The car stopped two streets away from Lior's apartment.
Not in front.
Not inside the lane.
Far enough that the black, polished vehicle wouldn't look completely out of place.
Kaizen had chosen the spot without asking.
Lior noticed.
He noticed everything.
"…Thanks," Lior muttered as he opened the door.
Alaric leaned forward. "Text me when you get home!"
"It's ten steps away, grandma."
"Still!"
Lior snorted and stepped out.
The door shut softly behind him.
The car didn't move.
He walked a few steps… then glanced back.
Still there.
Engine quiet.
Waiting.
Like they weren't sure he'd reach safely.
"…Weird people," he muttered under his breath.
But something warm tugged at his chest anyway.
No one had ever waited for him like that before.
Not neighbors.
Not coworkers.
Not family.
He quickly shook the thought away and climbed the narrow stairs to his building.
Paint peeling.
Light flickering.
Someone arguing loudly through thin walls.
Normal.
Comfortable.
His world.
Very different from marble floors and black cars.
The next morning smelled like coffee and rain.
Lior tied his apron at the café while Mireo watched him with narrowed eyes.
"…You smell expensive today," she said suddenly.
He froze. "What does that even mean?"
"Like cologne. Like rich people."
"I don't—"
She leaned closer and sniffed dramatically.
"Yeah. Definitely not our broke-student smell."
He rolled his eyes. "I got a ride yesterday. That's all."
"A ride? From who? Secret rich boyfriend?"
"I would rather fail exams than deal with that drama."
"Liar."
She smirked and shoved a tray into his hands.
But Lior couldn't deny it.
The faint cedar scent still lingered on his jacket.
Cold.
Clean.
Familiar.
He hated that he recognized it already.
By the time classes started, the campus was buzzing.
A group of Alphas practiced basketball near the court. Someone played guitar under a tree. Flyers for the upcoming college festival covered every wall.
It felt alive.
Lior liked this chaos.
He found Alaric outside the humanities building, sitting on the steps with his sketchbook again.
"You draw here every day," Lior said, dropping beside him.
"The light is nice," Alaric replied softly. "And people don't notice me much."
Lior frowned.
People noticed him too much.
People noticed Alaric too little.
Life was unfair like that.
"What are you drawing today?"
"…You."
"Delete it."
Alaric laughed. "Too late."
Before Lior could protest, a shadow fell across them.
"Alaric."
The voice was deeper.
Smoother.
Confident.
They both looked up.
A tall Alpha stood there, hands casually in his coat pockets.
Dark hair neatly styled. Gold watch. Sharp eyes that looked like they were always calculating something.
But when he looked at Alaric—
his expression softened.
Just slightly.
"Calix," Alaric said, smiling without realizing it.
Lior blinked.
Oh.
So this was him.
The mysterious Alpha Alaric kept mentioning.
Calix Ardent.
Rich family.
Business heir.
Scary reputation.
Yet right now he looked like a guy waiting outside school for someone he liked.
"Hi," Calix nodded at Lior politely. "You must be the famous best friend."
"Famous?" Lior frowned.
"He talks about you a lot."
Alaric turned red. "Calix—!"
Lior smirked. "Oh? All good things, I hope."
"Mostly complaints," Calix said calmly.
"Hey!"
The three of them laughed.
It felt easy.
Normal.
And for a second, Lior understood why Alaric liked him.
Calix didn't look at Alaric like property.
Didn't look at him like weakness.
He looked at him like he mattered.
Like he was something precious.
The kind of look Lior wished more people gave Omegas.
"Walk you to class?" Calix asked Alaric.
"…Okay," Alaric nodded shyly.
Before leaving, he whispered to Lior, "Text me later!"
"Yeah, yeah. Go."
Lior watched them walk away together.
Calix slowing his steps to match Alaric's.
Subtle.
Careful.
Protective.
"…Lucky," Lior muttered.
Then immediately frowned at himself.
Lucky?
Why did that word feel strange?
"Hey, scholarship kid."
Lior turned.
A group of seniors blocked the hallway.
Rich ones.
Designer shoes.
Arrogant smiles.
He recognized one of them — Jareth, student council assistant, known for bothering anyone "beneath" him.
"You work at that café near Maple Street, right?" Jareth asked.
"So?"
"Bet you'd earn more if you smiled sweeter for customers."
Lior's eyes sharpened.
"I already smile enough."
"Oh come on, don't be like that. Omegas should be friendlier—"
"Move."
The voice was cold.
Sharp.
Not loud.
But instantly obeyed.
The seniors stiffened.
Because standing behind them—
was a man who didn't belong on campus.
Black suit.
Perfect posture.
Grey eyes.
Kaizen Vale.
The hallway went dead silent.
Even teachers stopped talking.
Lior stared.
"…What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I had business nearby," Kaizen replied calmly.
A lie.
An obvious one.
But no one dared question him.
Jareth and his group vanished like smoke.
Kaizen's gaze shifted back to Lior.
"You attract trouble."
"You follow me around?"
"I ensure safety."
"That sounds worse."
"…Maybe."
There was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.
Barely there.
But real.
For some reason—
that tiny softness made Lior's chest feel tight.
Too tight.
Like the space between them was shrinking.
Like two different worlds were slowly crossing lines they weren't supposed to.
From the second floor balcony—
someone watched.
Silver ring catching the light.
Cold eyes narrowing.
Zyren Kross.
"…So that's him," he murmured.
The Omega Kaizen keeps close.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
A slow smile curved his lips.
"Let's see how protective our king really is."
Below, unaware of the watching eyes—
Kaizen said quietly,
"Go to class. I'll leave."
"…You don't have to babysit me."
"I know."
"…Then why?"
For a moment—
Kaizen didn't answer.
His gaze lingered on Lior.
Steady.
Unreadable.
"…Because I want to," he said simply.
No power.
No authority.
Just honesty.
And somehow—
that was more dangerous than anything else.
Lior looked away first.
"…You're weird," he muttered.
Kaizen's lips curved faintly.
"I've been told."
As Lior walked into the building, his heart wouldn't calm down.
And he didn't understand why.
Because men like Kaizen Vale didn't belong in his world.
And boys like him definitely didn't belong in Kaizen's.
So why—
did their paths keep crossing?