"What do you mean the King has suddenly summoned me to the palace?" Azerin snapped, his sharp gaze fixed on Soren.
Soren stood straight, hands clasped behind his back. "That's what the royal message says, Alpha. The order came directly from the King's envoy."
Azerin's brow furrowed deeply. "My father rarely calls me to the palace without reason. Something's off. Has anything unusual happened lately?"
"There's been no official word, but I have a feeling something's stirring," Soren replied cautiously. "The tone of the message was... urgent."
"My stepmother must be scheming something," Azerin muttered, a deep frown creasing his forehead.
Before Soren could respond, his nose twitched. His expression shifted to one of surprise. "Alpha… Why are you reeking of omega's pheromones?"
Azerin paused and lifted his sleeve, breathing in the faint, lingering scent Riven had left on him. His eyes darkened with an unreadable emotion.
"How long do you plan on casually making out with just any random omega?" Soren asked with disbelief.
"As long as I don't find anything worthy for myself," Azerin said. He kept quiet about Riven's heart and his true identity. Though he shouldn't, he couldn't reveal it to his beta.
"You should explore that then," Soren said. "You've been living alone for such a long time. Don't you think it's time to start a family of your own?"
Azerin didn't answer right away. He walked to his desk and sank into the leather chair with a heavy sigh. "I don't think I even deserve a family," he murmured. "I couldn't save my mother. She was my only family. And now… I have enemies who are just waiting for a chance to destroy me."
His voice dropped lower. "I still have too many unanswered questions. So no, thinking about a family of my own isn't just unreasonable… it feels selfish."
"Well, as you think it is best," Soren said with a small nod. "I'll send a response to your father, then."
"That won't be necessary," Azerin replied calmly. "I'll leave for the palace early in the morning."
"As you wish," Soren responded. He offered a respectful bow to the Alpha before turning and quietly exiting the study, leaving Azerin alone.
Azerin leaned back in his chair for a moment, then pressed his fingers to his forehead, rubbing slowly as tension began to creep in.
'Soren sensed Riven's pheromones…'
The thought gnawed at him.
He sat forward, grabbing the phone from the desk and dialing a private line.
"Bring a suppressor shot, something strong. The omega's heat is intensifying beyond control," he said. "And make sure no one sees you. Come directly to my quarters."
Rising to his feet, Azerin made his way upstairs. As he reached his room, he pushed the door open and was immediately hit by the lingering scent in the air, which was none other than Riven's sweet, intoxicating pheromones.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I can't let them affect me again."
He strode toward the bedroom, willing himself to stay composed. But the moment his eyes landed on Riven, sprawled unconscious on the bed, a guilt surged through him.
Riven's shirt was half-open, the fabric clinging to his damp skin. The faint marks Azerin had left earlier were still visible on his chest. They were the reminders of his momentary loss of control.
Azerin stood there, staring in disbelief.
'How could I have let myself go like that?'
Just the scent of him had broken Azerin's composure, and shattered the walls he always kept so tightly in place. He used to think only his alpha scent affected everyone around him, but Riven proved him wrong. It was his scent, which hit him like some aphrodisiac.
Walking over to the bed, Azerin slowly lowered himself beside Riven. His hand moved instinctively to the omega's forehead.
He was burning.
The heat had taken its toll on him, far worse than Azerin had expected.
"I wonder why you lied about being a beta," he murmured, brushing a damp strand of hair from Riven's temple. "I wonder why I didn't throw you out the moment you said it. And I wonder… why do I let myself get lost in your scent."
His gaze lingered on Riven's glistening yet swollen lips, still tinted with the memory of the kiss they had shared. A kiss that had ignited everything, pushed them past the line he was never supposed to cross.
Azerin pulled his hand back, exhaling slowly, and reached for the silk sheets to cover Riven's trembling body.
"Please… touch me…"
The words were barely audible, but to Azerin they were clear. Riven's hand moved feebly to his chest, as if pleading.
Azerin gave a dry, humorless laugh.
"He always acts so sharp," he muttered. "And now? Begging like a—"
He stopped himself, the amusement in his voice fading.
"Riven… if my mother sent you," he said coldly, "then you've made the worst mistake of your life. Because I'll play with you in a way you've never imagined."
He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"You've caught the eye of a very wrong man," he whispered. "People avoid me for a reason. They say I bring doom. And if you really are her pawn... then it seems my stepmother's doom is much closer than she thinks."
A knock on the door interrupted him and Azerin went to the door.
As he opened it, he saw Doctor Karl standing at the door with an envelope in his hand.
"This is the strongest shot. I'm glad I brought it. The omega in your room is reeking of some intense pheromones. And..." Karl mused, "you're able to keep yourself sane that alone explains your self-restraint capability, Azerin."
"Thank you," Azerin took the envelope from him. "I'll talk to you later. Keep quiet about it."
"Sure."
The door closed and Karl left while Azerin returned to the bedroom. He took out the injection and lifted the sleeve of Riven's shirt. Finding the nerve, Azerin injected the shot in his arm.