As I scanned the cafeteria, I noticed something odd. The other Alpha clans? They weren't just leaving—they were fleeing. Like a pack of terrified hyenas sensing a lion in the distance. And instead of using the main entrance like normal people, they bolted for the fire exit.

What the hell was going on?

The vanilla scent grew stronger, wrapping around me like an invisible chain, and before I knew it, my own clan members and I were the last ones left in the cafeteria.

Then, the cafeteria doors swung open.

A massive silhouette appeared, backlit by the hallway lights, broad shoulders filling the doorway like some villain making a dramatic entrance in a cheap action movie.

And there he was—Deux.

Strolling in like he owned the place, his five ever-loyal beta males flanking him like bodyguards. His eyes swept over the room before locking onto us.

I stared back. Hard. Like hell I was going to back down.

Jiggs, on the other hand, was not having any of it.

"Uh, Champ... maybe we should, I don't know, leave? I think I'm full. Hehe..." His nervous laugh wasn't helping his case.

"Master Champ," Marsh said in a hushed voice. "The Deux clan... What should we do?"

I picked up a handful of steamed veggies from our meal containers and began distributing them like nothing was happening.

"What should you do? Eat. Ignore them. Focus on your nutrition."

I plopped some more vegetables into their containers. Deux's scent was now overwhelming, crawling into my brain like an itch I couldn't scratch.

Jiggs, however, looked like he'd seen a ghost. His hands trembled as he pointed behind me.

"Ch-Ch-Champ... we have a visitor."

I didn't turn around. Instead, I calmly placed the last portion of steamed veggies into Jiggs' container.

"I said eat. Ignore everyone else."

A deep voice sliced through the air.

"This is pathetic."

Deux's voice.

"You're an Alpha, Champ," he continued. "Yet you sit here, playing house with these betas, treating them like your own children? It's embarrassing. An Alpha should dominate, not babysit. What will the others say when they see this kind of weakness?"

I slammed both hands onto the table. Hard.

The room went silent.

Then, slowly, I stood up.

I met Deux's gaze head-on. "Deux, I don't have time for your nonsense. I'm eating. But if you really want to push your luck, I can skip this meal and give you a fistful of pain instead."

Deux didn't reply right away. He just stared at me, long and hard, like he was trying to mentally disintegrate me on the spot.

Seconds felt like minutes.

Then, finally, he let out a slow breath—hot and heavy, like he was this close to throwing a punch but decided I wasn't worth the effort. Without another word, he turned around and left.

His beta males lingered for a second, shuffling awkwardly, probably debating whether they should follow him or start some trouble of their own.

Before they could decide, I waved a hand dismissively.

"Tell your dear leader to get his life together. He's clearly losing his mind. Maybe a good night's sleep and some actual food and vitamins would help."

That was all it took. They scrambled after Deux like scared puppies.

I let out a deep sigh and dropped back into my seat.

Finally.

But just as I picked up my chopsticks, a round of applause erupted from my clan members.

I blinked.

"What... are you guys doing?"

"Master Champ, that was amazing!" Daryl grinned. "Once again, you sent Deux running. You're the only Alpha who can stand up to him!"

"Long live the Champ Clan!" Jiggs cheered, and the others joined in like I had just won some epic battle.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Enough already! Eat your food and shut up."

And just like that, they quickly shut their mouths and immediately did as I commanded.

But... I'd be lying if I said my ego didn't swell just a little bit from the praise.

After all, I'm Champ, their Alpha Leader.

And no one messes with me.

Hehe!

🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬

Deux's POV

I was beyond pissed.

Storming out of the cafeteria, I clenched my fists, my mind swirling in frustration.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Why... why was I walking away?

And worse—why was it him that made me leave?

That low-ranking Alpha. That pip-squeak. That irritating, infuriating, impossibly defiant Champ.

Every other Alpha in that cafeteria had cleared out the moment I stepped in. Every. Single. One.

Except him.

I made my way to the cafeteria, stomach growling, fully intent on getting a full meal.

But the moment I got close, I caught that scent.

Familiar. Infuriating. Disruptive.

His scent.

It clung to the air, stirring something inside me that I wanted to crush, to obliterate.

And just like that, my reason for coming here shifted.

Now, I had two missions.

First—to confirm my suspicion. That the scent lingering from the hidden facility, where the failed Omega experiment was kept, was the same as Champ.

And second?

To ruin his day the same way he keeps ruining my sanity.

He just sat there, completely unbothered, munching on his damn vegetables like I wasn't even worth acknowledging.

Like my presence—my dominance—meant absolutely nothing to him.

And yet...

As I looked at him...

There was something about those eyes.

A shade of amber and gold, flickering like a wildfire. Mesmerizing and utterly unshaken. They held a challenge—a dare—as if daring me to make a move.

His lashes were long, almost unfairly beautiful for a guy. They framed his eyes so perfectly that I found myself staring longer than I should have.

And then... there were his lips.

Soft. Pink.

Like they had never been chapped a day in his life. And for some inexplicable reason, my brain decided to fixate on them.

I could almost imagine what they'd feel like.

Damn it!

I shook my head, trying to snap myself out of whatever spell I was falling under.

But then... my gaze drifted lower.

To his flawless skin.

His cheeks, his jaw—his entire face was so smooth it was like he had never known stress or exhaustion.

And then... his neck.

My breath hitched.

Pale. Impossibly smooth. Unmarked.

It was like a blank canvas just begging to be claimed.

To be marked.

To be mine.

Wait a damn minute!

...What the actual hell was I thinking?!

I clenched my jaw, my body tensing with frustration. This isn't me. This isn't Deux—the ruthless Alpha everyone fears.

And yet... standing in that cafeteria, looking at him, I felt something I had never felt before.

Something dangerous.

Something I couldn't control.

And that terrified me more than anything.

Because if I wasn't careful...

I might just lose myself to it.

End of Chapter 7