Something felt wrong the moment Lior woke up.
Not painful.
Not dramatic.
Just… off.
Like his body wasn't fully his.
His head felt heavy.
His skin too warm under the thin blanket.
The air smelled stronger than usual — detergent, dust, coffee from the neighbor's room downstairs — all of it sharp, overwhelming.
"…Ugh…"
He rolled onto his back and covered his face.
Maybe he was just tired.
Festival week had destroyed everyone's sleep schedule.
That had to be it.
But when he tried sitting up—
dizziness hit instantly.
The room tilted.
"…What the hell…"
He pressed his hand to his forehead.
Warm.
Too warm.
His heart was beating faster than it should.
Not sick.
Just restless.
Uneasy.
Like something inside him kept shifting.
Then—
he realized.
Oh.
"…No way…"
His suppressant schedule.
He'd missed one dose two nights ago.
With the festival chaos.
And for Dominant Omegas—
that mattered.
A lot.
His first real cycle.
Great.
Perfect timing.
"…You've got to be kidding me," he groaned.
Of course it would happen now.
Right when classes were busy.
Right when work shifts were packed.
Right when life refused to slow down.
He sat there staring at the ceiling for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"…Fine. I'll just get through it."
Because that's what he always did.
Get through things.
Alone.
By noon—
he regretted everything.
Walking felt weird.
Like gravity increased.
His skin felt too sensitive.
Every scent around him too loud.
Alphas passing by made his nerves spark unpleasantly.
Even friendly ones.
It wasn't attraction.
It was instinct.
Annoying, biological, unwanted instinct.
He hated it.
Hated feeling out of control.
Hated needing help.
"…Idiot," he muttered to himself.
He should've just stayed home.
He made it halfway across campus before stopping under a tree.
Breathing slow.
Trying to steady himself.
This wasn't dramatic or dangerous.
Just exhausting.
But still—
his legs felt weak.
And the world felt too bright.
"…Lior?"
He looked up.
Alaric hurried toward him.
Concern already clear on his face.
"You look terrible. Did you sleep at all?"
"I look that bad?"
"…You look like you fought the sun and lost."
"…Rude."
But his voice came out softer than usual.
Alaric stepped closer.
Then froze slightly.
"…Oh," he said quietly.
"…Yeah," Lior muttered.
Alaric understood immediately.
"…Cycle?"
"Unfortunately."
"You should go home."
"I have class."
"You can miss one day."
"…I can't."
He didn't explain.
Didn't need to.
Money.
Attendance.
Scholarship.
Missing things wasn't simple for him.
Alaric bit his lip.
"…Wait here," he said suddenly.
"Where are you—"
But he was already pulling out his phone.
Twenty minutes later—
a familiar black car stopped at the curb.
Students immediately stared.
Of course they did.
Kaizen stepped out.
Coat crisp.
Expression unreadable.
Like always.
But the moment he saw Lior—
his eyes changed.
Sharper.
Concern hidden under control.
"…You didn't tell me," he said quietly.
"…Tell you what?" Lior muttered.
"That you weren't well."
"…I'm fine."
"You're not."
"…Don't talk like you're my doctor."
"…Then let me talk like I care."
The words hit harder than they should.
Lior went silent.
Annoyingly silent.
Because he didn't know how to argue with that.
"…Get in," Kaizen said gently.
"…I have class."
"…You're shaking."
"…I'm not—"
"You are."
His voice wasn't commanding.
Not forceful.
Just certain.
Like there was no world where he'd let Lior walk away like this.
And somehow—
that certainty felt safer than arguing.
"…You're really stubborn," Lior muttered.
"…I've been told."
"…Fine. Just for today."
Kaizen opened the car door for him without another word.
The ride was quiet.
Soft.
Almost too quiet.
Lior leaned his head against the window.
Everything felt hazy.
Warm.
His senses dulled and sharpened at the same time.
He hated it.
Hated feeling weak.
"…Sorry," he mumbled suddenly.
Kaizen glanced at him. "For what?"
"…Being trouble."
Silence.
Then—
"You're not trouble."
"…Feels like it."
"…Don't say things like that."
His tone was low.
Serious.
Like it genuinely upset him.
"…Taking care of you isn't a burden," Kaizen added quietly.
"…Then what is it?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Something I want to do."
Again.
That same sentence.
Simple.
Dangerous.
Honest.
Lior looked away quickly.
His heart beating too fast.
And he didn't know if it was the cycle—
or something else entirely.
Kaizen didn't take him home.
Instead—
he brought him to one of his smaller apartments near the college.
Quiet.
Warm.
Clean.
No staff.
Just simple space.
"…Rest here," Kaizen said.
"You live everywhere or what?"
"…It's convenient."
"…Rich people are weird."
"…Probably."
He handed Lior water.
Medicine.
Food.
All quietly prepared.
Like he'd already thought everything through.
Like this wasn't sudden for him.
Lior watched him move around the kitchen.
Sleeves slightly rolled.
Hair messy from the wind.
No cold business aura.
Just… human.
And for some reason—
that version of Kaizen felt more dangerous than the powerful one.
Because this one—
felt close.
Too close.
Evening light filtered through the curtains.
Soft gold.
The apartment quiet.
Lior lay on the couch, half-asleep.
Kaizen sat nearby reading something on his tablet.
Just there.
Not leaving.
Not hovering.
Just staying.
"…Why are you still here?" Lior asked softly.
"…Where else would I be?"
"…Work?"
"…It can wait."
"…Because of me?"
"…Yes."
His heart skipped.
"…You're ridiculous," Lior whispered.
"…Maybe."
Silence settled.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Too warm.
Lior sat up slowly.
Their eyes met.
Too close now.
Too quiet.
"…Kaizen," he said.
"Yes."
"…Why do you care this much?"
A long pause.
Then—
"…Because when you're not around, things feel… empty."
The honesty stole his breath.
No fancy words.
No drama.
Just truth.
And suddenly—
Lior understood.
Not the power.
Not the money.
Just the feeling.
That steady presence.
That quiet protection.
That warmth.
"…You're unfair," he whispered.
"…Why?"
"…Because you say things like that."
Before he could think—
before he could second-guess—
he leaned forward.
And pressed a soft kiss against Kaizen's lips.
Short.
Gentle.
Just warmth.
Just feeling.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Kaizen froze for half a second—
then carefully, carefully—
kissed back.
Like he was afraid Lior might disappear.
Like he was holding something fragile.
When they pulled away—
their foreheads rested together.
Breathing uneven.
"…Rest," Kaizen murmured.
"…Yeah…"
And for the first time—
Lior didn't feel alone.
Far across the city—
Zyren looked down at a photo on his phone.
A blurry image.
Lior getting into Kaizen's car earlier.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"…So it's him," he murmured.
Not annoyance.
Not hatred.
Something else.
Something sharper.
Interest.
Possession.
Curiosity.
"…You're more dangerous than I thought, Lior."
A slow smile formed.
Because now—
this wasn't just rivalry with Kaizen.
It was personal.
And Zyren had never liked losing.