"Alpha Adrian! An S-ranked Alpha..." Murmurs rippled through the hall.
Adrian waited, but no one moved. No one dared to challenge him. Even sponsors sat stiff and silent, too afraid to speak.
"I will sponsor the project," Adrian said at last. His words left no room for argunt. He turned and walked out, his bodyguards following close behind.
Ash stood frozen, awe and disbelief washing over him, wondering if he was dreaming the mont that had just happened.
...
Ash, Martin, and Naomi walked side by side, their schoolbags slung across their shoulders after evening classes.
"I didn’t know Alpha Adrian would be present," Martin said, still sounding unsettled.
"It caught by surprise too," Naomi replied. "Strange for a famous, powerful Alpha like him to attend such a small project."
Ash remained silent, lost in his thoughts, unable to piece together why Adrian had showed up.
Naomi suddenly grinned, breaking the tension with her usual boldness. "Damn, your brother is f**king hot. Honestly, I wouldn’t even mind being his side chick; even if he already has a fiancee."
Ash stiffened, his gaze darting nervously to the students walking nearby. "Hushhh!" he whispered, embarrassed and uneasy.
Martin smirked. "Co on, Ash. Only Naomi and I know he’s your brother. Why are you so afraid to let the world know?"
Ash’s expression hardened. "He’s not my brother...he’s my mother’s husband’s son," he muttered.
The words hung in the air as his eyes froze on the sleek car parked by the roadside, the driver standing patiently beside it.
"You two go ahead," Ash said quickly.
Martin and Naomi exchanged a look, confused but understanding. They knew he didn’t want to be seen climbing into that car; the kind of luxury he hated, a reminder of a life he wished to escape.
Ash walked backwards, his mind racing for a way to escape the waiting car. He wasn’t watching where he was going when suddenly-thud! He collided with soone. Books scattered across the ground.
Flustered, Ash crouched to collect them. Another pair of hands reached down at the sa ti, their fingers brushing lightly against his.
Startled, Ash looked up. The man before him was tall, muscular, with dark hair that caught the fading evening light. Their eyes t and held for a long second before Ash broke the silence.
"I-I’m sorry," Ash murmured, gathering the last of the books.
The stranger picked up a few as well, then rose to his feet. Ash stood too, awkwardly handing them back. The man smiled warmly.
"It’s okay...Are you Ash Veilyn?"
Ash froze, surprised that he knew his na. His confusion must have shown, because the man quickly added, "I saw your presentation earlier at the hall. I’m one of the sponsors. I really liked it. Unfortunately, I was too late to claim your project."
Understanding dawned on Ash’s face.
The man extended his hand. "My na is Lucien."
Ash hesitated, staring at the offered hand before taking it. "O-oh...nice to et you."
Lucien tilted his head slightly, studying him. "Aren’t you going ho? Classes are over."
Ash rubbed the back of his head, unsure what to say. "Uh...yeah...I was just..."
"Where’s your ho?" Lucien asked, cutting gently into his hesitation.
"The eastern side," Ash replied quietly.
Lucien’s smile widened. "Perfect. I can give you a ride; I’m heading the sa way."
Ash shifted uncomfortably, shaking his head. "No, it’s okay...I can manage..."
But Lucien’s tone carried both warmth and certainty, leaving little room for refusal. "Don’t worry. It’s no trouble at all. Besides," his eyes glimred with amusent, "I insist."
Ash felt his throat tighten. Part of him wanted to refuse outright, yet sothing about Lucien’s calm confidence made it harder to push back.
...
The car rolled smoothly the quiet streets, Lucien at the wheel. Before long, slowed to a stop before the towering gates of the Leiclar mansion. The iron bars lood high, the grand house visible in the distance.
Lucien turned slightly, his expression curious. "I didn’t know you had ties to the Leiclar family...How are you related to them?"
Ash’s stomach tightened. His eyes shifted toward the gate, avoiding Lucien’s gaze. He didn’t want to reveal the truth that his mother had married into the family. The thought of admitting it made his chest heavy.
"I..." Ash hesitated, forcing a small, awkward smile. "My mother works here. As a servant. I...sotis co by to help her after evening classes instead of going straight ho."
The words were a lie, shaky but deliberate. Ash only hoped Lucien wouldn’t press further.
...
{Adrian}
At the office of the ga company, the air was thick with silence. Adrian paced slowly, lingering by the window, his expression unsettled. His mind was restless, unable to focus on the docunts spread across his desk.
The sudden ring of the phone broke the stillness. He snatched it up.
"Sir," ca Bravin’s voice on the other end, laced with hesitation. "He has arrived."
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. His tone was sharp, demanding. "How did he arrive ?"
There was a pause. Bravin’s breath hitched, as if he feared the answer would ignite his Alpha’s temper. Finally, he spoke, voice low and uneasy.
"...He was brought by Alpha Lucien."
Adrian froze, his grip on the receiver tightening. For a mont, the office seed darken around him, the weight of the na striking deep.
...
{Ash}
Ash sat at his desk, books scattered in disarray, his pen resting uselessly against the open pages. His eyes drifted to the desk clock almost 11 p.m.
Slowly, his gaze shifted to the wall that divided his room from Adrian’s. He frowned, curiosity tugging at him.
Does he work until this late at night? I haven’t heard his door unlock...
Just as the thought lingered, Ash’s ears caught the sound of a door downstairs creaking open. Heavy footsteps echoed up the staircase, slow and heavy, drawing nearer.
Curious, Ash crept to his own door and peeked out. His breath caught; Adrian was there. His hair was ssy, his shirt undone at the collar, his movent clumsy as he staggered toward his room.
At his door, Adrian fumbled with the lock, his hand shaking as he tried to fit the key.
Ash hesitated only a second before stepping out. "Here...let ," he murmured, gently taking the key and helping unlock the door.
Adrian swayed, his balance failing. Instinctively, Ash slipped an arm under his, guiding him inside.
They reached the bed, but just as Ash tried to ease him down, Adrian’s weight pulled too suddenly. In the struggle, they both lost balance and collapsed onto the mattress; Adrian beneath, Ash on top, his breath tangled with surprise.
For a heartbeat, the world stilled. Ash found himself staring directly into Adrian’s eyes dark, hazy, and vulnerable under the dim light. Their faces were close that Ash could feel the warmth of his uneven breath.
Without realizing it, Ash inhaled deeply, catching a faint trace of vanilla clinging to Adrian’s skin. His chest tightened. Words slipped out before he could stop them, broken and trembling:
"Va...ni...lla..." His throat felt dry as his gaze searched Adrian’s. "Are you the one who je-rked my le-ng-th last night?"
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