Chapter 54: My Soulmate and My Mate
Ash returned to the couch to finish working on the equation Lucien had given him, though his mind kept drifting back to the conversation he had overhead between Lucien and Adrian.
A few minutes later, Adrian appeared, carrying Lucien carefully toward the bed. He laid him down with gentle precision, muscles tense from holding him. Ash’s eyes widened, heart pounding.
"What...what happened to him?" Ash asked, voice tight with worry.
Adrian’s expression was calm but serious. "He’s...completely exhausted," he said softly. "Physically and mentally drained. The pressure over the past days or even weeks finally caught up with him. He just needs to rest."
Ash swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Adrian’s words. Seeing Lucien so vulnerable made his chest tighten.
Adrian’s turned to Ash. "Have you finished working on the question he gave you?"
Ash nodded.
"And have you eaten?" Adrian asked.
"Yes," Ash replied. "Lucien had ordered some pasta for dinner earlier."
"Good," Adrian said.
"Do you want me to put some for you?" Ash offered.
"No, I’m full. I ate before I came," Adrian replied. Then added softly, "Come..."as he gestured for Ash to lie beside him.
Adrian lay down between Ash and Lucien, one arm draped protectively around Lucien, holding him close to his chest. His other arm rested lightly across Ash, a quiet barrier of comfort and safety.
"I want to tell you a story," Adrian said softly. "A story about a boy and his best friend."
Ash turned his head to look at him and nodded.
Adrian began...
---
A C-ranked omega fell in love with an A-ranked alpha, and they eventually married. The doctor warned them; their ranks made it highly unlikely they could have a child. Yet they clung to hope, believing a miracle might be possible.
That hope came true. But the child’s genes were stronger than either parents, making the pregnancy dangerous. The doctor warned of premature birth, severe health risks for the baby, and the possibility that the mother could die. The husband pleaded with his wife to listen, desperate to keep her safe.
She refused. Even if it meant risking her life, she said, she would never regret it. All that mattered was that her child lived. Its existence had a purpose.
The birth came early, just as the doctor had feared. The mother did not survive. The child survived, fragile but alive, carrying health complications, including a kidney condition.
By the time the boy turned fifteen, his health had grown fragile. His kidneys began to fail. The doctor said he had no more than three months to live, as finding a compatible donor for an S-ranked alpha was nearly impossible.
The only match was his best friend, an older boy, also an S-ranked alpha. But the doctor warned that the transplant would be too dangerous; his friend was still young and not strong enough to survive the procedure. His parents agreed, refusing to let their son take the risk.
The boy’s friend, however, could not accept losing him. The thought of his only friend dying shattered him. He begged his parents to let him help, but they refused.
As the days passed and the end drew near, despair pushed him to the edge. He climbed to the top of a building, threatening to jump, shouting that there was no reason to live if his friend was gone. Shocked and terrified, both families finally gave in.
The operation took place soon after, and by a stroke of luck, both boys survived.
Three years later, when the boy turned eighteen, he experienced his first rut. The pain was unbearable. Normally, omegas would be provided to help him through it, but his father and his fiancee’s parents refused, claiming it would taint him. They also would not allow him to be with his fiancee until after their marriage.
Unable to watch his friend suffer, his best friend stepped forward. Though he was also an S-ranked alpha, a rank meant to dominate, he chose to submit, offering himself to ease his friend’s pain.
During his rut periods, his best friend continued to submit to him, easing his pain whenever it came. One day, the young alpha encountered people in need of help. Without hesitation, he offered them kindness, just as his best friend had always taught him.
But in doing so, his Alpha core was fractured, a wound that threatened his life. On his final, fading breaths, as he awaited his fate, a prophetess guided him toward his destiny, a place where he could be healed.
Through mating, his strength returned, and he was restored.
...
Ash looked at Adrian, confused, trying to piece his story together.
Adrian smiled, meeting his gaze. "My best friend is the reason I’m alive. If it weren’t for him, I could have died. And if I had died, he might have taken his own life, not wanting to live without me. We’re soulmates."
Ash’s eyes widened in surprise as realization struck: he was talking about Lucien. Adrian pressed a gentle kiss on Ash’s forehead. "You restored my strength and gave me a third chance when we first mated. That’s how I knew, you were destined for me. You’re my mate. My soulmate gave me a second chance, and you-my mate-gave me third. My heart keeps beating because of both of you."
