Chapter 19 – The Clash of Alphas
The morning after the stormy night came far too quickly.
Ethan barely slept. His body was exhausted, but his mind refused to quiet down. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Adrian's face—dark with rage, softened with tenderness, close enough to kiss but stopped by the shrill ring of a phone.
He rolled over in bed, burying his face into the pillow. The faint scent of Adrian still clung to the sheets, that sharp, commanding Alpha fragrance mixed with something warmer, something dangerously addictive.
Why am I thinking about him like this?
Ethan cursed under his breath, pushing himself upright. He couldn't afford to lose himself. Not when Leon was circling, not when Adrian's world was already a minefield.
And not when the notebook still sat unopened on his desk, whispering promises of answers and ruin alike.
---
Downstairs, Adrian was already dressed for war.
Not literally, but close enough—his suit was immaculate, his tie a perfect knot, his expression carved from steel. Ethan saw him as he descended the stairs, and the sheer presence of the man made his steps falter.
Adrian looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Ethan instantly. That unshakable focus never failed to make Ethan's heart stutter.
"Eat something," Adrian said, gesturing toward the table laid out with breakfast. His tone was brisk, commanding, but beneath it was something else—concern, though carefully hidden.
Ethan hesitated. "You're leaving?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I have a meeting."
That much was true—but the storm in his eyes said it wasn't just business.
Ethan moved closer, his voice quiet. "With Leon?"
For a flicker of a moment, Adrian's mask slipped. "Yes."
Ethan's stomach dropped. His fingers curled at his sides. "Adrian, don't—"
"Don't what?" Adrian cut in sharply. "Don't confront the man who dared trespass into my home? Who dared breathe the same air as you, uninvited?"
Ethan flinched at the possessive intensity in his words.
Adrian stepped closer, his gaze searing. "This isn't just about you, Ethan. Leon has been circling my business for years. He wants everything I've built, and now—" His voice dropped to a growl. "Now he wants you."
Ethan's chest tightened. He hated Leon, yes. But the thought of Adrian clashing with him—two ruthless Alphas locking horns—was terrifying.
"You don't understand," Ethan whispered. "Leon isn't just dangerous… he's cruel. He won't fight fair. He'll use whatever he can against you. Against me."
Adrian's eyes darkened further. He reached out, gripping Ethan's chin firmly but not painfully, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Then let him try."
For a moment, Ethan couldn't breathe. The Alpha before him was terrifying, yes—but also unshakable, immovable, a force of nature.
And somewhere deep down, that frightened him even more than Leon.
---
The meeting was set in a private lounge at one of the city's most exclusive hotels.
Adrian entered first, his presence dominating the room even before he spoke. His assistant, Marcus, trailed silently behind, a shadow of quiet efficiency.
Leon was already there, lounging in a leather chair like a king in his throne. He wore his usual smirk, a glass of wine in hand though it was barely noon.
"Adrian," Leon drawled, rising to his feet with mock courtesy. "What a pleasure."
Adrian's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Cut the act. You and I both know why we're here."
Leon's eyes gleamed, sharp and mocking. "Of course. To discuss… territorial disputes?"
Adrian's fists itched to strike, but he forced his body into stillness. Control was power, and Adrian would not hand Leon the satisfaction of seeing him lose it so easily.
"You crossed a line," Adrian said flatly. "You stepped into my home."
Leon chuckled, swirling his glass. "Your home? Interesting choice of words. I thought it belonged to the Omega you chained to your side. Or is he just another piece of property to you?"
Adrian's jaw clenched, fury flashing in his eyes.
Leon leaned closer, his voice low, taunting. "You can't cage him forever, Adrian. Sooner or later, he'll see the truth. That you're nothing but another ruthless Alpha who takes what he wants."
Adrian's reply was ice-cold. "The difference between us, Leon, is that I protect what's mine. You destroy it."
The tension in the room was suffocating. Marcus shifted uncomfortably at the back, but neither Alpha looked away from the other.
Leon smirked. "We'll see how long your Omega believes that."
Adrian didn't move, but the words hit him harder than a blow.
---
Back at the mansion, Ethan couldn't shake the unease coiling in his stomach. He paced his room, back and forth, glancing at the unopened notebook every few minutes.
Something about it called to him. A part of him whispered that the answers inside might be the very weapon Leon planned to use.
With trembling fingers, Ethan finally opened it.
The pages were filled with Adrian's handwriting—precise, controlled, almost mechanical. Business notes, strategy plans… and then, scattered between them, something Ethan hadn't expected.
Lists.
Names.
Transactions.
And at the very bottom of one page, circled in ink so dark it nearly tore the paper—
The Omega Project.
Ethan's blood ran cold.
What was this?
He scanned the notes beneath, but they were fragmented, pieces of something larger. A government initiative? A research program? And Adrian's company… involved?
His hands shook as he flipped through more pages, heart racing faster with every word.
Adrian wasn't just ruthless. He was hiding something. Something big enough to destroy everything.
A sound at the door made him jump. He slammed the notebook shut, shoving it under the pillow just as the knob turned.
Adrian stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
But Ethan knew one thing for certain.
The storm between them hadn't even truly begun.