The mansion had changed overnight.
Nothing looked different—the same polished floors, the same quiet servants, the same suffocating luxury—but the atmosphere… it was heavier now. Tense. Like a storm waiting to break.
And at the center of it all—
Was him.
No.
Them.
---
I stood in the corridor, staring down at my hands, trying to steady my breathing.
You're still mine.
Kairo's words from yesterday refused to leave my head.
It didn't make sense.
The original omega had returned. The "real" one. The one who belonged here.
So why was I still here?
Why hadn't he dismissed me?
Why—
"Are you avoiding me?"
I flinched.
That voice wasn't his.
I turned slowly.
The original omega stood a few steps away, dressed in soft, elegant clothing that seemed to flow perfectly with his every movement. Even in silence, he carried a quiet grace that made everything about him feel… right.
Unlike me.
"I'm not avoiding you," I said quickly.
I am.
His eyes softened slightly, but there was something sharp behind them. "You don't have to be nervous," he said gently. "I should be thanking you."
I blinked. "Thanking me?"
"For staying in my place while I was gone."
There it was again.
My place.
I forced a small smile. "It wasn't really my choice."
His gaze lingered on me.
Longer than it should have.
"You don't seem like someone who does things without a reason," he said quietly.
My chest tightened.
He's sharper than he looks.
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the hall.
Slow.
Familiar.
Dangerous.
---
Alpha Kairo.
---
The moment he appeared, the air shifted.
I felt it instantly—that invisible pressure, that overwhelming presence that made my instincts react before my mind could catch up.
My heartbeat quickened.
Why does he affect me like this…?
Kairo's eyes flickered to me for the briefest second.
And then—
To him.
---
The original omega smiled softly. "Kairo."
His voice was warmer than before, filled with quiet affection.
Kairo stopped a few steps away.
"Are you settling in?" he asked.
"I am," he replied. "But… I was hoping we could talk. There's a lot I want to—"
"He stays."
The words cut through the moment.
Sharp.
Final.
I froze.
The original omega blinked. "What?"
Kairo's gaze didn't waver. "If we talk, he stays."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Confusing.
My heart started racing again.
Why would he want me here?
The original omega glanced at me, then back at Kairo. "Why?"
Kairo's expression didn't change.
But I felt it.
That subtle shift.
That dangerous edge.
"Because," he said calmly, "I want him here."
---
My breath caught.
The words echoed louder in my head than they should have.
He wants me here…?
The original omega studied him carefully.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"I see," he said.
But this time—
It didn't reach his eyes.
---
We moved to the sitting room.
All three of us.
And somehow, that felt worse than being alone with Kairo.
Because now—
There was comparison.
---
I sat stiffly on one side of the couch.
The original omega sat gracefully on the other.
And Kairo stood between us for a moment before choosing—
To sit beside me.
---
My entire body tensed.
Why here…?
I didn't dare look at him.
But I could feel it.
His presence.
His heat.
Too close.
Way too close.
---
The original omega noticed.
Of course he did.
His fingers curled slightly in his lap, just for a second.
Then he smiled again.
"Kairo," he began softly, "while I was away… did you miss me?"
The question hung in the air.
Simple.
But loaded.
---
Kairo didn't answer immediately.
And that silence—
It said everything.
---
I held my breath.
Say yes… you're supposed to say yes…
Kairo's voice came, low and unreadable.
"I was occupied."
My eyes widened slightly.
That's not an answer.
---
The original omega's smile faltered—just a little.
"I see," he said.
But I could hear it now.
That faint crack.
---
"And you?" he continued, turning his gaze to me.
I stiffened. "Me?"
"Yes," he said gently. "How was he… while I was gone?"
My mind went blank.
Cold. Controlling. Dangerous. Impossible to ignore.
"Difficult," I said finally.
Kairo let out a quiet chuckle beside me.
"Only difficult?" he murmured.
Heat rushed to my face.
Stop talking—he can hear everything—
---
"Interesting," the original omega said, watching us both now.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
---
The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
Like I couldn't breathe properly.
Because now—
It wasn't just tension.
It was a battle.
---
And the worst part?
No one was saying it out loud.
---
"Kairo," the original omega said softly, "things feel… different."
"They are," Kairo replied.
"Because of him?"
Silence.
I froze.
Don't answer that…
---
Kairo leaned back slightly.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Dangerous.
"Yes."
---
The word hit harder than anything else.
My chest tightened.
The original omega went completely still.
---
"I understand," he said after a moment.
But his voice had changed.
Just slightly.
Cooler.
Sharper.
---
He stood up slowly.
Graceful as ever.
"I think… I need some rest."
Kairo didn't stop him.
Didn't reach for him.
Didn't say anything.
---
And that—
That hurt more than anything I had seen so far.
---
As he walked past me, he paused.
Just for a second.
Close enough that only I could hear.
"You should be careful," he whispered softly.
My breath hitched.
"What do you mean?"
His smile returned.
Gentle.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
"Temporary things," he said quietly, "shouldn't get too comfortable."
---
Then he walked away.
Leaving me frozen.
---
The door closed.
Silence filled the room again.
---
And then—
Kairo moved.
---
His hand reached out suddenly—
Grabbing my chin.
Forcing me to look at him.
---
My heart slammed against my chest.
"W-What—"
"Don't listen to him," Kairo said quietly.
His eyes were dark.
Intense.
Focused entirely on me.
---
My breath caught.
Why does it feel like… I'm the only one he sees right now?
---
"You're thinking too much again," he murmured.
His thumb brushed lightly against my jaw.
And my body—
Traitor that it was—
Responded instantly.
---
"I told you," he said, voice low, almost possessive, "you can't hide anything from me."
I swallowed.
"I'm not trying to—"
I am.
---
His smirk returned.
"Exactly."
---
He leaned closer.
Close enough that I could feel his breath again.
Close enough that my thoughts started slipping out of control.
---
Why me…?
The question echoed loudly in my mind.
---
For once—
Kairo didn't answer immediately.
--
His gaze lingered on me.
Deeper than before.
Like he was seeing something I couldn't.
And when he finally spoke—
His voice was quieter.
More dangerous.
More real.
"Because," he said slowly, "you're the only one who doesn't belong to me."
My heart stopped.
"And that," he added softly, "makes me want you even more."