Leo knew something was wrong the moment he stepped into the training hall the next morning.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't obvious.
It was the silence.
Alphas usually greeted him with nods, quick smirks, casual remarks about rankings and drills. Today, the greetings were delayed. Conversations dipped when he passed. Someone laughed too loudly at nothing.
He ignored it—until he didn't.
"Since when did you start babysitting?"
Leo stopped walking.
He turned slowly to see Kade standing a few steps away, arms crossed, a knowing look plastered across his face. Strong alpha build. Sharp smile. Always hovering near the top ranks but never quite there.
"I don't babysit," Leo replied calmly.
Kade chuckled. "Funny. Because that's what it looks like."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Kade leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Daniel."
That name again.
Leo's jaw tightened. "Say your point."
"Oh, I have one," Kade said smoothly. "You've been covering for him. Watching him. Circling him like he's… interesting."
Leo scoffed. "You're bored."
"Am I?" Kade tilted his head. "Then why did Instructor Hale ask me if I'd noticed anything strange about him?"
That made Leo freeze.
Kade's smile widened. "Relax. I said no. But you didn't."
Leo stared at him. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Maybe not," Kade said lightly. "But people are starting to notice you hesitate around him. That you soften."
Leo stepped closer. "Watch your words."
Kade laughed, hands raised in mock surrender. "Touchy. Guess that answers my question."
Leo didn't respond. He walked past him, pulse pounding.
Across the courtyard, Daniel stood with Mika and Ryo, pretending not to watch.
He saw everything.
The way Leo stopped. The way Kade leaned in too close. The tension sharp enough to cut.
"What's happening?" Mika whispered.
"Nothing," Daniel replied too quickly.
Ryo glanced at him. "You sure? Because your shoulders just went stiff."
Daniel forced a breath. "I don't care who Leo talks to."
That was a lie.
And it sat bitter on his tongue.
Later that afternoon, Leo found Daniel alone in the library.
That alone was rare.
Daniel usually liked crowded spaces—places where he could disappear into normalcy. Seeing him tucked between shelves, reading but not turning pages, sent a warning bell ringing in Leo's head.
"You're avoiding me," Leo said quietly.
Daniel didn't look up. "You're imagining things."
"Kade talked to me," Leo said.
That made Daniel's hand tighten around the book.
"What did he say?" Daniel asked carefully.
Leo watched him. "He asked why I care."
Daniel finally looked up. "And?"
"I told him I don't," Leo replied.
Daniel laughed softly, relieved but tense. "Good."
"But," Leo added, "I didn't convince myself."
Daniel froze.
Leo stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You think I haven't noticed how hard you push yourself? How your scent never spikes? How you disappear when things get intense?"
Daniel stood abruptly. "Stop."
Leo didn't.
"You're not weak," Leo said. "But you're hiding."
Daniel's chest tightened. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know enough," Leo replied. "And I know someone else is watching too."
Daniel's face drained of color. "Who?"
Leo hesitated. "Not Kade."
That scared him more.
That night, Daniel stood under the shower longer than necessary, letting the water mask his shaking breath.
Leo was too close.
The academy was tightening.
And jealousy—unwanted, dangerous jealousy—was creeping into his chest.
He didn't want to care.
But when he imagined Leo laughing with someone else, leaning in like he did with him—
Daniel slammed his palm against the wall.
This was bad.
This was very bad.
Because if Leo kept looking at him like that…
One day, Daniel wouldn't just slip.
He'd fall.