CHAPTER 68: "I WON’T ALLOW YOU TO ABORT MY BABY, LUCIEN"

Ash and Adrian stared at Dr. Eric in shock, the doctor’s words hanging heavily in the air.

Dr. Eric exhaled, then turned his gaze toward Ash.

"I need to talk to you privately," he said.

Ash nodded quietly and followed him to his office. Once inside, they sat across from each other. Dr. Eric leaned back slightly, his eyes thoughtful and conflicted.

"Right now, I’m really confused, Ash," he began carefully. "I don’t want to meddle in your personal life, but as someone who’s treated you for years, I can’t ignore what I’ve seen."

Ash swallowed hard. "What is it?"

Dr. Eric hesitated for a moment, then spoke steady. "I initially assumed Alpha Lucien’s pregnancy came from Enigma Stephene, that would have been the logical explanation, given how Enigmas posses the genetic strength to impregnate Alphas."

He paused, lowering his gaze to the report in his hand before looking back up. "But based on his current compound readings, that assumption doesn’t hold. The fetus carries the genetic markers of another Alpha, and what’s unusual is that it also contains traces of an SSS-ranked Omega’s compound."

Ash’s fingers tightened on his knees.

Dr. Eric rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Medically this shouldn’t be possible. You, as an omega, shouldn’t have been able to dominate or fertilize an Alpha. So, if it’s not you...then..."

Ash cut him off quietly. "No need to finish that sentence."

Dr. Eric nodded, his tone softening. "Alright. But here’s something else I can’t overlook, the genetic pattern of your own pregnancy doesn’t match Alpha Lucien’s. Both pregnancies started around the same time, but when Lucien conceived, his Alpha hormone levels dropped drastically-almost as if his dominance was overridden."

Ash stared blankly for a moment, thoughts racing.

That explains why he kept avoiding the topic of dominance...

Dr. Eric leaned forward slightly, voice calm but firm. "From everything I’ve analyzed, Alpha Lucien isn’t the father of your child. And...the only logical explanation for the shared compound between you two is that your mark on him may have caused a hormonal cross-reactivity."

Ash blinked. "Meaning?"

Dr. Eric adjusted his glasses. "Meaning your compound could have partially merged with his reproductive structure during the marking process. In simple terms, his pregnancy might carry traces of your compound-and yes, that makes it medically possible for him to be carrying a child linked to you as well."

Ash let out a slow breath, nodding faintly.

Dr. Eric sighed, leaning back. "So it seems, Ash...you’ve got yourself another child; indirectly, through Alpha Lucien."

Ash sat in silence for a moment, his mind clouded with thoughts before finally asking, "Apart from you...does anyone else know about this?"

Dr. Eric gave a faint smile. "Don’t worry. I’m the only who has access to the full report. It’s too sensitive to be made public." Then his expression turned serious. "But remember, Ash, secrets like this don’t stay buried for long. The three of you should start thinking about what comes next."

Ash nodded quietly and stood. "Thank you, Doctor."

He stepped out of the office, only to be met by chaos in the hallway. Nurses and patients were rushing around, some covering their noses, others coughing. The air was thick and heavy with tension.

"Who’s releasing their rage pheromones here?!" one nurse shouted.

Another replied in disbelief, "It’s coming from the west wig; Enigma Stephene and Alpha Lucien are fighting!"

Ash’s heart sank. He broke into a run, heading straight toward the commotion. When he reached the corridor outside Lucien’s ward, he found Adrian and Stephene facing each other, their pheromones colliding fiercely as they shoved each other.

"Stop!" Ash barked, stepping between them.

"Control yourselves, both of you. If you want to fight, do it on battlefield, not in a hospital."

Adrian’s chest heaved as he glared at Stephene.

"He’s the one who started it."

Stephene scoffed. "I only said the truth. Does it really hurt that much? He’s carrying my child."

Ash froze, his mind blank. What...?

