Tess

“I’ll contact Prosecutor Hamilton.”

This time, he would find out for certain. Until then, he hoped the man would be safe.

*

*

Due to the leader’s exploitation all night, Iliya’s physical condition was terrible. With his marriage to Nancy postponed, he had to continue attending missionary outings. Having to go to places frequented by alphas without having obtained hormone suppressants yet – he hadn’t been able to sleep for days due to anxiety.

That day, the leader deliberately dragged Iliya to the second floor of “that place.” He made him look down at everything happening below. A living hell unfolded there. Though he wished he could be intoxicated by drugs like those mindless people, the leader held his head to prevent him from turning away, forcing him to watch the chaos until the end.

The leader’s words were more chilling than any threat. It was as if he was brainwashing him, saying there was no longer any protection for him.

After the leader released him at dawn, Iliya headed to the visitors’ lodging. There, he met someone who mentioned “that alpha.” For a moment, his clouded mind snapped back to clarity. Though he couldn’t completely erase his doubts, he no longer had the luxury of weighing options. In the foggy darkness, he wanted to grasp even a faint light. He secretly passed Mrs. Rollins’ note, now essentially a suicide note, to the newcomer. He didn’t know how that person would respond. He didn’t expect anything. Perhaps he just wanted the consolation of having done all he could. Or perhaps he wanted to shout at Mrs. Rollins if she appeared in his dreams, telling her to leave him alone because he had done his part.

Throughout the journey to Central City by car, the sentinel’s gaze toward him was blatant. Though they didn’t speak, the leader’s close associates already knew Iliya’s identity. Other believers didn’t know, but it was only a matter of time. How long could he hide it? He needed to find some solution before then… The leader wouldn’t provide proper suppressants. With increased surveillance, could he leave the group alone to get medication? While he was just worrying, the car arrived at its destination.

Iliya wore a mask, claiming he had cold symptoms. He had never been exposed to real alpha pheromones, only synthetic ones. Though he covered his face to avoid being affected, he realized how useless this measure was as soon as he got out.

The scent that struck directly into his head, bypassing his nose, was indescribable. It was a sensation impossible to understand without experiencing it firsthand. It was incomparable to the synthetic pheromones the leader emitted. Fortunately, the distance from the alphas was considerable, so the influence was minimal, but for Iliya with no resistance, even that was too much. He pretended to work behind the busy believers, using his flushed face and anxious movements as an excuse for having a cold.

“Brother Iliya, if you’re not feeling well, go rest in the car.”

A believer, looking concerned, suggested he take a break. Iliya glanced at the sentinels. He didn’t know how they would change when no other believers were around. He was afraid to be alone.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Don’t say that. Should I go buy some medicine for you?”

“No, I’ll go myself…”

Suddenly, his legs wobbled. The surprised believer caught Iliya. Another believer who saw the scene spoke to a sentinel and then came running.

“They say to take him to the car first.”

“I’m fine, really…”

Though Iliya waved his hands saying he was okay, the two held him from both sides and pulled. Even if he resisted, he couldn’t overcome them alone. As he was being dragged along, his legs gave out and he collapsed. That’s when it happened.

“Are you okay?”

A sweet scent circled around. It was like spreading honey inside his head. The voice too wasn’t sticky but had an appropriate sweetness. Even that was too much for Iliya with no immunity.

“Is there a problem? Do you need help?”

An alpha wearing an expensive suit deliberately approached and asked. For a moment, Iliya was reminded of that other alpha. He had asked the same way. Why would an arrogant alpha extend his hand so kindly and affectionately? Was it a disguise to hide his promiscuous nature? If he had taken his hand then, would the situation be different now?

It was a meaningless assumption from the past, but it kept coming to mind. Though it seemed ridiculous to be curious in such a situation, he wanted to know what scent that man would emit. Heavy musk? Or refreshing citrus? He focused on trivial thoughts to divert his mind.

The believers beside Iliya were initially puzzled but soon entered an alert state. The alpha with kind brown eyes was confused by the sudden hostility from the others.

“No, I just asked because you looked like you were in trouble.”

The alpha in front of him seemed to know nothing about the Holy Church. If he did, he wouldn’t have approached them at all. The situation needed to be resolved before other believers could curse at him. Before this alpha could possibly use the word “omega” toward him.

“I’m fine. It’s just that I’m not feeling well, so please go away.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, if that’s what you say.”

