Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A sweet melody rose in the air, intertwining with laughter and conversations, both from children and adults. Various tempting scents wafted through the air as the sun reached its zenith, illuminating the lush greenery that encompassed the place and creating a warm atmosphere. It was a special day, as it was every year, when the Emberstone clan and the Nivella clan came together to celebrate their alliance in a commemorative festival.

After years of disputes over territory and unleashed wars, peace had held following a mutual agreement, and now, twenty years would be marked since that historic moment.

Junta, a boy of barely nine years old who hadn't manifest yet, was walking amidst the crowd. Despite his young age, the world already seemed indifferent to him, and even though everyone was enjoying the radiant day full of activities, he felt nothing that made it special at all. He knew the stories behind that festival because his grandparents used to tell them before bedtime, but no matter how many times he heard them, the day didn't seem to hold any significance. Nothing stirred his excitement; however, he was clever enough to feign joy and enthusiasm like the other children, although if one looked closely, a void could be perceived deep within his eyes.

That day would just be another festival, like all the ones he had been through until now.

Perhaps he would help his grandmother with her portrait stand, or run errands for the ladies who overly pampered him upon seeing his young, angelic face. Everything would unfold as usual, without any great surprises... And when he retired to rest, the window would display the same vast, yet faded landscape, intriguing, like an unsolvable mystery.

Or so he thought.

Hours passed, and after sales and games, it was time for the show. He knew from some of his friends that the main act would consist of a play, and he could perfectly see how much everyone seemed to have prepared for it. In the central square, which was the largest in that area and where the festival took place every year, there was a grand stage that stood proudly, adorned with garlands alternating warm and cool colors, materially highlighting their alliance.

"It must be nice... To be so passionate about something."

He thought as he imagined the work behind the construction of the stage, a smile forming on his face even when it didn't seem to hold any emotions, and deep inside, he felt a longing for something, without knowing exactly what it was.

The group of kids he was with, some his age, and others older, chose to climb some of the sturdiest trees in search of the best view of the show. He, on the other hand, stayed leaning against the trunk of a tree with Taguchi, an Omega and the one he spent the most time with. Taguchi was a simple boy, although he sometimes talked and complained too much; and despite being five years older, Junta had no problem understanding him or keeping up with his conversations.

"Aah, so today we'll finally see the heir of the Nevilla clan... My mom hasn't stopped talking about it..." he began to speak, with a somewhat annoyed tone. Junta glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "It's strange... Don't you think it's suspicious that they've hidden him for so long?"

"Hmm... I don't know... Maybe they had their reasons."

He replied while eating some mint candies he had bought, although he wasn't really interested in the topic. He had heard a lot about the heir of the Nevilla and his leading role in the play, but he didn't feel any special curiosity to meet him. He didn't see the event as a feat like everyone else did, and he wasn't interested in the dance performances or the play.

Suddenly, everything fell silent, and the place darkened.

"It's about to start."

He heard the dark haired boy say, and something shook in his chest for no apparent reason. A sensation akin to curiosity invaded him, although he tried to downplay it. However, as the performance seemed to begin, something peculiar captured Junta's attention, but he remained initially indifferent, as if it were simply another element of the performance.

Behind the curtain emerged a slender silhouette, and a tense melody resonated in his ears as the boy moved gracefully across the stage, as if he were in his natural element. Despite his attempt to remain detached, Junta found himself mesmerized. Minutes passed, the play progressed, and his eyes remained fixed on who apparently was the heir of the Nevilla. Every movement, from the subtlest to the most elaborate, captured his attention in an absorbing manner.

"What remains of me in this body that's not mine!?... Frustration turns into anger, anger into darkness... I refuse to continue being a pawn in this twisted game..."

The desperation in Takato's voice resonated throughout the place, and Junta noticed how the audience's eyes fixated on Saijo Takato, a young boy who, despite his young age, exhibited a surprising ability.

Initially completely uninterested in the plot of the play, Junta gradually found himself drawn into it. The protagonist, a prodigious court advisor, was trapped in the body of an infant and had struggled for years to unravel the truth behind his curse. However, his will would have succumbed to frustration, leading him down the path of becoming a villain. The plot was not at all simple, even for him, who had been noted from a very young age for outstanding intelligence, he could recognize the complexity in the character's development and how some moments bewildered him due to their depth. But, regardless of the dark turn of the protagonist, Takato portrayed it with absolute perfection. All his actions were elegant, capturing the viewer in such a way that it was impossible to look away.

He didn't know how to put it into words, but something bubbled inside him upon recognizing the passion in the boy's eyes; something in Takato's performance made the character's emotions seem his own. The passion in his eyes, the heartbreaking fury of the counselor whose fate had been disrupted by the curse, everything became so vivid, as if it were his own experience. Every movement, every word uttered by Takato, felt like it resonated within him, awakening something ancient and lost deep within his being.

And at that moment, as the intensity of the play consumed him completely, a mist of memories faded away, bringing him back to reality. Squinting eyes and a sense of daze enveloped him as he emerged from the dream that, in reality, was a memory. The image of Takato on stage still echoed in his mind, leaving him in a state of confusion between wakefulness and a distant past, yet transmitting an indescribable emotion.

"Ah... that dream again..." he whispered with a somewhat lost voice, freeing himself from the sheets that enveloped him. Sunbeams caressed his face with a subtle warmth, highlighting the vivid colors of the sunrise. The play of blue and orange tones created an impressive sketch on the horizon, with the sun peeking out like an expectant protagonist.

He felt his heart leap in his chest, as if he were an excited little child.

It was a special day, and he knew for sure that was the reason behind that dream he had had countless times. But, after so much time, he would finally cease to be a spectator, and that fact alone excited him, as if he were a child on Christmas Day, eagerly awaiting the hour to open presents. Since he met Takato years ago, something changed within him, although he wasn't able to fully explain it himself. Despite being so young when he first saw him perform, it was impossible not to notice the whirlwind of emotions that Takato's blue, confident gaze effortlessly elicited. For years, Junta had felt out of place among other children, and while he hadn't had an especially difficult childhood, he always knew there was a void within him, like an incomplete puzzle. However, Takato's brilliant performance was enough to dispel it; unknowingly, it changed everything in an instant. In a matter of seconds, he experienced something he hadn't felt before, and living through so many stimulating changes inevitably sparked an intense desire to know him more deeply.

He truly wanted to know him.

Suddenly, he became ambitious; he wanted to see the boy urgently. His restlessness grew and became more conscious, leading him to consider whether he was in love. However, he discarded the idea the day he presented as an Alpha, knowing that Takato belonged to the same caste and an union like that would be entirely unnatural. So, he simply attributed his feelings to immense admiration, desperately wanting, at the very least, to become close to him. He was aware that the odds were truly low, considering they belonged to different clans, so, when he turned eighteen, he decided it. He would do everything within his power to get closer and eventually reach the day when he could have a proper conversation with him.

Finally, that day had arrived.

Junta, an Alpha of twenty years old recently turned, had achieved his goal. He effortlessly secured a role in the play that would take place that year at the festival. He was naturally good at anything he tried, and his striking appearance gave him a significant advantage, so he managed to audition so well that he was given the lead role. But that fact couldn't matter less to him; what truly held value was that he would share the stage with him. Saijo Takato would be the co lead, meaning he would have countless opportunities to interact with him.

That day, rehearsals began, so he hadn't delayed getting out of bed as soon as he woke up. It was very early, yet he hurried to shower, dress, and have a proper breakfast. He applied some neutralizer on his neck to soften his scent, recalling the multiple times he had been told about its intensity. He knew from past experiences that, as an Alpha, his strong scent could cause discomfort or even disputes with other Alphas. Thus, he was very careful that day when applying it, clearly not wanting to create an uncomfortable situation for the people in charge of the play, and especially not for Takato himself.

As he stepped out, a gentle morning breeze greeted him, subtly tousling his hair. The scent of earth and trees permeated the air, and he felt he had never enjoyed those small details as much as he did at that moment. Now living alone, mornings were unusually quiet, but he didn't entirely dislike it. Sometimes, he would visit his grandparents at the start of the day, helping them with some daily chores as it had become customary. However, that day, he headed straight to the location where the rehearsal would take place.

Upon arrival, Junta found a stage bustling with activity. Various people moved back and forth, adjusting lights, testing sound, and finalizing details for the first practice of the play. He could easily spot a group of people analyzing everything from costumes to stage props. The square resonated with the hustle and bustle of the preparations.

He walked among the crowd, recognizing some familiar faces who had auditioned with him. As he approached the stage, he noticed a figure standing out among the crowd, engrossed in reviewing the script.

It was Takato.

His presence held a kind of magnetism that attracted glances without asking for them, and his allure knew no age, gender, or caste; he looked remarkably attractive even when engrossed in as mundane a task as reviewing lines. The sunlight filtering through the trees accentuated the dark strands of his hair, which seemed to have a life of their own, gently swaying in the breeze. Each of his gestures was as precise and elegant as if he were choreographing a dance with every movement of his hands on the paper. His facial features, defined and marked, radiated a kind of serenity and, simultaneously, a determination that made him a fascinating enigma to Junta.

The way Takato held himself, with the posture of someone accustomed to leading, was impressive. Every muscle seemed under his control, reflecting an innate confidence that couldn't be feigned. Even in his apparent concentration on the script, he exuded a natural assurance that enveloped the place. And his scent. Junta couldn't help but notice it, despite being an Alpha himself. It wasn't like any fragrance he had smelled before. It was a strong yet not overpowering scent, a blend of subtle woodiness with a hint of roses, as if wrapped in the essence of determination and seriousness.

He found himself subtly observing Takato, capturing every detail, every movement, trying to understand what made this man so magnetic to him and everyone else around him. It was as if Takato were destined to shine even amidst the crowd, as if he were enveloped in an aura that made him stand out, and Junta was completely intrigued by it.

He cautiously approached, still a bit nervous about speaking to him. Despite having waited for that moment for so long, he felt overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the black-haired boy.

"Saijo-san," he spoke, trying to get his attention.

Takato looked up from the script, and his blue eyes met Junta's. His gaze held an intensity that captured the attention of anyone around him.

"Ah, Azumaya-kun, right?" Takato asked, scanning him discreetly from head to toe. "Welcome," he added, with a friendly looking smile. "It's great to see you here for rehearsals."

His words made Junta feel a little more at ease, and a couple of wings seemed to flutter at his back, expelling white feathers. He nodded enthusiastically and silently tried to hide the nerves he still felt. He was standing in front of the person he had admired for so long, and now he had the opportunity to act alongside him.

"Yes, I'm excited to start!" Junta replied, trying to sound more confident than he really felt. "Actually... I've admired you since the first play you presented, so I'm looking forward to doing a good job together... Please take care of me!"

He bowed slightly to Takato, and the people around him seemed delighted by the blond's sweet behavior, which shone excessively, as if he were an angel. Takato remained silent for a few seconds and then simply nodded with a smile.

"Ah, I'm glad to hear that..." he said, averting his gaze a bit, suddenly feeling blinded by the younger one's natural radiance. "Let's strive to give the audience a good show, shall we?" he addressed him with forced cheerfulness, though clearly no one present could perceive the falsehood in his words.

"Yes!" Junta responded promptly with a radiant smile. His heart beat strongly, a mix of excitement and nervousness for what was to come.

He found himself in a moment he had imagined so many times, but now that he was there, it was even more overwhelming than he had anticipated. «Ah... What should I do? Saijo-san is really just inches away from me... It's like a dream» He kept thinking one thing after another, truly wanting to talk much more with the elder, but he knew it wouldn't be appropriate to reveal that intense side of him considering they had just met, so he simply moved on to introduce himself to the rest of the people.

With an overwhelming mix of determination and excitement, he prepared for rehearsals, eagerly anticipating what the future held for him.

Chapter Text

"So... Are you really telling me that a rookie is going to take the lead role?"

Takato's voice echoed in the room, clearly not believing what he heard, he paced back and forth as he clenched the letter in his hands.

"Well, Takato-kun..." he began to reply with a somewhat amused smile, knowing his friend's character better than anyone else. "It wouldn't be a bad idea to at least give him a chance, don't you think?"

Takato abruptly stopped walking, his gaze fixing on Sasaki, who was sitting near the table. His blue eyes shimmered with a mix of annoyance and resolute disbelief.

"No, I don't think so... I'd let it slide if it were an experienced person, but how could they give the lead to someone totally inexperienced? he questioned, and soon his hands left the paper on the table along with the elegant envelope.

He couldn't fathom how someone who had never set foot on stage had suddenly landed the lead role. After all, since he was young, he had been an integral part of the festival performances, playing key roles in plays and showcasing his talent in numerous productions held in his clan's theater. He knew every facet of the stage, had perfected his technique, and was familiar with every corner of the process. The news that someone entirely new got the role he had longed and prepared for with so much effort simply didn't fit into his understanding.

"Well... Think about it this way," he began, still smiling, wanting to reassure his black-haired friend a bit. "Since you'll be his co-star, you'll get to see him work close, right?... And you can also give him advice if it's needed."

Takato laughed ironically, and suddenly a kind of malice seemed to invade him at those words.

"Hah... Sure... I'll act like a good senior and watch out for him, but it's not my fault if I end up overshadowing him," he mocked, feeling determined to prove through actions that his performance was the best even if he didn't have the lead role. After all, he was Saijo Takato, and a situation like that wouldn't make him lose his composure or poise, at least not in the eyes of the public.

Sasaki flashed a resigned smile and shook his head a bit, already imagining what the younger one had in mind after all. Takato headed to the fridge to grab two beer bottles and cheerfully handed one to the Beta while taking a sip of his, perhaps too absorbed in his ideas about overshadowing that newcomer until making him cry and securing complete attention from the audience, unaware of how a mischievous smirk in his face was revealing those thoughts a bit.

"But... There's something you should keep in mind, Takato-kun."

"Uh... What's that?"

"That guy, Azumaya-kun... He's an Alpha... A dominant one" he finally said, and all the ideas swirling in Takato's head halted at that moment.

He stood still for a few seconds, the beer bottle almost suspended in the air before touching his lips. Thoughts swirled in his mind as he tried to process the information.

A Dominant Alpha...

Dominant Alphas had a very strong presence and significant influence, something Takato knew well because his grandmother belonged to the same caste. He instantly grasped the magnitude of what that detail meant, and although Takato's face remained composed, he felt a slight unease within. He took a deep breath, trying to conceal the sudden feeling of unrest that invaded him.

"You know what that means, right?"

Takato nodded, his demeanor turning serious in a matter of seconds.

"You should try to keep your distance from him... At least off the stage," he reminded, although aware that his friend knew it perfectly well. "It'll be difficult since as co-stars, you'll have to spend a lot of time together... But at least after rehearsals, it's the best for you not to interact much with him."

"Mm... I understand," he murmured, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

«Not that I had intentions of spending extra time with him anyway,» Takato thought coldly as he finished his beer.

But after all, the world didn't seem to share the same intentions.

He knew it at the moment the first rehearsal day ended. Before he could manage to leave, aiming to head home without further interaction with the blond guy, he felt a big hand firmly grabbing his wrist. Something quivered inside him, and he tried to stay calm as he turned his head, feeling an almost assassin impulse when he finally saw Junta intensely sparkling beside him. «What do you want!? I want to go home!» he thought almost desperately, but he only managed to let out a small sound of confusion, inviting the other to speak. Only then, Junta realized what he was doing and immediately released his wrist. Feathers almost seemed to be fluttering around him.

"Oh, I-Im sorry... I..." he started to talk, and for a few seconds he seemed hesitant of what he was about to say "Saijo-san... Wouldn't you have a drink with me?"

He asked, and Takato's face seem to lost all colors.

His expression remained unchanged, a mix of incredulity and exasperation taking over his features as he processed Junta's unexpected request. He blinked in disbelief, internally struggling to process the audacity of the proposal. "A drink?" Takato repeated, his tone laced with subtle disbelief while he tried to keep the fake smile on his face. He glanced around, noting the other cast members were either occupied or had already left, leaving the two of them alone in the now-emptying rehearsal space. Even Sasaki had had to leave early due to a problem he had at home. He told him not to worry, that he would smoothly keep everything in order, and keeping Azumaya away wouldn't be a problem at all... However, at that moment he couldn't regret his previous decisions more.

Junta's hopeful expression faltered under the weight of Takato's disconcerting silence. He felt a wave of panic wash over him as he realized the implication of his request. Did he overstep? Was this too forward? But he knew he had to try to bridge the gap between them, even if it meant risking rejection. "I mean, it doesn't have to be alcohol, of course!" Junta quickly corrected, his voice rising in pitch. "We could grab something non-alcoholic, like coffee or tea, if that's more comfortable for you... I... I'd just like to get some advice, if that could be possible..."

Takato's intense blue gaze bore into Junta's, almost as if he were attempting to discern if those really were the younger man's motives. For a moment, he contemplated brushing off the proposal, refusing in a dismissive manner mainly because of the reason that he talked about with Sasaki earlier. Yet, in the silence that lingered between them, an unexpected curiosity began to bud within him. Why did Junta seek his advice even when they barely know each other? What could an innocent drink together accomplish? Finally, after a brief internal debate, Takato's features softened ever so slightly.

"Fine, just a few drinks," he uttered, the words terse but accepting.

Junta's face immediately brightened, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you, Saijo-san!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying a trace of relief and an incredible happiness, and the place seemed to light up with his glow.

The tension that had hung in the air dissipated slightly as they left the rehearsal space, heading towards the nearest club in the central place. For Takato, this was uncharted territory. He couldn't help but wonder what prompted Junta's sudden interest in connecting with him outside of rehearsals. As they walked side by side, an odd sense of curiosity mixed with apprehension brewed within Takato, unsure of what this encounter might unfold. Nevertheless, he stood firm with his decision, probably motivated by having the rookie asking for his help, which was basically like a caress to his ego and the main reason why he had let his guard down so quickly. Besides, he couldn't help but think that a drink after work wouldn't hurt.

But those "few drinks" they were supposed to drink eventually turned into much more than just that. The first mug of beer Takato drank quickly caused him to order one more, and then another, and another, and Junta was so busy watching every detail of him that he couldn't take the time to stop him.

His eyes admired him intensely, noticing how much his fine presence in that place stood out. From his elegant hairstyle to the dark boots that almost reached his knees and made a nice contrast to his blue pants and white shirt, not to mention the long coat with a furry collar that he had eventually gotten rid of, caused by the heat of the alcohol was naturally generating in his body. That bar was old, and the old wood seemed to not match the man's bearing at all, who even drinking seemed to look so refined. He didn't know how to explain it, but there was something more to the admiration he apparently felt for him. Takato was undoubtedly attractive, and he could appreciate it perfectly, but that enormous attractiveness was more than a simple superficial appreciation, although he didn't know exactly what name was appropriate to give it without exceeding the limit of madness.

"Uhm...Saijo-san...I think you should stop drinking" he pointed out with a meek smile as he finally seemed to come back to reality, stunned by the intensity of his own thoughts.

"Huh!? Who do you think you are to tell me not to drink anymore!? ...What's more! Who are you, to order me!?" he exclaimed, and quickly shattered his sophisticated image. "You're just a brat, hic... Rookie...! Ha! You must be full of yourself for having the lead role, right?"

He scoffed; his voice slurred in an obvious sign of how drunk he was. Junta looked at him dumbfounded for a few seconds. «Ah... So, he has a hidden personality» he thought, listening as Takato continued to complain about him for a long number of minutes while he used the chopsticks to play with some pieces of meat, never actually putting them in his mouth. «Haha... It's kind of... Cute» he couldn't silence the voice in his head even though he was simultaneously listening to Takato insult him, and he was quickly surprised at his own ideas... Cute? Wasn't that a somewhat inappropriate characteristic to define another Alpha? The older would surely be furious if he had said it out loud, but he just couldn't seem to control the pace of his thoughts when it came to him. After all, and even though he knew very well that he was an Alpha, Takato continued to look docile in his eyes, and somehow it made him feel a need to protect him.

"I'm sorry Saijo-san, but... I think I'll be confiscating this for now~"

He chose to gently snatch the mug of beer that Takato had momentarily put aside while he was playing with the meat, and it was in a matter of seconds that he saw how his brow furrowed even more.

"Huh!? Give me back my beer, you... T-third-rate actor!" His voice resonated a little in the place, but not enough to attract unnecessary attention.

Then, finally the black-haired man tried to stand up to recover what was his, but it didn't take long for his feet to slip as if the floor were ice. The weight of his body fell completely on Azumaya, and he had to act quickly to put the beer mug on the table before Takato ended up on top of him and consequently it ended up falling to the floor. Luckily, he was agile enough to avoid it, and his arms were in charge of holding the older man tightly, leaving him stunned for a few seconds due to the unexpectedness of that situation. He wasn't sure how to react or what was right to think and what wasn't, and something in his mind seemed to shake at the thought that Takato was incredibly light, much more than he could have even imagined. His large hands remained on his back, and he couldn't help but notice how easily he could've covered his entire body in his arms. His thoughts were taking an unknown direction, and it didn't help that Takato remained motionless in his place, probably dizzy from the recent fall.

"Saijo-san" he called him, his voice sounding a little deeper than he would've liked.

Takato looked up somewhat disoriented, and finally their eyes met. A wave of tension rushed through Junta's body, seeing him so close for the first time, and looking so vulnerable. It was strange... He wasn't felling like himself at all. He was so used to perfect monotony, that this alteration of his senses felt practically unreal. He wanted to do something. His body was starting to feel thirsty for something, without knowing exactly what, and soon he sensed a new scent in the air that he simply attributed to a hallucination. His mind was blank, but all of his senses were alert, perceiving with too much accuracy every Takato's movement, even the heavy rhythm of his breathing.

«What's... What's this feeling?» he asked himself, wanting to go further, and discover even more of it.

Takato's body remained stiff, not being able to recognize from where this sudden connection was coming, but then, in one instant, something inside him seemed to make him react when he took a better look at the blonde, and a strong foreign scent intruded into his nose, putting him on alert, and making him practically push the younger man's body in an attempt to get him away from him. Junta's eyes widened, and only then he was able to notice the annoyance that was drawn all over Takato's expression, and that only seemed to soften a little thanks to the enormous blush that colored his cheeks, a product of the alcohol.

"Azumaya-kun...” he called him stiffly, and Junta seemed to jump in place when he heard him speak after that strange moment. “Call Sasaki-san for me... Now..." he ordered as he handed him a paper with a phone number, "I need him to come for me," he clarified, and after swallowing heavily, Junta received the paper in his hands, quickly recognizing the rejection in his voice.

Had he been the only one who had felt that? Was he perhaps perceiving things where there were none? Probably... Probably Takato was extremely displeased at having to fall on top of another Alpha in such a troublesome way, so he simply forced himself to retain his impulses, not even himself knowing what he would be capable of doing if he didn't maintain control.

"Y... Yes... Wait for me here please" he answered, and he quickly stood up to walk in the direction where it was the phone of the place.

He contacted Sasaki within minutes, and told him about Takato's condition, clearly sparing the details. Strangely, Sasaki sounded too worried, and quickly asked him the address of the place. Junta had noticed for years that they seemed to be very good friends, almost like brothers, but when analyzed from an objective point of view, it was certainly strange that a Beta would be so disturbed by the idea of his Alpha friend being drunk in a bar. It was clearly not impossible that something bad could happen to him, but the odds were much lower considering he was an Alpha.

Despite that, he didn't say anything, and simply waited for Sasaki to come for Takato, refraining from saying anything else to the other actor as it was too obvious how tense he was after that awkward moment between them.

He knew very well that other Alphas could easily become disgusted with his proximity, especially due to the strength of his scent, and even though he was sure that he had applied enough neutralizer that day to not bother, that didn't rule out the possibility that Takato had experienced displeasure at falling like that on another alpha, or even at the idea of having shown himself fragile. After all, they were both Alphas, and it was a matter of logic that Alphas had a kind of aversion to dominant Alphas, whether out of pride or a matter of competence.

He knew it. He really knew it very well.

However, he didn't feel displeased at all.

"Ah, Azumaya-kun... I'm really sorry about this... I hope he hasn't caused you any trouble."

Sasaki apologized when he finally appeared on the scene, taking charge of helping Takato up and making him hold onto his shoulders while he wrapped his arm around his waist. Junta simply shook his head, maintaining a slight smile on his face even though his attention was really focused on that foreign hand that surrounded Takato's waist, who at that point once again looked somewhat disoriented, as if everything that had happened had been over mixed up in his head.

After saying goodbye, Azumaya stood still in his place, watching the two men leave. He looked down as soon as they disappeared from his sight, and unconsciously his eyes looked at his own hands, which, not long ago had the impulse to slide to the black-haired man's waist.

It seemed as if he could still feel Takato's body on him. 

Chapter Text

The days passed, and the tension in the rehearsal space seemed to become more palpable with each simple scene Junta had to perform with Takato.

The play cast them as rivals, meaning the shared scenes were more numerous than either of them had anticipated. Details like these were clearly advantageous for Junta, who couldn't contain his longing to be as close to the raven-haired as possible; but on the other hand, they constituted an evident displeasure for Takato.

The night they had gone out for drinks had made it abundantly clear to Junta that Takato disliked him for some reason he didn't know. But rather than affecting him as it would have happened to anyone else, he, deep within himself, felt strangely pleased.

Throughout his life, he had been accustomed to always receiving praise, whether it be empty or sincere. Everyone who crossed his path ended up adoring his kind demeanor and radiant appearance. Therefore, knowing that in some way Takato was the one making a difference felt refreshing. It was interesting how the older one could be quite unpredictable from time to time, and with it, his eagerness to be close to him seemed to increase with each passing day, at an unrelenting pace.

"It's quite a strange, excessive emotion you have about this guy..." remarked his friend Taguchi one day. Taguchi, being one of those in charge of the play's preparations, could see firsthand what was happening during rehearsals. He was eating a melon bun while Junta went through the lines in the script. "It's almost as if you like him."

He added, and suddenly Junta, who seemed mostly focused on his reading, raised his gaze in Taguchi's direction, opening his eyes wide and observing the omega with a feeling he couldn't quite describe. The room fell into silence for a good amount of seconds, and unknowingly something stirred within him. Taguchi looked at him with incredulous eyes, and almost automatically, a laugh escaped from his lips.

"Although, of course, that's impossible... Both of you are alphas, after all!"

His voice echoed in the space, breaking the strange silence that had settled between them. Junta blinked, feeling momentarily bewildered by that comment that the beta had made jokingly, and yet it seemed like a kind of revelation to him. Liking Takato? The idea sounded absurd somehow. Throughout his life, he had never felt attraction to anyone, and since he had seen Takato in his first appearance on stage, he always assumed that his desire to be close to him was nothing more than admiration, especially considering that both were alphas and Takato had in abundance something he lacked at that time... Passion. Takato had determination in his gaze, there was security, a strongly established identity; it was evident that he loved what he did even when he was just a teenager.

The years passed, and that hadn't changed. Takato's determination was still in his blue eyes, and it remained as firm as an oak. Junta couldn't deny that details like these made him undeniably captivating.

But liking Takato? That was a word that went much beyond what he had imagined.

The society they lived in still had many prejudices. In fact, even omegas could be highly discriminated against in various job sectors, and although it was a topic that both clans were trying to address, the traditional mindset of older people ended up taking a negative role in those aspects of evolution. If a person could be despised merely for their caste, couples who were of the same caste had an even worse fate. It was obvious that they existed, Junta knew it, but he didn't find it pleasant to think about.

He still remembered very clearly that one time when he was fifteen, and he witnessed how the leader of the Emberstone clan had exiled an omega couple merely for publicly expressing their love, shunned by much of the clan for "rejecting the law of the moon goddess."

If he answered that he liked Takato, would Taguchi feel repulsion towards him? And would it really be worth the risk, considering that he himself didn't fully understand his feelings?... And more importantly, how would Takato feel if he found out? He already knew that his presence wasn't entirely welcome for the other actor, but could that subtle dislike turn into hatred if he found out about something like that? The questions began to make his hands sweat, suddenly feeling confused and uneasy.

"... You're right, Taguchi-san... Anyway, there's no need to worry... I plan to give a good performance regardless of my personal feelings," he responded, limiting himself to smile in that friendly and reassuring way that almost emitted sparks.