Adrian clenched his fists. "I don’t care."

Stephene’s tone sharpened. "Then why are you so angry?"

Ash stayed silent, forcing himself to remain composed. Deep down, he understood Stephene’s claim, as reckless as it sounded, might be the smartest temporary cover. At least it would prevent further conflict between Adrian’s father and Lucien’s parents. More importantly, it could keep Lucien safe...especially from his manipulative sister, Celeste.

Ash turned to Adrian, his expression firm. "I think you should leave. It’s not appropriate for Lucien to see you right now, not after what you did. You’re the reason he ended up in this condition."

Adrian’s eyes darkened. "No. I need to see him, to hear from him if that bastard is really the father."

Ash grabbed Adrian’s arm, pulling him toward the exit. "What more confirmation do you need? Isn’t the trending video enough for you to believe?"

"But I still feel..." Adrian began.

Ash cut him off sharply. "As long as my fiance had an Enigma, why are you overthinking? You’re an Alpha, have you ever heard of one Alpha impregnating another Alpha?"

He let go of Adrian’s arm and turned to leave, but Adrian caught his wrist, pulling him back until Ash’s back hit the car.

Adrian’s face was inches from his, his voice rough with anger and something else beneath it. "Then why do you still call him your fiance? You know he cheated on you, yet you still stand by his side, even after Stephene claimed him back. Why, Ash?"

Ash opened his mouth to speak, but the moment was drowned by Adrian’s scent. It wrapped around him, clouding his thoughts. His omega instincts stirred, heat rising beneath his skin until he couldn’t think straight.

Before he realized it, he pressed his lips against Adrian’s.

Adrian froze-then, as if something inside him broke, he kissed back. It was desperate, raw, and hungry, their breaths mingling as control slipped from both of them.

Ash finally pulled away, gasping softly for air.

Adrian stared at him, his pupils slightly dilated, voice low. "Ash...your tongue...it tastes different."

He paused, frowning faintly as if realizing something deeper, something instinctual. "It’s...pulling me in, like your scent’s changing."

Ash tried to push away from Adrian’s hold, but Adrian caught both his wrists, pinning them firmly against the car.

"Adrian, let go," Ash said, struggling, his voice trembling slightly.

Adrian’s grip tightening. "Not until you answer me, Ash..."

"You’ll hurt my baby!" The words slipped out before Ash could stop himself.

Adrian froze. His grip instantly loosened, his expression shifting from anger to shock.

"...Baby?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.

The air fell silent between them.

Then, as if a thought struck him, Adrian’s eyes widened. "So...you’re pregnant with Lucien’s child?"

Ash stared at him in disbelief, anger flashing in his eyes. He shoved Adrian away with force.

"You’re just an idiot," he spat, brushing past him.

Adrian stood there motionless, staring after him, the words you’ll hurt my baby echoing in his mind long after Ash had disappeared back into the hospital.

...

Ash walked quickly down the corridor, his pulse racing. When he reached Lucien’s ward, he paused at the doorway, and froze.

Lucien was awake, pale but sitting up in the bed. Stephene sat beside him, his tone firm. "Don’t worry, I’ll help you terminate the pregnancy," he said coldly. "I can’t let you keep a child from that crazy Alpha of yours."

Ash’s eyes widened, anger flashing through him. "I won’t allow you to abort my baby, Lucien."

Both Lucien and Stephene turned sharply toward the door, stunned, their gazes locking on Ash standing there.

...

At Leiclar Mansion...

Celeste stood on the balcony, a glass of wine in hand as the cool night breeze brushed against her skin. She swirled the wine lazily, her gaze distant, lost in thought.

Her phone buzzled on the small table beside her. She reached for it and answered with calm indifference, "Yes?"

A man’s voice came through the line. "Ma’am, I have news for you."

Celeste raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"There’s a report I managed to peek at," the voice said cautiously. "It states that Alpha Lucien is pregnant."