Darius stood rigid in the dimly lit room, his figure sharp against the flickering shadows that danced across the walls. His jaw was set, his dark eyes cold and unyielding, betraying no emotion except the faintest glimmer of impatience simmering beneath the surface. "Is he making progress?" Darius asked, his voice low and commanding, sliding across the room like ice over steel. Every word carried authority, a subtle threat, a promise of consequences for failure. The man standing opposite him hesitated, carefully choosing his words. "He has already found his mate, but nothing else," he admitted, eyes downcast, aware of the dangerous edge in Darius's tone. Darius's gaze narrowed, a shadow of fury flickering across his features. "Apart from the antidote, mating can also help him regain his powers," he said deliberately, his words measured yet chilling. "You must do everything in your power to stop the two of them from getting close. She's human, so she won't awaken anything herself, but he will. If he mates with her, his power could return faster than we anticipate." "Yes... she's human," the man confirmed, his voice careful, wary. Darius's lips curled into a cold, calculated smile, one that promised punishment for any misstep. "We cannot allow that. If he regains even a fraction of his alpha power before we are ready, everything we've meticulously planned will collapse. I will speed up the process and secure the council's backing before he returns. Make sure he doesn't find the antidote or mate with her. Understand? Failure will not be tolerated... or forgiven." The man nodded silently, the weight of the command settling on him like iron. He slipped quietly into the shadows, leaving Darius alone in the room. Darius's gaze lingered on the empty space where the man had been. Every move Kael made now, every second wasted, brought him closer to regaining what was rightfully his-and Darius would not allow that. He let out a low, barely audible growl, the sound more felt than heard. "We cannot fail. Not now. Not ever." Back at the Office Meanwhile, Kael remained in his office, the earlier tension still clinging to him. Aria had just handed him a small, framed photograph. "That's my father," she said, her voice soft as she placed it into his hands. Kael's eyes traced the lines of the man's face, then flicked back to Aria. "Oh... now I see the striking resemblance," he murmured, almost to himself. Aria finished packing her things and stood, straightening her posture. "Thank you, Kael," she said politely, before leaving the office. Kael remained standing for a moment, her scent lingering in the air like a pull he couldn't explain. Something stirred deep within him, an unfamiliar sensation that left him restless and unsteady. He shook his head, forcing himself to focus, and returned to his chair. He tried calling his friend Riven, but there was no answer. He called the office to check, and was told Riven wasn't in today. He tried again, a twinge of unease gnawing at him. Riven wasn't someone who ignored calls without reason. Unable to shake the concern, Kael left the office and headed straight to his apartment. When he arrived, Riven was just emerging from the bathroom, hair damp and expression vaguely surprised. "What are you doing here? Ain't you supposed to be chasing after your mate?" Riven asked, half-joking, half-curious. Kael's brow furrowed. "I called the company. You weren't at work, and you weren't picking up my calls. I drove down to check on you." "I'm fine, bro," Riven replied casually, though there was a distant quality to his tone. "Just... wasn't feeling up to going to work." Kael's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "Alright. I'll be going now. Need anything?" "Nah, I'm good. I'll just take a nap," Riven said, waving him off. Kael gave a brief nod. "Okay. Take care." As Kael left, Riven stood silently for a moment, thoughtful, his mind already calculating possibilities, weighing plans Kael had no idea he was forming. Later, at Aria's place "So, how did it go with him?" Lili asked, a teasing lilt in her voice. Aria rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Umm... nothing much happened. He asked me a few questions, and that's it." "A few questions, huh? What did he ask you?" Aria smirked, letting sarcasm creep into her tone. "Well... for example, he asked if my friend has three eyes." "Be serious!" Lili laughed, nearly choking on her drink. "Okay, okay," Aria admitted. "He actually asked why I want to work at Aetherion Group after school, and I told him my reason. Then... my bag fell, and he helped me pick up my books. That's all." "Ohh, so he didn't ask your name, age, or phone number?" Lili teased, raising an eyebrow. Aria shrugged. "Lili... he's a lecturer. Pretty sure he already has access to all that, plus he knows my name." Lili leaned back, a playful smirk on her lips. "Ohh... that explains it. Still, I expected him to ask more... intimate questions, not why you want to work at some company. Seems old-fashioned. I wouldn't date someone like that." "Date? You're going too far, girl. Mr. Kael is just Mr. Kael. This isn't some teacher-student affair. I'm not cut out for it," Aria said, waving her hand dismissively. Lili's voice softened, though the teasing lingered. "Are you really worried about what people would say right now? You're better than that. You're a young adult. You can make your own decisions." Aria finally let out a heavy sigh, relaxing into her chair. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just order already. I'm famished." Lili grinned, satisfied that her friend was at least partially distracted. The teasing had died down, but the tension between Aria and the thoughts of Kael lingered quietly, unspoken yet undeniable. Even as they placed their orders, Aria's mind wandered back to Kael, to the sharp pull she felt whenever he was near, and to the uneasy feeling she had yet to name. She shook her head, trying to dismiss it. Focus on exams. Work at Aetherion. Graduate. That's all that matters.
