The mansion was no longer just a cage.
It had become a battlefield.
And I was standing right in the middle of it.
I hadn't seen him since yesterday.
Not the original omega.
Not after his warning.
Temporary things shouldn't get too comfortable.
The words kept replaying in my mind, sharp and lingering like a wound that refused to close.
"I'm not getting comfortable," I muttered under my breath as I walked through the garden.
But even I didn't believe that anymore.
Because something had changed.
Not just in him.
In me.
"Talking to yourself again?"
I froze.
Slowly, I turned.
There he was.
Standing beneath the shade of a tall tree, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting soft patterns across his face.
Beautiful.
Calm.
And dangerous.
"You have a habit of appearing out of nowhere," I said, trying to sound composed.
He smiled.
Soft.
Perfect.
Fake.
"I could say the same about you," he replied.
My chest tightened.
He's not wrong.
Silence stretched between us, but it wasn't empty.
It was heavy.
Filled with everything neither of us wanted to say out loud.
"You've adjusted quickly," he said after a moment, walking closer.
Each step was slow.
Measured.
Intentional.
"For someone who doesn't belong here."
There it was again.
That word.
Belong.
"I didn't have a choice," I replied.
"Everyone has a choice," he said gently.
Our eyes met.
And for the first time—
There was no softness in his.
"You chose to stay."
My breath caught.
No… I didn't…
But the thought didn't finish.
Because deep down—
I knew.
"I told you," he continued, stopping just a step away from me, "temporary things shouldn't get too comfortable."
I clenched my fists.
"And I told you," I shot back, my voice sharper than before, "I'm not trying to take your place."
He tilted his head slightly.
Studying me.
"Then why does he look at you like that?"
My heart skipped.
"I don't know what you mean."
I do.
His smile returned.
But this time—
It wasn't gentle
"Kairo doesn't repeat himself," he said softly. "He doesn't linger. He doesn't… hesitate."
Each word landed heavier than the last.
"But with you?"
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"He watches."
My breath hitched.
Because that was true.
I had felt it.
Seen it.
The way Kairo's gaze stayed on me just a little longer than it should.
The way his voice changed—slightly—when he spoke to me.
The way—
"Stop."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
He paused.
Then smiled again.
"You feel it too," he whispered.
"I said stop."
But my voice wasn't steady.
Not even close.
His eyes softened slightly.
But the sharpness remained.
"You should leave," he said quietly.
I blinked.
"What?"
"If you're smart," he continued, "you'll leave before this turns into something worse."
My chest tightened.
"Worse?"
His gaze flickered for just a second.
And for the first time—
I saw it.
Not just jealousy.
Not just anger.
Fear.
"You don't understand him," he said.
"And you don't understand what it means when an alpha like him… starts wanting something he shouldn't."
Something he shouldn't.
Silence fell again.
He stepped back this time.
Creating distance.
"You still have time," he added softly.
"Don't wait until you don't."
And just like that—
He turned and walked away.
Leaving me alone.
Again.
But this time—
My thoughts were louder than ever.
Leave.
Before it's too late.
Before you fall.
"Running away already?"
My heart jumped.
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Alpha Kairo.
"You really enjoy sneaking up on people," I muttered, trying to steady myself.
"I don't sneak," he said calmly.
"You're just distracted."
I turned this time.
And immediately regretted it.
Because he was close.
Too close.
Again.
His eyes scanned my face.
Carefully.
Like he was reading every emotion I couldn't hide.
"You're thinking about leaving," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
I looked away.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Silence.
My chest tightened.
"Maybe I should," I said quietly.
The words felt strange coming out of my mouth.
But also—
Right.
Kairo's expression didn't change.
But something shifted.
Something subtle.
Dangerous.
"Say that again."
I hesitated.
But then—
"I said… maybe I should leave."
The air changed.
Instantly.
Before I could react—
His hand grabbed my wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
My breath caught.
"K-Kairo—"
"You're not leaving."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But underneath it—
Something darker was rising.
"You said—"
"I know what I said."
He pulled me closer.
Not roughly.
But with enough force that I had no choice but to step into his space.
My heart was racing now.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
"You think I'd let you walk away now?" he murmured.
I swallowed.
"This was always temporary—"
"Not anymore."
The words hit harder than anything else.
I froze.
"What…?"
His gaze locked onto mine.
Deep.
Intense.
Unavoidable.
"You've already crossed the line," he said quietly.
My chest tightened.
"What line?"
His hand tightened slightly around my wrist.
Not enough to hurt.
But enough to remind me—
I wasn't in control here.
"The one where you stopped being just a replacement."
My breath caught.
"And started becoming mine."
Silence.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
I should have pulled away.
Should have argued.
Should have reminded him—
Reminded myself—
That this wasn't real.
But I didn't.
Because my heart
Traitor that it was
Was already choosing him.
And somewhere deep down
That terrified me more than anything else.