He burst in, excitement written all over him, a thin file in his hand. “I found him!”

Alexei slowly lifted his head, his eyes tired but curious.

Alyosha, who had been sitting nearby, leaned forward. “You found him? Who is he? What’s his name? Damn it, just say it!”

With a triumphant smile, Kirill tossed the file onto the table. “His name is Lucas. Lucas Eliver. Twenty-three years old. Official citizen. No criminal record. His job is… he’s an artist.”

Alyosha’s eyes widened. “An artist?! So that smile of his is natural? It’s in his genes? He was created to steal hearts?!”

Kirill burst into laughter. “Probably. But listen to this… Tonight, he’s going out with some friends. A café called Café XXX. Eight p.m.”

Alexei clasped his hands together. Silence. Heavy silence. Then he said quietly, “We’re going there tonight.”

Alyosha grinned. “You gonna just look at him, or is your tongue gonna freeze again?”

Kirill slapped Alyosha’s shoulder. “Cut it out. Let’s go get ready.”

8 p.m. – Café XXX

A cozy café with warm yellow lighting, filled with laughter and the scent of bitter coffee. Tables with lit candles. Soft music playing. And a familiar laugh…

Alexei stepped inside, his movements slow. It felt like the sound of his heartbeat was louder than his footsteps.

Lucas was there. With the same blond hair, the same bright eyes, the same smile. He was chatting with his friends. And when he laughed, Alexei’s heart… pounded like crazy.

Alyosha whispered into Kirill’s ear: “Oh my god, did you see that? His heart just punched through his ribs.”

Kirill murmured, “That damn smile is gorgeous… Now I get why he’s obsessed.”

Alexei stood there for several seconds. Just watching. Barely breathing. As if the world had stopped for him.

Alyosha whispered: “Aren’t you gonna go say hi?”

With a rough, husky voice, Alexei said: “Not yet. I just… want to see him. To know if that feeling from that day… happens again.”

Kirill leaned close and muttered: “Alexei, your heart is screaming at you. Forget your brain and go.”

Alyosha snorted: “Give it two days and you’ll change his last name to Lucas Volchek.”

A tiny smile appeared on Alexei’s lips. A real one.

He took a step forward. Just one step. His breath heavy, his pulse still hammering wildly, until…

To his utter disbelief, a slim, beautiful omega with straight, light-colored hair pressed himself against Lucas. He wrapped an arm around Lucas’s and whispered something sweet in his ear.

Alexei froze. His step left hanging in the air. His eyes slowly turned cold.

Alyosha let out a breath. “Well… I definitely wasn’t expecting that.”

Kirill pressed his lips tightly together. “Damn… I didn’t know he had a partner.”

Alexei’s expression collapsed in an instant. Like someone hit but desperately trying to stay standing.

Kirill murmured: “Let’s sit… just watch. Figure out what’s going on.”

Without a word, Alexei went and sat in a corner of the café. His back straight, his gaze fixed, but inside… chaos.

Alyosha sat beside him, muttering: “Maybe he’s just a regular friend. I mean, the way he clung to him… well, maybe…”

Kirill shook his head. “No man. That look wasn’t casual. That was a possessive omega. Completely locked onto Lucas.”

Alexei said nothing. He just watched. Lucas’s movements, his smiles, and that omega.

Not jealousy. Something darker. Something instinctive.

Alyosha asked softly, “Wanna leave? Or wait?”

Alexei whispered, “We need to know who he is… we wait.”

And the night… went on.