Zane

“Zane. Zane.”

The voice echoed faintly, like it was calling through water.

“Wake him up! Undo whatever the hell you did to him—now!”

Who’s yelling?

“I didn’t do anything!”

My brain felt like sludge. Someone was shaking me.

“Zane, wake up. Mr. Alpha. Alpha Zane? Fuck! Why aren’t you waking up?!”

A sharp sting landed on my shoulder, snapping the darkness like glass.

My eyes flew open just as Jayden raised his hand again.

“You’re awake,” he breathed, stepping back in relief.

Before I could respond, Lucien shoved past him and crouched beside me.

“Zane—are you okay? What the hell happened?”

I pushed myself upright. My limbs were heavy. Everything felt... slow.

“What happened?” I asked, scanning the room. It was dim—the sun already gone.

“You slept. The entire day,” he said, eyes filled with concern.

“I did what?” I shot wide awake, heart thudding. My mind raced to recall the last thing. Jayden—he was having a panic attack. I told him to come to my room. He laid down on the bed. And then… nothing. Blackout. Until now.

That couldn't be right. I looked between Lucien and Jayden, confused. No. Suspicious.

I launched myself off the bed, grabbing Jayden by the throat before either of them could react.

“What did you do to me?” I snarled, slamming him against the wall. My grip tightened.

His eyes widened. “I… didn’t… do… anything… you… just… fell asleep,” he choked out.

Sleep? No.

That wasn’t how it worked. I don’t sleep. Not really. Not in centuries.

I spun slightly toward Lucien, still holding Jayden tight. “Tell me I wasn’t really asleep.”

Lucien’s brows were furrowed. He nodded slowly. “Yes, you were. I tried waking you, but you wouldn’t budge. I told him to wake you since it’s past 6pm.”

Jayden tapped at my wrist with trembling fingers, desperate to breathe. I released him. He dropped down, coughing violently, but kept his eyes on me.

“I swear,” he rasped. “I just laid on the bed. I didn’t even touch you.”

I stared at him, every muscle in my body tense. He looked terrified—wide eyes, shaking hands—but there was something off. It wasn’t fear of me. It was confusion. Like he was just as lost as we were.

This wasn’t adding up.

Has his power already started to awaken?

Jayden blinked at us. “You… don’t sleep?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I replied flatly. “Not really. I haven’t had more than an hour’s worth of light rest in two hundred years. Even then, I wake instantly if anyone enters my room or makes a sound. And you’re telling me I slept for seven hours? And Lucien couldn’t wake me up?”

Then it hit me, back at the office. When I told him to sleep. I felt drowsy too. My eyelids grew heavy right after I ordered him to rest. It only lasted a minute before Lucien interrupted, but it was enough. I dismissed it then, thought I was tired. But now?

Now I was sure.

This wasn’t normal.

I turned back to Jayden. He flinched slightly but didn’t back away.

What are you?

I didn’t say the words, but I saw the flicker of emotion in his eyes—he felt them anyway.

“Lucien,” I said, still watching Jayden, “go to the club without me tonight. I’m staying here. I need answers.”

“But Zane…”

“I'll be fine.” I cut him off.

Lucien hesitated, then gave a short nod. He shot Jayden a warning look on his way out, then closed the door behind him.

Jayden moved to follow him.

“And where do you think you're going?”

“To work?” he said, unsure.

“You’re my assistant, not Lucien's. You’re staying here until we figure out what the hell just happened.”

He threw his hands up. “But I didn’t do anything!”

“Good. Then stay and prove it.”

He let out a shaky breath and nodded, backing away toward the bed.

I hated how uncertain this made me feel. I’m never out of control. Never caught off guard. Not with enemies. Not with strangers. And definitely not with... assistants.

But Jayden wasn’t normal. That much was obvious.

His scent was unlike any omega I’ve known. Subtle, yet powerful.

And if he could knock out a 300-year-old Alpha just by being in the same bed… He was dangerous. He was more than just an ordinary omega. I needed to know what he was. And I needed to know fast before it killed me. Or worse—before it made me want him more.

“Lie down. Just like earlier. Same position. Everything.”

Jayden’s mouth opened, closed. “Why?”

“Because I said so.”

That did the trick. He muttered something under his breath but obeyed, climbing onto the bed stiffly. He lay on his side, arms wrapped around himself like armor.

I reached for my phone and dialed the cook. "Bring my food," I said, the command simple, steady. Then, I turned my eyes back to him. “Are you hungry?”

Jayden shook his head. “I’ve eaten already.”

“You know this isn't fair…” Jayden started.

When the food arrived, I barely touched it at first, too distracted by the way Jayden’s voice filled the space. He was talking, now sitting, giving me reasons why he was innocent and why he doesn't need to sleep. His chatter was like a soft hum that slowly infiltrated my mind.

I had to admit, his voice was doing something to me. A steady pulse, like a damn song, slow, seductive, a little dangerous.

“I’m not tired,” he said after a beat.

“Good. This isn’t about rest.”

“You’re testing me.”

I turned to him then. “Smart boy.”

“I didn’t do anything, Zane.” His voice barely above a whisper.

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

He sighed. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—defeat, maybe? A slight tremor of vulnerability he wasn’t ready to show. But then, just as quickly, he lay down, pulling the covers up, his face turned away from me.

I ate my meal in silence, my attention flicking between the plate and the figure on the bed. Every part of me told me to stay away. To keep control. But my gaze kept drifting back to him, to the way his shoulders rose and fell, steady and slow.

Once I was done eating, I called the cook to clear the plate. The room was quiet now, except for the occasional rustle of the sheets as Jayden shifted in place. I couldn’t help but watch him—watch the way his body relaxed, as if the tension had drained out of him.

I climbed into the bed beside him, closing the gap between us. My mind raced, but I kept my focus on Jayden. He lay still, eyes closed, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. It was almost like he was pretending to sleep, as if waiting for me to react.

The air between us thickened, charged with something I couldn’t place. His warmth was undeniable, the rhythm of his breathing steady and and his scent, calming.

“You know,” Jayden spoke first, breaking the silence. “You could try sleeping, too.”

I didn’t answer right away, letting the weight of his words settle. His voice was too calm, almost too relaxed for the tension hanging in the room.

His breath slowed, and his body shifted, the last traces of tension draining from him as he fell asleep. Slowly, he turned onto his side, facing me, his features soft in sleep. No guard up. No mask. Just a boy lost in his own dreams.

And damn it, he was beautiful. Delicate jaw. Slight furrow between his brows. Lips parted like he’d been about to speak.

My chest ached.

I shouldn’t be watching him like this. I shouldn’t be so drawn to him, but I couldn’t help it. My body moved closer of its own accord, the space between us shrinking as if pulled by an invisible force and I could feel the warmth coming from his body, it was hotter now, and hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. My heart beat faster, and quicker, as the space between us closed.

I leaned in slowly, my lips hovering near his, The urge to close the distance was too strong, and his lips, soft and parted, taunted me. The pull was stronger than my willpower.

And before I could stop myself, I pressed my lips gently against his.