* * *
Ashton had known that Remy and Allen would be meeting in the garden.
The moment the fireworks began, he had come straight here, determined to prevent Remy from getting shot.
But to his surprise, it was Allen who had drawn the gun—and worse, he wasn’t pointing it at Remy.
He was aiming at himself.
This was nothing like the future Remy had described to him.
Completely thrown off, Ashton hesitated for only a moment before rushing forward.
He had to stop them.
If the struggle continued, Remy might end up hurt.
“Allen, please. Give me the gun.”
Allen froze as Ashton approached.
Somewhere along the way, Ashton must have overheard their conversation.
The realization alone made him feel like he was losing his mind.
He had drawn the gun hoping for sympathy, but now even that was slipping away.
His last desperate plan was crumbling.
“Ah…”
Tears welled up in Allen’s eyes in an instant.
It was over.
Completely, irrevocably over.
The flyers had already been distributed.
His secret had been exposed to Ashton.
There was no escape left for him now.
No place to run.
“Come on, Allen.”
Ashton extended his hand, calm and steady.
Allen’s grip on the gun began to loosen.
Sensing this, Remy also let go.
More than anything, he needed to make sure Allen didn’t die.
Taking the gun away from him was the priority.
“Hand it over.”
Ashton stepped closer, speaking softly.
Allen’s gaze wavered as he stared at the outstretched hand, his own trembling fingers clutching the pistol.
His pale face was streaked with tears.
“Allen.”
Ashton called his name with gentle reassurance.
He was reaching out, ready to take the gun—
“Hic!”
Suddenly, Allen tightened his grip on the pistol and twisted his aim.
Remy lunged at him.
The trigger, already set loose from its safety, was pulled.
And in the same instant—
Remy shoved the gun’s barrel away.
“Remy!!”
A deafening gunshot shattered the night, echoing through the silent garden.
“Remy! Remy!!”
A scream tore through the air.
Ashton rushed forward, his voice raw with panic.
Remy had collapsed, blood spreading across his abdomen.
Ashton cradled him in his arms, his screams nearly unhinged.
Allen, deathly pale, let the gun slip from his fingers.
It hit the ground with a dull thud.
He slumped where he stood, completely hollowed out.
Ashton pressed down on the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding.
His scent, thick with unstable pheromones, flooded the air—a raw manifestation of his fear of losing his omega.
Even in his fading consciousness, Remy instinctively reacted to Ashton’s scent.
His heavy eyelids fluttered open.
The world blurred, dimming at the edges.
His stomach burned, searing hot, as if fire had spread inside him.
But his limbs felt cold, growing numb.
“…Ashton.”
Calling his name was all he could manage.
The name of the alpha who stood beside him, even in the end.
The name of the alpha he was able to share his final moments with.
“Don’t talk, Remy. You’ll be fine. I’ll save you. Just hold on. Please, please, Remy.”
“…Ashton.”
Through his hazy vision, he could still see the tears streaming down Ashton’s face.
Oddly enough, they didn’t seem unfamiliar.
Strangely enough, he felt happy.
Maybe because it was truly over.
Or maybe… it was because he got to die in Ashton’s arms.
It would have been nice if they had more time together.
That belated thought filled him with regret, but even so—Remy was grateful.
Grateful that Ashton existed.
Grateful that he had been loved by him.
“…Thank you, Ashton.”
And with that, Remy closed his eyes for the last time, nestled in Ashton’s arms, wrapped in his scent.
“Remy…”
His hand slipped lifelessly to the ground.
“Remy…”
Even in death, he was beautiful.
As if he had simply fallen into a deep slumber, about to wake at any moment with a sleepy stretch.
“Remy, please. Remy…”
Ashton held him close, tears streaming down his face as he cried out into the empty night.
“Please, Remy!!”
“Move! Get a physician! Right now, get a physician!!”
Ashton burst into the palace, clutching Remy in his arms as if possessed.
Blood dripped from Remy’s abdomen, leaving a dark trail across the floor.
Gasps and screams erupted from the people around them.
Pushing through the panicked crowd, Ashton reached the main hall, where a palace attendant rushed toward him.
“What happened, Young Duke?”
“Remy’s been shot. Get a physician, now!”
“Please, bring him to the reception room. I’ll have a physician sent there immediately.”
Just then, Hayward arrived.
“Remy?”
The sight of Remy, drenched in blood, drained all color from Hayward’ face.
“Fuck, Ashton!”
Fury flared in Hayward’ eyes as he roared at Ashton.
“What the hell did you do to him?!”
“Your Highness, there’s no time for this. I’ll explain everything later. Right now, Remy—”
Ashton’s desperate plea shut Hayward up.
His hands trembled as he witnessed the unthinkable.
Despite being a dominant Alpha, he couldn’t keep his composure—not when the Omega he loved appeared before him, covered in blood.
He felt like he was losing his mind.
“Please, Your Highness.”
In the end, Hayward forced himself to focus.
Saving Remy was the priority.
He turned to the palace attendant and ordered,
“Bring the royal chief physician immediately. Take him to my quarters.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
At the mention of Hayward’ quarters, Ashton quickened his pace.
He knew that place.
It was where he had once gone to find Remy when he had been summoned to the castle.
“If anything happens to Remy… I’ll kill you, Ashton.”
Hayward’ eyes burned with rage as he marched alongside Ashton.
But even he had no choice but to hold back in the face of Remy’s critical condition.
He felt like he was going insane.
He had no idea how Remy ended up like this, but seeing him on the brink of death was unbearable.
Remy was the first Omega he had ever fallen for.
The first one he had ever wanted to claim as his mate.
He couldn’t let him go like this.
If anything happened to Remy, whoever was responsible would pay with their life.
“Remy!!”
From a distance, Rex spotted Remy’s bloodied figure and sprinted over.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the horrific sight.
His mind refused to process the scene before him, leaving him frozen in place.
His face grew pale, mirroring Remy’s lifeless complexion.
“Move! Don’t just stand there!”
Hayward’ sharp voice snapped Rex out of his stupor.
He stumbled aside, barely registering how he was shoved aside.
But he quickly recovered and hurried after Hayward, chasing after the blood-soaked Remy.
“Your Highness.”
“There’s no time. Begin the treatment immediately!”
The moment Ashton laid Remy on Hayward’ bed, the royal chief physician and his team rushed over.
They carefully examined Remy before turning to Ashton.
“What happened?”
“He was shot.”
“A gunshot wound? Do you know what kind of weapon it was?”
“A rifle.”
“And you brought him here immediately after he was hit?”
“Yes.”
As the chief physician continued his examination, the other doctors worked tirelessly to stop the bleeding and warm Remy’s chilling body.
The chief physician’s expression grew increasingly grim, deep furrows forming on his forehead—a sign that the situation was dire.
“How is he? Will he be okay?”
Hayward, who had been watching anxiously, pressed for an answer.
Ashton and Rex held their breath, awaiting the response.
“I… can’t make any promises yet. The young viscount’s health is fragile to begin with. We need to proceed with the surgery first and monitor his condition afterward.”
“…….”
“We’ll begin removing the bullet immediately. Everyone aside from the medical staff must leave the room.”
Right now, the only thing they could rely on was the chief physician’s words.
Left with no other choice, Hayward, Ashton, and Rex stepped out.
* * *
I hope he die and get back to the real world