Chapter 37: Bloodlines and Betrayals

Third Person POV

The dim glow of the light on Crest's room flickered as Silver carefully slid his father's journal into his jacket. His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear—but from the sheer loathing curdling inside him. He had seen what lay within those pages. The horrors. The depravity. The twisted mind of the man who called himself his father.

Just as he inserted the journal, the door of the room creaked open.

Crest.

Silver's spine stiffened, and he turned, his face devoid of emotion, masking the revulsion bubbling underneath.

"Silver?" Crest's voice was smooth, almost amused. His lips curled into that unnerving grin, one that never reached his eyes. "What exactly are you doing in my room?"

Silver met his father's gaze without flinching. "I was waiting for you, Father. I didn't know where you were."

A lie, effortlessly spoken.

Inside, his blood boiled, his fists clenched at his sides. Every fiber of his being recoiled at the sight of Crest, at the monster who had tainted his very existence.

Crest tilted his head, still smiling. "And what do you need from me, my son?"

Silver forced his voice to remain steady. "I need to borrow your car. There's somewhere I need to go."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Crest took a slow, deliberate step forward. And another. His movements were graceful, predatory, each step laced with something insidious. That smile of his never wavered, yet it carried an eerie weight—a silent threat wrapped in feigned affection.

Silver's fingers curled into tight fists, his nails biting into his palms. He refused to show weakness.

Crest finally reached him, slipping a hand into his pocket. Slowly, he pulled out a set of keys and held them out.

"Take it." His voice was low, almost affectionate. But there was something else beneath it, something that made Silver's skin crawl. "Drive safely, Silver."

Silver took the keys without hesitation, his expression cold, detached. He turned on his heel, eager to escape his father's suffocating presence.

But just as he reached the door—

"Silver." Crest's voice stopped him in his tracks.

He didn't turn.

"Don't damage my car," Crest murmured. A pause. "That's all."

Silver walked out without another word.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Crest turned back to the vault only to find out his journal is missing, and his smile stretching wider. He could tell it had been touched, moved—read.

But he wasn't angry.

He was delighted.

His eyes gleamed with something sinister as he gazed toward the closed door. Everything was falling into place.

"Safe travels to the Omega Secret Facility, my dear Silver." His voice dripped with cruel amusement. "Say hello to your mother for me. Let's see if he'll recognize you as his own. At least, make him fond of you so you can control his power."

Chuckling under his breath, Crest turned away, making his way toward Alpha King Theron's chambers. He had a different game to play tonight.

...

Crest stopped just outside Theron's chamber, his ears picking up the quiet conversation within.

Inside, Henry stood beside the massive bed where the Alpha King lay. Theron's bare chest rose and fell with labored breaths, his body betraying the weight of the poison coursing through his veins.

"A venom is spreading through your system, Alpha King," Henry murmured, his voice heavy with restrained urgency. "A slow poison—weak at first, but as it lingers, it erodes your resilience. Your strength will wither, and soon, your body will follow."

Theron remained still, his gaze locked on Henry. Then, with effort, he reached out and grasped the Henry's wrist.

Henry stiffened.

For a moment, neither spoke. Henry's breath hitched as he looked down at the Alpha King's hand, his grip unshaking despite his weakening state.

"Henry." Theron's voice was strained, yet firm. "You will do whatever it takes to heal me."

Henry swallowed hard, his body tense. The weight of those words settled heavily on his shoulders.

He hesitated.

Theron's fingers tightened around his wrist.

"You owe me everything, Henry." The Alpha King's voice dropped to something colder. "For your life."

A sharp intake of breath. Henry's fingers twitched.

He remembered.

The reason he was still breathing. The reason he had not perished or hunted like the others. It was because of him.

Theron.

Henry pulled his hand free, clutching it as though it burned.

"You owe me," Theron repeated, watching him closely. "You know why I spared you. Why you are still standing here despite being Voder's kin."

Henry's breath quickened. The weight of old ghosts pressed upon his chest. The past clawed at him, whispering in his ears.

He should let the poison do its work. Let this monster fade into the abyss.

But he couldn't.

His hands were made for helping, not for killing.

Even for a man as vile as Theron.

"Henry," the Alpha King said again, softer this time. "You live because of me."

A moment of silence.

Then, Henry whispered, his voice trembling with restrained fury, "And because of you, my family suffered."

Theron merely smiled. "Power demands sacrifice."

Henry clenched his jaw.

"You're insatiable," he spat. "Greedy. You'd rather rot the world around you than lose control."

Theron tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "And yet, despite all of that, I would never let you die. You clearly know why."

Henry flinched.

The cruelty. The mockery. The sickening truth in Theron's words.

No matter how much Theron destroyed, no matter how much pain he caused—he would always spare him.

Because keeping him alive was a far crueler fate.

Henry shut his eyes, memories clawing their way to the surface.

This was his curse.

And Theron knew it.

...

...

...

Henry's POV

I can still remember what happened between us, me and Theron, before the time where everything was still in control.

...

The university library was dimly lit, a quiet sanctuary of knowledge where I often sought refuge. Stacks of books towered around me like protective walls, their scent of aged paper and ink a comforting presence. But, my focus wasn't on Omega males or political theory—no, my attention was elsewhere.

In my hands, I held a massive hardcover on Laws and Politics, its weight solid against my fingers. But behind it, concealed from prying eyes, lay the true object of my attention—a much smaller book, one that held the secret I had buried deep within myself.

