WHISPERS OF FATE

SAVIOUR

Many thoughts ran through Noah's mind as he picked up his phone and called his friend, Martins.

“Can you come to my place right now? I really need you,” he said as soon as the call connected.

“Are you alright?” Martins asked, immediately sensing something was wrong.

“Is your father at home?”

“No, he isn't.”

“It's about him, actually. Just come over, please.”

Before Martins could ask another question, Noah ended the call.

He sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the floor as he waited. A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door.

Noah hurried to open it, sighing in relief when he saw Martins standing outside.

“What happened to you? Why do you look so pale?” Martins asked, stepping inside.

“It's about my dad,” Noah replied.

They sat down, and Martins immediately noticed the faint redness on Noah's cheek.

“Did he hit you again?” he asked, his expression darkening. “Noah, I've told you before that you need to report him before he does something even worse to you!”

“If only that were the problem,” Noah muttered.

Martins frowned. “What do you mean?”

“My father told me to prepare for marriage.”

Martins choked on his own breath.

“WHAT? Marriage? How the hell did that happen?”

Noah gave a bitter laugh. “I think it's one of the people he borrowed money from. He couldn't pay the debt, so now he's trying to use me as repayment.”

Martins stared at him in disbelief before shaking his head.

“Dude, that's messed up. I expect this kind of nonsense from your father, but that doesn't make it any less disgusting. Sorry, but your dad is a piece of shit.”

“No offence taken,” Noah replied tiredly. “I'm already used to him. What matters to me right now is the competition.”

His expression fell as he lowered his gaze.

“It's my only chance, Martins. I've worked so hard for it, and now everything is about to fall apart.”

Martins sighed, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“I know how much this means to you. The competition happens only once a year, and you're talented enough to get accepted. You can't give up on it now.”

“But how am I supposed to attend when my father is planning to marry me off?”

“We'll figure something out,” Martins assured him.

He paused, then tilted his head curiously.

“By the way, who are you getting married to?”

“I don't know. But I heard my father talking to someone named Mr Kingsley.”

Martins abruptly straightened.

“Mr Kingsley?”

Noah nodded. “Yes. Do you know him?”

“Do I know him? Noah, which part of this country have you been living in? You don't know the Kingsley family?”

Noah shook his head.

Martins stared at him as though he had just discovered that his friend had been living under a rock.

“They're the richest and one of the most powerful families in the country! They own countless companies, mansions, and other properties. Their influence is everywhere!”

He shook his head slowly.

“My friend, you really hit the jackpot.”

Noah gave him a flat look. “I'm being forced into a marriage, and you're congratulating me?”

“I'm not congratulating you! I'm just saying that if you're going to be forced into a marriage, at least know who you're dealing with.”

Martins suddenly grew serious.

“But there's a problem with that family.”

“What problem?”

Martins pulled out his phone and searched for the Kingsley family. Several results appeared, including a picture of Blake Kingsley.

He turned the screen toward Noah.

“See this guy? Blake Kingsley. He's known for despising Omegas. There are all kinds of rumours about how badly he treats them. Some people even say he can't stand being around one for more than a few minutes.”

Noah stared at the picture.

His eyes widened slightly as he leaned closer to the screen.

“Wait… I know this guy.”

Martins turned to him so quickly that he nearly dropped his phone.

“What do you mean you know him?”

“I'm sure it's him.”

FLASHBACK

Noah was walking along the hospital corridor after leaving the doctor's office. His steps were slow, and his mind was occupied with so many thoughts that he barely noticed where he was going.

He had been so distracted that he didn't realise he was approaching the staircase.

One more step, and his foot slipped dangerously close to the edge.

Before he could fall, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him back, drawing him against a firm chest.

Noah froze.

It took him a moment to realise what had almost happened. He turned toward the staircase and stared down at the steps, his heart pounding.

If that person hadn't caught him, he could have fallen all the way down.

He slowly turned back to his saviour.

The first thing he noticed was how handsome the man was.

“Are you okay?” the stranger asked.

Noah could only nod at first, still shaken by the incident.

“Thank you for pulling me back,” he managed to say, bowing his head. “I'm really grateful.”

“It's fine. Just be careful next time. Don't let your thoughts distract you while you're walking.”

The man glanced at his face, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.

“You have some dust on your face.”

He handed it to Noah before turning away.

“Take care.”

Noah stood there, watching him walk down the corridor until he disappeared from view.

