Our Forbidden Fate

It was a bright, sunny morning—perfect for the start of their final year at university. The streets came alive once more, bustling with students eager to reach the campus before the rush. Even the animals seemed livelier, enjoying the spring warmth now that winter had passed. It was a busy day for everyone—especially for Lee Hyunjae. Lee Hyunjae was twenty-two and in his final year at Shinhwa Institute of Science—a school recognized for its pursuit of excellence. Known for his kind nature and outspoken advocacy for the environment and animal welfare, he easily stands out—not just for his principles, but for his pale, almost glowing skin that seems to capture everyone’s attention. Despite his popularity, few know the truth behind the calm, polished image. Lee Hyunjae is an angel—the crowned prince of his kind. With that title came expectations he had never asked for and a future that had already been decided before he could choose one for himself. The demands of royalty weighed heavily on his shoulders, even as he walked among humans trying to lead a normal life. It wasn’t the path he wanted. It never had been. What choice do I have anyway? A knock on Hyunjae’s bedroom door pulled him from his thoughts, and he let out a sigh. He shut his window, drew the curtains, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and headed for the door. Another impatient knock followed. “I’m coming, calm down,” he muttered, opening the door before it could be knocked off its hinges. “Good morning, Hyunjae!” Jina beamed, grabbing his shoulders. “It’s our final year—let’s enjoy every second of it!” He gave a soft chuckle, unable to hide his amusement. “It’s just the first day, Jina. There’s a whole year to enjoy.” Jung Jina had been one of his closest friends for years. Her first-day outfit was, as expected, polished and elegant. Coming from a well-known family of designers, fashion was her pride—and obsession. “First impressions matter,” she said with a playful grin. “If you dress well, you attract friends, connections… maybe even a boyfriend.” She laughed softly, hands flying to her cheeks as they flushed with warmth. “What an eyesore this early in the morning.” Hyunjae laughed at the voice that greeted them at the bottom of the stairs. Jina’s twin sister, Yejin, stood with her arms crossed, expression unimpressed. “Eat your breakfast,” she added, tossing a sandwich at her sister. “Or starve tonight. You’ll get uglier if you lose more weight.” “This is exactly why you don’t have a boyfriend. Your attitude stinks.” Jina rolled her eyes but took a bite of the sandwich anyway. Though they were twins, their personalities couldn’t be more different. They bickered constantly—sometimes on purpose, sometimes not—but Hyunjae knew it was never serious. Their parents were both angels, yet Jina had no angelic traits: no wings, no powers. Still, she was intelligent and excelled in research. Yejin, on the other hand, was a skilled protector—sharp, fast, and always on target. She wasn’t as book-smart as Jina, but she never missed her aim. “Oh, Mother wants you to bring her the documents—now. She’s in Ms. Baek’s office,” Yejin said, nodding toward the far end of the house where Ms. Baek’s room was located. She narrowed her eyes when Jina opened her mouth to protest. “Don’t make them wait, or we’re both dead.” Jina groaned in annoyance but turned and stomped off without another word. Hyunjae wandered into the dining room and sat down, grabbing a sandwich from the table. Once Jina was out of earshot, Yejin glanced at him. “Did you not sleep well?” she asked, watching him closely. He cleared his throat awkwardly. She poured him a glass of milk, setting it down in front of him before taking the seat across. “I couldn’t,” he admitted with a sigh, his gaze drifting to the window. “The nightmares came back.” It was true. No matter how hard he tried to forget, the dreams came back—clear and relentless, bringing memories he wished would fade. Five years ago, Hyunjae and his older brother, Dohyun, had sneaked out to celebrate. It was the night Hyunjae had just earned his wings. They were still small and fragile but to him, they meant everything. Freedom. Growth. Pride. Dohyun had taken him beyond the walls of their house. In a quiet forest not far from their home, Dohyun was guiding him gently, encouraging him to take flight on his own. Both laughed when he made it successfully. Hyunjae still remembered that feeling—his feet leaving the ground, the wind brushing against his face, the rush of joy pulsing in his chest. But it didn’t last