The penthouse was too quiet. Too cold. And Erven's absence felt like a knife twisting between Lucas's ribs.
He turned sharply to Paul, who had just returned from an assignment.
Lucas: "Where's Erven? Weren't you with him?"
Paul: "I—I sent him back, Lucas. He said he wanted to go straight home."
The muscles in Lucas' jaw tensed. The uneasiness in his chest grew, burning like wildfire.
Lucas (thinking): No. Something's wrong. He won't get lost. Not Erven.
Lucas was a trained killer. Trained to catch every little detail, to smell danger before it appeared.
And now, every instinct screamed that Erven was in danger.
He headed straight for his private room, opening a hidden drawer. Inside was a small black tracking device that he had slipped into Erven's coat without telling him.
For protection, Lucas said.But the truth was darker
He couldn't afford to lose him. Lucas activated the device.
A single blinking dot appeared.Faint. Faint. But moving.
Then it stopped.Lucas's breath froze a warehouse.
Southern region 3:00 AM.
His blood immediately ran cold, He called Paul.
Lucas: "Paul. Get ready. I found him. He's in a warehouse down south."
Paul (shocked): "What?! I'll get my gear now, wait a minute."
Lucas didn't wait.
He armed himself: a fully loaded pistol, a combat knife, reinforced tactical clothing. This was going to be a bloody night he knew it.
And he welcomed it.
Five of his men joined him, tense and ready. Paul arrived shortly after.
They drove through the darkness of the city, the car's headlights cutting through the night fog. Lucas's grip on the steering wheel was so tight that his knuckles were turning white.
Lucas: "Who do you think did this?"
Paul: "I… don't know. Not yet. But anyone."
Lucas: "I'll kill him."
His tone was low. Flat. Deadly.Not a threat.
A promise.
In the Warehouse — Erven Tortured
Erven lay tied to a metal chair, his wrists chained behind him, his ankles tied as well.
His clothes were torn. His skin was bruised, scratched, dragged across the rough floor.
His vision was blurry, his head was down weak.
Drops from the tube piercing his arm slowly flowed a drug that burned his body.
A drug designed to weaken omegas, disrupt the senses, sharpen panic and confusion.
Nathan stood in front of him, arms crossed, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
Cedric Nathan 27 years old.Heir to a wealthy family.
A lower omega but with power, status, and a haughty nature raised from childhood.
For years, no one had ever been good enough for him.
No alpha was worthy until Lucas.
Nathan accepted the engagement with pride.
He imagined himself standing by Lucas's side forever.
But then Lucas chose someone else.
An ordinary omega.
An omega with a fractured and traumatized past.
Nathan's teeth clenched tightly.
Nathan: "Look at you, you scoundrel. Lucas left me for this?"
Erven groaned weakly, trying to raise his head, but the drugs bound his body like chains.
Nathan snapped his fingers at the nearby mercenaries.
Nathan: "Make him understand. Make him afraid of Lucas. Make him leave our lives."
The men approached, holding Erven's chin, pushing his face roughly, forcing him to come to his senses through the pain.
Erven was shocked, his body shivering, trying to pull away.
Erven: "Please, don't."
His voice cracked weakly, full of fear.
Nathan slapped him hard, his head jerked to the side.
Nathan: "Shut up! You ruined everything!"
He grabbed Erven's hair, pulling him back cruelly.
Nathan: "When I'm done, you'll be begging Lucas to throw you out."
Erven let out a small, weak, broken sigh before his body drooped.
Nathan snorted.
Nathan: "Omega is useless."
Lucas Arrives Furious
The warehouse gate looms ahead.
Dark.
Quiet.
Isolated.
The perfect place for cruelty.
Lucas's heart beats against his ribs.He can smell Erven.
Even through the steel and concrete, the faint scent of his omega is still there, And it fuels his rage.
His obsession.
His madness.
Lucas (snarling): "Ready. We break in in thirty seconds."
Five guards take up positions.
Paul stands by Lucas's side, guns drawn.
Paul: "Lucas, be careful. Don't lose control."
Lucas: "It's too late."
He kicks the door as hard as he can.
Shots ring out.
The mercenaries turn but Lucas is much faster.
Three shots.
Three bodies fall.
His vision freezes.
He saw Erven.
Almost unconscious.
Tied up, bruised Given drug.
And a stranger's hand touched him.
Lucas lost his mind.
Lucas: "You touched him."
The voice was wildly hoarse, cracked with anger.
Lucas:"You touched what was mine."
He didn't hesitate.
He shot all the remaining ones without blinking.
Paul: "Lucas! We need one alive! To be questioned."
Lucas: "You take care of it. I don't want to see them again."
Lucas ran to Erven, took off his jacket and wrapped it around Erven's exposed body, covering his bruises, protecting his shivering body.
He lifted Erven's face slowly, his thumb touching the bruise on his cheek.
His heart felt like it was breaking.
Lucas (softly): "Erven, I'm here."
Erven's eyelids fluttered weakly.
Erven (stuck): "Lu..cas?"
Lucas touched his forehead to Erven's.
Lucas: "Forgive me. I really am sorry. I shouldn't have let you go alone. I shouldn't have let you out of my sight."
His voice trembled with emotion he had never shown anyone.
Lucas: "I will kill whoever did this to you. I swear."
He kissed Erven's temple softly, protective and desperate.
Behind them, Paul held a wounded man, pressing a gun to his head.
Paul: "Lucas… we have a lead. He's still alive. He knows who did it."
Lucas didn't turn around, He just hugged Erven tighter.
Lucas (whispering, calm but deadly):"Good.Tell him he'll talk before he dies."
Lucas lifted Erven into his arms, hugging him tightly, almost possessively.
Lucas: "No one will touch you again.
No one will hurt you again.
You are mine.
and I will destroy anyone who tries to take you."
He led Erven out of the warehouse, his anger cold, focused.
And behind that anger.
a dangerous obsession was growing.