I was careful. Always careful. No one could know what I was reading, what thoughts occupied my mind when I was alone.

But then—

A voice.

"Quite the intense topic you got there, Henry."

A breath ghosted against my skin, dangerously close to my ear.

My body tensed. I turned my head sharply, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw him.

Theron.

His face was mere inches from mine, a teasing smirk curling his lips. He wasn't just reading over my shoulder—he was right there, so close that I could feel his warmth.

I swallowed hard.

He tilted his head, eyes flicking to the book in my hands.

"A novel about a Beta male secretly desiring an Alpha?" He mused, his voice laced with amusement.

My stomach dropped.

"Theron?" My voice came out in a whisper.

Reality snapped back into focus. In a rush, I slammed the book shut, as if that could erase what he had just seen.

But his smirk only deepened.

"Why so secretive? I already saw it." He leaned in again, his voice low, teasing. "It's not like I'd judge you... well, not too harshly." A pause. "I never would've guessed you had a thing for Alpha males like me, Henry."

My heart pounded wildly in my chest, my breath hitching. Why was he looking at me like that?

Theron's gaze sharpened as he studied me. "Hey, Henry, are you alright?" His brows furrowed as he suddenly reached out, placing his palm against my forehead.

The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me, and my eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment.

"No fever." He murmured before pulling back.

I still didn't speak. I couldn't.

Frowning slightly, he waved his hand in front of my face. "Are you even registering what's happening right now?"

I flinched, blinking rapidly, then swatted his hand away. "What the hell are you even doing here?" I snapped, desperate to shift the conversation.

Theron crossed his arms, feigning innocence. "Well, I saw you reading Laws and Politics and figured I'd hear your thoughts as you know I have a keen knowledge about it. But it turns out... you were reading something far more interesting."

His smirk returned.

"Does Voder know?"

Cold fear spiked through me.

"No one knows, Theron," I said quickly, my voice quiet but firm. "And you will not tell anyone about this, especially my father. He thinks lowly of me already, I don't want him to think less of me than what it is."

He leaned against the table, a lazy confidence in his posture. "And if I do tell him?" His grin turned sharper. "What exactly would you do, Henry? You're just a Beta. I'm an Alpha. I can do whatever I want."

Anger flared in my chest. "Just—just go away."

"Don't get mad, I'm just messing with you," he chuckled. And then—

He reached out and touched my cheek.

My breath caught.

I stared at him, frozen.

His fingers, warm and firm, brushed lightly against my skin, tilting my chin just enough to make me look directly into his piercing gaze.

My pulse pounded in my ears.

And then, his thumb...

It dragged across the corner of my lips.

Slow. Deliberate.

I couldn't breathe.

Theron's smirk widened. "You do have soft lips, Henry." His voice dropped to a whisper, almost thoughtful. "I wonder if these lips have been touched by an Alpha?"

Then, his thumb traced downward, his touch lingering at my lower lip before finally retreating.

I remained utterly still.

Shaken. Confused.

And then—

Without warning, he grabbed my right hand, his grip firm and unrelenting—and before I could react, he guided it straight to his 'arousal'.

A violent shock coursed through my entire body.

My breath hitched.

My eyes widened in sheer disbelief, my pulse hammering against my ribs like a caged animal.

What the hell was he doing?!

Panic surged through me, and in an instant, I ripped my hand away, snatching it back as if I had been burned.

He only grinned, completely unbothered, his eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.

"Come on now," he murmured, tilting his head slightly, voice dripping with mockery. "Why pretend?"

He leaned in, his smirk widening, his tone dropping into something low and taunting.

"I know you want to touch 'it', and know what it feels like how big an Alpha is." he whispered, his gaze locked onto mine. "So why don't you stop playing dumb and read my body instead?"

A hot wave of humiliation crashed into me.

My face flushed instantly, burning with mortification as I whipped my head away, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Are you insane?!" I sputtered, my voice betraying my flustered state. "What the hell are you even saying?! Read your body?!"

I could feel his gaze piercing into me, still wearing that damn smirk as if he was enjoying every second of my suffering.

I hated that he had the upper hand.

I hated that my body betrayed me with this unbearable heat coiling in my stomach.

But most of all—

I hated that he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

What he did next is leaned his face closer as his lips brushed my ear.

"I have a secret to tell you, Henry..." His breath sent a shiver down my spine.

I felt his fingers ghost over my throat, his touch barely there, yet devastating.

His voice was nothing more than a whisper.

"I'm burning up right now."

A pause.

"Would you like to help me... cool down?"

I froze.

His lips hovered just above my skin, his meaning unmistakable.

"I could take you, right here, right now." His voice was deep, almost a purr. "Even though you're just a Beta, not just your body, but your intelligence is so damn attractive to me. I could mark you. Break you. Make you mine."

Heat pooled in my stomach, a foreign, terrifying sensation.

What... what was he doing to me?

His face dipped lower, his breath warm against my neck.

And then—

I jolted violently, my grip tightening around the book as a wet, hot sensation spread over my skin.

Theron's tongue dragged slowly across the sensitive dip of my neck, warm and deliberate, leaving behind a trail of heat that sent a violent shudder through my entire body.