Taguchi nodded, although he couldn't help but feel that something was off due to Junta's reaction.

"Sure... You know... I've heard that theater can be emotionally intense... And sometimes emotions confuse you," he commented, trying to downplay the matter as he waved his hand, not wanting to draw hasty conclusions with that ambiguous response Junta had given him. "Just... You should try not to let it affect you to the point of getting lost in your own thoughts."

Despite his resolute words, Junta found himself reflecting on that conversation more than expected.

The inexplicable connection he felt towards Takato, that tension on stage every time they locked eyes, now took on a new meaning. He forced himself to push aside those thoughts and focus on the next rehearsal, but the seed of doubt was already planted in his mind. As the scene progressed, Junta couldn't help but notice how Takato's lines seemed to resonate differently within him. Every gesture, every word, contributed to that strange fascination he felt towards him. He didn't know how to explain it, but something was changing in his perception of Takato, and the process had only just begun.

His head was filled with him. Takato was becoming a dangerous addiction the more he interacted with him. He could spend hours just watching him, reaching a point where he knew it wasn't normal. Since years ago, he had longed to meet him, but now that he had, he felt increasingly ambitious. He wanted more and more, and it simply seemed like there was no solution... His desire wove like a dark tangle in his mind; every encounter, every shared word, fueled a burning fire in his chest. The smallest details of Takato became guidelines to follow; the images of his smile and penetrating gaze were etched with intensity. Every gesture, every inflection of his voice, turned into notes of an obsessive melody that resonated incessantly in Junta's mind.

But what was it that he truly desired? It was evident that he was lost. Takato had him drowning in an unknown feeling, probably without even being aware of it, but the knowledge that both were alphas seemed to be the factor preventing him from giving a name to what was happening.

Suddenly, overwhelmed by the internal struggle he was facing, Junta decided to confront his own feelings and clarify things with himself once and for all. Nervously, he approached Takato with an invitation, who seemed focused on reviewing the script.

"Saijo-san... I apologize for interrupting,"

He said in the first instance. Takato quickly looked up, and Junta felt a kind of ecstasy just for having his attention.

"Wouldn't you like to go out with me again? We could grab something to eat after rehearsal," Junta proposed, trying to sound casual while struggling to hide his anxiety. "You know... The other night was kind of strange; I couldn't even say goodbye properly, and..."

He wanted to say more, but Takato cleared his throat, interrupting him and responding with a polite but firm rejection:

"I'm sorry, Azumaya-kun, but I have other plans after rehearsal. Maybe next time."

Junta blinked, a little taken aback by the directness of that rejection, but not truly surprised. Takato quickly distanced himself, finding an excuse to discuss something about the script with the person in charge of the play. Although he couldn't help but feel somewhat disheartened, Junta didn't give up. He decided to try again the next day, hopeful that things might change.

They had to change the rehearsal location due to an unexpected change in weather. It was a very light rain that had suddenly started, but they couldn't risk rehearsing at the usual open-air theater.

Takato was leaning against one of the walls of that place, muttering something to himself, probably rehearsing his lines. Junta approached a few steps, and it was impossible for him not to admire him from his position, noticing his concentrated yet relaxed expression, clearly not aware of his presence yet. He analyzed his dark, long eyelashes, appreciated his fine and elegant nose, and somehow managed not to continue downward through his face.

With a smile, Junta cleared his throat, making sure to get his attention. "Saijo-san," he called out later, and Takato seemed to startle in his place. Azumaya just couldn't control the idea that the older one could be quite adorable despite being an alpha.

"Here comes this guy again!?... Oh moon goddess, what does he want?" Takato wondered, adjusting his hair a bit to disguise the awkward reaction he had just had. He considered himself a fairly patient person, but having Junta so close to him was starting to annoy him. Even during breaks or snack times, Junta quickly managed to stick to him like gum under the pretext of asking for advice. And obviously, under the scrutiny of onlookers, he was forced to comply with a false friendly smile. As the heir of his clan and one of the best actors in the place (not to say the best), he had an image to maintain, so he wouldn't risk losing his composure with that rookie.

Despite noticing the forced nature of his smile, Junta didn't stop his invitation. "What do you say, Saijo-san? Are we going out this time? Surely you'll find a slot in your schedule."

He proposed with his angelic appearance, looking so bright that it was almost blinding. However, Takato declined the proposal again, this time with excessive courtesy, knowing that there were a couple of extra eyes watching the scene.

"I really appreciate the invitation, Azumaya-kun, but I am committed after rehearsal... You know, as the heir to the leader, I have many activities to attend to," he justified, not being a total lie after all.

Days passed, and Junta persisted in his attempts to get closer to Takato. Each time, he received a polite but firm refusal. Although frustrated, Junta did not lose determination.

The nights became sleepless, with dreams populated by Takato's figure. The need to be close to him transformed into a compulsion, a constant search for his presence. Each rejection, instead of deterring him, became a challenge, fueling the flame of his obsession. Every second away from Takato was torture, and every second near him, an ecstasy that only fed his growing addiction.

Reality and fantasy intertwined, forming a tangled network of turbulent emotions. Takato's words resonated in his mind like an obsessive mantra, and every attempt to distance himself from those thoughts only made them more persistent. Junta's obsession became palpable, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to overflow in every interaction with Takato. The line between admiration and obsession blurred, and Junta found himself trapped in an emotional spiral, where the intensity of his feelings only grew over time.

Finally, after several failed attempts, Junta decided to confront Takato directly. However, before he could approach him with the same intention as every day, someone stood in his way. It was Mr. Kuroda, the main director of the play, an older alpha with extensive experience in theater and playwriting, but who apparently had a rather twisted personality.

"Azumaya-kun...! Finally I can exchange words with you!" he exclaimed, giving him a few pats on the shoulder while smiling.

Junta didn't know it, but Takato already had his eyes on them as soon as he heard the man's voice. The man was talented, there was no doubt about that. However, Takato knew that he was the type of person with a peculiar taste for belittling the work of others. He belonged to the same clan after all, so he had already acted a couple of times with him in other plays. He knew his methodology very well, so it was almost automatic the way he discreetly observed the interaction.

"Ah, Kuroda-san," Junta greeted him with a subtle bow.

At first, it seemed like a normal conversation, both smiling, and Junta looking radiant as always. However, the scene didn't take long to take the direction Takato was suspecting.

Kuroda, with a sly smile, casually commented to Azumaya, "You must have some unique talents to secure such an important role in your first performance... And in such an important festival! Anyone could say there was some intermediary involved. But, well, it's probably just a matter of luck, right?"

His words, wrapped in a layer of friendliness, carried a subtle subtext that left Azumaya reflecting on the motives behind the seemingly innocent man's comment. He didn't care too much though, so he just laughed mirthlessly but convincingly enough to seem like a real laugh, without looking too affected by that “joke”.

Takato could hardly believe it. It was obvious what Kuroda was implying. What's more, he had been so blatant that it could no longer even be considered a mere insinuation. He thought Junta would find a way to counter his tasteless remark, but a stronger sense of disbelief invaded him when he noticed the boy had no intention of saying anything about it. A sense of powerlessness began to spread through his body, compelling him to rise from his seat, his body almost moving on its own.

Before Junta could say anything more, Takato subtly but effectively intervened. He approached Junta, positioning himself almost firmly in front of him, and with a smile, interrupted:

"Kuroda-san, your suggestive comments are unnecessary. Azumaya-kun got the role through his own talent... implying that someone intervened is unfair and demeaning."

The rigidity in Takato's voice drew the attention of others in the vicinity, and the older man unconsciously seemed to shrink under the sudden extra scrutiny.

"Oh, Saijo-kun, I was just joking. I didn't mean to offend," he clarified, laughing falsely, to which Takato responded with a small, superficial laugh.

"I appreciate a sense of humor, but Azumaya-kun's work speaks for itself. Don't underestimate others based on your limited perceptions."

Kuroda simply laughed, giving Takato a pat on the shoulder as if trying to downplay the matter and avoid turning it into a conflict, knowing it could affect his image. When he walked away, everyone who had been paying attention had already returned to their own affairs, assuming that nothing wrong had happened, thanks to not having heard the entire conversation.

Junta was motionless, his eyes fixed on Takato's black hair as he processed what had just happened. He could almost feel an excess of Takato's scent being so close, and it was a somehow revitalizing sensation.

He only snapped out of his reverie when he noticed the shorter figure moving and, after releasing a sigh, gesturing to walk away. Then he didn't fully think about what he was going to do, and it was almost a reflex the moment his hand took hold of Takato's wrist with some force, preventing him from returning to his initial position. Takato quickly turned, showing a confused expression and noticing a kind of déjà vu that he didn't quite like.

"Saijo-san... Uh, thanks... You... defended me," he murmured, almost unable to believe it. His imaginary wings spread, almost unable to contain his state of ecstasy, and he knew that if he were in his animal form, his tail would have been happily swaying from side to side. In reality, he hadn't even been concerned about the man's words, but the fact that Takato had stood in front of him to defend him had him on cloud nine. A intoxicating euphoria invaded him, and he couldn't help but replay the scene over and over, almost memorizing the small and thin silhouette of the dark-haired boy in front of him, looking so delicate yet firm.

Something inside himself wanted to hug Takato tightly... Hug him? Well, it was probably something more intense than that.

"Ah, no... Well, I, haha..." Takato tried to deny it, but clearly, that's what he had done.

His pride caused a slight blush to appear on his cheeks, feeling unusually embarrassed about being so evident. Yes, he definitely hated that the boy had snatched the lead role that clearly belonged to him, and that he had won it even though it was his first time stepping on stage continued to bother him. But if there was something he detested, it was those kinds of people who directly belittled others' work. Junta bothered him especially, but he himself had witnessed in rehearsals that the guy had talent. Especially in the last few days, he had noticed that the determination in his eyes had become even greater. There was an undeniable attraction that had even caught him in some moments, but that was something he clearly would never admit.

"It's just... It's what anyone would do," he managed to finish while avoiding eye contact and squinting his eyes. He wanted to break free from the grip, but its strength seemed to increase in seconds.

"Azumaya-kun... It hurts."

Junta quickly let go upon hearing those words, as if his touch burned. He hadn't even realized the force he was using.

"I'm sorry... I... Thanks again."

He swallowed heavily and watched Takato show him a very faint smile. It seemed like nonsense, but he hated the idea of him walking away; he wanted to have him close, as close as possible. However, he was aware that for some reason, Takato hated having him nearby.

Junta, feeling uneasiness within him but simultaneously being determined, cleared his throat before addressing Takato. "Saijo-san, I need to ask you something."

He said before he moved far enough away not to hear him. Takato felt a twitch in his eye but disguised it enough when he turned again to look at the younger one.

Junta looked directly into Takato's eyes, seeking answers. "Did I do something to upset you? You always reject my invitations, and honestly, I'd like to know why," he was completely frank this time, and almost instantly, Takato's expression became somewhat more serious, as if he were analyzing his words. "I want to learn from you, be close to you. You're amazing at what you do, and I want... I want to be as good as you."

Takato, although surprised by Junta's frankness, maintained his serious gaze. Tension hung in the air as he awaited Takato's response, longing to understand what was really happening between them. He knew there was something much more intense than that, but he couldn't tell Takato; he didn't want to scare him.

Takato, with a serious demeanor, replied, "It's nothing personal against you... I just haven't had time these days," he justified again, and Junta could tell he was lying.

But why? Was Takato hiding something? Or did he simply hate him so much that he didn't want to be near him? He couldn't recognize it, and somehow that uncertainty made him feel frustrated.

"But let me tell you... You'll need more than just determination to be as good as me, Azumaya-kun..."

Takato approached him and smiled deliberately with his characteristic pride, speaking in a tone of voice that was almost like a whisper. Somehow, he couldn't help but feel pleased by the rookie's words.

"Although I must admit... You're not doing bad at all," he praised, clearly in his own way, and a pat on his shoulder sealed the moment.

Junta stood there; he didn't move an inch, not even to hold Takato back. That praise reverberated in his mind despite its ambivalent and proud nature. The feeling of Takato's hand on his shoulder became an indelible memory, a touch that burned on his skin.

In the following days, Junta couldn't get that brief contact out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes, he relived the sensation, as if Takato were still there, palpable in his proximity. Junta's determination intensified, not only on stage but also in his desire to get closer to Takato. It was getting worse, as if he had a beast scratching inside, eager to hunt its prey and have it under its claws.

Until finally, amidst the obsession that enveloped him, Junta confronted a truth he couldn't ignore. He no longer cared that both were alphas, nor that other people might label the feeling as unnatural. He wanted Takato in a way that went beyond admiration. He wanted to claim him, to feel him as his own. To hold him until become intoxicated by him, to lose himself in his essence, and to see each of his hidden facets, from the firmest to the most fragile.

He desired him in an inhuman way, and as time passed, that desire seemed to become more and more uncontrollable.

He wasn't even sure how much he could conceal it anymore.

Chapter Text

Takato stared at himself in the mirror, carefully observing every detail of his reflection while he meticulously applied the neutralizer on his neck. The movement was natural, like a ritual he performed daily, every morning. He wanted to sigh, to take a breath, but he knew perfectly well that he had many obligations to fulfill that day, so it was not the right time to take a break. Then, he placed the container inside the bathroom cabinet and extracted from it a bottle that, at first glance, looked like a common perfume, although he was well aware that it wasn't.

He sprayed it on his neck, above the neutralizer, and quickly noticed how his real scent disappeared, remaining only in his room. Now his body was impregnated with a woody scent with hints of roses to which he had become completely accustomed. As he spread the liquid, his mind dipped into childhood memories, reliving the moment when his grandmother had taught him a crucial lesson: the need to keep his true caste a secret.

From the moment he had his presentation process, his grandmother had been adamant in explaining to him the consequences of laying bare his true identity.

«Omegas don't have the same privileges as alphas... And if anyone discovers your true caste it won't take long for them to belittle you... As the heir to clan leader, we can't allow that... You have to keep it hidden, at least until this society evolves and can understand it.» It was almost as if he could still hear her voice that night, after going through a horrible first heat that she herself helped him control.

"At least until this society evolves..." he repeated to himself under his breath.

But how long did he have to wait for that to happen...? Would it ever even happen? Even though he was already older, his mind kept pondering on it, wondering if he would ever be able to stop hiding his true nature. He knew very well that it was all to protect him from being judged, and above all to prevent doubts about his ability as the next leader, but still the weight of social prejudice fell on him like an invisible burden, like a daily struggle in the midst of his dual identity. And although the weight of his secret and the expectations that weighed on him were overwhelming, he knew very well that he could not allow himself to falter.

He adjusted his tie, arranged his previously tidied hair, and headed to the exit of his house.

The cold air hit his face as soon as he set foot outside, and soon the familiar sound of his boots stomping in the snow reached his ears. It was very early in the morning, so only a few people could be seen on the streets.

He had drunk a hot chocolate just before leaving, and the taste was still vivid in his mouth. The sweetness of it kept him distracted for a while, but not long enough to stop thinking about the long days ahead. He had to attend rehearsals for the play, and the next days, as soon as he returned home, he had to take care of clan diplomatic matters and then attend a meeting with his grandmother, so once again he would have no time to rest at all. Normally it didn't affect him this much, life and his circumstances had accustomed him to living on a rather hectic schedule, but it was as if there was something new that was making him more moody than usual.

"Ah... Takato-kun!"

His gaze lifted at the sound of his name, and unconsciously a slight smile appeared on his face as he watched Sasaki practically run up to him.

"Good morning, Sasaki-san."

"Good morning... Are you off to rehearsals already?" he asked cheerfully, taking off his gloves, and from the scent that reached his nose, Takato assumed he had been chopping firewood.

"Yeah, you know I hate being late."

"Oh... Give me a few minutes and I'll give you a ride!" he offered, as usual with that helpful and kind smile, and Takato just laughed a little.

Sasaki had been his friend for years, but as he grew older and got deeper and deeper into the acting world, he had practically become a manager of sorts, and Takato knew very well that this was due to that time his grandmother asked him to take care of him, and perhaps also because of his own concern.

"No need... Don't you have to take Nana-chan to school?"

He was evidently more encouraged at the thought of the little girl, but Sasaki quickly shook his head.

"She's staying home with her grandparents until tomorrow" he clarified, and the dark-haired one simply seemed resigned to that.

"Alright, then... I guess there's no other option, is there?" he joked, raising an eyebrow, and almost immediately Sasaki gestured for him to go inside his house upon receiving his positive response.

"I'll wash my hands and we'll go, okay?"

Takato managed to nod his head before watching his silhouette disappear down the hallway.

The house was extremely warm, unlike outside. The change in temperature was abrupt, but he was used to it by now. His gaze wandered over the walls and furniture, taking in the details he already knew practically by heart. Sasaki was a beta, and little Nana, his younger sister, was not yet in age to go through presentation, so only the scents of firewood and perhaps some room deodorizer with hints of vanilla haunted the place.

Familiarity enveloped him, and in the midst of the nostalgia that those walls provoked in him, his mind went back in time again, leading him to unwittingly relive that moment when for the first time he had been completely exposed after he was announced as alpha.

He remembered the moment very clearly. When the most intense snow period of the year was coming. The wind, icy and intense, pushed the grayish clouds that girded the sky, announcing a new storm even though everywhere was already full of thick snow that little by little they had managed to push out of the streets.

Takato, then fifteen years old, was at Sasaki's house, with whom he had to do a school project. He would have left previously, but by then the weather was getting worse, and it was clear to any of the Nevilla clan that going out in the middle of a storm would be practically sentencing a death, so he had to accept the offer of the boy's grandparents about staying over at least for that day. His grandmother had been notified by phone, so there were no big problems... Takato, however, was not at all sociable. He was more used to having a myriad of duties that came with training a future leader, or to be studying some play he was going to take part in at the clan theater, always skillfully balancing school with what had already become a job and his own duties. But Sasaki had turned out to be a nice boy... Their personalities got along quite well, and it was the first time the dark-haired one could say he had made a friend.

It was already time for dinner, and the table highlighted a wide variety of food that Sasaki's grandparents had prepared for both of them before going to bed even though it wasn't even fully dark. The beta was used to seeing them go to sleep early, so he had no trouble when it came to doing things like washing the dishes or turning off the fireplace. And even though he was quite calm and satisfied with the work he had done with Takato, there was one big little detail that was starting to worry him.

Takato had been locked in the bathroom for almost fifteen minutes. He had seen him subtly disoriented during the day, but he preferred not to say anything because he imagined that he would not take long to deny it considering the proud personality he showed. But now that the boy had been locked up for so long, it was inevitable that he felt a little uneasy about it.

"Takato-kun... Are you feeling okay?" he asked aloud, intending for the elder to hear him from the bathroom, but received no response.

He opted to put aside the cutlery he was taking out of the kitchen, and at a careful pace made his way to the hallway where the bathroom was located, perhaps wanting to hear something that would indicate that the boy was okay; but, as soon as he set foot in the hallway, a strong and intense aroma hit plain against his face. Chocolate... And maybe mint? He was a beta, but that didn't stop him from sensing the scents, so he quickly recognized that rather fresh and sweet smell, which became cloying. He quickly put the pieces of the puzzle together, and understood that the boy was most likely in heat.

But there was still something that didn't quite fit.... He knew, from general culture, that alphas tended to give off a slightly spicier scent when they came into heat, while the mostly sweet aromas of omegas, intensified to the point of being sickly sweet.

He remembered all the commotion that had occurred a little over a year ago, when the heir to the clan had finally been introduced, a young alpha of promising talents and incredibly beautiful features.... Takato. But then why his essence...?

He didn't have enough time to think about why that scent of roses and wood had disappeared, when a small clatter inside the bathroom brought him out of his thoughts. The silence was interrupted, and he could hear the agitated breathing of the boy on the other side of the door, who, in desperation, noticed how the heat was getting more and more intense, to a point that it was even painful. It was as if there was lava in every inch of his body, and he was reaching a limit where he wanted to shed tears for the hell he was experiencing.

What would he do? It was enough for Sasaki to recognize his true essence and his secret would be fully exposed.

He tried to get up from the ground, but his body felt so weak that he ended up falling to the ground on his knees. His vision was blurred, to a point where it was even difficult to identify objects around him. Sweat was pouring down his forehead and neck, and he could barely get rid of the sweater he was wearing in an attempt to make his suffering a little more bearable. He was panting without even meaning to, like an action of his body that he was no longer able to control, and every minute that passed felt like torture.

"Takato-kun... Please open the door, just a second."

He heard Sasaki's voice kind of distant, but he knew he was right behind that door, which made him shudder from head to toe, terrified with the idea that someone had finally discovered him.

"Please... I've got some pills that will help you... I'm not going to look at anything, so you can trust me."

Takato wanted to burst into tears as soon as he heard him, perhaps more sensitive than usual thanks to the same heat, that had him in such humiliating circumstances. He didn't know whether to obey, or whether to simply ignore him and wait for the most intense moment of the heat to end to run away home, but he knew perfectly well that the latter option was not feasible and much less responsible, considering the series of factors he had against him.

Uncertainty was shaking him inside. And he could already imagine the disaster that would be unleashed the next day in the clan when they knew that their next leader was not really an alpha, and that everything had been a lie strategically planned since before he was born.

But the pain was starting to become snatching, and he knew that if he didn't do something about it, he could spend hours like this. The last thing he wanted was to wait for someone other than Sasaki to eventually catch his scent and end up getting extra attention, so for the first time he opted to put his pride aside, and made an inhuman effort to stand up and manage to open the door just a few inches. He had to lean his weight on it so as not to end up collapsing once again on the floor, and then his eyes managed to recognize a hand that peeked through that small space he left available, in a very careful way, extending him a blister of whitish pills that he knew very well.

He quickly received them, without saying anything, and as soon as he noticed that the beta had removed his hand, he closed the door again, feeling nervous, exposed and distrustful of everything around him. With his grandmother they always calculated the approximate date when his heat would arrive, to make sure he spent it at home... But clearly something had gone wrong, so it was the first time he had experienced that in a place outside his home, and it was definitely not something he wanted to experience again.

He turned on the faucet of the sink, and with his trembling hands he barely managed to take out a pill, which he left in his mouth to later swallow it with the help of water, drinking it with desperation, as if he had been for days in a desert in the middle of a drought. Just as a precaution he took an extra pill, wanting to completely disappear any symptoms, no matter how minimal, and as soon as the last one went down his throat, his body fell to the ground, unable to stand up any longer. With difficulty he huddled in a corner of the room, waiting for it all to be over once and for all... And in the midst of the noisy silence that surrounded him, he begged the moon goddess to have mercy on him.

About an hour later, Sasaki returned to the hallway where the bathroom was located after having taken care of covering the food on the table, expecting to ask the boy if he was feeling better, but ended up being a bit surprised as soon as he noticed the dark-haired man standing and leaning against one of the walls outside the bathroom, looking a bit disheveled but clearly better than before. The place was still permeated with his scent, and you could tell a mile away how embarrassed and uncomfortable Takato felt. His expression almost looked stricken, and he wasn't able to look up even when he knew that Sasaki was a few steps away from him. In his frown there was frustration, distress, as if he had suffered a huge humiliation, and his lips were pressed tightly together, as if he couldn't find the exact words to say.

Sasaki sketched a slight smile, seeking to reassure him.

"I see you're better, that's good..." he expressed, and Takato only tightened the edges of his shirt a little in response. "You can rest easy... I'm not going to tell anyone, if that's what you're worried about."

Finally the boy's blue eyes lifted to look at him at that clarification, and although he was still somewhat wary and uneasy, he felt slightly calmer. The consequences of being discovered as an omega could be devastating, not only for him, but also for the future of the clan. But despite his reservations, Takato had decided to trust Sasaki, at least for the time being, recognizing in him a glimmer of understanding and solidarity that made him let his guard down a bit, which he never did with anyone else besides his grandmother.

Then Sasaki offered him food, and it was as if he could still savor the taste of the daifuku he had eaten that night after that overwhelming experience. Sasaki was very understanding, making sure to cover the pheromones that had been left scattered all over the place, and commented to him that his grandmother always made him carry suppressants in his backpack in case any of his classmates might need them, and the idea touched him a little.

And so, contrary to what he had imagined, the beta kept his secret as if it were his own, and somehow that fateful moment seemed to strengthen the beginning of that friendship. Because, with Sasaki knowing, there was a new person with whom Takato could be completely honest.

"Let's go, Takato-kun."

The elder's voice snapped him out of his memories, forcing him back to the present. And he simply nodded in reply, the images of the past fading as they made their way to the beta's car.

"By the way... How have you handled everything with Azumaya-kun?" he asked as he settled into his seat, and Takato seemed to grimace at the sound of that last name.

Of course... Azumaya Junta.

He knew there was one detail that had him a bit more grumpy those days, and that was precisely that alpha who didn't seem to want to leave him alone. For some reason the boy insisted on wanting to spend time with him, while he, on the other hand, had to find ways to refuse his invitations and stay away from him in a prudent way. He knew very well that having a dominant alpha around could be dangerous, and his inner wolf, who certainly had his temper, seemed to agree with that.

"Ah... I've handled it well, I guess... Though for some reason he insists on asking me for advice or buying me a drink" he smiled, though it was quite obviously a forced gesture. "No matter how much I reject him, he won't give up.... That brat sure has guts" he muttered between his teeth, crossing his arms as he noticed how the contrary started the car and finally made it move forward.

"It's a shame... He doesn't seem like a bad guy, I guess he just admires you a lot."

Takato raised an eyebrow, pondering the beta's words. It was true that at some point he had begun to feel a certain pity for Junta, but of course, he didn't plan to admit it. And although he preferred to think that the young man only admired him deeply, something inside him was not entirely convinced. Junta's presence around him was strange and even intimidating. He felt as if he was being stalked by a beast constantly, but unconsciously his brain had chosen not to pay attention to that sensation. For obvious reasons he had practically grown up as an alpha, and that led him to loathe feeling vulnerable or weak, and somehow, Junta awakened that feeling in him.... Something he still couldn't quite understand.

As they drove through the serene streets on their way to the rehearsal site, Takato was immersed in thought, absorbed in contemplating the ever-changing landscape that unfolded outside the car window. Gradually, the whiteness of the snow and the winter cold gave way to a lush green that spread across the landscape, which blossomed with serene beauty. The gray clouds, which previously enveloped the sky with their somber blanket, gradually dissipated, revealing the brightness of the sun rising overhead and announcing the arrival at the rehearsal site. Finally, the car stopped in front of the theater, and Takato got out with Sasaki, still thinking about Junta's insistence.

The day's rehearsal went smoothly, but Takato knew it would not be the end of Junta's invitations. Once again, he had turned down an offer from the alpha at the end, but what he clearly hadn't expected was that the same staff personnel would somehow end up forcing that meeting he was trying so hard to avoid.

"We should all go to the nearest bar together! What do you say?" the voice of one of the set design boys was heard.

"Sure! Why not? We should celebrate that everything is coming together perfectly... We're going to have a great play this festival!" the co-director of the play replied evidently animated, and after that sort of approval the atmosphere seemed to get a little more rowdy.

Mr. Kuroda was absent that day, so the place seemed a little less tense than usual. And that very detail gave Takato a hint to agree.... After all, having a beer and eating some meat didn't sound bad, but as soon as he decided to join in, some sort of pressure seemed to go through his head. He turned slyly, taking care to look out of the corner of his eye, and then, almost instantly, he met the attentive gaze of that tall alpha who was releasing flashes among the group, remaining apparently motionless, but it was all too obvious how expectant he was of his reaction.

«Ah... This brat... What does he want?» he thought, annoyed. His inner wolf was feeling uneasy about the extra attention, and by logic he had already made up his mind to politely decline the invitation. Sasaki couldn't go for him that night, and he knew that accepting being alone again might mean a risk not worth taking, especially considering he had an angel hovering around him every chance he got.

"Saijo-kun...! You're going to join us, right?"

Takato tensed slightly as he heard the co-director, a beta, approach him with a friendly smile.

"No, well... Actually I..."

"Oh, come on... Is it that this little alpha can't handle a few drinks?"

