Eren couldn't hide his awe as he stepped into Adriel's condo. It was nothing like the cramped hotel suite or his old rented room. The place gleamed with understated wealth—clean lines, warm lighting, and every surface polished to perfection.
Adriel walked ahead of him, cool and steady, then gestured toward a door. "The renovation's finished. From now on, you'll stay here."
Eren blinked. "But… just last night you said it was under renovation. How could they have finished so fast?"
"They work quickly when I tell them to," Adriel said simply, as if the answer was obvious.
Eren followed him inside and froze. A walk-in closet stretched before him, filled with neatly arranged designer clothes—Omega-cut suits, shirts soft enough to melt under his fingers, and shoes that cost more than his monthly rent.
"Mr. President… you don't have to do this," Eren said quietly, his voice betraying both gratitude and unease.
"It's fine," Adriel replied, his tone firm, final. "Think of it as training. From today on, you'll stop hiding. You've been letting others walk over you because you lack confidence. I won't allow that anymore."
Eren's chest tightened. No one had ever told him not to shrink. His throat bobbed, emotions catching him off guard. If he didn't know better—if not for the cold contract he'd signed and the cruel words he'd overheard from James—he might have believed Adriel meant it.
"But… I can't wear all of this," Eren said softly, glancing at the clothes. "I'm pregnant. In a few months—"
His words cut off when Adriel stepped closer and laid a broad hand on his head. Heat surged down Eren's spine, his Omega instincts betraying him. His body wanted to lean into the Alpha's touch. His heart thudded in his chest.
"You'll keep them. I don't need them," Adriel said, removing his hand as abruptly as he'd placed it. His expression didn't soften. "Get changed. We're eating out."
"Ah—Mr. President," Eren called as he turned. Adriel paused, looking back with a sharp gaze. "I… still don't feel like eating."
"You haven't eaten anything all day." The Alpha's voice was sharper now, carrying a subtle command that made Eren's body tense and his throat tighten.
Eren bit his lip, lowering his gaze. "…Is there a supermarket nearby? I just— I wanted to buy something."
"What?" Adriel's brow furrowed.
"I don't want to trouble you anymore," Eren whispered. "I can manage it myself."
Adriel's silence pressed down on him like weight, forcing the truth out. "…I was hoping to buy strawberries. I don't know why, but I can't stop craving them."
Adriel's gaze lingered on him, unreadable. "Is that all?"
Eren nodded quickly. "Y-yes."
"Then get dressed. Come out when you're ready," Adriel said, his Alpha timbre leaving no room for refusal. He left the room without another word.
Eren exhaled shakily, clutching at his chest. He couldn't tell if Adriel was angry, indifferent, or… something else.
When he finally emerged from the walk-in closet, nerves tight in his stomach, he froze in his tracks.
On the dining table sat a porcelain plate piled high with ripe, glistening strawberries. Their sweet scent hit him instantly, and his mouth watered before he could stop himself. His Omega instincts flared with need, tugging him forward.
Eren froze when Adriel's voice cut through the silence.
"What are you standing there for? Sit." The Alpha didn't raise his voice, but the weight in his tone left no room for hesitation. He set a plate of steak on the table with practiced ease, the aroma filling the condo. Eren blinked. From the look of the kitchen, Adriel had cooked it himself.
"You… made this?" he asked quietly, disbelief flickering in his voice.
Adriel ignored the question and poured warm milk into a cup, dropping in a handful of strawberries before setting it beside the steak. Then he pulled out a chair across from Eren. "Sit down."
Eren obeyed, lowering himself into the chair. "Thank you, Mr. Pres—"
Adriel's gaze cut across the table, sharp enough to silence him. "Don't call me that. Not here. Not when it's just us." His eyes narrowed, steady, commanding. "Say my name."
Eren's throat closed. He parted his lips, but his voice caught halfway through. "A-Ad…riel." His chest tightened, heartbeat pounding in his ears as if his own instincts were betraying him. Why did simply saying the Alpha's name feel so intimate?
Adriel stilled, then leaned back slightly. "Good. Don't force yourself—but don't hide either."
Eren bit his lip and reached for a strawberry, more to distract himself than anything. The first bite made his mouth water, the sweetness bursting across his tongue. His eyes widened, and before he realized it, he was smiling faintly as he ate another.
Across the table, Adriel's knife paused mid-cut. His gaze softened as he watched Eren, the tension in his frame easing. "Happiness suits you," he said lowly, almost to himself.
Eren flushed, lowering his eyes to his plate. He hadn't noticed how quickly the fruit was disappearing until only a few pieces remained. His stomach, starved for days, finally loosened its grip, and he wanted more.
"Why did you stop?" Adriel asked.
Eren stiffened, embarrassed. "…It's… too much. I don't want to seem greedy."
A faint smirk tugged at Adriel's lips. "Greedy? In your own home?" He rose from his chair, every movement deliberate, and crossed to the refrigerator. When he swung it open, Eren's breath caught.
The shelves were overflowing with strawberries. Box after box, fresh and glistening red.
His chest tightened. He had only mentioned them once, shyly, earlier that day. And yet Adriel had gone out of his way—no, commanded someone—to fill his fridge with them.
Eren swallowed, staring at the abundance, his instincts tangled between disbelief and something warm he didn't want to name.
Adriel closed the fridge and glanced back at him. "Eat as much as you want. Don't hold back. You're not the only one I'm feeding." His eyes flicked pointedly toward Eren's stomach, the barest hint of a possessive growl threading his words.
Eren gripped the edge of the table, pulse racing. He wanted to protest, to say something sharp—but all that came out was a quiet, trembling, "...Thank you."
The Alpha returned to his seat. "If you feel like eating more, indulge."
Eren's voice caught. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything," Adriel replied, already finishing his meal with calm efficiency. Then, casually, "Tomorrow, we'll go to the office together."
"No!" The word burst out before Eren could stop himself. Adriel's eyes flicked to him, sharp.
"I-I mean… no one knows we're married," Eren stammered. "If we show up together, people will talk. About you. I don't want that."
"You're my secretary. There's nothing wrong with us walking in together."
Still, Eren shook his head. "Please. I'd rather go alone. I don't want trouble."
Adriel studied him for a long moment, then spoke with quiet authority. "Fine. My driver will take you. To and from the office. That's not up for discussion."
Eren exhaled. There was no point arguing; an Omega never won against an Alpha's final word. "All right," he murmured.
Later, when Adriel led him into the bedroom, Eren froze. Two beds. For some reason, he'd expected only one. Relief mixed with confusion.
"You don't think we're sharing, do you?" Adriel said dryly, brushing past him. He set a bowl of strawberries on the nightstand beside Eren's bed. "In case you get hungry."
The gesture stole Eren's breath. Thoughtful. Precise. He was already anticipating Eren's needs before he voiced them.
Adriel sat down on his own bed, slipped on reading glasses, and opened a book. The sight was unexpectedly disarming. Eren found himself staring far too long, heart racing, drawn to the quiet power in the Alpha's stillness.
"Eren."
The sound of his name snapped him back. He flushed, realizing he'd been caught staring. Adriel hadn't even looked up from his book.
But Eren knew. This Alpha always noticed.