For some reason, he couldn't stop staring after him.

He looked down at the handkerchief in his hands. A faint, pleasant scent lingered on the fabric, and without thinking too much about it, Noah brought it closer to his nose.

A small smile spread across his face.

He didn't even know the man's name, yet that brief encounter had stayed with him.

PRESENT

“Ohhh!” Martins exclaimed when Noah finished recounting the incident. “So he's the man who saved you that day?”

Noah nodded, a faint smile returning to his face.

“Yes. That's him.”

He glanced at Blake's picture again, his expression turning thoughtful.

“But how can someone who was so nice and gentle hate Omegas so much?”

Martins folded his arms.

“Maybe you only saw that side of him because you had just come out of the hospital. Didn't you use a scent blocker that day?”

“I did,” Noah replied. “But that doesn't change what happened. He literally saved me from falling down the stairs. He didn't even know me, yet he stopped to help me.”

“I'm not saying he didn't help you, Noah. I'm just worried about you.” Martins sighed. “Being married to someone like him could be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. You already have enough problems with your father. You don't need a husband who hates you simply because you're an Omega.”

Noah fell silent for a moment, his eyes returning to Blake's photograph.

“I don't know what will happen,” he admitted. “Would he even like me? Do you think he's the one who chose me?”

A small smile crept onto his face.

“Or maybe his father chose me for him.”

Martins narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Wait a minute. Noah…”

“What?”

“Do you have a crush on him?”

Noah immediately looked away.

“Hmm… just a little.”

“A LITTLE?” Martins repeated, raising his voice.

Noah laughed shyly.

“I've wanted to see him again ever since that day. I never thought fate would bring us together like this.”

He looked at Blake's picture for a little longer, admiring his handsome face.

“Who would have thought I'd end up becoming his husband?”

Martins stared at him, momentarily speechless.

“Unbelievable. You're being forced into a marriage with a man who supposedly hates Omegas, and you're already imagining yourself as his husband!”

Noah pouted. “I'm just saying!”

“Fine, fine. But if you're so interested in this marriage, does that mean you've forgotten about your singing competition?”

Noah's smile vanished.

“s**t!”

He shot upright, making Martins jump.

“I almost forgot! What am I going to do? How am I supposed to attend the competition?”

Martins burst out laughing.

“Look at you! A moment ago, you were busy admiring your future husband. Now you're panicking about your dream!”

“Martins, this isn't funny!” Noah complained, biting his fingernails. “I've worked so hard for this. I can't afford to miss it.”

“When is the wedding?”

“I don't know. Father only said I'd be going to the Kingsley family next week.”

Martins thought for a moment before snapping his fingers.

“Then wait until you get there. Once you meet Blake, explain that you have something important to do that day. Tell him about the competition and ask him to let you attend.”

Noah looked uncertain.

“Do you think he'll agree?”

“You just told me how nice he was when he saved you. Surely, he'll be nice enough to let you attend a singing competition.”

Noah groaned and covered his face with both hands.

“What am I going to do?”

“First, stop panicking. You haven't even met him properly yet. Let's focus on what you can control.”

Martins leaned forward.

“Speaking of which, what song are you planning to perform?”

Noah's expression brightened slightly.

“Oh! Wait here!”

He hurried upstairs and returned moments later with a notebook clutched to his chest.

Sitting beside Martins, he opened it and showed him the lyrics he had been working on.

Martins read through the pages, his eyes widening as he reached the end.

“Whoa, Noah! You wrote this yourself?”

Noah nodded proudly.

“Yes. I've been working on it for a while.”

“This is amazing! I'm serious. If you perform this well, you're going to blow their minds.”

Noah's face lit up at the praise.

“You really think so?”

“Of course! But what instrument are you planning to use?”

“The guitar. I think it'll bring out the harmony better and make the song more emotional.”

Martins nodded approvingly.

“That's a good choice.”

He closed the notebook and handed it back to Noah.

“Now, let me hear it. Sing it for me!”

Noah immediately snatched the notebook against his chest and sprang to his feet.

“No!”

Martins blinked. “What do you mean, no?”

“You have to wait until the competition!”

“Are you serious right now? After all this, you won't even let me hear one song?”

“Nope!”

“Noah!”

But Noah was already running toward the stairs, laughing as Martins chased after him.

“You little menace! Come back here!”

“Never!”

Their laughter filled the house as Noah hurried upstairs, clutching his notebook tightly.