I couldn't breathe.
Even after he let go of my wrist… it still felt like his grip was there.
You're not leaving.
You've already crossed the line.
You're mine.
The words echoed in my head long after he walked away, leaving me standing alone in the garden like everything had just shifted beneath my feet.
This wasn't part of the plan.
None of this was.
I was supposed to survive quietly, take what I could, and leave before anything complicated happened.
Before feelings happened.
"So why are you still here?"
I whispered the question to myself as I walked back into the mansion.
But I already knew the answer.
And that was the problem.
The moment I stepped into the main hall, something felt… off.
Servants were gathered more than usual, whispering in low tones. The air buzzed with curiosity, tension, and something else—
Anticipation.
"What's going on?" I asked one of the maids passing by.
She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "The Alpha called for everyone to gather."
My stomach dropped.
Everyone? Why?
"Ah… there you are."
My entire body stiffened.
I turned slowly.
Kairo.
He stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the hall like he owned not just the mansion—but everything inside it.
Including me
My heart betrayed me instantly.
Why does he have to look like that…
His eyes locked onto mine.
And I knew—
He heard that.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Come here," he said.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
But absolute.
Every eye in the room turned to me.
My chest tightened.
Why is he doing this in front of everyone…?
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Kairo's gaze darkened slightly.
And my body moved.
Step.
By step.
By step
Until I stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at him.
The silence in the hall was suffocating.
"Come closer," he said again.
My heart was pounding now.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
But I obeyed.
When I reached him, he didn't speak immediately.
He just looked at me.
Studying.
Measuring.
Like he was making a decision.
Then—
He reached out.
And pulled me to his side.
My breath caught.
The contact wasn't rough.
But it wasn't gentle either.
It was… deliberate.
Claiming.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
I froze.
What is he doing…?
"From today onward," Kairo said calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly through the room, "there will be no confusion."
My heart skipped.
No confusion…?
His arm remained around me.
Firm.
Unmoving.
"This omega," he continued, his grip tightening slightly, "stays."
Silence.
Complete.
Then—
Whispers exploded.
"But the original—"
"Isn't he back—?"
"What does this mean—?"
My head spun.
What is he saying…?
And then—
A voice cut through the noise.
Soft.
Familiar.
"Kairo."
Everything went quiet again.
I didn't need to turn to know who it was.
But I did anyway.
He stood there.
At the entrance.
The original omega.
His expression was calm.
Composed.
But his eyes—
They weren't soft anymore.
"What exactly are you doing?" he asked quietly.
Kairo didn't move.
Didn't let go of me.
"I'm clarifying something," he replied.
"Clarifying?" the omega repeated.
His gaze flickered to me.
Then back to Kairo.
"By replacing me?"
The words hit harder than they should have.
"I didn't replace you," Kairo said.
"Then what is this?" he asked, his voice still calm—but sharper now.
Kairo's arm tightened slightly around me.
"This," he said, "is my decision."
My breath caught.
Your decision…?
The original omega stared at him for a long moment.
Then—
He laughed.
Soft.
Quiet.
But it wasn't warm.
"I see," he said.
His gaze shifted to me again.
And this time—
There was no hiding it.
Jealousy.
Hurt.
Anger.
"You must be proud," he said softly.
I flinched.
"I didn't—"
I didn't ask for this—
Kairo's hand moved slightly.
A silent warning.
Don't.
I shut up instantly.
The original omega noticed.
Of course he did.
And something in his expression changed.
"Is that how it is?" he murmured.
Silence.
Then he straightened.
"Fine," he said.
The word was calm.
Too calm.
"If that's your decision…"
He smiled.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"Then I'll make mine too."
My chest tightened.
What does that mean…?
But he didn't explain.
He just turned—
And walked away.
Leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before.
The hall slowly emptied after that.
Servants whispering.
Watching.
Judging.
And through all of it—
Kairo didn't let go of me.
Not once.
It wasn't until we were alone again that his grip finally loosened.
I stepped back immediately.
"What was that?" I demanded.
My voice shook.
But I didn't care.
"You didn't need to do that," I continued. "You just made things worse—"
"Worse?" he repeated.
His gaze sharpened.
"You think this was already simple?"
I froze.
"This was never simple," he said quietly.
Silence.
My chest tightened again.
"You're making it complicated," I whispered.
"No," he said.
His eyes locked onto mine.
"You are."
My breath caught.
"By staying," he continued.
"By thinking about leaving."
"By feeling things you don't understand."
Each word hit too close.
"I told you," he said softly, stepping closer again, "I hear everything."
I looked away.
Then stop listening…
A faint chuckle.
"I could," he said.
My heart skipped.
"But I don't want to."
I froze.
"Because," he added quietly, "you're the only one who's ever tried to walk away from me."
My chest tightened.
"And the only one who still might."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
And for the first time—
I realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just about power anymore.
It wasn't just about control.
It wasn't just about survival.
This was becoming something real.
Something messy.
Something neither of us could stop.
And somewhere in the mansion—
The original omega was no longer just watching.
He was preparing.