L*ck Me If You Can

Chapter 213

Koi, feeling increasingly anxious, kept stealing glances at Ashley. He had no idea what Ashley was thinking, and it made it almost impossible to speak. As Koi continued to watch him cautiously, Ashley finally opened his mouth after a long silence.

"You tried to come here for ten years? ...Since then, the whole time?"

His voice was absurdly quiet. Under that calm gaze, Koi instinctively swallowed dryly and looked away. Ashley, confirming the answer through his reaction, fell silent again.

〈Ash.〉

A vision of a much younger boy smiling and calling his name flickered in Ashley’s mind. That boy who always ran to him, the thin and small body that would fall into his arms, even the shyly touching lips.

〈I like you, Ash.〉

A dry, bitter breath escaped his lips. Between sighs, almost like a self-mocking sound, Ashley finally spoke.

"So what?"

The air grew cold. Under everyone’s gaze, Ashley slowly turned his head toward Koi. Their eyes met. Ashley narrowed his eyes slightly, then twisted his lips into a cold smirk.

"You weren’t there when I needed you most."

In an instant, all the blood drained from Koi’s face. Looking at Koi, now as pale as a ghost, Ashley continued in a slow, mocking voice.

"How do you think I felt, sitting all alone at that train station, waiting and waiting for you?"

He let out a hollow laugh. Of course, he was the only one laughing. Shaking his shoulders like he couldn’t contain it, Ashley went on, filled with ridicule.

"Didn’t you come too late?"

"You bastard..."

"A-Al!"

As Ariel, clenching her fists, started to rise, Koi hurried to stop her and spoke quickly.

"Ashley’s right. I came here because I wanted to. It had nothing to do with him. He doesn’t owe me anything."

Ariel stared at Koi, aghast, then turned back to Ashley.

"So you're saying it means nothing to you that Koi has been thinking about you all this time?"

Ashley didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he continued to gaze at Koi's trembling eyes, then slowly opened his mouth.

"I already told you. Whether Koi likes me or not — it doesn’t matter."

Koi’s face turned even paler. Ariel’s eyes sparked with fury.

"You stubborn bastard!"

"Al!"

Koi shouted in panic, but Ariel was faster. The former amateur boxing champion’s fist landed squarely on the jaw of the former high school ice hockey MVP. Ashley staggered backward from the heavy blow. Koi covered his mouth in shock, while Bill clenched his fists and silently cheered, "Yes!"

But it didn’t last long. Ashley’s eyes darkened to pure black, and pheromones surged from his body.

"You..."

Veins popped on Ashley’s forehead as he shot to his feet, but when he saw who was standing across from him, he hesitated. Ariel was a woman. And Koi was... Koi. That left only one target.

"Wait, this is too much! I didn’t even do anything!"

Seeing Ashley grip the hockey stick and lunge toward him, Bill paled and screamed. He pleaded desperately, but Ashley’s decision was already made. In that instant, Bill threw himself toward his savior.

"Koi, save me!"

Bill grabbed onto Koi’s large frame and tried to wedge himself behind him. Ashley, aiming his stick, was forced at the last second to redirect his swing. The stick whistled through the air, brushing so close that it ruffled Koi’s hair.

Ashley hastily pulled back the stick and lunged forward, grabbing Koi. Koi, who had tried to shield Bill, stumbled as he was pulled into Ashley’s arms. With a pale face, Ashley checked him urgently.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Still dazed, Koi nodded. But Ashley kept running his hands over him, checking every inch, until he was sure Koi was unharmed. Only then did Ashley finally let out a sigh of relief.

Holding Koi close, Ashley snapped at Bill.

"You bastard! You used Koi as a shield, are you insane?"

Bill, who had been watching the insane couple with a stunned face, finally exploded.

"What did you expect me to do, hide behind Ariel?! Who else could protect me except Koi! You’re the crazy one! Why are you always picking on me?"

"Koi’s pregnant!"

Ashley’s roar silenced the room. Ariel’s eyes widened, and Bill’s rage evaporated. Both of them turned their stunned gazes toward Koi, who was nestled deep in Ashley’s arms.

Bill was the first to find his voice.

"What the hell do you mean, Koi’s pregnant?"

