By morning, the entire mansion knew.
They didn't say it directly—not to my face—but I could feel it in every glance, every whisper that stopped the moment I walked by.
The Alpha had chosen.
Not the original omega.
Me.
And that was a problem.
A very big problem.
I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The same unfamiliar face stared back—soft, delicate, completely out of place in a war I never asked to be part of.
"You should leave."
His voice echoed again in my mind.
The original omega.
His warning hadn't sounded like a threat.
It had sounded like… concern.
That made it worse.
"Why does everyone keep telling me to leave?" I muttered under my breath.
"Because you should."
I froze.
That voice wasn't in my head.
I turned sharply.
He stood by the door.
The original omega.
Calm. Composed. Watching me like he had been there longer than I realized.
"You really need to stop doing that," I said, exhaling slowly.
"Walking into your room?" he asked lightly.
"Appearing out of nowhere."
A faint smile touched his lips. "You're easy to find."
My chest tightened slightly. "What do you want?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked further into the room, his gaze drifting across the space—lingering on the bed, the windows, the small details.
"My room used to look like this," he said quietly.
The words hit harder than I expected.
"I didn't ask for this," I said quickly.
"I know."
That stopped me.
I looked at him.
Really looked.
And for the first time since he returned… he didn't look angry.
Just tired.
"But you didn't refuse it either," he added softly.
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Because he was right.
Silence stretched between us.
Then he turned, his eyes locking onto mine again—sharper now.
"But that's not why I'm here."
My stomach dropped slightly. "Then why are you here?"
He stepped closer.
Not aggressively.
But with purpose.
"I'm going to take him back."
The words were simple.
Calm.
But they carried weight.
My heartbeat quickened. "You say that like he's something you own."
His gaze didn't waver. "He is."
Something about that answer irritated me more than it should have.
"He's not an object," I snapped.
"And yet," he replied smoothly, "he chose you like one."
I froze.
That… stung.
"I didn't ask him to do that," I said, quieter now.
"I know," he said again.
"Then why are you blaming me?"
"I'm not blaming you."
His voice softened slightly.
"I'm warning you."
My chest tightened.
"Because what happens next won't be as simple as him standing beside you in a hall."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What are you planning?"
He smiled.
And this time…
It was different.
Not soft.
Not gentle.
But not cruel either.
Strategic.
"You'll see."
My stomach dropped.
"I don't like that answer."
"You don't have to."
He stepped back slightly, creating space again.
"But you should pay attention."
Silence fell again.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Familiar.
My heart reacted instantly.
Kairo.
The moment he appeared at the doorway, the air shifted again.
Heavy.
Charged.
Unavoidable.
His eyes went straight to me.
Then—
To him.
A pause.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
"You're here," Kairo said.
Not a question.
The original omega inclined his head slightly. "I came to talk."
"About?"
A faint smile. "About us."
I held my breath.
This is bad.
Kairo stepped into the room fully now, his presence filling the space effortlessly.
"Then talk," he said.
But his gaze flickered back to me.
Just for a second.
Then stayed.
That small detail didn't go unnoticed.
Not by me.
And definitely not by the other omega.
"You should stay," he said suddenly.
I blinked. "What?"
He looked at me directly now.
"I said, stay."
My chest tightened.
Why does everyone keep saying that…
Kairo didn't object.
Didn't interrupt.
Which meant—
He agreed.
This wasn't going to be a private conversation.
It was going to be a confrontation.
And I was right in the middle of it.
"Alright," the original omega said calmly. "Then let's not waste time."
He took a step forward.
Closer to Kairo.
"I'm not leaving."
The words were firm.
Clear.
Final.
"I never intended to."
Kairo's expression didn't change. "I didn't ask you to."
"No," he said. "But you replaced me."
"I didn't replace you."
"You chose someone else."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Kairo's gaze sharpened slightly. "I made a decision."
"And I'm making one now," the omega replied.
Another step forward.
Closer.
"I'm taking my place back."
My heart started racing again.
This is it…
The tension between them was suffocating.
Two forces.
Neither willing to back down.
And me—
Caught between them.
Kairo finally moved.
One step.
Then another.
Until he stood directly in front of the original omega.
They were close now.
Too close.
The air between them felt like it could snap at any moment.
"You think this is about position?" Kairo asked quietly.
"It is," the omega replied.
"No," Kairo said.
His voice dropped slightly.
"It isn't."
My breath caught.
Because I knew—
This was about more than status.
More than roles.
More than being "original" or "stand-in."
This was about something deeper.
Something neither of them was saying out loud.
And somehow—
I was at the center of it.
The original omega exhaled slowly.
Then his gaze shifted.
To me.
"Then let's make it simple," he said.
My chest tightened.
"What—"
"Choose."
The word hit like a shock.
My mind went blank.
"What?"
He didn't look away.
"Choose," he repeated.
"Since this is clearly about you…"
My heartbeat was out of control now.
"You should decide."
I took a step back instinctively.
"No. I'm not—this isn't my—"
"It is," Kairo cut in.
My head snapped toward him.
His gaze was locked onto mine.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
"You wanted to leave," he said.
My breath caught.
"So choose."
Silence.
Everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
My thoughts were a mess.
I didn't ask for this…
I just wanted to survive…
I was supposed to leave…
But now
Now that option didn't feel as simple as it used to.
Because leaving didn't just mean freedom anymore.
It meant
Walking away from him.
My chest tightened painfully.
"Why are you both doing this?" I whispered.
Neither of them answered immediately.
Because they didn't need to.
I already knew.
Because this wasn't just about them anymore.
It was about me too.
And the choice I didn't want to make.
"I…" My voice shook.
"I don't know."
And for the first time since this all began
That was the truth.