Chapter 149 CHAPTER 149

Chapter 149 CHAPTER 149
Reign lifts his head from the papers spread on the table the moment the doors open, and Monroe strolls in with a tablet in hand.

Reign leans back in his seat once Monroe stops in front of the desk. “What do you have?”

Monroe sets the device down on the desk and slides it across the wood. "I pulled every single piece of surveillance footage within a ten-mile radius of the university. I wanted to be sure how Mr. Fox’s mother managed to bypass our security. I found out she didn't act alone, sir."

Reign’s gaze falls to the screen just as Monroe taps the screen, playing the video file. 

The screen flickers, showing the video, which lasted for only ten seconds, capturing Sylvester’s figure. His dear cousin clearly doesn't know when to stop.

"He was at the school on the day of the incident, and I discovered a large amount of money dropped into her account the day before, and it was under his name,” Monroe explains, and then he taps the screen again, sliding to a picture that showcases a blood-stained knife. 

“The knife she used was never found at the scene. My guess is Sylvester already has Soren’s blood in his lab."

Reign stares at the object behind the screen. He slowly reaches and picks up the tablet and slides to the next image to find bodies.

Monroe continues. “He has been funding a highly classified, illegal laboratory managed by Dr. Mira. Based on the informant, the missing Omegas in the city might be linked to him. Bodies were found malnourished, with various needle and cut marks on their bodies. I believe he’s using them for his experiment."

Reign’s lips twist and move onto the next image that shows a syringe.

"From the information we’ve gathered, he is developing a bio-weapon: a serum that can permanently neutralize an Enigma."

Reign’s jaw clenches. Oh, so his dear cousin is building a weapon for him. He sneers.

“An Enigma's body is resilient to poisons or chemicals. Your regeneration is too fast. So, I believe he discovered the loophole. The only thing that can biologically break down an Enigma's immune system is the genetic material of their fated mate."

Reign’s hand clenches around the tablet, and his eyes harden as he waits for Monroe to continue.

"If Sylvester synthesizes a weapon using the blood of an Omega who is fated to an Enigma, he can create a serum. If injected, it could shut down your system, weaken you to the point of paralysis, or completely kill you. He’s been experimenting on different Omegas and must have discovered Soren is your fated mate. I believe you’re his target, Sir."

Reign nods and drops the tablet back on the table, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. 

The arrogance of his cousin is almost laughable. Seems he has to deal with Sylvester sooner than planned.

“Book Soren and the little girl on a flight, Monroe. They should be out of the city in a couple of days,” he orders, his eyes darkening. “I am going to deal with Sylvester in my own way.”

Monroe nods and picks up his tablet, tapping the screen rapidly. “How soon, Sir?”

“In two days.”

Monroe looks at his boss, his expression never for once changing. "You cannot make Soren leave the country; it's entirely too dangerous for his body," he says and quickly starts to explain at the look Reign gives him.

“Based on the dosage of his suppressants, which are actually vitamins just like you ordered, and the doctor's prescription, his body and hormones are almost back to normal, so I believe he's going to go through his heat anytime soon. It would be dangerous to let him out of your sight.”

Reign's lips twist.

The little liar might have a smart head on his body, but he has never for once suspected his suppressants to be swapped, and what he takes every day are simply vitamins and pills that hide his scent without damaging his body.

He has given the Omega many chances to tell the truth, but each time, he comes up with another lie; maybe it's better this way.

All good things have to come to an end.

~~

Reign has always vowed never to take a mate because he was a man with many enemies. Having a mate means having a weakness he can't afford, and he never believed in the term fated until the day he caught the Omega's scent for the first time.

It was a year before he even offered him the contract to play his fake fiancée.

Soren's scent, disguised behind a scent blocker and suppressants, hit him hard, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. Reign knew instantly the scent belonged to his fated mate.

The idea repulsed him; having a fated mate only means he has a weakness, practically walking around unprotected. A weakness his enemies could easily use against him the moment they discovered it.

Reign almost ignored the Omega's existence until he went into the most painful rut of his life, triggered by the mere thought of knowing his mate was out there. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced, leaving him furious, restless, and desperate for something he refused to admit he wanted.

He was under lock and key, and once those painful days of his life were over, Reign had no choice but to track down his mate.

Turned out he was a miserable underground boxer pretending to be a Beta with many debts and a dying sister. An Omega hiding in plain sight, doing everything he could to survive while keeping his true identity a secret.

For a whole year, Reign watched Soren fight in the ring, taking down every opponent like he was born for the ring. He watched from the shadows, never letting Soren know just how closely he was being watched. But then his enemy found out his little secret.

Reign instantly knew he had to keep Soren close to protect him, so he made him sign his soul away. It was the only way Reign knew best to keep his mate by his side without an emotional attachment. As long as he was safe, Reign didn't care for anything else.

But Soren, being the rebellious Omega, was a trouble magnet, and Reign found himself falling for the liar even before he knew it.

The more Soren pushed against him, the harder it became for Reign to remember why he had sworn never to have a mate in the first place. What started as a contract meant to keep his weakness close soon became something neither of them could walk away from.

Reign's thoughts suddenly trail to a stop when the door of the bathroom clicks open, and Soren steps out dressed in one of his shirts that barely covers his thighs, his wet hair falling over his face.

Instantly, he breaks into a smile before he jumps himself on the bed, almost on top of Reign, throwing his hand around Reign's abdomen and snuggling close to his neck.

“So warm,” he purrs.

As an Enigma, those suppressants and scent blockers have never stopped Reign from perceiving the Omega's scent. He has always known what Soren smells like as an Omega.

Reign watches him silently. This was never supposed to happen. 

He was never supposed to love his mate. He was never supposed to become attached. And yet, somehow, this stubborn little Omega has become the center of his entire world.

His gaze drops to Soren’s face, and he slowly trails his fingers along his jawline. “So pretty,” he murmurs.

Soren blinks at him, his cheeks flushing red as he shyly nuzzles against Reign's neck.

Reign smiles and holds him tightly while Soren's eyes slowly start to flutter shut.

Reign watches him sleep with a fond gaze, and just like that, his thoughts return to where they stopped.

Reign is supposed to let Soren go after a year, knowing the money he gets would be enough to keep him safe and protected, and he won't be dragged into Reign's messed-up world.

One by one, his enemies are going to come after his weakness. Today it's Sylvester; tomorrow it's a different person.

Reign can't have a weakness.

He exhales a sigh and gently strokes Soren's soft red hair. Good things always come to an end.

The contract is still valid. When the time comes, Reign will have to let Soren go. The Omega deserves a world of peace, and he can't have that as long as he's with Reign.

Reign was never meant to have a fated mate, but fate played a cruel trick on him.