is it okay for Taeshin to be hit but not me?”

“How dare you talk back!”

“It’s not talking back; it’s the truth! I can’t take it anymore! If you keep bullying Taeshin, I won’t see you again!”

“Little Brother!”

There was a limit to how scared I could be of my brothers. When pushed into a corner, even a mouse will bite a cat. I was angry enough that I wouldn’t run or be scared anymore. If this continued, I’d rather not have them as my brothers!

“Moon Sunwoo, are you even thinking? Getting married and having a kid at twenty is crazy enough, but saying you don’t remember the imprinting? Think it through and ask any Alpha you meet if it makes sense to not remember a imprinting!”

“Why doesn’t it make sense? I liked Taeshin so much that I forced him to imprint with me!”

My second brother was the one not thinking. Alphas imprinting was natural, but Jinwoo was making it seem like Taeshin did it on purpose. When I challenged him, his expression turned strange. What’s with that face, brother?

“…imprinting?”

“imprinting?”

“Little Brother, imprinting?”

“…What’s wrong?”

Their reactions were really weird. Jinwoo, and my third and fourth brothers, all had stunned faces. What’s with this?

After raising a huge fuss when Dad said he allowed our marriage…

Oh? Did Dad not tell them about this?

“Moon Sunwoo and Lee Taeshin… imprinted?”

“Moon Daewoo, what did Little Brother just say?”

“I don’t know. I think I misheard.”

They really didn’t know! Jinwoo couldn’t speak properly, looking between Taeshin and me. My other two brothers seemed to doubt their ears.

“Lee Taeshin…!”

“I did it! I imprinted with Taeshin because I like him!”

“You idiot, Moon Sunwoo!”

Jinwoo, who had been regaining his composure, glared at Taeshin in fury, so I quickly intervened. Angered, Jinwoo grabbed my face with both hands.

“Cancel it!”

“How can I cancel it?”

“I don’t care, just cancel it!”

“I can’t. I’m going to live with Taeshin forever.”

I thought he might hit me, but he didn’t. Instead, Jinwoo, clearly distressed, insisted stubbornly.

Once imprinted, it continued even after death. There was no way to break a imprint.

With Taeshin imprinted, my brothers couldn’t do anything. Telling me to stop seeing him was like telling me to die.

“I’m sorry, Jinwoo hyung. I’ll take good care of Sunwoo so you won’t have to worry.”

No, Taeshin! Why are you apologizing! Taeshin pulled me back slightly. Jinwoo’s eyes wavered as he saw me being pulled away. It seemed hard for my brothers to accept reality, especially Jinwoo.

“…Is Jinwoo hyung crying?”

“…Shut up!”

Surprisingly, Jinwoo’s face and eyes turned red, and tears seemed to well up. When I asked, he cursed and ran off.

“Oh…”

“Damn it, you have to cancel it!”

From a distance, Jinwoo yelled. I can’t cancel it! Jinwoo, being unreasonable, disappeared. What? Is Jinwoo really crying? Suddenly? Why?

“Wait.”

“Huh?”

My third brother spoke, looking at me intently. As I blinked, confused, he continued.

“I’ll find a way to break the imprint. Just cohabitate for now.”

“Right. Nothing’s impossible. I’ll make sure our Little Brother can break the imprint.”

My fourth brother nodded vigorously and gave me a longing look before turning sharply to Taeshin.

“Cohabitation only! You’re only allowed to stay with him!”

“Right! If you mess up, then…”

“No way! Do you want your nephew to resent you for stopping their parents from getting married?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Gosh. Annoyed by their absurd suggestion, I scowled and asked.

The idea of breaking the imprint was just as ridiculous. Staring them down, I declared firmly.

“Think carefully. You’ll be uncles in a few months. If you want to see your nephew’s face, treat Taeshin well!”

“Little Brother!”

“Little Brother!”

“Let’s go, Taeshin!”

I grabbed Taeshin’s arm and turned away from my brothers. They tried to follow, but when I glared at them, they despaired.

I won’t stand by if they keep mistreating Taeshin. They didn’t realize they were wrong because Taeshin was too gentle. If it happened again, I wouldn’t hold back, even if they were my brothers.

“Sorry, Sunwoo.”

“Huh? For what?”

“I should’ve talked to your brothers better, but I didn’t, and you had to step in.”

“Hey, why is that your fault? I’m the one who should be sorry. It’s so embarrassing because of my brothers…”

Taeshin apologized first, though he had no reason to feel guilty. As I thought about how my brothers treated Taeshin, I felt more sorry.

“Taeshin, you should learn Taekwondo.”

“Taekwondo? Suddenly?”

“Yeah. You should learn some self-defense.”

That way, he wouldn’t get hit by my brothers. Seeing how they treated him, I felt it would be good for him to learn some self-defense.

When I suggested it, planning for him to fight back if necessary, Taeshin tilted his head and smiled brightly.

Oh dear. His gentle and kind smile always made me worry about how this fool would survive in the world without me.

---

Due to an agreement between our parents, Taeshin came to stay at my parents’ house. I suggested that we move into our new home together, but they scolded me for already thinking of living separately. I really liked our new home…

When I was told to come home, my parents told me to ignore any complaints from my brothers. They said to trust that things would sort themselves out, so I decided to go to my parents’ house with Taeshin.

“Got it? If my brothers give you a hard time, you have to tell me, okay?”

“Yes, I’ll definitely tell you, Sunwoo.”

“If I find out later that they bullied you and you didn’t tell me, you’ll be in trouble too. So don’t just smile and let it slide.”

“Okay.”

My biggest worry about moving in was how Taeshin would be treated by my brothers.

No matter what happens, he just quietly endures it, so I couldn’t help but worry.

If my brothers picked on me instead, I could vent or bottle it up, but Taeshin wouldn’t be able to do either.

“I’ll tell you every little thing, so shall we go in now?”

“…Yeah. Promise?”

“Yes. You go in first, Sunwoo.”

Taeshin opened the gate and stepped aside. It felt like ages since I had been home, so I looked around as I walked. Then, I saw someone in the yard. It was my eldest brother.

“Hey, you’re back?”

“Uh… Hi, Jungwoo hyung.”

“I’m glad you’re safe. I was really worried.”

“Yeah, sorry…”

Like my other brothers, Jungwoo had been worried and kept calling Taeshin when I disappeared without a word.

He was the only one who treated Taeshin normally among my brothers, so I felt really guilty. Seeing me hesitate and look at him apologetically, Jungwoo shook his head.

“It’s okay. Jinwoo still has your phone, doesn’t he?”

Oh right! My phone! Moon Jinwoo had confiscated it and hadn’t returned it yet. Damn, I need to get it back too!

As I remembered my confiscated phone and got angry, Jungwoo turned to Taeshin and asked, “You’re staying here, right?”

“Yes. Hello, Jungwoo hyung.”

“Haha, hello…”

Jungwoo gave a dry laugh as he greeted Taeshin. It wasn’t a friendly greeting, but rather a calculated one.

Jungwoo then gestured with his finger. I was startled by this unfamiliar authoritative attitude, but before I knew it, Taeshin was already standing in front of him. And then, it happened in a flash.

Thud!

“Jungwoo hyung!”

“Welcome, Lee Taeshin.”

Jungwoo punched Taeshin in the face.

* * *