I slowly opened my eyes as the first light of the morning filtered through the curtains. I stayed where I was, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds.As usual, I waited for the restlessness that filled me as soon as I woke up.
A heavy feeling in my chest,dark images appearing in the back of my mind,or that familiar fear that woke me up in the middle of the night... But none of it happened.I didn't have a nightmare last night.
For the first time in a long time, I had an uninterrupted, peaceful sleep. I might have thought it was such a small thing, but it wasn't like that for me. After everything I've been through lately, just spending one night without fear felt like a miracle. I took a deep breath and smiled involuntarily.
I got up from the bed and moved to the small table in front of the window. The breakfast I had prepared the night before was still there. When I picked up my coffee, the warm scent made me feel a little more relaxed.As I sat on the chair and looked outside, I watched the city slowly awaken.
The streets were not yet fully animated. A few people were walking quickly to get to work, some shops were just opening their shutters. I closed my eyes as the slightly cool air coming through the window hit my face. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly… normal.
After finishing my breakfast, I went to my room to get ready. I fixed my hair in front of the mirror, put on my clothes and looked at myself for the last time. I used to feel uneasy before going out every morning. When I first came here,I didn't know anyone, the streets were foreign and people's faces were just silhouettes in the crowd to me.
Now the situation was different. Now there were people I greeted, shops I visited, and neighbors who called me by my name. This thought created a warm feeling inside me.
When I left the house, the weather was better than I expected. The sun had risen in the sky, bright but soft enough not to disturb. I decided to walk to work..As I walked down the street, I smiled at the people I encountered and waved hello to some of them.
The old man on the opposite sidewalk nodded when he saw me. I responded with a smile. A few months ago I thought about how foreign such a thing was to me. Now I felt like I was a part of this small town.
When I arrived at work, I opened the door to the vegetable garden and went inside. The smell of the soil mixed with the cool air of the morning. Jasmine had already gotten to work. When he saw me, he lifted the basket in his hand and smiled. "Finally, you came."
"Good morning," I said, smiling. "You are early today." We started working in the garden together. We were sorting the collected vegetables and preparing some to take to the store. Jasmine would tell me something from time to time, and I would complete my work while listening to her. Everything was so ordinary that for a moment I believed my life was actually in order.
After a while, I went to the store and sat at the cash register. I checked the shelves, arranged the few missing items, and began greeting customers. The intensity of the morning was slowly increasing. People were buying their fruits and vegetables, chatting briefly, and then leaving the store.
Just then, I heard the door open. When I looked up, I saw a familiar face. Fenrir. He was calm and distant as always when he entered. He was wearing dark clothes and the expression on his face looked as serious as ever. He chose a few vegetables without lingering in the store. After placing them in the basket in his hand, he moved towards the cash register.
I smiled. "Hello, Fenrir." He responded by bowing his head slightly. As I approached the register, his gaze stopped on my face for a brief moment. Then he left the vegetables he bought on the counter. Fenrir was watching me silently as I calculated the items one by one.
"How much?" His voice was as cold as ever. He was tough, but he also had a strangely friendly side. Even one word he said was enough to describe his character.
I weighed the vegetables and handed him the bill.He took out the money but did not hand it over immediately. His fingers stopped at the edge of his pocket for a moment. It was like he wanted to say something. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. I looked at him curiously. "Did something happen?"
Just as Fenrir was about to answer, the door of the shop opened again. "William!" I turned my head and Leon had walked in. He had his usual cheerful smile on his face. He took a few steps towards me. However, his steps slowed as soon as he saw Fenrir. The smile on his face suddenly didn't look as natural as before.
Fenrir also turned to Leon. The two looked at each other without saying anything for a few seconds. The atmosphere in the shop suddenly changed.
Leon took a few vegetables from the side and placed them in his basket. He kept his eyes on Fenrir as he did this. Fenrir watched him without moving. There was something unsaid between the two of them. Even though I didn't understand what was happening, it was impossible not to feel the tension.