The sensation crashed into me like a tidal wave—thrilling in its intensity, terrifying in its implications, and utterly forbidden. It was the kind of touch that set every nerve in my body ablaze, the kind that threatened to unearth every secret I had fought to keep buried.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening.

And yet, my body betrayed me.

My chest rose and fell rapidly, struggling to keep pace with my erratic heartbeat. My breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, as if I had forgotten how to breathe altogether. The space between us felt suffocating, charged with something dangerous, something I wasn't ready to name.

Theron finally pulled back, but the ghost of his touch lingered, branding me. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, sharp and predatory, drinking in every detail of my reaction.

I was panting.

And he knew.

He had seen it—the way my body responded to him, the way my control had cracked in that single moment.

He knew everything.

"You're trembling, Henry." His voice was low, almost mocking. "Tell me... what exactly are you feeling right now?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. No. I wouldn't answer him.

But he wasn't done.

Before I could react, his hand dropped lower—

And grabbed 'mine'.

A choked gasp tore from my throat as his fingers wrapped around my manhood, squeezing just enough to confirm what he already suspected.

Theron chuckled.

"Well, well..." His voice, laced with wicked amusement. "It looks like your manhood has already answered for you."

I jerked back, shoving him away with enough force that my chair scraped against the floor.

His smirk turned feral.

And I knew—

This wasn't over.

Theron's grip was firm, almost possessive, as he seized my head and forced me closer.

"This is what you want, isn't it?" Theron's voice was a low, seductive growl. "An Alpha male's body? To touch it, to claim it as your own? A Beta's forbidden desire." His fingers tangled into my hair, his hold almost possessive.

His fingers tightened, sending a shiver down my spine.

"I'll give it to you." His voice was a whisper of temptation. "But only if you do as I say."

A pause.

"And if you refuse?" His tone darkened, cruel amusement flickering in his eyes. "Then I'll tell them your little secret."

My breath caught.

"How do you think Voder will react when he finds out his beloved little brother desires Alpha males?" Theron continued, his lips curling into a wicked smirk. "He might never look at you the same way again. What if he thinks you want him? What if he's disgusted by you?"

The thought sent a chilling wave through my entire body, a slow, creeping dread that wrapped around my spine like a vice. It wasn't just fear—it was something deeper, something colder, something unforgiving.

My jaw tightened as I lifted my gaze to meet Theron's, my eyes burning with defiance, with hatred. But beneath the surface, beneath the barely restrained fury, another emotion stirred—a quiet, insidious fear that I couldn't ignore.

Because the worst part?

The part that made my stomach twist and my chest ache?

He was right.

If Voder ever found out the truth—if he discovered this part of me, the part I had buried so deeply—I would lose him.

The only person who had ever stood beside me. The only one who had ever protected me. The only one who made me feel like I was more than just a Beta, more than something disposable.

He would leave me.

He would never look at me the same way again.

And just like that, the bond we had—the only thing that had ever truly mattered—would shatter beyond repair.

Theron watched me struggle, his amusement growing.

"Well, Henry?" His voice was silk and steel. "What's your answer?"

I swallowed hard. My pride screamed at me to walk away, to fight back.

But my fear—my longing—kept me rooted in place.

"... What's your condition?" I forced out.

Theron grinned.

"Your mind," he said simply. "Your intelligence, your knowledge. That is what I want."

I blinked. "What?"

"I've been watching you," Theron admitted, his voice softer now. "Your persistence, your ambition... The way you fight to prove yourself despite being just a Beta. It's admirable. That's what I like about you. That's what makes me attracted to you."

I stiffened.

He likes me? An Alpha has feelings for a Beta like me?

"And because of that," he whispered, "I can't stop watching you. I can just mark you if I want to. Nothing will happen to your body though since you are a Beta."

His words sent something electric through me, something dangerous.

A lump formed in my throat.

A shiver ran through me.

I had always imagined this moment—the day an Alpha would see me, acknowledge me. I had dreamed of hearing those very words.

And now that I had...

I hated that it was him.

I swallowed against the heat pooling in my stomach.

And yet, even as my mind screamed in protest, my body reacted. Heat coiled deep inside me, spreading like wildfire.

And with that... I gave myself to him.

Because in my mind, which Alpha would dare like or lust over a Beta? This is my only chance to know how or what it feels like to be claimed by an Alpha.

To know what it feels like to be treated like an Omega being claimed by an Alpha.

I will let Theron use my body to sate his desires. I wanted to feel it as well.

I wanted to know how it feels like for my body to be used by a strong Alpha male, a fetish I never told anyone.

...

And after that night, I wanted no one else.

The first time was a transaction—his desire for my mind, my desperation to keep my secret safe. But it didn't stop there. Again and again, I gave myself to him, losing myself in the fire of his touch, in the dominance of his presence.

Whenever I am in the library, he'll always be there to see me and we'll do it somewhere.

I only wanted him.

I should have known better.

But Theron... I don't really know if he cared for my feelings.

Not like I did.

For him, it was physical. A means to an end. A way to satisfy his urges. My feelings were insignificant. My devotion, meaningless. And I accepted that.

I convinced myself it was enough.

That it didn't matter that he would never love me back.

And yet... I still went back to him.

Every chance we had, we indulged in what we weren't supposed to.

No one knew. No one could know.

It was our secret.

I despised myself for it.

For craving the touch of the man who betrayed my family. For loving the very person I should have hated.

