Sleep didn't come easy.
When it did, it wasn't peaceful.
I woke up more than once, heart racing, the echoes of thoughts and voices blurring together until I couldn't tell what was mine anymore.
You're not leaving.
You've already chosen.
You're changing him.
By morning, I felt worse.
Not physically.
But mentally… something was off.
Unstable.
Like I was standing on ground that could give way at any moment.
I sat up slowly, pressing a hand to my forehead. "I need to get out of this room…"
Not to leave.
Not yet.
Just… space.
The mansion was quieter than usual.
Or maybe it just felt that way.
Servants moved carefully, their voices low, their gazes even lower when I passed by. The whispers were still there—but now they carried something sharper.
Judgment.
Curiosity.
Expectation.
I ignored it.
Or at least, I tried to.
"You look terrible."
I stopped walking.
Closed my eyes for a second.
Then turned.
"Good morning to you too," I muttered.
He stood near the window at the end of the corridor, sunlight catching against his figure, making him look almost untouchable.
The original omega.
Composed as ever.
But his eyes—
Still sharp.
Still watching.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
"Neither did you," I replied.
A faint pause.
Then—
"You're right."
That surprised me.
Silence stretched briefly before he pushed himself off the wall and walked toward me.
Not slowly.
Not cautiously.
Direct.
Intentional.
"You're starting to feel it, aren't you?" he asked.
My chest tightened. "Feel what?"
He stopped in front of me.
Close enough to see the faint tension beneath his calm expression.
"This place," he said. "Him."
I didn't respond.
Because I didn't need to.
"You thought you could stay detached," he continued. "Play your role. Survive. Leave."
My jaw tightened.
"Stop acting like you know me."
"I don't," he said.
A pause.
"But I know him."
That… mattered more.
"He doesn't let things go once he decides they're his," he said quietly.
My heartbeat shifted.
"I'm not something to own."
"Then why are you still here?"
The question hit too fast.
Too directly.
"I told you"
"You wanted to survive," he cut in.
His gaze didn't waver.
"And now?"
Silence.
Because I didn't have an answer.
Not a clean one.
He exhaled slowly.
"You're already in too deep."
My chest tightened.
"Then why are you still trying to push me away?" I asked suddenly.
That made him pause.
For real this time.
His expression shifted slightly.
Not softer.
But more… honest.
"Because I know what happens if you don't leave," he said.
My breath caught.
"And what is that?"
His gaze flickered for just a second.
Then settled back on me.
"You'll break."
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"And him?" I asked quietly.
A faint, almost bitter smile touched his lips.
"He doesn't break."
That answer didn't comfort me.
Not even a little.
Before I could respond
Footsteps echoed again.
Steady.
Familiar.
Kairo.
Of course.
His presence filled the corridor instantly, his gaze moving between us in a single, assessing sweep.
"You're both here," he said.
Neutral.
But not indifferent.
"Just talking," the original omega replied calmly.
Kairo's eyes lingered on him for a second.
Then shifted to me.
"You didn't sleep."
I frowned. "Do I look that bad?"
"Yes."
I exhaled. "Great."
He stepped closer.
Not as close as before.
But enough.
"You're thinking too much again," he said.
"I don't have much of a choice," I replied.
"You always have a choice."
The words echoed.
Familiar.
"Then why does it feel like I don't?" I asked.
Silence.
Kairo didn't answer immediately.
But the original omega did.
"Because neither of us is giving you one."
I looked between them.
And for the first time—
That truth hit clearly.
They weren't just pulling me in different directions.
They were closing the space around me.
"You're both unbelievable," I muttered.
Kairo ignored that.
"Come with me," he said.
Again.
That same tone.
I hesitated.
Just slightly.
And that was enough.
The original omega noticed.
Of course he did.
"See?" he said quietly. "You don't even realize you're doing it anymore."
My chest tightened.
"Doing what?"
"Choosing."
I looked at Kairo.
Then back at him.
Then
Away.
"I'm not choosing anyone," I said.
"Then prove it," he replied.
My breath caught.
"How?"
"Say no."
The word hung in the air.
Simple.
Easy.
Say no.
Kairo's gaze didn't move.
Didn't change.
But I could feel it.
That quiet pressure.
That expectation.
"Say it," the original omega repeated.
My heart started racing.
This shouldn't be hard.
It was just one word
No.
I opened my mouth.
And nothing came out.
Silence.
Heavy.
Loud.
The original omega's expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes dimmed.
"I thought so," he said quietly
My chest tightened painfully.
"I"
"You don't have to explain," he added.
That made it worse.
Because he understood.
And I didn't.
Kairo stepped forward.
Closing the distance again.
"You're done here," he said.
Not to me.
To him.
The original omega didn't argue.
Didn't react.
He just looked at me one last time.
And this time—
There was no warning.
Just acceptance.
Then he turned.
And walked away.
Silence followed.
Long.
Heavy.
Kairo's hand brushed lightly against mine.
Not grabbing.
Not forcing.
Just there.
"You couldn't say it," he said.
I swallowed.
"I didn't want to lie."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
A pause.
Then—
A quiet exhale.
"That's enough."
My chest tightened.
"Enough for what?"
His gaze met mine again.
"For now."
That answer didn't make me feel better.
Not even close.
Because if this was just "for now"—
Then something worse was coming.
And deep down…
I knew he was right.
I had already started choosing.
Even if I didn't want to admit it.