The main hall of the Severale estate buzzed with uneasy tension as Adrian followed his father inside. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating the polished floor—and the crest of House Veythar displayed boldly on the envoy's attire.
The Veythar messenger was a young Beta, dressed in crisp navy and silver. He bowed deeply upon seeing Cassian.
"My lord," he said respectfully, "I bring a message from Lord Rylan Veythar."
Cassian's expression remained cool. "State it."
The Beta straightened, voice steady but tinged with nervousness. "His lordship requests an immediate audience with Young Master Adrian."
Adrian's breath caught.
Cassian's stance hardened. "Requests?"
The Beta swallowed. "…Insists, my lord."
Silence fell.
The word lingered in the air like a challenge.
Cassian took a slow step forward, Alpha aura thickening. "House Severale does not answer to demands, especially not concerning my son."
The Beta flinched—but he didn't retreat. "Forgive my wording, Lord Cassian. But the heir of Veythar is… adamant."
Adrian felt the weight of every gaze in the room shifting to him.
He wished he could disappear.
Cassian replied coldly, "He will receive our response when I choose. Not before."
With that, he turned to leave—clearly done with the conversation.
But the Beta quickly held out a sealed scroll.
"My lord—Lord Rylan said Adrian would understand this. And he should read it personally."
Cassian stopped.
Adrian froze.
Cassian didn't take the scroll. Instead, he looked at Adrian. "Do you want it?"
Adrian hesitated.
His heart said no.
His body whispered yes.
His curiosity screamed louder than both.
"…I'll read it," he said softly.
Cassian reluctantly allowed the Beta to offer the scroll. Adrian took it, the parchment warm from the messenger's hand.
He broke the seal.
Two scents hit instantly—ink and cold steel.
Rylan's scent.
Adrian's pulse jumped.
He unfolded the message.
---
Adrian,
You returned my gift.
Not a refusal—
A challenge.
I accept it.
But understand something clearly:
I don't give up.
And I don't step back.
I'm coming to speak with you myself.
Prepare to face me.
—Rylan
---
Adrian's fingers trembled.
Cassian snatched the scroll, reading it in a quick, contained flash of anger. "He thinks this is a courting game?" he muttered darkly. "That boy—"
Another voice echoed from the entrance.
"Father said the same thing."
Adrian's heart stopped.
Cassian turned sharply.
Servants gasped.
Because standing in the doorway—tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in a crimson-lined traveling cloak—was Lord Rylan Veythar himself.
Adrian felt the world narrow to a pinpoint.
Rylan's crimson eyes locked onto him instantly.
Not on Cassian.
Not on the staff.
Only him.
The air thickened with Alpha presence, strong and suffocating. Adrian's breath hitched, his body reacting instinctively, traitorously.
Cassian stepped in front of Adrian in an instant. "You enter my estate without announcement?"
Rylan didn't even blink. "I sent word. It wasn't fast enough."
His eyes flickered past Cassian, landing once more on Adrian. Heat flashed there—sharp, claiming, frustrated.
"Adrian," Rylan said, voice low, "come here."
Adrian stiffened.
Cassian growled. "He will do no such thing."
Rylan's gaze shifted dangerously toward Cassian. "With respect, Lord Severale, I'm speaking to him, not you."
Adrian's heart hammered against his ribs.
Cassian's voice was ice. "You don't command my son."
"I'm not commanding," Rylan said, eyes returning to Adrian. "I'm asking."
But that wasn't true. Everyone in the hall could feel the pull behind the words.
That intense, magnetic force that made Adrian's feet itch to move forward.
Cassian sensed it.
"Adrian," he said quietly, "stay where you are."
Adrian gripped his sleeves, struggling to breathe. His body was caught between two Alpha presences—one protective, one overpoweringly drawn to him.
Rylan took one step closer.
Cassian's aura flared. "Do not test me, boy."
Rylan stopped—not afraid, but out of respect for the boundary. Then he spoke, eyes never leaving Adrian.
"I'm here because your son returned my gift without speaking to me," Rylan said. "I won't allow misunderstandings between us."
"There is no 'us'," Cassian snapped.
Rylan tilted his head, smiling faintly. "You keep saying that, but your son doesn't."
Adrian's face burned. "I haven't said anything!"
"No," Rylan said softly, "but your scent did."
Adrian inhaled sharply. His scent? Was it really leaking—was he really that affected?
Cassian stepped forward again, blocking Rylan's line of sight. "If you came here to intimidate my son into a bond, you should leave before you embarrass yourself further."
Rylan's eyes flashed. "I came to see him."
"Then you'll see him under my terms."
Rylan's composure slipped for the first time. His jaw tightened. "Then set them. Now."
Cassian stared him down for several long seconds… then exhaled.
"Fine," he said. "You may speak with Adrian.
In my presence.
And you will keep a respectful distance."
Rylan nodded slowly. "I accept."
Cassian stepped aside—just enough that Rylan could see Adrian again.
Rylan's eyes softened.
"Adrian," he said quietly, "why didn't you talk to me?"
Adrian's throat tightened.
How could he explain?
The fear.
The whispering.
The wanting.
The confusion.
The kiss that still burned on his lips.
"I—I needed time," Adrian finally said. "This is too much. Too fast."
Rylan's gaze darkened, expression shifting from frustration to something more vulnerable.
"I can go slower," he said. "If that's what you want. But I'm not stepping away."
He took a cautious step forward—just one.
Cassian didn't stop him.
Rylan lowered his head slightly, voice gentler than Adrian had ever heard.
"Tell me what you're afraid of… and I'll face it with you."
Adrian's breath trembled.
Because the truth was simple:
He wasn't afraid of Rylan.
He was afraid of what Rylan made him feel.
And of how desperately he already wanted him back.