Eren stepped out into the garden, grateful for the cool air against his flushed skin. Inside, the atmosphere had been suffocating—too many sharp gazes, too many unspoken judgments. Bernard's eyes had weighed heavily on him, and Adriel's brother had barely concealed his disdain. Their stares lingered on his uncovered red hair, a mark that set him apart, making him look more like a scandal than a future spouse.
The faint rustle of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. James stood there, fists clenched at his sides, his Alpha scent sharp with agitation.
"What kind of nonsense is this, Eren?" James demanded, his voice low but cutting. "You're actually going to marry my uncle?"
Eren turned, his expression unreadable. The wind shifted, carrying the bite of James's frustration to him, but he forced his shoulders back. "I don't have time to explain it to you," he said curtly, his gaze flicking over James before turning to the hedges beyond.
James let out a bitter laugh. "You think you can just stand here pretending you belong? My uncle—Adriel—he's the president of Ulrick Group. He doesn't marry Omegas like you. Plain, stubborn, red-haired nobodies. Do you even realize how ridiculous this looks?"
Eren's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away this time. "I didn't ask for his proposal. But he made it anyway. If you're angry, take it up with him."
James stepped closer, the dominance in his scent pressing harder now, almost suffocating. "You think this is about me? About my pride? You're dragging his name—our family's name—through the mud. Do you know what people will say when they find out he's marrying an Omega he barely knows, just because you ended up pregnant?"
The words hit their mark, but Eren refused to let James see the sting. He lifted his chin. "Let them talk. I don't owe them anything."
For a moment, James stared at him, searching his face as though trying to make sense of him. His fists trembled at his sides, his scent twisting tighter with frustration. Finally, he spat out, "You're going to regret this, Eren. And when you do, don't expect anyone in this family to stand by you."
Eren's heartbeat thundered in his chest, but he didn't move, didn't flinch. He simply held James's gaze until the Alpha turned sharply on his heel and stalked back toward the house, leaving the garden heavy with the echo of his words.
Alone again, Eren finally exhaled, pressing a hand to his stomach. The judgment of Adriel's family was one thing. James's hatred was another. But the hardest part was knowing the child he carried had already bound him to a future he couldn't turn away from.
"I think you've insulted me enough," Eren said, voice low but steady. His pheromones thrummed with restrained fury, a sharp counterpoint to James's domineering Alpha presence.
James sneered. "Don't get cocky just because Uncle Adriel is protecting you. You're nothing, Eren. An office errand boy who fetches coffee. That's all you'll ever be."
Eren's fists clenched at his sides, nails biting into his palms. For the first time, he saw James for what he was—small, petty, and cruel. The man he once loved was nothing but a hollow shell of charm and arrogance.
A new voice cut through the tension.
"I thought I heard shouting."
Eren turned to see Tyler approaching, tall and polished, his Alpha pheromones crisp and controlled. His hand slid easily into James's, a silent claim that made Eren's stomach twist.
"I almost didn't recognize you with your new hair, Eren," Tyler said smoothly. His gaze flicked between them, lingering just long enough to sting. "Still causing trouble? Still clinging to someone who doesn't want you?"
Eren swallowed hard, heat flooding his chest as James leaned closer to Tyler, like they had never broken apart after that cruise.
This was the cruelest truth of all: he had once loved James. But standing here now, facing both Alphas, he finally understood he had been spared.
"Please," Eren whispered under his breath. Why would he ever chase after someone like James? If Tyler knew just how hollow James truly was, would he still cling to him? Or would he, too, walk away? By the look of things, James barely held his place even in his uncle's shadow.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The voice rolled low and commanding through the garden, and everyone froze. Heads turned toward the source. Tyler's jaw slackened when he saw Adriel striding across the path in a tailored suit, blue-gray eyes sharp, every inch of him radiating Alpha authority. Even dressed for business, he was devastating.
Tyler's hand on James's arm faltered. "Is… is he your new assistant?" he asked, voice tight with disbelief.
Adriel's gaze cut to him like a blade, then down to where James's hand rested possessively at Tyler's waist. His lips curved, though his eyes were ice. "Your new boyfriend, then. Fitting."
Tyler straightened, clearly wanting to explain. "We met at the cruise gala. I'm Tyler—"
He stopped mid-sentence. Adriel had already dismissed him, his focus fixed solely on Eren. Tyler's gut twisted. He'd heard the stories about the arrogant, ruthless business mogul, but seeing him ignore everyone else for a plain Omega in thick glasses was a humiliation he hadn't expected.
"Are you done talking with your father?" Eren asked Adriel quietly, unwilling to meet his piercing stare.
Adriel closed the distance between them without hesitation. "We're done here. I'll take you home." His hand settled firmly at Eren's waist.
Eren flinched at the contact, heat rushing through him like wildfire. His pulse pounded in his ears, and worse—his scent spiked, betraying him. Adriel's Alpha pheromones pressed down on him like a stormfront, impossible to ignore.
He forced himself to breathe evenly. He's only looking after me because of the pregnancy, Eren told himself. That had to be it.
But then why did his body react like this—heart racing, skin prickling, heat blooming low in his stomach—just from Adriel's touch?
"Are you okay?" Adriel asked, catching Eren's flinch. His voice was low, steady, but his blue-gray eyes scanned Eren as if he could see through every layer of his composure.
Eren forced a nod. He had to act normal. Don't let him notice. Don't let them notice.
"Good," Adriel said, not pressing further. "Let's go." His hand stayed firm at Eren's waist as he guided him toward the house.
"Uncle Adriel—are you really going to marry—" James's words cut off when Adriel didn't even glance his way. The older Alpha walked on, utterly dismissive, leading Eren without hesitation.
James and Tyler stood frozen, watching them leave. The air felt heavy with the Alpha's lingering pheromones, sharp with dominance, making both of them restless.
"Who… who is your uncle going to marry?" Tyler asked finally, his voice tight with disbelief.
James's jaw worked before he muttered, "My ex. Eren."
Tyler blinked hard. "Eren? That Eren?" His lip curled. "You've got to be kidding me. Adriel Ulrick is going to marry some plain Omega you tossed aside? What the hell is he thinking?"
James's fists clenched at his sides, nails biting into his palms. Hearing it spoken aloud burned worse than he expected.
Tyler shook his head, still staring after them. "Unbelievable. An Alpha like Adriel, with him? If this gets out, people will talk."
James didn't answer. His throat was tight, his chest buzzing with a mix of anger and something far uglier—an ache he didn't want to name.