* * *

Rather than being startled, he seemed to feign surprise, as if trying to act the part.

“When did you prepare this? Thank you, Remy.”

He reached out for the bouquet, which Remy handed over despite the storm raging in his chest.

‘Push him. Push him now, Remy. If you don’t, you’ll never escape this world. Do it!’

But no matter how much his head screamed, his heart wouldn’t let him act.

Pushing someone down the stairs—could he really do something so monstrous?

What if Allen got seriously hurt?

What if he broke a leg, or worse?

‘This is insane…’

Lost in his internal struggle, Remy suddenly felt Allen’s arm snake around his waist.

“Allen?”

“Thank you, Remy,” Allen murmured softly, his eyes narrowing in a way that sent a shiver down Remy’s spine.

Before Remy could process what was happening, Allen’s grip tightened.

“Allen, what—?”

“Sorry, Remy. No one will ever believe anything you say.”

“What are you—”

Before he could finish, Allen shoved him hard.

Remy’s body pitched forward, and he hurtled toward the staircase.

‘No way!’

The edge of the stairs loomed closer.

Panic overtook him, his thoughts grinding to a halt.

He couldn’t even scream.

Would he die?

Would he break something?

A thousand fears flooded his mind in that fleeting moment.

“Remy!”

A voice called out just as he was about to fall, and strong arms caught him mid-air.

“Hngh…”

Shaken but unharmed, Remy found himself cradled in someone’s arms.

His rescuer held him tight as he trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the near-death experience.

“H-hic…”

His body, instinctively seeking protection, began to emit a chemical signal—a rich, intoxicating scent, like crushed white blossoms at their peak.

The Alpha holding him stiffened, his eyes darkening as the fragrance seeped into him, awakening primal instincts.

“Remy…”

As Hayward inhaled the scent of pheromones that Remy emitted for the first time, he was utterly entranced.

The fragrance was beyond beautiful—an intoxicating allure that seized his senses entirely.

Adding to that, Remy, fragile and delicate in his arms, evoked an overwhelming desire to protect him.

Ever since they had arrived at the summer villa, Hayward had felt a gnawing uncertainty.

But now, he was certain.

This omega…

“Remy, I’m here.”

…had to be his.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay by your side.”

He would make him his own.

“You understand, don’t you? Remy?”

The conviction was absolute.

As if responding to Remy’s anxious pheromones, Hayward began releasing a powerful wave of his own.

His pheromones surged with an unrestrained possessiveness, pressing the frail omega to yield entirely.

The intensity was overwhelming.

Remy’s tightly shut eyes fluttered under the oppressive pheromone shower, his consciousness teetering on the edge.

“Hnn, ah…!”

Remy’s breathing quickened under the brutal onslaught of Hayward’s pheromones, which rapidly filled the ballroom, affecting both alphas and omegas present.

The omegas trembled in fear, while even the alphas scowled, unable to suppress their discomfort.

This was no mere show of dominance; it was an unequivocal declaration.

Any alpha who dared to lay a hand on this omega would face dire consequences.

The atmosphere of the grand hall became tense, with confusion rippling through everyone present.

Yet none were as bewildered as Allen.

He hadn’t anticipated this dramatic turn of events when he pushed Remy down the stairs, hoping to prevent him from joining the upcoming hunting expedition.

He just wanted to sideline Remy, not ignite Hayward’s pheromonal storm.

‘Damn it. His pheromones… It’s all spiraling out of control. I have to act fast, say something, anything…’

“Remy! Are you okay?”

Allen rushed over, gasping as the intensity of Hayward’s pheromones struck him like a physical blow.

“Oh no, Remy. How could you miss a step and fall down the stairs so suddenly?”

Feigning concern, Allen pretended he had no hand in the incident.

To add to his performance, he collapsed dramatically beside Remy, playing the part of a delicate omega overwhelmed by the scene.

“Allen!”

Someone immediately rushed to Allen’s aid, supporting his limp form.

His followers scrambled, fanning him and fetching water, a stark contrast to their earlier indifference when Remy fell.

