Chapter 27: The Masked Confession
Ash lay on his bed, lost in thoughts, when a knock sounded at the door.
"Son, may I come in?" his mother’s voice called softly.
"Yes, Mother," Ash replied.
She entered, smiling faintly. "Son, you came back." She sat on the edge of the bed, opening her arms. Ash leaned into her embrace.
"Yes, Mother. I missed you," he whispered.
Ash slowly pulled back from his mother’s embrace. She looked at him tenderly, wiping his tears away with her sleeve.
"If you don’t mind," she asked softly, "Can you tell me what’s aching you, son?"
Ash stayed silent, his gaze falling to the floor.
His mother sighed gently and stroked his cheek. "It’s fine if you don’t want to share now. But when you feel ready, don’t hesitate. I’ll always be here for you, okay?"
Ash gave a small nod. Mother...can I lie on your lap?"
Her eyes softened. "Of course, son." She shifted slightly, letting Ash rest his head on her lap. With one hand, she stroked his hair slowly, calming his breath.
After a moment, she began to hum, her voice low and steady:
"Hush now, my little baby,
Close your tired eyes.
I am here beside you,
Till the morning light."
Her voice wrapped around him like a blanket, and Ash’s eyelids grew heavy until sleep gently claimed him.
...
Morning light filtered through the curtains as Ash stirred awake. He noticed the blanket neatly tucked around him and couldn’t help but smile faintly, his mother must have stayed until he fell asleep.
After dressing for school, he stepped outside, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. His steps faltered when he saw Lucien standing beside the car, hands casually in his pockets, waiting.
Ash froze, his eyes darting around. Bravin was nowhere in sight. Confusion rippled through him.
Lucien caught the look and moved a little closer. "Today, I’m the one taking you to school," he said evenly.
Ash shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze, "You don’t need to..." he muttered, walking past him.
Behind him, Lucien’s voice carried with calm certainty, "If you walk to school, you’ll miss the bus for the mathematics contest. And if you miss it...you’ll fail."
Ash stopped in his tracks, his body tensing at the words.
...
In the quiet of his penthouse, Adrian sat with his phone pressed to his ear.
"Sir," Bravin’s voice came through the line, hesitant, "Alpha Lucien stopped me from taking him to school. He...claimed he would take him himself."
For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then Adrian’s jaw clenched, his breath sharp. Fury surged, and his pheromones spilled into the air, thick and oppressive.
With a snarl, he hurled the phone against the wall, the sharp crack echoing through the room.
...
The students were already seated inside the bus, the morning air buzzing with chatter. At the front, the supervisor held a clipboard, calling out names one by one.
"Daniel?"
"Present."
"Clara?"
"Present."
The roll call continued until the supervisor’s voice rang out, "Ash Veilyn?"
Silence. No answer.
The supervisor frowned, glancing up, but moved on after a moment. Martin sat stiffly in his seat, his gaze falling to the empty spot beside him; the one Ash was supposed to occupy. Among the three chosen to represent their school at the provincial mathematics contest, it was supposed to be him, Ash, and another student, Now, with Ash missing, unease crept through Martin’s chest.
The supervisor closed the clipboard with a firm snap. "Everyone, tighten your belts. We’ll be moving now."
Martin quickly leaned forward, his voice pleading. "Please, sir; we should wait for Ash. He’s part of the team.
The supervisor checked his watch, shaking his head. "Time won’t wait for us, Martin. If we delay even a little, we’ll miss the contest schedule. I’m sorry, but we can’t risk it."
Martin’s hands tightened into fists on his lap, his eyes fixed on the still-empty seat beside him as the bus engine rumbled to life.
Meanwhile, at the car...
Lucien held his phone to his ear, his voice calm and clipped. "Apology accepted," he said before ending the call, as if the matter were already closed.
He started the engine and steered onto a different road.
Ash noticed immediately, his brow furrowing. "Why are you taking another path?"
