Ash's POV
"Ash! Ash!" Lucien's voice cut through, sharp with worry. My chest tightened as I remembered I hadn't sprayed my sleeping pheromones on him. He would leave the house and search endlessly for me if I didn't hurry. What a bad timing, Lucien, I thought.
Adrian's eyes were still fixed on me, lips moving as though an answer was on the verge of spilling out.
"Adrian, I need to go," I whispered.
His face fell, disappointment flickering across it. "Why in such a hurry? Stay a little longer...in my dream."
"I wish I could," I murmured, "but something important has come up."
Releasing a soft pheromones, I watched his lashes flutter as sleep pulled him under. Carefully, I shifted him from my lap, laying him down with quiet care and drawing the cover over him before I slipped away.
When I teleported back, I found myself standing at the balcony. Lucien's voice still echoed through the house as he called my name, searching. Then he stepped out and saw me there, his face etched with worry.
"You don't know how terrified I was when I found your side of the bed empty," he said, his tone tight. "I searched every corner of the house and couldn't find you. Until now...why are you here? Couldn't sleep?"
I nodded lightly. "Yes. I've been sleeping since the evening, so I couldn't fall back again. I just thought a little cool breeze might help."
Then he asked softly, "May I accompany you?"
I shook my head and replied quickly, "I'm feeling sleepy now. We'd better go back to bed."
He nodded without pressing further, reaching for my hand as we walked back inside together.
...
In the morning, I was jolted awake by the shrill ring of my phone.
Blinking, I realized my head was resting against Lucien's chest, my hip pressed to his side, and one of my legs draped over him. His arm was wrapped firmly around me, holding me close even in his sleep.
As my eyes adjusted, I caught the unmistakable rise beneath his shorts. My heart skipped. What the-!
I pulled away quickly, startled, and snatched up my phone, which was still ringing nonstop.
"Mother," the caller ID flashed.
I answered quickly, "Hello, Mother."
Her voice came warm and concerned. "How are you feeling now, son? Yesterday when I called, Lucien told me you were unwell."
"I'm okay now, Mother. Don't worry," I replied.
"I miss you," she added softly.
I laughed lightly. "I've only been away for two days."
"Even so..." she murmured.
Just then, Lucien stirred beside me. His sleepy voice cut in, "Ash, are you awake? Come, let me hold you a little longer."
Through the receiver, my mother's voice paused. "Uhh...is that Lucien?"
I felt my chest tighten, already guessing where her thoughts might go. Quickly, I cut in, "Mum, I need to prepare for school. I'll call you this evening. Bye."
I ended the call before she could ask anything further.
...
That morning, as I entered the classroom, Immediately noticed the change in atmosphere. Students were gathered in tight clusters, their eyes fixed on their phones, voices buzzing in low whispers.
The moment they saw me, the whispers softened into murmurs, their gazes shifting toward me before quickly darting away.
Naomi and Martin stood out from crowd. Instead of joining the others, they watched me with clear concern. I walked to my seat and sat down, pretending not to notice the stares that seemed to follow every move I made.
Both of them leaned in closer. Naomi clutched her tablet, biting her lip as she glanced at Martin. At his slight nod of encouragement, she turned to me.
"Ash..." her voice was soft but serious. "You're trending on Moonlight Gossip."
She flickered her tablet toward me. My eyes froze on the screen.
The headlines screamed across the top in bold letters:
Is Beta Ash Alpha Lucien's Secret Lover?
Below, photos appeared; Lucien carrying me out of the dining hall, another of him holding the car door open for me.
And beneath the picture, a flood of comments:
"How can a mere Beta be Alpha Lucien's mate?"
"He comes from nothing; poor, pathetic, unworthy."
"Clinging to Lucien for status, no doubt."
"Lucien could have anyone. Why waste time on someone like him?"
Each word felt like a weight pressing down on my chest, but I stayed still, gripping the edge of my desk as the voices in the room whispered around me.
Then Lucien entered the classroom. At once, the students pulled away from their little groups, settling back into their seats as if nothing had happened. The low murmur died instantly.
Lucien didn't greet the class as usual. He went straight to the whiteboard and typed out a complex equation:
(3x^2 - 7x + 2) / (x - 1)+ sqrt(2x^2 - 5x + 3) = 4
His voice was firm.