They hadn’t lifted a finger to help then, merely watching as though it were a spectacle.

Now, all eyes in the ballroom shifted from Remy to Allen, who soaked up the attention, playing the role of the suffering omega to perfection.

Meanwhile, Hayward, still holding Remy, rose to his feet.

He handed the unconscious omega to Ashton, who had just pushed through the crowd.

Then he approached Allen, who still appeared dazed.

Bending close to Allen’s ear, Hayward whispered in a low, menacing voice.

“Pheromones don’t lie.”

Allen’s eyes widened in shock as Hayward’s dominant pheromones threatened to suffocate him, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“Next time, remember what it means to cross an extreme alpha.”

Straightening, Hayward smirked coldly at Allen’s pale, quivering form.

“I’m taking Remy.”

With that, he retrieved Remy from Ashton’s arms and carried him out, just as he had after the football match.

Remy, utterly exhausted from releasing his pheromones, lay limp, his body drenched in cold sweat.

As Hayward walked through the grand hall, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, making way for him.

Though whispers threatened to spill from their lips, none dared to speak aloud while the favored third prince remained in sight.

Silence hung heavy, as though the room itself feared Hayward’s wrath.

The ballroom, meant to celebrate Allen’s birthday, was now shrouded in a chilling stillness.

---

Early morning.

Remy woke with a start, his voice breaking the silence of the dawn.

His body was drenched in cold sweat, his pale face void of color, lips once rosy now drained of life.

“Hah… Hah…”

His breath came in ragged gasps.

His head throbbed painfully, and despite the warmth of his blanket, an unbearable chill wracked his body.

Trembling violently, he clutched the blanket tighter, but the cold persisted.

“So cold… So cold…”

Curled up like a vulnerable caterpillar, he shivered uncontrollably.

Then, a hand gently rested on his head.

“Mm… mmm…”

Slowly, the trembling subsided.

Even in his semi-conscious state, the warmth of that touch brought a faint sense of comfort, reminiscent of being cradled in a mother’s embrace.

Instinctively, Remy reached for the hand and pulled it closer.

“Warm… It’s so warm…”

He rubbed his face against the hand like a child seeking solace, letting it graze his cheeks, eyelids, and lips.

Each touch seemed to dispel a fragment of his unease.

The warmth enveloped him, easing his fears and lulling him into a peaceful state, as though he could fall into a deep, undisturbed sleep.

“So warm…”

The hand on his face paused, its fingertips brushing over his soft, parted lips.

The texture was tender, inviting.

Unable to resist, the fingers lightly stroked his lips before slipping inside.

“Hnngh…”

Warm and slick, Remy’s mouth enveloped the intruding fingers.

They moved slowly, exploring every inch, gliding over the sensitive interior, teasing his delicate palate.

“Ah…!”

A soft moan escaped Remy’s lips.

The tender strokes inside his mouth sent a warmth spreading through his chest, a heat that seemed to coil deep within.

His breathing quickened, and his body arched slightly, responding to the stirring sensation building within.

“Mm… Ah…”

The sound of quickened breaths filled the room as the finger pressed deeper, invading a space never touched before.

It was as if tracing finely woven velvet, the texture beneath his fingertip soft, yielding.

The sensation was both foreign and intoxicating—a tongue stroking against smooth silk.

The finger slid in, brushing against the sensitive roof of the mouth, advancing until it reached the back of the throat.

A gentle yet insistent pressure bore down on Remy’s tongue, the finger moving rhythmically, coaxing.

Though it was only a single digit, an unfamiliar heat spread through Remy’s body, growing with every passing moment.

Overcome by a consuming warmth, Remy instinctively raised both hands.

He grasped the hand that played with his tongue, and his half-lidded eyes fluttered open.

The moist sheen of his gaze was hazy, unfocused, his vision blurred by the overwhelming sensations.

At the boundary of unclear perceptions, one thing remained vividly clear.

Thirst. An unquenchable, aching desire.

“So… hot…”

Remy tugged the large hand further down.

* * *