When the Mind Won’t Be Silent

"Haha, what happened? Did I kill the mood?" Lucas laughed.

Valentina had completely forgotten she asked Lucas to come over. She didn't know how to act around Bastian—or rather, wasn't sure if she should let herself go with him. Lucas didn't see anything wrong with Bastian, but he did think his best friend was being dramatic. "What if he's a serial killer?" That was what Valentina had said, and Lucas still couldn't believe it. Especially because Bastian openly flirted with Andrea. How could someone so sweet have such an evil cousin?

The rest of the afternoon was painfully awkward. Bastian ended up leaving to stay with his friends, clearly uncomfortable. Lucas also decided to head out—he had work to do and had only left the shop for Valentina.

Lucas was excited for the weekend. Andrea was coming to stay for a few days. There was a spark between them, and he wanted to relive the fire they'd shared. Andrea, to Lucas, felt like a plush toy: soft on the outside and even softer on the inside. They got along effortlessly. It was never officially discussed, but their relationship was clearly more physical than emotional.

Lucas prepped everything at his place. Of course, Andrea would sleep with him. No way they'd be apart. Not with the kind of night Lucas had in mind.

"So, it's been a day. Has Bastian come back?" Lucas asked.

"No. I haven't heard from him," Valentina replied.

Lucas figured Bastian was either busy or still awkward about what happened. He told Valentina not to overthink it. After all, she didn't have much vacation time left. Her new job was just around the corner.

The next day, Lucas opened his shop like usual, but he was jittery. Butterflies danced in his stomach. He couldn't wait to see Andrea—those honey-brown eyes, that killer smile, and to hear Andrea say his name again. Lucas hadn't felt this comfortable with someone in a long time. He wasn't looking for a relationship—at least not yet—but Andrea felt like peace in human form.

A light breeze swept through the avenue. People rushed to catch their trains, as always. Swiss trains were famously punctual, and missing one meant five agonizing minutes of waiting. But nothing could shake Lucas from his daydream of a weekend full of passion.

Thirty minutes to closing. Lucas planned to head to the train station right after. A client had been supposed to pick up a pair of tires over an hour ago—not just any pair, but Metzeler tires. Lucas had waited two weeks to get them. High demand. Premium stuff.

With fifteen minutes left, the customer finally showed up—accompanied by someone Lucas had hoped never to see again.

"Well, look who it is. If it isn't the beta pretending to be an alpha," Raffael sneered.

Lucas's mind screamed: "What the hell is this asshole doing here?" But he kept calm. Took a deep breath. Handed over the tires.

He needed to get to the airport. Fast.

But of course, things couldn't go smoothly.

Raffael wouldn't shut up. He mocked Lucas, questioned how he even owned a shop, commented on the "low-class" neighborhood, and hinted that success was out of reach for a beta. He just kept going—like a broken radio.

Lucas wanted to punch him straight into next week.

Even Raffael's friend looked uncomfortable and finally cut in:

"Didn't realize you two were so close. Might explain why you're so chatty."

Raffael shut up.

His thoughts swirled: How could an alpha like me be friends with a beta like him?

Raffael was Lucas's height, maybe slightly taller. Commanding. Confident. Like a Viking in a business suit—dark brown hair styled but messy, icy blue eyes full of arrogance, sharp jawline, athletic build. He looked like someone who knew exactly how to manipulate a room.

Lucas ignored him. Said goodbye. Closed the shop.

At the airport, crowds surged. Lucas held a bouquet of roses—his welcome gift for Andrea. He wanted to make up for lost time.

Soon, flights from Genoa started landing.

"Warm welcome or rest first?" Lucas smiled.

Andrea didn't answer. As soon as they entered the apartment, they were kissing, hands everywhere.

But Lucas pulled back.

Andrea had been exhausted lately, staying up writing. He deserved a break. Lucas offered to cook and show him the city by night. They had two full weeks. No rush.

That night, Zurich was alive. They went to a rooftop bar called Frau Gerald, drank beer, and soaked up the summer energy. People laughed and sang. For a moment, life felt light.

"Lucas, did you miss me?" Andrea asked suddenly.

Lucas was caught off guard. Of course he had.

Andrea made him feel safe. Unjudged. It had been ages since he'd felt that.

Andrea wasn't just a fling. Even if Lucas wasn't ready for something serious, he wanted to keep getting to know him.