He teased him, and almost instantly Takato seemed to be caught off guard at such an insinuation. From his years of experience, Takato was already well known for falling easily to provocations, and while anyone might have thought that he wouldn't succumb to something so simple, everyone in the place predicted that he would quickly change his mind and let go of the excuse he had been about to give.

"Of course I can... I have a great resistance to alcohol, in fact.... I was just going to say that I need to change my clothes first."

He lied, and then the entire staff perked up again, including the green-eyed alpha who seemed to light up at his response.

After all... what could go wrong?

Chapter Text

The atmosphere in the bar was evidently lively. Nothing seemed to go wrong. Voices could be heard everywhere intermingling in an incomprehensible noise, while the ambient music provided a vibrant background. Takato was in the middle of it all, feeling the euphoria of the atmosphere seeping into his senses. He had clearly not wasted the opportunity to consume some alcohol, and as expected it had quickly begun to wreak havoc on his body.

The staff knew firsthand that Junta seemed to have a special "admiration" for Takato, so from the outset they encouraged them to sit together, obviously without getting a sense of the multiple times the veteran actor had declined invitations from the younger man.

"Did you know? Saijo-san tends to be very funny when he's drunk.... He becomes a completely different person," a girl sitting on his other side told Junta, though clearly in a voice so low and close to his ear that no one else would be able to hear it.

"Is that so...? I'm curious to see it."

He replied, with a dazzling smile, deciding to omit the detail that he had already witnessed it, then glancing sideways at the blue-eyed one, who seemed very enthusiastically drinking from his tankard, as if he simply wasn't at his side. As the days passed he had noticed that he could see Takato doing nothing at all, and yet he would still find it worth contemplating.

"We should play something, shouldn't we?" proposed one of the boys looking around the group, and everyone seemed to show enthusiasm at the idea.

"I have an idea! We could..."

The voice of the girl next to him was lost in the growing noise of the bar, but Takato and Junta barely seemed to pay attention to it. Takato was almost engrossed in watching the bubbles in his beer, and Junta only watched him out of the corner of his eye, silently, as if appreciating a moving work of art.

Minutes passed, and the commotion suddenly increased, both of them being forced to pay attention to what was happening.

"Guys, who's got number 7?"

Everyone checked their chopsticks, and the abrupt silence led to everyone directing their gazes to the two actors, who seemed in their own world until that moment.

"Oh... It's me" Azumaya replied, and the girl next to him, who was the one who seemed to be running the game, smiled brightly, as if she was looking forward to that specific moment.

"I have the perfect challenge for you, Azumaya-kun...!" she exclaimed excitedly, and Junta simply smiled back at her with curiosity and an innocence that dazzled all around him. “You must act out a scene of romance.... With Saijo-san!” she finally pointed at the dark-haired one, who then raised his catlike eyes almost immediately.

The silence that followed was palpable, as if the air itself had become thick. A few murmurs were heard, but gradually the laughter returned, all seeming to begin to motivate them to carry out the challenge. At first, the idea of a romantic scene starring two alphas puzzled the group, who exchanged incredulous glances and gestures of surprise. However, as the bewilderment faded, the laughter became more infectious, as if the disbelief at the situation turned into a shared recognition of the absurdity of the idea. It was evident that the scenario was so implausible that it was simply perceived with humor, as if the absurdity of the idea was what made it so funny.

Junta, however, felt his hands tingle as soon as the thought of being able to touch Takato crossed his mind, even if it was only for a few seconds. He didn't care about the intentions of the challenge. He didn't even seem the slightest bit worried that they might be teased, nor was he disturbed by the idea that the rest of them would be so amused to see two alphas together. He knew very well that for the rest it was nothing more than a game, and that it was probably against what the moon goddess dictated, but his feelings for Takato were there, regardless of whether he was alpha too, and they were growing in a colossal way with each passing day. He'd been through enough internal struggles to question himself just for that... But for Takato it wasn't the same.

The veteran actor had not been feeling well for a while, probably the alcohol was affecting him to the point of wreaking havoc in his body, as if he was going to stagger as soon as he made the slightest movement. He was certainly disguising how tense he had become with those words, and his ears seemed to echo with laughter all around him.

«Why do I have to be a part of this...? Isn't the brat the one they should be giving the challenge to?»

He couldn't help but wonder in his mind, smiling in a perfunctory manner the instant he noticed how everyone cheered them on, eager to be able to watch the comical scene. He took a breath, barely controlling the rhythm of his breathing, he knew that any approach with Junta was dangerous, but at that moment he couldn't afford to refuse as he usually did when the younger one asked him out. There were many eyes on them, and if there was something Takato knew how to do very well, it was to maintain his image.

His skin seemed to burn like lava, and his body felt extremely heavy. He was sure it was all a product of alcohol, but somehow there was something strange, something different that he was not able to decipher.

"Saijo-san..."

Junta spoke softly to him, tilting his head slightly in search of his gaze, showing little eyes that seemed to seek approval. He really wanted to refuse, mostly because he wasn't feeling well and feared the alcohol would cause him to fail when it came to the performance, but contrary to his wishes, he simply nodded his head, sighing a little as a resigned smile finally tugged at his lips, perfectly hiding the torment he was really experiencing.

"I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?" he replied, and then everyone seemed to get excited again, and he almost had to squint his eyes at how much the other man began to glow after his words.

"Azumaya-kun really looks up to him, doesn't he? He's happy to have a scene with him, no matter if it's romance."

Takato heard someone muttering over there, and he certainly couldn't help but wonder why the younger man seemed so unperturbed despite what they were about to do. Did he really admire him that much? He wondered, almost disoriented. His senses were scattered all over the place and he felt strange. And at the exact moment he wanted to say something, he felt a warm, strong hand clasp his. His eyes quickly traveled to the cause, and then he could observe how Junta's hand cradled his gently, almost sweetly, as if he was holding something very precious.

"If I touch your hand with my unworthy hand.... It would be like disrespecting this holy place." he suddenly began to speak, his voice sounding subtly huskier, but elegant, and almost immediately the other murmurs disappeared "My lips, like two shy pilgrims, are ready to make up for that rude touch with a gentle kiss."

Saijo's blue eyes watched him puzzled for a few seconds, not understanding exactly what was happening. Eventually, however, a memory popped into his head, of a play he had performed as a teenager.

«Really... Romeo and Juliet?» he thought, his face flushed with alcohol, but somehow it made the scene look more intimate in the eyes of the others. «Couldn't he have thought of something more cliché?» he asked himself sarcastically, not to mention the detail that he would have to play the girl. He wanted to curse him in every way possible, but he restrained himself, and contradictorily, returned that caress with his thumb, albeit very subtly.

"You're holding back your hand too much, like you're afraid to touch mine, but it's okay..." he uttered softly, perfectly continuing the performance, and felt grateful that his mind still had room to act, even though he was experiencing one set of sensations at a time. "Holding hands isn't a sin, it's a sign of respect for each other, like pilgrims on a journey."

"Do saints and pilgrims have lips too?"

Junta watched him intently, not taking his eyes off him, and Takato wanted to laugh, maybe because of how drunk he was, but he was actually amused for a second by the fact that the boy really gave the impression of being in love with him.

"Yes, they do... but they use them for prayer."

"Then, dear Juliet, let our lips do what our hands do..." Their hands seemed to know each other, and they were both playing the moment so well, that by then no one seemed to want to laugh anymore. "Let them come together in a kiss.... Unless you refuse, and my hope turns to despair."

"Saints don't move, though they do grant prayers."

"Then, remain still while I pray."

Everyone kept silent. Takato knew that was the scene where they kissed, but clearly that wasn't going to happen. He thought about getting up to call the show over, already feeling too overwhelmed, but Junta seemed to subtly tug on his hand, forcing him a few inches closer.

Their eyes met, and a spark seemed to run through Takato's body as he noticed a detail.... Junta was close, too close, and his gaze reflected the hunger of a caged monster. A wave of the scent of wood and citrus hit his face, and his legs seemed to weaken at it. Since he had fallen on top of him that first night, he knew perfectly well that he should avoid physical closeness with him, but at that moment his body didn't seem to want to react.

There was no doubt about it, Junta was going to kiss him... Or maybe something even worse.

"G... Guys, that's enough!"

A high-pitched little voice was suddenly heard from across the table, a blonde-haired omega, who seemed to rush to stop the scene as she saw what was about to happen.

Junta almost gave her a death glare. He really wanted to get rid of everyone and kiss Takato right there. He wasn't sure if it was because of his closeness, or having experienced his touch in that way, or perhaps because of the way his opponent's eyes had watched him during the performance, but his sanity seemed to be right on edge. Luckily he still harbored some rationality, and the hungry gleam in his eye seemed to disappear in a matter of seconds. He gave the shortest one's delicate hand a gentle squeeze and smiled at him, as if he hadn't been close to devouring his mouth. Thus he finally pulled away a few inches, regaining the distance they had from the beginning.

"Ha... Y-you guys did really well! For a second I thought you were really going to kiss!" continued another of the boys with a somewhat amused tone, as if wanting to break the silence that reigned.

The atmosphere, tense until that moment, began to relax little by little with that comment. Laughter filled the room again, although some of it was still nervous. One of the boys, with a mischievous smile, couldn't help but make a joking comment, "But Saijo-san as an omega doesn't look bad at all!"

Laughter broke out. Takato forced a laugh, aware of the stares, but he felt short of breath. He knew it was a joke, but the words echoed in his mind like an uncomfortable truth. Then, one of the team members, Mr. Nakata, an older and respected alpha also belonging to the Nevilla clan, raised his voice to defend him. "Don't say that about Saijo-kun.... He couldn't be an Omega. He's a good alpha, and even soon he'll be a great alpha leader."

Takato could barely keep the smile on his face when he heard that. The pressure of those words, added to the reality that took care of repeating that huge secret in his head in a noisy way, started to make him nauseous. The feeling of intense heat and waves of weakness were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and the remaining nervousness from what had happened with Junta along with the alcohol-induced symptoms only worsened his condition. It was as if his body and mind were on the verge of collapse.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Excuse me... I'm going to get some air" he made sure to say somewhat hurriedly, though in the most composed tone of voice he could formulate in the midst of his agitated state. He struggled to his feet, trying to show steadiness as he made his way out of the bar. His steps were unsteady, but he managed to maintain a semblance of control until he was through the door, clearly not noticing that pair of green eyes that had lingered watching him.

Once outside, the facade crumbled. The cool night air hit his face, but it did not alleviate the heat that consumed him from within.

He staggered toward a small nearby forest, his legs barely responding to his will. The darkness and silence of the place was a pleasant contrast to the bustle of the bar. Finally, there came a point where his meager strength left him completely and he dropped down next to a tree trunk, breathing heavily. Sweat covered his forehead, and every beat of his heart echoed in his ears like a drum. The discomfort was overwhelming.

The effects of the alcohol clouded his senses, but something deeper and more primal was awakening within him, a restlessness he could not ignore. It was as if every fiber of his being was being pulled in different directions. He felt his body burning, every cell crying out for relief that wouldn't come. He hugged himself, trying to find a modicum of comfort as his mind struggled to stay conscious. Memories of past moments mingled with present reality, making everything even more confusing and painful. The array of sensations made him more vulnerable, and that vulnerability terrified him.

Every time he breathed, it seemed that the air became thicker, more charged, and it entered his lungs with difficulty, as if it were insufficient to calm the fire that burned inside him. He desperately needed something... Or someone. He had realized it too late, and in that instant he could not hate himself any more for how enormously careless he had been.... It was clear that it was the prelude to his zeal, that uncontrollable force that made his body turn against him. He could still feel Junta's gaze on him, and that only made the situation worse. The memory of the young man's proximity, his fresh, intoxicating scent, only stirred him already confused senses. Just what he had been trying to avoid had happened.... Junta had caused his rut to arrive much sooner than expected, and how much he hated the idea that an alpha could have that control over him, but in that instant he really craved it. He wanted to have him close once more, feeling practically thirsty for his touch.

He needed him so badly it hurt.

Takato knew he couldn't go on like that for long. He needed help, but shame and fear kept him immobile. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping the torment would subside, if only a little. Gasps were beginning to escape his lips no matter how hard he tried to remain silent, and panic swept over him in a mammoth way the instant he could begin to feel his true scent being exposed. Clearly, his heat had come more intense than ever, and neutralizers were completely useless in a situation like that. He could feel the natural lubricant wetting his pants, and the pheromones were so intense that it wouldn't take long for them to attract unwanted attention, no matter how hard he tried to hide.

He wasn't sure what he should do, he wasn't even able to think clearly. There was only one thing on his mind and that was how badly he needed to feel Junta's hands on his body, just like the first time. Despite everything, he still seemed to have a struggle with himself, the desire consumed him, plus there was still fear deep inside himself. He knew that if he let his primitive side take over he would end up committing a folly that would throw away years of hiding his true caste, and he couldn't let that happen.

He felt fragile, insecure, and his eyebrows arched at the impulse to burst into tears of despair. Inside himself, he felt pathetic.... He didn't want anyone to see him in that state.

However, there were those who believed that when the moon goddess planned the intimate meeting of two souls, it was practically impossible to go against it. It seemed to be the case, as Azumaya could not stay quiet. Minutes passed and there was no trace of Takato.

«What if something happened to him...?» he thought to himself, feeling increasingly uneasy. His inner wolf seemed to tear at him from within, but he didn't know why. He chalked it up to worry, and soon enough he opted to find a way to leave the bar without being too obvious.

"Saijo-san?"

He called out to Takato once outside, but got no response. The place was almost completely silent, save for the chirping of a few crickets and the occasional rustle of the wind through the leaves.

He decided to walk a little further, guided by his instinct and an inexplicable feeling that led him in a specific direction. The nearby forest caught his attention. His senses sharpened and, as he approached, he began to hear gasps and what sounded like sobs. The thought that Takato might have been hurt sent a surge of anxiety through him, and without a second thought, he ran in that direction.

"Saijo-san...!"

As he moved forward, he began to pick up a scent he hadn't noticed before, a heady mix of intense pheromones and the unmistakable scent of the forest. His heart pounded harder and his breathing became ragged. The scent was hypnotic, like a primal call echoing deep within her being.

Finally, he stopped when, through the trees, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Takato was leaning, almost huddled against a log, his body trembling and his gasps more than audible. Junta took a step towards him, and the scent intensified, hitting him like a wave of desire. Chocolate... And perhaps, mint? It was an unfamiliar fragrance, but alluring to a point that seemed unreal. He looked around, clumsily wanting to find the owner of the scent, his senses being overstimulated by it.... But there seemed to be no one but Takato there.

"S... Saijo-san... Are you alright?" he asked with effort, for some reason he found it difficult to formulate those simple words, though something inside himself knew that the situation was far from under control.

His hand reached up to gently touch his opponent's shoulder, wanting him to look in his direction. Takato finally looked up, and then Junta found his face completely flushed. Sweat was running down his face and his eyes looked wet, as if he was on the verge of tears. A trickle of saliva ran down the corner of his lips, and in his eyes you could see the lust and a glint of fear that lay deep within his pupils.

Junta swallowed heavily, and then the situation seemed to begin to take shape. That was Takato's scent... It was his true pheromones. The scent was overwhelming and almost completely clouded his judgment. He felt his self-control fading, one barrier after another falling to the force of his instinct, as his wolf clawed and growled desperately inside him. Junta's eyes darkened with barely contained hunger, and Takato could see as if a ravenous beast was rising up in front of him.

The younger man's control was slipping from his hands, each heavy breath filled him with that intoxicating scent, and a wild part of him emerged, roaring with force. It was inevitable, his mind was filling with images of taking Takato, of marking him as his own as he took in what that scenario in front of him implied without the need for words.

Takato was actually an omega.... And he was in heat.

Chapter Text

Junta was hardly fighting his instincts. 

His wolf tearing at the walls growling for him to mark the omega wasn't making things any easier, and though he perfectly knew Takato wasn't in his five senses, the way his eyes were watching him with desire, contrasting with the coldness and rigidity of his ordinary gaze, were making him lose his sanity.

"S... Saijo-san..." he called him breathlessly, and he shuddered at his husky voice. "An omega... You're an omega..."

He stammered as if disoriented, and Takato's body seemed to shrink even more at his words, as if even as disoriented as he was he could recognize a hint of the gravity of the situation. Junta held his breath as he inhaled so closely his true essence, which until then had gone unnoticed under neutralizers. 

An orange gleam shone in his eyes, which seemed to want to be tinged with amber. 

«Go away... Go away» Takato desperately wanted to tell him, but the words were caught in his throat. Sweat pearled his forehead and neck, and his arched eyebrows made him look so vulnerable. The orange scent of the taller one seemed to intensify, and all his senses were filled with it, recognizing this time not only its citrusy, woody scent, but also a hint of petricor and a spicy hint that seemed to make it more suffocating and intimidating. It was the first time he felt the scent of an alpha being in heat, and that was perhaps causing the sensations to be more intense than normal, especially considering the detail that Junta was a dominant alpha, so it made sense that it would have greater effects on him than a normal alpha would. 

"A... Azumaya..." 

The allude was startled to hear him call out to him without honorifics, an electric current ran down his back at his voice that sounded so small, almost breathy.

Takato made the effort to rise in a brief surge of reasoning that hit his head. His omega desperately longed to leave to surrender to the alpha in front of him, yet he himself managed to hold it back barely, detesting the feeling of allowing himself to be dominated by matters of nature. He had a relatively acceptable relationship with his wolf, at least as much as he was allowed considering he suppressed his scent and identity on a daily basis, however that scenario changed when that which made him omega was guided by instinct and let him be what he was supposed to be. 

After all, he was an omega. And under the circumstances he simply couldn't hide those details that reminded him of it incessantly.

He felt his legs jelly, and groaned unwillingly as the taller one slipped his arm around his waist to restrain him as he feigned to fall back to the ground. The grip was strong, definite, and forced them both to look into each other's eyes once more. 

His hands went to Junta's arms as if in a sort of reflex, squeezing the sleeves of his shirt and tugging at it subtly, wanting perhaps to find some sort of support in it as he felt his skin burning to stratospheric levels in the sector the alpha's hands touched, regardless of the clothes that were between them, at the same time causing his face to heat up even more. 

He felt like he was going to explode at any moment. 

Junta could do nothing but watch him, his wolf threatening dangerously to take control of him, and feeling his mouth go dry as he seemed to recognize the omega's wolf the instant his sapphire eyes took on a silver hue, even if it was for such a brief moment. 

His open lips indicated he wanted to say something, yet Takato's scent was making him dizzy, its source so close he could almost feel his head spinning. 

He knew. He finally understood. 

Why Takato seemed more attractive than a common alpha, why he wanted him so badly, or why that time he had fallen on his body, he had managed to catch a scent that went beyond those he used to cover up. 

It all made sense now. 

There was no sound other than their exalted breaths, and then, without warning, Takato's body felt rigid as he noticed how the alpha leaned against him, finally acting. He felt his nose brush against his neck in a highly invasive movement, remaining motionless until he practically buried himself in him, inhaling his essence as if it was the elixir he needed to live. 

The black-haired man let out a moan at the contact he was experiencing for the first time, and his hands unwillingly scratched the taller man's arms, as if in a silent plea for him to continue. That action alone was enough for the omega to melt in his arms, erasing any layer of reasoning left in him. As if he had ceased to be himself, as if he was no longer Saijo Takato, and only that side of him that he always hid and that no one else besides his grandmother and Sasaki had ever seen was exposed.

“Omega...” 

His voice sounded heavy, and the dark-haired one felt a tingle run through his entire body at it, longing for more, just so much more. It wasn't enough with the way the alpha's breath was crashing against his neck, or the arms holding his waist. He wanted something more... He wanted to feel it even more. 

Junta didn't seem to be any better, squeezing the opposite one a little between his arms so as to further decrease the distance between them, his hands tingling, eager to touch further as all of him melted into that scent. Exquisite... He could almost taste the chocolate and mint in his mouth, sweet with a hint of freshness that didn't leave his senses.

They wanted each other so much, it seemed a sin not to carry out what they longed for in the most primal way. 

However, there came a second when voices began to be heard in the distance, and Junta automatically sharpened his hearing to recognize that it was probably his set mates. 

He became entranced, and his eyes returned to normal in what seemed to be a shock of reality. They were outside, exposed, and from one second to the next he seemed to regain consciousness. Knowing they had people nearby meant danger, especially given the intense scent Takato was exhaling that could easily attract alphas. 

He couldn't clearly distinguish whether it was his wolf's possessiveness or his own protective instinct that overcame his desire, but it helped reality settle firmly in his mind. 

He didn't know the reasons for that secret yet, but clearly he couldn't let anyone else find out, let alone in the vulnerable state the omega was in. 

"S... Saijo-san... We have to get out of here" he whispered haltingly, his voice hoarse and raspy and his self-control faltering as he tried to remain calm.

He had to. 

But Takato, his mind clouded and his body on the verge of collapse, could do nothing but tug hard at his clothes, as if he wanted to snatch them away so he could feel his body heat directly, as desire built up to such a point that tears blurred his vision. Junta gasped and immediately averted his gaze so as not to give in to temptation, forcing himself to pull away, though not enough to let go as he was aware that the omega would have difficulty standing on his own. 

"Come on, I'll take you" he said in a stammer, more to himself than to Takato, as he took one last look around, making sure there was no one nearby. Though if there was, his wolf would probably have warned him by now. 

Junta knew that the scent of an omega in heat was unmistakable, and for some unknown reason, Takato's was even more so than that of a normal omega, increasing the odds of someone spotting them. He had to hide it somehow. He could barely think anything due to the haze of lust that was fighting to take hold of him, but his instinct made him act eventually, closing his eyes as he allowed his own pheromones to begin to release more intensely, enveloping the air with his scent and subtly camouflaging the omega's. 

Well, at least now they had one less problem. 

"L... I'm sorry. This is going to be difficult, but I must do this to keep you safe." 

He felt a pang of guilt as he watched Takato react, squirming in his arms with his lips half-open letting out an involuntary moan as his pheromones enveloped him, transforming his desire into need. 

The alpha held him tightly, and soon took it upon himself to gently lift his body bridal style. Takato's body felt as thin and delicate as he imagined, and that idea made him hunger for him. Oh, how he longed to feel that waist directly in his hands, or to see how every part of his body reacted, from his neck to the tips of his toes. Every little spasm of the omega between his arms made him aware of the closeness, of the heat radiating from his feverish body. The sensation was intoxicating, his senses continuing to fill with his intoxicating scent mixed with the sweat and pheromones they both emanated uncontrollably. 

He shook his head, regaining lucidity, or at least some of it. 

With a mixture of haste and caution, Junta led Takato out of the woods and towards a small secluded hotel he had noticed on his way to the bar. The place was discreet, perfect for maintaining both their anonymity and giving him a safe place to spend the night. But it was inevitable that every step he took meant an internal battle, every inhale of Takato's scent a reminder of how close he was to losing control.

They arrived at their destination and Junta quickly got a room, appreciating the lack of questions from the receptionist, who probably assumed the situation they were in. They climbed the stairs, and Junta opened the door to the room with the key he had been given. Once inside, his feet walked to the bed, so fast that he almost stumbled from the clumsiness of his steps, but he steadied himself, for the omega, and soon settled him carefully on the sheets.

"Saijo-san, stay here. You'll be safe," he whispered still hoarsely. His eyes lit up amber as soon as Takato's now silver eyes lifted to look at him, silently crying out for him amid gasps and sobs. He simply couldn't restrain the urge to gently stroke his partner's flushed face. 

"I'm going to call Sasaki-san, okay?... I won't leave you alone."

Junta stood up to head for the door, fearing what he might end up doing if he stayed near the omega a second longer, but as he took the first step to leave, an overwhelming force stopped him.

"A... Alpha," he felt the other's hand grip his wrist, and just hearing the way the other actor called out to him was enough to cruelly toy with his sanity. "T-touch me" His choked voice sounded more like a command than a request, and Junta's gaze darkened like an animal's. 

He turned to look at him, perhaps not resisting the provocation and wanting to indulge his alpha, who was desperately clawing to give the omega the attention he deserved. A shudder shook him as he once again met the man's gleaming silver eyes, which reflected a tornado of emotions in which lust predominated. His own eyes lit up amber once more, not knowing why he felt even more subdued to fulfill the omega's desire. 

Was it perhaps his intoxicating scent? The way his wolf was looking at him? He couldn't know exactly. 

The desire to stay, to touch Takato and end his torture, struck him with an almost unbearable intensity. His inner wolf roared, urging him to corner the man against the bed to regain control, to give in to his instincts. And for a moment, he considered letting go. 

Fuck it. He wasn't that strong. He knew it by the way his chest tightened trying to hold his breath, or by the way his wrist burned like fire at Takato's grip, who despite being so vulnerable, held on to him as if he didn't want to let go. The thought of succumbing and accompanying the omega in his rut altered his senses, and his pheromones spiked.

He leaned over Takato, who let out a shuddering sigh as he felt the strong scent of the alpha on him, rapturous and intimidating, as only a dominant alpha could smell. 

Their breaths crossed once more, dangerously, and Takato could see the instant the alpha bared his fangs, like a snorting beast preparing to devour his prey. 

But no. 

He couldn't.

The voice of his reasoning continued in his head, pounding tirelessly, and reminded him that no matter what state Takato was in at the moment, he would probably hate him when he regained consciousness. He couldn't add up any more reasons for the actor to hate him, especially when their relationship wasn't all that good. 

Desperate to find a solution, he turned away at the last minute, and instead of melting into the omega's neck, he concentrated on fumbling clumsily through the drawer of the small cabinet next to the bed. 

Suppressors. He had to find suppressors. 

He kept repeating it to himself, trying not to forget his goal or lose his mind. If he went on like this, he was probably going to go crazy. 

Then he found it. There, almost in the corner of the drawer, a distinctive pill wrapped in a subtle pouch, and it felt like finding treasure after hours of digging. He tore the package open without a second thought, and this time he turned to Takato again. 

"I-I'm sorry, Saijo-san" he muttered, though he didn't really sound sorry for what he was about to do. 

He then took the suppressor between his lips, and carelessly pressed his mouth against the omega's, both of their eyes closing instinctively. 

Quickly the contact turned into an intense kiss, full of desperation and need. He didn't have time to notice the details as his tongue slipped between the other's lips, pushing the suppressor into his mouth. The contact was electrifying, every fiber of his being screamed for more, and he simply couldn't hold back the instant he clamped his cheeks, pressing it harder and harder against him until his lips ached, and he made sure to taste him as if he were candy. He sucked in deeply the scent and touch he had longed for so much and inadvertently lost his way in the softness of his thin lips.

Junta's tongue explored Takato's, as the suppressant finally came undone and its bitter essence mingled with their saliva. It was a deep kiss, so desperate, a battle between his instincts and his reasoning.

The internal struggle was fierce, his alpha growling in protest to take control as he felt the omega reciprocate, moaning against his mouth with relief and satisfaction, so submissive only to him... But the voice of his reasoning wouldn't let him give in. He didn't want to, he really didn't want to, but he forced himself, as if he were tasting the forbidden fruit. With almost superhuman willpower, he finally broke away, panting from the effort. His eyes, dark and full of desire, met Takato's once again.

He took a deep breath, a perhaps counterproductive move considering that his lungs were once again filled with the older's sweet scent. His eyes roamed over his opponent's troubled and disoriented expression, from his glowing eyes to his flushed cheeks and lips, and then a tug in his lower belly made him grunt, fighting back the urges that threatened to consume him. 

"You're going... You're going to be okay." 

He murmured hoarsely, the need evident in every word. 

But he had to be strong, for Takato. 

He forced himself to let go of the omega, as if it pained him to end the contact between them, and before his wolf ended up committing an action of no return, he took a step back, then another, until he finally turned and left the room, locking the door behind him without looking back.

He made his way to the pay phone in the hotel lobby, feeling his heart pounding in his chest, the sensations still at the surface as he tried to control his wolf, who was restless at the thought of having left the omega alone. 

He dialed Sasaki's number with trembling fingers, remembering it smoothly from that time Takato had gotten drunk, and when he answered, Junta wasted no time in explaining the situation. 

