Lucas picked up the call. The name on the screen made his chest tighten—it was that scumbag Alpha.
"Hello, old friend," Damin said, his voice calm. Too calm.
Lucas didn't panic. He answered evenly, "Hello, old friend. How have you been?"
Silence followed. Then Damin's voice cut through, low and sharp.
"I'm coming for your friend."
Lucas clenched his jaw. "Leave him alone. My friend Aiden will never fall for you. All you do is chase Omegas, leaving them broken or pregnant."
Damin chuckled darkly. "I won't hurt him. I just want to make him mine."
"Forget it," Lucas spat back.
But Damin's tone shifted, almost mocking.
"You know something? I liked you, Lucas. Because you're a Beta. Loyal. Simple. And I liked you even more because we've been friends since childhood. But now… now I see. I'll never let Aiden go. Not until he's mine."
The line went dead.
Lucas lowered the phone, his face grim. He turned to Leo and Aiden, speaking quietly.
"This… this is between you two now."
Without another word, he walked to the door, leaving the Alpha and Omega staring after him.
Weeks later…
Leo and Aiden had moved into a new apartment, far from the danger of the old streets.
That evening, when Aiden entered their bedroom, the warm glow of the lamps met his eyes. Before he could settle, Leo swept him into his arms.
"Leo—what are you doing?" Aiden gasped, his cheeks flushing.
Before he could say another word, Leo pressed his lips firmly against his. The kiss was deep, filled with longing and claim.
Aiden froze, his heart racing. Leo's lips were warm, insistent. He pressed lightly at Leo's chest, whispering between breaths,
"Leo… stop… what are you doing?"
But Leo only deepened the kiss, his hand sliding gently to Aiden's waist. Pulling back just enough, his eyes locked onto Aiden's.
"I can't hold back anymore, Aiden. From the day I met you, I've wanted you by my side—not just as a friend, not just as an Omega, but as my mate."
Aiden's lips trembled. His face burned, but he didn't pull away.
"You… you can't just say things like that. You don't know what it means…"
"I do," Leo whispered, pressing his forehead to Aiden's. "It means everything. You're mine, Aiden. And I'll protect you, no matter who comes for you."
The sincerity in Leo's voice made Aiden's chest ache. Slowly, instead of pushing him away, he clutched Leo's shirt tightly.
"I hate how you make me weak," Aiden whispered, voice shaking.
Leo smiled faintly and kissed him again, softer this time—gentle, as if promising never to let go.
When their lips parted, Aiden gasped, his eyes shining with both confusion and longing.
"Leo… I don't understand why my heart beats this fast when you're near."
Leo brushed his thumb against Aiden's cheek and chuckled softly.
"That's because it knows the truth. It knows you're mine."
Aiden's face turned red. "Y-you're too confident. What if I don't want to be yours?"
Leo leaned closer, his breath warm against Aiden's ear.
"Then why aren't you pushing me away?"
Aiden froze. His hands still clutched Leo's shirt, betraying him. His voice came out weak.
"Because… I'm scared. Scared of losing this feeling."
Leo pressed a tender kiss on his forehead.
"Don't be scared, little Omega. You're safe with me. I'll never let anyone take you away."
For the first time, Aiden leaned into Leo's embrace without resistance. Deep down, he knew the truth—he didn't want to be anywhere else but here, in Leo's arms.
Leo gently laid Aiden down against the pillows and pulled the blanket over him. His hand brushed Aiden's hair as he gazed down with both tenderness and strength.
"You've been through so much," Leo murmured. "From now on, let me carry your burdens."
Aiden blinked up at him, surprised. "Leo… why do you care so much about me? There are plenty of Omegas out there."
Leo shook his head firmly. "They're not you. From the first day I saw you, I knew my world would never be the same. You make me want to be better… stronger. Not for myself, but for you."
Aiden's heart thumped loudly. He didn't know how to answer, so instead he reached out, their fingers intertwining naturally.
For the first time in a long while, Aiden felt safe. Resting his head against Leo's chest, he listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Leo wrapped his arms around him and whispered,
"Sleep, Aiden. I'll be right here, watching over you."
Aiden closed his eyes with a small smile. For once, the nightmares of being hunted didn't scare him. He drifted off into a peaceful sleep, knowing he wasn't alone anymore.