ETHAN'S HELL[alpha×alpha]

chapter 1

Ethan gave his blazer a final adjustment, strapped his watch onto his wrist, and stared at his reflection in the mirror. At thirty-three, he was a handsome, blonde, green-eyed Alpha, but the tired expression and subtle dark circles beneath his eyes made him look years older than he actually was.

A few years ago, he would have cared. He would have done everything in his power to conceal every trace of exhaustion, every minor flaw. Now, however, he could barely scrape together enough energy to pretend it mattered.

The truth was, his life had become precisely what everyone had always expected it to be: predictable.

He had a stable job, a comfortable home, and a marriage that—in the eyes of high society—seemed flawless. Day after day, he followed the exact same routine, walking through a script written for him years ago, over which he exercised zero control.

Ethan turned on his heel and stepped out of the bathroom. His gaze landed on the form lying face down on the bed, lightly covered by the sheet, platinum hair spilled across the pillow. That was Angel—the Omega Ethan had been married to for five years. Angel was a handsome, gentle young man, and while Ethan cared for him as a person, he had never felt a single spark of attraction toward him. In truth, he had never felt attracted to any Omega.

Ethan knew his true s****l orientation all too well. However, as the only son of one of New York’s most prominent and conservative families, he knew his parents would never accept a gay son. So, when Angel was introduced to him as his fiancé years ago, he simply went with the flow, burying his true desires deep beneath the surface.

Glancing at his watch—seven in the morning—Ethan crossed the bedroom and headed down the stairs toward the kitchen. His footsteps echoed through the vast, quiet house. As he entered the room, his senses were greeted by the rich, comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Mrs. Lurdes was bent over the stove. She turned her head slightly upon sensing his presence and offered him a warm, motherly smile.

“Good morning, young master,” she said, her voice welcoming as always.

Mrs. Lurdes was the housekeeper. She had originally worked for Ethan’s parents and moved to this residence shortly after his marriage. She had known him since his teenage years, when his mother first hired her, and she was practically a second mother to him.

“Good morning, Mrs. Lurdes. How are you today?”

“I’m doing well, young master. Your coffee is ready,” she replied, pouring the dark liquid into a mug, her gentle smile deepening the fine lines around her eyes.

Every morning went like this. Even though she didn't live in the house, she made a point of arriving early to prepare breakfast.

She then served his usual plate: two eggs, two slices of toast, and crispy bacon.

“Thank you. I’m in a bit of a rush today.”

“Of course, young master.”

This was Ethan’s routine: every day rigidly identical to the last. He finished his coffee in one final gulp, grabbed his briefcase from the counter, and bade Mrs. Lurdes goodbye before heading out. He stepped into his car and started the engine, heading toward work.

Outside, the crisp morning air bit against his skin. The day was barely starting, yet the streets of New York were already far too alive for the hour. Hurried pedestrians crossed the sidewalks, horns blared in the distance, and traffic crawled sluggishly between the towering skyscrapers.

The drive to the office was always the same.

The same streets.

The same traffic lights.

Just another day.

An endless loop that slowly suffocated him.

Arriving at the company building, he parked his car and stepped out. The massive steel-and-glass skyscraper towered above, showing off its twelve floors, with the letters CC in mirrored silver mounted at the very top: Carter Constructions.

He straightened his blazer.

Put on his professional facade.

And walked in.

“Good morning, Mr. Vance!”

“Good morning.”

He navigated the spacious lobby, nodding and greeting staff along the way. In here, Ethan was no different from any other Alpha: a respectable, successful man and a devoted husband. That was the image everyone saw and accepted. Nobody knew the man who woke up exhausted every morning, trapped by obligations to a marriage and a life that was slowly squeezing the breath out of him.

“Mr. Vance!”

He paused and turned around.

“Good morning, Ms. Speanks,” Ethan greeted as he saw Aline, the CEO’s assistant, walking toward him.

“Mr. Carter asked for you to report to his office as soon as you arrived.”

