Chapter 3 – The First Test
The next morning dawned bright and clear, but Ethan Li felt a weight pressing on his chest heavier than the early sunlight. He had spent the night turning Adrian Zhou's words over in his mind. "Some things cannot be resisted." The memory of that calm, dominating gaze haunted him even in the dim safety of his room.
Ethan dressed quickly, trying to ignore the flutter in his chest. He was supposed to meet Adrian downstairs for breakfast, but the thought of confronting the Alpha again made him uneasy. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted his shirt collar, a subtle sign of his suppressed anxiety.
When he reached the grand dining hall, Adrian was already there, reviewing documents with a serene but intense focus. The room smelled faintly of coffee and polished wood, and sunlight streamed across the table, glinting off the fine china. Ethan hesitated at the doorway, noticing how effortlessly Adrian commanded the space—an Alpha who belonged to the room as much as the light itself.
"Good morning," Adrian said without looking up. The words were polite, almost casual, but carried the unmistakable undertone of command.
"Morning," Ethan replied, trying to mask the tension in his voice. He slid into his chair across from Adrian, noticing the Alpha's eyes flicker toward him briefly before returning to the documents.
For several moments, neither spoke. Ethan tried to focus on the food, but his mind wandered, circling Adrian's imposing presence and the words that had refused to leave his thoughts. "Instincts are stronger." The phrase repeated itself in his mind like a warning bell.
Finally, Adrian set down his tablet and looked directly at him. "Your first official test begins today," he said. The calm in his voice did nothing to lessen the shock in Ethan's chest.
"What… test?" Ethan asked, confused and a little wary.
Adrian leaned back slightly, the subtle shift in posture radiating authority. "Social etiquette. You will attend a business luncheon this afternoon as my companion. Your behavior will reflect on both of our families. Mistakes will not be tolerated."
Ethan's stomach twisted. A luncheon? With the Zhou family's business associates? His anxiety threatened to overpower him. "I… I'm not ready. I don't know what to say…"
"You will learn," Adrian said simply, his voice steady, commanding. "Observing is often more important than speaking. And remember… you are mine. Others will notice. How you comport yourself reflects your position as my Omega."
Ethan's pulse quickened. The idea of being scrutinized in public, bound to this cold, imposing Alpha, was almost unbearable. His thoughts flickered to his suppressants—he had taken them early this morning, but already he could feel the subtle pull of Adrian's Alpha presence tugging at his instincts.
---
By afternoon, Ethan was dressed in a tailored suit chosen by the Zhou household stylist. He hardly recognized himself in the mirror—elegant, polished, composed—but the reflection did little to calm his racing heart.
Adrian appeared at the doorway, impeccably dressed, every movement exuding authority and control. He observed Ethan silently for a moment.
"You're ready," Adrian stated, though the tone suggested it was less observation and more acknowledgment.
Ethan swallowed hard. "I think so."
"You think so?" Adrian echoed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Confidence is key. You must act as if you belong in my world, even if you feel otherwise."
Ethan nodded, forcing himself to stand tall despite the whirlwind of nerves and instinctive reactions inside him. He followed Adrian down the long hallway to the waiting car. The drive to the luncheon was quiet, punctuated only by the occasional glance Adrian cast at him. Each glance made Ethan's heart flutter with something that was equal parts fear, frustration, and… anticipation.
---
The venue was a high-rise restaurant overlooking the city, a neutral ground for the Zhou Corporation's business dealings. Ethan felt exposed as soon as they stepped inside. The eyes of the attendees turned toward them, murmurs filling the space. Adrian led confidently, hand lightly brushing Ethan's as if guiding him—but the touch was electric. Ethan's Omega instincts flared subtly, and he pressed his hand against his suppressants, trying to control the heat rising in his chest.
"Ethan," Adrian whispered, just enough for him to hear, "remember your posture. Smile, but do not fawn. Speak politely, but sparingly. Be aware of who is watching."
Ethan nodded, heart hammering. He followed Adrian to the table where other Alpha executives and family representatives had already gathered. Adrian seated him next to a middle-aged Alpha named Mr. Liang, a senior associate of the Zhou Corporation.
"Ah, you must be Adrian's… partner?" Mr. Liang asked, his tone polite but probing. Ethan felt the weight of scrutiny on him immediately.
"Yes," Ethan said, voice steady despite the nervous flutter. "I am Ethan Li."
"Very well," Mr. Liang nodded. "Adrian speaks highly of you."
Adrian's eyes met Ethan's briefly across the table. The silent communication between them was electric, and Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine. Every movement, every glance from Adrian, seemed designed to draw out something deeper in him—something primal he had fought to suppress.
The luncheon progressed with conversations about business, politics, and investments, but Ethan felt as though he were under a microscope. Every word, every gesture, every reaction was scrutinized—not just by the guests, but by Adrian, who observed him like a hawk.
At one point, Adrian leaned slightly toward Ethan. "Your Omega traits… you must keep them under control," he murmured, a hint of a smile in his voice. "Fail, and it will be noted."
Ethan's face heated. "I'm fine," he said, though the warmth in his chest betrayed him. Adrian's presence alone was enough to make his suppressants struggle.
---
As the luncheon ended, Ethan felt a mix of relief and exhaustion. He had survived the first public test, but barely. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions: fear, frustration, and something he could not deny—desire. Adrian's quiet dominance, the subtle possessiveness, the sharp Alpha instincts—it all left Ethan trembling with a strange combination of irritation and longing.
Outside the restaurant, Adrian's hand brushed against Ethan's as they walked to the car. It was accidental—or at least, that was what Ethan tried to tell himself—but the contact sent a jolt through him, sparking instincts he had fought to suppress for years.
"You did well," Adrian said quietly. His tone was almost approving, though it carried a hint of something else—possession, desire, control. Ethan's breath caught, and he forced himself to meet Adrian's gaze.
"Thank you," he replied, trying to sound casual. But inside, he was anything but.
Back at the villa, Adrian instructed Ethan to rest. But sleep eluded him. Every glance, every word, every fleeting touch from Adrian replayed in his mind. The contract, the marriage, the Alpha who dominated his thoughts—Ethan realized he had stepped into a storm far larger than he had imagined.
And storms, he knew, did not pass quietly.
As night fell over the city, Ethan finally closed his eyes, only to dream of Adrian—cold, commanding, and impossible to resist. His Omega instincts stirred, weaving a complicated web of desire and fear that promised this arranged marriage would be anything but ordinary.