"Don't lie, you scammer!"

Neither Bill nor Ariel believed it. But thanks to that shout, Ashley's anger subsided. His eyes slowly faded back to their usual violet, and the overwhelming pheromones ebbed. A soft smile played on his lips, as if the thought alone was enough to fill him with joy.

"Koi’s pregnant. Of course, it's my child."

Ariel’s eyes immediately darted to Koi, demanding confirmation. Unable to meet her gaze, Koi looked away.

That was enough evidence. Fury exploded on Ariel’s face.

"You son of a bitch! How dare you get Koi pregnant!"

She wanted to punch Ashley again, but couldn’t because of Koi. Bill instinctively flinched, but instead of punching Bill, Ariel slammed her fist down on the wooden table with a loud bang.

"Move, Koi. I need to hit that bastard again."

"W-Wait, Al. Don’t. I’m fine."

Koi quickly tried to stop her, but the atmosphere didn’t change. Koi stood between them, as Ariel and Ashley glared at each other like predators.

Bill, still confused, butted in.

"Wait, how can Koi be pregnant? He’s a Beta, right?"

"Shut up, Bill."

Ariel growled without looking away from Ashley.

"And what are you planning to do about it? You're not seriously thinking of dumping him after getting him pregnant, are you?"

If that were the case, Ariel was ready to destroy him, to strip every penny he had for Koi’s sake. But Ashley answered leisurely.

"I’ll take responsibility. I turned Koi into an Omega."

"What?"

"What?"

"What the hell?"

Koi, Ariel, and even Bill shouted at once.

Facing the shocked trio, Ashley calmly narrowed his eyes at Ariel.

"You already knew, didn’t you? You said you were with Koi when he triggered his heat cycle."

Bill stared at Ariel with bulging eyes. But instead of explaining, Ariel kept glaring at Ashley and answered bluntly.

"Yeah, I knew. But what do you mean, you’ll 'take responsibility'? What does Koi being an Omega have to do with you?"

Ashley responded coolly.

"My pheromones must’ve triggered his mutation."

He said it with absolute certainty. Most people would believe that, too. Even Koi might have believed it if not for meeting Angel.

But Ashley's assumption was completely wrong — and not only Koi knew the truth.

Ariel shot Koi a glance, and Koi stiffened slightly, stealing a wary glance in return. Sensing something off, Ashley frowned. Even Bill, slow as he was, noticed the strange atmosphere.

"...What the hell?"

Ashley finally spoke, his voice low and dangerous. The leisure had vanished from his face, replaced by clear tension. Ariel and Koi exchanged looks again, and after a nod from Ariel, Koi swallowed dryly and opened his mouth, voice trembling.

"Um, actually..."

He spoke with difficulty.

"My becoming an Omega... it has nothing to do with you."

Ashley’s frown deepened.

Koi stumbled over his words.

"It wasn't because of your pheromones... I manifested naturally. I know it's really late, but... that's the truth."

"Koi’s not just a regular Omega. He’s an Extreme Omega."

Unable to hold back, Ariel dropped a bombshell.

Koi gasped sharply, and Ashley froze. Bill, too, alternated his gaze between them in shock, then shouted,

"What the hell does that mean?!"

But no one answered him. Heavy silence fell between them, making even the air seem to stop.

Only Bill’s frantic, darting eyes broke the stillness.

"...That’s bullshit."

Ashley finally spoke. Grinding his teeth, his voice was so low and crushed it made Bill and even Ariel shiver.

Ashley growled.

"Cut the crap, Ariel. That’s impossible."

"Why?"

Ariel snapped back.

"Why is it impossible? What’s so wrong about Koi being an Extreme Omega?"

Ashley let out a harsh sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. He glared at Ariel, voice dangerously low.

"Koi being an Extreme Omega? That’s not possible. It can't be."

"And why the hell not? Koi is an Extreme Omega!"

Ariel’s voice rose with fury. Ashley sneered coldly.

"And how do you plan to prove that?"

Ariel hesitated — but Ashley pressed on.

"Extreme Omegas don’t show up in genetic tests. They look like Betas. There’s no way to prove it."