I was weak.

But Theron—despite everything—never let me die.

Even when he tore my world apart, even when he was ruthless to everyone else, he made one promise:

"I will never kill you, Henry. I cannot afford to lose you."

And I believed him.

That terrified me more than anything else.

Theron was a man who played with power as if it were his birthright, who wielded words like weapons and never spoke without intent. He was dangerous, manipulative, and utterly relentless. And yet, when he said he had been watching me—when he confessed, in his own twisted way, that he saw me, that he noticed me—I believed him.

And that was the most terrifying part of all.

Because despite the games, the coercion, and the way he used me for nothing more than his own pleasure, a part of me had always wanted to be seen by him. A part of me had always wanted to matter.

And now, I was standing on the edge of a choice I never thought I would face.

Do I save him?

Do I use my hands—the same hands that have healed, the same hands that have memorized every inch of his body—to preserve his life?

Or do I let him die?

If I walk away, if I let the poison take its course, then all the suffering he caused—the pain, the betrayal—it all ends with him.

And yet...

If he dies...

I will mourn him.

The realization clawed at my chest like something vile and inescapable.

Because no matter how much he hurt me, no matter how much he took from me without ever giving anything in return, he was still the only person who had ever made me feel what I really wanted from the start.

And I hated myself for it.

I hated the way my body still ached for him, even as my mind screamed for justice. I hated the way my heart clenched at the thought of never hearing his voice again, never feeling his touch, never seeing him again.

Because even now, even after everything—

I don't know if I can live in a world without him, without Theron.

...

...

...

Third Person POV

Theron's grip was firm, his fingers curling around Henry's hand as he gazed deep into his eyes. The weight of his words lingered between them, thick with unspoken truths and tangled emotions.

"Henry, you know I'm the only one who can give you what you truly desire," he murmured, his voice low, almost hypnotic.

Henry's breath hitched. The turmoil inside him was unbearable. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing back the tears threatening to escape.

"Why is it you? Why does it have to be you?" Henry whispered, his voice laced with pain, his body trembling under the weight of his emotions.

Theron exhaled, his expression unreadable, yet his grip never loosened.

"Because I also want you, Henry." His voice was quiet, but heavy. "I don't know why I feel this way for a Beta like you. I've never felt it with any Omega female I've been with. Not even Alaric. I only wanted to mark him for his power, but beyond that... nothing. But you, you are so precious."

Henry inhaled sharply, his chest tightening.

"Are you just trying to trick me with your sweet words to help you out?" Henry asked.

He didn't want to hear this. He couldn't hear this.

Not now. Not when he was trying so desperately to hold himself together.

"No, everything I said is the truth."

Taking a deep breath, he steadied his voice. "I will do everything in my power to heal you, Theron. But now that your life rests in my hands, I have some conditions."

Theron's gaze sharpened. "And what would that be?"

Henry lifted his chin, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"I want you to renounce your throne. Step down as Alpha King and return the crown to the one who truly deserves it."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Theron's jaw tensed. His fingers twitched against Henry's hand.

"That's a bold demand," he muttered. "You know how much I sacrificed to claim this throne."

Henry's expression didn't waver. "Then if you cannot give up the crown, at least give up the lie," he pressed. "Tell the world the truth. That Alaric was never responsible for my father's death. That he never wanted it. That he is not a monster. That Omega males—like him, like Champ—are just as worthy of ruling as any Alpha."

Theron was silent for a long moment.

Then, slowly, he exhaled.

Before he could answer, a presence stirred outside the door.

Listening. Waiting.

Crest.

A wicked smirk twisted across his lips, his sharp eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Well, well..." he murmured to himself. "What an interesting little secret Theron has been keeping. I didn't know he has a thing for a Beta like Henry."

But then his grin darkened.

"But what if I added Henry to my list of people to bury beneath the ground?"

His fingers curled at his side, his pulse quickening in excitement.

"Henry holds his life in his hands? Hah... I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen."

A slow chuckle rumbled in his throat before he knocked on the door, disrupting the fragile moment between the two men inside.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Brother?" Crest's voice was laced with false sweetness as he pushed the door open, slipping his head inside. His lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Oh? Doctor Henry! What a surprise! I didn't realize you were here."

Theron's expression hardened instantly. His grip on Henry's hand tightened for just a second before he let go, turning his full attention to his brother.

"What the hell are you doing here, Crest?" he snapped, his voice sharp, full of warning.

Crest stepped inside casually, as if he owned the room. "Oh, nothing too important. I just wanted to speak with you."

"Can it wait?" Theron growled. "I already know it'll be nonsense."

Crest grinned, his next words deliberate. Calculated.

"But what if I told you..." he paused, dragging out the moment before delivering his final blow.

"Silver has gone to the Omega Secret Facility."

The room went still.

Henry's breath caught.

Theron's entire body stiffened.

"What did you just say?"

Crest's smirk widened.

"I said," he repeated slowly, relishing the chaos he was about to create, "Silver snuck into the Omega Secret Facility. I don't know what exactly he plans to do there, but—he stole my car to get there. Maybe he finally found out about Alaric and wants to claim the Omega male for himself?"

Henry's eyes widened.

Theron was already moving.

Without another word, he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, muscles coiled with urgency, his movements sharp, deadly.

Henry stepped forward. "I'm going with you."