I was standing behind the cash register, torn between the two. "Well..." I said, trying to lighten the mood. "I need to weigh the vegetables."
They both looked at me. This time, there was the same thing in their looks. For some reason, things got even weirder after that. Just as Fenrir was about to hand over his money, Leon approached the cash register. When the two stood side by side, the difference between them became even more obvious. The two alphas didn't seem to like sharing the same space. Moreover, neither of them had any intention of stepping back.
As I handed Fenrir the bill, the two spoke almost simultaneously.
"William, will you come to dinner tonight?"
I froze for a moment. I moved my eyes between them. "What?"
They both turned to each other. Leon's eyebrows were slightly raised. Fenrir's face hardened even more.
Even though I didn't fully understand why at that moment, I realized that they were both challenging each other in some way about me.
Then suddenly it became difficult to breathe. I immediately noticed the change in the air. Alpha pheromones.
It was so intense that I involuntarily tensed my shoulders and took a step back. My instincts were alarming..Both of their pheromones filled almost the entire store. This was not a simple tension. They were clearly trying to dominate each other.
As they looked at each other, both of their postures changed. His shoulders were tense and his gaze was hardened. It was as if they were engaged in a silent struggle to see which of them would back down.
I was stuck in the middle. "Okay..." I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. "I'll give you both your money."
I took both of their money and prepared their change. My hands were shaking a little. First I gave Fenrir's change, then Leon's.
They were both looking at me. They were waiting for my answer. I swallowed. Actually, I didn't want to reject either of their offers. But I knew it wouldn't be a good idea to go to anyone's house right now when they were both so nervous.
"Tonight..." I started. They both paid attention. "I promised my uncle." There was silence. I had lied, but I couldn't see any other option.
The stern expression on Fenrir's face relaxed slightly. Leon also lowered his shoulders after a short while. Neither of their anger had completely disappeared, but at least the atmosphere had calmed down a bit.
"I understand, then another time," said Leon. Fenrir just nodded. They both left the shop soon after.
When the door closed, I stayed where I was for a few seconds.
Then I took a deep breath.
"Oh my God..." I put my hands on the safe and bowed my head. The tension from earlier was still on me. A few seconds later, the shop door opened again.
This time Eric walked in. He had a few flower pots in his arms and a big, sarcastic grin on his face. "You have a lot of fans."
I looked up at him. "Eric..." Jasmine immediately walked up to him and patted him on the arm. "Is it the time now?"
Eric laughed and shrugged. "What? Am I wrong?"
Jasmine looked at me instead of answering. I noticed the concern on her face. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Yes. Just..." I paused for a moment. "Why are things so tense between the two of them?, I don't understand."
Eric shrugged thoughtfully as he placed the pots next to the shelf. "Two alphas in the same environment. They both want to be authorities. "It's normal for both of them to want to be in control."
Jasmine frowned. "Do you find this much normal?"Eric let out a short laugh. "It was a bit of an exaggeration, I admit."
I nodded thoughtfully. "I guess…yes. This is very normal."
But something inside me told me this wasn't completely normal.I thought about Fenrir's look. Then that nervous smile on Leon's face. And how they both offered me food at the same time.
And most importantly, how the weather changes when they look at each other...Maybe Eric was right. Maybe such a rivalry between two alphas was really common.
But why was the topic so focused on me? Keeping this question inside, I started rearranging the products on the cash register.
Eric went to the back to stock the shelves. Jasmine also left the shop to return to the garden.I looked at the window in the few seconds I was alone. Outside, life continued where it left off.
People were walking on the street. The sun was still shining. Everything seemed normal. But there was a little uneasiness inside me that I couldn't explain.
When I woke up this morning, I felt truly safe for the first time in a long time.Now for some reason I was afraid that this wouldn't last long..
