Julius hadn’t slept. He’d gone home. Showered. Changed. Laid in bed staring at the ceiling for hours. But sleep never came.

Every time he closed his eyes, he felt it again. Harrison’s mouth on his. The way his body had responded without permission. The heat that spread through him like fire.

He hated it. No, that wasn’t true. He hated that he didn’t hate it.

Julius dragged himself out of bed at dawn. His reflection in the bathroom mirror looked wrong. Dark circles under his eyes. Hair a mess. Looking worn down.

He touched his lips without thinking. Then dropped his hand immediately. "Stop," he muttered to himself.

It didn’t work. His mind kept replaying the moment. The kiss. The way Harrison had held him. The way he’d kissed back.

Why did he kiss back? The question had been looping in his head all night. He didn’t have an answer.

Julius got dressed. Black suit. White shirt. No tie. He looked like himself again. Professional. Put together. An Alpha who had his life under control.

The reflection was a lie. He went to the office. Sarah greeted him with coffee and his schedule. He nodded, took the coffee, walked into his office, and closed the door.

Then he just stood there. The coffee turned cold. He never looked at his schedule.

Julius stared out the window at the city below, his mind somewhere else entirely. Sarah knocked. "Sir, the quarterly review documents need your signature."

Julius didn’t respond. "Sir?" He blinked. Turned. "What?"

Sarah hesitated. "The quarterly review. You asked me to—" The door opened.

Julius’s mother walked in. Silver hair perfectly styled. Designer suit. The kind of presence that commanded a room without effort.

"Excuse me, sir—" Sarah started. "Leave," his mother said. Not to Julius. To Sarah.

Sarah glanced at Julius. He nodded. She left quickly, closing the door behind her.

His mother sat down across from his desk. Crossed her legs. Stared at him with those sharp eyes that missed nothing.

"You look like hell." Julius didn’t respond. "You don’t eat. You don’t sleep. You finally came home last night, but you look worse than before."

Her voice was calm. Clinical. "What is going on with you? Are you okay?" "I’m fine."

She laughed. Actually laughed. "You think I don’t know you? You think I can’t see what’s happening?"

Julius’s hands clenched. "What do you want from me? What do you want me to do? I don’t even know what’s happening."

"I don’t know if I have two personalities living inside me or—" "Stop."

He went quiet. His mother leaned forward. "You don’t need all those questions to get an answer."

"Just look at yourself. What is your heart telling you?" "My heart—"

"Stop acting like the almighty Alpha. Stop pretending you’re above this." Her eyes were piercing.

"Calm down. Think. What is really going on?" Julius looked at her.

"This isn’t someone doing something to you," she continued. "This is your heart fighting you."

"Your heart is saying ’this is what I want’ and you’re distracting yourself. Denying it." "I’m not—"

"What is your heart telling you?" she asked again. "I won’t force you to do anything."

"I’ve watched you long enough. I know you’ll figure it out. But take responsibility."

"Take responsibility for what your heart actually wants." Silence.

Julius couldn’t answer. Because she was right. He knew exactly what his heart wanted.

He just didn’t want to admit it. His mother stood. "I’m traveling to France for business. I’ll be gone two weeks."

She walked to the door. Paused. "You’re an Alpha. But that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the survival skills to face yourself."

She opened the door. "And Julius?" She looked back at him.

"Before I come back, if you crash and burn because you’re too stubborn to accept what’s in front of you?" Her smile was ice.

"I’ll crush you myself." The door closed behind her.

Julius sat there. Alone again. His phone buzzed.

Julius glanced at it. A notification. Not a call. Not a message.

Just a single line of text from an unknown number. [Location attached. Come alone. One hour.]

The mysterious caller from yesterday. The one who’d mentioned a "follow-up meeting." The one who wasn’t Apex Alliance but knew he’d just left their building.

Julius should ignore it. This was clearly a setup. No legitimate business contact sent cryptic messages demanding private meetings.

But something in his gut told him to go. He picked up his phone and opened the attachment.

An address on the outskirts of the city. Industrial area. Abandoned district. Definitely a setup.

Julius grabbed his coat anyway.

The building looked like it had been forgotten by time. Old brick walls. Broken windows. No signs. No people.

Julius’s driver had dropped him off three blocks away as instructed. He’d walked the rest of the way alone.

The air was freezing. The streets were empty. Every instinct screamed at him to turn around.

