"You have no qualification to ask."
Lucas's pupils contracted sharply, pain cutting across his expression like a blade. Five years ago, he was the one people bowed to. The one praised as the Academy's strongest Alpha. The one Evan had once looked at like he was the center of his universe.
Now… he was the man being told to step aside.
Lucas took in a shaky breath.
"Evan," he whispered, ignoring the cameras, the stares, the humiliation coating his skin like ice. "Please… just tell me. Are they my children?"
Evan stood still, his hand resting gently on Ethan's shoulder as if grounding himself.
For the first time since stepping out of the gate, his calm expression cracked just a little—not with panic, but with a softness that carried years of wounds.
"Lucas," he said quietly, "not here."
It wasn't a yes.
It wasn't a no.
And that alone was enough to send a wave of whispers through the crowd.
"Not here? Then it's true."
"They look like him—especially the girl's nose…"
"Five years ago was when Evan disappeared—"
"Lucas, the Academy's Golden Alpha, might actually have—"
The sound rose like a tide.
Adrian lifted his eyes, the sharp chill in them sweeping across the crowd like a silent command. "Enough."
A wave of suppressed pheromones spread from him—controlled but firm, like steel under velvet. Even the human reporters felt it, instinctively quieting as a sense of authority pressed down on the hall.
"Evan," Adrian murmured, his hand brushing Evan's back gently, "let's go. The car is waiting."
Ella raised her hand like she was in class. "Can we get ice cream first? The flight was long."
Adrian crouched down and flicked her forehead lightly. "One scoop. Any more and you won't sleep tonight."
"I'm five, I don't need sleep," she declared proudly.
"Is that so?" Adrian arched an eyebrow. "Then you can do tomorrow's reading exercises twice."
Ella hid behind Evan instantly. "Papa, he's bullying me!"
Ethan shook his head gently at her dramatics, then looked up at Evan. "Papa… are we going now?"
Evan squeezed their small hands. "Yes. Let's go."
He stepped forward.
Turning his back to Lucas.
But before they could leave, Lucas reached out.
"Evan—wait!"
Adrian moved instantly, his fingers pinning Lucas's wrist mid-air in a grip that was neither aggressive nor gentle—just controlled, firm enough to contain an Alpha whose emotions were spiraling out of control.
Lucas's breath hitched at the sudden closeness.
Adrian leaned in, voice low and lethal:
"Do not touch him."
Lucas's jaw clenched. "He's not… just your fiancé."
"Correct." Adrian's eyes sharpened. "He is mine."
Lucas felt his chest tear open.
"Five years ago," he forced out, "I made a mistake. I know that. I know I hurt him. But you—"
"I?" Adrian tilted his head slightly. "I protected him. I supported him. I respected him. I stayed at his side every day of those five years while he cried over someone who threw him away."
Evan's fingers curled subtly at his side.
Lucas's breath stalled.
"I never threw him away."
Adrian's smile was thin and cold. "Is that so?"
He let go of Lucas's wrist and stepped back.
"Then perhaps you've forgotten." Adrian's gaze sharpened like a blade. "Who was it who told a crowd of students that an Omega like Evan was 'too fragile for a serious relationship'? Who let rumors spread? Who watched as he was cornered, mocked, and humiliated until he left the Academy bleeding?"
Lucas's face went white.
"That's not— I never— Evan, I didn't—"
But Evan looked at him quietly.
He didn't nod.
He didn't deny it.
He didn't defend him.
He simply said, "Let's go, Adrian."
Lucas's heart dropped.
He stepped forward again, desperation leaking into his voice. "Evan, please—just talk to me. Even five minutes. I— I never stopped searching for you."
Evan paused.
Just for a moment.
Then he turned back.
His eyes, once filled with youthful adoration for Lucas, were calm now—like deep waters that no longer rippled for him.
"Lucas," he said softly, "you searched for a memory. For your pride. For a past you suddenly wanted to fix."
Lucas's lips parted.
Evan continued, voice steady:
"But you didn't search for me. Not the me who left. Not the me who broke. Not the me who had to protect two children alone."
Lucas felt the blood drain from his face.
Evan's next words landed like a quiet, final blow:
"You searched for the Omega you regretted losing—not the person I became."
Ella tugged Evan's sleeve again. "Papa, why is that uncle crying?"
Evan's heart twisted, but he didn't look back again.
He turned and walked toward the exit.
Adrian's hand hovered protectively at Evan's back as the twins skipped beside them.
Lucas stood frozen amid the fallen roses, watching the three figures leave—Evan's slender form, the twin children with silver and hazel eyes, the Alpha who stood at Evan's side like an unshakable wall.
He looked down at the roses scattered at his feet.
His voice broke soundlessly.
"Evan… I never wanted to lose you."
Outside the Airport
The cold winter wind swept across the drop-off area, rustling the hair of the twins as the family approached a sleek, dark car.
The driver opened the door immediately. "Young Master Grant, Dr. Lorne, children."
Ethan climbed in first. Ella tried but missed the step, and Adrian effortlessly lifted her into the seat.
Evan stood by the open door, about to enter.
Adrian leaned down slightly, his breath warm against Evan's ear. "Are you alright?"
Evan hesitated.
"…I didn't expect him to be here."
"I know." Adrian gently brushed a strand of hair behind Evan's ear. "You handled it well."
Evan's throat tightened. "I shouldn't have let it get to me."
"You're human," Adrian murmured. "And you're allowed to feel."
Evan's shoulders relaxed a little.
But as he moved to step into the car, Adrian caught his arm—not harshly, but firmly enough to make him meet the man's gaze.
"Evan."
"…Yes?"
Adrian's voice dropped to a quiet, almost dangerous softness.
"Who is their father?"
Evan froze.
His heartbeat stuttered.
Adrian didn't flinch, didn't blink, didn't soften.
"You don't owe Lucas an answer," he said. "But you owe me one."
Evan drew in a slow breath. "Adrian…"
Adrian leaned closer.
"Are Ethan and Ella… biologically yours alone?"
"…Yes."
"And their other parent?"
Evan's fingers trembled on the car door.
Adrian lowered his voice further. "Is it him?"
The world seemed to pause.
Evan shut his eyes.
And he whispered—
"…We'll talk at home."
Adrian nodded once.
"Then I'll wait."
He closed the door behind Evan gently, without pushing, without demanding.
Just waiting, like he always had for five years.
The car pulled away from the airport, leaving behind the chaos of reporters, the mess of roses, and one Alpha frozen in the middle of it all—still staring at the spot where Evan had disappeared.
Lucas clenched his trembling fists.
His voice cracked out, filled with pain and dawning realization:
"Evan… please don't tell me I'm already too late."