The alpha shrugged and turned away. As Iliya was sighing in relief inwardly, the man looked back as if he had just remembered something.

“If you go behind here, there’s medical staff, so maybe check it out.”

Though he kindly pointed in the direction, all he received were glares from the believers urging him to leave quickly.

“Looking at me like I’m a bug is a bit much.”

Jess was puzzled, having never been rejected so rudely when offering kindness. He even retraced his steps to see if he had unknowingly done something wrong. Already annoyed at having to wear a tight suit and attend a boring charity event, being dismissed by people was the last straw. His mood completely soured. Though he was fulfilling his duty as a Briane by attending on Rus’s command-like request, the more he attended, the more convinced he became that this wasn’t his path.

“He looked quite anxious…”

The omega’s wavelength was so unstable that even Jess, just passing by, could feel it. In such a state, a heat cycle would come soon.

“I wonder if he’s taking his suppressants properly.”

That’s why he had suggested visiting the medical staff, but since the man said it wasn’t necessary…

“Ah, whatever!”

He’ll handle it himself. Putting aside concerns for a stranger, he switched to a business smile as he saw someone approaching from the front.

*

*

“Prosecutor Hamilton has agreed to act immediately. He’ll enter based on the grounds of arresting the wanted criminal and search for evidence. With that many people, they must be manufacturing drugs inside, and something will surely come up if they search thoroughly. The media is also preparing to move simultaneously. We can’t give them any opportunity, so we need to break everything at once to keep them off balance.”

“I need to keep a close watch on what communication happens between council members.”

“You’ll be the dedicated whistleblower who investigated these suspicions. Prepare to do interviews with your father. You need to restore your honor.”

Though relevant parties had told Andrew and Rus to step back and not get involved anymore, having started this, they needed to see how it would end.

“You know, I hate to say this before an important mission, but what if we fail? What if things don’t go as we planned?”

“Hey, isn’t that worry a bit too late? The bus has already departed.”

Andrew scolded Josh who was getting cold feet. Rus responded calmly.

“It probably won’t end with just being kicked out of the heir position.”

“You’d probably have to spend your life buried in some remote place like Alaska. My father would likely shoot me dead before that.”

Rus patted Andrew’s shoulder as he sighed. Though he spoke nonchalantly, Rus himself was tense. Strangely anxious, he kept checking his watch needlessly. To his heightened senses, even the second hand seemed to move in slow motion.

*

*

Iliya fell asleep after taking cold medicine someone had brought. Though not a fundamental solution, the medicine at least allowed him to fall into sleep. While sleeping, he could avoid thinking.

Waking up from his curled position, his stiffened body wouldn’t respond. He blinked, looking around. Seeing that the car had stopped, it appeared they had arrived at Holyland. But why hadn’t anyone awakened him? Had they left him alone because he was sleeping too deeply? It was strange, but his mind still felt foggy.

“Ugh…”

Supporting himself with one arm on the armrest, he barely managed to sit up. His head was throbbing, and his body still hadn’t cooled down from the fever. When the Alpha had asked if he needed help, he had wanted to cling to him and beg for assistance. He regretted his impulse from moments later. He couldn’t entrust his fate to a passing act of boldness. If that Alpha immediately changed his mind and turned away, he would be marked as a traitor by the believers and killed. He would be thrown into the cold ground, stuffed in a sack.

“Huff…”

For now, he had to endure somehow. He tilted his head back to loosen his stiff neck and slowly stood up. Seek and you shall find—he had to believe that. Steeling his resolve, Iliya got out of the car and startled when he saw three watchmen sitting by a fire. His senses came sharply alive as his mind cleared.

The surroundings were quiet. The air felt different. The ground he stood on wasn’t Holyland. The other believers had gone somewhere, leaving Iliya alone. Fear gathered like a dark cloud. The firelight illuminated the watchmen’s faces. Seeing Iliya rise, their expressions changed instantly as they snickered.

He stepped back hesitantly. They stood up. His body trembled involuntarily. They approached.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

He tried to run away but was caught after just a few steps. They dragged Iliya to the bonfire and threw him to the ground. One person mounted the struggling Iliya, holding him down so he couldn’t move.

“He’s been so horny he looked like he was about to die.”

“He was all melting in front of that Alpha, do that for us too.”

One of them hurriedly unbuckled his pants. He licked his lips and laughed disgustingly.