Late afternoon, class has finally ended three hours ago.
However Aelus finds himself in this place as he left his notebook there.
The classroom should have been empty.
But the moment he stepped inside, he paused. Something was off.
The air was thick. Not stale, but charged, laced with a sharp citrus scent that clung to the walls like fog. It hit him immediately. His instincts stirred.
It's an Omega in heat...
Aelus blinked and followed the source of the scent. Ekiel was slumped at a desk near the window, arms folded on the surface, face hidden. His usually pristine white hair was ruffled, clinging slightly to his flushed skin. His posture was tense, like a string pulled too tight.
They weren't close.
Ekiel always sat alone, kept to himself, and only spoke when he needed to—and when he did, it was always with sarcasm or irritation. Surely enough, Ekiel seems to be always unapproachable.
Aelus had never had a reason to talk to him before.
But now, seeing him like this…
He approached slowly, each step measured. His instincts whispered in the back of his mind, a low hum beneath his calm expression. His Alpha side was alert. Yet Aelus made sure to control his instincts.
"Ekiel?"
No answer.
He reached out and gently tapped his shoulder.
Ekiel groaned softly and lifted his head. His face was flushed, and his eyes remained glassy and unfocused. He turned away almost immediately, avoiding Aelus's gaze.
"L-Leave me alone," he muttered. "Don't even touch me, you pervert…"
It didn't sound like an insult. It sounded like a defense, desperately avoiding an alpha like him.
Aelus crouched slightly, trying to meet his eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Ekiel scowled, cheeks a deeper red. "I said I'm fine! Just go away. Can't you see I'm trying to study? Unlike some people who've probably never worked a day in their lives."
Aelus didn't flinch. The comment slid right off him. He doesn't feel offended on his words at all.
Ekiel was fidgeting in his seat, legs squeezed together, shoulders shaking. It was obvious he wasn't fine.
If he lets things be, it's either that it will calm down or get worse.
Aelus reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a small silver case. Inside were a few emergency suppressants. He popped it open and held one out.
"Here. Take this. I'll be on the other side of the room. Let me know if you need anything."
Ekiel stared at the pill. His pride warred with desperation. After a few tense seconds, he snatched it from Aelus's hand.
"Don't think this means I owe you anything," he mumbled, swallowing the pill dry. He grimaced at the taste and looked away.
Aelus nodded and walked to a desk on the opposite end of the classroom. The citrus scent began to fade.
For a while, there was silence.
Then the coughing started.
It was sudden and rough, each one rattling Ekiel's chest like thunder. Aelus stood immediately. He didn't hesitate. He bolted into the hallway, eyes locking on the vending machine down the corridor.
Coins. Button. Clatter. A bottle of water landed in the tray, still cold with condensation.
He sprinted back.
Ekiel was still hunched over, coughing into his sleeve.
"Here," Aelus offered the water.
Ekiel took it with a glare, though his fingers trembled slightly as they brushed Aelus's. He cracked the bottle open and drank half of it in one go.
He exhaled sharply. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the pity party."
His words were biting, but his voice had softened.
He set the bottle aside, eyes drifting back to his laptop screen.
But his fingers didn't move. His mind was clearly elsewhere. His body still radiated tension, heat curling at the edges of his presence.
"Stupid hormones," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples.
Aelus watched him carefully.
"Do you want me to call your guardian?"
Ekiel's eyes snapped open, panic flashing across his face. He shook his head quickly, white hair swaying.
"No. Absolutely not. I can handle it myself, got it?"
His voice cracked—not from anger, but from fear.
Aelus hesitated, then took a few steps back. The realization hit him like a wave.
Of course. He was an Alpha. His presence was probably making it worse.
"Sorry. Should I call the teacher instead?"
Ekiel didn't look up. "Just… give me a minute, okay? To process everything."
He cleared his throat, taking another slow breath.
Aelus crouched again, this time a few feet away, careful not to intrude on his space.
He didn't speak. Didn't move. He just waited.
And even though the silence stretched on, it didn't feel heavy.
For the first time that morning, it felt like neither of them was completely alone.