When I finished my work and closed the door of the shop, it had already turned into evening. The sun approached the horizon, and the color of the sky gradually turned golden yellow.
I put my bag on my shoulder and started walking home.The street was as quiet as ever. People were returning to their homes, and the lights of some shops were turning on one by one.I was thinking the same thing the whole way;Leon and Fenrir.
I couldn't get the events of the morning out of my mind. The fact that they both offered me food at the same time was strange in itself, but what was really strange was their changing attitudes as soon as they saw each other. It was like there was something between them that I didn't know about.
Moreover, they were both acting more weird. I tilted my head slightly and muttered to myself, "Maybe Eric is right..." Maybe it was really just a matter of two alphas being in the same environment.
Maybe they were trying to dominate each other. But then I thought about the expression on Leon's face. Then the way Fenrir looked at me. For both of them to offer me food at the same time...
I pursed my lips and took a deep breath.I didn't want to choose just one. Actually, I didn't want to hurt either of them.Leon had always been kind to me. When he saw me, that warm smile appeared on his face,and whenever I needed help,he was there for me.
Fenrir was completely different. He was quiet, distant, and avoided showing his emotions. But now I began to understand that he also valued me in his own way and understand me more than anyone.
After walking for a while, I suddenly stopped. An idea came to my mind. First I would go to Leon, then to Fenrir. That way I wouldn't have turned them both away;"That makes sense,"I whispered.
After thinking about it for a few seconds,I laughed to myself."It's a little weird though..." But I couldn't find any other solution.I took out my phone and opened my messages.
First I found Leon's name. My finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds. I didn't know what to write. Finally, I wrote a short message: "My uncle will be busy and I've been thinking about what you said today..If it's still valid... I can come this evening."
After sending the message, my heart accelerated. The answer came within a few seconds. "Are you serious?!" I smiled involuntarily when I saw the message. "Yes." The answer came almost immediately. "Of course it is still valid. What time are you coming?" I looked at the clock on the screen. It was just approaching five. "About five?" I wrote. Leon's answer didn't take long. "I'm waiting for you."A slight smile appeared on my face when I saw the small smile expression at the end of the message.
I looked at the screen for a few seconds before hanging up the phone. Then I moved on to the second name: Fenrir. When I opened the message screen, for some reason I was even more hesitant to send a message to Leon. While I was thinking about what to write to Fenrir, I opened and closed the message box a few times. Finally I wrote: "My uncle say he have to delete dinner so If your offer from the morning is still valid, I can come this evening."
After sending the message, I waited for a few seconds.A minute passed,then two minutes... As I was about to put my phone in my pocket, a one-word reply came from Fenrir: "When?" I smiled and wrote, "Like 7.30."
Fenrir answer is fast;"I will wait for you." I took a deep breath when I hung up the phone. The plan was ready. I would be with Leon at five. Then I would go to Fenrir around seven o'clock. I had decided not to tell either of them about the other. I knew it was a bit of a secret thing, but I didn't know what I could do otherwise without hurting both of them.
Moreover, I definitely didn't want the two of them to meet in the same environment again.When I got home,I opened the door, went in and left my bag aside.Then I went directly to my room. I stood in front of the mirror for a few seconds and looked at myself. "Two. going to separate alpha's house the same evening..." I raised my eyebrows. "Is this really a good idea?" I actually knew the answer.
It was a little crazy.But I had a strange excitement inside me. I opened my closet to change. I didn't want to look too stylish;After all, I was just going to eat. But for some reason, I realized that I was thinking more than usual when choosing clothes.
Finally, I chose a simple but beautiful combination. I straightened my hair, took one last look in the mirror, and glanced at my watch. It was a few minutes until five. "Okay..."I muttered.
I left the house and started walking towards Leon's house. The weather was starting to cool down. The street lights were turning on one by one, and the silence of the evening was slowly falling over the town. My steps slowed down. I stood for a moment and looked at the sky.