"Sasaki-san..." he struggled to make his voice come out, though it came out hoarse and raspy. "S-Saijo-san is in a hotel near the bar. He needs help, he... He's in heat and I can't stay with him. Please come quickly."

He practically begged him, though his wolf hated the idea of leaving the omega in someone else's care, never mind that he was a beta. He heard Sasaki say a few things he didn't manage to pay attention to, still perhaps with Takato's scent in his nose and all his senses, and the texture of his lips etched upon his own. Being away from the omega at that moment was somewhat more convenient, but that didn't make it any more bearable. 

"... So, you already know."

Was the only thing he could recognize from the voice on the other end of the line. His voice sounding extremely worried. He was so overwhelmed that he didn't feel up to conversation, but somehow he understood Takato's friend's feeling of distress. 

"Yes... It was a... I-it was unintentional," he confessed, almost choking. "But I promise you we didn't do anything, I-I didn't do anything to him... I just gave him a suppressant, but... This is being really hard for me"

He couldn't restrain himself from telling him, this time too tormented by his wolf's impatience and the images of Takato that wouldn't let him think. 

"I know" Sasaki merely said, omitting the detail that he knew something like that could have happened at any moment. "I'm coming. I'll be there as soon as possible." 

Junta hung up the phone forcefully, relieved by the prompt response and feeling some of the tension begin to leave his body. He had done the right thing. However, he was still very overwhelmed and agitated. Takato's scent, the touch of his skin, the intensity of the kiss.... Everything was still pulsing in his mind and body, keeping him in a state of constant agitation. 

He needed air, space, something to help him calm down and regain control. He decided to leave the hotel, allowing himself to be guided by the need to cool his thoughts and appease his desires. The cool night air hit his face as he walked through the door, and he began to pace back and forth, letting the night wind envelop him and clear him.

Each step helped him cool his mind, but his inner wolf was still anxious, scratching and growling in frustration. He walked for several minutes, trying to calm the storm inside him, when he finally saw Sasaki approaching. Relief was immediate; Sasaki had arrived. 

Junta handed him the room keys without saying a word, but the look in his eyes said it all. Sasaki nodded, perhaps in silent appreciation for taking care of the omega. And clearly understanding the gravity of the situation, he headed for the hotel without asking questions.

He watched the beta until he disappeared into the building, and then, with a heavy sigh, he opted to make his way to his car to head back to his clan, to his home, even in spite of his wolf's uneasiness. He could no longer stay there. The drive was a constant struggle between his thoughts and emotions, trying to rationalize what had happened and what was about to happen. The moon seemed to look brighter than ever, but it still failed to clear his thoughts. 

While driving, he searched with his free hand in his pockets for a pack that he always brought with him, from which he took out several mint candies that he quickly took to his mouth and chewed hard, making them crunch in a movement that perhaps sought to dispel that feeling inside him. But even these were not able to control his wolf, or dispel the anxiety and desire that gripped him, playing with his mind, which seemed to darken his aura more and more. Even the sweets delivered a cloying freshness similar to Takato's scent, which he could still feel and practically taste. It truly seemed like an unwelcome coincidence ready to test his judgment. 

Arriving home, he plopped down on the bed, but his mind could not rest. Memories of the night replayed over and over, like an endless movie. Takato's scent, the taste of his mouth, the warmth of his body.... Everything was still present, preventing him from finding peace. But how could he? If every time he tried to relax, the memory of the omega's shining and expressive silver eyes came to his mind. 

He sighed defeated and closed his eyes, wishing to sleep, but he knew perfectly well that he would not be able to sleep a wink all night.

Chapter Text

He knew, as a matter of logic, that Takato would not show up at the rehearsal the next day. However, he still couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed not to see him. His wolf hadn't left him alone all night, and he himself had to take a suppressant to calm him down, though even that wasn't enough to make him sleep peacefully.

He hadn't seen Sasaki either, which was to be expected, considering the beta was almost always next to Takato.

He just couldn't help but look for his figure on the set, anticipating his presence with a knot in his stomach that could only be caused by his wolf... His impatient wolf, still fidgeting, thinking that somewhere out there was that unconsoled omega. But he couldn't allow himself to think about it too much, for even when he had applied neutralizers, his scent seemed to be more intense than other days, and he had already received a couple of comments for it. He had to control himself, or he would end up causing an uncomfortable scenario for the rest, alphas and omegas alike.

But it was inevitable.

Even the energy in the place felt different, and clearly no one could ignore the lack of the imposing presence of the... Omega? 

He still couldn't quite process it, and his mind kept asking questions that only fueled his curiosity. It even seemed unreal to him that Takato had managed to fake it for so many years, maintaining an alpha facade so impeccably, definitely something that only someone with Takato's strength and talent could have done.

But why? Had he been forced by someone or had it been his own decision? Those questions plagued him, and his thoughts went round and round, always coming back to him, to the omega whose presence he could still sense, whose scent still permeated his nose, whose voice echoed in his memory. The idea that someone as proud and strong as Takato had kept such a deep and vulnerable secret filled him with a strange mixture of worry and confusion. What kind of life had he led to have to hide his true nature? And, more importantly, what would change now that he knew? Takato would hate him even more?

A bittersweet taste was generated in his mouth every time he noticed the enormous detail that he knew something so intimate about the person who seemed to have given colors to his world, even though he probably could not conceive of the great impact it had had on his life, on him. 

He lost count of how many boxes of mint candy he ate throughout the day, between rehearsals. They didn't completely supply his needs, but somehow they were enough. Their aroma and taste felt familiar and were like a subtle caress to his senses, to his desires. 

He seriously considered going to see him, but quickly realized how irresponsible the very idea of doing so was. He knew perfectly well that his presence would do an omega in heat no good, much less after what had happened. 

But his feelings were slipping through his fingers, and perhaps it was too much that he was holding back, that he was unable to stop himself the moment he returned home. Silence greeted him as he took off his jacket and walked over to where the phone was located. He took a deep breath, not seeing much more chance to calm his wolf, himself, and simply dialed the number that his mind had taken it upon itself to memorize as soon as he had dialed it the first time. 

"Sasaki-san?" he spoke as soon as he heard the beeping stop. "I... Uh, this is Azumaya... I know I may sound a bit nosy, but... May I know how Saijo-san is doing?"

He wasted no time and got straight to the point, eager for the slightest bit of news from the man. Sasaki could feel his heavy breathing on the other end of the line and sighed, as if something inside him had predicted that such a call would happen at any moment. 

"Azumaya-kun... Well, he's fine... He's resting." 

It was measured, almost wary.

Even he wasn't sure how much information he could trust Junta with. The boy didn't strike him as a bad guy by any means, but for a new person to specifically know that secret changed the scenario drastically. The trust required to reveal any details was not easily granted, and every word shared could upset the fragile balance Takato had maintained for so long.

"Good to know," he replied honestly, subtly squeezing the box of mints he had purchased on the way home. He shook it a little, perhaps uneasily, and suddenly the words slipped from his lips of their own accord. "I... Can I ask you a question?"

Junta waited in silence, his heart pounding as he listened to another's breathing, like a reminder that he was there. 

And Sasaki considered for a moment granting him that wish, after all he had noticed the respect and admiration Junta showed for Takato, and his actions so far proved to him that the young alpha's intentions were genuine. However, he was well aware that the situation was too delicate, and he was in no position to reveal further details. 

"I'm sorry, Azumaya-kun," Sasaki finally replied, his tone firm. "I doubt I should-"

"Please," Junta interrupted him unintentionally, simply letting his instincts guide him. "I just... I just need to-"

The words got stuck in his throat, which suddenly felt dry. He wasn't sure how to formulate what he wanted to say without sounding desperate, for as much as he already had his feelings more than assumed, it wasn't the right time to let himself show it. 

"... I know you must be confused."

Sasaki started to tell him as he noticed that he didn't finish his words, perhaps imagining that he was having an internal debate. And though he still sounded firm, there was a hint of understanding in his voice. 

"But what remains to be said is something you should discuss directly with Takato-kun, once he recovers."

Junta sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. He knew Sasaki was right, but that didn't alleviate the uneasiness he felt in his chest. His hands felt tied, anxious and unexpectedly useless. Helplessness overwhelmed him, a sense of inadequacy he was not used to experiencing. He was an alpha after all, someone who should always have the ability to protect those he cared about, but now, he was trapped in doubt, unable to do anything to alleviate Takato's situation.

"I know, I understand, but..." he bit his tongue to stop insisting, and seemed to sense that the beta smiled a little, sympathetic, but didn't say a word to interrupt him.

"Is there... At least something I can do for him?"

He resigned himself, and felt his wolf growl at him for giving in so easily, but it's not like he would have had much choice anyway. 

Sasaki didn't think twice before answering. 

"The best thing you can do for him now... Is keep the secret."

. 

The next three days passed slowly for Junta, like torture, he was unable to fully concentrate on work, and although everyone seemed to point out that he was doing better than ever, no one seemed to notice that the angelic aura he normally gave off, had darkened from the tension occupying his body, his thoughts unable to let go of the omega. 

Every time he arrived at the rehearsal site, the mere sound of the main entrance made him jump with a hope that it was Takato, just like a canine waiting patiently for its owner to come home. But all those moments of anticipating his presence proved in vain, for the man did not show up and no one seemed to have any news of him. 

Finally, one day, as Junta was leaving rehearsal and preparing for another sure night of sleeplessness, he found Sasaki waiting for him outside. His expression was serious, but at the same time serene, and he seemed to show him a glimmer of understanding when he met his uneasy gaze. 

"Azumaya-kun," Sasaki began by way of greeting, approaching with firm steps. Junta had to hold back the tumult of questions he had in mind. "Takato-kun asked me to take you to a place where you both can talk... If you have no objections."

Junta's heart skipped a beat at the suddenness of his words. Although he had anticipated this conversation, the reality that Takato had taken this initiative filled him with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Yes, he definitely wanted to see him... More than that, he needed to, but he still had his own insecurities, which seemed to dim when he thought about the possibility that Takato hated him even more. What had happened was out of his control, obviously, but he wouldn't blame the omega if he acted more suspicious than usual. 

"Sure... I mean, I'm free so-," he hastened to correct himself, trying to maintain his composure even as his aura seemed to have brightened in an instant. "Of course I'll come."

Sasaki nodded, his gaze relaxing slightly. "Perfect. Let's go then. I'll give you a ride in my car."

The drive was long and quiet, with the scenery gradually changing as they drove away from the city. Sasaki drove in silence, giving Junta the space to gather his thoughts, though he couldn't control his wolf getting a few seconds upset when, in that cramped space, he could smell a trace of that woody scent he already knew all too well. It wasn't his real scent, he now knew, but it was inevitable that he would associate that superficial scent with Takato, even if the real one was much better. 

Every kilometer they traveled plunged him deeper into his thoughts, and though he wanted to ask Sasaki his questions directly, he held back, opting instead to simply go over and over what he wanted to say to Takato, the questions he had, perhaps vaguely imagining the kind of reactions and answers he would receive. He stroked his own hand as he watched the scenery behind the window, meditating for a few seconds on that need, on that feeling that made him miss Takato as if there was between them a bond of intimacy... However, he knew better than anyone that he was far from deserving even the title of friend.

They could only be categorized as acquaintances, or simple co-workers... At least for now. 

Finally, they arrived at the Nevilla clan, a completely different area from what Junta was used to. 

"We've arrived," Sasaki pointed out, breaking the silence as he stopped the car in front of a small coffee shop, which looked cozy. Junta nodded slowly, perhaps more focused on what his eyes were seeing. 

The landscape was of cold hues as was the weather, but it was not unpleasant. On the contrary, when he finally got out of the car and a cold breeze hit his face, it felt refreshing, and the traces of snow everywhere gave him a feeling of familiarity. It was strange, but everything about the place, from the colors to the bone-deep cold, felt just like him... Like Takato. It made him think of the blue of his eyes, cold as a winter blizzard, but at the same time full of determination, expressive as a rough sea in the middle of a storm.

A thick mist was noticeable covering the surroundings, adding an atmosphere of mystery that failed to interrupt Junta's way of admiring his surroundings.

"Takato-kun is waiting for you inside."

Sasaki snapped him out of his reverie again, and finally Junta turned his gaze to him, seeing him already out of the car, with that slight smile that seemed almost even friendly, benevolent. Junta couldn't help but perceive something strange about it in spite of everything... Shouldn't Sasaki also act suspicious of him? Or maybe he was just hiding those concerns behind a facade? But it was hard to determine something like that, when nothing in the beta's simple actions felt superficial. 

Still, he didn't stop to think too much about it, and simply nodded his head to go deeper into the place, but not before giving him a small bow perhaps in the form of a thank you. 

Inside, a warmth enveloped him, contrasting with the cold outside. His eyes roamed over the few people present as a mixture of aromas wafted through his nose, alphas, betas... Omegas. His eyes immediately found Takato, seated at a secluded table. His figure looked as steady as ever, and as if he too had easily anticipated his presence, he returned his gaze, their eyes meeting in a perhaps conflicted encounter. 

His expression was serious, and his eyes showed a few tiny signs of weariness, but they failed to overshadow the assurance that formed his essence. That glint of misgiving was there, just as he had anticipated, deep in the sea that was his slitted eyes. 

Junta swallowed and opted to move closer, his heart pounding as he tried to restrain his wolf, who was panting anxiously at having finally seen the omega. He couldn't afford to accidentally start releasing pheromones, much less there. 

"Saijo-san" he greeted, his voice soft, but at the same time containing a subtle hint of tension. 

Takato looked up, examining him from head to toe, noting the look of someone probably used to temperate climates, and couldn't help but wonder how he could have been outside for a second without shivering at least a little. Not even his ears or nose looked flushed. 

"Azumaya-kun" he returned his greeting, deciding to downplay the direction his thoughts had suddenly taken. "Thank you for coming" his voice sounded firm, and with a gesture he motioned for the taller one to sit across from him, which he was quick to obey. 

Finally being both at the table, an immediate silence settled in, heavy, and probably laden with all that they had not told each other. They both had secrets, though perhaps now one more than the other. Junta simply could not stop looking at him, noticing that, as expected, Takato had returned to his alpha facade: impeccable, imposing, without even a hint of the sweet, minty scent that had filled the air before, and that he so longed to feel once again. But that facade, now more than ever, looked like fragile armor before his eyes, and that made him uneasy. 

"You... How are you?" he began to speak after a few minutes in which the silence was only interrupted when he politely declined a coffee. His voice was initially unsure, as if he feared he even had the right to speak. "Are you feeling better?" 

"Better...?" 

Takato repeated, raising an eyebrow then taking a sip of the hot chocolate in his mug. He laughed, a short laugh full of superficiality, but Junta noticed the way his shoulders tensed simultaneously. 

"Well, yeah... You could say I'm better" he said, though that brief pause had said much more than his own response. The tone in his voice was cold, almost ironic, as if he had heard a meaningless comment, but Junta could sense in the intensity of his gaze a tinge of fear, and you didn't have to be too smart to decipher that this was probably the omega's way of hiding his weaknesses, and highlighting his strengths instead. 

"I know that perhaps what you saw has been difficult to process," he continued speaking after softly clearing his throat, and it seemed like he wanted to get straight to the point. "And I'm sorry you have to carry this secret now, but it wasn't my intention to involve you in this way... You... You weren't supposed to know" he stammered this last perhaps a little more harshly than he would have liked, and subtly squeezed the cup, feeling the warmth pierce through the material and reach one of his hands. "You weren't... You weren't supposed to be there." 

Junta analyzed his every move, and though perhaps the words came out a little coarser than he imagined, he felt the need to do something. He wanted to say something that could reassure Takato. 

"Saijo-san," he called out gently before the aforementioned could continue, "I... I'd like to understand better, is there... Is there anything I can do for you? I know this... Must be complicated for you."

Takato looked at him, and for an instant, the mask dropped. His eyes filled with a mixture of unease and something deeper, a connection that went beyond words. He met Junta's green eyes, which seemed intent, concerned, and he felt vulnerable. But oh, how he hated that feeling. 

"I've lived with this for a long time," he began, his voice a rough whisper that Junta didn't miss. "Not because of what happened I am suddenly going to need help from-" 

«From an alpha.»

He was about to say, but bit his tongue, silencing his own words. How much sense could it make to utter that simple phrase, for him, who was pretending to be an alpha in front of everyone? 

"... I don't need help from someone like you."

He finally sentenced, and while for anyone else it could have been the signal to keep silent, Junta was not the case. He had pretty much anticipated that Takato would be on the defensive, and in a way he understood that, after all his innermost secret had been exposed, so he wasn't entirely affected. 

"But why?" Takato glanced at him again, inevitably somewhat incredulous at how unperturbed the younger man had remained at his words. "I know it may sound meddlesome, and I'm sorry, but why resort to that...? Why keep it up for so long, isn't it too risky?"

He knew he was perhaps pushing the envelope, but he couldn't silence himself once he started. The words flowed out naturally, dropping the worries that those days kept him from sleeping. 

Takato took a deep breath, his gaze hardening even more as his lips tightened. He could feel anger bubbling inside him, a whirlwind of emotions struggling to get out. The days of pent-up stress and tension were finally finding an outlet.

"'Why', you say?" replied Takato, his tone curt and filled with pent-up fury. "Is it that you've ever seen an omega leading a clan, Azumaya-kun?" He raised an eyebrow, and his question full of harshness was like a reality check.

Junta opened his mouth to respond, but Takato didn't give him the chance. His words flowed with an intensity that surprised even himself.

"You have no idea what it's like to live... Like this... Of what it means to me to have to continue every day with this lie." his voice was altered, but it was low all the same, probably so as not to be heard by someone else; but Junta could hear him very clearly "But it's not about me. It's... My life, my career, my future as a leader... And every day I have to face the risk of being found out, of losing everything if someone like you decides my secret isn't worth keeping."

Junta felt the weight of each of those words, the gravity of his situation hitting him hard. His gaze remained fixed on the man in front of him, now understanding a little more of the suffering Takato carried with him.

"I'm sorry," Junta murmured, his words barely audible but full of sincerity. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just wanted to understand..."

Takato interrupted him again, this time in a lower but no less intense voice. 

"You can't understand... Someone like you never could." 

And by the time he finished that sentence, Takato knew perfectly well that he had lost control of himself. Sasaki had advised him to be kind, perhaps in such a way that Junta could empathize with him, but he simply wasn't able to do it. It was as if in an instant all the pile of feelings he had stored up had found the perfect opportunity to be released. What was the point of continuing to feign kindness, if the green-eyed one already knew a secret with which he could end him in a matter of seconds? 

The silence that followed was heavy, laden with tension. And Junta knew that with those last words Takato was not referring directly to him, but to his caste, to his alpha nature... And that was something he could not deny. After all, the alphas were still the privileged ones, no matter how many changes some people wanted to implement. 

Both men stood still, processing the conversation and the emotions that had emerged so violently. Takato finally looked away, closing his eyes for a moment to calm himself.

"I'm sorry" he mumbled suddenly, as if he had come to his senses. He felt liberated, but deep inside he knew it wasn't right... After all, as much as he hated to remember it, Junta had helped him... Rather, he had saved him. "I'm sorry, Azumaya-kun, I just need you to-"

"I know"

Junta interrupted him sincerely, and their eyes met again, so Takato could see him sigh before continue.

"I know what you mean, and I don't deny it, but..." he thought for a few seconds, thinking of the right words. "I promise you that your secret is safe with me." he merely uttered what was stuck in his throat from the beginning, and he had the urge to grab the omega's delicate hand; but he repressed that desire and simply turned his hands into fists to restrain it. "I just... I don't want you to have to carry this burden alone."

Takato lowered his gaze for a moment, and when he faced Junta again, his eyes showed a mixture of feelings that seemed difficult to decipher. He could sense the sincerity in his voice, but the motivation to distrust was far greater, so he was inevitably having a struggle between his rational thoughts and that more sentimental side within him that he rarely had the opportunity to hear. Only with Sasaki had he had the luxury of being more sincere in that aspect of his life, and to suddenly have that alpha rookie wanting to support him felt strange. 

"There's not much you can do," he murmured, still subtly gruff, and averting his gaze perhaps in an attempt not to let the slight blush that settled on his cheeks in that brief instant when he had let his guard down be evident. "But... Thank you anyway."

Silence returned, but this time it wasn't so conflicted. They had both expressed their feelings, one way or another, so inevitably the mood seemed to have changed between them. 

"Uh... Is it too much if I ask you for something in exchange for... My silence?"

Takato straightened in his seat when he heard those words, his gaze growing harder and more defensive, and almost unconsciously a wry smile formed on his lips, as if he wasn't entirely surprised by that outburst. 

«It was obvious... He has the face of an angel, and he speaks so innocently that he sounds convincing... But everyone hides their true intentions until they see fit» he thought, resigned, and perhaps annoyed with himself for having fallen for such a sweet and harmless aura... No one could have kept a secret of such magnitude without asking for anything in return. 

"What do you want, Azumaya-kun, money, favors?"

Junta shook his head quickly. 

"No, nothing like that," his voice was firm, though he seemed a bit nervous. Takato could almost see a slight blush on his cheeks in the middle of what he was talking about. "I'd just like to... Call you by your name" he finally confessed, scratching the back of his neck for a few seconds. "May I?"

Takato blinked in surprise, the hardness in his gaze softening a little. 

"That's it?"

He asked, incredulous, and Junta nodded, smiling somewhat shy. 

"Yes, that's all... I just want you to see me as someone closer, not just your co-worker."

Junta held back from going into detail, from confessing him that he wanted much more. Takato didn't have to know, after all... At least not now. 

Takato watched him for a few long seconds before nodding slowly, and though he wasn't entirely convinced, he simply resigned himself. "It's okay... I guess, you can call me by my name."

Junta's expression brightened, and Takato could practically see wings peeking out from behind him, he was definitely living up to his nickname of angel. 

A moment of silence passed between them, but it was a silence laden with meaning. Takato took a sip of his chocolate, letting his guard down a little more. 

"... Thank you for what you did. You could have... taken advantage of the situation, but you didn't." he finally uttered that which he had planned to say, but which was overshadowed by his initial annoyance. 

Junta straightened in his seat, looking directly into his eyes and then lowering his gaze to his palms, remembering so vividly the feel of that thin body trembling in his hands, the image so clear of his face in its most fragile state, so vulnerable. And he felt like a beast... How could he not? After all, Takato would probably want to murder him if he knew he had actually considered that possibility. He had thought, at the time, of taking advantage of the situation to carry out his most hidden desires. He had considered it, taking that opportunity to ruin him, to subdue him, to make him his own. 

He had to shake his head to divert his thoughts elsewhere before his pheromones kicked in. 

"I respect you too much to do that." 

Takato looked down, slightly touched by Junta's words, and completely ignored that his voice had sounded a bit huskier than usual.

"It's hard for me to trust people.... But I'll have to try to trust you, Azumaya-kun."

He sounded resigned, though this time there seemed to be a better disposition in his gaze. Junta couldn't contain himself, and this time he extended his hand on the table, his palm open in a gesture of support. "I... I'm here for you... You can lean on me if you need to."

Takato watched him at the warmth of those words, and something inside him stirred at the sight of that hand open for him. He suddenly felt an intense curiosity, a small motivation to take his hand, to feel that warmth he vaguely remembered from that night. However, he didn't. Instead, he stood up abruptly, his heart pounding nervously at the very idea that had crossed his mind.

"Y-you should bundle up more if you come here," Takato said, ignoring his gesture and removing the navy blue scarf he was wearing to hand it to Junta in one abrupt motion. "... You don't want to catch a cold, with all the rehearsals we've got going on."

Junta took the scarf, eyes wide, barely processing the action and feeling the residual warmth of Takato's body on the fabric as he watched the man get up.

"See you tomorrow" Takato added by way of farewell, starting to walk towards the exit of the cafe.

Junta stood for a moment in a trance, staring at the scarf in his hands as his heart raced, feeling a mixture of emotions over something that to outsiders' eyes might seem so simple. Just before Takato reached the door, he called out to him.

"Takato-san!"

The aforementioned gave a gasp, surprised at how strange it was to hear him call his name. Regardless, he turned to look at him.

Junta approached him, his presence radiating an almost tangible warmth, as if he was expelling glitter all over the place. "You... Could you also call me by my name?" he asked with a smile that was completely glowing. He looked like he was really looking forward to hearing it. 

Takato looked at him for a while, assessing his sincerity and the strange request. Finally, he shook his head and snorted. "It won't come cheap" he replied.

"Ah... Will a thousand yen do?" Junta joked, flashing a bill from his pocket with a playful grin.

Takato couldn't help but flinch a little at the closeness with which the taller one suddenly started talking to him, and his cheeks wanted to redden unconsciously, but he didn't indulge Junta in contemplating that image, so he simply turned away. "I'm not that cheap, Azumaya-kun" he replied, with a somewhat indignant expression on his face, but one that didn't look coarse.

Junta laughed and trailed behind him as he watched him move forward, adjusting the scarf around his neck as they both exited the café. 

And it was inevitable that they both noticed how the tension seemed to have lessened considerably between them.

Chapter Text

"Please leave us alone, Keisuke." 

The voice of the older alpha echoed in the large room filled with portraits and elegant decorations, Takato cast a sidelong glance around before watching as the man bowed in a polite curtsy to obediently leave the room. The door closed with a soft click, and they both fell silent for a few seconds. 

"So..." the woman began. "What news do you have for me, Takato? How's the play going?" she finally asked, in that sweet, attentive tone of voice that always managed to calm Takato. Her eyes, abundant with wisdom and experience, stared at the way the younger man approached his desk, perhaps not noticing the hint of tension that seemed to be in his body. 

"Ah... The play is going perfectly, Suzuko-san," he smiled at her, sitting down in the chair across the desk and pulling his seat a little closer. "But I didn't really come to talk about that... Or well, at least not directly." 

Then, the woman, who had returned her attention to the scattered papers, looked him in the eye again, raising an intrigued eyebrow. Takato didn't blame her. He really was well aware that work must have kept her drowned out, so he couldn't complain about the countless times he held conversations with her and in the majority of moments, he saw her focused on something else as she listened to him. But no matter what she was doing, Takato knew she would pay attention to him anyway. 

"I see... Is some rookie giving you trouble again?" she asked, amused, knowing full well her grandson's temper. 

"No... Well, yes," he corrected himself at the last moment, knowing that it was all connected to each other after all. "Actually, I should warn you... This is probably more serious than you think." 

Suzuko raised her eyebrows, and Takato sighed as he watched the smile disappear from her face. 

There she was, the woman who taught him much of what he knew about acting, leadership and the world in general. The woman who at some point in his life fed him, and accompanied him in both his best moments, as well as his hardest. And yet, despite the bond of trust that he knew united them, Takato couldn't help himself. He couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness, of uneasiness. He knew perfectly well that his grandmother had worked as hard as he had to keep that secret safe, and now that someone had so carelessly discovered it, he couldn't quell that feeling of guilt, that perhaps he hadn't been careful enough, or even that it had simply been his fault. 

"Someone knows... About that"

He merely said, being careful with his words. They had to be safe in the clan leader's main mansion, but it didn't hurt to be cautious.

"It was an accident... It seems my wolf was affected by sensing his scent and... My heat came early."

He confessed without beating around the bush. He didn't look happy to have to specifically admit that detail, but he knew very well that it was all tied to it, to their scents, and to the pheromones that the alpha unwittingly expelled because he was dominant. The woman watched him in shock, as if she couldn't believe what she had heard. She had understood the boy's message without the need for it to be explicit. 

"What... An alpha saw you in heat?"

The concern in her voice was evident, and her body tensed even more. Takato simply nodded. 

Not long ago the thought still disturbed him, but perhaps the talk he'd had with the green-eyed alpha had calmed him a bit, so he was neutral. 

"He didn't do anything to me, Suzuko-san" he hastened to clarify as he saw the look on the woman's face, almost horrified. "On the contrary... You could say he helped me" he admitted, averting his gaze to his hands as a small grimace of embarrassment appeared on his face. 

After all, who was he kidding? He hated to think about it, to remember that scenario... To think of the warmth of his arms, or how firm they felt. 