"I'd like to know more about you," Andrea said.

Lucas paused. What more was there to say?

Andrea already knew about his recessive omega sister, his beta mom, his recessive alpha mom. About his past in advertising and the shop he now ran. Was there more?

Then Andrea brought up the lawyer. Why did he care so much? The way he looked at Lucas—so serious—it made Lucas uneasy.

"I don't get why you keep asking about the lawyer. Bastian told me he already spoke to Valentina."

That was strange. Valentina usually told Lucas everything.

Why hadn't she mentioned it?

Lucas let it go and focused on enjoying his night.

Back at the apartment, Lucas stared at Andrea.

He felt like the wolf, and Andrea was the lamb he wanted to devour.

Those soft brown eyes were full of desire. His tanned skin, his smaller but sturdy frame, the way he reached Lucas's chin—he was irresistible.

Andrea's fingers glided up Lucas's chest, to his neck, and finally to his lips. When Lucas slid a finger between them, Andrea licked it, then bit it, then sucked it into his mouth.

Lucas couldn't take it anymore.

He lifted Andrea and pinned him gently against the front door.

Andrea wrapped his legs around him, clutching his shoulders. Their kiss was frantic, their bites hungry.

Andrea paused. Looked into Lucas's eyes. Then leaned down to his neck and bit hard—possessively.

"Fuck, Andrea," Lucas gasped between a moan and a nervous laugh.

He set Andrea down gently, then dropped to his knees and unbuttoned his pants.

He took him in his mouth like it was a sacred ritual. Licked slowly. Desperately.

Andrea moaned and guided Lucas's head toward him again. Harder.

Then, in a blur, Andrea shoved him to the floor, stripped, and climbed on top of him.

He wanted everything. All of it. Now.

The room filled with soft, messy moans.

Andrea wanted the neighbors to hear—yet still muffled his voice, knowing that drove Lucas crazy.

Lucas wasn't affected by pheromones. But he could smell Andrea—faintly. Vanilla.

And Andrea wanted him to smell it.

Lucas entered him. Andrea's mind went blank. Every thrust made the room spin.

He floated, until Lucas flipped him over. Made everything more intense.

The friction. The sweat. The rhythm. The gasps.

Andrea couldn't stay quiet any longer.

And for a brief, perfect moment—the world disappeared.

By noon, they woke up tired but glowing from their marathon.

Lucas needed to talk to Valentina.

He hoped Bastian would be there too. The memory of how they met still lingered.

They rode to Maur—Valentina's town, a middle-class rural zone, all green fields and peaceful lakes. No trains. Just buses, due to the hilly terrain.

At her place, Valentina was watching a true crime show—classic her.

Andrea was happy to see her again, but noticed something off. She looked sad. Pale—not from her skin tone, but her energy.

"Where's Bastian? Thought he'd be here, especially after what he said about the lawyer," Andrea asked.

Valentina froze. What lawyer?

The last time she saw Bastian was when Lucas interrupted them. He hadn't messaged her since. And he never mentioned a lawyer.

She assumed he'd been uncomfortable and blamed herself for misjudging him.

She didn't ask further. Thought it best to ask Bastian directly.

Just as she picked up her phone to text him, the TV cut to a quick news segment:

"On Saturday, September 13, a beta body was found in Zurich's Langenberg Nature Park. The body was discovered by two workers while delivering food for the animals."

The report lasted twenty seconds—then switched to celebrity gossip.

Typical. News barely paid attention to betas. Alphas and omegas dominated headlines.

Valentina sent the message.

Bastian didn't reply until the next day:

"I'm not upset. Just been showing the city to my friends. I'd love to see you Monday—my last free day before work starts."

For some reason, Valentina felt guilty and didn't want to bother Bastian about the lawyer, even though she knew she should. She wanted to know why he hadn't told her earlier. When Andrea came to her apartment, she used the opportunity to ask him only for the lawyer's contact information. She wanted to leave Bastian out of it—it was something she preferred to handle on her own. She planned to call the lawyer the next day to explore what her best option might be.

Time was running out. A new chapter of her life was about to begin, and she had no idea how chaotic it might be. It would be the first time she would hold a management position, and although she'd be on her own, she thought that if things progressed well, she could count on Alex—someone she considered one of the most responsible and experienced people she knew.