Ashley’s belief was firm. But that gave Ariel the opening she needed.

"Have you ever tested Koi’s traits?"

Ashley scoffed.

"Why bother? He's pregnant. Obviously, he's an Omega."

"I did it. We checked."

Ariel said with certainty.

"Koi’s traits came out as Beta."

"Bullshit."

Ashley cursed under his breath, clearly not believing her. Ariel cut him off again.

"If you don’t believe it, check it yourself. It’s simple. A hospital can get results in two days — or thirty minutes if you pay extra. Why don’t you go now?"

Having regained her composure, Ariel glared at him.

"Looks to me like you’re desperately trying to deny it. But why? Isn't it good for you? Extreme Omegas are supposed to be the ultimate dream for Extreme Alphas like you."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Or is it that you have a problem specifically because it's Koi?"

Silence again. No one spoke.

Koi watched nervously, unable to even meet Ashley’s gaze. But mustering courage, he looked up.

Ashley wasn’t looking at him. Still glaring only at Ariel, his coldness struck Koi like a physical blow.

"...Ash, is that really it?"

Koi’s voice trembled slightly.

The arms that had been holding him flinched. Koi asked again, softly.

"Is it... because it’s me? Would you have preferred if I stayed a Beta?"

Tears welled up in Koi’s eyes. Ashley barked out hoarsely.

"Don’t say stupid shit. I don’t care what you are."

"Then why are you denying it?"

Ariel shot back. Ashley wanted to strangle her — but couldn’t. The veins at his temples throbbed. His fingers trembled.

He opened his mouth — but then shut it again.

His rational mind was already piecing it together. The evidence was overwhelming. The fluctuations in pheromone scent, the lack of a womb before... It wasn’t a hallucination. It was real.

"It can’t be."

Ashley’s voice cracked. His pupils, his lips, his entire body began to tremble violently.

"My Koi can’t be like that."

"Ash."

Koi called his name desperately. Ashley’s grip loosened. He staggered back away from Koi.

Standing alone, Ashley slowly scanned the room. The pheromone scent floating in the air belonged only to himself.

"If Koi were really an Omega, there would be pheromones."

He muttered like he was in a dream. Ariel spoke up quietly.

"Extreme Omegas can control their pheromones—"

"Shut up!"

Ashley roared. Ignoring Ariel, he stared at Koi.

"There’s no reason for you to hide your pheromones from me."

Desperately trying to convince himself, he kept speaking.

"Koi mutated, that’s why his pheromones are weak. That’s all."

"Ash..."

Koi called softly, but Ashley suddenly stumbled back.

"Right?"

Ashley forced a smile.

"Ariel’s just spewing bullshit, right? You wouldn’t lie to me. Right?"

"Ash..."

"Koi."

Ashley’s face twisted horribly.

"Say it’s not true."

He was begging — heartbreakingly desperate. But Koi couldn’t say anything. Silence fell once again. Ashley, his eyes shaking violently, slowly shook his head.

"This isn’t real."

"Ash."

"It’s a lie! A ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) lie!"

Ashley screamed — then gasped violently. His massive body collapsed forward. Koi shrieked.

"Ash!"

Bill flinched and shielded his face, Ariel recoiled in shock. Ashley curled up, breathing heavily. His golden eyes gleamed.

"Ash, what’s happening? Are you hurt again?"

Koi shouted frantically. But Ashley could no longer answer.

His pheromones were out of control.

Bernice’s words flashed through Koi’s mind — Ashley’s brain, damaged by pheromones.

Fear gripped him.

"Ash! Ash! Get a hold of yourself!"

Koi fumbled for his phone, his hands trembling so badly he dropped it. He wiped his teary eyes, picked up the phone, and desperately dialed.

He had to call Bernice. Only she could save Ashley now.

"Ash!"

Ariel shouted suddenly. Koi turned instinctively — and gasped.

Ashley was staggering toward the door.

"Ash! Wait! Where are you going?!"

Koi couldn’t even wait for the call to connect. He ran after him. But Ashley shoved him off and stumbled out of the room. By the time Koi rushed outside, Ashley’s figure had already disappeared. There was nothing left — only the heavy scent of Ashley’s pheromones lingering in the air.