He was the first alpha other than his grandmother who had ever seen him in heat, and perhaps that very detail hurt his pride more than it should have... It was inevitable that it affected him so much, to such an extent that a mere blurred memory of that hungry look was enough to make his hair stand on end and make him shiver from head to toe. His mind had blocked out most of the remaining images of that night, but those he could still glimpse remained intact, as if a higher force prevented him from getting rid of the memory, and on the contrary gave him the sensation of reliving it over and over again.

"Takato... We've been very careless... You know you were in enormous danger, don't you?" 

The woman stood up from her seat quickly, completely dropping what she was doing and approached the younger man. Her hand gently slid down his cheek in a warm caress that unconsciously transported Takato back to his childhood. When he still couldn't get used to maintaining that facade and even the slightest action like hiding his scent became painful. The corners of his lips lifted into a slight smile, seeking to reassure the woman. 

"I know, but nothing happened... I think... he's someone reliable, or at least he has been so far" Takato replied, with a certainty that surprised both himself and his grandmother. 

He didn't know exactly where he got the certainty to say those words, but something inside him told him that, despite the distrust, the danger, and the uncomfortable feeling his own vague memories generated, he wasn't in bad hands. 

Suzuko watched her grandson in silence for a few long seconds, her expression somewhat more relaxed, but her eyes still charged with a wariness she dared not put into words. A sense of déjà vu came over her, clearly remembering what she had experienced the first time Takato had confessed to her accidentally revealing his secret. Sasaki, the first and ideally last person who would know about the truth they were hiding... Though it was too late for that now. 

Finally, she broke the silence. 

"Takato... perhaps you should reconsider the option of having a bodyguard" she began to speak, and though it was somewhat predictable, Takato couldn't help but tense up, a reaction which the alpha quickly noticed. "Just for a while, until we're sure everything is under control."

The suggestion dropped like a stone in the atmosphere, and Takato felt the air grow thicker no matter how hard he tried to remain neutral. He knew his grandmother was doing it out of concern, yet that idea, that simple suggestion that to anyone else might sound logical, struck a chord in him. The very notion of needing protection, of being seen as weak, fragile or unable to handle himself, turned his stomach. He merely exhaled slowly, controlling the discomfort that gripped him before responding.

"I appreciate your concern, Suzuko-san, I really do," he began, his tone firm but polite, as if trying not to be too abrupt. "But I don't need a bodyguard. I've handled it before, and I can do it again."

Suzuko studied her grandson with eyes that mixed concern and pride. She was always relieved to see that the man was determined and independent enough, but she knew for that very reason how difficult it was for him to accept any kind of help that implied vulnerability. Still, she let her protective instincts take over, fearing that the situation would turn for the worse and her grandson would end up in danger. It was something she simply could not afford. 

"I don't want you to feel like you need to carry all this alone" she said gently, wanting to insist, but Takato had already made his decision.

"I don't" he replied, more forceful this time. "Trust me, Suzuko-san... I'll be fine."

The woman did not insist. She knew he wouldn't change his mind, and any attempt to do so would only increase his resistance. Despite this, she couldn't help but let a small shadow of unease lodge in her mind. She nodded slowly, resigning herself to drop the subject for the time being.

"Okay... But if anything happens, if at any time you feel you need support, I want you to tell me" she finally said, in a voice that was meant to be comforting, though concern still throbbed beneath the surface.

Takato nodded, grateful, but inside he found the idea of showing himself vulnerable as unbearable as ever. They chatted on other topics for a while, and as soon as Takato left the place, Suzuko returned to her desk, her movements deliberately calm, but there was something in the way she stood still for a second longer than necessary, and in the way her gaze drifted out the window, that made her inevitable worry evident. 

... 

Takato's gaze wandered around the stage, scanning every nook and cranny as he analyzed the way everyone was saying their goodbyes. Night had already fallen, and another day of rehearsal was coming to an end. While he was certainly pleased with the progress they had made so far, a vague discomfort settled in his chest, a subtle, almost imperceptible discomfort that didn't seem to have a concrete reason. However, try as he might to ignore it, it became more apparent when his eyes met the golden-haired alpha, who was laughing animatedly as he conversed with an omega. He raised an eyebrow, and the feeling of discomfort intensified. 

It was inevitable to question how the taller one had managed to remain so calm. He no longer followed him with the insistence of before, that constant pursuit of his company that had almost begun to seem like an unbreakable routine. Instead, he merely greeted him with an almost distant politeness, and their interactions were reduced to cold conversations about the play, nothing more. It was indeed strange. That boy, who used to hover around him with the devotion of a faithful dog, had suddenly decided to move away. Takato knew he shouldn't be surprised, that it shouldn't affect him. But he could not deny that something about the situation was deeply disconcerting.

As he gazed at the moon bathing the stage in its pale light, Takato cleared his throat softly and formulated a gentlemanly smile as a group of omegas approached to say goodbye.

"Good job today... Be careful on your way home" he said in a measured voice, minding every word. One of the girls nudged her friend before responding enthusiastically, nodding quickly before walking away with a nervous laugh. Takato watched as the group left, catching the complicit giggles echoing in the distance. It was ironic, really, how familiar that kind of interaction had become. He had grown accustomed to receiving such reactions from omegas, regardless of whether they were male or female, but that didn't make the situation any less strange.

"Good job today, Takato-san." 

The voice echoed unexpectedly, bringing him out of his thoughts. His blue eyes darted to the source of the greeting, blinking a couple of times as they met the warm smile of the green-eyed alpha, whose presence radiated an almost annoying energy for how radiant it was. 

"Ah... Good job today, Azumaya-kun," Takato replied in a neutral tone, quickly averting his gaze. It was disconcerting in a way, the twinge of annoyance he felt in his chest as he noticed how naturally the alpha addressed him, as if the past few days of estrangement had meant nothing. Not that he desired his company —or so he repeated to himself— but he couldn't help disliking people whose actions were incongruous, and who displayed convictions so fragile as to change course without explanation.

He tried to ignore that childish irritation that even he himself could not understand, much less admit, by avoiding that angelic expression that sought his gaze. 

And in the midst of that sort of playful exchange, Junta did not overlook the slight change in Takato's expression, that spark of annoyance hidden behind his distant response. Although he had never been an expert at interpreting the feelings of others, something about Takato's attitude was... Cute. It was like watching a cat bristling its fur, wanting to appear fiercer than it really was. But, rather than mention it and risk making things worse, he decided to play along. If Takato wanted to take the role of the cat, he would happily be the dog chasing him. 

"Do you have plans for tonight?" Junta asked, trying to sound casual while maintaining the same affable smile.

"I'm waiting for Sasaki-san, he's coming to pick me up" Takato replied still with that tone of voice that tried to be cutting. 

Junta let out a soft chuckle, discreet enough to not sound like he was teasing, but overt enough for Takato to notice the amused glint in his eyes.

"Well, don't worry about him," Junta said, leaning a little closer, as if sharing a secret, and the dark-haired man could feel a waft of his scent hitting plain against his face. "I already talked to Sasaki-san... and he gave me permission to steal you for a little while."

Takato froze for a moment, staring at him with a mixture of disbelief and surprise as he tried to process his words. Had Sasaki "given him permission"? He really looked for a way to understand the reason behind that, but all that emerged was a growing bewilderment. Sasaki had been clear from the beginning telling him to keep his distance from Junta outside of work... Why was he now letting it go?

«I don't understand... Why would he do that?» wondered Takato, trying to hide the confusion that was overtaking him, instead he just flashed him a scowl and Junta could almost predict his reaction. 

"Steal me?" he repeated, almost shocked, as a subtle blush appeared on his cheeks at how strange that expression sounded to his ears. "Just so you know, Azumaya-kun, I'm not an object, I'm an independent person and I make my own decisions" he hastened to say as if it wasn't obvious enough, and Junta laughed almost immediately. 

Even though his expression was intended to be one of disapproval, something inside him couldn't help but feel... Relieved. As if, deep down, he had been expecting this kind of initiative from Junta. That familiarity, that attempt to shorten the distance between them, made him feel that things hadn't changed that much after all, even despite the secret the alpha knew about him. 

Junta watched Takato's reaction while keeping that soft smile, guessing the swirl of thoughts that were probably going through his mind. After all, those little details of Takato's were irreparably sweet to him, and managed to charm him even more. Knowing that this facet was practically exclusive to him was beginning to give him a sense of ownership over the older man that, no matter how dangerous it was to his instincts, didn't fail to feel good. All the same, he decided not to push. Instead, he extended his hand towards Takato, as a silent offer.

"I know... But, could you allow me a little of your time?... Just a little bit. I promise to return you to Sasaki-san safe and sound" he joked, but there was a sincerity in his gaze that left Takato speechless for a second. 

The dark-haired man looked at him, still hesitating, as he tried to ignore that faint relief that had settled in his chest as he noticed that Junta, after all, stood firm in his intentions. He felt something inside him stir as he met the alpha's gaze, a gaze so intensely expressive that it caught him. There was something deep in those green eyes, something that watched him with an intensity that almost disarmed him. Takato didn't dare to name what he saw reflected in them... That gaze, charged with an emotion that he could not quite decipher, made him feel vulnerable, small, aware that he could not remember ever having been looked at like that before. 

The sincerity of the Junta's proposal, his persistent approach, made him hesitate, contemplating the possibility of accepting.

A sigh escaped his lips, eventually surrendering to Junta's persistence. Though mistrust still haunted him, something in him gave in. Perhaps it was the lack of options, or maybe, deep down, he was curious as to where the alpha wanted to take him this time. Finally, he nodded slightly, giving Junta a signal that he would follow.

The smile that curved the taller one's lips was instantaneous and lit up the whole place, looking resplendent just like the angel everyone claimed he was. Takato wanted to say something, but before he could regret it, Junta grabbed him by the wrist with an almost imperceptible touch, leading him eagerly towards the exit of the theater. He felt his heart beating a little faster than normal, but said nothing, letting himself go.

They walked together under the faint moonlight, in silence, through the place that was gradually transforming into a less traveled path. Takato couldn't help but notice the change in the atmosphere; the bustle of the city began to fade little by little, being replaced by the rustle of leaves and the rustle of branches under their feet. His gaze lifted, catching a glimpse of the forest that stood lushly before his eyes and almost immediately brought back memories of that night. His senses sharpened, and a growing distrust began to germinate inside him without him being able to help it. 

"Where are you taking me?" he finally asked, the wariness evident in his tone.

Junta turned his head toward him, his eyes glinting in the gloom. "Don't worry, we're almost there" he replied in a voice as soft as it was soothing. 

However, those words were not enough to calm the growing unease in Takato, who began to wonder if it had been a good idea to follow him. He knew, from his more rational side, that he was putting himself at risk just by being alone with the taller one, but even he didn't quite understand what it was that had led him to accept his invitation, ignoring that the situation could get out of control like the last time the two of them were together in a forest. Spotting the trees brought memories to his head, of the moment when the younger man's large hands had held him so firmly, or of the sensation of his nose buried in his neck, which remained vaguely fresh in his memory. His thoughts took a turn he wasn't liking, and just as he was about to stop, seriously considering turning back, the forest suddenly opened up to a clearing. 

Finally they stopped, and Takato's blue eyes widened in surprise once he was able to better analyze the place. The forest was interrupted by a small crystalline lake, perfectly illuminated by the moonlight. Surrounding it were a variety of wildflowers of various colors, and when they took a couple more steps, Takato could make out some fish underwater. 

The scenery was almost magical, like something out of a dream. Takato's distrust dissipated a little, replaced by a mixture of awe and curiosity that he found hard to conceal. 

"What do you think?" Junta asked, letting go of his wrist and giving him space to absorb the scene. Takato looked around, feeling the fresh lake air soothe his recent nerves. It was a beautiful place, one that seemed to belong only to them at that moment.

"Wow, it's... Really beautiful" he admitted, his voice low and almost shy. He felt vulnerable for a second, but the setting seemed to shield him from any judgment. 

"Yeah... I know, right?"

Junta responded, but looking at him instead of the lake, his eyes shining with an excitement Takato didn't quite catch a glimpse of. 

"Sometimes I come here after rehearsals... It helps me to think... And to make decisions" he confessed, admiring the omega's every move. 

Takato let out a sympathetic sound, as his legs moved on their own, slowly and carefully moving around the lake to better appreciate every angle. He usually spent his time in his clan, fulfilling duties as heir to the leader, or rehearsing for plays, so the occasions when he could afford such a moment were rare indeed. 

"Actually..." Junta suddenly began to say, with a slightly deeper tone of voice that warned that he was going to talk about a more serious topic. "That's precisely why I wanted to bring you here today, Takato-san." 

The aforementioned, who found himself rather amused trying to recognize all the types of flowers in the place, raised his gaze upon hearing him, his body repositioning itself in place so as to look somewhat strangely at the boy, whose characteristic smile was no longer present, and in its place left a serious expression that seemed to have some sort of internal conflict. 

"There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while..." he began to speak. 

Takato's body tensed again, a fleeting foreboding coursing through him, but before Junta could continue, he could see his eyes sharpen, and his pose suddenly become tense.

Silence reigned between them, and the change in Junta's expression was so abrupt that Takato blinked, confused, not having the slightest idea what had happened.

"Stay here" suddenly ordered the alpha in an urgent whisper, his voice low and laden with authority as he averted his gaze to an unknown spot in the forest. Takato did not catch the instant when his eyes were tinged with amber. 

"... There's someone else with us."

His last words came out almost as a growl, and Takato shivered from head to toe as he noticed, even from that distance, the way the taller one's scent seemed to grow more intense and sour, expressing itself hostile and alert. He didn't have time to process what was happening or to even ask a question when Junta had already begun to make his way through that side of the forest, his body moving with an agility and speed that was uncanny to him. 

"Azumaya-kun, what...!?" he tried to ask haltingly after a few seconds it took him to snap out of his shock, but the alpha had already moved deeper into the trees to a point where he couldn't make him out, leaving Takato alone at the edge of the lake. 

The silence grew heavy, enveloping the surroundings like an invisible cloak closing around Takato. Every sound, no matter how tiny, seemed to amplify in the stillness of the night. The whisper of the wind through the leaves became a haunting murmur, barely interrupted by the occasional rustle of a branch in the distance. Each of these sounds echoed in his ears like the echo of something sinister, increasing the tension building in his chest. A couple of minutes passed with agonizing slowness, lengthened by the uncertainty that hung over him. Suddenly, an owl hooted in the distance, its call echoing with disturbing clarity. Takato tensed, every muscle in his body alert, and before he could relax, the owl's song faded into a hurried flutter, as if the bird was fleeing from something Takato could not see. 

The absolute silence returned, thicker than before, suffocating in its intensity.

Takato felt his heart racing hurriedly, each beat reverberating in his ears, as his thoughts whirled in a whirlwind of uncertainty. Finally, the worry and a certain restlessness welling up inside him pushed him to make a decision, the need to act overcoming the weight of the silence that surrounded him.

"I can't stay here" he muttered to himself, ignoring Junta's warning as he moved deeper into the forest, trying to remember the direction the alpha had taken. 

The darkness enveloped him swiftly, covering everything around him in a black, impenetrable cloak. For a moment, Takato paused, feeling uncertainty stalk him, almost paralyzing him. The night seemed to have closed in on him, turning the forest into a maze with no way out. His breathing became more rapid, and the fear of being lost assailed him with force. However, in the midst of that anguish, something deep, almost primitive, awoke within him. An inexplicable but powerful sensation began to emerge in his chest, somehow indicating to him that he was going in the right direction. It was as if an invisible current was whispering the way forward. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to dispel his fears and allowing that instinct to take over. His body reacted almost of its own accord, moving with a certainty he didn't quite understand.

The alpha's trail, barely perceptible, became clearer in his mind, as if a force was calling him from deep in the forest, marking with precision the direction he should follow. Each step he took, though uncertain at first, became firmer, more determined. That strange sensation pushed him forward, as if there was a connection between them that transcended the physical, although that was a detail that Takato did not stop to notice. 

Had someone been following them...? For what purpose? 

The two clans had been at peace for so long that the idea of an attack seemed absurd to him. But then, why would anyone want to spy on them? Perhaps it was an outside clan, although that possibility didn't quite add up either. They barely had any contact with them, and they had never had any kind of conflict. What could motivate someone to break that neutrality? None of the possible explanations fit in his mind, leaving him with an uneasy feeling that he could not shake off. 

In spite of everything, the darkness no longer seemed so threatening, and his fear began to dissipate, replaced mostly by his desire to understand, and by that force that pushed him forward, as if destiny itself was calling him. 

Before he could continue to consider hypotheses, his steps stopped abruptly, as if that force that had guided him now forced him to stop.

He had finally found him... But the sight that greeted him took his breath away.

In the middle of a small clearing, his eyes met a golden fur rising up in an animal silhouette... A large wolf with amber eyes, it had a man cornered on the ground. Instinct led Takato to recognize the wolf immediately, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he could hear that mixture of human whimpers along with the growls that seemed to erupt from deep within the canine.

"Azumaya..." he called him, his voice sounding strangely faint.

The animal form of the aforementioned raised its head to look at him, but the eye contact with the alpha was so overwhelming that his words seemed to be lost in the air. His eyes bore into Takato's with an intensity that left him breathless, paralyzed by the force emanating from that contact.

He could barely process what he was seeing, and his body tensed even more when the animal bared its fangs at him, as if reasserting dominance. Even though the whole scenario screamed danger, he couldn't help but find those amber, albeit bloodshot, eyes strangely familiar, and something inside him assured him that he was in no danger. His feet took hesitant steps, still unsure whether or not to approach. 

But then, once he got a better view of what was happening, he almost immediately recognized the man on the ground and the navy blue uniform he was wearing... One of his grandmother's guards. 

The realization hit him hard, and he knew he had to do something, but he found himself unable to move, trapped under the weight of the alpha's gaze, which seemed to be demanding something, though he couldn't recognize exactly what it was. He knew he wasn't dealing directly with Junta, but rather with his alpha, with his more primal form, so it wouldn't be as simple as simply asking him to step aside. 

"Saijo-san... Run!" 

That shout brought him back to reality, and it was like a trigger for the wolf, which as a kind of reflex seemed to growl loudly, opening its snout to directly bite the man's head off in one bite. He couldn't let it happen... He had to act now or there would be no turning back. 

"Azumaya! No!" he hastened to shout desperately, but firmly enough. 

Only then did the air seem to return to his lungs, as he watched the animal stop its task to look at him. 

He had to find a way to put an end to that situation, and with that determination in mind it was almost automatic when, taking advantage of the fact that the man seemed to fall unconscious from the impact, he let his own eyes take on an intense silver hue. 

He really didn't want to do it, he hated to expose once again the nature of his true caste in front of the taller one, but it was his own omega that made its own way through, taking control of his body to face the wolf. 

He practically lost consciousness of what was happening, and the last thing he could see was the wolf approaching, while alpha and omega took the time to observe each other, recognizing each other. 

Chapter Text

The scent of the forest flooded his senses, fresh and damp, along with a gust of wind that stirred his hair in a gentle movement, and forced Takato to open his eyes. After a few seconds he became aware of the texture of the earth and grass beneath his feet, and only then did he notice that he was barefoot, and that the pants he wore only covered up to the height of his knees. There was none of the fancy clothes he always wore, on the contrary the garments he was wearing were very plain, and when he looked at himself better he was able to notice the rather soft and light nightgown he was wearing. 

Nothing on the stage made sense. 

He looked around, hoping to find something, or someone. But his company was limited to the occasional whistling of the wind, or the sound of stirring tree leaves. His mind was blank, as if he couldn't think of anything specific. He felt strange, but relaxed somehow. 

Was he dreaming...? It felt so real that he wasn't even able to discern it. 

His gaze settled further ahead, and then he managed to spot an intense light that flickered back and forth, blinding. He squinted to see better, but couldn’t quite make anything out. He chose to move forward, his feet brushing against the ground, somehow finding that simple contact natural, as if touching nature directly connected him to it. To his instincts. He moved closer to the source of the light, and then his blue eyes took in the sight of the lake. That lake, surrounded by flowers. The sunlight reflected off the water in a flash that seemed to call to him in silence, and a few fish swam calmly. Oh, what a pleasant feeling. He wasn’t sure how to describe it, but being there gave him a peace he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time.

Slowly, he sat by the lake, and almost automatically, he let his feet slip into the water, taking advantage of being barefoot and wearing short pants. The water had a pleasant temperature, and the sensation reminded him of some carefree moments from his childhood. He was… Happy, fulfilled… As if he could let his guard down after so long, and the weight he normally carried on his shoulders felt like a feather, almost nonexistent.

At a certain moment, a sort of reflex made him lift his gaze, as if his instinct had sensed movement on the other side of the lake. The crack of a branch, the grass subtly rustling as it was stepped on, and he could immediately tell that something unknown was approaching.

But he didn’t feel alert; rather, he felt expectant.

From among the trees, a wolf with light fur finally emerged, approaching the opposite shore of the lake and instantly fixing its gaze on him. Takato watched it closely, not missing any of its movements, and remained calm, sensing no hint of danger. Their eyes met, and in those amber eyes, he found a sense of familiarity. Something warm spread through his chest, and it was inevitable that he felt a hint of curiosity about the animal watching him so intently.

The canine began to walk again, this time starting to circle around the lake, and their gazes never broke, not even for a second.

Takato knew it would approach him, but even so, he couldn’t stop his body from tensing the moment it drew near—so close that he could almost hear its breathing. His shoulders grew rigid, and a sort of uncertainty arose in him when he saw the animal lean its head towards him, sniffing him. He frowned for a moment, and his cheeks reddened as a natural reaction to the approach, which felt so intimate, yet he made no move to push it away. Only then did he realize he wasn’t wearing a neutralizer, nor his cologne that mimicked alpha pheromones… His scent of chocolate and mint was free, and for the first time, sensing it in the air didn’t provoke a wave of panic that left him breathless. It was strange, but he knew there was no reason to be afraid… He was safe.

The wolf sniffed more directly at his neck, and Takato involuntarily let out a small laugh, barely audible, at the tickling sensation his breathing and the brush of his fur left on his skin.

The wag of the wolf’s tail in response to his reaction was a detail he didn’t catch.

"Takato! You’re awake!"

His eyes opened. And the scent of the forest vanished in an instant. He remained in a trance for a few seconds, unable to remember anything from his dreams, but the lingering trace of peace it left within him was so overwhelming that he couldn’t help but want to go back to sleep. Oh, how he longed to close his eyes again and let himself drift back into whatever his dreams had granted him to give him such tranquility.

"Oh, you had me so worried."

That voice pulled him fully into reality, and finally, his eyes turned to its source, finding exactly who he expected to see… His grandmother, standing just a few inches from the bed where he lay. His gaze traveled over her face, recognizing the hint of worry etched all over her expression.

What had happened…? How had he ended up there?

His mind was certainly blocked, as were many of his memories. He chose to sit up in bed, though he did so slowly, feeling his body still somewhat stiff. The woman quickly made a gesture to help him, but he refused.

"Suzuko-san... What...?" he tried to ask after a few seconds, and he noticed his voice sounded somewhat hoarse, probably from just waking up.

However, just before he could finish his words, images rushed into his mind like an avalanche. He then remembered Junta’s invitation, the moment they had crossed part of the forest to reach the lake, and how the alpha had disappeared after sensing an external presence near them. It all came back so quickly that a sudden pang made him furrow his brows in pain, but it didn’t stop there. The scene continued playing in his head like a film, and he could feel his body tensing as he finally recalled it: the encounter with the wolf, Junta’s alpha... who had looked at him with those deep, intense eyes, and he felt a pang of unease once again when the image of the man cornered beneath him returned to his mind. He tried to stop it, and then their eyes met again...

He could still feel the weight of that gaze piercing through him.

"Takato... It’s fortunate I sent someone other than Tatsuya… I don’t know what would have happened otherwise."

The sound of the door caught his attention, and he looked toward it as he heard his grandmother allowing a servant to enter. After giving a bow, she approached with great courtesy, bringing a tray in his direction.

"Thank you very much, Hitomi... You may leave."

The woman took the tray when she saw that Takato didn’t seem fully aware, and the girl quickly gave a deep bow before nodding, leaving the room as instructed and gently closing the door behind her.

"That alpha... He's the boy who knows the truth, isn’t he?" The question caught him off guard, and Takato, who had momentarily lost himself in the aroma of the cookies and the steaming tea on the tray, quickly turned his gaze back to her.

"Suzuko-san... Don’t get the wrong idea... He didn’t..."

He tried to reply, reaching out to take the cup in his hands. He was hungry and felt a bit cold, wanting to dispel those sensations with a sip of tea, but unexpectedly, the woman’s hand rested on one of his wrists, stopping him.

"Takato, please tell me the truth," her voice was serious, but there was a hint of distress in her words that was impossible to ignore. She looked away and swallowed heavily, as if just pronouncing what she was about to say was difficult. "That alpha... Did he try to do something to you?"

Takato's eyes widened, and his brows furrowed almost instantly, unable to believe what he was hearing. Contrary to any expected reaction, his cheeks flushed instantly, and he tried to avoid his grandmother’s gaze. His mind suddenly replayed images from that night at the hotel, and it was like a slap of reality as he recalled so vividly the image of the alpha above him, his amber eyes shining with an intensity that seemed to want to devour every inch of him. He could still feel the warmth of his hands, and the sensation of his breath against his skin remained vivid in his memory. All those images he wanted to forget resurfaced as he heard her question, but he knew perfectly well that they didn’t fit with her worried inquiry, since all of it had been triggered by his early heat.

"Please... Be honest with me" she pleaded, and Takato forced himself out of his reverie. He couldn’t think about those kinds of things while his grandmother looked so worried. “The person who found you told me that Tatsuya was on the ground unconscious, you were in some kind of trance, and he… That boy was unconscious too, but… He was naked.”

That last detail nearly made Takato choke on his own breath, and he had to clear his throat a bit to make his clumsy reaction less obvious. He wanted to laugh from nervousness, and at the same time, the whole scenario struck him as utterly absurd once he began piecing everything together. Clearly, his grandmother’s concern was based on nothing more than a huge misunderstanding, and somehow that certainty helped dissipate the feeling of unease that had lodged within him at the image of the boy naked. He knew that after all this time, being an unmated omega at his age could have certain consequences, but he couldn’t allow himself to react so embarrassingly and inexperiencedly just at the mention of a naked alpha. He couldn’t humiliate himself in that way.

“Ah… This is all just a big misunderstanding.”

He hurried to clarify, finally looking back into the woman’s expectant eyes.

“You see, Suzuko-san… Azumaya-kun took me to see a lake in that area,” he began to explain, and the elder alpha simply listened intently. “He… He didn’t do anything to me.”

Takato clarified once again, feeling an odd discomfort in having to assert it a second time. Junta could be overbearing, and intense at times, but the idea that he could be so easily mistaken for someone who would take advantage of his trust simply because he was an alpha began to bother him. Thinking of the younger man brought back memories of their time by the lake… He recalled the flowers they’d touched, and suddenly, the phrase Junta had left unfinished resurfaced in his mind.

«There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while…»

His voice replayed clearly in his head, and without realizing it, Takato furrowed his brow slightly. What was it that Junta wanted to tell him? He couldn’t shake the feeling of strangeness that washed over him, and frustration flared up as he remembered how Junta had interrupted himself, distracted by that presence he’d sensed nearby.

“We were talking, and… He said there was someone else with us… He told me to stay put and went to check, but I couldn’t just sit there doing nothing, so I followed him,” he continued, a sigh escaping his lips. “Then I found him… He was in his animal form, and he had Tatsuya-san pinned under him… I simply stopped him, and as you can see, he didn’t harm me.”

He gestured to himself, his body unharmed, and he recognized the moment his grandmother could breathe a bit easier upon seeing him speak with such certainty.

“So that explains why he was naked…”

The woman concluded, and Takato simply nodded, not wanting to dwell on that detail any longer. He took a cookie and began eating, finally starting to piece together everything that had happened.

“So, you sent guards to follow me” 

Suzuko looked at him with a hint of guilt. Clearly, Takato wasn’t foolish, and it only took a bit of thought to piece together what had happened, especially given that she had practically revealed it herself. But since he had just woken up, it took him a moment to realize.

"You have to understand me, Takato… I couldn’t be at ease knowing someone else knew, let alone an alpha… I was very worried."

