CHAPTER 72: NAOMI’S INSTINCTS

Ash whispered urgently under his breath, "Pull off, Adrian...Grandma is nearing."

Adrian murmured back, "I’m almost...hold for a minute."

Lucien smirked, teasing, "If she finds you...don’t forget what she did to Aster this evening."

Adrian’s eyes widened. "I know...I’m going to be dead..."

From outside, the grandmother’s voice drew closer. "Matata...I’m almost..."

She stepped inside, pausing mid-step, eyes widening at the sight of Adrian, Ash, and Lucien by the haystack.

"Hey...what are you doing here at this hour?" she asked.

Silence fell.

Adrian awkwardly stood, scratching his neck. "Aaah...Lucien was craving anthill, so Ash brought him outside. Since I couldn’t let them be alone, I had to keep them company," he murmured.

The grandmother’s gaze sharpened, unconvinced. "But anthill...it’s not in the goat shed. It’s in the trees in the garden."

Adrian froze, caught, but Ash quickly added, "Yes, Grandma. We came from the garden, and I thought to show them Matata and his juniors."

Her expression softened, nodding. "Ooh...have you already seen the little ones, Adrian and Ash?"

Lucien, hearing that, laughed, but froze when her frown landed on him. "Is it funny?" she asked.

His hands flailed. "Nooo!" he stammered, halting his laughter.

The grandmother’s expression softened again, thoughtful, and then she smiled. "I’ve decided...the last triplet’s name...it will be Lucien."

Lucien’s jaw dropped. Adrian and Ash couldn’t help but laugh as he blushed furiously.

The grandmother peeked at Matata, then frowned slightly. "I thought it was something serious...but it’s only her mate disturbing her. And it’s been bleating this long? Doesn’t her mate ever ger enough?"

Adrian’s face flushed deeply.

"Come on, let’s go to sleep," the grandmother said at last, her tone calm and decisive, guiding them out of the goat shed.

The next morning, after breakfast, they were ready to leave when the grandmother called Adrian aside. He nodded silently as she spoke with him, while Ash and Lucien peeked curiously, stealing glances at the two.

Before they departed, the grandmother handed Ash and Lucien a full calabash of millet porridge.

"This is good for your health and the babies’ growth," she said firmly. "I can send it every day if you like."

Ash frowned slightly. "But Grandma, it’s tiresome...and a waste of time, sending just a calabash from the village to the city."

"That’s no excuse," she replied sharply. "If you don’t like it, just say so!"

Lucien quickly added, "It’s fine, Grandma. I can send a driver to pick it up daily."

Adrian, standing nearby, sighed. "No need for a driver, I have a pilot."

Both Ash and Lucien looked at him in disbelief. Adrian cleared his throat. "The porridge will get cold if it takes too long in a car...it’ll taste sour."

The grandmother’s lips curved into a gentle smile. "Ah...now that’s some thinking."

She chattered a little more as they prepared to leave, offering her blessings: "May your journey be safe, may your hearts remain strong, and may your children grow healthy and wise..."

With that, they walked toward the waiting car, calabash in hand, and soon boarded the jet that would take them back to the city.

On reaching the city, Ash quietly explained to Lucien, "I missed my mother. " Lucien nodded in understanding and parted ways, heading back to his apartment, while Ash and Adrian continued home together.

At the Leclair mansion that evening, Ash settled into his room, flipping through a pregnancy magazine, when his phone rang. Seeing Naomi calling, he picked up.

"From yesterday all day and today, your phone has been out of reach," Naomi said, a hint of worry in her voice. "Until now, I finally found you."

"Oh...I’ve been at my grandmother’s place," Ash replied casually. "I guess it was a network issue."

"I was concerned about you," Naomi continued, "Since you didn’t show up to school yesterday and today."

"I’m fine," Ash reassured her.

"And about the news at the hospital...your brother and Enigma Stephene fighting?" Naomi asked.

Ash sighed. "That’s not a big deal for me now. Since I’ve joined the high-ranking Alphas, I should expect endless drama...paparazzi...and journalists always talking."

"By the way, how’s Martin?" Ash asked.

"He’s coping well," Naomi replied.

Curious Ash asked, "So...what have I missed in the past two days?"

"Quite a lot," Naomi said. "Let me come over and show you, I also need your help with some revision."

"Cool," Ash replied with a smile. "I’ll be waiting."

Later that afternoon, Naomi arrived at the Leclair mansion. Ash’s mother welcomed her with a warm smile, chatting briefly before saying, "You can go upstairs, dear, Ash is in his room."

Naomi thanked her politely and made her way up the stairs. She hesitated a moment at the door before knocking softly.

The door opened, and before Ash could even speak, Naomi threw her arms around him.

"Hey" Ash started, but her hug only tightened.

"That’s enough," he murmured, voice muffled against her shoulder. "I’m suffocating."

Naomi chuckled softly, but didn’t let go right away. "I just missed you, that’s all."

When she finally pulled away, Ash shook his head with a faint smile and stepped aside. "Come in."

Naomi walked in, glancing curiously around his tidy room. Her eyes landed on a magazine lying open on the bed, one with a soft pink cover and bold letters that read ’Pregnancy and Early Parenting."

Her brow arched as she looked at him. "Since when do you read pregnancy magazines?"

Ash blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

Before he could answer, Naomi smirked playfully.

"Oh, I get it...you’re learning how to help Martin through his pregnancy, right?"

Ash exhaled through a small smile and nodded.

"Something like that."

They both laughed quietly before setting down together with their books and notes spread across the bed. For a while, the room was filled only with the sound of pages turning and Naomi’s occasional hum of concentration.

After about half an hour, Naomi set her pen aside and stretched. "I’ll be right back," she said. "I need to use the washroom, but I’ll take the one outside."

Ash looked up, puzzled. "Why? You can use mine."

Naomi shook her head, grinning. "You forgot? It’s taboo for a female Alpha and a male Omega to share a washroom. Old customs, remember?"

Ash rolled his eyes lightly but smiled. "Right...I’ll wait here."

Naomi laughed softly and stepped out of the mansion. As she made her way toward the outside washroom, something in the distance caught her eyes, tightening her chest, her Alpha instincts flaring.

Celeste was emerging from the swimming pool, wearing a bikini that accentuated her curves, water glistening on her skin. Naomi’s gaze sharpened as she approached, and Celeste, sensing someone nearby, turned and froze.

Seeing Naomi, Celeste’s eyes widened. Her body trembled. "N-nerd...why are you here?" she stammered.

Naomi’s Alpha aura shimmered faintly around her as she stepped closer, her brown eyes piercing. "Are you carrying my baby?" she asked, her senses attuned.

Celeste’s knees weakened under Naomi’s overwhelming presence. "It’s...it’s not your baby," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Naomi’s tone was firm, her aura radiating powerfully. "I can smell it. It’s mine...That wedding night, I also took your innocence."

Before Celeste could respond, Naomi pressed her lips to hers. Celeste struggled to push away, but Naomi’s presence was too strong, and gradually, Celeste found herself responding despite her resistance.

A short distance away, a loud thud echoed. Both Naomi and Celeste pulled away, their eyes darting toward the source, seeing the shopping bags scattered on the ground. Above them. Adrian.