Chapter 58 Dinning with the alphas.

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Dinning with the alphas.

It was the exact place Noah remembered his nightmare beginning.

He didn’t even know whether to call it a hospital or some kind of special treatment center. Whatever it was, it certainly didn’t belong anywhere he knew.

Outside stretched a beautiful garden filled with flowers Noah didn’t think should exist in the normal world.

"Are those flying lilies?" Noah asked, staring at the flowers floating gently through the air.

Beside him, Eugene watched the garden with the same calm expression. He had been paying close attention to Noah the entire walk, like a dedicated teacher making sure his student didn’t wander off.

Eugene nodded.

"That’s what they’re called. I forgot their scientific name here, but that’s what they’re supposed to do. They fly around looking for a female flower to mate with before producing their young."

His explanation only left Noah even more confused.

Okay...

He seriously needed to clean his ears because what the fuck was that explanation?

"But I haven’t."

Remembering the world he was currently in, Noah wisely kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.

"Our world has so many beautiful things, Ash. Maybe if you come to the Quintorian Empire with us someday, we can show you its real beauty."

Noah nodded politely, though he wasn’t exactly looking forward to the grand tour.

"Aside from the monsters I’ve already seen and those grave creatures that almost tore my head off... thanks, Eugene, but I think I’m content."

Eugene smirked.

"You’re scared already? Quintorian has way more terrifying things than that."

He was just about to begin listing them when footsteps echoed from the stone pathway.

Noah instinctively looked up.

The moment he saw Killian approaching, the anxiety that had been lingering inside him since morning instantly melted away.

Killian was here.

And more importantly...

He was alright.

"You aren’t scaring my little kitten, are you?" Killian asked as he stopped beside Noah.

Eugene scoffed dramatically.

"I wasn’t even done, big bad guy. Dude, fuck you."

Without another word, he turned around and walked inside the building.

Noah watched him disappear through the entrance, wondering why he had suddenly gotten annoyed.

"Don’t mind that dude," Killian laughed. "His temper is like a light switch. One minute he’s smiling, the next he’s frowning like stale food."

That comparison caught Noah completely off guard.

A small giggle escaped him.

Together they continued walking toward the entrance while chatting.

"So... how was your birthday?" Killian asked. "It wasn’t too overwhelming, right?"

Noah immediately nodded.

"It was nice..."

Other than the fact he couldn’t remember most of it.

He had been meaning to ask Killian if he remembered anything unusual about that night when two familiar figures emerged through the flower garden.

Damian and Marcus.

"Good morning, sunshine." Damian smiled warmly. "Hope you slept well."

Noah nodded before his attention shifted to Marcus, who had been unusually quiet with his gaze fixed on the ground.

"I hope you don’t mind me bringing him," Damian quickly explained. "I need his help during today’s magic lesson."

Noah looked between them.

At that moment...

He didn’t really feel angry anymore.

The irritation from earlier had faded.

That didn’t mean he had forgiven Marcus.

It simply meant Noah wasn’t cruel enough to stop him from spending time with his friends.

"Just go in. I’m coming."

With that, Noah entered the building.

The first thing he saw...

Was an enormous cow’s leg.

He nearly stumbled backwards.

"Who left the animal pen open? Why is there a—"

Out of the corner of his eye, Noah noticed Eugene frantically signaling for him to stop talking.

Unfortunately...

He completely misunderstood.

"It’s annoying. Farm animals should stay where they bel—"

The giant cow legs shifted.

Slowly...

They revealed the upper body of a bearded man.

Noah froze.

...

Oops.

He had completely forgotten.

The man literally had the body of a cow.

"Hello, Ashton Lane," the man greeted with a warm smile. "You always leave me with a memorable first impression. Seems you’ve brought me another one."

Noah immediately began apologizing.

"I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you. I seriously thought it was an actual farm animal. You know... like the kind people eat."

Damian instantly slapped a hand over Noah’s mouth.

"You’re making it worse."

Harold chuckled.

"It’s alright. He always ends up saying something like this."

The others laughed along.

But Noah noticed something they didn’t.

Behind Harold’s cheerful smile...

His eyes looked different.

There was pain hidden there.

The smile felt more like a mask than genuine happiness.

Yet none of the clueless Alphas around him seemed to notice.

