The painter finished the piece and uploaded it to his online account. He had been paid for the commission the moment the work was done, so he started cleaning up. Just then, the doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, a man held up an ID. "I'm Detective Kim, Violent Crimes Unit, Team One. I'm looking for Mr. Han Kiyo, who is responsible for posting the Canvas of Darkness series on social media. Are you Mr. Han? We have a warrant to search this place."
With that they came inside, confiscating his paintings and his laptop.
At just twenty-two years old, Kiyo thought to himself, he had suddenly been arrested. A public defender was assigned to his case, but it didn't help.
To him, the painting had been nothing more than a paid commission. He was a struggling artist who survived by making artwork for clients he found online. One day he had received an offer to create a three-part painting series. The client asked him to upload the paintings to his social media, and after each upload, the payment would be transferred to him.
Later, the detective questioned him, asking whether he had any close connections or friends. Kiyo replied that he had lived alone since he was eighteen, and that all his friends had moved on with their lives, so he was no longer in touch with anyone.
The detective responded that this didn't help his situation. He pointed out that Kiyo had painted crime scenes in detail without authorization, and that without any close contacts, he had no way to prove his innocence.
Kiyo argued that the client's social media account and bank account should serve as proof.
The detective responded that those accounts belonged to dead people.
Kiyo was taken to prison, where he realized he had been placed in an alpha facility. The realization terrified him. His lawyer arrived and questioned the jailer, pointing out that Kiyo was an omega and shouldn't be in an alpha prison.
The jailer claimed it had to be a mistake from the Ministry of Justice, but said they had to follow orders until it was corrected. The lawyer suggested a temporary solution. Since Kiyo was in a two-person cell, and the other inmate might not know, they would replace his vitamins with suppressants while the transfer paperwork was prepared. He reassured Kiyo that the process would be handled as quickly as possible.
Unbeknownst to them, another prisoner overheard the entire conversation.
Later, during lunch, the same man who had been secretly watching gave Kiyo pills, telling him not to forget his vitamins. Afterward, Kiyo sat alone, too afraid to take them. Soon he overheard others talking and realized they already knew he was an omega, and that the pills he had been given were actually heat inducers.
As he headed to the laundry area, other alpha prisoners stared at him hungrily. While he was doing his laundry, a group of inmates approached and grabbed him. They said mockingly that a welcome party was in order for a newcomer. One of them forced his head up and asked if it was true that he was an omega. Kiyo denied it, but they didn't believe him.
They found the pill he had been given and forced it into his mouth. They told him it was a heat inducer and that it wouldn't take long to work.
Soon Kiyo went into heat, and the other prisoners began to react to his scent. One of them was about to take advantage of him when a guard's voice interrupted. The prisoners quickly backed off and acted normal. The guard scolded them for gathering and reminded them of the rules, then left after warning them not to cause trouble.
As soon as the guard was gone, the prisoners grabbed Kiyo again. They invited a newly transferred inmate to join them. The newcomer approached Kiyo, commented that he looked tempting, but said he didn't want trouble on his first day. Instead, he took Kiyo away, leaving the others behind.
As they left, the new prisoner quietly told Kiyo to stop trembling, assuring him he had no intention of harming him. He explained that he had only acted that way to avoid suspicion. However, Kiyo could barely process his words because of the effects of the drug.
Back in the cell, the newcomer looked around, but Kiyo suddenly grabbed him and started unbuttoning his shirt. Shocked, the man stopped him and asked what he was doing. Kiyo, in tears, explained that he had been forced to take a heat-inducing drug. Overcome, he collapsed onto him.
The man warned that Kiyo was in a dangerous state. Despite his trying to keep things under control, Kiyo kept acting impulsively. The man worried that they might be seen and pulled him aside, reminding him that he had just helped him, and that Kiyo should calm down instead of causing trouble.
When he let go, Kiyo fell to the ground, desperately asking for help. Eventually the man gave in and helped him.
Afterward, he washed his hands. Seeing that Kiyo still hadn't fully recovered, he gave him something else, explaining that it was an inhibitor he had stolen and had intended to give him earlier. Kiyo was shocked and embarrassed.
That night, as the lights went out, they lay down to sleep.
Kiyo thought to himself how humiliating the situation was. He had never wanted to be involved with an alpha, yet everything was spiraling out of control. He wondered why the man had smelled so pleasant, and whether the inhibitor was real, noting that the man had seemed completely in control the entire time.
The man then spoke, saying that he had been thinking about what happened and that he regretted being so kind, as that wasn't his usual nature. He reminded Kiyo that he had helped him twice already and suggested that Kiyo should return the favor.
Frightened, Kiyo pretended to be asleep. The man tested him, whispering near his ear until Kiyo reacted. Realizing that he was awake, Kiyo retreated to a corner in fear. The man called out his behavior and warned him not to make excuses, claiming he could see through his tricks.
As they continued talking, the man questioned Kiyo about the rumors that he had killed young alphas. Kiyo was shocked that he knew this and insisted that he would never do such a thing. The man responded cynically, saying that everyone claimed innocence and that regret was common among prisoners.
Kiyo reflected that none of the alphas around him seemed ordinary. Something felt off about them.
The man then revealed that he had connections inside the prison and knew more than he should. He told Kiyo to listen carefully and laid out three rules. Trust no one. Make sure his heat never became a problem again. And never repeat what had happened earlier. He warned that in this place there were both dogs who might seem friendly and wolves who could capture and harm him, and that it was impossible to tell the difference.
He introduced himself as Yeri and made it clear that he was neither Kiyo's protector nor someone to be relied upon.
Terrified and confused, Kiyo didn't know whether Yeri was someone trying to help him or someone dangerous. Overwhelmed, he broke down.
Yeri then gave him blunt advice. Someone like Kiyo, with no connections and no protection, should attach himself to a powerful person. He suggested that Kiyo become the lover of the strongest inmate. Make a deal using anything except his body if possible, and have that person mark him. That way no one else would dare touch him, and he could survive in peace.
Kiyo hesitated, questioning what marking really meant, but Yeri dismissed his concerns, telling him not to believe in naive ideas about love. He explained that even a temporary mark, just enough to signal ownership, would be enough to keep others away. He continued, saying that even if the mark left a visible trace, he could get some bandages from the guards so Kiyo could cover it up.
Kiyo hesitated and asked what he was supposed to do. If not use his body, then what did he have to bargain with? He had no money, and even his defense attorney was only a public lawyer.
Yeri thought to himself that he didn't care about such details. Then, raising his voice, he said bluntly that it was none of his concern. He had already helped as much as he was willing to. He told Kiyo to go to sleep, adding that Kiyo had distracted him so much earlier that he had ended up wasting all his energy.
With that, Yeri turned over and fell asleep.
Kiyo watched him for a while, then slowly moved closer, thinking that even if it was only temporary, Yeri was the only person he could rely on right now. Just as he was about to speak, Yeri suddenly opened his eyes and asked what he wanted.