Theron froze mid-step, then turned to him, his expression dark.

"No," he said flatly. "You're staying here."

Henry scowled. "Alpha King, I—"

"You will not leave my estate," Theron cut him off. "There are Alpha males stationed at every corner. You won't be able to step foot outside without my permission."

Henry clenched his fists, frustration seething beneath his skin.

Behind them, Crest chuckled, stepping further into the room.

"Don't worry, brother," he said smoothly. "I'll take good care of Henry while you're gone. Trust me with him."

Theron's eyes narrowed, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

But there was no time.

He clicked his tongue in irritation before storming out of the room, leaving Henry and Crest alone.

And that's when Henry felt it.

The shift in the air.

The slow, creeping dread crawling up his spine.

Crest's voice dropped to a whisper.

"Tell me, Henry..."

Henry stilled.

Before he could turn, Crest's body was already pressing against his back, his breath hot against his ear.

"What do you think will happen to my dear brother," Crest murmured, his tone almost mockingly soft, "if you're not there to keep him alive?"

Henry's stomach dropped.

"What... do you mean?"

Crest hummed, his lips brushing dangerously close to his skin.

"Hmm, I don't know..." he mused. And then, without warning—

A punch landed straight into Henry's stomach.

A vicious, merciless blow.

Pain exploded in his gut, a choked sound escaping his lips as his body doubled over, his legs threatening to give out beneath him.

Crest caught him before he could collapse, his arms wrapping around Henry's weakening body like a snake coiling around its prey.

"Oops," Crest chuckled. "Looks like you're a little fragile, Henry."

Henry couldn't breathe. His vision blurred, his limbs growing heavy as the pain throbbed deep in his core.

Crest leaned in closer, his voice dripping with cruel amusement.

"Don't worry. I won't kill you... yet." His grip on Henry's limp body tightened. "I just want to see how my dear brother reacts when his little doctor suddenly disappears."

His smirk widened, pure malice gleaming in his eyes.

"And as for Silver?" Crest whispered darkly. "I trust him to free Alaric and weaken Theron for me."

His laughter was the last thing Henry heard before darkness swallowed him whole.

...

...

...

The night was thick with tension as Silver arrived at the gates of the Omega Secret Facility. The towering steel doors loomed over him, impenetrable to most—but Silver wasn't like most.

Before he could take another step forward, ten Alpha guards immediately blocked his path, their stances rigid, their eyes watchful.

"Alpha Silver," one of them addressed, his voice lined with uncertainty. "What brings you here?"

Silver's expression remained cold, his voice eerily controlled.

"Let me through."

The guards exchanged wary glances before the same Alpha shook his head. "You do not have permission from the Alpha King. Only the Alpha King or the Alpha Prince may enter."

The moment those words left his lips, Silver moved.

Fast.

In a blur of motion, his hand lashed out, his fingers closing like iron around the guard's throat.

The air around them shifted violently, darkening with the sheer weight of his presence. A suffocating pressure settled over the area, thick and crushing—unforgiving.

The other Alphas immediately stiffened, their bodies trembling under the sheer magnitude of Silver's suppressed rage.

Their legs weakened. Their throats tightened.

Then—blood.

Thin crimson streams began to trickle from their noses, one by one, their bodies convulsing under the invisible force bearing down upon them.

They were warriors, trained to stand firm, to never show fear.

But against this?

Against the wrath of Silver?

They were nothing.

Within seconds, nine of them collapsed, unconscious—their bodies betraying them before their minds could even register the threat.

The only one left standing was the Alpha in Silver's grasp, his face contorted in pain, his breath coming in short, desperate gasps.

Silver's fingers tightened one last time before releasing him abruptly, letting him crumble to the ground, choking on the sudden rush of air.

His voice, when he spoke again, was devoid of warmth.

"Open the door."

The Alpha shook as he scrambled to his feet, his hands fumbling to comply. His fear was palpable, visible, soaking through his very bones.

With trembling fingers, he entered the access code.

A soft mechanical beep echoed in the tense silence.

The doors slid open.

Before the Alpha could react, Silver struck.

His fist slammed into the guard's gut, forceful and unrelenting, stealing the air from his lungs. A strangled gasp escaped his lips before his eyes rolled back, his body crumpling into unconsciousness.

Silver didn't spare him another glance.

Without hesitation, he stepped through the entrance—into the heart of the Omega Secret Facility.

...

The sterile, metallic halls stretched endlessly before him, their cold artificial lights casting an eerie glow.

Inside, Beta scientists were scattered throughout the corridors, their hands occupied with research and machinery, their minds engrossed in their work.

Until they saw him.

A ripple of unease spread the moment Silver stepped inside.

The hum of machines faltered. The murmur of voices died.

The scientists froze, their eyes widening, their bodies tensing.

"What was he doing here?"

"What reason could Alpha Silver possibly have for entering this place?"

A slow, unnatural silence overtook the facility.

And then—

They collapsed.

One by one, the Betas fell to their knees, their limbs shaking, their lungs struggling to draw breath. Some slumped against walls, others barely able to hold themselves up. The air was heavy—so crushingly heavy—that their bodies simply couldn't withstand it.

Silver hadn't laid a single finger on them.

He hadn't uttered a single word.

Yet, the weight of his presence alone was enough to bring them to their knees. It crushed the air from their lungs, turned their limbs weak, and sent a silent, undeniable message—he was not to be stopped.

