The room spun around him. Kael's legs trembled violently as if the strength had been drained from his body. His breath came in uneven bursts, the heavy air saturated with the sweet, intoxicating scent of cherry blossoms — his pheromones, uncontrolled and wild.
Before he could steady himself, his knees gave out.
"Kael!" Zayden's voice cut through the haze as he darted forward, catching him just before he hit the ground. But the moment his hand brushed Kael's arm, Kael flinched as if burned.
"Don't—!" Kael's voice broke, trembling as he slapped Zayden's hand away. "Please… go away. Don't come near me, Zayden."
Zayden froze. The hurt flashed across his face so fast that even Kael, through blurred eyes, could see it. His expression softened into something raw — something Kael hadn't seen in years.
"I would never touch you with ill intentions, Kael," Zayden said quietly, voice low and hoarse. "I just… want to help you."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The room was alive with the pulse of unspoken emotions, the cherry scent thick enough to make the air heavy, almost suffocating. Kael's tears spilled over, tracing silent paths down his flushed cheeks as he tried to steady his breathing.
Zayden hesitated, then slowly stepped closer. This time, Kael didn't resist. His trembling form leaned slightly toward Zayden — not out of trust, but out of exhaustion. Zayden gently guided him to the bed, careful not to touch skin, as though afraid Kael might shatter under his fingers.
When Kael's head hit the pillow, he turned away, biting his lip to suppress another wave of tears. Zayden hurried to the dresser, found the small glass bottle of suppressants, and placed it beside him.
The sweet, cloying scent only grew stronger. Zayden's alpha instincts roared inside him, threatening to take control — his pulse raced, his thoughts blurred. With a strained growl, he bit down hard on his hand, the sharp taste of blood grounding him back to sanity.
"Kael…" he whispered under his breath. But Kael didn't answer. His shoulders were trembling, his fingers clutching the sheets as if to keep himself from falling apart.
Zayden forced himself to step back. One step. Two. Then he turned and left the room, the door closing softly behind him.
As soon as the sound faded, Kael buried his face into the pillow, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"Just when I was ready to give up on you…" his voice cracked, muffled by the sheets. "Why are you making this difficult for me, Zayden…?"
Outside, Zayden leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. His hand was still bleeding from his bite, but he didn't care. His heart pounded erratically as he muttered to himself, disbelief lacing every word.
"Kael… is an omega?"
The realization hit him like lightning — fierce, undeniable, and impossible to ignore.
And deep inside, something long-buried began to stir.