That night, Ash waited with his ears sharp, listening for Adrian's footsteps, but sleep claimed him before he could be sure.
The next morning, as he rushed out to school, he slowed at Adrian's door. His hands hovered, almost knocking, but he pulled back. Did he come back? The thought lingered as he left.
In the car, he turned to Bravin.
"Did you bring Adrian back last night?"
"Yes, young master," Bravin replied calmly. "But I've already taken him to the office this morning."
Ash frowned, staring out of the window. How did he return so late, yet still want to leave so early? The question pressed at him, unanswered.
At class, Ash was quieter than usual. Even Naomi and Martin noticed. Naomi leaned closer, smirking.
"Are you heartbroken, dude?"
Ash shot her a quick look. "Don't start."
Martin raised his hands, chuckling. "Eeeh, relax. It was just a joke. Why react like it's true?"
Ash murmured something under his breath, sinking back into his chair, while Naomi exchanged a knowing glance with Martin.
During break, Ash entered the dining hall. Just as he was about to order, the server placed a tray before him.
"Espresso coffee milk and vanilla cake. Order placed, ready for you."
Ash blinked, then gave a small nod. At the table, he sat down, relief softening his face as he tasted the cake.
Naomi leaned forward with a grin. "At least you've got someone pursuing you with breakfast. This is the second time, huh?"
Ash clicked his tongue. "Tssk."
In his thoughts, a quiet question echoed. I wish to know who you are.
For the next three days, Ash waited with his ears open each night, hoping to catch Adrian's return. But each time, sleep overtook him.
In the mornings, the answer was always the same. When he asked, Bravin replied calmly, "He already left for the office."
Ash's mood shifted with the routine; frustration and a quiet restlessness weighing on him. Yet, when the breakfast tray appeared without fail; espresso coffee milk, and vanilla cake, it always ease him, if only a little. The small comfort reminded him he hadn't been forgotten, even if Adrian remained just out of reach.
...
{Figure}
A figure stood at the window, the curtains shifting just enough to blur their outline. The air carried a heaviness, danger thick in the silence.
"No matter the amount of money you want," the woman's voice was cold, steady. "I will pay, as long as he's dead."
The man hesitated before asking, "Madam...but how can we kill him? He's an S-rank Alpha, more powerful than the rest."
"Use the silver bullets," she said flatly.
The man's brows furrowed. "Will it kill him?"
Her answer cut sharp through the air. "No matter how powerful he is, silver bullets will finish him down."
The man lowered his head in silent agreement, the decision sealed in the shadows.
...
{Ash}
On the fifth day, during the parade assembly at the close of the school week, the routine carried on an as usual until the duty teacher stepped forward.
"The principal has an announcement to make," he said.
A quiet stir moved through the students. It was rare for the principal to appear at assembly, and curiosity rose quickly.
Ash stood among the others, not expecting much until his eyes caught on the sight ahead. The principal was walking toward the stage, and at his side, Lucien.
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly, his thought sharp. What is he doing here...?
The principal stepped forward, greeting the assembly before clearing his throat.
"As you all know, our deputy principal has gone into retirement. In the meantime, Alpha Lucien will be acting deputy. Please welcome your new deputy, Alpha Lucien."
The students broke into cheerful claps, some even whistling under their breath.
Lucien gave a calm nod and greeted them with ease. "I look forward to working with you. You should also expect to see me in mathematics lessons from now on."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. An Omega whispered, "I wouldn't mind attending, even if it's a double lesson."
A Beta laughed quietly, "Mathematics has never looked this good."
An Alpha added with a grin, "Finally, a reason not to skip class."
Ash stood silently, the noise of the assembly dull around him, his focus fixed on Lucian.
Lucien's gaze swept the hall, pausing briefly on Ash. A slight blink-quick, deliberate-then he looked away.
Ash's breath caught, confusion stirring inside him.
...
The classroom settled as Alpha Lucien walked in, carrying a calm authority with him.
"Good morning, class," he greeted, placing his books on the desk. "Today we begin a new topic; Quadratic Equations."
