Ash woke up to the dull ache hammering in his skull. His head throbbed with every heartbeat, and pajama clinging to his skin made him frown. How...how did I get here? He sat up slowly, blinking at the familiar walls of his own room. The last thing he remembered was cold water splashing over his body, the bathtub, hands steadying him, and heat pleasure wrung out of him until his breath had broken.
And then, that scent. Sweet, lingering, maddening vanilla. It clung to him even now, refusing to fade.
His eyes shifted to the nightstand. Two small pills rested neatly beside a glass of water, placed with careful intention. A folded note lay beneath them. He snatched it up, squinting at the handwriting; clean yet hurried, as if written by someone both deliberate and afraid of lingering.
"Swallow it to reduce hangover"
The words pulsed in his vision. The vanilla still hung faintly in the air, stirring unease.
Ash tightened his grip on the note, his chest heavy.
"Who is it...?"
Before the silence could answer, a voice called from beyond the door.
"Aren't you awake yet? Not going to school?" It was his mother.
Ash snapped his head toward the clock by his bed. Almost 7 a.m. His stomach dropped. He was late; terribly late for the group discussion he was meant to lead, the one that would decide their new sponsor's approval.
Panic surged through him. He shoved the hangover pills into his mouth, swallowed hard with the water, then quickly downed his suppressant block pills. Tossing the note aside, he dressed in a rush, pulling on his uniform with shaky hands.
As Ash hurried downstairs, the scent of fried eggs and tea drifted from the dining room. His steps slowed when he caught sight of Adrian's father seated neatly at the table beside his mother. Both of them were halfway through breakfast.
"You didn't give me an explanation why you were late yesterday to welcome your brother!" his mother's voice cut sharply, almost making him lose his balance on the last step.
Adrian's father looked up from his plate and said calmly, "Why don't you join us for breakfast, son?"
Ash rubbed the back of his neck, forcing a crooked smile. "I'm in a hurry," he said quickly, tugging his blazer over his uniform. "I've got the group discussion; I'm leading today. Sponsor approvals won't wait."
His mother waved a hand, a small smile softening her sharp tone. "Don't worry, darling. He's always in a hurry. Never had a calm morning...nothing to do with you."
Adrian's father nodded, his expression relaxed "It's okay."
Eve tilted her head, curiosity in her eyes. "By the way, is Adrian still in his room?"
"No," Adrian's father replied. "He went to the company. He told me he had work to get done."
...
Ash hurried toward the gate. The driver intercepted him, stepping in front of the path.
"Young master, I'm being summoned to take you to school," he said politely but firmly.
Ash waved him off, moving faster, "I can take myself," he muttered, glancing at the driver while already heading out.
On the other side of the wall, Ash searched for the bicycle he had borrowed from the school the previous day. He crouched slightly, scanning the area, trying to remember exactly where he had left it. It should be here...I'm sure it was here...
The driver fell into step beside him again, insistent. "Young master, let me drive you."
Ash pointed toward the spot where the bicycle should have been. "Where's the bicycle I left here?"
The driver looked confused, glancing around helplessly.
From the gateway, the watchman Katana stepped forward, his expression serious. "Alpha Adrian...took it. Locked it in the store."
Ash froze, blinking. The heat of frustration rising. Adrian...
...
Ash sat at the library, spectacles perched on his nose, surrounded by piles of books. He flipped through the pages restlessly, shifting in his seat.
Martin and Naomi entered, their faces full of guilt. They quietly joined him at the table. For a moment, Naomi and Martin exchanged glances, silent. Ash looked between them, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Finally, Naomi spoke. "We're sorry, Ash...it's our fault. We asked them to join us."
Martin added, "If we hadn't...you wouldn't have been drugged."
Ash leaned back, a small smile forming. "You couldn't have known their intentions just by looking at their faces. I know you guys didn't mean for this to happen...and besides, you were caught up in it too. Lucky for us, we were unharmed."
Martin and Naomi nodded, pouting slightly.
Ash's curiosity got the better of him. "By the way...do either of you know who took me home last night?"
Both shook their heads.
...
The hall buzzed with activity as several student groups presented their projects, each hoping to secure sponsorship. Some were met with polite nods, others with skeptical questions, and a few with impressed murmurs.
Finally, the master of the project program called out, "Next up...the Lighthouse' group!"
Ash, Martin, and Naomi stood together, walking to the front.
Ash gestured toward the audience. "We are the Lighthouse group."
Martin quickly moved to the laptop. "I'll handle the slides," he said, removing the screen's cover and settling it up.
Naomi smiled at the sponsors. "We're here to request sponsorship for a community project that supports women and children in underprivileged areas. We don't have funding, so we need your support to make it happen. The project focuses on education, basic healthcare, and mentorship programs."
Ash took a deep breath, explaining the project in more detail, emphasizing the impact it could have if they received funding.
A sponsor raised a hand. "How can you ensure the program will actually reach those in need?"
Martin jumped in, "We've partnered with verified local organizations and designed strict monitoring procedures to track progress and ensure transparency."
Another sponsor leaned forward, skeptical. "And the money? You're asking for our support but how can we trust this will be used effectively?"
Ash faltered, unsure of how to answer. His gaze flicked between his teammates and the questioning sponsors.
Then, a deep, commanding voice cut through the room:
"Resources follow conviction, not doubt."
The chatter died instantly. All eyes turned toward the back. A figure in a sleek black suit and dark spectacles stood confidently, exuding authority and focus.
Ash felt his heart race. It was Adrian.