Lucien’s lips curved slightly, his tone laced with quiet amusement. "You’re late, sleeping beauty. The bus won’t wait forever. Consider this my kindness; I’d rather not see you miss the contest, so I’ll take you there myself."
...
When they reached the provincial mathematics contest hall, Ash stepped inside and found rows of students already bent over their papers, buried in their work. The quiet scratching of pens filled the room.
Martin, seated a few rows ahead, glanced back and caught sight of him. A smile of relief flickered across his face. Ash returned the smile, the tension in his chest loosening.
He slipped into his reserved seat, where his test papers already waited. Just as he reached for his pen, his heart sank-he had forgotten his mathematics set in the car. Disappointment struck; Lucien had surely left by now.
But when his eyes lowered again, a full set lay neatly placed on his desk. Ash blinked in surprise. Looking up, he found Lucien standing there.
Lucien’s voice was strict, quiet but commanding. "No excuses. Do your best."
A ripple of whispers spread through the room as students stole glances at him. Lucien’s sharp gaze swept over them, cutting through the murmurs.
"Eyes on your papers, " he said curtly. "You’re here to compete, not to stare."
At once, the room fell back into silence, pens scratching once more.
When the mathematics contest ended, students filed out of the hall in groups, their voices filling the air again.
Martin walked beside Ash toward the bus. After a pause, he spoke carefully. "I don’t want to interfere, but...my curiosity can’t help it."
Ash glanced at him. "What is it?"
Martin looked straight at him, serious. "Are you and Alpha Lucien...a thing?"
Ash froze, his steps halting as he turned to face him. Martin’s eyes held both curiosity and concern, waiting for an answer.
Ash exhaled slowly. He knew he couldn’t keep it hidden forever, not from Martin. "Tonight," he said quietly, "Let’s have a drink with Naomi. I’ll feed you both all the information you’re dying to know."
...
At the club, Naomi, Ash, and Martin sat around a small table, bottles of beer between them. Ash leaned back after speaking, his voice steady. "That’s all."
Naomi and Martin exchanged wide-eyed looks, both trying to process everything.
Naomi leaned forward, almost whispering. "Do you really mean...you’re an omega, not a beta?"
Ash gave a small nod. "Yes."
Martin’s brows furrowed, his voice low. "And you...you have feelings for your stepbrother. And Alpha Lucien...confessed his feelings for you?"
Ash nodded again, quietly.
Before either of them could react further, the manager of the club approached their table with a wide grin. "Well, well, it’s been a long time, Ash," he said warmly. "Your fans keeps asking for you."
Ash gave a faint smile. "Sorry, I’ve been busy."
The manager chuckled, shaking his head. "If you don’t mind, could you sing for us tonight."
Ash hesitated, glancing at Naomi and Martin. Then, after a moment, he nodded. "Yes."
Ash stepped onto the small stage, the lights soft against him. The crowd quieted as he lifted the mic, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
He began to sing:
"I loved a shadow I can’t hold,
A bond the world won’t let unfold...
So close, yet far, a dream untold,
A truth I’ll carry, but never show."
His tone softened, shifting with quiet resolve:
"And then a hand that will not leave.
A gaze that lingers, makes me believe...
Though my heart remains unsure,
I cannot close that open door."
The final note hung in the air, leaving the room in silence before the applause rose around him.
...
At the far corner of the club, Adrian sat alone with a glass of wine in hand, his eyes fixed on the stage. The mask on the singer’s face drew his attention sharply.
He called a server over, his voice calm but edged with authority. "Who is that person behind the mask?"
The waiter shifted nervously, his hands trembling. "I...I don’t know, sir. Only the manager does."
As if sensing Adrian’s interest, the manager hurried over, bowing slightly. The waiter glanced at him, fear in his eyes.
The manager straightened and spoke humbly. "Boss...do you wish to know who he is?"
Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver. "Yes. Who is the person behind the mask?"
The manager lowered his voice respectfully. "His name is Ash Veilyn."