He wrote the title neatly on the board, then turned back to them. "Let's warm up first." He pointed to a boy in the front row. "You, tell me your name, then solve the first equation here." The boy stood. "Samuel, sir." He worked through the problem confidently, earning a nod from Lucien.
"Good," Lucien said, scanning the room before pointing again. "And you? Your name, please." The girl rose nervously. "Lydia."
"Try the next one."
She managed the solution, drawing quiet encouragement from her classmates.
Lucien nodded. "Now...you." His finger landed on Ash.
Silence. Ash's head was bent low, his pen moving quickly across the paper.
"You there," Lucien repeated, sharper this time.
Ash snapped upright, blinking. "Y-yes?"
Lucien's steps carried him slowly toward the desk. "You seem...occupied. Let's see what you're calculating."
In a flash, Ash folded the sheet, clutching it tight. His voice came low, strained. "It's nothing."
Lucien stopped in front of him, hand outstretched. "Just let me see."
Ash hesitated, every movement stiff, his palms damp. Finally, trembling, he passed the paper over.
Lucien unfolded it. A rough sketch stared back: Adrian towering over him; Lucien; posture unmistakably dominant, the imbalance of power drawn in every line.
Lucien's gaze lifted to Ash. "See me after evening preps," he said evenly, folding the paper and slipping into his book.
The class stayed silent, the tension left hanging in the air as Lucien calmly returned to the lesson.
...
After evening classes, Naomi and Martin walked beside Ash, bags slung over their shoulders.
Naomi glanced at him curiosity. "So, why did Alpha Lucien summon you? What was on that paper?"
Martin smirked. "A flower?"
Naomi frowned. "If so, why could he have bought it instead?"
Martin chuckled , shaking his head. "Because only geniuses know how to pursue teachers. We don't need flowers; the real ones. Papers and pens are enough. Draw it, and it's there." He laughed at his own joke.
Naomi rolled her eyes, while Martin gave Ash a light tap on the shoulders. "Good luck, man."
Ash forced a weak smile but said nothing as they split ways. His steps grew heavier as he made for the deputy's office. Sweat dampened his palms, his chest tightening with each breath.
He raised his hand to knock when the door opened. Lucien stepped out, cross bag over his shoulder. "Come on. I'll drive you home."
Ash blinked, startled, and followed in silence. As they walked, words tumbled out. "I...didn't mean to..."
Lucien's gaze flicked toward him. "So you know."
They reached the car. Lucien opened the passenger door for him, then circled to the driver's side.
Ash slide in quickly, blurting, "But I swear...I haven't told anybody. I won't."
Lucien leaned across, fastening Ash's seatbelt. Their eyes locked; Lucien's steady, Ash's wide and trembling. Ash's breath quickened, his omega instincts flaring under the tension.
"I trust you," Lucien said simply, pulling back and starting the engine.
Ash held his breath, chest tight, as the car rolled forward into the night.
After a few minutes on the road, a black van screeched across their path, forcing Lucien to brake hard.
Doors flew open and men in black clothes and masks poured out, pistols raised.
Their leader stepped forward, voice firm. "Out of the car."
Ash trembled in his seat, fear locking his body.
Lucien glanced at him calmly. "Don't be scared. I'll protect you, they won't harm you, I promise."
He pushed the door open and stepped out slowly, hands raised.
The leader leveled his gun at Lucien. "I've been sent to kill you."
He pulled the trigger. The silver bullet shot toward Lucien's chest at full speed.
Then, in an instant, heavy golden pheromones surged into the air, thick and overpowering...
...
{Figure}
A man stumbled into the room, breathless, trembling from head to toe. "I...I'm the one who got lucky to escape. All my colleagues...they were butchered, mercilessly."
From the shadows, a woman's voice cut through. "How comes all of you were defeated by Lucien? You had silver bullets."
The man wiped sweat from his brow, his voice breaking. "It wasn't just Lucien...the shadowed figure; it's...it's got power, speed...it dodged the silver bullet as if nothing. Its pheromones overwhelming. Stronger, far stronger than an S-ranked Alpha...three times more, at least."