The memory started years ago.
A young Lucian sat quietly in the backseat of the car, staring at his report card with shining eyes. First place, as always. He wiggled the paper excitedly. "Mister, I got straight A's! Aren't I smart? I'm the smartest , and the handsomest boy ever!" he crowed. The driver chuckled without taking his eyes off the road. "Yes, our young master is so strong. I'm sure your father will be thrilled," he said and Lucien grinned "of course he should be , I'm am a genius after all "
Soon they arrived at the mansion. Lucian hopped out of the car and rushed to push open the grand wooden doors, his backpack slung over one shoulder and his report card clenched in his hand. The house was unusually quiet, heavy with an unfamiliar scent , lavender and something floral. His brow furrowed as he stepped inside; the echo of his shoes was swallowed by the thick silence. "dad?" he spoke as he looked around
When he reached the dining room, he froze.
At the long polished table sat his father, face stern as ever. Beside him was a beautiful woman with soft brown curls and a gentle smile. Across from her sat a boy about Lucian's age , blond hair, sharp olive eyes, and a confident, unreadable expression.
The woman stood and smiled. "Oh, you must be Lucian," she said warmly. "I'm Merida, i will be your new mummy , oh my gosh aren't you the pretest." She placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "And this is Hunter. Go on, Hunter . greet your new stepbrother."
Lucian blinked. Stepbrother? New mummy?
He turned to his father, desperate for an explanation. His father's eyes were cold as steel. "Lucian," he said flatly, "this is your new family. Merida and I are getting married soon." He spoke , like it was easy as ordering something from a fast food restaurant
The backpack slipped from Lucian's fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud. The report card he'd been clutching fluttered down; the excitement that had filled him a moment ago vanished. He bit his lower lip as his eyes glistened.
It hadn't even been a year since his mother left. The grief was still raw, like an open wound. And now his father sat beside another woman as if nothing had happened.
Hunter stood, read the room with the same quiet confidence he always had, and walked to Lucian with his hand out. "Hey," he said blankly, offering a small, polite smile. "Nice to meet you."
Lucian stared at the outstretched hand for a long beat , then slapped it away, voice trembling with fury. "I don't need a new family! You should all just leave!"
Merida flinched. Hunter's face flashed with confusion, but Lucian didn't care. He spun toward his father. "How could you? Mom just left! Do you even care? Did you even care about her that you want to move on?"
His father's gaze remained icy and detached. "You'll learn to adapt, Lucian. This conversation is over." He coldly said , not even bothering to comfort him
Betrayal cut through Lucian. Tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He ran upstairs, heart pounding, Hunter's quiet voice fading behind him.
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Lucian sat in the passenger seat, eyes fixed on the blur of trees rushing by. Hunter's hands were steady on the wheel, his jaw was set, his expression unreadable. The air between them felt suffocating , full of words neither dared to say.
Lucian wanted to say thank you for stepping in earlier, for helping him when Ethan lost control. Every time he opened his mouth, the words stuck. The quiet stretched on, heavy and awkward, until even the engine's hum felt too loud. But how could he say when the person he was with was quiet ,
He stole a glance at him , but quickly looked away, at least say something dumbass , he thought , what were you doing there , why did you save me , just anything?
But silence continued to fill the empty space
When the mansion came into view, a chill crept up Lucian's spine. The place hadn't changed still cold, still vast, still not a home, the one that always brought colours to his life, now always drained him whenever he comes back. Hunter parked and got out first, wordless, leaving Lucian to gather himself before following.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze.
The scent in the air hit him like a blow , musky, dominant, painfully familiar. His body tensed before his mind could catch up. No… it can't be.
He looked up and his eyes widened. There, by the doorway to the study, stood his father , arms crossed, eyes sharp, unrelenting. The man's presence filled the hall, suffocating and commanding. He looked at Hunter , so that is why he came to get me? , he thought , Hunter just looked at Lucian and walked off, leaving him with his own father
"Come," his father said coldly. "We need to talk." He stated , already moving, expecting Lucien to follow
Lucian's legs felt heavy as he followed him into the office. The room smelled of leather and old books, the same as always. His father sat behind the massive desk, studying Lucian like a ledger.
"So," the man began, "I hear you'll be competing in the Regeants." His tone was calm, almost clinical.
Lucian blinked, he looked at his father as he wanted to confirm it was him saying. His father had never asked about his racing before, or about anything in his life. "Y-yes," Lucian said cautiously. "I… I'm entering."
A pause. The television on the wall flickered to life, showing coverage of the upcoming Regeants. The camera panned, and Lucian's breath caught at a familiar face , Timothy.
Timothy. His cousin, same age but that boy hated him to the core. The same alpha who used to bully him at family gatherings, sneering about his "omega weakness."
His father's lips curved into a faint, satisfied smirk. "Your cousin's entering, too. Seems the family rivalry will finally mean something."
Lucian's fists clenched, so that is why you were interested in knowing if i was in the regeants, because your older brother's son was competing? , Lucian wanted to scoff, he should have had his hopes up , his father was just as cold and emotionless as ever , only driven by competition
His father's words were sharp, deliberate. "If you want me to recognize you," he said at last, "then crush them. Crush them all. Show me you can be more than the 'omega' you are."
The words stung because they were nothing new. Ever since Lucian's secondary gender was confirmed, his father had treated him like a disappointment , an omega in a house of alphas. He looked at his father for a while , just like a liability, you always treat me like one? ,
Lucian forced his shoulders back, jaw set. "I won't disappoint you, Father," he said, steady and quiet. "I will show you I can be more than an 'omega.'" He said , he would show his father , he has to , he clenched his fist , i will make sure you regret for ever looking down on me father
His father studied him a moment, eyes narrowing as if testing the promise, then turned away.
Lucian looked back at the TV. Timothy's smug grin reflected off the screen. His heart pounded, but this time it was not fear , it was resolve.
If proving myself means crushing them… then so be it. He will join the regeant and crush those who looked down on him by being a scentless omega