His power commanded the space around him. It didn't beg for attention; it demanded submission.

And his rage?

It was suffocating. Thick. Tangible. All-consuming.

But still—he walked.

Not with the reckless fury of a man blinded by wrath, nor with the impatience of someone eager to destroy.

No.

He was calm.

His strides were slow, deliberate, mercilessly controlled—the kind of control that spoke of restraint, of a predator who knew he was the most dangerous thing in the room. Every step was measured, every motion precise, as if he were giving the universe one last chance to stop him before he tore everything apart.

Yet beneath that calculated composure, his blood burned like wildfire.

His pulse hammered against his ribs, thundering in his ears like war drums.

His fury was a living, breathing force—absolute, unrelenting, and bound by nothing.

But there was only one reason he was here.

Only one mission that mattered.

Only one goal that drove him forward.

To find him.

To find the man whose existence had been nothing but a ghost in his past.

To demand the truth—to force it from whatever dark corners it had been buried in, no matter the cost.

To rip apart the past, unravel every lie, expose every secret that had kept him chained in uncertainty for so long.

And he would not stop.

Not until he had what he came for.

...

...

...

The roar of an engine cut through the still night as Deux expertly maneuvered the vehicle into a hidden spot near the Omega Secret Facility. The atmosphere inside the car was tense, yet focused—until the engine was stopped, and silence settled over them.

"We're here," Deux announced, his voice serious, his hands still gripping the steering wheel.

The team immediately unbuckled, stepping out one by one into the cool night air. Champ was the first to exit, but the moment his boots hit the ground, his entire body tensed. His eyes widened at the sight before him.

"Look at that!" Champ exclaimed, pointing ahead. "The Alpha guards outside... they're all unconscious!"

Alarmed, Deux and the others rushed forward.

The sight was nothing short of unnerving.

The once formidable Alpha males—men trained to protect this highly classified facility—were now scattered across the ground, unmoving. Some lay in awkward positions, others collapsed against the walls as if their strength had abandoned them all at once.

Deux crouched down, inspecting the nearest body. His sharp gaze flicked to the thin streams of blood trickling from the unconscious guard's nose.

Jiggs, who had been peering over Deux's shoulder, recoiled instantly.

"Their noses... they're bleeding!" he blurted out, horrified.

"This was the work of an Alpha," Kali stated grimly, his sharp eyes scanning the scene.

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Then, in perfect unison, Champ and Deux spoke:

"Silver."

Jiggs threw his hands in the air. "Oh, come on!" he groaned. "Why is it always him?! Every time we have a mission, he suddenly appears! Does he have some kind of mind-reading power or something?!"

His frustration was met with a chorus of exasperated sighs from the team.

Kali, however, tilted his head in curiosity. "Silver?" he repeated. "Who's that?"

"The son of my father's brother," Deux answered coolly.

Kali frowned. "Crest's son?"

Deux nodded. "That's right."

Kali's brows furrowed deeper as his gaze shifted back to the devastated battlefield before them. "Wait... are you saying that Silver did this?" He gestured toward the fallen Alpha males.

Her skepticism was clear.

"If he's Crest's son, there's no way he should have this level of power," Kali muttered. "Crest is just an ordinary Alpha male."

Jiggs crossed his arms. "Yeah, but isn't Silver royalty?" he pointed out. "I mean, he's as strong as Deux, right? I thought royal Alphas were supposed to have amazing genes."

Deux's expression remained unreadable. "That would only be true if Silver's Omega mother had exceptional genes—like mine did," he stated. "But if that were the case... then that means his father did it with someone with high-tier blood that exists inside this facility."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

A new question now loomed over them.

"Who exactly was Silver's mother?" Jiggs asked, "And if she was powerful enough to produce an Alpha like him, then what else had been hidden inside these walls?"

But there was no time to unravel that mystery.

Deux straightened, his focus shifting back to the present. "We'll deal with that later," he said. "Right now, we need to figure out why Silver is here." His gaze shifted to Champ. "If my instincts are right... he's looking for your mother."

Champ's stomach twisted.

"What?" he whispered. "No way—don't tell me he wants to control my mother, too?"

"It's possible." Deux's eyes darkened. "But we don't have time to speculate. Whatever Silver is after, we can't let him reach your mother first."

Everyone nodded sharply.

"Be on high alert," Deux warned, his voice cold and authoritative. "Especially you Betas. Silver is inside. Don't underestimate him."

Jiggs shivered. "Yeah, yeah. Got it. I really don't wanna die tonight."

With a deep breath, Deux turned toward the facility's security panel. With expert precision, he entered the access code, and within seconds—

The heavy doors slid open.

The team stepped into the facility.

And what greeted them was chaos.

...

The hallways of the Omega Secret Facility—once a place of strict discipline and order—were now filled with collapsed bodies.

The Beta scientists, men and women who had spent years researching in this place, were now scattered across the cold floors, completely unconscious. Their bodies twitched weakly, their limbs struggling to move, but none of them were strong enough to even lift their heads.

Jiggs stared in shock.

Then he threw his hands up again.

"Are you kidding me?!" he yelled. "Silver ruined our plan again! We were supposed to sneak in, avoid detection, do things the smart way!" He groaned. "But nope! Thanks to him, there's no one left to sneak past!"

