* * *
Of course, Ashton wasn’t just any alpha.
In the original story, he had been Remy’s childhood friend, and since Remy’s reincarnation, Ashton had been the alpha who stayed by his side the longest.
‘Not to mention, we even made a heat cycle partner contract. But I can’t bring that up now. If I explain, he’ll think even worse of me.’
“Answer me. Are you saying it’s fine to spend a heat cycle with just any alpha?”
“No, Your Highness. That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what? At first, I thought it was a mistake. I told myself it must have been unavoidable. But what about the second time? Are you going to call that a mistake too?”
“No, it wasn’t… There were circumstances…”
“Then what were those circumstances?”
“…I can’t tell you.”
Hayward’s face twisted into a menacing scowl.
Only then did Remy realize how dire the situation had become.
And, as if to confirm his fears, the very thing he dreaded most began to unfold.
The faint yet unmistakable scent of pheromones from a dominant alpha started to fill the air.
“Ugh!”
Remi instinctively covered his nose and mouth with one hand.
He had firsthand experience of how overwhelming an alpha’s pheromones could be, and his body reacted on reflex.
“Hah!”
Hayward forcefully knocked Remy’s hand away.
With both wrists now restrained, Remy could only look up at him in sheer panic.
Hayward’s eyes, more feral than during the hunting trip, bore down on him like a predator about to strike.
“T-Your Highness…”
Hayward leaned in close, his face just inches from Remy’s.
A shiver ran down Remy’s spine as his skin broke out in goosebumps.
“I warned you, didn’t I?”
“…”
“I’m not very patient.”
Remi’s pupils quivered uncontrollably as a chill overtook his body.
“It doesn’t matter if you hate it. There’s no turning back now. I’ve already made up my mind.”
Before Remy could react, Hayward dragged him toward the bed.
With a loud thud, he threw Remy onto it, his shadow looming over him as he closed in.
At the time when Remy was struggling back at the castle, an unintended encounter between two Alphas in the drawing room of Count Wesley’s estate had them glaring daggers at each other.
“Ha. Ashton, you’re here again. Can’t go a single day without showing up, can you?”
“Funny hearing that from you.”
The two men in question were Ashton and Rex, who had only recently been at each other’s throats over Remy.
“You heard Remy say he doesn’t want you stepping foot in this house again, didn’t you?”
“Wasn’t that meant for you as well?”
“Perhaps. But I’ve been coming here since I was a newborn.”
“Thanks to your parents. And the situation’s changed now, hasn’t it?”
“It has. After all, Remy and I did go through a heat cycle together.”
“Why don’t you shut that mouth of yours? Blabbering about Remy’s private life like that doesn’t seem very gentlemanly.”
“I’m not much of a gentleman. I prefer the rougher approach. And coincidentally, Remy seems to like that too.”
“You’re insane.”
The two Alphas growled at each other, looking as if they’d devour one another if given the chance.
Mere days ago, they had been inseparable childhood friends.
Now, they were ready to kill each other with Remy caught in the middle.
‘How long does that bastard Ashton intend to keep bringing up the heat cycle? Should I have just let go of my self-control back in the carriage? Maybe I should have knotted Remy after all.’
Rex couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter.
He had refrained, deeming it an ungentlemanly act.
But thinking back, he regretted not going through with it.
If he had known Ashton would flaunt the heat cycle like this, he would’ve knotted Remy without hesitation—even if it meant dealing with the consequences of Remy fainting afterward.
‘And what’s with Chandler? He called me to the drawing room, so I assumed Remy was waiting. But to bring Ashton here as well?’
The situation felt off. After being thrown out of the Wesley estate, Rex had been trying repeatedly to see Remy, only to be turned away by Chandler each time.
Yet today, Chandler had allowed him in.
The same could be said for Ashton, who had faced similar rejections.
“Are you both here?”
As if to address their confusion, Chandler stepped into the drawing room.
The two Alphas, who had been glaring at each other from their seats, rose simultaneously.
“Where’s Remy?”
“Is he okay?”
Chandler couldn’t help but sympathize with his young master.
‘Poor young master. If being born beautiful is a crime, then so be it.’
The experienced butler masked his emotions behind a neutral expression as he addressed the two Alphas.
“Yes, the young master has recovered and went out earlier today.”
“What? Went out?”
Rex frowned.
He had stationed his trusted aide nearby, yet there had been no report of Remy leaving.
“Where did he go? Wasn’t he bedridden for days? Suddenly, he’s well enough to go out? Where exactly did he go?”
It was Ashton who voiced the questions in frustration. Chandler paused for a moment before replying in a grave tone.
“I have served the Wesley family for decades and am deeply committed to keeping this household’s affairs private.”
“We know, Chandler. Your loyalty to the Count is unquestionable.”
“Indeed. Which is why I cannot answer your question.”
“What?”
Then why had he called them here? Ashton was baffled but held his tongue.
“However,” Chandler added, “I can tell you this much.”
The two Alphas leaned in, their expressions growing serious.
“This morning, a royal messenger arrived.”
“A royal messenger?”
“Yes. Prince Hayward, who was on a diplomatic mission to Letrium, has returned to the Empire.”
“…!”
A realization dawned on both of them.
“Remy… was summoned by the Prince?”
“And he went to the castle alone to meet him?”
The implications were alarming.
It was common knowledge in high society that Prince Hayward had his sights set on Remy as a potential mate.
Usually, they would have been called to accompany Remy.
But for the Prince to summon him alone? It was undoubtedly dangerous.
“What will you do now? Will you stay here bickering, or…?”
Chandler’s words were left hanging as the two Alphas bolted from the drawing room without another word.
Watching their retreating figures, the butler sighed deeply.
“Young master, please stay safe,” he murmured before quietly leaving the room.
On a bed, Remy lay pinned beneath Hayward.
Though he was naturally frail, the overwhelming pheromones radiating from Hayward sapped him of any strength to resist.
The Prince gripped both of Remy’s wrists with one hand, lifting them above his head to restrain him, and claimed his lips.
As the searing kiss deepened, a slick, invasive tongue forced its way into Remy’s mouth.
Trembling with fear, Remy could only stare helplessly at Hayward.
The Prince’s silver hair sparkled beautifully under the sunlight, but to Remy, it was anything but beautiful.
The vague fear of Alphas he had harbored since a hunting trip now engulfed him completely.
He had thought the memory had faded over time, but being exposed to Hayward’s potent pheromones left him paralyzed.
‘No… I can’t… like this… I can’t do anything…’
For the first time, Remy felt utterly powerless.
He had thought rejecting Hayward’s advances would suffice.
But the Prince was far more unhinged and persistent than he had anticipated.
This was the same man who had once sent him animal carcasses as gifts—a lunatic through and through.
Hayward released his lips with a low chuckle.
Wiping the saliva from Remy’s lips, he murmured, “I didn’t want to resort to this, but…”
His hand trailed downward.
“…seeing you so helpless is unexpectedly thrilling.”
Remy’s body flinched.
The predatory glint in Hayward’s eyes and the sensations from below made it impossible to remain still.
This was worse than the time he had been grabbed by a gang of Betas on the street.
Back then, adrenaline and desperation had spurred him to escape.
But now, even that resolve was absent.
All that remained was fear—fear of the Alpha looming over him.
That gaze alone froze him in place, filling him with a deep sense of despair.
* * *
