Deux's POV

"Dad, I have something I want to ask."

At my words, my father—the Alpha King—paused mid-bite and turned his sharp gaze toward me, waiting for what I had to say.

"Yes? I'm listening."

I took a deep breath before speaking.

"I want you to teach me everything I need to know. I want to become stronger, more powerful, and unshakable. One day, I will take my place as the next Alpha King—just like you."

A grin spread across my father's face.

"That's exactly what I want to hear from my son! You never disappoint me, Deux!" he said with pride, immediately gesturing to one of the Beta female maids standing nearby. "Fetch us a bottle of our finest red wine. Tonight calls for a celebration."

But in truth, I was celebrating nothing.

I had made up my mind.

I couldn't bring up Champ—not now, not ever.

If my father knew that I was troubled by someone like him, a newly awakened Alpha, he would see me as weak. Worse, he would see me as unworthy.

And I couldn't let that happen.

For years, I had worked to gain my father's approval. I had fought to prove that I was his rightful heir, that I was his strongest creation.

Like him, I wanted to be an Alpha King—a ruler whose very presence demanded submission.

From the moment I was born, my father instilled in me one absolute truth: Everything I lay my eyes on belongs to me.

And I could never betray that belief.

I refused to meet the same fate as my older brother.

Another Alpha male. Another supposed heir to my father's throne.

Until the day he failed.

I was just a child when I witnessed the merciless execution of my own brother—cut down by my father's hand for the sole crime of disobedience.

Blood.

So much blood.

I could still see it in my mind—his lifeless body crumpled on the ground, his crimson essence staining the floor beneath him.

Since that day, I vowed never to fail my father.

Never to disappoint him.

Because failure meant death.

A few moments later, the Beta maid returned with an elegant bottle of red wine and poured two glasses.

My father took a sip, his golden goblet reflecting the flickering candlelight. Then, with a smirk, he spoke.

"You know, Deux, I see a lot of myself in you."

I remained silent, watching him closely.

"At your age, you've already conquered vast territories, expanding your domain further than I expected. Unlike your older brother..." His tone darkened, his grip on his glass tightening. A faint crack ran through the surface.

"Father," I said casually, "you'll waste good wine if you break that glass."

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to relax.

"Tch. I have no desire to remember that disgrace of a son," he spat. "He was a failure. Unreliable. Weak. It was a blessing to rid our bloodline of his incompetence."

His expression softened as he turned back to me. "But you, Deux—you are different. You are my true heir. I trust you have already crushed many Alphas beneath your feet. Show them our strength. Show them that we are superior to all. Our bloodline is unmatched."

I leaned back, swirling the wine in my glass. "So, we are not just stronger than other average Alpha males... we are more terrifying, aren't we? The mere sight of us should strike fear into their hearts?"

"Exactly," my father affirmed, downing another sip.

"And there is no Alpha male who can weaken us," I continued. "It is not in our nature to save or protect another Alpha. That would be beneath us."

At that, my father burst into laughter, nearly choking on his wine.

"Deux, your humor is truly something! Can you imagine? Us—rescuing another Alpha? What nonsense! We exist to dominate, not to kneel and offer aid! That is why we rule. That is why we lead."

I nodded slowly.

Yes... that was the truth I had always known.

And yet...

Why did things feel different when it came to Champ?

Why was my mind torn—split between wanting to surpass him and... wanting to protect him?

I hated this uncertainty.

I had to crush this ridiculous hesitation before it consumed me.

But before I could think any further, I found myself asking, "Have you ever saved an Alpha male before, Father?"

The second the words left my mouth, the atmosphere shifted.

My father slammed his goblet onto the table, his once-amused expression twisting into something far darker.

"Me? Save someone?" He scoffed. "Don't be a fool. I serve myself and no one else. Every creature in this world will kneel before me. Even you, Deux."

His golden eyes bore into mine, unwavering and absolute. "As long as I breathe, I am the Alpha King. And while I sit on this throne—my word is law."

His presence was suffocating.

"...Understood, Father," I said finally, raising my glass and drinking alongside him.

As we neared the end of our meal, my father spoke once more.

"When you reach your twenty-fifth year, you will take your rightful place as Alpha King. That gives you only five more years to prepare. When the time comes, you will be ready—and you will rule over all."

I nodded.

Five years.

Five years to eliminate any obstacle that stood in my way.

And the biggest obstacle of all... was Champ.

He would be the thorn in my path.

"Expand your territory, Deux," my father continued. "And when you take your rightful throne, you must secure your legacy—I will let you choose an Omega female of the highest quality to bear your heir."

I narrowed my eyes. "Omega female of the highest quality? What do you mean?"

"There is a hidden sanctuary where the most exceptional Omegas are kept—Omegas whose genes produce only the strongest Alpha heirs. Not like the ordinary Alpha males born to lesser blood."

His voice carried an air of satisfaction as he revealed his plan.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to this sacred place. You will choose an Omega female to carry your future heir. And once you have chosen, she will be given the utmost care, ensuring she bears you a strong, healthy successor."

I nodded.

I wanted to see this sanctuary for myself.

What kind of place was it?

The way my father spoke about them...

It sounded as if these Omega females were nothing more than livestock—bred and raised for our benefit.

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We arrived at a hidden facility—a place known only to my father and the Alpha males who served him.

There were seven of us: myself, my father, and his five Alpha subordinates.

Yes, Alpha males—not Betas.

It was a deliberate show of dominance—a reminder that even Alphas were beneath him, bound to follow his every command.

