Archive of Our Own ^beta

CHAPTER 1- WEAKNESS AND INSTINCTS

“...yet their bond, forbidden, was sealed in a moment of heat….”

“Our family would be honoured, your son’s reputation precedes him….”

“...then Euro fell, his body betraying him…” He fell off his knees, blood spilling out of his mouth. Yuke reached for him desperately, fingers brushing and recoiling in panic. Screaming for help.

“A union like this secures the line, strengthening the bond, as the gods themselves intended…”

“....his cries shook the heavens, his rage devoured men. Killing everyone who got close, his own clan men. Without the bond, he was no longer a man but a beast….”

A tug on his sleeve snapped his attention back to the conversation. “Bible?”, his mother whispered with a smile, gaze still fixed on the family sitting in front of them, “You will say a word or two, won’t you?”

Bible exhaled softly, “Of course, thank you for trusting us.”. He let his gaze settle on the Omega in front of him. He clearly came from an affluent family. The Leslies. A prominent family in the country. Malcom Leslie, the father, was a very big businessman, in fact.

His gloves hand twisted in a fist. He should've seen it coming. Why else would his family want to go to the theatre? To watch a play? The Sumettikuls were known for their love of art…yeah right.

The Leslie omega had been paraded before him his whole life. Stephan. The perfect omega. Black curly hair, freckles and big doe eyes. Very obedient and the most eligible omega to all the alphas. He was also a prominent artist with a large fan base, known for his soft silky voice that sang about love.

And then there was him, Bible. The perfect candidate. An Alpha. A CEO of a very successful.. Forget about the company. He was heir to a massive, stinking rich family. Who else could deserve Stephan Leslie? Childhood friends, groomed to be the perfect pair. This was inevitable.

“ This match will be the right thing for both our families.” Stephan, the perfect one, softly agrees with Bible.

Bible gave a polite, measured smile to Stephen, holding eye contact for a few seconds. Nothing. He felt nothing. It was said that one feels a burning sensation in their heart when they meet their fated pair. His parents felt it when they laid eyes upon each other for the very first time. Yet when he looked at Stephen, he felt nothing. Ofcourse, this isn’t about fate, not about choice, not about him.

He glanced back towards the stage. They were on the final act now, Execution. The lights on the stage were dim, just one light focused on the actor playing Yuke. The sight was pitiful, Yuke kneeling on the centre of the stage, hands bound and head bowed. His expressions twisted, as if something was already killing him from inside, long before the blade touched his neck.

Bible felt a tightening in his chest, he knew the legend, he knew exactly what was going to happen in the next few seconds.

The famous legend had been passed down through generations. It was said that Alphas, bearers of war and strength, were forbidden to claim one another. Only the Fertility Goddess could bless the bond. And she blessed all pairs, apart from those unable to conceive. That's what the legend said. Yet decades ago, on one fateful night of the Fertility Festival, intoxicated by desire and blinded by temptation, Alpha Euro and Alpha Yuke had come together. Their bond had been sealed and in doing so, they had invoked a curse.

Bible’s gaze fell on the actor playing Euro, lying motionless on the side of the stage. One would fall, broken by the weight of the bond, weakness, death…

His eyes shifted towards Yuke. And the other, left shattered, would lose all the restrain. His grief and rage would consume the ones close to him. The shattered bond will turn him into an animal.

The music swelled, carrying the weight of centuries of dread. The blade above Yuke’s head shimmered under the light, yet his eyes never left Euro’s lifeless body.

The forbidden bond.
Weakness that consumed everything.

That's what he had always tried to avoid. Weakness. Bonds created weakness. That's why he allowed this arrangement with the Leslies. He didn't feel that much of a bond with Stephan and that's why it was perfect.

Bible’s fingers flexed around his armrest.

This wasn’t just a story, It was a warning. A rule written by blood and carried by fear. A lesson that every Alpha grew up learning. The cost of giving in to fire you are not meant to touch.
A curse.
Everyone knew it, no Alpha should bond with another.
Or else they'll face a fate
Blood spilled on the stage as Yuke’s head was cut off.
Just as cruel as Euro and Yuke.

Generation after generation knew this.

************************************************

“So this conference will be gathering each and everyone that contributed to the economy of Country B. Every big business owner will be there” Jes’ assistant Jjay addressed the room.

The annual business conference with the president was set to happen in a month. And for the first time, Atlas Capitals was listed among the Top 10 Investment Companies.

Jes sat at the head of a sleek boardroom table, his eyes scanned the reports in front of him. He had poured every ounce of his teeth, bones and money into building this company. And now, just 2 years after founding it, it has finally taken off.

He was ruthless with his clients, his investments, with whom he allowed to have any kind of relationship with his company. Even his very employees were strictly interviewed by him, from the cleaners to his assistant. Each and everyone was scrutinised for competence, discipline and reliability.

His eye for details and his ability to read people got him the most trustworthy employees. The mutual respect and top notch working conditions including salaries and benefits also cemented their unshakable loyalty. Many had tried to poach them but every attempt was a fail.
Everyone wanted a piece of Atlas Capitals.

In just 2 years into the capital market, he was able to attain clients in the country who trusted him with thousands of their hard earned money. And he was able to triple it.

He knew when to buy stocks and when to withdraw. When to invest and when not to.
That's what made him a titan in the industry. A feared titan. An alpha with no significant family name, no political backing, yet he was making people rich.
He had built this company on his instincts and hardwork.
Instincts are what got him here.

