The penthouse was quiet except for the soft hum of city life outside the tall glass walls. Alessio stood in the center of the living room, his jacket off and sleeves rolled up as he scrolled through documents Theo had just laid out on the table. Enzo leaned against the wall with a glass of whiskey, talking strategy.
Noah, meanwhile, lingered near the hallway, glaring silently at the ground.
"Take a shower," Alessio ordered without looking up.
Noah's head snapped up. "What?"
Alessio's eyes met his briefly. "You're dirty. My house isn't. Go clean yourself."
It was blunt. Too blunt. Noah clenched his fists, his jaw twitching.
He felt like he'd been slapped, but he bit down on his tongue. He wasn't here to argue. He had no power, no voice. Not really. He was just a purchased thing—something auctioned and bought.
But his mouth didn't get the memo.
"Yes, Your highness," he snapped under his breath and spun on his heel.
Enzo chuckled from the corner. Theo shot him a warning glance.
Alessio didn't even flinch. He just returned to the files in front of him.
Noah stormed into the guest room and slammed the bathroom door shut behind him. The sound echoed like thunder.
Inside, he stood in front of the mirror and glared at himself.
He looked tried. Dirty. Humiliated.
A long sigh escaped his lips as he stripped off the auction robe. His skin was still stained with faint glitter from the stage lights, and grime clung to his heels. He turned on the tap and stepped into the tub, letting the warm water rise around him. It felt good. Too good.
His eyes closed.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Thirty minutes later, Theo was the first to notice.
"He's still in there?" he asked, glancing toward the hallway. "Should I go check?"
Alessio's head snapped up. His jaw tightened.
"No," he said quickly. "I'll go."
Enzo raised a brow, smirking. "Oh? Big boss suddenly concerned?"
Alessio ignored him, already walking down the hall.
The guestroom door creaked open. The sound of the water still running inside sent a jolt of unease through his chest. He moved to the bathroom and knocked sharply.
"Noah."
No answer.
He knocked again, harder this time.
"Noah. Are you alright?"
Nothing.
His voice grew tense. "Answer me."
Still silence.
His heart slammed against his ribs. Without thinking, Alessio grabbed the handle and forced the door open.
The bathroom was thick with steam, fogging up the mirror and glass. And then he saw it—
Noah.
Naked, submerged in the tub, eyes half-lidded, his arms hanging limply over the edge. His head was tilted back, black curls wet and clinging to his forehead.
"Noah!" Alessio rushed forward, water sloshing around the edges as he grabbed the boy's shoulders.
Noah blinked slowly. "What... are you doing?"
His voice was weak, a soft rasp.
"Are you insane?! You could've drowned!" Alessio's voice trembled with something raw—anger, fear, something he couldn't place.
Noah stared at him. His lashes heavy with water, cheeks flushed from heat. He looked exhausted. Vulnerable. Fragile in a way Alessio hadn't expected.
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
"Alessio?!" Theo's voice. Followed by Enzo's.
They stopped abruptly at the door.
Alessio turned just enough to block their view with his body.
"Out," he said in a deadly, cold voice.
"But is he—"
"I said OUT. NOW."
There was something in his voice that made even Enzo's smirk vanish.
The door clicked shut.
Noah's fingers clutched weakly at his soaked shirt.
"They were staring... I'm... I'm naked..."
Alessio's jaw clenched. His hand cupped the back of Noah's neck, tilting his head gently.
"They didn't see you. I didn't let them."
Noah closed his eyes for a moment. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"You nearly drowned."
A breath. A beat.
Then Noah whispered, almost brokenly, "Do I really disgust you that much? You had to order me to clean myself?"
The question hit Alessio like a sucker punch.
His eyes dropped to Noah's face—so open now, so exposed. And for the first time, Alessio saw something beyond the mouthy, wild omega. He saw a boy who had been sold, stripped, paraded like meat, and still had the strength to look him in the eye.
"No," Alessio said, voice low. "You don't disgust me."
Noah looked surprised.
Alessio reached for a towel, slowly lifting Noah out of the water with quiet precision. His hands were careful, almost reverent.
"You shouldn't let your guard down around me," Alessio murmured.
"Why not?"
"Because I might not give you back."
Noah didn't respond. But for a moment, his trembling stopped.
Wrapped in the towel, Noah was pulled close to a warm chest, strong arms shielding him from the world. He didn't struggle.
Not this time.