I had no idea where this facility was located, but one thing was certain—it was far from the city I called home.

No civilians. No outside presence.

A completely isolated and secret place.

The path leading to the entrance was heavily guarded, secured with layers of defenses that ensured no unauthorized being could step foot inside.

And when the massive doors finally opened—revealing nothing but a pitch-black corridor—I knew this was a place few had ever seen.

We stepped inside.

The darkness swallowed us whole, and I followed my father's lead, with the five Alpha males trailing close behind.

The silence was deafening, save for the echo of our footsteps against the cold metal floor.

As we walked, a faint glow emerged at the end of the passage.

Light.

And when we finally stepped through, I froze.

What I saw was beyond comprehension.

Rows of scientists—Beta males and females—moved frantically across the massive laboratory, each one focused on their respective tasks.

The moment we entered, every single one of them stopped what they were doing.

They turned to us.

And in perfect synchronization, they bowed in deep respect.

No doubt about it.

My father ran this place.

I remained silent, watching and analyzing everything I could. Every detail, every movement—every shred of information I could gather.

A Beta male scientist, who I assumed was one of the facility's leaders, stepped forward.

"How may we serve you, Alpha King?" he asked, his voice unwavering.

My father leaned back slightly, as if pleased by the formality.

"I have brought my son, Deux. It is time for him to choose an Omega female with the best genetic quality to bear his heir," he declared.

The Beta scientist nodded immediately. "Understood. We have already prepared a selection of Omega females—each one chosen specifically for their ability to conceive and successfully carry Master Deux's child."

"Good," my father said. "Assist him. Let him make his selection."

"As you wish," the Beta scientist replied before turning to me. "Master Deux, please follow me. I will introduce you to the Omega females chosen for you."

Without a word, I followed.

He led me down a long hallway and into a separate chamber.

Inside were ten smaller rooms, each one separated by glass walls, allowing full visibility of the occupants within.

And inside each of those glass rooms...

Lay unconscious Omega females.

All of them were strapped to IV tubes, their bodies sustained by a continuous supply of nutrients.

"These are the Omega females who have been carefully selected based on their genetic superiority," the Beta scientist explained. "Though they are currently unconscious, I assure you they are in excellent health—sustained by specially formulated nutrients to prepare them for carrying your heir."

I remained silent, observing them.

Then, the Beta scientist added something that made my blood run cold.

"Do not worry, Master Deux. None of this will negatively affect your future child. In fact, it ensures a healthier pregnancy. After all, just like you, Master Deux—you yourself are a product of this facility."

I turned to him sharply.

"...What?"

The scientist met my gaze without hesitation.

"Your father—the Alpha King—chose the finest Omega female to carry you. That is why you were born superior."

A revelation I had never heard before.

A truth my father never told me.

My mother...

The Omega mother who gave birth to me...

She was from this facility?

"Then... my Omega mom was here?" I asked, my voice low.

"That is correct, Master Deux," the scientist confirmed.

I clenched my fists. "Then where is she now? Is she still here?"

Ever since I was a child, I had never met her.

My father told me it didn't matter—that Omega females had no value beyond giving birth.

Their only purpose was to bear a child.

They were weak. They were beneath us.

But my older brother once told me otherwise.

Even though we had different Omega mothers, he claimed to have met my mother.

He once said she was...

Beautiful. Kind. Gentle.

But I never had that chance.

Would things have been different if I had?

Would I have... thought differently?

The Beta scientist sighed.

"I'm afraid, Master Deux... that your Omega mother passed away due to the strain of her pregnancy."

...

I took a slow breath.

I had suspected as much.

But hearing it confirmed...

Felt like swallowing a blade.

There was no point dwelling on the past now.

I had a duty to fulfill.

"...Very well," I said finally. "Let's proceed."

The scientist nodded and he continued to provide more information about each of the Omega Females inside the chamber.

Suddenly, while we were in the middle of the selection, his phone beeped.

"I must step out for a moment," he said. "Feel free to examine the Omega females and select the one you desire. I will return shortly."

I waved him off without another word.

As the doors closed behind him, I slowly walked past the glass chambers, observing the Omega females one by one.

There was no doubt—they were all flawless.

Their beauty, their appearance... perfection in every way.

Compared to the Omega females I saw every day, they were on another level entirely.

And yet...

I felt nothing.

Not a single one stood out to me.

I reached the last chamber, shaking my head.

None of them.

None of them were worthy.

None of them felt right.

But then...

I noticed something.

At the very end of the hall, there was another room.

Unlike the others, this one had no glass walls.

Instead, it was a sealed chamber.

Curious, I stared at the security panel.

I knew I didn't have access.

It is a highly secured closed door equipped with a keypad and fingerprint scanner.

I couldn't see what lay behind this door. Unlike the other cells, which had glass walls allowing a clear view of the Omega Females, this one was completely sealed off, its walls reinforced and shrouded in mystery. A warning sign was plastered across its surface—a silent yet ominous declaration that whatever is inside was not meant to be seen.

And that, of course, only fueled my curiosity.

The longer I stood in front of it, the more I became aware of a scent—faint at first, then growing stronger. A fragrance both familiar and alluring. It wrapped around me like silk, sweet yet tainted by something unplaceable.

Lavender.

Champ's scent.

The realization made my pulse quicken. The fragrance, so uniquely his, was seeping through the heavy steel of the cell. Why? What could possibly be inside that held the same scent as him?

A strange, unsettling sensation curled in my chest.

Was there something—or someone—locked away behind this door?