Deux sighed, rubbing his temples. "Well... I guess that's one good thing," he muttered. "At least we don't have to worry about being seen."

Kali shook her head, scanning the unconscious Betas with an unreadable expression. "This level of power... it's not normal." Her fingers twitched. "Silver didn't physically touch them. He just walked through this place, and they collapsed."

The weight of that statement settled in their chests.

Just how powerful was Silver?

And more importantly—

What kind of monster had Crest created?

Deux was the first to shake off the unease. He turned to the group, his expression firm.

"No more delays. We move now."

His gaze landed on Champ, sharp and determined.

"We stick to the plan. You will enter the chamber and free your mother and all the Omega females inside this facility."

Jiggs nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah. And we'll stay outside and be your personal bodyguards." He cracked his knuckles. "Not that I wanna fight Silver, but hey, if he gets too close, I'll at least try not to cry."

Champ exhaled, his heart pounding.

This was it.

If Silver was really here for his mother, then there was no time left to waste.

"Let's move," Deux ordered.

And with that, the team rushed forward, heading straight for the chambers where the Omega females were being kept—

Hoping they weren't already too late.

...

...

...

Deep inside the Omega Chamber...

Silver walked through the dimly lit corridor, his boots echoing softly against the sterile floors. Rows of cells lined the walls, each containing an unconscious Omega female, their bodies resting on medical beds, their chests rising and falling with shallow breaths.

His sharp eyes flicked around the facility. He had never seen a place like this before, never imagined such a prison existed.

A chill ran down his spine.

"How many years had these Omegas been locked away? How long had they suffered in silence?"

His steps slowed as he reached a private cell, its door marked with bold red letters:

⚠️ RESTRICTED ACCESS – ENTRY FORBIDDEN ⚠️

Silver took a slow, deep breath, his chest rising and falling as the familiar scent wrapped around him like a ghost of the past.

Lavender.

The same scent that clung to Champ's skin, the same scent that had lingered in his mind since the moment he first met his brother.

His fingers twitched at his sides, his pulse hammering against his ribs as realization sank in.

There was no doubt now.

"Alaric is here."

The mother he had never known.

And he was just beyond this door.

His fingers hovered over the keypad, hesitation flickering for only a second before his jaw tightened.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, full of restrained emotions threatening to break free, he spoke:

"Mother... I'm here."

His fingers hovered over the security panel. The passcode was already burned into his mind.

1-0-1-0-9-4.

With a final breath, he pressed the keys.

Click.

A soft mechanical hum filled the air as the lock disengaged.

The door slid open slowly, revealing the dimly lit interior of the private cell.

The moment Silver stepped inside, the door sealed shut behind him.

He didn't look back.

His focus was on the shadowed figure in the room ahead.

And with every step he took forward, his heart pounded harder.

...

...

...

Meanwhile, outside the chamber, Champ's team stood at the threshold.

"Champ, this is it," Deux said, his voice firm yet reassuring. "This is your chance to see him—to finally meet your mother."

Champ exhaled shakily, his heart thrumming in his chest. "I'm ready."

"Do you remember the code?" Jiggs asked.

Champ nodded. "1-0-1-0-9-4."

Deux placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful. Your mother's mind isn't stable. He's struggled to trust anyone for years. If he lashes out, don't take it personally."

Champ swallowed hard, then nodded.

"I'll go with you," Kali offered, stepping forward. "If Alaric is inside, he'll recognize me. It might help."

Champ hesitated for only a second before nodding in agreement. "Alright. Let's go together."

Deux's gaze darkened. "Be careful in there."

"We will."

And just before stepping forward, Champ suddenly turned and pulled Deux into a tight embrace.

Deux's body tensed in surprise.

For a split second, he froze—then, slowly, a rare smile crossed his face, and he returned the embrace.

"I'm nervous, Deux," Champ admitted, voice muffled against his shoulder.

Deux exhaled. "Don't be. He is your mother, Champ. No matter what happens in there... he's your blood."

Then—

"Uh, guys?"

Jiggs' panicked voice cut through the moment, making them pull apart instantly.

"I hate to ruin this whole 'lovers' hug' situation," Jiggs rushed out, eyes wide as he pointed ahead, "but we might have a bigger problem..."

Champ and Deux spun around—

And froze.

Because at the far end of the corridor...

The Alpha King's enforcers had arrived.

A wave of Alpha males, dressed in black tactical armor, marched toward them. Their movements were precise, disciplined—a military unit designed for one thing: crushing threats.

Their eyes burned with authority.

Their presence was suffocating.

And they were coming straight for them.

Jiggs took an immediate step back.

"Yep. Definitely about to fight," he muttered under his breath. "Why does this always happen? Seriously, is it in the universal rulebook that we can't have one peaceful mission?"

Kali's entire posture shifted—her body tensing, her stance lowering, ready to strike. "So much for keeping things quiet."

Deux's jaw clenched.

The air grew heavier, the tension coiling around them like a snake waiting to strike.

The Alpha guards stopped just feet away.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then—

The largest of the Alpha enforcers took a step forward, his voice cold and sharp as steel.

"By order of Alpha King Theron—"

The next words made their blood run cold.

"Kill them all."

Jiggs choked on air.

"OKAY, WELL, I DON'T LIKE THAT PLAN AT ALL," he blurted, stumbling backward. "HOW ABOUT WE TALK LIKE CIVILIZED PEOPLE INSTEAD?"