He pushed the door open instead.

Inside was dark. Dust particles floated in the weak sunlight coming through the broken windows. The floor was concrete.

The walls were bare. "Mr. Vane."

Julius turned. A figure stepped out from the shadows. Medium height.

Wearing a long coat and a hood that covered most of their face. Gender unclear. Voice distorted.

"Who are you?" Julius said. "Someone who knows the truth."

Julius’s eyes narrowed. "What truth?" The figure didn’t answer.

Instead, they reached into their coat and pulled out a manila envelope. They held it out.

Julius didn’t take it. "I’m not interested in games." "This isn’t a game."

The figure’s voice was calm. Almost sad. "This is your life." "My life?"

"The part of your life that was taken from you."

Julius stared at the envelope. Every rational part of his brain told him to walk away.

This was manipulation. A trap. Someone trying to get in his head.

But his hand reached out anyway. He took the envelope.

"Open it," the figure said. Then stepped back into the shadows.

Julius hesitated. Then he opened it.

Inside was a photograph. Old. Faded. The edges worn like it had been handled many times.

He pulled it out. The world stopped.

The photo showed two boys. An older one and a younger one. The older boy had dark hair. Serious eyes.

Standing protectively in front of a smaller boy.

The younger boy had tears on his face. Blood on his clothes. Fear in his eyes.

Julius stared at the photo. His hands started shaking.

He knew that younger boy. That was Harrison.

He didn’t remember this moment. Didn’t remember the blood or the tears or the fear.

But somehow, he recognized that face.

And the older boy—

Julius’s chest locked up. That protective posture. He recognized it. That was him.

"What..." Julius could barely speak. "What is this?"

"The day everything changed." Julius looked up.

The figure remained in the shadows. "I don’t remember this."

"You’re not supposed to." "What does that mean?"

"It means someone made sure you forgot."

"But your body remembers. That’s why you react to him the way you do."

Julius gripped the photo harder. "Who are you? How did you get this?"

"I was there that day." The figure paused. "I saw what happened."

"What was taken from you." "What are you talking about?"

"Ask him." Julius’s face went cold.

"I’m asking you." "Some truths can only come from him. Ask Harrison."

The figure started backing away. "Ask him what happened twenty-five years ago."

"Ask him why he knows you. Ask him what you lost."

"Wait—" "He’ll lie at first."

"He always does. But push him. Make him tell you the truth."

Julius moved forward. "I said wait—"

But the figure disappeared through a back door. By the time Julius reached it, they were gone.

Julius stood there in the empty building. Alone. Holding a photograph that made no sense.

He looked down at it again. Young Julius. Young Harrison.

Blood. Tears. Fear. And protection.

Even in the photo, the older boy’s body language was clear.

He was standing between Harrison and something.

Protecting the smaller boy from something.

But what?

Julius’s mind raced. Twenty-five years ago.

Harrison would have been four. What happened when Harrison was four?

He tried to remember. Tried to pull anything from that time period.

Nothing. Just... blank space.

Like that part of his life had been erased.

Why?

Julius pulled out his phone. His finger hovered over Harrison’s name in his contacts.

Then he stopped.

The figure’s words echoed in his head.

He’ll lie at first. He always does.

If Julius called now, while he was confused and off-balance, Harrison would have the advantage. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He’d give some explanation that sounded reasonable.

Julius would want to believe it.

No.

He needed to think. Needed to figure out what questions to ask.

Needed to be in control when he confronted Harrison.

Because he was going to confront him.

This wasn’t over.

Julius put his phone away. He looked at the photograph one more time.

How long had Harrison been part of his life?

How long had this connection existed?

And why couldn’t he remember?

His phone vibrated. A text. From Harrison.

[Dinner tonight. My place. 8 PM.]

Not a question. A command.

Julius stared at the message. Then at the photograph.

Then back at the message.

He should say no. Should demand answers first.

Should take back control of this situation.

But another part of him—the part that had kissed Harrison back, the part that had wanted more—

That part wanted to go.

Wanted to see him.

Wanted to understand why his body reacted to Harrison like it had known him forever.

Maybe it had.

Julius typed back.

[Fine.]

He hit send.

Then he slipped the photograph into his inside jacket pocket, right over his heart.

Tonight, Harrison was going to answer questions.

And this time... Julius was ready to hear the truth.