The moon wasn't quite up yet, but a few stars were already starting to appear. I had a strange feeling. It seemed like this evening was not going to be an ordinary evening. I didn't know why, but for some reason, as I walked towards Leon's house, the same question kept running through my mind:
Why were the two of them really so interested in me? And more importantly, what would happen if they knew that I went to the other's house after leaving one of them's house this evening? I swallowed involuntarily with this thought. Then I shook my head. "No. I won't think about it." A few minutes later, I arrived in front of Leon's house. I stood in front of the door and took a deep breath.
As soon as I raised my hand to the door, the door opened. Leon was standing in front of me. The smile on his face was so sincere that I forgot what to say for a moment. "I was really waiting for you," he said cheerfully. "But I'm so glad you came."
I smiled slightly too."Me too." Leon stepped aside and allowed me to enter. "Welcome, William." When I stepped inside, a warm and peaceful atmosphere greeted me. Leon closed the door behind me.
I looked around, thinking that this was just the first stop of the evening. The happiness on Leon's face, who didn't know anything yet, made me a little sad. Because I knew that a few hours later, the same evening, I would be knocking on another alpha's door. And for some reason, I had a strange feeling that this little secret would have much bigger consequences than I thought.
When I entered Leon's house, the first person to greet me was his mother. The warm smile on his face put me at ease as soon as I stepped through the door. "William, welcome," he said, ushering me in.
It was only when I went into the living room that I realized the reason for the pleasant smells coming from the kitchen. The table was almost completely full of food. Several types of hot dishes, salads, breads and some homemade food I had never seen before were prepared. I stared at the table for a moment. When I started, "All of these..."
Leon's mother finished my sentence with a laugh. "For you. I didn't want our guest to go hungry."
I was worry and surprised"There really wasn't any need for that," I said sheepishly. Leon's mom smile"Is it okay? Sit down and eat before it gets cold." Leon came behind me and pulled out his chair. "I told you, my mother loves having guests."
I sat smiling. The food on the table was really appetizing, but I still had the thought of going to Fenrir's house in a few hours. That's why I put enough on my plate to not force myself. While I was eating my food in small bites without rushing.
Leon started talking quite cheerfully. He was telling me about his mother's garden. "You should have seen it in the morning," he said. "The roses bloomed beautifully this year. My mother takes care of them all day." His mother immediately objected. "Not all day." Leon looked at him with a smile."Last week we couldn't get you out of the garden for three hours."Leon's sarcastic attitude caused his mother to laugh as well.
I listened to them for a while. The relationship between them seemed quite warm. It was obvious from the look on Leon's face that he was proud of his mother as he talked about the things she had done.Then somehow the issue came to my attention. We talked about the people in the shop, the vegetable garden, and how helpful Jasmine was with the work.
I participated in their conversations as much as I could. I liked that the evening was so quiet. Considering the tension in the shop in the morning, the temperature here felt almost like it belonged to another world As I was about to finish my meal, Leon's mother reached out to put something else on my plate. I quickly nodded politely. "I'm really satisfied, thank you."
The woman studied me for a moment and then smiled. "Okay, just this once." Leon laughed. "Mom, if you try to make him eat more, he won't be able to move in the store tomorrow."
"Don't get involved." This time I started laughing too. After the meal was over, we got up from the table and continued to chat for a while. But as the hours progressed, the lights outside began to fade.
When I looked out the window onto the street, it was getting dark. I glanced at the clock for a moment and decided that I had to get up now. "I'm going to ask your permission now. I don't like being out at night." The cheerful expression on Leon's face changed slightly. "I'll come with you." "No need," I said immediately. "My house is not far away. A little walk would also be good." "Are you sure?"I nod my head"Yes,don't worry."
