Scent. It was the thing Elias hated most in the world. Not the metallic tang of blood, nor the musty smell of buried memories, but scent. Especially the scent of an Alpha. It reminded him of endless nights in the darkened rooms of Thorne Manor, where power and deceit intertwined like poisonous vines. The meeting room on the third floor of St. Augustine Royal Academy, where the late afternoon light streamed through Gothic windows, should have been tranquil and dignified, but instead, it was thick with pungent Alpha pheromones.
Elias Thorne, 18, sat opposite a corpulent middle-aged Alpha whose expensive velvet suit clung tightly to his massive frame. The "Ice Prince" of St. Augustine, a moniker given to him by the entire school, had never felt the title more apt than now. His deep blue eyes, usually cold as ice, were now sharp as razor blades, sweeping over the contract on the table. Each word danced like a curse.
"Thorne, you understand, don't you? This is your only chance." The Alpha's voice rumbled, echoing in the quiet space. "Either you accept, or the entire Thorne family fortune will belong to... someone else."
Elias's hands clenched beneath the table, his knuckles white. A searing pain tore through his chest, not physical, but spiritual. The Thorne family. That name, heavy as shackles, had bound him since birth. He, a rare purebred Alpha, should have been their pride, yet he was always under suspicion, always scrutinized. And now, they were forcing him into a dirty deal.
He closed his eyes, a fleeting image passing through his mind: brilliant honey-colored hair under the sun, a mischievous smile, and the clear, bird-like sound of a violin. Caleb Maxwell. He knew him. A second-year Omega from the music department, who always possessed a strange allure, radiant like a sunbeam lost in the dark forest of the Academy. Once, they'd brushed past each other in a hallway, and Elias had unexpectedly caught a faint, sweet scent, like morning dew, lingering with the smell of sandalwood. A scent completely opposite to his own harsh pheromone, the scent of Black Tuberose – cold, powerful, and solitary.
Now, that name appeared in this contract, next to his.
Fictitious Marriage Contract: Elias Thorne (Alpha) & Caleb Maxwell (Omega).
His heart gave a slight jolt, an indescribable feeling creeping in. Humiliation? Or a mad release?
"I need time." Elias choked out, his voice hoarse, each word fragmented.
The Alpha sneered, revealing stained yellow teeth. "No. You don't have time, Elias. Right now, sign or lose everything. You wouldn't want to see your relatives lose everything, would you?"
Blood boiled in Elias's veins. "Relatives"? The word sounded repulsive coming from that Alpha's mouth. His family, the very people who had turned his life into a chessboard, were now using that pretense to coerce him. His gaze bore into every line of the contract, each clause like an invisible chain tightening around him. The most crucial clause: "The contract is valid indefinitely until either party breaches its terms or is discovered. In such a case, all assets and reputation of the violating party shall be utterly destroyed."
Elias lifted his head, his eyes meeting the Alpha's directly. A moment of silence stretched, taut as a string about to snap. Finally, a cruel, mocking smirk appeared on his lips, colder than any snowstorm.
"Fine," Elias said, each word ground out between his teeth. "I'll sign."
He picked up the pen, his fingers trembling slightly, but his gaze resolute. The moment the pen tip touched the paper felt like a thunderclap. His destiny, Caleb's, and that of an entire family, had been sealed. He would turn this fake marriage into a weapon. He would crush everyone who had forced him into this situation.
A Fated Encounter
...Two days later.
Caleb Maxwell stood before the large mirror in Orion Entertainment's changing room, feeling as if he were wearing an oversized suit of armor. The white silk shirt, black vest, and elegant trousers. All perfect, yet stifling. Today was the group photoshoot for the "Rising Stars" project – where Orion's most talented trainees were to be introduced. Caleb knew this was a huge opportunity for him to prove his worth, not just as an Omega with a good voice, but as a true artist.
"Maxwell, it's your turn!" His manager, Maria, urged. She was an enthusiastic Beta, the only one who believed in Caleb's talent even when he was constantly underestimated just for being an Omega.
Caleb took a deep breath. He would do it. He would sing his dreams, he would break all prejudices.
Stepping out into the studio, the dazzling flashlights made Caleb squint. The click of cameras, the director's instructions, and the familiar faces of other trainees. But then, his eyes stopped.
A tall, aloof figure stood in the center of the stage. Hair as black as night, deep blue eyes, and an Alpha aura so chilling it seemed to freeze the air around him. Elias Thorne. That name, again. He was Orion's most prominent trainee, predicted to be the entertainment empire's next star. But Caleb never thought he would be... someone he had to face.
Elias looked directly at Caleb, his gaze devoid of any emotion, only coldness and a sharp, unreadable glint. Instantly, a faint, pungent, and frosty scent permeated Caleb's senses. The scent of Black Tuberose. It was Elias's pheromone. Caleb involuntarily shivered, a sense of unease creeping in.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!" The director's voice boomed. "Today we have a small change in plans. The two of you will be taking a duo photo, and then... there will be an important announcement."
Caleb felt his heart skip a beat. A duo photo? With Elias Thorne? He barely ever interacted with anyone in the company, and now it was him?
Elias's gaze locked onto Caleb, and in that moment, Caleb saw something flash deep within the Alpha's cold eyes. Not hatred, not disdain, but a terrifying emptiness, accompanied by a profound meaning he couldn't quite grasp.
When the photoshoot ended, the director waved Elias and Caleb over. All eyes turned to them. Caleb's heart hammered in his chest.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is wonderful news!" The director smiled brightly. "From today, Elias Thorne and Caleb Maxwell will be an official couple for our upcoming romantic drama project, 'Eternal Bloom'! They will star together, and..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Elias and Caleb, then settling on Elias with a mysterious smile.
"...And to create the best effect for the drama, the two of you will also be living together in an apartment arranged by the company."
Caleb froze. Live together? With that cold Alpha? He nearly collapsed. But then, a whisper reached his ear, cold as ice, just loud enough for Caleb to hear.
"Welcome, Omega," Elias said, his voice deep, full of mockery. "We have a contract to fulfill."
Caleb looked up at Elias, his eyes wide with shock. What contract? What the hell was going on?