Ethan nodded before cutting across the lobby toward the elevators. His heart gave a slight flutter of anticipation. A few weeks ago, he had secured approval for a major project: a luxury hotel. Was that the reason for this sudden summons? The project was already underway, and any last-minute changes at this stage could throw off the entire execution timeline.

Lost in thought, he barely registered the elevator coming to a smooth halt with a soft ding.

Ethan strode down the penthouse hallway until he reached the executive suite. The enormous office was enclosed by glass walls, the central portion covered in frosted film to ensure privacy.

He knocked three times on the door.

“Come in,” Mr. Carter’s voice called out from inside.

Ethan turned the handle, feeling the chill of the metal against his palm, and stepped inside. His attention was immediately snared by the man standing beside Carter in front of the massive executive desk.

There was nothing inherently extraordinary about the scene—just two men discussing business. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Ethan simply couldn't tear his eyes away.

There was something about this stranger that held his gaze captive before he could even understand why.

The stranger turned slowly in his direction.

And smiled.

Ethan’s heart gave a violent thud against his ribs.

Then another.

So intense that, for a fleeting second, he felt as though he could hear it echoing in his own ears. A strange sensation washed over him—something deep in the dark recesses of his mind seemed to awaken at that exact moment.

“Ah, Mr. Vance, finally,” Carter said, drawing his attention. “I’d like you to meet someone. This is Aaron. He’s an architect, and he’ll be working alongside you on the Royal Palace project.”

Ethan glanced back at the man. His eyes had strayed from him for only a heartbeat, but they returned instantly.

“Aaron, this is Mr. Vance,” Carter continued. “He’s our general project manager and the head of execution for the firm. He’s the one you’ll be collaborating with.”

Aaron turned fully toward Ethan and extended his hand, his smile broadening. Ethan stared at the offered hand for a fraction of a second before taking it in a firm grip.

Then, finally, he met the man’s eyes.

They were a blue so deep they resembled the ocean—Ethan had the bizarre sensation that he could drown in them. And then there was that smile—a fleeting, ridiculous thought crossed his mind that he had never seen a smile quite so handsome.

The man was a dominant Alpha. That wasn't even up for debate; his mere presence made other Alphas in the room seem ordinary by comparison.

The handshake lingered a beat longer than necessary.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Vance,” Aaron said, snapping Ethan out of his trance. “Looking forward to working with you.”

Ethan blinked, momentarily disoriented. A sudden wave of heat rushed to his face. Why was he having thoughts like these about a man he had literally just met? In a split second, he forced his posture to realign, slipping right back into his usual unreadable, composed expression.

“Likewise, Mr. ...” Ethan trailed off, hesitating to call him by his first name the way Carter had.

“Williams,” the CEO filled in.

Noticing his slight hesitation, Aaron chimed in smoothly, “You can just call me Aaron.”

That smile remained pinned to his lips, flashing perfectly straight teeth. Ethan’s brows knit together slightly. He barely knew the guy and felt caught off guard.

Reclaiming his rigid composure, Ethan replied, “Not at all, Mr. Williams. In the workplace, I prefer to keep things strictly professional.”

Aaron observed him in silence for a moment. Ethan’s face remained an unyielding mask. Then, once more, Aaron’s lips curled—this time into a subtle, crooked smirk.

“Right. In the workplace, then.”

Ethan felt his footing slip all over again.

“Right,” was all he managed to get out.

Carter, who had been watching the exchange between them, cleared his throat. “That covers everything I needed to align. You two start working together tomorrow.”

Ethan nodded and turned toward the door, practically rushing out—almost as if he were running away.

He walked briskly down the hallway until he reached the elevator. The moment the metal doors slid shut, his heart resumed its frantic hammering against his ribs. His face was flushed, and a strange knot twisted in his stomach.

Ethan leaned his head back against the cold mirrored wall of the elevator and closed his eyes.

Aaron Williams.

That was his name. The name of the man who had just reawakened something Ethan had spent years trying to bury.