The enforcers did not move.

Jiggs gulped.

"...No? No talking? Right. Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool—"

And then—

All hell broke loose.

Deux's voice was sharp, urgent—a command disguised as a whisper.

"Champ, Kali, go inside. We'll handle things here."

Champ's fists clenched at his sides, his heart pounding.

Kali nodded, her expression grim. "Understood."

Without hesitation, the two disappeared into the chamber, slipping through the heavy doors as they sealed shut behind them.

And that was when the air changed.

A presence—dark, suffocating, undeniable—descended upon them.

The Alpha King had arrived.

A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the space, and from the shadows, he emerged.

Clad in dark royal robes, his posture commanding, his presence chilling, the Alpha King stepped into view. His golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable—amusement? Disappointment? Pure malice?

"Well, well... I must admit," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with a mocking lilt, "I did not expect to see you here as well, Deux."

The weight of the King's gaze was crushing, but Deux stood firm.

The tension was palpable.

Deux's voice was steady, but beneath it, a storm brewed.

"...Father," he murmured.

The Alpha King tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening.

"Now, tell me, my son..." His voice was dangerously soft, a blade wrapped in silk.

"Who do you choose?"

His golden gaze locked onto Deux's, unblinking.

"The throne and your father?" A pause. "Or that pathetic excuse for an Omega?"

Deux took a slow breath, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Then, with a clarity sharper than steel, he met his father's eyes.

"Champ," he said firmly.

The Alpha King's smirk faltered for the briefest of moments.

Then—

A low, dangerous chuckle rumbled from his throat.

"So be it."

And before anyone could react—

He stripped off his royal robes.

His muscular form, lined with scars from past battles, was imposing, terrifying—a war-hardened king prepared to crush anyone who dared defy him.

His voice dropped, full of lethal finality.

"Then I, Alpha King Theron, challenge you to a death-match, Deux."

Without hesitation, Deux mirrored the action, tossing his own shirt aside.

His body was built for battle, strong and honed—not as merciless as his father's, but just as powerful.

The battlefield had been set.

Deux knew his father's strength, knew that going up against him was like stepping into the den of a beast that had ruled for years.

But he also knew something else.

"...You're not at full strength," Deux murmured, his voice low and calculated.

His father's illness had weakened him. The poison that had been spreading through his body, even as he tried to ignore it, could not be denied.

A flicker of irritation passed through the Alpha King's eyes.

But he grinned.

The moment the fight began, chaos erupted.

Deux's Beta allies—Marsh, Gem, Daryl, and Martin—immediately engaged the elite Alpha guards that had arrived with the King.

The facility shook from the sheer force of the clashes.

Fists struck flesh.

Bones cracked.

The air thickened with the primal violence of an Alpha and Beta war.

Jiggs, who had absolutely no interest in being pummeled to death, took one step back.

Then another.

Then another.

"...Y'know what?" he muttered under his breath, eyes darting left and right. "Nope. Fighting is not for me. I have to do what Champ wants next."

Without waiting for Deux's signal—without even glancing back—Jiggs moved. Silent as a shadow, he slipped away from the chaos, disappearing into the smoke and screaming steel of battle.

While the others clashed with guards and fire rained down across the compound, Jiggs had one mission burned into his mind:

Free the Omega females.

Every last one.

And get them the hell out.

His heart pounded with urgency, but his steps were precise. Controlled. He couldn't afford mistakes—not here. Not now. This facility was a prison masquerading as research, a nightmare built on silence and suffering. But he'd studied it—memorized every hallway, every blind spot, every exit.

He wasn't guessing.

He knew.

Because Jiggs had mastered the blueprint of the Omega Secret Facility, down to its buried air ducts and hidden service lifts. He knew which corridors would be clear, where the surveillance systems had blind angles, and where the reinforced security doors were slowest to close.

He had prepared for this.

Planned for this.

And if the plan unraveled... if alarms blared and the enemy closed in from all sides...

He'd still make sure those Omegas got out.

Even if he didn't.

...

Outside, the battle raged on, the clash of fists and the roar of Alpha dominance shaking the very foundation of the facility. Each blow landed with a sickening force, a brutal symphony of power and defiance. But inside this corridor, past the chaos, another war was about to begin—one that would not be fought with strength, but with truth.

Champ and Kali stood at the final door, its presence looming before them like an unspoken fate.

A single code panel blinked expectantly, waiting—waiting for the numbers that would open the past.

Champ's breath hitched, his fingers trembling slightly as they hovered over the keypad. He could feel the weight of everything pressing down on him—the years of not knowing, the void in his identity, the aching question of who he truly was.

This was it.

No more running. No more uncertainty.

His mother was beyond this door.

He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and then, with steady determination, pressed the sequence.

1-0-1-0-9-4.

A sharp metallic click echoed through the chamber.

The lock disengaged.

The door slid open, revealing only darkness beyond its threshold.

A silence so heavy, so unnatural, wrapped around them, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

Kali's gaze met Champ's—both of them tense, both of them bracing for the unknown.

No words were exchanged.

There was nothing left to say.

Together, they stepped inside.

The moment their feet crossed the threshold, the door behind them sealed shut, the finality of the sound ringing in their ears.

And as the shadows swallowed them whole, neither of them knew what awaited them in the dark.

End of Chapter 37