Ash's POV
{Earlier that day, in the afternoon...}
Martin's voice reached me, teasing as always.
"Lucky you got yourself a big brother...and an S-ranked Alpha too."
I let out a frustrated groan. "Arrgh..."
He didn't stop. "I heard today is his homecoming from France. I guess you're going home earlier than usual."
I shrugged internally, forcing my voice flat. "I don't care."
Then it hit me; I hadn't taken my suppression blocks that morning. I patted my pockets; they were empty. Panic surged. I must have left them on my nightstand. Staying without them was dangerous. Any nearby Alphas could sense me. I had to hide my identity any other way, referring to myself as a Beta anything to avoid being marked. Male omegas were rare, and when found, they were preyed upon, often unwillingly marked by unfated Alphas. The consequences could be deadly-weakness, sickness, even death. Even Martin didn't know the truth about me. Only my mother knew.
"Indeed...I think I should go home early," I said, trying to sound casual, though my mind raced.
I wasn't interested in meeting this famous S-ranked Alpha; Adrian, my mother's husband's son. The thought of facing him made my stomach twist. I didn't care about his fame, his power, or the whispers that followed him wherever he went. All I cared about was staying unnoticed...staying safe. Without my suppression blocks, even a casual glance from him or any other Alpha could be dangerous.
That evening, I decided to borrow a bicycle. I didn't want the driver or bodyguards summoned to drive me. I knew that journalists and reporters would crowd at the estate gate, waiting for Alpha Adrian. I wanted to stay invisible, avoid the unwanted attention. I hated being famous, hated being asked unnecessary questions.
I had moved into that house for my mother's sake, just to make her happy...but I would never accept her husband as my father, and I would never accept his son as my brother.
As I emerged from the building's path, I saw the convoy of cars arriving and, just as I had expected, journalists and reporters crowding at the estate gate. The guards were spacing themselves carefully, clearing the way for the convoy to pass through the crowd.
Curiosity pricked at me, my heart thudding in my chest. I had only ever seen him in news articles and magazines, never in person. I wanted to see him, to study him...even if I would never admit it.
Soon, the convoy disappeared down the driveway, leaving the journalists and reporters behind, shouting and clicking their cameras in vain.
I waited, hoping the crowd would thin, but they didn't seem in any hurry. Almost an hour passed. Coldness bit through my clothes, and mosquitoes nipped at my skin. My Omega scent had already started drifting into the air. Panic prickled through me. I was alone in the dark, and the thought of wandering Alphas catching my scent made my stomach twist. I had to be careful. One wrong move, and I could become prey.
I decided to climb the wall, sneaking into the house on tiptoe. Every creak of the floorboards below made my heart skip. I reached the stairs and moved quietly toward the door at the top. To my surprise, it was unlocked. I hesitated for a moment, hand on the handle, wondering if I should push it open...
The door swung open, and before I could react, our bodies collided, sending us both sprawling to the floor. I ended up on top of him, my heart hammering as I looked down. Beneath me was a man whose body was still dripping water, the scent of Vanilla clinging to him. His wet hair stuck slightly to his forehead, and I couldn't help noticing his broad, muscular chest. Sharp features, intense eyes...I was completely captivated. Every thought in my head seemed to vanish, as if nothing else existed but him.
For a moment, I couldn't move, still frozen on top of him...until a sharp voice cut through my daze.
"Don't think I didn't see you sneaking," my mother called. "Come down and give me an explanation why are you late, Ash?"
My heart sank. Reality crashed back in, dragging me out of the hypnotic daze...and then I felt a sharp, undeniable pressure beneath me. I jumped back instantly, cheeks burning, my pulse racing, frozen by the sudden, overwhelming closeness.
I froze, trying to cover my eyes, my cheeks burning hotter by the second. What had I just walked into? My mind raced as I realized the truth; I wasn't in my room. Somehow, I had mistaken his room for mine, and now the full weight of the mistake pressed down on me. I scrambled backward, still trying to shield my eyes, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure he could hear it. Every instinct screamed at me to get out, but the room felt smaller with him there. I inched toward the door, careful not to make a sound, my mind spinning.
How had I ended up here? How could I have been so careless? My pulse raced I imagined my mother walking in at any second. I had to escape-quietly, before anyone noticed and somehow erase the memory of this moment from my mind.
I went to the next room, which was my bedroom, still in disbelief. I grabbed my suppression blocks from the nightstand and swallowed them, then took a sip from the bottle of water, trying to calm my racing heart.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, trying to steady my breathing. My lips moved almost without me realizing it, murmuring the name I was too afraid to speak aloud: "Ad...ri...an..."
A sharp shrill from my phone cut through my thoughts, snapping me out of my daze. I glanced at the screen; Martin. Are you coming?
I remembered I had promised him I'd join them for a drink that night. A wave of anxiety hit me. I quickly changed out of my uniform, throwing on something suitable for the club; a sleek black shirt that hugged my frame, dark jeans, and polished shoes.
I crept toward the stairs, tiptoeing carefully, trying not to make a sound. But just as I reached the bottom, a deep, commanding voice came from in front of me.
"Where are going this late at night?"
I looked up and froze. There he was. Adrian.