"Be careful of my brothers and father," Jet warned, his voice low. "They're looking for you."
"Why?" Han asked, raising a brow.
Jet hesitated, his gaze darting to the ground before lifting to meet Han's. "They think you're the Alpha I'm mated with."
Han didn't flinch, didn't argue. He simply gave a small, solemn nod. Jet sighed, turning to face the Alpha in front of him, brushing a few small leaves off in Han's hair and shoulder.
"I can't keep doing this, you know?" Jet teased. "Try to stay neat."
Together, they walked toward the city in heavy silence. The unspoken tension between them hung like a fragile thread, both of them knowing how dangerous this connection had become. Every step closer to the city was a step toward risk, but neither could find it in themselves to break away just yet.
As they reached the outskirts, Jet paused and turned to Han. He gave him a small, sad wave before walking away. Han stood there for a moment, watching the Omega leave, his heart feeling as though it were splintering in his chest.
—-
"Father! Mother!" Jet called as he entered the house. "I'm home!"
The familiar warmth of his family's home greeted him, but the tension he'd felt all day lingered. Workers informed him that his mother was in the kitchen, his father in his bedroom.
"And my brothers?" he asked, a sinking feeling forming in his stomach.
"They left the house not long ago," one worker replied.
Jet frowned. "Left? Where to?"
The worker shook their head, uncertain, and Jet's unease deepened. He wandered into the kitchen, where the smell of his mother's cooking filled the air, warming the cold weather. Yet, even the comforting aroma couldn't quiet his worries.
His father joined them for dinner, but the absence of his brothers was palpable.
"Jet," his father asked suddenly, "did you see them when you came home?"
Jet shook his head. "No. The workers said they'd already left."
His parents exchanged a glance, concern flickering in their eyes. But neither spoke further, brushing it off for the moment.
As Jet sat at the table, a sudden scent cut through the air. It wasn't the warm spices of his mother's food—it was something sharper, more familiar.
Han.
Jet's heart skipped a beat, his body tensing. He excused himself abruptly and left the house, following the trail of the scent. It led him toward the lake, where the family study stood hidden among the trees.
As he rounded the corner, the sight before him stole his breath.
Han was there, barely conscious, his face bruised and bloodied. Feng Jian and Feng Bo stood on either side of him, gripping his arms as they dragged him along like a criminal.
"Feng Jian! Feng Bo!" Jet shouted, his voice cracking. "What are you doing?!"
The brothers stopped, startled by his presence, but their grip on Han didn't loosen.
"He's the Alpha, isn't he?" Feng Bo spat, his voice full of venom. "The one ruining our family name!"
"No! Let him go!" Jet screamed, rushing toward them.
Before he could reach Han, Feng Jian grabbed Jet by the arm and yanked him back. Jet stumbled but fought against his brother's grip, his heart pounding as he caught sight of Han's swollen, bloodied face.
"You don't even know if it's him!" Jet shouted, his voice trembling with fury. "This is wrong! Even if it were someone else, this is still wrong!"
"Shut up, Jet," Feng Jian growled. "You don't understand. He's destroying our family's honour—our name is being dragged through the mud because of him!"
Jet's chest heaved as he struggled to break free, tears streaming down his face. "That doesn't mean you can do this! He's done nothing to you!"
But Feng Bo was unmoved. His hand went to the hilt of the sword at his waist, the blade gleaming in the moonlight as he drew it.
"No!" Jet screamed. "Stop! Stop!"
His cries carried through the night, drawing the attention of nearby villagers. One by one, they gathered around, whispering in shock at the scene unfolding before them.
"What is going on here?!" their father bellowed, rushing out with their mother and the household staff.
"Father," Feng Bo said coldly, "this is Zhao Han. He's the Alpha from the rumors, the one ruining our name. I'll put an end to this disgrace now."
Their father's face turned pale. "Are you mad?! You have no proof, and even if you did, this—this is barbaric! Put that sword down!"
"I don't care about proof!" Feng Bo roared. "He deserves this for tarnishing our family!"
"Feng Bo, no!" their mother cried, stepping forward, but Feng Bo shoved her aside with the back of his hand.
The villagers gasped as Feng Bo raised the sword high, his eyes burning with fury.
Jet's focus remained on Han. He knelt, trembling, as his brother's blade hovered over the man he cared for.
"Han!" Jet cried, his voice cracking. "Wake up! Please!"
For a moment, Han's swollen eyes fluttered open. He looked at Jet, his gaze hazy but full of sorrow, before they closed again.
"Han, no!" Jet screamed, his sobs tearing through the cold night air.
The sword came down.
Time seemed to slow as the villagers screamed, and their father rushed forward, trying to stop the blow. But Feng Bo was faster.
The blade slashed down, cutting into Han's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the snow, staining it crimson.
"NO!" Jet screamed as he jolted awake, his chest heaving. His body was drenched in sweat, and his trembling hands gripped the sheets tightly.
'That nightmare again…' Jet thought, his heart pounding as he glanced around his room. It wasn't the ancient world he'd seen in his dreams-it was modern, sleek, and undeniably 21st-century. The familiar hum of city life outside his window grounded him in reality, but the lingering weight of the dream clung to him like a shadow.
His alarm blared suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts. Jet groaned, rubbing his eyes as he turned to his phone.
"Six snoozed 10-minute alarms?!" he muttered in horror. His eyes widened as realization hit. "I'm an hour late for my interview!"
Leaping out of bed, he sprinted to the shower, quickly washing up before throwing on his clothes. As he rushed out the door, his mind raced.
'Late for the most important day of my career? Great job, Jet…'
—
Outside a bustling building, reporters stood among a crowd of eager fans holding signs and copies of a wildly popular book.
"Good morning, everyone!" a cheerful female reporter said, her voice cutting through the buzz of the crowd. "It seems our guest today ran a little late, but he's here and ready for today's interview at Evervale's Heritage Centre."
"That's right," her co-host chimed in, standing beside her. "Today, we'll be speaking with the author of this year's breakout bestseller."
The camera panned to the excited crowd, some chanting the name of the book while others waved their copies in the air.
"This novel has taken the literary world by storm!" the female reporter continued.
"Initially, only 150 copies of the book were printed, but no one could've predicted how quickly it would sell out. Within one week, every copy was gone, forcing bookstores to restock repeatedly!"
The co-host nodded enthusiastically. "Readers just can't get enough. Any store lucky enough to carry this book sees it fly off the shelves in less than 24 hours. So, what's the story behind this phenomenal success?"
"It's a fantasy novel," the female reporter explained, smiling brightly. "The story follows our main character who finds themselves transported back to an ancient era. They become a wealthy Omega who falls in love with a commoner Alpha, defying societal norms and expectations."
"Can you guess the title yet?" the co-host teased, leaning toward the camera.
"It's called It Felt So Surreal, written by none other than the young and talented Alpha, Jet Lev!"