Benjamin collapsed against the door. The only thing he could hear was the pounding of his heart as he tried to recall how he had ended up here, locked up in an unfamiliar place. He looked down and saw needle marks on his forearms. What happened?
The silence was broken by a soft sequence of knocks. "Benjamin? Are you awake?"
"Wren?"
There was no answer.
"Benjamin, I brought you something to eat."
"Wren, this... this has to be a mistake," Benjamin's voice wavered. "What's going on?"
"If you let me in, I'll explain everything," Wren replied. "I don't want to fight you. I'd really rather not have you in chains. It wouldn't be... pleasant."
The word pleasant suddenly recalled a memory. It was the night before they were supposed to return to Aster.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
They had stayed a few days longer than planned. Wren had urgent work come up. He had apologized over and over again. On their final night, Wren had suggested one last outing—somewhere special.
Benjamin had obliged, following him to a small, quiet park.
"Benjamin," Wren had asked. "How do you feel about being an omega?"
Benjamin was caught off guard that Wren would ask such a loaded question. Though the question made him feel uncomfortable, Benjamin answered. "I don't think much about it. It's like whether you're born a man or a woman. Everyone has their own set of problems, whether they're man or woman or alpha, omega, or beta. What angers me is people who use it to justify our differences to oppress others."
"Don't you think pheromones are un unnecessary burden?" Wren asked, scanning Benjamin's face. "You know the burden better than anyone, Benjamin. If you could spare the next generation from this, wouldn't you?"
An uneasiness settled into Benjamin. "What do you mean 'spare the next generation from this'? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"I've heard rumors that there was once a research project that made such an attempt. They're just rumors, unfortunately," Wren said, stepping closer.
"Can you imagine a world without pheromones? I can almost see it. No more scent-blockers or hormonal suppressants. No more rut and heat cycles.
"We'll no longer have to walk on that fine line between being rational humans and being animals driven purely by primal instincts. There won't be a need to worry about alphas, omegas or betas.
"A world without pheromones would be a much simpler place. There wouldn't be anymore biological differences to fuel inequality and injustices. It would be a more peaceful place. Don't you think?"
Benjamin stepped back from Wren, as if he was seeing him for the first time. Benjamin's confusion quickly turned into indignation. But, all the while, Benjamin began to feel increasingly terrified of the man standing before him.
"Being born alpha or omega isn't a crime," Benjamin replied defiantly. "Do you really see us as nothing more than animals and monsters?"
"Dr. Atlas," Wren said slowly and calmly, gazing directly into Benjamin's eyes. "The future of humanity is in your hands."
Benjamin froze in horror and disbelief.
"I'm begging you," Wren said, but the desperation in his words contradicted the way he remained unnervingly composed. "I'll do anything you ask."
Benjamin's eyes welled with a mixture of anger and disgust. The man standing before him was a stranger.
"I like you more than you know, Benjamin," Wren whispered, the threat finally surfacing. "Or should I call you Dr. Atlas?"
The corners of Wren's lips curled upward just a fraction. "And, that's why you're still here with me, like this. I'm trying to ask you nicely."
Just before Benjamin turned to run, he felt the sharp sting of a needle poking into his skin.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
As Benjamin recalled the events of that night, still sitting against the door, he slumped forward and planted his face in his palms.
It was Wren… He drugged me. He was the one who brought me here. We must be somewhere in Zephyr. How long have I been here?
Benjamin felt the stabbing pain of betrayal. He couldn't think. A thousand questions screamed in his head.
How did I not see this coming? Was he the one who placed the butchered animals at my door?
A bitter sense of shame washed over Benjamin. It was more painful than the betrayal itself.
For years, he had been careful. He had been smart. He had lived a quiet, anonymous life. But after all that work, he hadn't just made a mistake—he had invited the enemy in and called him a friend.
"Benjamin," Wren's voice came from the other side of the door. "You need to eat. In your condition… it wouldn't be wise to skip meals."
Benjamin didn't reply.
Wren let out a deep sigh. "I really don't want you to get sick Ben."
When Benjamin still didn't respond, Wren was disappointed. "It's not as if I've chained you to the bed. You have a spacious room, a beautiful view, and a private bathroom. Let's not blow this out of proportion. Please, Ben... Don't make me do this the hard way."
"Drop the act, Wren. I thought I knew who you were, but it was all a lie. We aren't friends, Wren. Not anymore. I'm not hungry."
