Eric woke up with a face that made it obvious he didn't get enough sleep. His hair was a mess, his throat felt dry, and his eyes were heavy like someone had tucked pebbles under his eyelids. He got up with a low groan.
"I swear… Milan rooms are pretty, but the mattress feels like an Alpha's ego—rock solid."
He washed up quickly and changed into dark casual clothes that didn't attract attention. He was just about to make coffee when his phone rang. The caller — his superior.
Eric answered. The voice on the other end was sharp, firm, leaving no room for small talk.
> "I sent three people to assist you. Don't work alone. This mission's too big for solo work."
Eric rubbed his forehead. "I didn't ask for backup."
> "I didn't ask if you wanted it. They'll arrive in an hour. Meet them at the café across from the gala building."
The line cut off immediately. Eric stared at his phone for a long second. "Great. Working with humans. Perfect."
---
The café sat directly across the gala entrance. Eric took the table at the back, sipping his half-cold latte while watching the building — glass doors, expensive lights, and guards standing stiff like armored mannequins.
Half an hour later, three men showed up. Their steps were confident, and each carried a different vibe. Eric stood as they approached.
They sat, but Eric raised his hand first.
"Alright. Work time. I need to know how we're getting into a rich people gala."
The first guy raised his hand. "Easy. We break in through the back door."
Eric stared. "Do you think this is an action game? Next."
The second leaned back, acting cool. "We could make a diversion. Burn a trash bin or someth—"
Eric cut him off. "Are you insane? This is Milan. Cops everywhere."
Why the hell did they send me children for this mission? Please. This is ridiculous.
The third guy raised his hand slowly. He looked more stable than the other two. "What if we go in disguise? One of us as a rich guy. Two as bodyguards. We walk in through the VIP entrance."
Eric almost said okay — but the man continued:
"I also checked the event details. We'll need a partner. Rich people always show up in pairs. So one of us has to act as his… date."
Eric lifted a brow. "A partner?"
He nodded calmly. "Fake partner. Relax. We can use synthetic Omega perfume to make it convincing."
Eric looked at all three of them.
He thought. He breathed in.
"Alright. That makes sense. One more thing — I heard the DC family will be there, so be careful."
The three nodded.
"My name's Desmond. Codename A-0. Alpha."
The first guy leaned back, his tone the calmest. "I'm Liam, codename R-7. Alpha."
The second raised a hand slightly. "Jay, codename V-3. Beta."
The third spoke last. "Noah. Codename S-12. Beta."
---
The prep room was small, but it felt like chaos. Bags open everywhere, clothes piled up, and the three men made enough noise to fill a stadium.
Liam opened a black bag while Eric sat in a chair watching them with disbelief plastered on his face.
Noah held up an ivory-colored coat. "If I were the Omega, I'd wear this. Rich person vibes."
Jay looked him up and down. "You? Omega? You stand like you're ready to punch someone."
Noah squinted. "Hey, Omegas can be fierce too. No rule says they have to be soft."
Jay laughed. "If you wear Omega perfume, you're gonna pass out."
Noah looked pleased with himself. "Nope. It's sweet. It suits me."
Liam, calm as ever, lifted a simple black jacket. "That's enough. We pick the most logical one. Jay will be the fake Omega."
Jay's jaw dropped. "Huh?! Why me?"
Eric sipped his coffee without sympathy. "Because you have a baby face. Softer look."
Noah clapped loudly. "YES! Agreed!"
Jay crossed his arms. "You guys never think about my feelings, huh?"
Liam stayed steady. "Relax. You just have to walk a little softer, keep your head low, and don't act Beta. Easy. Omega and Beta aren't that different anyway."
Jay tried to act like a shy Omega. "Like this?"
Noah fell onto the couch laughing. "Dude! You look like a robot getting electrocuted!"
Eric covered his face. "I can't believe I have to take you three into a mission. I should've gone solo…"
Jay grabbed the synthetic Omega perfume and sprayed a little on his wrist.
He froze.
"Why does it smell like cotton candy?!"
Noah puffed his chest proudly. "Exactly why I wanted to be the Omega!"
Eric shot him a look. "If you become the Omega, I'm leaving this team."
Noah sulked. "So rude."
Liam zipped up the bag. "Alright. Jay is the fake Omega. I'm the rich Alpha. Eric, first bodyguard. Noah, second."
Eric raised a brow. "Why am I guarding you?"
Liam answered simply. "You're the tallest. Looks professional."
Noah raised a hand fast. "I'm tall too!"
Eric glanced at him. "You're tall like Doraemon."
Noah froze. Jay nearly fell over laughing.
Eric took a long breath. "Seriously… I'm exhausted before we even enter the event."
Liam closed his bag. "We finish laughing now. Inside the gala, stay serious."
Jay wiped tears from his eyes. "I think I need emotional training."
Noah put on his coat and checked the mirror. "Hurry up. If we're late, I'm blaming Jay."
Jay pointed at him. "Why me?!"
Noah responded instantly. "Because you're the Omega."
Eric chuckled. "You three really make my life difficult."
---
The entrance hall to the gala was long, bright, and dramatic — like walking into a movie set. Soft classical music drifted out from inside, the kind rich people play just to show they have "taste."
Their undercover formation looked clean:
Liam and Jay in front — the rich couple. Liam walked with the confident aura of an Alpha used to money. Jay walked like a "shy Omega," and the fake Omega perfume was strong enough that Eric and Noah had to breathe carefully.
Eric and Noah walked behind them as bodyguards. Eric stayed sharp, eyes scanning the surroundings like he was born for this job. Noah tried to look serious, but his expensive shoes made loud noises with every step.
The entrance was tightly guarded. Warm lights, polished marble, and an air that screamed exclusive.
When Liam, Jay, Eric, and Noah reached the guard, the man raised a hand.
"Invitation card?" His tone was stern.
Immediately, chaos. Nobody had any idea about a secret invitation card.
Jay inhaled sharply. "We… might've left it— haha—"
Liam added, "Our friend invited us, but he didn't mention we needed a card."
The guard looked impatient. "No card, no entry."
Then, footsteps approached from behind. A man stopped beside the guard, hands in his pockets, giving a small smile when his eyes met Eric's.
"It's fine," he said quietly. "They're with me."
The guard bowed immediately, like the man had real authority here.
"Yes, sir."
The man looked back at Eric. His smile was vague — like he knew something Eric didn't. Eric froze slightly.
Do I know him? No. Eric searched his memory, but nothing. The guy was a complete stranger.
Before Eric could ask anything, the man walked away calmly.
"I… don't think I've ever seen him," Eric whispered to Noah.
Noah raised a brow. "But he helped us."
"That's exactly what bothers me," Eric replied quietly.
Liam tugged Aiden's sleeve. "Don't overthink it. What matters is we're inside. Whatever happens, stay sharp. Don't trust easily."
They stepped into the main hall.
Expensive perfume lingered in the air, chandeliers glowed bright above them, and soft music filled the space. Everyone in the room looked powerful — people from elite families in the A/B/O world.
And now… they were right in the middle of it.