Lior woke up and immediately regretted existing.
He didn't even open his eyes first.
He just lay there, half-conscious, staring into the darkness behind his eyelids.
Warm blanket.
Soft couch.
Quiet apartment.
For one peaceful second, everything felt calm.
Then—
memory hit.
Hard.
Like someone threw a brick at his brain.
Kaizen's face close.
Warm breath.
Soft gold evening light.
His own stupid, reckless decision—
And the kiss.
"…Oh my god," he whispered into the pillow.
He rolled over and buried his face completely.
"…Why would I do that. Why would I do that. Why would I—"
His ears burned.
His whole body heated up from pure embarrassment.
He had kissed him.
First.
Without thinking.
Without warning.
Without any logical reason.
Who even does that?!
He wasn't drunk.
He wasn't delirious.
He just—
felt something.
And acted.
Like an idiot.
"…I'm never going outside again," he muttered.
Maybe he could move cities.
Change identity.
Become a farmer somewhere far away.
Yes.
That sounded good.
"…You're awake."
He froze.
Oh no.
Kaizen.
Right.
He was still here.
Lior slowly lifted his head.
Kaizen stood near the kitchen counter, sleeves rolled up again, making coffee like this was a normal morning.
Like nothing unusual had happened.
Like they didn't accidentally change their entire relationship yesterday.
"…Morning," Kaizen said calmly.
Why was he so calm?!
Why wasn't he awkward?!
Why wasn't he embarrassed?!
Was he made of stone?!
"…Morning," Lior croaked.
His voice cracked.
Great.
Perfect.
Fantastic.
He quickly looked away.
Too dangerous to make eye contact.
If he looked too long, he might remember the kiss again and spontaneously combust.
"Do you feel better?" Kaizen asked.
"…Yeah. Fine. Totally fine. Perfectly normal. Never better."
"…You're talking too fast."
"…I always talk fast."
"…Not like this."
"…Shut up."
Silence.
Lior grabbed his bag.
"I'm going."
"You should rest more."
"I'm fine."
"You're still weak."
"I'm fine," he repeated.
Too sharp.
Too quick.
Even he heard it.
Kaizen didn't argue.
Didn't stop him.
Just watched.
Quietly.
And somehow—
that hurt worse.
The walk back to campus felt too long.
Too bright.
Too everything.
His brain replayed the kiss again.
And again.
And again.
The softness.
The way Kaizen had leaned in carefully.
Like Lior was something fragile.
Like he mattered.
"…Stop thinking about it," he muttered.
It was just a moment.
Just a mistake.
Just hormones.
Yeah.
That made sense.
Blame biology.
Blame the cycle.
Definitely not feelings.
Nope.
Impossible.
He avoided Kaizen all day.
Successfully.
Mostly.
He took longer routes between buildings.
Pretended to be busy at the café.
Left before Alaric could even ask questions.
It was exhausting.
Avoiding one six-foot-something intimidating Alpha shouldn't be this hard.
And yet—
every time he thought he was safe—
he'd catch a faint scent in the air.
Cedar.
Clean.
Cool.
Familiar.
And his stupid heart would react instantly.
"…This is ridiculous," he hissed to himself.
Why did he even notice it?
Why did it calm him down?
Why did it feel—
safe?
Other Alphas' scents always irritated him.
Too strong.
Too aggressive.
Too overwhelming.
But Kaizen's…
was different.
Subtle.
Steady.
Like winter air.
Like quiet nights.
Like something solid you could lean on.
"…I hate this," he muttered.
Because liking it felt like admitting something.
And he wasn't ready for that.
Not even a little.
"Hey!"
Alaric suddenly appeared beside him, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"You disappeared all morning," he said.
"Busy."
"You look flustered."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not!"
"…Did something happen yesterday?"
"…No."
"…Did something happen with my brother?"
Lior choked.
"WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT?!"
"…That loud reaction means yes."
"Nothing happened!"
"Then why are your ears red?"
"…It's hot!"
"It's winter."
"…Shut up, Alaric."
Alaric laughed softly.
But his eyes were warm.
Understanding.
Too understanding.
Which was worse.
"…He didn't say anything weird, right?" Alaric asked gently.
Lior hesitated.
"…No."
"…Then what's the problem?"
He didn't know.
That was the worst part.
Kaizen hadn't done anything wrong.
He hadn't pressured him.
Hadn't teased him.
Hadn't even mentioned the kiss.
He just…
stayed the same.
And somehow—
that made Lior more nervous than if he'd teased him endlessly.
Because it meant the moment mattered.
It wasn't a joke.
It wasn't an accident.
It was real.
And real things were scary.
That evening—
Lior left the café late.
Too tired to think.
Too tired to avoid anyone.
The streets were quieter.
Cool breeze brushing past.
Then—
there it was again.
That familiar scent.
Before he even saw him.
"…You're following me again," Lior sighed.
"I'm walking the same direction," Kaizen replied calmly.
"…Convenient."
"…Yes."
They walked side by side.
A careful gap between them.
Not touching.
Not speaking much.
But the silence wasn't awkward.
Just heavy.
Like both of them were thinking too much.
Lior hated how naturally his steps matched Kaizen's pace.
Hated how safe he felt just walking next to him.
Hated how his body relaxed automatically.
Stupid instincts.
Stupid heart.
"…You've been avoiding me," Kaizen said quietly.
"…No, I haven't."
"…You took three different routes today."
"…You're tracking me?!"
"…I notice things."
"…That's creepy."
"…Probably."
Silence again.
Then—
"…Did I do something wrong?" Kaizen asked.
Soft.
Careful.
Like the answer actually mattered.
And that—
broke something inside him.
Because Kaizen sounded worried.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Just… worried.
"…No," Lior said quickly. "You didn't."
"…Then why?"
He didn't know how to explain.
How do you tell someone—
I kissed you and now my brain short-circuits every time you're near me and your scent makes me feel safe and that terrifies me?
Yeah.
Impossible.
"…I'm just… stupid," he muttered.
Kaizen stopped walking.
"…Don't say that."
"…It's true."
"…It's not."
"…You don't know that."
"I do."
His voice was firm.
Certain.
Like facts.
"…You're not stupid, Lior."
The way he said his name—
soft.
Careful.
Like it meant something—
made Lior's chest tighten again.
Annoying.
So annoying.
"…You're really unfair," Lior grumbled.
"…Why?"
"…Because you're nice."
Kaizen blinked.
"…Is that bad?"
"…Yes."
"…Why?"
"…Because it makes things complicated."
Kaizen studied him quietly.
Then stepped a little closer.
Not touching.
Just close enough that the cedar scent wrapped around him gently.
Warm.
Safe.
Steady.
Lior's heart betrayed him instantly.
"…Go home," he muttered, flustered. "Stop standing so close."
"…Okay."
But he didn't move immediately.
And neither did Lior.
Because part of him—
stupid, traitorous part—
didn't want him to.
From across the street—
Zyren watched the scene.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes sharp.
Watching the distance between them shrink without either realizing.
Watching the way Lior leaned unconsciously toward Kaizen.
Watching the way Kaizen's entire focus stayed on one person.
"…Interesting," he murmured.
Not jealousy.
Not yet.
Something slower.
Curiosity.
Attraction.
Possession.
Because the more he watched Lior—
the more fascinated he became.
"…Maybe I want you too," Zyren whispered softly.
And unlike Kaizen—
he didn't plan to wait patiently.