The younger man sighed again and took a sip of tea to steady himself. The weight was back on his shoulders, feeling as heavy as ever, along with the frustration that arose when he thought about how his grandmother always saw him as someone weak and vulnerable, someone she had to protect. He loved her regardless and didn’t fully blame her for it; after all, it was in an alpha’s nature to want to protect their loved ones, especially if they were a dominant alpha. Yet, he couldn’t help but hate the feeling of seeming fragile, of giving the impression that he needed someone else’s protection just to get by. Perhaps it was because he’d spent most of his life as an alpha himself, but he’d become used to looking out for himself, to standing on his own. And those actions his grandmother took from time to time only served as reminders of his true nature. Though he didn’t hate it, it inevitably reminded him that he was, in reality, just a simple omega, someone others would see as incapable of defending himself, incapable of leading, incapable of living without the company of an alpha… an inferior being.

"What did you do with him?"

He decided to change the subject, not wanting to hear more things that would add to the weight on his shoulders, and his grandmother seemed to agree, as she didn’t press further.

"He's in one of the rooms… under guard," she added, and Takato looked at her in disbelief at that detail. "Takato, you can't ask me to just stay calm… He's an alpha… What did he do to make you defend him so much?"

The question made him jump, as though he was being accused of something, though he wasn’t sure of what exactly. His body felt even more rigid, and he turned his gaze back to the tray with tea and cookies, as if he might find the answer there. It was true, after all. When he first met Junta, he distrusted him as he did any other alpha. But why did it feel different now? What had changed between them to make him change his mind? Maybe he really had begun to trust the alpha after he found out his secret… Or maybe, as reckless as it was, deep down he wanted to trust him no matter what. After all, he hid himself every day, concealing his true nature from everyone else, and though he knew his reasons perfectly well, there were times he couldn’t help but feel like a monster, like something that shouldn’t be shown to the crowd. Perhaps, for that very reason, having someone else know his secret felt so strangely refreshing… Maybe he just wanted to cling to that feeling, no matter what it might cost.

"I… I don’t know" he finally began to respond, setting the tray aside so he could look at his own hands. "Maybe I just want to try not to distrust a caste that you also belong to, Suzuko-san… And the one I've been pretending to be a part of."

Though he kept his doubts to himself, what he said wasn’t entirely untrue, and the tired, ironic tone in his last words revealed as much. None of it made sense, no matter which angle he analyzed it from. For years, he had pretended to be part of a caste he could never truly belong to, a perpetual actor in a never-ending play, where the curtain never fell and every morning started the performance again, as soon as he opened his eyes. His entire life was a stage, one where improvisation was forbidden, where every movement was choreographed, and any slip, no matter how small, could set off a monumental disaster.

Suzuko watched him in silence, guilt evident in her expression, and Takato simply chose to look away, unwilling to feel any more of that pity.

"Takato… I know it’s hard, but please understand me..."

The actor set the tray aside, looking at his grandmother with an expression that seemed to fight against showing just how exhausted he felt. He had to stay strong, had to prove he was strong enough, that he was capable. Suzuko moved closer to him, gently stroking his hair, and Takato noticed how that subtle contact brought him a bit of peace. Oh, how much he needed it.

“I can’t allow myself to lose you too.”

Her words echoed in the omega’s chest, awakening a pain he never allowed himself to fully experience. Memories piled up in his mind in an endless stream of dark images, suffocating feelings that dragged him back to those moments in his life he had so desperately tried to bury. He looked at Suzuko, his blue eyes expressing everything his mouth couldn’t say, and eventually let out a long sigh. He didn’t want to argue, not with her. His grandmother had wisdom forged through years, she was a leader in every sense, able to see beyond appearances and understand the complexities of the world they lived in. Every piece of advice she gave was filled with experience, and deep down he knew there was logic in her worry, even if it sometimes felt excessive.

“… I won’t send anyone to watch over you again, alright?”

Suzuko continued speaking, noticing Takato didn’t show any intention of responding. The internal conflict was clear on his face. Only then did his expression relax a bit, pleased at the idea of keeping his life as intact as possible.

“But… can I ask Azumaya-kun a few questions?” Takato looked back at her upon hearing the surname, a momentary confusion in his eyes.

“You’re not going to threaten him or anything… Right?”

The woman smiled at him, a gentle gesture meant to reassure him, as the scent of her pheromones began to intensify in the air. Unlike the pheromones of any other alpha, his grandmother’s didn’t affect him the same way. That scent had been familiar to him since childhood, and instead of stirring the unease that dominant alpha pheromones usually caused, it calmed him. It made him feel safe, as if he were returning to those carefree days when his caste wasn’t a constant concern and he only dreamed of becoming a great actor… Just as his grandmother once had.

“No… I just want to make sure he won’t do anything that could harm you.”

Takato sighed, resigned, and gave a slight nod, granting her permission. After all, his grandmother was the leader of the clan. In her territory, she could do as she pleased. He knew better than anyone that her question was merely a courtesy, an attempt to respect his preferences as she always had.

In some way, he was grateful that hadn’t changed.

…

“So... Takato-san grew up here.”

Junta’s voice echoed in the hallway as his shoes and Takato’s boots created a harmonious rhythm. Junta’s green eyes roamed over every corner of the place with curiosity, as if, by observing it long enough, he might uncover something deeper, something intimate about the man walking in front of him. Takato only nodded, distracted, lost in his own thoughts, while Junta followed his steady pace with a slight smile. He barely remembered the details of the previous night after finding that man spying on them, but after the vague explanation he’d been given, he opted not to dig any deeper…—not to mention the sharp pang in his head that stopped him every time he tried.

“As expected… It’s an elegant and beautiful place.”

Takato stopped, slowly turning to look at him, unaware of the intense gaze Junta had fixed on the back of his neck as he spoke those words. Finally, their eyes met. Takato seemed to be wrestling with himself, as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t entirely sure about it.

“Hey… Suzuko-san didn’t ask you any strange questions, did she?”

He tried to sound casual, but the hint of worry in his voice gave him away.

Junta immediately smiled, looking completely at ease and relaxed. “Strange questions?… Not at all, Takato-san.” Takato scrutinized him, but the younger man appeared calm, without any clear signs he was hiding something. “On the contrary, she was very courteous… Now that I’ve met her, it’s no mystery where Takato-san got his grace and determination~”

“Alright, cut the flattery.”

He tried to brush it off, and Junta merely chuckled. He wasn’t sure he wanted to keep hearing those compliments, no matter how much they might feed his ego.

“Takato-san…”

“Hm?”

“I was told I transformed last night… Did I scare you?”

The question caught him off guard, and he had to clear his throat to disguise the surprise that jolted through him at hearing it in Junta’s voice. It felt strange; remembering Junta’s wolf form left him with a sensation he couldn’t quite name. He didn’t like the uncertainty, he hated not being able to put a name to the feeling… He hated losing control.

“Hah… Why would I be scared?” He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms, looking unfazed. He didn’t want to show that it had affected him, that maybe he had felt a bit intimidated... Maybe even a kind of connection. “Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself?... You need to learn to control your wolf better.”

He tapped him lightly on the forehead, which Junta received with a bashful laugh.

“That’s true... I’m sorry” he replied, like a guilty dog lowering its ears. “I guess the idea of you being in danger made me lose control”

Takato blinked a couple of times, not understanding why those words sent a wave of nerves through his body. Did Junta even think before saying things like that? He didn’t want to dwell on how intimate his words had sounded, but it was impossible not to. Comments like that made him imagine that Junta was willing to do anything to protect him, and that strange thought made him feel uneasy. It was something that went beyond the discomfort or helplessness he felt when his grandmother tried to protect him as if he were weak, but he couldn’t describe it… Nor was he sure he wanted to.

“… Y-you should go” he stammered, not wanting to explore his feelings further. “I’m sure you have things to do… And we still have rehearsal tomorrow” he added, pushing open the mansion’s front door.

Daylight illuminated their faces, and a cool breeze greeted them. Almost automatically, Takato glanced sideways to make sure Junta was dressed warmly enough to leave, then finished opening the door completely, turning his back to him for a moment.

“Thanks for inviting me to the lake… It was nice.”

«At least for the short time we were there» he thought to himself, unable to help it. Although he would have liked to stay a little longer in that peaceful place, soaking in the calm it brought him, he knew that perhaps it was for the best. Being alone with Junta was still dangerous, no matter how much he wanted to ignore it.

He waited for a response, but all he got was silence. 

Just as he was about to turn back, he felt a subtle tickle on the back of his neck. His body tensed immediately, and a second later, Junta’s warm breath caressed his neck, followed by the slow brush of his nose against his skin.

The contact made him shudder from head to toe, letting out a soft, clumsy gasp. He pulled away abruptly, almost stumbling over his own words.

“W-what are you doing?!”

Junta watched him silently for a moment, with a calculated expression, clearly enjoying his shy reaction. Although Takato couldn’t notice, his eyes shone with an intensity as strong as it was indecipherable. Finally, the alpha leaned in closer to his ear, his voice soft and barely audible, just enough for no one else to hear.

“Takato-san… you still smell a little like mint…”

Takato felt his face flush even more, and he pulled back again, this time with more force.

“That's…! I know, I know, I’ll take care of it. But don’t do that again,” he muttered, trying to regain some composure. “I-it’s weird for two alphas to be that close”

As he looked around to make sure no one had seen them, he thought Junta would state the obvious—That he wasn’t a real alpha. But to his surprise, the other simply smiled at him with that carefree, sweet expression that seemed so natural for him.

“I hope we can go to the lake again someday” he replied, giving him a subtle bow of farewell before turning to leave.

Takato watched him for a few seconds as he descended the front steps and walked away, and finally, he closed the door, his hand still touching the spot where Junta had breathed in his scent. Somehow, he couldn't stop thinking about it. 

Chapter Text

"It seems that Azumaya-kun really likes mint candies."

That voice snapped Junta out of his daydream as he looked to the other side of the stage, admiring the way Takato seemed to gracefully mimic the instructor's sword movements. It was impressive; everything about the man was delicate and elegant, like a work of art he couldn't stop observing. His gaze turned to Sasaki, who had quietly positioned himself next to him, and only then did he notice the nearly empty bag in his hand. He hadn't even realized when he had eaten almost all of them.

"Ah, this" he pointed out distractedly.

He didn't even particularly like the candies; on the contrary, they served more as a sort of supplement. Perhaps knowing that Takato's true scent was minty had influenced his increased consumption... Though that was clearly something he couldn't share with Sasaki.

"Maybe... In some way, they seem to calm me down."

Sasaki smiled at him with his characteristic kindness, as if he understood. In truth, to anyone else, it might have seemed absurd to think that Junta could lose his composure. Despite being a dominant alpha, his expression was always sweet, innocent... Almost angelic. And perhaps taking suppressants now and then helped keep his pheromones from being as intimidating as they should be, but unlike anyone else, Sasaki wasn't surprised. It was almost as if he could imagine what was going through Junta's mind, although clearly, Junta didn't notice, as he was too focused on other things. Or rather, on someone else.

"Azumaya-kun!"

Immediately, both the alpha and beta looked up, and Junta felt breathless as the black-haired man's boots echoed, getting closer to them. His eyes traveled over the man, who stood with such confidence, easily noticing his slight agitation as he approached. The way Takato was breathing didn't escape him, and every detail, down to the smallest one, seemed to play with his sanity. There was a fine layer of sweat on his face, almost imperceptible, and his chest rose and fell gradually, still recovering his breath after practicing with the sword. The muscles in his shoulders subtly tensed when Takato finally stopped in front of them, his hair, always perfectly styled, falling slightly disheveled across his forehead, giving him an almost unattainable air. He clearly seemed tired, but his eyes were full of life, and every inch of his body was a testament to his effort.

Junta loved looking at him.

"Azumaya-kun."

He had to come back to reality.

He blinked, overwhelmed by the direction of his thoughts. He couldn't afford to make such open observations, not when he was in a place where his pheromones could cause an incident. He had to be careful, as he already knew exactly how much Takato could provoke him without even trying.

"It's your turn."

He pointed to the part of the stage where the training was taking place, as if he'd noticed that Junta had been distracted for a moment, though for some reason, he chose to overlook it. He passed by him, and suddenly felt a strong gust of his citrusy scent hit him. His eyes widened in surprise, and his body weakened a little. His brow furrowed deeply... Was Junta doing that on purpose? There was no way the young man could expel his scent that way so close to him, after all, he knew. He should know that his pheromones would affect him, whether he wanted to or not.

He wanted to confront him, but his body felt paralyzed the instant Junta made eye contact first. Their eyes locked, and Takato felt a chill run down his spine. He wasn't sure how to explain it, but for some reason, being close to Junta was more difficult than before.

Neither of them said anything, they just kept staring, as if the answers they were looking for were written on their faces. Soon, Junta had to walk away when the instructor called for him. Takato took a deep breath as soon as he left, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. He thought things with Junta had been going better than expected, so why do something so careless? In moments like those, he couldn't help but feel so hypocritical, cursing alphas even though he had spent almost his entire life pretending to be one.

"That brat... With that scent, he's going to scare everyone away."

He complained to Sasaki, taking another sip from his water bottle while trying to calm his heartbeat, which was apparently still erratic from the training.

"... Scent?" Sasaki looked at him confused, not understanding what he was referring to.

"Yeah... That idiot reeks of oranges and wood... If he doesn't control those pheromones, he could cause a scene... I thought he took better care of that, so why does he smell so strong today?"

Takato couldn't stop complaining, while watching from a distance as the green-eyed young man began to follow the instructor's orders. Of course, he didn't notice how the beta raised his eyebrows in surprise and then directed his gaze to the rest of the omegas on the set, who didn't seem particularly stunned. A beta like him could perceive other people's pheromones just as well as an alpha or an omega, and he was completely sure that, even though he had been next to Junta, he hadn't noticed any trace of what Takato was complaining about.

... 

"Now that both of you are more familiar with your swords... How about one last rehearsal together?"

Hiroshi's voice, the instructor, made Takato glance at the alpha, who seemed to have his eyes on him even before, and Takato couldn't help but be slightly startled by that detail. He cleared his throat subtly and climbed onto the stage, not before handing his water bottle to Sasaki. He was already irritated enough thinking about how careless Junta had been with his scent to spend more time with him, but after all, work was work, so he had to force himself to act as if nothing was wrong.

He quickly positioned himself on the stage, seeing Junta a few steps away from him as he received the wooden sword handed to him by one of the assistants. Having them both on stage was enough for the attention to focus completely on them. It would be the first time they faced each other without the instructor's intervention, so it was inevitable that it would be something eye-catching. Not to mention the big detail that one was the heir to the leader of the Nevilla clan and the other a dominant alpha... Clearly, everyone would want to witness such a confrontation, no matter that it was for a rehearsal of a play.

"Remember, guys, I want to see intensity, but don't forget to be careful... We don't want any injuries before the play."

Hiroshi's voice echoed between them, as if he were trying to lessen the tension that seemed to have built up between the two actors. Takato lightly played with the sword while a challenging smile appeared on his face.

As the heir to the leader, he had been trained in his childhood, both in hand-to-hand combat and with swords, so he was quite familiar with the idea of fighting someone, even if the context was different... He knew that very well. He knew perfectly well that he had to hold back a little, that he couldn't fight as if it were a real battle, that he couldn't go all out against Junta. However, something inside him fought against that logic. A part of himself, perhaps his wounded pride or something deeper he couldn't identify, urged him to give it his all, to show his true abilities.

Was it because Junta was an alpha? Did he want to prove to himself that he could surpass him...? Or did he simply want to make sure he wasn't seen as weak in his eyes? He couldn't be sure. The only clear thing was that this spark of competitiveness was consuming him more than he would have liked to admit.

Takato adjusted his stance, lightly holding the wooden sword in his hands, pointing it directly at the taller one as he meticulously awaited his first move. His pupils sharpened when he saw Junta advance, and the first move finally came.

It was fast but surprisingly weak, a strike that barely took any effort to block. Takato took a slight step back and felt something tense inside him.

It was fine. He could allow Junta an initial mistake, after all, no matter how talented he was, he was still a rookie with no experience. Perhaps it was even fair, granting him that margin for learning, an opportunity to adapt better to the scene, but Takato couldn't help the feeling of irritation that began to creep into his chest unconsciously. No one said anything about it, not even the instructor, and on the contrary, everyone kept watching attentively.

His feet moved forward again, and Junta's second strike came, but it was no better than the first. To the others, it might have seemed like there was no problem, but Takato could easily tell that the younger one seemed to be holding back, as if he were fighting against a child, not someone who clearly had the ability to defend himself. He gritted his teeth and positioned himself again, though this time he took the opportunity to initiate the attack and aimed his sword at Junta without thinking twice, to which Junta quickly reacted and skillfully dodged his strike. A frustrated smile appeared on Takato's face, and suddenly his movements became faster and more aggressive, while the alpha continued to evade him with agility. And each time Junta had to counterattack, Takato easily dodged, his movements measured as if he were careful not to hurt him accidentally.

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Azumaya-kun?"

His voice sounded rigid and full of frustration as they got close enough for their interaction to go unnoticed.

Junta looked him directly in the eyes, and something seemed to stir inside him as he met Takato's sharp gaze, though he was clearly confused by the tone of his voice.

"Excuse me?"

He quickly asked. Takato then struck again with his sword, making an attack that caught the taller one off guard, though not enough to prevent him from dodging it.

"You know exactly what I mean" Takato replied, moving closer, making Junta step back slightly, perhaps feeling his senses overwhelmed by how close they were... But Takato wasn't interested in worrying about him or how his proximity might affect him; instead, he delivered a ruthless blow that finally caught Junta off guard, causing him to fall backward to the ground. The ground shook, and a brief silence filled the room. It matched the script, so no one was startled, but of course, none of the spectators could imagine that they were having a real encounter.

"You're not taking this seriously... You're holding back."

Takato pointed out, and Junta's eyes widened slightly... Of course, he had noticed.

"If you think I need your pity because I'm omega, you're very wrong." Junta's brow furrowed in confusion when he heard him mutter, and he quickly tried to clarify his intentions, but Takato struck again, and he had to use all his concentration to raise his own sword and stop the attack. Their swords met, and their eyes locked in a chaotic exchange, like fire and ice.

"I don't want your pity, especially not on stage."

He spat with anger, and Junta tensed when he realized what Takato meant. Looking at him now, everything made sense. Of course Takato would hate the idea of being seen as weak, of being treated condescendingly. It was so obvious it surprised him that he hadn't considered it earlier. But still, what else could he do? Both he and his wolf felt uneasy at the possibility, no matter how small, of hurting him. Even if it was just acting, even if it was just a practically harmless wooden sword. That instinctive, protective part of him rebelled against the idea of going all out against him. But of course... Takato wouldn't know that, and Junta couldn't tell him. He couldn't confess that his restraint didn't come from underestimating him, but from something much deeper, something even he didn't know how to control.

"If you don't take this seriously... On the day of the play, I'll devour you. You know that, right?"

Takato's voice, low and full of sharp confidence, pierced Junta's senses like a precise shot. Junta blinked, almost stunned, as the omega's smile took on a tint of superiority tinged with irritation. It wasn't a friendly smile; it was a challenge, one so direct it burned like a flame. Neither of them gave an inch in the pressure between their swords, but something changed in Junta's perception.

His eyes scanned the figure before him, leaning over him with that fierce determination reflected on his face. He was focused, passionate... and dangerously beautiful.

Junta felt his breath catch, the air trapped in his chest as if something invisible were compressing it. Takato's challenge was like a sweet poison, invading him and breaking down the barriers of self-control he had imposed on himself. He wanted to hold him, so badly, that if he didn't do it right then, he might die.

His scent began to intensify before he could stop it.

Takato stopped instantly. His eyes widened in surprise as he sensed the change in the air, the scent of wood and citrus suddenly enveloping him, wrapping around him like an invisible embrace.

Junta had done it again.

Oh, Takato was definitely going to kill him. He wanted to hit him with the same sword in the head to scold him, but the scent was so intense that he felt frozen. His legs buckled when he met the green eyes of the younger man, and he quickly straightened himself, taking a step back. The attraction between them was undeniable, but it was exactly that which Takato didn't want to face. He moved away as if Junta's closeness were burning his insides, but on the contrary, his wolf paced restlessly, disturbed by his proximity. He didn't even notice the silver color that briefly reflected in his eyes, just for a moment, as if his wolf were responding to the younger's scent.

He anxiously looked away, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he clenched his teeth, wanting to remain unnoticed... But Junta had noticed.

Oh, of course he had.

"That's it! Good job, guys!" Hiroshi's voice broke the tension like thunder. "Excellent! It was captivating... Stunning!"

The excited man was showering them with praise, satisfied to see that his work had borne fruit. Applause filled the room as they both stood up and returned to reality, although clearly, each of them was in his own world. Takato didn't look him in the eyes again and deliberately avoided his gaze. He felt like he was suffocating, and only then did he begin to realize that no one was mentioning Junta's scent... Could it be that he was the only one who could perceive it? 

No... Of course not, that couldn't be possible. The mere thought started to make him want to laugh out of hysteria, and he could already feel his cheeks reddening for something beyond physical exertion.

Panic invaded him, and Junta's penetrating gaze didn't help.

The instructor kept talking, but neither of them was listening. There was something impossible to put into words, like a spark that only they could see. But no matter how much Takato wanted to ignore it, Junta wasn't going to let him, not this time... Not now that the veteran actor's reaction had shown him that he had perceived the same thing.

... 

When the rehearsal ended and almost everyone had left, Junta didn't overthink it; that wasn't his style. As soon as their eyes briefly met, he hurried towards Takato with determined steps. Of course, Takato noticed, and he didn't hesitate to try to find an excuse to avoid him, but before he could do so, a voice jolted his body.

"Takato-san!"

Junta reached him as soon as Takato's legs wavered in his attempt to flee, and grabbed his wrist firmly before he could slip away from his reach. Takato glanced up at the rising moon and couldn't help but wonder in his mind why the goddess was being so ruthless with him.

But, oh, come on.

He was an adult, a great actor, the heir to the clan's leadership... He was Saijo Takato. He could handle this situation, he could pretend if necessary, he could lie. He could dodge any question the boy might ask him... It couldn't be that hard, right?

He turned slowly, after all, he had no other choice, the grip on his wrist felt like steel.

Junta was there, closer than he had expected, and his eyes didn't let him go. For a moment, Takato felt like prey under the gaze of a predator... Although it wasn't the first time he had felt this way.

"What do you need, Azumaya-kun?"

He tried to sound firm and calm. After all, he just had to pretend that he hadn't felt anything. He simply needed to act ignorant, as if no extra detail of their encounter had happened. They had only practiced the fight, it had gone well, Hiroshi had given his approval, and that was it. There was nothing beyond that.

"You know exactly what I want, Takato-san." Junta stared at him intently, and when Takato could analyze the expression on his face, he confirmed that the boy had nothing angelic about him... He was the devil himself in disguise. "Don't pretend you didn't feel anything on stage... Your eyes..." His gaze descended to Takato's lips and then back to his eyes, that silver spark he had seen before, etched in his memory. It wasn't the first time he had seen it. Of course not. He still clearly remembered the night of the kiss, as if he could still feel the contact of their lips. He remembered the omega's silver eyes filled with desire. But the fact that Takato wasn't in heat now made a huge difference...

His wolf reacted to him.

"You reacted... Just like I did" he admitted his own reaction, feeling Takato's body tense as his wrist trembled for an instant.

"Ah... It seems you're mistaken, Azumaya-kun, I have no idea what you're talking about" Takato tried to dodge his words, slipping out of the grip as soon as the taller man loosened his hold and stepped back a few steps, his back hitting the wall behind him. The closeness of the boy made him feel disoriented; he needed to keep him away at all costs, and at that exact moment, he began to regret rejecting the bodyguard his grandmother had offered him. If this situation continued, he was sure he was going to end up doing something inappropriate.

"Mistaken?" Junta let out a low, almost mocking laugh. "I'm not stupid enough to not realize. And neither are you, Takato-san... You know your wolf reacts to me."

"That was because you released your scent!"

He hastily defended himself, desperate to escape. He had to leave, he had to stop the situation from escalating, but he couldn't find a way. It was as if his body was forcing him to stay there.

"Scent?" Junta repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! You let out your scent!" he exclaimed, frowning, his defensive stance clear. "First, I have to put up with you acting like an idiot during the rehearsal, underestimating me just because I'm an omega, and then you release your disgusting orange pheromones all over the place. Obviously, my wolf was going to react! In case you didn't know, it's a common reaction of an omega to an alpha's scent, no matter how much I hate it, I can't help it!"

The words spilled from his throat one after another, unable to hold in his frustration any longer. His breath quickened as he realized he had been too honest, but the silence he received from Junta made him think that he had finally managed to dispel the idea that seemed to have stubbornly taken root in his mind. He swallowed heavily, realizing the gravity of his own words. Surely, Junta would understand that it had been nothing more than a natural reaction, and then he would leave him alone. Ideally, everything would return to normal, and that moment would just be an uncomfortable memory for both of them.

But before he could say anything else, he was silenced by the abrupt way Junta's entire body came crashing into him. His hands pressed firmly against the wall, trapping him in a sudden move, as if ensuring there was no escape.

"Takato-san..."

Junta closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to control himself from lunging at him like an animal would over a piece of meat.

"Ha... Takato-san... Don't you know I use neutralizers?"

Neutralizers.

The word echoed in his mind like an endless echo.

"... What?" 

He barely managed to whisper, his gaze finally rising, unable to look away from the green eyes that now pierced him with a devastating intensity. As always, the pull of his attraction was no game.

"I use neutralizers," Junta repeated, his voice low and carrying something dangerous. "Dominant alphas have very strong scents that can be uncomfortable for others, so I always use neutralizers to hide my scent." His voice was starting to get raspy, and he licked his lips. Oh, he could almost taste Takato, so vulnerable there, cornered under his body... But he had to control himself, just a little longer... "So tell me, Takato-san... Why did your wolf react, if there was nothing to provoke it?"

The silence that followed was suffocating. Takato tried to think of a quick response, something to deflect the course of the conversation, but nothing came to his mind. His entire body wanted to tremble, no longer just from nervousness, but because his wolf was still upset, reacting to the alpha's presence in front of him. Junta's eyes were filled with something he didn't want to name. And it felt like a mockery of him when he felt once again that wave of citrus scent hit his face and senses. It couldn't be true. There was no way he was the only one who had felt his scent... But no matter how much he tried to deny it, everything made sense... That was why no one else had been so affected... That was why no one had said anything.

"I like you."

The words fell like a bomb, shattering the heavy air that enveloped them. Takato stared at him in disbelief, as if Junta had lost his mind and just said the most insane thing. Despite the alpha's pheromones clouding his senses, that confession was impossible to ignore.

"At this point, it's probably pretty obvious..." Junta's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with contained emotion. His hands, pressed firmly on either side of Takato's body, trembled slightly before scraping the surface with a tense movement, as if he needed to release all the energy building inside him.

"But I needed to tell you."

He continued, his gaze locked with the omega's, a sea of conflicting emotions. He was so close that Takato could feel the heat radiating from his body, but at the same time, he couldn't move. He was trapped, not only by Junta's posture, but also by the impact of his words. It was as if the confession had stolen his ability to react, leaving him paralyzed in a mix of surprise and something else. He was stunned. He couldn't even name one time when those words had caused so much turmoil as they did at that moment. But deep inside, he knew why... Every time someone had confessed to him, they had been omegas, men or women, but omegas nonetheless. It had always been a superficial interaction, directed at the facade he meticulously built, the mask he wore to pretend to be something he wasn't. But this time was different. Junta wasn't confessing to that facade, to that carefully crafted persona... He was doing it to his true self.

To his omega.

The realization intensified the panic that gripped him, and the desire to escape became unbearable.

"Y... You're delirious."

Junta laughed in his face upon hearing this. Frustrated.

