The day had barely begun, but Adrian already felt as if he had been working for hours.
The leaked document had created chaos inside Kael Dynamics. The legal team was questioning everyone who had access to the Vortex files. The security department was checking login records, and the board had requested an emergency meeting.
And Adrian was at the centre of it all.
He sat at his desk, going through the access logs provided by the security team. He had barely touched his lunch.
Ethan stopped beside him.
"You need to take a break."
"I'm fine."
"You've said that four times today."
"Then you should stop asking."
Ethan sighed.
"Listen, I know you didn't leak those documents. But you won't solve anything by staring at the same report for six hours."
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
"I need to find out who accessed my account."
"And you will. But not if you collapse before the investigation is over."
Adrian gave him a tired smile.
"I'll eat something later."
Ethan shook his head and walked away.
Adrian returned to the screen.
He had no intention of stopping.
He couldn't afford to.
Not this time.
By four in the afternoon, Adrian had developed a dull headache.
At first, he ignored it. He blamed the long hours and the bright computer screen.
Then came the unusual warmth spreading through his body.
He loosened his tie and reached for the glass of water on his desk.
Something was wrong.
His omega instincts had been unsettled since morning, but he had assumed it was because of the pressure surrounding the investigation. Now the familiar signs were becoming harder to ignore.
His temperature was rising.
His heartbeat was faster than usual.
And his scent suppressants were no longer working as they should.
Adrian looked at the small medical pouch inside his drawer.
He checked the time.
His next scheduled suppressant dose was not due for another six hours.
He had never experienced this before.
His heat cycle was regular, and his medication had always kept it under control. Even during stressful periods, he had never lost control like this.
He took out his phone and checked his medical application.
His next dose was still listed as scheduled.
Perhaps he only needed to rest.
He stood up, intending to get some fresh air.
But the moment he reached the door, a wave of dizziness forced him to hold the wall.
"Adrian?"
Ethan was standing nearby.
He immediately noticed the change in Adrian's expression.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Just a little tired."
Ethan stepped closer, then stopped.
His expression changed as he recognized the faint shift in Adrian's scent.
"Adrian, is your heat starting?"
Adrian closed his eyes.
"No. It can't be."
"Have you taken your suppressants?"
"Yes. This morning."
"Then you need medical help."
"I just need a few minutes."
"Adrian—"
"Please, Ethan. Not now."
But his body was no longer listening to him.
Inside his office, Lucian was reviewing the security report when his assistant knocked.
"Sir, there's a problem with Mr. Vale."
Lucian looked up immediately.
"What happened?"
"He appears to be unwell. Mr. Hale is with him."
Lucian stood.
"Get the company medical team to the executive floor. Now."
He left his office without waiting for another explanation.
When he reached Adrian's desk, Ethan was supporting him.
Adrian's face had lost its usual colour. His breathing was uneven, and he was trying hard to remain standing.
Lucian stopped a few feet away.
"Adrian."
Adrian looked up.
For a moment, he seemed embarrassed.
"I'm alright, sir."
Lucian's eyes moved toward Ethan.
"What's happening?"
"His heat seems to have started unexpectedly. He says he took his medication, but it isn't controlling the symptoms."
Lucian's expression tightened.
"Has the medical team arrived?"
"On their way."
Adrian tried to straighten himself.
"I don't need everyone making a scene."
Lucian stepped closer, but kept his distance.
"This is not a board meeting, Adrian. You don't have to pretend you're fine."
"I can handle it."
"Not everything has to be handled alone."
Adrian looked away.
He hated this.
He hated that his body had chosen this moment to betray him. He hated that his colleagues might see him as weak. Most of all, he hated that the same people already questioning his professional abilities might now have another reason to doubt him.
"I don't want anyone knowing," he whispered.
Lucian understood.
He turned toward Ethan.
"Clear this section of the floor. Tell everyone that Mr. Vale is unwell and that his work will be handled by me."
Ethan nodded and moved away.
Lucian then looked back at Adrian.
"The medical team is coming. We'll get you somewhere private."
Adrian nodded weakly.
The company medical room was on the executive floor.
By the time they reached it, Adrian was struggling to stay conscious.
The doctor arrived with a nurse and immediately began checking his temperature, pulse, and other symptoms.
"Mr. Vale, when did you last take your suppressant?"
"This morning. My regular dose."
"Have you taken anything else today?"
"No."
"Have you experienced unusual stress recently?"
Adrian gave a tired laugh.
"I'm being investigated for leaking confidential company information. Does that count?"
The doctor exchanged a glance with the nurse.
"It may be a contributing factor. Severe stress, lack of sleep, and physical exhaustion can sometimes trigger an early heat cycle or make its symptoms more difficult to control."
"But my medication—"
"Suppressants reduce the likelihood and severity of a heat cycle. They are not a guarantee. We need to assess why your usual dose isn't controlling the symptoms."
Adrian closed his eyes.
The doctor continued checking him.
"Your symptoms are progressing faster than expected. We should arrange further medical assessment and contact your regular specialist."
"Can you give me something to stop it?"
"We can provide treatment to manage the symptoms, but I don't want to give you additional medication without checking your medical history."
Adrian nodded.
The doctor turned toward Lucian.
"Mr. Kael, we need to keep the room quiet and limit unnecessary visitors. He should not be left alone until his condition is stable."
"Understood."
The doctor returned to Adrian.
"Do you have someone you would like us to contact?"
Adrian hesitated.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"My family doesn't need to know."
The doctor nodded and continued his examination.
Lucian stood near the door, his hands held tightly at his sides.
He had faced hostile board members, financial crises, and business rivals without losing his composure.
But watching Adrian struggle to remain in control was different.
He wanted to do something.
