"If you’re with the zergs," Xavier said, gauging Ethan’s reaction. "You would’ve already succeeded in taking over this planet. Maybe even the Imperial Star by now."

He continued, "You have the capability, the intelligence, and the positioning. But you haven’t done it. Which means that’s not your goal."

Ethan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, amused.

"Taking over the world?" He waved a hand dismissively. "That’s not my concern."

"Then is it your master’s concern?"

Ethan’s smile widened until it showed teeth.

"Maybe? Maybe not? I don’t know." He held up a finger, pausing for dramatic effect. "BUT—we do have our own ideas on this matter. And those things are none of your business."

Xavier lay in the dirt, in deep thought.

He had spent weeks reviewing Ethan Goelet’s file, or rather, his crime trail. The man’s been everywhere once you knew where to look.

The most notable was the drug distribution network routed through Mick Hewitt and HW Corporation’s channels.

Then, the sabotage operations inside Maxwell Corporation took advantage of the power struggle.

At first glance, it read like a standard operation to spread the drugs further, undermining the potential threats in the business.

But Ethan had stayed at Maxwell Corporation for so long. He stayed close to one of the most dangerous men in the Empire.

He worked within arm’s length of a former general whose military instincts could have unmasked him just within the day of infiltration, if not careful.

Nobody stayed that long if their only goal was just that; it didn’t make sense.

Even more so, staying meant that Ethan knew he would eventually be discovered. He knew that Grayson was after him, or at least after his shadow, all this time.

Unless getting discovered was part of the plan.

Unless the corporate sabotage, the drugs, were just the cover story for something else.

Xavier pieced everything together in his mind. Every incident, every point of contact—and there was a common thread that ran through all of them.

"Is it because of Neville Hope?" Xavier blurted out.

Ethan’s hand, which had been absently spinning the dagger, froze into place.

Xavier didn’t know Neville Hope.

At least, not personally.

He knew that Neville was Grayson’s secretary-turned-boyfriend. An omega who had caused a minor uproar among the old families when the relationship became public. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

He remembered a family gathering where Catalina Gringer, Gloria Maxwell’s closest friend, had spent the better part of an evening lamenting the situation.

Her daughter Lilianna had always been very vocal about her affections for Grayson. However, this unknown secretary had swept in, and her daughter had no choice but to give up.

Catalina’s bitterness could be felt as she risked her relationship with her own husband after siding with her now-missing daughter, Lilianna.

Xavier hadn’t paid much attention at the time because romantic entanglements among the elite bored him. He felt like that stuff was everyday drama.

But now, he had no choice but to recall it.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You know a lot for someone who spends most of his time patrolling around the galaxy."

"Kill me, then. That way your secret’s safe."

Xavier’s voice dropped low, challenging.

"But just know that the Grayson I know won’t let his boyfriend go that easily. So you should pray for your dear life if you’re thinking of getting between them."

Ethan stared at him, silent.

Insectoids could be heard crashing through the woods around, followed by loud sounds of bombs.

"Are you sure about that?" Ethan said, lightly, confidently, and amused.

Xavier’s mind raced, thinking.

But he was sure that Grayson was someone who wouldn’t willingly let someone take Neville from him.

Unless he couldn’t stop it.

Unless there was something that even Grayson couldn’t control at will.

The answer arrived in Xavier’s mind before he could stop it.

"Fated pair," he breathed.

Ethan’s smile widened.

Xavier stared at him, breathlessly asked, "Neville Hope is your fated pair?"

Ethan set down the daggers. He brought his hands together in three slow, measured claps.

"You’re really smart, aren’t you?" He tilted his head, considering. "Just not as capable as Grayson. But then, who is?"

Xavier ignored Ethan’s reply; his mind was already running three steps ahead.

"That’s not possible. You’re scentless. Your pheromone glands are supposed to be completely nonfunctional. The vomeronasal response that triggers fated pair recognition requires bilateral pheromone compatibility. How could you even know he’s your fated pair if you can’t produce a scent for him to respond to?"

Ethan’s expression didn’t change much, but his eyes darkened, his smile sharpened like ice shards.

"An alpha is still an alpha, Hunter." His voice dropped into a register that Xavier carried a murderous intent. "You don’t become useless just because you lost one arm."

Xavier absorbed this.

So, even though Ethan couldn’t produce pheromones, he could perceive them?

But still, that was just a one-way recognition.

Even if he felt the fated pair bond, there was no way Neville would ever know it existed or acknowledge it.

They would never be able to form a complete bond.

"If you’re truly his fated pair," Xavier said, carefully, "there’s no way Grayson would have been able to claim Neville."

Then, he continued with more certainty in his tone.

"The mythical fated pair bond was supposed to override everything. Temporary marking, emotional bond, and even overriding any other alpha’s permanent marking. In theory, the moment Neville met you, even if he didn’t know it or feel it, he shouldn’t have been able to be with any other alpha other than you. He would instinctively reject it."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, narrowing his eyes, losing his patience. If Xavier hadn’t been watching for it, he would have missed it entirely.

He knew it too, didn’t he? So what was going on? Xavier thought, confused.

Ethan straightened up and scratched the back of his head. His eyes squeezed shut, fighting his impulses.

"That," he said through his teeth, "is none of your concern."

There, Xavier felt like he found an opening and pressed into it.

"Ethan Goelet. Come to your senses." He changed his tone. "Don’t listen to the zerg inside you. Whatever they’ve planted in your head, whatever voice is directing your actions — it’s not you. You’re being manipulated."