"Work it out. I want the answer."
Styluses clicked nervously as students tried to solve it, but silence quickly fell. I focused on the screen, and within a minute, the solution became clear.
When Lucien asked, "Who has the answer?" not a single hand went up. His gaze swept the room before stopping on me.
"Ash," he said, softer now. "What's the answer?"
I replied, "x = 2 "
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Good. Come up and show your classmates how it's done."
I walked forward and grabbed a stylus, my eyes on the whiteboard. I worked through the equation carefully, each step flowing smoothly, and finally underlined the answer.
Lucien watched me with an approving nod. "You may take your seat."
As I returned to my desk, I felt the weight of countless eyes on me, filled with awe and curiosity.
Lucien's voice cut through the silence, calm but firm. "Instead of spending your time on trending gossip, you should focus on mastering your skills and improving your mind."
Before leaving the class, Lucien posted a quiz on the board. "Work this out and submit your answers by the end of the period," he instructed, then exited quickly.
I bent over my stylus, quickly calculating the problem.
As soon as I finished, a cluster of students gathered around my desk, eager and wide-eyed.
"Hey, Ash! Show us how you did it!"
"Seriously, that was fast; teach us!"
"How did you get the answer so quickly?"
I looked up, realizing all eyes were on me, waiting for a demonstration.
...
During break time, when it was finally my turn to be served, I reached into my pocket, only to realize I had less money than expected. Naomi and Martin were beside me, but I knew they carried only enough for themselves.
I was about to turn back when the server slid a tray toward me.
"Your breakfast and lunch are already paid for. Everyday. No need to carry money with you, just order.
I froze. For the last two days, my mysterious guy; the one who used to spoil me with espresso milk coffee and vanilla cake, had stopped. Now, who was this new benefactor?
Leaning closer, I asked, "If you don't mind...can you tell me who decided to cater for my meals?"
The server shook her head apologetically. "The person specifically requested that their name not be revealed."
Heat rose inside me, frustration bubbling. "And what if I refuse to take it?"
She glanced at the untouched tray, her tone flat but firm. "Then we'll mark it as used and throw it in the garbage. We don't recycle meals."
When I heard the word garbage, it felt like a blade stabbing through my heart.
I had grown up knowing what hunger looked like-kids in the village pretending to visit us, just so they could sneak a meal. My grandmother and Uncle Aster had made sure I never lacked food, even when my mother, struggling in the city, sometimes couldn't send money.
The thought of food being wasted; when I knew what it meant to need it, was unbearable. My anger melted into something heavier, quieter.
I swallowed hard, lowered my gaze, and took the tray.
I sat down, barely paying attention as Naomi and Martin leaned toward me, teasing with playful smirks.
"So...your previous mystery guy who used to spoil you with breakfast...disappeared, huh?" Naomi said, raising an eyebrow.
Martin added, grinning, "Looks like you've got a richer one now, catering to both your breakfast and lunch."
I kept quiet, lost in thoughts, wondering who my new benefactor was and why the previous one had stopped.
Naomi suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts, holding up her tablet in awe. "Ash...your trending news has been taken down!"
I leaned closer to glance, equally surprised.
Moonlight Gossip-a popular club whose members remain hidden, famous for never taking down a post, no matter how powerful the Alpha or noble, had just removed the post of a well-known mere Beta like me.
Then, in front of our table, Alpha Jackson, an A-ranked Alpha whose father is a minister, fell to his knees.
"Ash...forgive me," he trembled.
Naomi looked puzzled, Martin and I exchanged glances.
Naomi whispered, "What for?"
"I'm the leader of Moonlight Gossip," Alpha Jackson admitted, his voice low. "I'm the one who posted your...posts."
Nearby students murmured in awe. Alpha Jackson is kneeling in front of a Beta...he's the leader of Moonlight Gossip! And yet...who made him do so?
A heavy weight pressed on me, not just from the post, but from seeing Alpha Jackson kneeling. I felt sympathy for him, yet curiosity gnawed at me. Was it really necessary?
"Please...if you don't forgive me, he won't forgive me," Alpha Jackson said reaching out to touch my leg. "It's unbearable."
My mind raced as I studied him. Who...who has made this prideful, powerful, feared Alpha, the minister's son, tremble like this?