He simply did not know what Adrian would allow him to do.
An hour passed.
The medical team had given Adrian treatment to manage his symptoms and had arranged for a specialist to assess him. However, his heat had not settled.
His body was still reacting to the stress.
The medication that normally kept his cycle under control was not enough this time.
Lucian had arranged for a private medical facility to receive him, but the doctor advised waiting until Adrian was stable enough to be moved.
Adrian was lying on the examination bed, his eyes closed.
When Lucian entered, he immediately tried to sit up.
"You should be resting," Lucian said.
"I shouldn't be here."
"Where else would you be?"
"At my desk."
Lucian stared at him.
"Are you serious?"
"The investigation—"
"Is being handled."
"But the security team needs my cooperation."
"They have your statement. They can wait."
Adrian looked frustrated.
"You don't understand. If I disappear now, people will think I'm avoiding the investigation."
Lucian moved a chair closer to the bed.
"Let them think whatever they want."
"Easy for you to say. They aren't questioning your credibility."
The words came out sharper than Adrian intended.
Lucian did not react.
"You're right," he said after a moment. "They aren't."
Adrian turned his face away.
"I worked too hard to get here. I don't want them thinking I'm incapable of doing my job."
Lucian watched him quietly.
"Your condition has nothing to do with your ability."
"You say that now."
"I'll say it tomorrow, too."
Adrian looked at him.
Lucian's voice remained calm.
"You are an employee of Kael Dynamics, Adrian. Not a machine. You are allowed to become ill. You are allowed to need help."
Adrian swallowed.
"I don't know how to do that."
"Then start by resting."
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Adrian whispered, "I'm sorry."
Lucian frowned.
"For what?"
"For causing trouble."
Something in Lucian's expression changed.
"You haven't caused trouble."
"I have."
"No, Adrian. Someone leaked confidential information using your account. You became ill because you've been under pressure. Neither of those things makes you a problem."
Adrian looked down.
He wanted to believe him.
More than he wanted to admit.
Later that evening, the doctor returned with an update.
"His condition is stable for now, but the heat symptoms are still active. He needs continued medical supervision and rest. We'll also need to review his suppressant schedule with his specialist before making any changes."
Lucian nodded.
"Arrange whatever treatment he needs."
"We will. But he should have someone he trusts with him, provided he is comfortable with that."
Lucian looked toward Adrian.
"Would you prefer Ethan?"
Adrian shook his head.
"Ethan has work."
"Someone from your family?"
"No."
Lucian waited.
Adrian looked at him, then hesitated.
"Could you... stay until the doctor says I can leave?"
The request was quiet.
Almost reluctant.
Lucian did not answer immediately.
He knew the responsibility that came with being an alpha in this situation. Adrian was vulnerable, unwell, and unable to control his own cycle. Lucian would not allow his instincts to make decisions for either of them.
"If that's what you want," he said, "I'll stay."
Adrian gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
Lucian pulled the chair closer but kept enough distance to make Adrian comfortable.
He placed his phone on silent and opened the security report.
Adrian noticed.
"You're going to work?"
"I have a report to finish."
"You don't have to stay."
"I know."
"Then why are you?"
Lucian looked at him.
"Because you asked me to."
Adrian had no answer.
He turned toward the other side of the bed and closed his eyes.
For the first time that day, he stopped worrying about the investigation.
It was past midnight when Adrian woke again.
The room was quiet. The lights had been dimmed, and the medical monitor beside him showed steady readings.
Lucian was still there.
He sat in the chair with his laptop open, reading through a report.
"Lucian?"
The CEO looked up immediately.
"Are you feeling worse?"
"No. Just thirsty."
Lucian stood, poured water into a glass, and handed it to him.
Adrian drank slowly.
"Did you find anything?"
"About the leak?"
Adrian nodded.
"Not yet. The security team has identified an unusual login, but they are still tracing its source."
"So someone really used my account."
"It appears that way."
Adrian looked at the glass in his hands.
"Whoever did this knew exactly when I was working."
Lucian watched him.
"We'll find out."
"And if the board decides I'm responsible?"
"Then I'll show them the evidence."
"What if they don't believe it?"
Lucian closed his laptop.
"Then they'll have to answer to me."
Adrian looked at him for a long moment.
"Why are you doing so much for me?"
Lucian's expression became unreadable.
"Because you're part of my company."
"That sounds like a business answer."
"It is."
Adrian gave a faint smile.
"Of course."
Lucian looked away, but not before Adrian noticed the tension in his jaw.
There were things Lucian did not say.
And there were things Adrian was beginning to understand without hearing them.
At two in the morning, Lucian received a message from the security chief.
He opened it and read the short report.
The leaked document had not been sent from Adrian's personal device.
The access had come through a remote connection using his credentials.
Someone had deliberately created a false trail.
Lucian's eyes narrowed.
He read the final line again.
The remote access originated from an internal executive network.
Someone inside Kael Dynamics had done this.
Someone with access to the company's private systems.
Lucian closed the message and looked toward Adrian.
He was finally asleep.
His face still showed signs of exhaustion, but his breathing was calmer.
Lucian stood beside the window, thinking.
The leak was not a random attack.
It had been planned.
And whoever was behind it had chosen Adrian for a reason.
Perhaps they wanted to destroy his reputation.
Perhaps they wanted to weaken Lucian's authority by attacking the person he had recently brought under his direct supervision.
Either way, they had made one mistake.
They had assumed Lucian would abandon Adrian when the pressure became difficult.
Lucian looked back at the sleeping omega.
He had no intention of doing that.
Not now.
Not when Adrian needed him.
And not when someone had deliberately tried to hurt him.
For the first time in years, Lucian Kael had found a reason to take a threat personally.