The great hall of Lucas's residence glowed under the crystal chandeliers. The polished floor reflected the shadows of the impeccably dressed family members and the faint scent of exotic flowers. Everything seemed calm, but the air felt tense, charged with unspoken menace.
Lucas stood near the entrance, one hand lightly touching Erven's back. The simple touch exuded a sense of possession and protection. Erven's eyes moved restlessly around the hall, stopping at Nathan, who arrived with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The smile was the mask of a predator.
Nathan (thinking): So this is the omega who took Lucas from me. Fragile, naive and perfect. I'll make him regret ever existing.
Brock stood near the head table, tall and silent, his eyes darting between Nathan and Lucas, a shield ready to protect. Paul was near Erven, his presence calming.
Alexander cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
Alexander: "Tonight is about family bonding and understanding each other's choices. Lucas has something important to share."
Lucas gripped Erven's hand tighter, his thumb tracing the bite marks at the base of Erven's neck. He could feel a subtle tremor under his fingers.
Lucas (softly, just for Erven): "Stay close. Let them talk. Don't look at him."
Erven (nervous): "I… I'll try but he looks at me, like he wants to—"
Lucas (cuts off, low and possessive): "He can look, but he won't touch. Not while I'm here. Never."
Dinner began with polite conversation, the sound of forks and spoons masking the hidden tension. Nathan forced a friendly tone, but every word was meant to challenge, to test boundaries.
Nathan (leaning towards Lucas, voice smooth): "So you've chosen. Omega, how fitting."
Lucas looked into his eyes calmly, but dangerously.
Lucas: "Not fitting. Fate. He's mine. And you, have no place here."
Nathan's lips curved into a dark smile.
Nathan (slowly, venomously): "Fate, huh? You think this little omega can hold me? That he won't fall apart in my hands?"
Brock, who had been silent until now, stepped forward a little, his voice low and threatening:
Brock: "One word, Nathan, and you will regret it. If anyone hurts Lucas or his partner, I will make sure you wish you had never set foot in this door. Understood?"
Nathan's expression slipped for a moment as he stared at the unwavering Brock. The eldest brother's presence alone exuded danger, a silent warning that he was not to be trifled with.
Nathan (through clenched teeth): "You… you think your family can protect him? You think your bond is enough?"
Lucas tightened his grip on Erven's hand, pulling him a little closer.
Lucas: "No matter how hard you try. He's mine. You will not touch him. Not now, not ever."
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
Nathan: "We'll see, Lucas. Every bond has a weak point… and I will find it."
The conversation ended there, but the threat lingered like smoke in the air. Erven's fingers instinctively gripped Lucas's hand, his heart rate increasing.
Erven (whispering): "I... I didn't expect... he hated me like this."
Lucas pressed his forehead to Erven's temple, his voice low and possessive:
Lucas: "He not only hates you... he hates that I chose you. That makes him dangerous. But he's not stronger than me. As long as I'm here."
Paul, sensing the tension, whispered in Erven's ear:
Paul: "Calm down. We'll take care of you. Nathan won't touch you as long as I'm here."
The family gathering continued politely, but tensely. Everyone was aware of the hidden tension. Nathan's gaze followed Erven's every move relentlessly, every glance a silent threat.
Lucas felt a surge of protective instinct. Erven's natural omega scent, faint but intoxicating, burned Lucas' senses. Erven's every movement, every anxious glance, set Lucas' alpha instinct ablaze. He had to protect this fragile, perfect being, who had become the center of his life.
Lucas (to himself, low and rough): "You're mine. Every breath, every heartbeat… all mine."
Brock, who had been silent all night, finally spoke up as Nathan neared the dessert table, observing:
Brock (calm, deadly): "Lucas, calm down. But know this—I have your back. Any attempt to touch her, Nathan would not only regret… he would be scared. I'll make sure of it."
Lucas looked at Brock gratefully, then at Erven, who blushed at the intensity.
Lucas (softly, to Erven): "See? You're not alone. Never."
Nathan, sensing the invisible barrier of protection, smiled again, but this time with an element of calculation. His anger thickened, smoldering. Every move Lucas made to protect Erven only increased Nathan's hatred.
Nathan (whispering to himself, loud enough for Lucas to hear): "Fate? You think this protects him… I'll show you what true obsession is. And your omega… he'll bear it."
Throughout the night, the tension thickened. The guests whispered, aware of the rivalry and the hidden danger. Erven's natural omega scent, faint but clear, drew Lucas closer, stirring a possessive and sensual energy between them.
At one point, Nathan's gaze locked on Erven as he laughed softly with Paul. The smile returned, colder this time, almost predatory.
Lucas realized, his muscles tensing with protective anger.
Lucas (low, almost growling): "Touch him, Nathan, and I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
Nathan just smiled, a smile that promised vengeance, obsession, and danger.
Brock, standing guard like a sentinel, gave Lucas a gentle nod. No words were needed—the message was clear: Lucas was not alone. His brother would defend him and Erven from any threat.
Erven's hand trembled slightly in Lucas's grasp, but his heartbeat was steady because of the protective aura around him. For the first time that night, he allowed himself a soft smile.
Erven: "I... I feel safe. With you."
Lucas pressed his finger to his lips, brushing Erven's cheek, possessive, intimate, soft and dark.
Lucas (whispering): "Always. No one touches you. Not Nathan. Not anyone. Mine... forever."
The night ended with the family gradually, but the shadow of Nathan's obsession and hatred still haunted every corner. Lucas and Brock exchanged glances, a wordless understanding formed between them. Nathan's threat was far from over, but together, they would protect what was theirs.
And in the midst of it all, Erven remained the focus of possessive desire, fierce protection, and the intoxicating dark romance that bound him to Lucas forever.