"Takato-san," he suddenly called, leaning against him and taking advantage of the fact that there seemed to be no one around to close the distance between them. "I want you." The declaration was so serious that it made the older man shudder. His senses jolted, and immediately, his cheeks flushed from the boldness of the words. "I want to hold you... I've longed for this for so long." His voice was hoarse and laden with desire, and Takato's eyes widened as he vaguely remembered a similar scene. He looked at him directly, his eyebrows arching this time in a plea, as if begging him to stop talking; but Junta didn't stop, and instead brought his hand to his cheek and subtly caressed it with the back of his hand. "Are you going to deny that your wolf also wants it...? That you want it too?"

Takato fought against his instincts. It was a never-ending battle as his breathing became erratic and he noticed how his wolf was trying to take control of his body. He knew that once he allowed it, there would be no turning back. His heart was beating so loudly he feared the alpha could hear it. Desperation gnawed at him, but it wasn't just that; a dull anger began to build within him, a toxic mix of fury and desire.

He hated it. He hated how the alpha could disarm him so easily, how with just one move, one look, he could break everything he had built. It was exasperating, humiliating, to feel so vulnerable before someone. And yet, he couldn't ignore the heat of the body in front of his, a heat that enveloped him like an unrelenting fire, melting the defenses he had worked so hard to build.

It was a mess. Takato knew it, he felt it in every fiber of his being. Junta didn't need to do much to turn him into a walking disaster, and that simple truth angered him as much as it terrified him.

The air between them seemed to grow heavier, charged with an overwhelming tension. With every passing second, Junta seemed more and more determined to close the little distance left between them. Takato gritted his teeth, struggling against the pressure he felt, both physical and emotional... But he couldn't stay there; he couldn't let Junta break the last barrier he had built between them. With a quick movement, he placed his hands on the alpha's chest and pushed him with all the force he could muster.

"Enough!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the air. "You don't know what you're talking about!" 

His brow furrowed, and he almost bared his fangs, trying to look threatening.

"Y... You find out the truth, and suddenly you like me? It doesn't make sense!... I barely pamper you a little and you think I like you?" he tried to defend himself weakly, angry at himself for every gesture he remembered having made toward the boy. The scarf, the compliments, allowing him to call him by his name... Every one of his decisions had led him to this disastrous scenario, but he couldn't help it. The mere touch of his hand on the taller man's chest burned like molten lava, and his wolf was agitated, though for reasons different from his own. "D-don't be naive."

And before Junta could respond, Takato dodged him with a quick movement and pulled away, leaving behind the echo of his heavy breathing.

Junta stood there, watching his silhouette disappear into the distance, probably to meet with Sasaki. The smile that formed on his lips was far from kind; it was a mixture of challenge and satisfaction. Because, even though Takato denied the obvious, he had already seen the truth in his eyes.

«Oh, Takato-san... You don't know I enjoy it more when things get difficult»

Chapter Text

Since he was young, being an omega had become a conflict for him. His grandmother had told him countless times that being omega wasn’t bad. That he wasn’t the one with the problem, but society was. Being an omega shouldn’t be a reason for shame, nor something that needed to be hidden. But Takato did, day after day; he hid himself like a criminal. He worried about maintaining a perfect facade of an alpha, the only mask with which his clan and others would consider him worthy of being a leader in the future.

Despite the conflict his omega side brought, he tried to maintain a cordial relationship with his wolf. It was a strong animal... After all, it stood firm even when Takato consumed suppressants and used neutralizers almost daily. By that point, any omega’s wolf could have been agonizing, but not his. He tried to keep balance. Even though his true caste brought endless problems, he tried not to hate it. Hating himself would only make things harder, so he kept his head held high when looking in the mirror, wanting to believe in the words his grandmother told him when he was young... One day things would improve, one day being omega wouldn’t mean being inferior, one day he could stop pretending.

But no matter how hard he tried, those last few days, when he arrived at the rehearsal place, he couldn’t help but feel contempt for his wolf.

Just arriving was enough for his instincts to immediately sense that Junta was there, and his wolf would stir as if waiting for something he didn’t want to accept. Their gazes would cross, and Takato had to take a deep breath to keep his scent from spreading around the whole place. Still, he played it cool. He fought every second of the rehearsal to ensure his body’s automatic reactions went unnoticed, and to not give the green-eyed guy the satisfaction. He wasn’t going to do it. He wasn’t going to accept that there was some sort of... Connection between them.

He had lived his whole life normally, and no alpha had ever provoked him, he hadn’t even felt attracted to one, as all his attention was focused on acting, school, and his preparation to become a leader in the future. 

He didn’t have time to focus on trivial things.

The heels of his boots echoed elegantly as he moved from one side to the other, trying once again to distract himself with the neutral scent of Sasaki’s house. He was waiting for him to leave the room so they could go to the rehearsal. It was the last rehearsal of the week, but breaks were not part of his vocabulary. He knew he was supposed to help his grandmother with diplomatic matters over the weekend, and although that idea didn’t excite him much, he was starting to prefer those kinds of meetings over having to see Junta every day. His mere presence put him on edge, and going over everything that had happened between them made him anxious, as if he had to stop a massive hurricane on his own that was about to hit.

“I swear, if that kid says anything to me again... I’m not going to be so nice this time” he told himself, his brow furrowed in a sulky expression.

“Who are you talking about?” Sasaki suddenly appeared, finishing his coffee and immediately smiling when he saw Takato lost in thought. “Azumaya-kun?”

“Who else could I be talking about...? That brat is so annoying! As expected, he’s gotten too full of himself... They gave him the lead role, and he’s gone completely mad! And so bold.”

The beta laughed at how Takato had unintentionally responded to his question. It was clear that the man was upset, and the more he tried to hide it, the more obvious it became to Sasaki that Junta seemed to have more of an effect on the omega than expected.

“Wow... It seems like you have no mercy for him anymore.”

“Mercy? Why should I have mercy? He’s just a spoiled brat. He needs someone to put him in his place.”

Sasaki just laughed, entertained by his words, and Takato couldn’t help but grimace. It didn’t seem funny at all, and he was sure that if Sasaki knew everything that was really happening with Junta, he wouldn’t be so relaxed. But he couldn’t tell him. Something was holding him back. He felt ashamed to mention the details, recalling clearly the moment when his wolf had taken control of his body. The way he could unmistakably sense Junta’s scent... Confessing that would only bury him further. He was too stubborn and proud to admit that something was happening between them... Or at least between their wolves.

“Sometimes you two seem like a married couple arguing... It’s kind of funny.”

Takato jumped at those words, and a chill ran down his spine.

“Sasaki-san... Please refrain from saying something like that again.”

... 

He was tired. For the first time, he allowed himself to admit it while sipping a can of hot chocolate, watching the person he had declared his rival the moment they had taken the role of the protagonist from him. But by that point, their relationship had twisted in such a way that he struggled to give it a specific name. Seeing Junta practically every day seemed to be forcing a reconnection with his wolf, and after years of neutralizers and suppressors keeping any trace of his true nature at bay, he now felt that balance beginning to crack. Even when they were apart, it seemed his wolf was forcing him to think about the alpha. He kept replaying over and over the moment when the alpha had confessed his feelings for him. Oh, every time he thought of it, he wanted to hit him. He just wanted those memories to sink deep into his mind... But that was practically impossible.

"Takato-san!"

His voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and his pupils sharpened as he saw the alpha approaching. His body tensed automatically, and he quickly set the can aside, crossing his arms as if that simple act could protect him from the taller man. Maybe it didn't, but it clearly showed he was on the defensive, and Junta noticed.

"Takato-san... Are you angry?" he asked with apparent innocence, tilting his head, and Takato clicked his tongue upon seeing him.

"Oh, no. Don’t play the angel with me. I know exactly what kind of person you are" he hastily spoke, nervous and somewhat shaken as he began to notice the scent of orange and wood invading his senses. He took a small step back, but everything he did to escape seemed useless when he was with him. Junta was like a beast, and he knew that well. Agile and persistent, like a predator that doesn’t rest until it has caught its prey and tasted its blood.

"Takato-san, you know... I've actually been quite benevolent."

"Benevolent? What I really think is that you've lost your mind." He was honest, though he spoke quietly. They were on a break from rehearsals, but that didn’t mean he would start arguing with the younger man. He had an image to maintain, after all. "And I don’t want to talk about this now, it’s neither the time nor the place... You should stop with... W-whatever it is going through your head, and focus on the play."

Junta looked around at the scolding, feeling more frustrated than usual. He didn’t want to act impulsively and irresponsibly, but the man was making it difficult. He was as stiff as an oak, and although that was one of the traits that had captivated him, it didn’t make the wait any more pleasant. Especially these last few days, the need to dominate the omega was so strong that he thought any moment his wolf would take control and pounce on him, no matter the place or if anyone was watching... But no, he couldn’t. He knew perfectly well that even if he wanted to kiss Takato and claim him in front of everyone, that was unrealistic. He couldn’t ignore that the other actor was an alpha to everyone else, and a romance between alphas would be judged by all. It could even lead to exile.

He had to avoid doing anything that could hurt the omega, but it wasn’t easy when he had a beastly impulse inside him, urging him to pounce on him as soon as he saw him.

"Can we talk alone?"

The blue eyes of the shorter man looked at him incredulously. Was he really asking him that?... Oh, definitely Junta had lost his mind if he thought he’d willingly be alone with him.

"I’ll behave... Really, I just need to tell you something... Please."

Takato didn’t know why, but those words inevitably caused him to blush, which naturally spread across his face, his brow furrowing even more as he looked at the other man, scanning him from head to toe. It was incredible how the young man could look so innocent, practically emitting sparks with that angelic aura that exuded so much confidence. But just as Junta knew his secret, he had learned the hard way that the young actor had his own. He wasn’t sure if it was just a persona he had created to fit in, but that sweet Azumaya in front of him was far from the man who had been trying to corner him these past days.

Despite everything, he couldn’t help it. Something inside him softened when he saw the alpha smile at him a little. It was like a puppy waiting for its master's approval... And despite sighing with some resignation, he refused to give in, and just before he could say a word, the big, firm hand of the other man grabbed his wrist, practically dragging him to a more secluded spot away from the others.

"Hey! I haven’t said anything yet!"

He hurried to complain, but Junta deliberately ignored him. They walked quickly, and Takato almost stumbled over his own steps, trying to keep up. He could almost see feathers fluttering around the alpha as he advanced, excited to be alone together.

He was so screwed.

Junta pushed him against the tree trunk as soon as they were far enough from the rest, and Takato felt a déjà vu sensation hit his face when Junta's scent intertwined with the smell of earth and trees. Something in that mixture felt comforting, almost natural. Of course, he didn’t say anything; he just stayed looking at the guy, noticing as always those intense green eyes that pierced him.

"Even now, you still don’t believe me, do you?" he asked, and Takato stared at him in confusion. "Everything I said that day... I meant it."

Junta’s voice carried weight, a mix of vulnerability and desperation that was hard to ignore. Takato shook his head disapprovingly, already imagining the guy insisting on the subject, but he couldn’t ignore the slight shiver he felt when he heard it, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had caused it.

"I know you’ve been avoiding me since then, but I... I can’t stand it anymore. I need to feel you closer, Takato-san."

The alpha lowered his gaze slightly, as if those last words had been torn from his chest, carrying with them a silent plea. His eyes shamelessly roamed over the other man's body, and Takato swallowed hard, feeling smaller with each passing second. His brows furrowed slightly, a reflection of his confusion, but he said nothing. He barely moved, as if the simple act of stepping back a little could offer him the space he needed to catch his breath, which Junta’s presence ruthlessly stole from him.

Despite everything, there was an impulse, perhaps from the way he had been raised, to not let himself be dominated. His gaze remained firm, proud, and tense, but even he couldn’t deny the strange tremor that ran through his body as he analyzed the fire burning in the younger man’s eyes. It was so chaotic... And inevitably attractive, making him feel weak. It wasn’t just psychological; his body itself seemed to bend before the alpha’s intensity. He could feel his skin prickling and his breath becoming shallow, almost imperceptible, trapped in an invisible trap that kept him frozen.

“Do you hate me?”

Junta continued, stepping forward to close the distance even more. Takato’s eyes widened, and as if it were automatic, he shook his head.

“Then are you going to admit that something is happening between us?”

Junta inhaled, wanting to smell Takato’s mint scent, but only found a trace of the rose essence the other man used to cover his true fragrance. He felt frustrated, as did his wolf, disappointed by not being able to fully recognize the omega even though he had him right in front of him. It seemed Takato was using even more neutralizers than usual, and though he already knew the reasons, a primitive instinct made him feel a certain degree of annoyance.

The omega shrank in place, watching as Junta leaned closer to him, completely blocking his escape routes. Saying he hated him was too much… But the idea of admitting Junta was right seemed even worse.

“Azumaya-kun, I really don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Takato-san,” Junta interrupted, his voice harder now, his finger brushing against his chin. “You’re the only person who could smell my scent that day... You pretended not to, but I know your wolf reacted too... Are you really going to ignore that?”

Each word struck like a dagger to Takato’s pride, who struggled to maintain his composure. His gaze hardened, reflecting a mix of annoyance and something deeper, something more uncertain. He wanted to yell at him, scold him, break the tension that was becoming unbearable. But his body, betraying him, remained still, frozen by a sensation he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much he wished to escape once more.

The blush on his cheeks was nothing more than a sign of all that the younger man was provoking in him. And of course, Junta wasn’t oblivious to it.

Each of his senses stayed alert to the omega’s reactions, appreciating how his body shrank, how his face flushed, and the embarrassed glow in the blue of his eyes. He couldn’t take it anymore. He lost control when he felt a brief moment in which Takato placed his hands on his arms... Maybe he wanted to push him away, maybe he wanted to hit him and scold him, but he couldn’t have cared less. A simple touch was enough to make his body burn.

His hands quickly moved to wrap around Takato’s waist, as if only there could he find solace from the yearning that gnawed at him, becoming a torture. He pulled him into his arms, and Takato looked at him with wide eyes, never breaking eye contact. There was something different about Junta, and Takato could notice it by how heavily he was breathing... Even though he had already realized that the boy seemed like a beast disguised as an angel, something in him felt even more overwhelming than usual. A whimper escaped his lips, and he couldn’t say anything else before the alpha lunged at him. 

The citrus and woodsy scent hit him forcefully and overpowered any other scent in the place, and then his shock reached its peak when Junta’s lips took his in a sudden kiss.

Takato was so thin that it wasn’t hard to trap him in his arms, and that’s exactly what he did. His arms cradled him so firmly it seemed like a method to prevent him from escaping. The omega squeezed his eyes shut forcefully in some kind of reflex, and almost immediately he complained, but all he wanted to say was silenced by the taller man’s mouth. Their lips intertwined, and although Takato tried to resist, Junta didn’t give in. The strength of the kiss began to envelop him, and before long, all that could be heard between them was the sound of their lips meeting.

It wasn’t the first time, and Junta remembered it very well, but the big difference now was that Takato wasn’t in heat. If he gave in, it would be purely of his own volition.

“Mm... Uh...! Azuma—”

It was barely a second when Takato managed to break the kiss and tried to reason with him, but Junta immediately attacked again, kissing him this time more wildly and taking advantage of the opening in his mouth to introduce his tongue without warning. Their tongues tangled, and Junta tasted him as if savoring the most exquisite delicacy. Takato tried to separate him, this time placing one hand on the taller man’s chin and the other on his shoulder to break the kiss and push him away, even though it seemed useless. Perhaps he knew it was useless, and that he had no chance against the other’s strength, but still, he allowed himself to struggle, as if to prove to himself that he didn’t want this.

But he reciprocated.

He fell into a kind of trance, a lapse in which he lost control of his own actions. He didn't even know when, but his lips began to respond, and even though his body was tense, his legs trembled with desire. He surprised himself when his hands weakened, and he barely kept fighting against what was happening.

«Don't give in... Don't give in!»

He repeated to himself over and over. But oh... He did. And it was the first time he had received such an authentic and certain kiss...

It was the first time he had ever been kissed.

He had a vague image spinning in his mind, as if that contact wasn't completely unknown, but he wasn't in a state to think. On the contrary, his mind was blank, and just focusing on the sensation of that hot tongue in his mouth seemed enough to stop him from doubting. His mouth moved on its own; after all, he had never been with anyone, and every heat he had had throughout his life was spent alone, separated, and often under the painful effect of a suppressant. Suzuko had been the only person who had cared for him during those moments since his childhood.

Suzuko...

The image of the woman appeared in his mind like a bucket of cold water, and only that thought made his reasoning return. His brow furrowed gradually, and his eyelids began to press more tightly as he tried once more to push the taller man away. He felt his breath being stolen and devoured at the same time, and even though it was complex not to lose his mind from the ferocity of the kiss, he forced himself to react.

His career, his future as a leader... There was too much at stake, and the place they were in only screamed danger from all sides.

With one last effort, he pushed Junta away, and this time the kiss was inevitably broken. A thread of saliva connected their mouths for a brief moment until Junta licked his lips, as if he were thirsty and Takato's lips were the elixir he needed to live. He was a second away from lunging at him again. He wanted to kiss him, and not just that. He wanted to take it to the extreme.

Saijo realized and quickly covered the other one's mouth with one of his hands, preventing their lips from meeting again. But oh, big mistake. Their eyes met, and Takato finally recognized the amber tone that filled most of the alpha's irises. He lost his breath and felt a growl vibrate against his hand. Of course, he was challenging him, facing the alpha's desire, and his wolf was not happy with it.

An omega was supposed to be obedient, but clearly, Takato was not that.

“Are you going to stop playing hard to get... My omega?”

Junta began kissing his hand, taking advantage of his action. His rough voice made Takato tremble involuntarily, upset by the way he had been called. His senses sharpened, and he couldn't help the gasp of surprise that left his lips as he felt kiss after kiss on his palm. He tried to pull away, but the younger man gripped his wrist tightly, to the point of pain. It was one thing to deal with Junta, who was already impatient and had an imposing attraction, but his wolf seemed to take all those traits and multiply them every time it surfaced.

His breath came in shallow gasps, still not fully recovered from the kiss. Takato’s scent finally emerged, and Junta felt the mint and chocolate engulf him, invading his senses like a drug. It was perfect, hypnotic. That was all he needed to live. And even though he could detect a subtle smell of fear coming from the omega, he deliberately ignored it. It was convenient; after all, his wolf didn’t care whether it was through fear or lust, but he had to find a way to make the omega submit to him. His hand slid under the sleeve of Takato's elegant jacket, gently caressing his arm while subtly biting his hand, never breaking eye contact for a second.

Takato trembled, lost between terror and excitement. The now completely amber eyes of the taller man reflected a wild gleam, and his legs wanted to betray him, to let him fall to the ground... He was fighting himself, against his instincts, to prevent his own wolf from taking control of his body. Once it did, he knew there would be no turning back. Unlike him, his wolf accepted Junta, and though it didn't seem like it intended to submit either, it was eager to interact directly with the alpha, test his strength, and perhaps even play with him.

Clearly a contrast that Takato hated.

He let out a small grunt when the alpha made the motion to bite harder, this time on his wrist. His brow furrowed, and his body shuddered as the alpha gave him a threatening look. They were fighting for control; undoubtedly, an interesting dynamic for an alpha and an omega, castes that were supposed to complement each other by nature.

"Stop it"

He ordered in a breathless voice, but firm enough to show he meant it.

The amber eyes grew aggressive, and the alpha growled against his skin, trying to assert dominance. Takato pressed his lips together, not intimidated, and recalled the time when he witnessed the animal side of the boy. It had undoubtedly been huge and terrifying, but just like in that moment, Junta's wolf hadn't made him feel entirely in danger. He seemed to have the impulse to become violent, but even though he had the chance to lunge at his neck and mark him to make him his omega, he didn't. Takato noticed that, and only then could he feel the air returning to his lungs. 

Maybe it wasn't so bad... Maybe he could find a way to negotiate with him so he would let him go. 

But he let his guard down.

And just when he thought he would have the chance to push the younger one away completely, he noticed the abrupt motion the alpha made as he tried to sink his teeth into his neck, causing Takato's whole body to tense and react almost instantly.

"Azumaya!"

No honorifics. Nothing.

It was simply a shout, and he didn't even realize when his body acted on its own and his palm struck furiously against the taller's cheek, the sound echoing between them like a gunshot. The force was such that his own hand burned, and he didn’t even notice he had scratched the boy in the process.

Junta took a step back, his gaze lowered as he felt his skin heat up where he had been hit, as well as his entire body.

Despite everything, it worked.

Junta snapped out of it, and Takato could tell when the alpha turned to look at him, and this time, he could see the green eyes instead.

He exhaled all the air he had been holding, feeling a sense of relief and, at the same time, a contradictory emptiness as he noticed the alpha was no longer on top of him like just seconds ago. Too many emotions in such a short time, but at least the worst had passed. Silence settled between them, as if both had suddenly forgotten what they wanted to say, but it only took a few seconds for Takato to recover and emit a frustrated sound as he saw Junta standing there in front of him, seemingly trying to process what had happened and looking like a dog with its tails between its legs.

But of course, his appearance was deceiving.

"You said you would behave"

To say he was upset was an understatement. He adjusted his clothes, wanting to ignore the lingering warmth that the boy had left with his touch, and before Junta could respond, Takato laughed. A shallow laugh.

"Of course, I don't know why I trust what you say when you're completely crazy!" He complained to himself, trying to calm down while hearing the chaotic beating of his heart in his ears. His cheeks were burning, and a subtle tingling remained in his lower abdomen. He couldn’t believe it. Junta had cornered him again, but this time, he had gone too far. He kissed him, hugged him, touched him, and he had reciprocated the contact between their lips, he had allowed the situation to escalate, and clearly, the worst part of it all was that... No matter how much he had fought against it, he had enjoyed it.

"Of course, now that you know I'm an omega, you couldn't contain your beastly instincts, and suddenly decided you liked me... You're just like any other alpha, damn it."

He didn't understand why he had trusted Junta in the first place, and he hated himself for it. Even though the boy hadn't revealed his secret, he had used it, taking advantage of his vulnerability. He despised himself for allowing his mask to fall, even though it had happened involuntarily. He hated him, but above all, he hated himself. For having gotten carried away by those words in the cafeteria, words that promised to be a support for him. For silently clinging to that extended hand he had never accepted, but deep down, he had always been thankful for.

"Takato-san... I'm sorry, but really, I-"

"Don't say anything else." His eyes closed for a moment, trying to keep control of himself. He couldn’t afford to be so emotional, especially in front of the younger one. "I'm really tired of this nonsense, Azumaya-kun."

Junta fell silent, obeying the older one's request while one of his hands touched his burning cheek. Oh, it hurt like hell, but even that contact full of rage caused turmoil inside him. He knew the situation was serious; after all, he had crossed the line, but his mind couldn't fully grasp it. Not after the intimate way he had managed to hold the shorter one. Not after that kiss.

His body was buzzing, and it seemed that even if Takato hit him, it was enough to excite him and send electric currents through him.

"Fine. You're right. My wolf does react to you" 

He admitted, and Junta's eyes widened, almost tasting victory.

"But I don't care. I don't care if something happens between our wolves... I don't care if I'm the only one who can smell your scent when you use neutralizers..." he began to speak softly, getting dangerously close, and Junta blinked in surprise when Takato grabbed the collar of his shirt to bring their foreheads together and stare him in the eyes. Defiant, furious. "None of that matters to me... You must understand that I will never, NEVER be your omega."

Oh.

He said that and left hurriedly, running away as usual. Clearly driven by anger and helplessness. 

Junta stood frozen, looking at his shirt. His pride had been hurt, and his wolf seemed to growl at the challenge the omega had indirectly presented, but even so, with that whirlwind of emotions, he felt fascinated. Maybe a bit entertained because, even though Takato didn’t remember and it had happened by accident, he had already had him begging, calling him his alpha.

He just had to find a way to make it happen again. 

Chapter Text

Was it naïve to think that not seeing Junta would distract him?

Probably.

He realized it when the weekend arrived, bringing with it his long—awaited freedom from the alpha’s green eyes. But even if they weren’t physically together, it seemed their souls remained intertwined, unable to completely separate. Every one of his senses had memorized even the smallest details to the point that he could vaguely sense a trace of his scent no matter where he was. And when he got distracted, he could almost feel the boy’s large hands gripping his waist in that invasive manner, pulling him closer and intertwining their breaths.

It was all so overwhelming that he wished some supernatural force could erase his memory, so he wouldn’t have to recall unnecessary scenes or emotions.

They didn’t even truly know each other. He barely knew that Junta belonged to the Emberstone clan and had suddenly entered the world of acting, but there wasn’t much beyond that. He wanted something that could provide logical explanations, someone or something that could justify the sudden attraction that seemed to exist between their wolves or the way he could always sense Junta’s scent no matter the neutralizers.

That was just one of the many details that kept him from sleeping. The kiss they had shared still haunted him, replaying in his mind over and over, making him shudder with sheer unease at how easily he had allowed himself to be swept away in the moment. Just thinking about it made him want to sink into embarrassment. Had he enjoyed it? Was it pleasure that had pushed him to respond? No, definitely not. There was no way he could have liked it… Or perhaps he was simply too deep in denial to accept it.

If his lips had moved against the alpha’s, if he had allowed the kiss to last longer than necessary, it could only have been a treacherous impulse—a natural reaction from his body that he hadn’t been able to suppress. He even preferred to convince himself that it had all been a result of his lack of contact with an alpha, an absence he had never considered relevant until now. Because at the end of the day, he didn’t need an alpha. He never had.

After all, he had woken up and gone to sleep with the same conviction for years: He was an alpha. Or at least, he had to live as one.

"Fated mates..." he read aloud as he flipped through the book on his table.

It was nighttime, and he knew sleeping would be the best option, but there was too much on his mind to even consider it. He had decided to read one of the many books in his library, and although he had initially intended to read something calming to distract himself, he had unconsciously ended up picking up that old book. Despite its age, it was almost pristine, with only its slightly worn cover showing any signs of time. It was impossible not to feel nostalgic, for just seeing it was enough to remind him of the times when Suzuko used to read it to him before bed. It was a children’s book, yet it told a story so famous that some people believed in it for life:

The tale of fated mates.

It was an ancient story that had been passed down for generations, one that, of course, had an alpha and an omega as its protagonists. It was said that they had lived for years feeling as if something was missing from their lives. They came from different worlds, yet their hearts beat in the same rhythm. Even without knowing each other, their souls sought each other in dreams, in the whispers of the wind, and in the moonlight that shone at night. They had been born into enemy families, but that had not been enough to separate them. It had only taken a single gaze for them to recognize the silent truth between them. No matter how much they tried to stay apart, they always found their way back to one another, as if something wanted to remind them time and time again that they had been born with the sole purpose of belonging to each other... Because once the moon goddess had decided your fate, there was no escaping it.

Perhaps as a child, the story had seemed interesting to him. He could even admit that he had once innocently fantasized about finding his own fated mate. But now, the mere concept felt ridiculous. And the worst part of it all was that, no matter how absurd he found the story, simply rereading it was enough for his traitorous mind to bring him back to the green-eyed boy.

But no.

They couldn’t be fated mates… They didn’t even exist. He was sure that it was nothing more than a fairy tale, one that some people clung to in search of a purpose in life.

But he wasn’t like that. He never had been. He didn’t need a love story to live. His goals had been clear for years, and if he had survived this long without an alpha’s help, he would continue to do so. He could live without Junta perfectly fine

Of course he could. He just had to find a way to get him out of his mind, to stop feeling that invasive presence that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t erase.

...

Saturday began, and with it, his obligations.

He hadn’t had a good night, to say the least. He had been plagued by a series of strange dreams that he refused to assign any meaning to, and perhaps reading about the history of fated mates had been his biggest mistake. Now his mind wouldn’t stop spinning with the subject, replaying the moments when he had so naturally sensed Junta’s scent and how their wolves seemed to seek each other out. It wasn’t easy to forget the intensity of his amber gaze. He had tried to stop thinking about it over and over, but it seemed that the more he did, the more insistently it appeared in his memories.

He applied neutralizers as he did every day, masking the scent of mint and chocolate that felt especially cloying that morning. Of course, he refused to admit it was because of his own memories and simply ignored it, focusing on layering the perfume over it to maintain the illusion of his alpha scent—though always careful not to overdo it. Then, he styled his hair as he usually did, sweeping part of his dark hair to the side.

