Diamant's POV
Diamant stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, his hands behind his back, his posture calm and composed.
But inside, his mind was anything but.
The city below looked normal. Cars moved. People walked. The world continued as though nothing had changed.
As though Aiden hadn't disappeared like smoke.
Diamant's jaw tightened as he stared down at the streets. His men had searched every location Aiden could possibly run to. Every warehouse. Every safehouse. Every underground contact.
Nothing.
Not a single trace.
Not even a bloodstain.
It was impossible.
Aiden was cunning, yes. Cruel, yes. Manipulative enough to poison an Omega's life with lies and pain.
But he wasn't this powerful.
He wasn't the type of man who could vanish into thin air without leaving behind a single footprint.
Unless…
Diamant's fingers curled slightly.
Unless someone had taken him.
Or hidden him.
Or worse… was protecting him.
The thought alone made something cold twist in his chest.
He could handle threats. He could handle enemies. He could handle betrayal.
But Noah?
Noah was different.
Noah was soft in a world filled with knives.
Noah was precious
And Diamant had already failed him once.
He wasn't going to let that happen again.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," Diamant said, voice controlled.
Evan stepped inside with his usual sharp confidence, but his eyes were serious. No teasing today. No jokes. Not when the air itself felt heavy.
Evan shut the door behind him.
"You're thinking too loud," Evan said.
Diamant didn't turn. "I'm thinking realistically."
Evan walked forward, stopping beside him at the window. The two dominant alphas stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the city like kings watching a battlefield.
"The men said no trace?" Evan asked.
Diamant nodded once. "None."
Evan exhaled, his hand sliding into his pocket. "That's not Aiden. Even if he ran, he would've left something behind. A trail. A witness. A corpse. Something."
Diamant's eyes narrowed. "Exactly."
Silence fell between them, thick with tension.
Then Diamant spoke again, his voice low, dangerous.
"He's alive."
Evan didn't disagree.
"He's alive," Diamant repeated, "and someone is helping him."
Evan's gaze flickered toward Diamant. "Or someone is using him."
Diamant finally turned, his expression hard. "Noah is not safe until Aiden is dead."
Evan's face sharpened. "I know you're protective, but don't let your emotions cloud your strategy."
Diamant scoffed quietly. "You think this is emotion?"
Evan stepped closer. "I think it's fear."
That word struck like a slap.
Diamant didn't react outwardly, but something in his eyes darkened.
Evan continued, calmer now.
"You're afraid because Noah is the first thing in your life you can't replace. The first thing you can't control. And you're right to be afraid, because if Aiden resurfaces… he won't come for you."
Diamant's gaze became lethal.
"He'll come for Noah."
Evan nodded slowly.
"But that's why you don't rush," Evan said. "We observe first. We watch. We tighten security. We make the city a cage."
Diamant's fists clenched.
"I don't want a cage," Diamant said. "I want Aiden's head."
Evan gave him a long look. "And you'll get it. But not by acting like a feral alpha."
Diamant's eyes flashed.
Evan raised a brow. "Don't glare at me. I'm right."
Diamant exhaled sharply, turning away again, his gaze returning to the streets below.
His voice was quieter now, but colder.
"If Noah gets hurt again… I'll burn everything down."
Evan's expression softened slightly, but only slightly.
"I know," Evan said. "That's why I'm telling you to be smart."
Diamant didn't answer.
Evan placed a hand briefly on his shoulder, firm and grounding.
"We'll find Aiden," Evan said. "But until then, we move carefully. Someone out there is playing a deeper game than we expected."
Diamant's eyes narrowed again.
"A bigger enemy."
Evan nodded.
Then he stepped back.
"I'm heading out," Evan said. "I have my own methods. If brute force doesn't find him, maybe something else will."
Diamant's gaze shifted toward him. "Be careful."
Evan smirked faintly. "You're telling me to be careful?"
Diamant's expression didn't soften.
Evan paused at the door, then spoke without turning fully.
"Keep Noah close."
Diamant's voice was quiet, but absolute.
"I already am."
Evan left, the door closing behind him with a final click.
And Diamant stood alone again.
Watching.
Waiting.
And feeling something he hated more than anything.
Uncertainty.
Evan's POV
By afternoon, Evan's patience had been drained to the bone.
His office felt suffocating, filled with useless voices and incompetent men pretending to be useful.
The fifth hacker had just failed.
Evan stared at the screen as the man on the other side stammered excuses.
"I-I don't understand, Mr. Leigh. It's like his trail doesn't exist. It's… it's wiped completely."
Evan leaned forward slowly, his elbows resting on his desk.
His smile was calm.
Too calm.
"Are you telling me," Evan said, voice quiet, "that you're the best your industry can offer?"
The hacker swallowed.
Evan's smile widened.
"Because if you are," Evan continued, "then your entire industry is a joke."
The man paled. "S-sir—"
"Get out," Evan said.
The screen went dark.
Evan leaned back, pressing two fingers to his temple. His assistant stood stiffly nearby, clearly terrified of saying the wrong thing.
"Sir," the assistant began cautiously, "we've tried everyone we can reach. No one can track Aiden. It's like… someone scrubbed him clean."
Evan's eyes narrowed. "Someone did."
The assistant hesitated.
Then he spoke again.
"There is one name we haven't tried."
Evan's gaze sharpened. "Then say it."
The assistant cleared his throat. "Kian Silver."
Evan paused.
That name wasn't familiar, and that alone was interesting.
"Who?" Evan asked.
The assistant stepped forward with a tablet.
"Kian Silver. Final-year college student. Computer science. Underground reputation as the most skilled hacker in the country. Possibly even beyond."
Evan's brow lifted slightly. "A student?"
"Yes, sir," the assistant said. "He's young but… dangerous. He's known for refusing high-profile offers. He works alone."
Evan leaned forward, intrigued now.
"You reached out?" Evan asked.
The assistant nodded. "Yes. He refused."
Evan's lips curved faintly, amusement flickering.
"He refused me?"
The assistant swallowed. "Yes, sir."
Evan's eyes darkened, but not with anger.
With curiosity.
"Interesting," Evan murmured.