When Benjamin heard Wren's footsteps retreating, Benjamin let out a long, shaky breath of relief. He felt nauseous.
Never mind my nausea. What's the plan moving forward?
When Wren descended the grand wooden staircase with the tray of food meant for Benjamin, his butler approached him. "Master Baek, let me take this for you. Can I prepare you something to drink?"
Wren let the butler take the tray from him and shook his head. "Just prepare the herbs. I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when it's done. Thank you, Jae."
Wren laid in his large bed, looking up at the ceiling. He hadn't slept a wink the night before and hadn't slept well since he had brought Benjamin here. Every time he looked at him now, he was reminded of Atlas.
Was it because of that night? The memory of him kissing Benjamin's neck resurfaced, and the way that Benjamin had embraced his touch. That longing... he had only felt it once before. With Atlas.
He thought back to medical school and the first time he met Atlas.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Wren found the school's curriculum to be boring. He had only enrolled in medical school because his parents required him to pick a career that would allow him to thrive in the family business: Law, Medicine, or Engineering.
He had decided to pursue Medicine, specializing in pharmaceuticals. It seemed the most straightforward and the least nuanced.
His parents, Jin and Lyra Baek, ran one of the largest businesses in Zephyr, with various businesses under one umbrella. Both his parents came from wealthy families.
His mother's family was from Zephyr with deep military ties. His father was from Xenos, and his family held close ties with the Zhous and operated pharmaceutical businesses with them.
Drawn by business opportunities, his father had moved to Zephyr, where he met Wren's mother. Together, they built the empire that now sat at the very top of Zephyrian society.
Wren didn't want for much, he already had everything. He didn't need to work for anything. It was just handed to him. What difference would this degree make anyway? He knew his life would be easy and comfortable, regardless of which path he chose.
After the first week, Wren found his classes to be utterly boring. He mostly slept through the lectures. He decided he wasn't going to attend the classes anymore. Instead, he would have one of his staff attend and take notes.
After one of his biology classes, one of the last classes he planned to attend, he was walking out of the classroom when he saw them. Three students had cornered a fellow student against a wall.
The cornered student stood tall. He wasn't quite six-foot tall, but he was well-built nonetheless. Yet, despite his height and frame, the three shorter students were the ones making demands from him.
"You're late with the notes," a girl snapped.
"I already told you. If my grades drop, my parents are kicking me out of the dorms! I prefer to stay at the dorms during my years here," a boy with glasses whined.
"When do we get the next set of notes?" the third asked in a threatening tone.
The cornered boy spoke gently. "Everyone, please, calm down, I'm sorry. I was sick. You know my secondary gender... it was that time of the month for me—"
The boy with the glasses snapped at him. "You should have told us in advance!"
Wren couldn't watch anymore. Even at sixteen, he had a towering and imposing presence. He didn't say a word. He simply walked up, his cold blue eyes fixed on them. The three bullies scrambled away without looking back.
"Are you okay?" Wren asked.
The boy looked up at him. He had dark brown hair that matched his eyes. His eyes, his smile, his face, they all radiated genuine kindness. "Thanks for that. But I'm fine, really. You didn't need to step in—they're harmless and just stressed out." He offered a hand. "I'm Atlas Lund. And you're Wren Baek, right?"
Wren gave him a sharp, indignant look. "Why do you let them treat you like that?"
"They just need help," Atlas said simply. "For some of them, their families are really depending on them. It's their only hope for a better life. And… I just want to help."
Wren remained silent. He hated the boy's attitude and the pathetic ease in which he allowed himself to be used and bullied.
"How are you finding the classes?" Atlas asked. "I'm a first-year too, but I've audited classes here before, so I have plenty of notes. If you ever need help, let me know."
When Atlas smiled at him, Wren took a step back. There was something about the boy that he didn't like. Or was it something he couldn't comprehend?
Wren just turned and walked away without a word. But, he didn't skip class the next day and the days after that.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
As the memories of his past resurfaced, Wren found himself wondering what to do next with Benjamin. He didn't want to hurt Benjamin. He just needed his cooperation. Why couldn't Benjamin see the bigger picture? Why was it so hard for Benjamin to see that this was for the greater good? Everything he did was for the empire and its people. He was trying to save them.
Why did you have to be so goddamn stubborn, Benjamin?
Atlas, what should I do with him?