long. Hyunjae heard a rumble from the trees, followed by a scream from his brother. Laughter echoed through the air, and when he turned back, he was suddenly pushed to the ground. Everything around him went blurry. Seventeen-year-old Hyunjae slowly opened his eyes, his head throbbing with pain, as warm blood trickled down his forehead. He struggled to sit up, dazed, confused, fear crawling into his chest. He called out for Dohyun. But the area was swarming with vampires. Too many of them. Then someone landed in front of him. A young man with glowing red eyes. Bright. Piercing. Cruel. He smiled, wicked and slow. “Leave him, Chulsoo. He’s not worthy anyway.” Someone called from the shadows behind him. But the vampire—Chulsoo—didn’t listen. “Look at him,” he said with a low laugh, licking his lips. “Bleeding, like a meal offering itself.” His fangs gleamed, reacting to the scent of blood in the air. Hyunjae was terrified. His whole body trembled. He wasn’t trained like Dohyun. His wings were new, his power undeveloped. Without his brother or the guardians, he was defenseless. “We don’t have time! They sensed us now so let’s leave with the prince now!” came another shout behind the vampire, sharp and urgent. “What a bummer.” Chulsoo muttered as his bright red eyes illuminated, smiling at him wickedly. The vampire knelt down, wiped a smear of blood from Hyunjae’s forehead with his finger, and made sure Hyunjae was watching as he licked it. Hyunjae couldn’t breathe. The vampire’s eyes darkened—deep crimson—and his pupils narrowed, like a predator about to strike. “Your blood is quite delicious, kid.” Chulsoo let out a maniacal laugh as he gripped Hyunjae's neck, his fingers tightening around it. The vampire lost his grip as Dohyun yanked him away from Hyunjae, pulling him with all his strength. Dohyun was still alive - still fighting. Dohyun quickly pulled his brother to him, desperately trying to fly them both to safety. But a dozen vampires descended upon them, blocking their escape. Before they could react, Hyunjae was flung once again, hurtling through the air. He slammed into the ground, his back arching in agony as something sharp tore into his fragile wings. Hyunjae’s breath hitched as tears streamed down his face, his voice breaking as he called for his brother. Dohyun staggered to his side, barely standing, blood pooling around him. His wings were tattered, his body a canvas of deep, painful cuts. “Hyunjae, listen to me,” Dohyun said, his voice strained but steady. He gently cupped his younger brother’s face, forcing him to meet his gaze. Hyunjae’s heart shattered at the sight of his brother’s condition, the sight of his strength fading. The tears came harder. “You’ll be okay,” Dohyun continued, his smile faint and tired. It was meant to comfort him, but it only deepened the ache in Hyunjae’s chest. “What they want is me. I’m sorry.” Dohyun reached for the pendant around his neck, his fingers trembling as he placed it around Hyunjae’s. “I’ve already sent a signal to our mother. She’ll come. But you… you need to wait here. You need to survive, Hyunjae.” His voice cracked, but he forced the words out. “Whatever happens, don’t let them take you too.” Another roar echoed through the air, the vampires closing in, but Dohyun, skilled and resolute, flung his powerful wings with a forceful sweep, sending the attackers flying backward in a gust of wind. “You have to promise me, Hyunjae,” Dohyun’s voice faltered, his breath coming in sharp, painful gasps. “You’ll be a responsible prince—unlike me. You need to be greater than I ever was. You need to be everything I wasn’t.” A tear slipped down Dohyun’s cheek, glinting like a shard of glass in the dim light. Hyunjae couldn’t find the words. His throat ached, his heart shattered, as the weight of his brother’s words sank deep. Dohyun was saying goodbye. His eyes lingered on Hyunjae for a moment longer, as if trying to imprint his image in his mind. “I’m proud to be your brother, Hyunjae,” he whispered, his voice raw with unshed tears. That was the last thing Hyunjae heard from his brother before he was violently ripped away, pulled from his side by someone stronger. Hyunjae's vision blurred, his eyelids heavy as he fought to stay conscious. His body ached, every fiber of him screaming to give in. But in his heart, he knew Dohyun wasn’t backing down. His brother was still fighting, buying them time—buying Hyunjae time—even if it was only for a few more moments. Then, suddenly, there was silence. Hyunjae’s struggle to remain awake grew harder, but through the haze, he saw a pair of shoes appear in front of him. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, meeting the cold, focused eyes of a vampire—young, like him. No wicked smile, no taunting grin, just an intense, unreadable stare. “We need to go, Dongwoon-hyung,” a soft voice whispered from nearby, but Hyunjae couldn't focus on it, his attention locked onto the vampire’s face. For a moment, fear seized him. This was it. He was going to die. This vampire would drain him dry. The vampire—Dongwoon—gently let him sit up. With no strength left to resist, Hyunjae allowed himself to slump against him, his body too weak to fight back anymore. He had already accepted his fate. He was going to be eaten by this monster. Despite him losing consciousness, Hyunjae’s body involuntarily shuddered as a cold hand brushed against his fragile, white wings. His wings trembling in response as if they could feel the impending danger. His breath caught in his throat, heart pounding wildly, as his blurry gaze slowly lifted to meet the vampire’s face. Dongwoon was closer now, far too close—his cold, unblinking eyes locked onto Hyunjae’s with a chilling intensity. Hyunjae’s pulse quickened, dread filling every inch of him. Then, without warning, Dongwoon’s gaze shifted downward, focusing on Hyunjae’s exposed neck. In that moment, Hyunjae’s breath hitched, his body freezing in terror. He felt a sudden sharp pain—a searing sting—as Dongwoon sank his fangs deep into his neck. Hyunjae gasped, the world spinning as the pain spread, blurring his vision. Dongwoon’s grip on his face was firm, the chill of his touch clashing with the heat burning beneath Hyunjae’s skin. His wings, as if they had a life of their own, quivered uncontrollably, desperate to escape. Hyunjae truly believed it was the end. His suffering was about to stop, and he would finally be free of the torment. Everything was too much for him to bear. When the vampire finally pulled away, Dongwoon’s eyes glowed with a deeper shade of red, and he let out a satisfied sigh. Blood dripped from Dongwoon’s mouth, painting against his pale skin. Hyunjae’s vision blurred, his eyelids heavy, but he could still see the vampire’s face—too close, too calm. Just as the darkness began to close in, Hyunjae reached out, his trembling fingers wrapping weakly around Dongwoon’s hand. “Dongwoon…” he breathed, barely more than a whisper. For a moment, the vampire stilled—something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “I’ll never forget you,” Hyunjae said, the words escaping like a vow. And then, everything faded to black. A soft touch on his face pulled Hyunjae back to reality. Blinking, his eyes met the worried gaze of his mother, Baek Eunha. “Mom,” he whispered weakly, a soft sigh of relief escaping his lips. “I’m okay.” He managed a faint smile, trying to reassure her. Eunha's brow furrowed as she observed him closely. “You were glowing differently just now,” she said, her tone laced with worry. She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. “You should rest today. It’s only the first day, after all.” Hyunjae gave a quiet chuckle. “I can’t neglect my responsibilities just because I don’t feel like it. Besides, I’m excited to see the campus again.” Baek Eunha, the owner and director of Baek Air Korea and the Head Researcher of the Council, was a woman of immense responsibility. Yet, despite her demanding schedule, she always made time to see her son at least twice a week. “Have you all had breakfast?” the twins' mother, secretary of the Council, asked warmly as she stepped into the room. “Yes, I made some for everyone,” Yeji replied, her voice calm and composed. “Mom, Ms. Baek—it’s almost time! Yeji, Hyunjae, let’s go!” Jina chirped, appearing at Hyunjae’s side with bright energy that made both mothers smile. “You really are excited today,” Eunha remarked with a soft laugh. “Drive safely, son.” “I will. Safe flight, Mom.” Hyunjae embraced her tightly before stepping out the door. Jina, ever affectionate, blew kisses back to her mother until the door clicked shut. The room fell silent. Both women turned to Yeji, who stood motionless, her expression distant. “So, what did you see?” her mother inquired gently. Yeji's gaze remained fixed on a distant point, her mind clearly racing. “Go ahead,” Eunha encouraged, settling onto the nearest couch. “The prince is already in the parking lot. He won’t hear you now.” Yeji finally spoke, her voice steady but filled with gravity. “I saw it… when he said the nightmares were back.” She paused, then met Eunha’s gaze, her eyes unwavering. “The purebloods are here.”