Dr. Trois Bert felt challenging gazes directed at him, but he proceeded with determination.
"The mentality of an orphan differs from that of a child raised in a family structure," he explained, staring at the group. "While a child expects to be protected by their family, an orphan is encouraged to act on their own, to seek independence."
Damián and Aster, the two orphans in question, do not seek approval from others. On the contrary, they expect me to follow them for five years, trusting their own decisions.
Given the events reported by Dr. Jacob, it becomes evident that when they awakened alone. Considering the situation, it is natural that they took this course of action.
Callum felt, for the first time in his life, an overwhelming sense of failure. He had always considered himself a strong and courageous person, capable of facing any adversity.
No matter how powerful, influential, or wealthy his opponent was, Callum never succumbed to the discomfort of fear in the face of difficulties. Over the years, he cultivated concentration, temperance, and willpower, becoming a powerful force with grandiose thoughts.
However, at that moment, Callum found himself consumed by unbridled ambition. He longed to change the world, to leave an indelible mark in history.
As an Alpha, trained to act in all situations, Callum had always been a noble individual. His birth played an extraordinarily significant role in his journey. He was truly exceptional.
The Alpha Prime distinguished itself from ordinary Alphas, as the pheromones of an Omega did not possess the same appeal as those of an Alpha. The combination of an Alpha Prime and a dominant Omega was extremely rare and considered an exceptional pairing.
Callum, accustomed to a life without significant adversities, was about to attend an unexpected meeting between Adam and Oliver Phillips. The rendezvous point was the renowned restaurant of the Kadman Hotel, owned by Adam and among the best in the world. Adam had just returned from abroad.
The reason for this meeting was something they had never imagined would happen. Almost a year ago, a bold and challenging hacker emerged, starting to steal information from small business databases and demanding a ransom for data recovery.
Over the months, the hacker's activities intensified, exposing the personal information of 5 million people in the country. This hacker identified themselves as Astra. Astra initially targeted national small and medium-sized companies with the intention of expanding their attacks to international corporations.
Astra's first contact with Callum Campbell and Adam Kadman occurred through mutual acquaintances.
Among these people were Clarice Phillips, Oliver Philips' sister, and Callum Campbell's fiancée. Clarice was an heiress to a prosperous luxury business conglomerate, and her relationship with Callum brought a complex mixture of commitment and expectations.
Also involved in this web were Taylor May, an Alpha from a reasonably well-off family and the daughter of a politician's first marriage. She had been serving as Adam Kadman's reliable personal assistant for at least five years.
The connection between Clarice, Taylor, Adam, and Callum was intense and filled with nuances. Despite coming from different backgrounds and circumstances, they found themselves entangled in a complex web of relationships, driven by various formal and professional commitments.
Taylor May was Adam Kadman's personal assistant, while Callum Campbell was committed to Clarice Phillips. Both couples had distinct relationships.
Adam and Taylor had been working together for almost five years, establishing a solid and efficient partnership. The proximity between Adam and Callum, due to shared events, allowed Taylor to get closer to Clarice, developing a friendship with her.
However, strange events began to occur when Astra, the mysterious hacker, became obsessed with Taylor and Clarice. It all started with the delivery of a bouquet of navy blue roses, with petals shining like silver stars, wrapped in white paper and tied with proportionate red ribbons.
Each delivery was accompanied by a card with the three letters "FBI, CIA, NASA, or Area 51." This situation prompted Oliver to schedule a meeting and explain the recent events to Adam, who had just arrived, and Callum, who already knew part of what would be discussed. However, during the conversation, Oliver Phillips was taken aback and noticed a significant change in the demeanor of the two Alphas.
And everything changed...
Callum, known for his imposing physical presence and unwavering confidence, was taken aback by an unusual scent that stirred a strange sensation within him. The fragrance formed an olfactory pyramid, combining notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, iris flower, tonka bean, and vanilla.
Like an ethereal veil, fragrant particles began to envelop him, leaving a subtle trail of seduction in their wake. It was an almost imperceptible touch that reverberated through his senses, igniting an ancestral flame of attraction.
The fragrance filled the air around him, imparting a sense of calmness and freedom from stress. In an instant, everyone around him seemed to vanish, and Callum found himself completely consumed by the scent.
Chills ran through his body, compelling him to seek the origin of that aroma. In just 30 swift steps, his eyes met those of a young man with a starry gaze.
An intense explosion of pheromones filled the space, and for the first time in his life—Callum lost control of his instincts. He seized the young man and pulled him close, holding him tightly in his arms as he growled ferociously.
A burning desire surged between them, and the young man tilted his head, initiating a passionate kiss. Callum responded with equal intensity, their tongues intertwining in fervent contact.
The details of what happened next became blurry in Callum's mind. They stumbled into a room, consumed by uncontrollable passion. Screams and moans filled the air as an unknown hunger took hold of them.
It was only three days later that Callum regained consciousness, unsure of his whereabouts. Next to him lay the young man with whom he had shared that intense experience. The room was in complete chaos, with rumpled sheets and belongings scattered on the floor.
Callum was overcome by a mix of surprise and perplexity. He could hardly believe what had transpired. Had he truly been marked an omega? It was a completely unexpected and incomprehensible situation for him.
After taking a shower to compose himself, Callum searched for his communication device, which unfortunately was discharged. He quickly called the hotel reception, requesting assistance.
Within minutes, clean clothes and food were delivered to his room, while the young man still slept deeply in his bed. Callum approached him, sensing a soft and captivating olfactory pyramid emanating from his slumbering body.
Driven by an irresistible desire, Callum drew closer to the young man, captivated by his intriguing scent. However, he noticed that the young man seemed to be cold, trembling slightly.
Concerned about his well-being, Callum realized that the young man was unresponsive to stimuli and unconscious. Without hesitation, he decided to take him to the hospital in search of help.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Callum was met with a chaotic scene. Campbell Enterprises, in conjunction with experts, devised a strategic plan to deal with the situation. Marketing actions were developed across all available media, from newspapers and magazines to radio, television, and the Internet itself.
The goal was to hide and camouflage the events that had occurred, keeping the individuals involved in the pheromone shock episode a secret. It was 24 hours of relentless work over three days, aimed at minimizing the impacts and restoring normalcy.