"Lucas, this isn't the way back to Adriel's condo," Eren remarked, frowning as he looked out at the unfamiliar streets flashing past. He knew the city well enough to recognize they were headed somewhere entirely different.
"Correct, sir," Lucas replied, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. "Sir Adriel instructed me to take you to Ulrick Oasis. He won't be returning to his condo tonight."
Eren blinked. Ulrick Oasis? The name stirred recognition—one of Ulrick Corporation's crown jewels, a hotel as vast as it was exclusive. His gaze drifted to the folder resting on his lap, the bold lettering of the anniversary invitation staring back at him. A knot tightened in his stomach.
Before he could probe further, his phone buzzed sharply. Roen's name lit the screen.
"Hello?"
"Thank the stars," came Roen's voice, brisk and taut. Relief laced with urgency.
Eren's brows drew together. "What's wrong?"
"Where are you right now?"
"In Lucas's car. We're headed to Ulrick Oasis. Why?"
"Are you with Lucas for sure?" Roen pressed.
"Yes."
A beat of silence, then Roen exhaled. "Good. The President left an important document in the office. He needs it tonight. Retrieve it immediately."
Eren straightened in his seat. "Of course."
"Be there in thirty minutes," Roen ordered, his tone clipped, before the call cut without so much as a goodbye.
Eren lowered the phone slowly, unsettled by the abruptness. Something about Roen's voice—it wasn't his usual steady cadence. Almost as if he hadn't wanted to say too much.
"Change of plans," Eren told Lucas, his voice firm. "Take me back to the office."
"Yes, sir." The car made a smooth turn, retracing its path through the evening streets.
When they arrived, the building was eerily still. The lobby that had bustled earlier now echoed with silence. Even the guard at the entrance blinked in surprise at Eren's return.
"Overtime, sir?" the man asked as Eren strode toward the elevator.
Eren gave no reply. His instincts prickled—the subtle awareness unique to an Omega. Something about this felt off. The faint hum of the lights above, the emptiness pressing against his senses… as if the entire building were holding its breath, waiting for him to make his next move.
Eren stepped back into the lobby with the document in hand, his pulse unsteady. The elevator doors shut behind him, leaving him with the echo of his own thoughts. Everyone else was at Ulrick's anniversary, dressed in finery and glowing with anticipation. He was just the courier, the secretary sent back for a forgotten file.
As he approached the car, Lucas straightened and opened the door. "Did you get it, sir?" the driver asked, his tone polite but curious.
"I did," Eren answered, slipping inside. His voice was steady, but his scent betrayed him—tinged faintly with bitterness, the kind that Omegas could never completely mask. Lucas caught it; his nostrils flared almost imperceptibly before he started the car.
The ride back toward Ulrick Oasis was quiet at first, the city lights casting long streaks across Eren's face. His fingers traced the edge of the invitation letter on top of the folder. Everyone else had one. He had only stumbled upon his by accident.
"Is something wrong, sir?" Lucas asked at last, glancing at him in the rearview.
"Nothing." Eren forced a smile, though his scent soured again—doubt and sadness threading through the air. "Just tired."
Lucas hummed softly, unconvinced. "Strange, though. A man in your position… most would be honored to step inside Ulrick Oasis tonight. It's not every day the President himself sends someone here."
Eren's heart skipped, his Omega instincts twisting at the unspoken suggestion. He looked up sharply. "You mean… he wants me to attend?"
The driver didn't answer right away, but the corner of his mouth curved, almost knowingly. "All I know is this—Sir Adriel gave no other instructions. He said to bring you here. Nothing more, nothing less."
Eren turned toward the window. The hotel loomed ahead, brilliant under strings of light, its grandeur impossible to ignore. Through the glass doors, he caught glimpses of Alphas and Betas in sharp suits, the air around them carrying scents of confidence, wealth, and power.
He curled his fingers tighter around the document, his chest constricting. He wasn't dressed for this. He wasn't meant for this. And yet, even from a distance, he could almost feel Adriel inside—his Alpha presence like a steady hum at the edge of his awareness, tugging at him, daring him to cross the threshold.
"Can you wait for me here?" Eren asked softly, not trusting his voice to hold steady. "I'll give Roen the document, and then… we'll go back."
Lucas's eyes flicked to him in the mirror, sharp and searching. "If that's what you want, sir. But if you turn back now…" He paused deliberately. "You may regret it."
Eren's breath caught. The weight of the invitation in his lap felt heavier than ever. His body trembled, caught between instinct and fear, between duty and the Alpha who had sent him here.
Eren stepped out of the car, clutching the folder like it was the only thing anchoring him. "I'm not feeling well," he told Lucas, his voice low but steady. "Besides, Adriel will be busy tonight. I'll just hand this over to Roen and head back."
Lucas gave a curt nod, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. By the time Eren reached Roen, the sound of the car door shutting behind him snapped his head around. The engine hummed to life, and before he could even lift a hand, the vehicle pulled away from the curb.
"Hey!" Eren's voice cracked, carrying farther than he meant it to. His Omega scent spiked, sharp and restless, drawing a few curious looks from guests milling outside the hotel entrance. His chest tightened, anger and humiliation mixing in a bitter storm. Didn't he make himself clear?
Roen's steady presence broke through his spiraling thoughts. The Beta stepped closer, concern flickering in his calm gaze. "Why?" he asked softly, as though he could sense Eren's unease without needing the whole story.
"It's nothing," Eren muttered, shaking his head. He pressed the documents into Roen's hands, forcing a small, practiced smile. "Here. These are for the President."
"You're a lifesaver," Roen said with genuine warmth, his voice cutting through some of the tension in Eren's chest. For a moment, that steadiness grounded him.
But the reprieve was short-lived.