After thinking for a few seconds, Leon reluctantly nodded. "Okay. But let me know when you get home." As I put on my shoes and headed for the door, Leon's mother called after me. He had a small, carefully prepared package in his hand. "William, take this." When I looked at the package, I noticed the cookies inside.
"Thank you very much, but there's really no need."Leom's mom keep try give it "Okay? I did it myself."I sigh "But I've already eaten too much."She smile warm "These aren't meals, they're cookies." handed me the package. I tried to refuse it once again but this time the woman thrust the package directly into my hands.
"Here you go." Leon was watching us from the sidelines, smiling. "I told you, there's no turning down something from my mother." I looked at the package and surrendered. "Okay, thank you." Leon's mom look happy"Bon appetit. I'll do it again next time you come." I smiled slightly at this statement. "Then I'll come again." Leon's mother's face lit up. "Promise?"
I nod"Promise." Leon was standing by the door, silently listening to the conversation. There was a vague satisfaction on his face. "Then we'll wait for you again," he said. "Thank you...For tonight too."
I waved to both of them one last time before walking out the door. Leon called out, "Go carefully," while his mother added, "Don't forget the cookies!" I shook my head laughing and went out into the street.
When the door closed behind me, I looked at the package in my hand. I smiled slightly. I had a warm, nice feeling inside. I felt more at ease with Leon's family than I expected. But after a few steps, my second stop came to my mind again: Fenrir. I looked at my watch and retraced my steps a little.
I accelerated. The coolness of the evening had set in. As I walked away from Leon's house, the lights of the shops were fading behind me. I held the package of cookies in my hand with my other hand and took a deep breath. A few hours ago, I had come up with such a plan to avoid having to choose between the two alphas. Now, I could only realize how strange it was while I was walking on the road and I had no idea what kind of an evening I would spend with him.
I carefully placed the cookies in the kitchen cabinet as soon as I got home. I thought about opening the package and buying one, but then I decided against it. Considering that Leon's mother had prepared them for me, it seemed better to keep them for now.
After closing the closet door, I took out my phone and opened Leon's messages. After thinking about what to write for a few seconds, I sent a short message. "I'm home, thanks again for dinner." After sending the message, the response came without waiting long. "You're welcome. I'm so glad you came. Good night, William." I smiled slightly as I looked at the screen.
I put the phone in my pocket and went to my room. I took a shower and washed off the pheromone scent I took from Leon's house, then changed and looked at myself in the mirror for the last time.
The hour was late and I had to go to Fenrir's house. When I left the house, it was already completely dark. As the coolness of the evening hit my face, I stood for a moment and looked at the sky. A few lights were still visible on the city side, but as we moved further into the forest, the houses and streetlights were falling behind. It was a little scary that the path leading into the forest was only visible with a few small lights placed for runners.
The lights were far from each other, and the dark sections between them obscured the continuation of the path. Still I kept walking. My footsteps echoed distinctly in the silent forest, and occasionally the sound of wind coming through the trees could be heard.
I put my hands in my coat pockets and quickened my steps. After the warm atmosphere at Leon's house, the silence here felt quite different. After a while, I saw a small light in the distance through the trees. As I took a few more steps, Fenrir's lodge appeared. The warm yellow light coming from the windows of the house stood almost alone in the surrounding darkness.
There was a slight excitement inside me. I walked towards the door and stopped in front of the large wooden door. I lifted the heavy metal tongue of the door and placed it in place. The sound echoed in the silent forest.Then I knocked on the door three times.Then I started waiting.At first, faint footsteps were heard from inside. After a few seconds, the voices approached the door and the large door slowly opened.
In front of me was Fenrir. He was wearing a black shirt and black trousers. Since I usually see him in his old, comfortable t-shirts, this situation surprised me for a moment. His shirt sleeves hung neatly, and his hair looked a little neater than usual. It was clearly prepared. It was as if he had prepared not for an ordinary dinner but for a special night where he really cared about my arrival.