...
In Adrian’s room, Celeste sat on the edge of the bed, simmering. "I thought that marrying you, you’d finally get rid of my brother," she spat. "But you’re still obsessed with him."
She leaned forward, eyes hard. "I tried to have him killed twice before, and both attempts failed. This time I wouldn’t let it fail. Once he’s dead, you’ll come to your senses."
...
Ash woke to a sweet, warm aroma drifting through the air. Rubbing his eyes, he followed it to the kitchen, and froze in the doorway.
Adrian and Lucien were there, bustling about in the morning light. Adrian flipped pancakes with a soft hum, a streak of flour dusting his cheek. Lucien carefully drizzled syrup, tasting a drop with a playful grin before letting out a small giggle.
"Good morning, puppy," Adrian said with a teasing smile. "We thought we’d make breakfast for you."
Ash stepped closer, his heart softening at the sight. Lucien nudged a plate toward him. "Careful, don’t eat it all before we do," he teased, though the sparkle in his eyes betrayed him.
After breakfast, Lucien groaned, pointing at Adrian. "You better wash these!"
Adrian leaned back, smirking. "Wash the dishes? How can a whole CEO like me do that?" He glanced at Ash with pleading eyes. "Puppy, help me..."
Ash laughed, but Lucien shook his head. "No! You’ll be late for your morning prep. Go get ready," he said, though the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.
...
At school, during breaktime, at the dining area. Martin and Naomi were eating the pancakes Ash had carried for them.
Ash laughed, finishing his story. "Still...in the end, he washed the dishes!"
Martin took another pancake. "Whooh! Alpha Lucien acting like a nagging wife to his husband, while you’re being spoiled by both of them."
Naomi sighed. "Just get married."
Before Ash could reply, a junior came running, breathing heavily. "President...Alpha Lucien, he’s been rushed to the hospital!"
Ash’s heart stopped. "What happened?" he asked urgently.
"He...he’s been poisoned," the junior stammered, panic flickering in his eyes.
Ash’s stomach tightened. Without another word, he rushed to Lucien’s office, grabbed his car keys, and ran toward the parking lot.
The engine roared to life as he sped through the streets, weaving past traffic lights and sharp turns. His grip on the wheel was tight, his mind racing, fear clawing at his chest with every second that passed.
When he arrived outside the hospital, the area was already swarmed with paparazzi and journalists. Cameras flashed wildly as soon as they spotted him.
"Young Master! Who do you think wanted your fiance dead?
"Do you know if Alpha Lucien had any grudges with someone recently?"
Questions flew from every direction as the crowd closed in, blocking his path. Security guards struggled to hold them back, but the pressure grew until a wave of strong, suffocating pheromones filled the air. The reporters froze, instinctively stepping aside.
Through the parted crowd, Adrian appeared, striding toward him.
Ash hurried over, his voice trembling. "How is he?"
Adrian exhaled, his face drawn. "I haven’t gotten any feedbacks yet. The doctors are still working on him. "
Ash clenched his fists. "Who would dare poison him?"
Adrian shook his head. "I don’t know. The doctors said the poison came from his coffee. Apparently, his regular coffee maker is being held for questioning, but he’s denying everything. Says he made it the same way as always; same recipe, same process, same delivery."
He glanced down the hallway. "I’ve already told Bravin to look into it."
Moment later, Adrian’s father arrived, followed by Ash’s mother, Celeste, together with her parents. Their faces were filled with worry as they approached.
"Adrian," Lucien’s father asked quietly, "how is he?"
Adrian sighed. "I’m still waiting for the doctors’ feedback."
Just then, the door to the VVIP room opened. The doctor came out, followed by the two others. They bowed slightly when they saw the Alphas.
Adrian stepped forward. "How is he?"
The doctor stayed silent for a moment.
Lucien’s mother’s voice trembled. "You’ve been asked how is my son?"
The doctor finally spoke, his tone low. "The poison has spread through his system. His organs are beginning to shut down," He paused, glancing between them. "There’s only one option left...but it’s nearly impossible."
Everyone stared at him.
The doctor continued, "There’s an old record of a rare kind of Omega born with fangs. It’s said their bite can draw poison out of the blood. But it’s only a theory; no proof, no real case ever found. Most believe it’s just a myth."