The apartment was quiet, filled only with the faint crackle of candles and the soft warmth of dinner dishes still steaming on the table. Outside, Verdenne's winter air pressed cold against the windows, but inside, warmth lingered — in scent, in laughter, in the gathering of people who mattered most.
Lior blinked in surprise as he stepped out of the kitchen with plates, only to freeze when he caught sight of the living room. "Kaein…?"
Sitting comfortably on the couch, chatting softly, were Kaein's parents, his younger sister, and his two brothers who had been studying abroad. Their laughter, their smiles, their pheromones filling the space — gentle, unthreatening, familiar.
For a moment, Lior forgot how to breathe. He hadn't expected anyone here. He hadn't expected family.
Kaein approached, sliding an arm around his waist in a quiet reassurance. His voice was soft, careful, as if coaxing Lior into this moment. "They're here… because I wanted today to feel complete. Not just for me, but for you too."
Lior's throat tightened. He almost protested, but Kaein's steady gardenia-laced scent wrapped around him, soothing the sharp spike of unease. "Why?" he whispered.
"Because you deserve a family that loves you," Kaein answered simply, his hand pressing at the small of Lior's back. "And mine… already sees you as one of us."
Dinner passed in laughter and ease. Kaein's siblings teased him, his parents asked Lior gentle questions about his flying, and Witty the cat paraded across laps as though he too wanted to be part of this gathering. Lior, unused to such warmth, found himself smiling more than he thought possible, tension bleeding from his shoulders.
And then, after the table was cleared and the night softened into candles and quiet chatter, Kaein stood.
His family glanced up at once, silence falling naturally. Lior's heart skipped — his instincts prickled, sensing something deeper than just words was coming.
Kaein turned to him. For a heartbeat, nothing else existed. Just the Alpha professor, usually steady, now trembling faintly with the weight of emotion. He drew a small velvet box from his pocket, sank down onto one knee, and the world blurred around the edges.
"Lior," he began, voice rough but unwavering, "you've been my closest, brightest part of life for as long as I can remember. Through every change, every fear, every new rule in this world… you stayed with me. I don't want us to be apart. Not now, not ever. So… please, let's stay together for the rest of our lives. Be my family. Be my home."
The box opened, revealing a silver ring. Simple, beautiful — and yet Lior felt his chest seize in recognition.
"Kaein…" His voice cracked, half disbelieving. "When did you… buy this?"
Kaein smiled, almost sheepish, though his eyes were damp. "Do you remember? When we were fifteen. We were walking that road near the old market, and I stopped at the stand full of little trinkets. I had a thing for accessories back then."
"You… bought it then?" Lior's breath caught.
"Yes," Kaein admitted. "It was meant to be couple rings. I wanted to give it to you, but I thought maybe people would laugh at us. So instead, we wore friendship bands. Do you remember?"
Lior did remember. His chest ached with it — the memory of Kaein's hand brushing his wrist, the thin thread bracelet tied awkwardly but carefully, the way they had called it friendship while both secretly wishing for more.
Tears stung his eyes as he whispered, "You kept it… all this time."
"I kept it for you," Kaein corrected gently. "Always for you."
Lior's body trembled, heart racing too fast. He laughed shakily, swiping at his eyes, before pulling out his own small box from his jacket pocket.
"Funny," he said, kneeling down in front of Kaein. "Because I had the same plan."
The living room rippled with quiet gasps from Kaein's family, but all Lior could see was the Alpha in front of him — eyes wide, lips parted, scent swelling with disbelief and joy.
Lior opened his box, revealing a ring of his own — sleek, polished, clearly chosen with care. "I wanted to propose tonight too. I wanted to tell you… you've already been my home, my safe place, my forever. So Kaein, will you marry me?"
For a heartbeat, both knelt there together, rings held out, tears and smiles mingling, pheromones flooding the room in waves of gardenia and musk so thick even Kaein's siblings sat stunned, blinking back tears.
Kaein laughed through his tears, slipping his ring onto Lior's hand even as Lior slid his onto his. Mutual, balanced. Neither above the other. Both dominant, both surrendered.
"Yes," Kaein whispered, his forehead pressing against Lior's. "A thousand times yes."
"Yes," Lior echoed, voice breaking. "Always yes."
Their family applauded softly, warmly, no excess drama. Just warmth, the kind of acceptance that wrapped around Lior like a second skin. For once, he didn't feel alone in the world.
But beneath that joy, beneath the flood of emotions, something shifted in Kaein. His body trembled, his scent spiking suddenly — sharper, hotter. His pupils dilated, breath coming faster.
"Kaein?" Lior whispered, instantly alert.
The Alpha gritted his teeth, clutching at Lior's hand. "It's… starting. Rut. I didn't… expect…" His voice trailed into a low growl of need, pheromones bursting through restraint.
His family exchanged quick, knowing glances, retreating with understanding to the main room without a word. No judgment. Just quiet acceptance.
Lior wasted no time. He gathered Kaein into his arms, ignoring the trembling strength that threatened to spill over, and whispered soothingly, "I've got you. I'll take care of you."
Gardenia wrapped tighter around musk as he carried him down the hall, past the glow of candles, into the sanctuary of their bedroom. The door shut softly behind them.
The last sound before it closed was Lior's low, steady promise against Kaein's fevered skin:
"You're mine. And I'm yours. Forever."