Our gazes locked on each other for several seconds.Fenrir had his usual serious expression on his face,but I noticed a faint softness in his eyes.Finally, he stepped aside slightly and nodded for me to come in."Come in."His voice was calm as always.
I nodded with a small smile. "Thank you." The moment I stepped inside I freezze in my tracks. My eyes involuntarily wandered around the room. The inside of the house was warm and peaceful, unlike the darkness outside.
A table was prepared next to the fireplace. The plates, glasses,Red wine bottle and cutlery on the table were carefully placed. The flames of the fireplace cast soft shadows on the walls of the room and illuminated the dishes on the table with a warm light.
There was an intense smell of hot stew and smoked meat in the atmosphere. This was accompanied by the smell of wood burning in the fireplace and the smell of ash faintly drifting into the air. All these scents mixed together to create a surprisingly beautiful atmosphere.For a few seconds I just stared at the table.It was obvious that Fenrir had put some serious effort into preparing this. Without taking my eyes off the table,I asked, "Did you do all of this?" I asked.
Fenrir was silent for a moment as he closed the door behind me."Yes." Then he looked towards the table. "Wasn't that enough?" I immediately shook my head. "No,I mean more than enough, that looks beautiful."
The corners of Fenrir's lips quirked up imperceptibly. It was a small expression, almost a smile. "Then sit down." As I walked towards the table, I felt a strange warmth inside me.The meal prepared by Leon's mother had a warm and family feeling. This table prepared by Fenrir was completely different. He seemed quieter, more attentive,personal and somehow more special.
While sitting on the chair, I looked at the food on the table again. The hot stew was still steaming. The smell of the soft smoked meat next to him combined with the woody smell of the fireplace. Fenrir moved to the chair across from me.
Neither of us spoke for a few seconds. The crackling sounds coming from the fireplace filled the silence. Fenrir finally looked at me. "Thank you for coming." I didn't expect this sentence from him. I lifted my head and looked at him. "You were the one who invited me." Fenrir's gaze lingered on my face for a few seconds. "Still..." he said, then there was a short silence. "I didn't think you'd come." I smiled slightly. "I wasn't thinking about it either."
Fenrir raised his eyebrow slightly. "Why?" I would pause for a moment. I didn't want to talk about Leon. So I just shrugged. "I don't know. It's just... You're always like a closed box to me... but don't worry, it doesn't bother me."I smiled slightly, Fenrir didn't ask any more questions, nodded his head in understanding and served the food and pour the wine for both of us.
As I looked at the flames of the fireplace, I felt that this night would be much different from the tension in the morning. But there was still a little secret in the back of my mind. Fenrir didn't know that I was at Leon's house a few hours ago.For some reason I thought it would be better to keep it that way...
After dinner and an empty bottle of alcohol, when the hour was late, Fenrir offered to take me home. Our conversation continued intermittently as we walked side by side on the forest path.
When we arrived at my house, I thanked him for the evening. Fenrir listened to me with a nod, and after a short silence he said, "I'd like you to come again." I smiled. "If your food always this good,why shouldn't I come?" Fenrir laughed lightly.
I was just heading towards the door when he called out to me.When I returned,he approached me and gave me a light kiss on my cheek. Then, with a small smile on her face, she said, "Good night, William,"yurned and started walking away.dissapear before I say or do something
I stood where I was. I put my hand to my cheek and looked behind him.What was this now?,I was so surprised.After a few seconds,I sigh,shake my head and entered the house.
(BTW)
Leon, standing in the shadows across the street, saw the whole scene. He silently watched as Fenrir kissed William and then walked away smiling.
He was standing there with William's driver's license in his hand, which William had dropped and didn't notice.
William stood in front of the door, touched his cheek in surprise, and walked in. Leon took a deep breath and turned around without saying anything. That night, he gave up knocking on William's door and handing over his driver's license. However, when they met the next day to give him the driver's license, it would not be easy for him to forget what he saw.
...