“I will be attending personally. And in my absence, Jjay will be here updating me about the company matters..” He said in a stern and final voice that seemed to leave no room for questions. Jjay gave a sharp nod, jotting notes quickly.

“I will go with Jet and Mio. We need to get more high scale clients. This conference will be the pond. And we will be ready to fish.” He specifically picked those two because they were very social, yes, well educated yeah but also good looking at that. Mio, a gorgeous green eyed omega and Jet, a very handsome alpha. They knew exactly why he picked them. This was how he did business. Lethal. Calculating.

For the pond, he needed fish. Giant fish. He was already handling thousands of client’s money. But most of his clients were small business owners, some retired senior citizens, a few foundations and the occasional celebrities. He needed the big fish. The ministers, big CEOs and the major celebrities. And this was the best way to get them.

Now he just needed to do a deep dive on the guest list and back ground on each and everyone who would attend. He’d know exactly how to get them.

He didn't need to say it. He just looked at Jjay, and the unspoken understanding built over their 8 year old friendship clicked. Jes stood up, and moved out of the room..

With Jjay's footsteps right behind him following him to his office. Jjay was a very loyal and determined beta who had a very lovely male omega mate, Fuaiz. An orphan who he met at a church founded school, and had both become instant friends.

“ The files will be ready for you by noon” Jjay says, as he presses away on his phone, probably contacting their personal investigator.

************************************************

The annual business conference wasn’t just about the economy, it was a silent stage, where everyone’s performance determined their fates. Every handshake, card exchange and acknowledgments were measured and accurate.

Jes adjusted the cuff of his suit as he entered, Jet and Mio following behind him. Heads turned, some in curiosity, some in recognition, others in surprise. Atlas Capitals might be comparatively young, but its name was already loud enough to carry into this room.

Buzz immediately filled the room. Everyone was interacting with everyone but all eyes were on the CEO. Just a 33 year old alpha who made Atlas Capitals. Getting specifically called to the hall in the Blue house(White House) by the president just 2 years after his company was formed. Unheard of. It was a huge honor. And that put him in the spotlight.

He was rarely seen in public because he preferred being indoors or working. The media barely had pictures of him. Only those few ones where he absolutely has to, in order to get more clients.

And here he was in a double breasted black suit that hugged his figure. And heels on his black shiny shoes, looking like a Greek god.

“Mr. Tilapornputt, an honour.”
“I have heard of Atlas’ impressive returns….”
“You must tell me how you managed the market crash last quarter…”

Jes made his way into the crowd. Every nod he gave, every handshake he accepted felt deliberate. Tonight, he intended to walk out with more than attention.

As the night deepened. One by one they came. Men in polished suits, women with measured smiles, eager to introduce themselves, to make a name for themselves.

And then, as if on cue, the room shifted. The conversations faded, the laughter softened, and the spotlight turned towards the stage.

The president stepped forward, his voice warm and commanding. He spoke of progress, of wealth, of the bright future.

“....And lastly, all of you are this nation’s heroes. You provide jobs, pay a lot of taxes and a lot more. I called you all here to thank you for improving the standards of living for my citizens.”

\The room erupted into loud applause. Jes joined, polite and measured. It was all a way to stroke egos, to make sure that business men felt appreciated.\

With the speeches done, then came the main part. The part where connections were made. Interaction. Many people came out to him to introduce themselves and ask to be his clients, or collaborations. One by one they came, he would answer them politely and send them to Jet or Mio for them to leave their cards.

]In the midst of it.

The air stilled.

A scent hit him.

Pine, sharp, grounding. Mixed with something sweet, floral, intoxicating. Like a forest in bloom after rainfall. It made his heart ache. For the first time in years, something cracked open inside him. A burn started building up. Like someone has set fire in his veins. His eyes swept the room, trying to identify it, the owner.

His body, like on command, was pulled before his mind could catch up. His body had never seemed out of control like this. His every instinct telling him to rush and follow whatever that was. He had to.

Drawn like iron to a loadstone, his steps carried him through the crowd, the pull magnetic. Like he was a North pole looking for a South.

Brain scrambling to fix that constant burn that only got more intense as the scent became more concentrated.

And then he saw it.

That pull still urged him close, but his intuition told him to stop.

Across the hall, framed by the glow of the open window, stood a man. Alone. Still. As though the rest of the world had dimmed around him. The breeze caught at his jacket and lifted strands of wavy shoulder length hair. Carrying that scent, pine and flowers…..straight to Jes’s lungs.

Jes froze. His gaze locked on the figure. His heart hammered louder than the applause around him. The burn somehow ignited itself more like it possibly could, but it did. The room blurred, the chatter dissolved, and all that existed at that moment was him.

Who was he?

And why…why did Jes’s entire being felt like he had just found the only thing he had been starving for?

The figure stiffened too, as if stuck by the same realization. It stiffened more. Straightened more. And even turned. Slowly, almost reluctantly. All the light outside outlining everything, almost breathtaking clarity.

Jes’s eyes trailed. From the pants. To the gloved hand holding a glass. A somewhat loose coat. Open chest with a silver necklace, black pendant. Well shaped lips. Sharp jawline. Well shaped nose. And shocked siren eyes, clouding with confusion and curiosity.

An alpha?
Not any alpha.
A Sumettikul alpha.

And yet…why? Why did his heart burn like this? Why did his body, his instincts, everything he was, ache for him?