"Alright, boys," Harold announced as he walked toward the kitchen area carrying several plates. "I made lunch. And please... turn down your pheromones. They’re becoming a little suffocating."

The Alphas nodded almost immediately.

Noah blinked.

"Your pheromones are out?"

Harold stopped walking.

So did everyone else.

Every Alpha slowly turned to stare at Noah.

"You mean..." Harold asked carefully. "You can’t smell them?"

Noah thought about it before sniffing the air.

Nothing.

"Nope."

He sniffed again.

"The air smells as fresh as ever."

Another sniff.

"I think I can smell berries though."

Harold silently pointed toward the basket of fresh fruits resting on the nearby counter.

"...Oh."

Marcus spoke next.

"Is that... normal?"

He frowned thoughtfully.

"Aren’t Omegas usually extremely sensitive to Alpha pheromones? Sometimes they even lose control around strong scents."

Killian nodded in agreement.

"I’ve noticed it too. Sometimes Ash reacts strongly."

Damian added,

"And other times... it’s like he can’t sense us at all."

Noah hadn’t really paid much attention to it before.

Now that they mentioned it...

It really was strange.

The first day he met Marcus and Damian...

Their scents hadn’t affected him whatsoever.

Yet later...

He had practically been throwing himself at their feet because of those same pheromones.

His Omega instincts almost seemed to have a mind of their own.

Not wanting the conversation to remain focused on him any longer, Noah quickly changed the subject.

"So..."

He rubbed his stomach dramatically.

"Aren’t we supposed to eat?"

Harold laughed immediately.

"Now that’s something I can answer."

He disappeared into the kitchen.

Everyone followed him toward a large round dining table with six chairs surrounding it.

Noah took the middle seat while the others settled around him.

"Do you guys always eat together like this?" Noah asked curiously. "What happened to the cafeteria?"

Eugene chuckled.

"Our dear Harold here is basically the father of this group."

Harold rolled his eyes while arranging the dishes.

"He also helped us survive some... unpleasant politics back at the Imperial Court," Eugene continued.

Curiosity instantly appeared in Noah’s eyes.

"What kind of—"

Damian gently placed a hand over Noah’s.

"It’s not something you should know."

His smile had disappeared.

"Politics inside the Quintorian Empire is a deadly game. Supernaturals... humans... everyone has their own agendas. It’s not something you want to get caught in."

For a brief moment...

Noah’s attention wasn’t on Damian’s words.

Instead...

His eyes settled on the large hand resting gently over his own.

Damian’s palm was warm.

Comforting.

Noah quietly nodded.

Fine.

If they didn’t want to tell him...

He would simply figure it out himself one day.

"So..." Damian suddenly brightened again.

"Your birthday."

He leaned forward excitedly.

"Any comments about the party?"

Noah rested his chin against his palm while trying hard to remember.

"I..."

His brows furrowed.

"I can’t remember anything."

Everyone looked at him.

"It was literally yesterday."

He looked genuinely confused.

"So why isn’t anything showing up?"

Killian frowned.

"Now that you mention it..."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don’t remember much either."

Marcus looked equally puzzled.

"Same."

Damian slowly nodded.

"Come to think of it... none of us remembers what happened that night."

Silence settled over the table.

Something was definitely wrong.

Yet somehow...

None of them seemed bothered enough to question it.

"I should help Harold bring the rest of the food," Killian finally said, breaking the strange atmosphere.

"I want Ash to taste his masterpiece."

He stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

A few moments later, he returned carrying a massive tray filled with steaming dishes.

Harold followed closely behind him.

"We’re supposed to practice magic today," Killian said as he carefully placed the food on the table.

"But first..."

He smiled around at everyone.

"Let’s eat together."

His expression softened.

"I honestly can’t remember the last time all of us sat down for a proper meal like this."

Harold stepped beside him before waving a single hand.

As though responding to invisible strings, every plate floated gracefully through the air before landing perfectly in front of each person.

Steaming rice.

Rich sauce.

A generously sized roasted turkey resting proudly on each plate.

Harold flashed them a satisfied grin.

"So, boys..."

He spread his arms dramatically.

"Bon appétit."

"Enjoy."

NOTE: Noah and the four Alphas will start solving mysteries together with their romance blossoming, who is excited??