He had a meeting to attend with Suzuko, which was why he was dressed for the occasion. His shirt was white and pristine, made of soft linen, with long sleeves that fit snugly at his wrists, accompanied by a lace jabot with cascading ruffles at his neck, fastened by a brooch featuring a deep blue gemstone slightly darker than his own eyes. Over it, he wore a sleeveless, dark blue waistcoat of classic cut, perfectly tailored to his figure. Below, a slightly darker pair of trousers covered his legs, a sober design that balanced out the upper part of his outfit, interrupted only by the black boots that started just below his knees, adding a couple of centimeters with their subtle heels.

His height was already average for a man, but it could seem somewhat unusual when compared to other alpha men his age. Inevitably, he had tried to compensate for that small disadvantage with his shoes, though nothing too exaggerated. After all, he was going to a place where only alphas were present, and while he was used to it by now, that didn’t make the feeling of inferiority any easier to bear whenever he was there.

When they arrived at the place where the meeting was being held, he immediately noticed the voices blending into a constant murmur, overlapping conversations that Takato barely bothered to register.

The venue was an elegant hall that Takato had known since he had been declared the next leader of the Nevilla clan, though it looked different at every gathering. This time, it was illuminated by hanging lamps with a soft golden hue, casting gentle shadows on the dark wooden walls. The table was large and adorned with fine dishes, crystal glasses, and a variety of refined appetizers that seemed carefully selected for the occasion. Even the chairs had velvet cushions and were decorated in a Victorian style. The scents of wine, spiced meat, and burnt wood floated in the air, interwoven with the distinct smells of the alphas present, occasionally causing a slight tickle in his nose.

Takato remained by Suzuko’s side at least until she had to engage in conversation with another dominant alpha, the leader of the Emberstone clan. He was a tall man with hair as golden as the sun. Somehow, seeing him reminded Takato of someone else. From the color of his hair to the way he dressed, the shade of his shirt, and the abundance of warm colors. It was absurd in a way, since even though he was the leader of the clan Junta belonged to, his brain insisted on pointing out the similarities as if they were something exceptional. He felt disoriented for a moment, and after offering a brief but formal greeting, he took the excuse of going to greet someone else to distance himself. He knew he had to keep as much distance as possible from dominant alphas... After all, one had already given him enough trouble, and he refused to take another risk.

“Takato”

A rough voice made him look up, and he found himself face-to-face with a familiar figure.

“We meet again”

It was a neutral and serious greeting, as always. And Takato could recognize that, despite not being a dominant alpha, the man before him still commanded the same level of respect as ever.

“Usaka-san… It’s nice to see you again”

A small smile formed on his lips as he greeted him. The bespectacled man nodded and glanced around while smoking a cigarette. Takato could never understand the appeal of that small object, but as always, he said nothing. He didn’t complain about the unpleasant smell that caused a slight itch in his nose, nor about the smoke that accidentally drifted toward his face. Supposedly, smoking was prohibited in an enclosed space like this, but Usaka did it without concern, and of course, no one said anything. In fact, there was a designated area specifically for cigarette disposal and for smoking more comfortably.

“I heard that this year, you’ll be officially named leader… Congratulations”

Usaka shrugged.

“Thank you” he replied with apparent indifference toward the matter, and though in the past, Takato might have been annoyed by such a simple reaction, he merely sighed.

By now, he knew Usaka well enough to understand that the title of leader didn’t particularly interest him, but he had congratulated him mostly out of courtesy. Someone in Takato’s position, of course, couldn’t understand that. After all, he had spent years aspiring to the day he would be named leader, making countless sacrifices that only he and Suzuko could truly judge. So, Usaka’s calm attitude still seemed strange to him, though he had gotten used to it. There were probably other things Usaka desired more than becoming the leader of the Noxara clan, but their friendship had not yet reached the point where he would confide such things in Takato. These were merely his own speculations.

They exchanged small talk for a while. And as always, Usaka remained by his side until Suzuko returned. The man could have an irritating attitude at times, but Takato trusted him more than anyone else in that room, so in a way, he was grateful for his presence.

Dinner time arrived, and the place, which had been somewhat noisy until then, fell into absolute silence once everyone was seated. A soft clinking sound was heard, signaling the start of the meal. There were a few minutes in which only the sounds of plates and utensils could be heard, along with occasional murmurs. Takato ate in silence while observing his surroundings and trying to calm his wolf, which felt strangely restless. He attributed it to the overwhelming presence of alpha pheromones clouding his senses, but even so, it was unusual. Still, he remained composed and didn’t let that unfamiliar feeling show on his face. The meat was tender and tasted good, so he focused on that small detail as a distraction.

It was customary not to speak while eating out of respect. As if it were something symbolic, the leaders, heirs, and council members of each clan gathered from time to time for this kind of ceremony, dining as if they were a family.

Once most had finished, the real conversation began.

“So, Usaka-kun will soon be leader,” a council member from the Emberstone clan broke the silence with an apparently cheerful tone. “It’s about time the new generations took over, don’t you think?”

A smile spread across his face, and a few murmurs followed. Takato noticed how some nodded solemnly while conversing among themselves. Naturally, the topic of conversation was the perfect opportunity for others to offer Usaka their congratulations and best wishes. Takato took advantage of the moment to finish the wine in his glass, which so far had been the only thing that managed to calm his unusual unease.

He remained in his seat with the upright posture and impeccable demeanor he had perfected over the years, listening as the comment soon turned into a more relaxed discussion. Next to him, Suzuko was speaking with one of the leaders, while at the other end of the table, others debated political and economic matters. He wasn’t particularly interested in anything being said. In fact, he had learned to filter out most of these meetings, focusing only on the information that was absolutely necessary. He simply maintained a neutral expression, holding his glass with the elegance of someone who mastered this kind of environment, though deep down, he just wanted it to be over as soon as possible. After all, he could hear a conversation taking a rather unfavorable turn for him, which didn’t help with the tension in every inch of his body.

“Isn’t Saijo-kun at the right age to become a leader as well?”

Though he kept his face serene, he couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the glass at the mention of his name. Immediately, all attention turned to them.

“Or is he not ready yet?”

“Not at all,” Suzuko intervened before he could say anything. Her perfectly measured smile didn’t show a hint of irritation. On the contrary, her blue gaze was filled with confidence. “Takato is perfectly capable, and I know he will be a great leader when the time comes.”

He glanced at his grandmother and felt warmth overshadow the unpleasant feeling inside him. His chest swelled with pride, and he adjusted himself in his seat.

“In that case, he should start thinking about marriage”

An alpha woman, the leader of the Veyndralis clan, interjected, and Takato set his now-empty glass on the table. The pleasant feeling vanished as quickly as it had come.

“That’s true!” the Emberstone clan leader agreed, and somehow, hearing him made Takato feel dizzy. “Most heirs start considering marriage at this age… Though Saijo-kun is as reserved about his personal life as Suzuko was.”

Takato pressed his lips together as the conversation took an unwanted turn. Though he was used to being the center of attention, at that moment, he felt suffocated by the weight of so many gazes.

“I imagine there must be some candidates, right?”

At times like this, it was fortunate to use scent neutralizers to hide his true aroma. Otherwise, it would have likely turned sour at the mere mention of a marriage arrangement. He was uncomfortable and wanted to leave quickly, but that wasn’t a luxury he could afford.

“Of course,” he finally said with a smile, his voice steady, contradicting every thought racing through his mind.

“There certainly are.”

... 

There weren’t any.

Of course, there wasn’t a single candidate.

Thinking about it made him want to laugh from nervousness. No matter how much he had postponed the topic, he knew the time had come to face it. And although his grandmother reassured him, telling him not to worry about it, he was perfectly aware that the image of a single leader was no better than blasphemy. In a world of such traditional ideas, the appearance of a married leader provided people with stability and security. And while that very idea sometimes seemed ridiculous to him, it wasn’t something he could avoid. Customs were deeply rooted in everyone’s minds, and he, as the next leader, only had to worry about meeting the expectations of those he would lead. His own preferences were not important.

And even if they were, he was sure there was nothing he desired for himself. There was no one he wanted to be with of his own free will. He was too busy to think about something like that.

But for an instant, a fraction of a second, the image of golden-green eyes crossed his mind like an untimely shadow.

Ridiculous.

He shook his head, annoyed with himself. Lately, he couldn't be at peace. Even when the meeting had finally ended and he was at home, his own thoughts wouldn’t leave him alone.

He let himself fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as if he could find answers to the questions that tormented him there. He thought that after being exposed to so many alpha pheromones, being completely alone in his room would help him relax a little, but being alone with nothing to do meant giving his mind free rein, one that wandered precisely to those topics he so fervently wanted to forget. He sighed in frustration and soon opted to remove the brooch holding his jabot, taking it off along with the fabric and taking a deep breath in an attempt to shake off the suffocating feeling that haunted him.

And it was unconscious, perhaps an automatic movement, the way his fingers slowly slid over his exposed neck, from top to bottom, sending a shiver through his entire body as the image of a certain alpha inhaling his scent slipped into his memories. The sun had barely set, and he was already starting to feel strange. His mind went blank for a few moments, and he let his hand move on its own, yearning for something unknown. He exhaled heavily without realizing it, and when he lifted his hand to look at it, he involuntarily remembered the way Junta had kissed it, the warmth of his breath, and how he had gently bitten it.

He felt disgusted with himself—for that part of him that, unwillingly, enjoyed the alpha’s attention. Obviously, he attributed it to his instincts. There could be no other explanation than his omega reacting to gestures he had received for the first time, although he wasn’t so sure he would have reacted the same way if it had been another alpha.

And just when he noticed his pheromones threatening to turn sweet, a knock on the door startled him. Reality struck him like a whip, and almost immediately, he sat up in bed, shaking his head and trying to ignore the direction his thoughts had taken. He felt ashamed of himself and silently thanked that no one had witnessed such a humiliating image.

"Takato-kun? Are you home?"

He heard Sasaki’s voice from outside and immediately got up. He smoothed his clothes as if nothing had happened and cleared his throat before heading to the door to open it. A cold breeze ruffled his hair.

"Sasaki-san," he greeted with a smile and immediately stepped aside to let him in. "Sorry, I was... Busy."

He kept it vague, avoiding unnecessary details, and the beta shook his head to dismiss it.

"Don’t worry... I just came to tell you something quickly. I have to go back right away; Nana is waiting for me to make pancakes."

"Ah..." He couldn’t help but smile a little more at the image, which struck him as quite adorable. "Sure, what’s up?"

"While you were at the meeting, I got a call to let you know that Monday’s rehearsal was canceled."

Takato blinked in confusion. Suddenly, the cold air seeping through the open door began to sink deeper as he tried to focus on what the other was saying.

"Canceled?" A frown appeared on his face. "Why?"

Sasaki cleared his throat before continuing.

"Well... First, Azumaya-kun informed them that he wouldn’t be able to attend... And apparently, neither of the two clans has good weather forecasts for these days, so they decided to cancel Monday’s rehearsal. Tuesday’s is still on, for now."

As soon as Takato heard the mention of the alpha, he felt a slight tug in his chest, as if everything Sasaki had said afterward had been automatically discarded by his mind. The unease that still lingered inside him spread quickly, but he managed to maintain a calm expression. He couldn’t let himself be affected by something so small, especially not while someone else was watching.

"Ah..." He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms as he raised an eyebrow, all in an effort to appear indifferent. "Did he get sick?"

There was a barely perceptible pause, and he felt a whirlwind of emotions stir in his chest at the silence and uncertainty. He wanted to ignore it, but the way his heart gradually beat faster became unbearably loud in his ears. He didn’t even know why, but he was starting to feel anxious, and he didn’t like the feeling at all. He was so caught up in the chaos unfolding within him that he didn’t even notice the way Sasaki observed him for a few seconds, almost examining him, as if carefully considering what he was about to say.

"Well, he... Didn’t specify, but... It’s most likely that he’s in his rut, judging by the number of days he’ll be absent."

Takato felt a dull blow to his stomach, as if he had been punched. His eyes blinked, perplexed, and he barely managed to maintain a composed expression.

Abruptly, the memory of the previous day hit him hard, shaking him to his core. He relived the overwhelming presence of Junta cornering him, the way his scent had been denser than usual, and how those green eyes had flared with amber light in mere seconds.

And then, everything clicked.

Having him so close, it had been impossible not to notice that something about him felt different—a subtle change that might have gone unnoticed by others. But he never would have imagined it was something so intimate... The realization struck him like a bolt of cold lightning. Only omegas bonded to an alpha could perceive their rut in advance, so there was no logical reason for him to have noticed before anyone else. It didn’t make sense.

His body remained motionless, trapped in a sudden and suffocating paralysis. And yet, none of the emotions consuming him reflected on his face. Somehow, he held his breath and kept his expression neutral, letting out only a faint sound of acknowledgment.

"Ah... I see."

His gaze drifted, and Sasaki watched him with a very subtle smile, as if waiting to see more of his reaction, but he didn’t press.

"That’s all. I better go before Nana gets mad at me for taking too long," he laughed, turning around as he adjusted his jacket. "See you, Takato-kun."

Sasaki left, and Takato stayed at the doorframe for a few seconds, unable to move. The cold wind ruffled his hair again, a steady breeze that chilled him to the bone, but not even that could shake the overwhelming surprise washing over him. He swallowed hard, his mind suddenly conjuring the image of the alpha locked away, his body burning, lust pulsing through his veins, and those eyes that looked ready to devour him, ravenous with desire. His pulse quickened, and he clenched one wrist with his fingers, perhaps searching for a way to ground himself in reality. He felt disgusted by the thoughts he was having against his will and quickly shut the door, leaning against it the moment he was inside, finally letting his emotions show.

His eyebrows furrowed, and a deep blush covered his entire face.

This shouldn’t matter to him.

He shouldn’t be feeling this.

But clearly, his body did not seem to agree. He felt a kind of tingling across every inch of his skin, and his chest rising and falling uncontrollably was the clearest sign of his agitation.

«It's... It's just a natural reaction for an omega, right?... It has to be»

He tried to convince himself as he paced back and forth, his shoes echoing against the floor while he clenched his teeth and suddenly shook his head. There was no way it could be anything else. It could not be anything else. So, he simply tried to distract himself and push away the anxiety swirling in his chest.

Night fell gradually, and the rain began to beat insistently against the windows.

But even when he was alone in his room, ready to change and finally go to bed, Takato couldn’t shake the thoughts from his mind. No matter how much he tried to forget by thinking about other things: the play, his duties, food... It was all useless. Everything led him back to him, to the alpha, whose scent seemed more deeply ingrained in his nose today than ever before. If Junta was really in his rut, then his pheromones were probably even stronger than usual—so much that just imagining it made him feel suffocated.

"Why do I keep thinking about this?"

He wanted to scold himself, horrified by his own shamelessness. He was probably just too sensitive. He knew well that having spent every heat of his life in complete solitude could have consequences, but this was getting out of hand. He had never reacted to an alpha in rut like this before. And yet, for some reason, he couldn’t settle down. He knew that dominant alphas’ ruts were more potent than those of common alphas, and somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Had Junta taken a suppressant to control it...? Would that even work? The questions wouldn’t leave him alone, and in these conditions, there was no way he could just go to bed and pretend to ignore them.

He didn’t even realize when he had left his room and approached one of the windows, his eyes catching the sight of the heavy rain pouring outside.

A ridiculous impulse was growing inside him.

For no apparent reason, the idea of seeing Junta began to unsettle his senses. Even his wolf stirred, despite the effects of the neutralizers and suppressants, reacting to the possibility of seeing the alpha as if excited by it. His mouth went dry for a moment as he recalled the day his own heat had come early, and Junta had reached out to him. He had helped him—had taken him away from the bar, had called Sasaki. And despite his endless nonsense, he had kept his secret without issue. Maybe that was it. Maybe it was just his pride obsessing over the idea of returning the favor... But of course, Junta wasn’t in the same situation. He wasn’t outside, he wasn’t in danger. He was probably just at home…

Though, really, there was no guarantee that he was alone.

The thought twisted his stomach.

His hands gripped the edge of the window, and he could feel his wolf trying to take control for a moment. He didn’t allow it. He fought against it, and suddenly, his own pheromones began to seep into every corner of his house—as if claiming something unknown.

He pressed his lips together and stepped back, nausea rising in him at the mere thought of being possessive over someone who didn’t even belong to him.

Junta had been insisting on his feelings these past few days, so there was no reason for him to have sought out another omega to get through his rut… But of course, that was an incredibly naïve thought. Takato knew very well that it was common for both alphas and omegas to seek temporary partners during those times of the year. After all, it was far more effective than a simple suppressant. He hated himself for trying to soothe his feelings with such a childish idea—But he hated himself even more for realizing that, deep down, he had already accepted what he was feeling.

"Why do I even care? He can spend his rut with an omega if he wants"

He let out a dry, humorless laugh, trying to ignore the way his wolf clearly disagreed with that sentiment.

None of this made sense.

His fingers tangled in his hair with frustration, and no matter how much he tried to let it go, it was impossible.

Before he even realized it, his body was moving on its own.

He didn’t give himself enough time to listen to logic. Neutralizers, gloves, and a thick cloak that wrapped around his figure, its hood concealing his face. He covered himself well and opened the door. The rain greeted him, harsh and unrelenting. He took a deep breath before walking quickly toward his car, trying not to get drenched in the process.

Was he walking straight into the wolf’s den? Was he digging his own grave?

He wasn’t even sure what he was doing, or why he was doing it.

"I’m just... I’m just going to check if he’s okay. I’m just returning the favor" he murmured once he was inside the car, his eyes staring ahead to clear his thoughts.

He just wanted to silence that instinct pushing him forward. He just wanted to sleep in peace... 

And yet, here he was.

«It’s going to be a long drive»

The thought flickered in his mind, and for a brief moment, he considered getting out of the car and going back.

But instead, he gripped the wheel, and his car disappeared into the night.

Chapter Text

Nearly an hour had passed when Takato's eyes caught sight, through the rain, of a grove of trees marking the entrance to the Emberstone clan.

He could recognize some oaks and mahogany trees, gradually giving way to houses with slanted roofs and constructions of all kinds. Truthfully, he didn't see himself capable of analyzing much of the place; he simply kept driving. Or at least, he did so until he reached a small, empty square where he slowly came to a stop, his gaze falling onto his hands resting on the steering wheel. To say he felt strange would be an understatement, his senses were out of sync, and it felt as though his mind were spinning. He wasn't even sure how he'd managed to drive that far on his own. He knew the basics since he'd been taught years ago, but in reality, it was always Sasaki who drove him wherever he needed to go... But of course, it would've been far too inappropriate to ask Sasaki to give him a ride to the Emberstone clan. After all, not even he could clearly understand what he was doing there.

He took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself as he listened to the sound of rain hitting the windows. Unlike the heavy downpour in the Nevilla clan, the rain here was much gentler—but for a clan used to high temperatures, it was clearly an unusual phenomenon. Perhaps that was why the streets looked so empty.

Still, he stepped out of the car, and a faint breeze brushed through his hair. It was nothing compared to what he'd endured when leaving home, yet he still felt a small shiver from being outdoors. The air was almost warm, balancing the drops falling on him, and although it was hard to describe, the thought that came to mind was that the weather felt almost tropical. A wave of scents invaded his senses—wet wood, damp earth, and even the aroma of food from a nearby home. He swallowed thickly, suddenly feeling lost, and only then did a harsh realization strike him.

He didn't even know where Junta lived.

His eyes blinked in surprise as the thought repeated in his mind, as if he couldn't grasp his own foolishness. His hands trembled slightly, and he had to lean against the car for support. It was unbelievable, really, that a man his age, heir to a leadership role, with years of preparation, could forget something so important. A bitter taste rose in his throat as his brows furrowed, trying to figure out what to do. He tasted the humiliation, disgusted with his own impulses, and of course, the negative thoughts crept in, as they always did. Had he really come to this? All just because he knew the alpha was in his rut? Oh, it felt like some cruel joke.

"Come on... There has to be something... Think!"

He tried to convince himself, struggling to remember something, any conversation that could help, but it was useless. After all, every time Junta had tried to talk to him, he'd found excuses to walk away. He didn't know why, but realizing that only struck his pride even harder, as if being aware of it made him even more responsible for the situation he now found himself in.

The rain continued falling in a steady murmur, and although the clan's streets felt strangely calm, there was something in the air, a kind of latent discomfort that made him feel even more out of place. He was alone, after all, in a place that was completely unfamiliar, and though he'd made it there on his own, it was still hard to accept that an impulse had brought him so far. That reason had been silenced by instinct, an instinct that pushed him forward, despite the fact that he had always been a man of logic.

Takato swallowed again, his mind still caught in chaotic thoughts, when suddenly, a lost fragment of conversation rose from the noise.

"Living a bit farther out is actually pretty nice... You get used to the quiet"

It wasn't something Junta had said directly to him. He remembered having overheard it in passing, maybe in a conversation he had had with someone during the rehearsal. Whatever it was, at that moment, it hadn't mattered to him in the slightest, but now... It seemed to be the only useful element he had in his hands.

He clicked his tongue and looked around, as if the answer was going to materialize before him. It wasn't much, really. With just that information, he could spend the entire night roaming the clan and inspecting every secluded area he came across. Under those conditions, the only thing he could do was take a few hesitant steps, analyzing each place he saw, looking for something, maybe a sign.

Eventually, he noticed a discreet path leading into a more wooded area. He had no way of knowing if it led anywhere important, but for some reason, it felt like it made sense. Junta... His mind associated it with that space without even meaning to. Something about the atmosphere seemed to fit too well with the image he had of him, not to mention that the idea of a house in the woods matched what Junta had said that time. His eyes blinked, as if the answer had been in front of him all along and his body had recognized it before his mind.

He sighed in resignation.

«It can't be worse than standing here»

With that thought, he adjusted his cloak and stepped into the brush, leaving the faint light of the square behind.

.

.

What could be worse than being alone in the dark in the middle of a forest? By now, Takato wasn't sure, and even though he didn't usually feel fear about such details, his mind kept playing tricks on him, perhaps due to the growing nervousness with every step he took, making the grass beneath his feet softly creak. There was a palpable tension in the air, and though he knew it didn't seem to be a very deep forest, he had the slight fear of getting lost, not to mention the endless thoughts that crossed his mind as he tried to navigate by the moonlight.

Unintentionally, he kept replaying his own doubts, wondering what Junta was doing. Was he holding another omega in his arms? The idea made an unfamiliar feeling bubble up in his chest. A heaviness that he refused to acknowledge.

Probably, if Junta was with someone, Takato would know it without him saying a word. It would be enough with his scent, the way his senses would pick up on the presence of another omega in his space, saturating the air with a mark that wouldn't be his. And it was then, for the first time, that he found something useful in the strange connection that bound him to him. After all, even if he couldn't see him, hear his voice, or feel his warmth, that invisible bond would reveal the truth by just being outside his house.

«That would be the best after all, right?»

The thought came naturally, but something inside him stiffened instantly, as if his own body rejected the idea before his mind could process it.

If Junta was with another omega, then it would be the perfect reason for his wolf to resign, to stop clinging to a bond that should never have existed in the first place. He could convince his instinct that it was useless, that there was nothing to claim, nothing to protect, nothing to desire. That would be logical. But deep down, part of him knew it wasn't as simple as he imagined. That it wouldn't be enough to know it. That certainty, instead of calming him, could awaken something much worse.

In an instant, his eyes lifted from the ground, a pull seemed to force him to look ahead, and then his body froze when he finally found himself face to face with the image of a structure in the middle of the trees. It was a rustic house, not too big, its design resembling a traditional cabin, and around it, the vegetation was abundant. There were many plants of all kinds, even some small flowers. It looked cozy, almost sweet, but ironically, no light was on inside, and the curtains were drawn, preventing any stranger from glimpsing what was happening behind the walls. The only thing that illuminated the place was the moonlight.

He was sure... That had to be Junta's house.

But it was strange, even as he took a couple of steps closer, he didn't feel Junta's scent anywhere. There was a strong smell of wood, but it seemed to come from the material the house was built with, and it blended with the abundant scent of damp earth, which began to confuse him. If Junta was really in heat, his pheromones would be so strong that he would probably be able to smell them from that point... The signs only seemed to suggest that no one was home. And despite the peaceful, almost domestic appearance of the place, the complete absence of light gave it an unsettling feeling.

He didn't even know what to do.

He moved forward anyway, holding his breath, not understanding the strange pressure in his chest as he approached.

He reached the small stairs leading to the porch, and climbed them very quietly, barely noticing the subtle creak the wood made under his weight. His entire focus was on the door. When he saw it within his reach, he considered it once more. He was still in time to leave, after all, he wasn't even sure if Junta was inside. He had no real logical reasons to be there, he had just been too careless with himself, with the way his instinct seemed to control him so easily lately. Being there was nothing more than a whim, maybe from his wolf, or perhaps from something buried so deep within him that it was almost impossible to bring it to light.

He stood still.

Standing in front of the door, his breath trembled. He was so close that he could see the wood grain, and if he took one more step, he'd crash into the door. The air felt dense, and even though he was no longer getting wet under the porch, a constant shiver ran down his spine for no apparent reason. His fingers tensed at his side before rising, hesitantly, toward the door's surface. Just one touch would be enough to draw attention—if anyone was even inside.

But he didn't know what he was going to do.

He didn't know what he was going to say.

"I've come too far to turn back now."

He swallowed, trying to ignore the overwhelming feeling of smallness that was creeping over him. And maybe that—his pride—was what ultimately pushed him forward. His heart lurched violently when, in a sudden burst of courage, he moved his knuckles toward the door, this time not pulling back halfway through. But he didn't have time to go through with it, because just as he was about to knock, a loud noise jolted all of his senses.

He didn't even get to touch it before the door swung open.

Suddenly, a suffocating wave of pheromones hit him in the face, and his eyes widened in disbelief. That was all it took to recognize him—an earthy scent with a subtle hint of orange burst out everywhere, engulfing him in an instant. His body reacted, trembling from head to toe, and he finally realized he had probably made a mistake... Junta was clearly in his rut, and there he was, standing at his door with no excuse, no explanation to justify his presence. He didn't even have the time to notice if there was any other scent—Junta's pheromones were too intense, already making him feel disoriented.

"Takato-san, what... What are you doing here?"

His tone was harsh, incredibly rough. Takato was sure he had never heard him speak in that voice before. His legs trembled, and a deep sense of shame and humiliation washed over him as he instinctively assumed he was an unwanted guest, judging by how bluntly the alpha spoke. Of course, it was to be expected. He'd shown up unannounced and clearly at the worst possible time. He couldn't let his inner wolf tempt him into acting on sentimentality.

His gaze slowly rose, unusually unsteady, and he was met with a sight that knocked the air out of his lungs.

Junta stood in the doorway, golden hair messy and stuck to his forehead with sweat, his ragged breathing making his bare chest rise and fall, partially covered by an unbuttoned shirt clinging to his skin. The fabric outlined every muscle with cruel precision under the faint moonlight. His collarbones cast sharp shadows, and sweat slid down his skin, tracing over his pectorals and down the line of his abdomen, where his body looked tense with barely restrained lust. His hands were clenched at his sides, as if he were restraining himself from moving—from lunging at him. Even his face... His expression was dark, eyebrows furrowed and jaw clenched, those green eyes locked on Takato with such fierce intensity that it looked like he was about to devour him. His gaze was a blend of desire and disbelief, as if he couldn't process how or why Takato was standing there in front of him.

"How...? How did you know where...?" he seemed to regret asking that instantly, suddenly noticing that Takato had come all the way to his house in the rain. Even though he wore a cloak, the sight made Junta's protective instincts flare. "How long have you been out there? Why...?" The confusion was overwhelming, and the heat made it hard to think straight.

"I..."

As expected, no words came out.

"You've probably noticed, but... This really isn't a good time..." he interrupted before Takato could try to explain himself. His voice was unsteady, and it was clear he was making a great effort just to speak.

"You're in your rut"

Takato stated the obvious, and Junta swallowed hard, nodding faintly as his eyes traveled over the man standing in front of him, dressed in that refined set of clothes. Oh, his eyes lit up involuntarily at the thought of tearing them off in one bite.

His impulses were nearly impossible to contain. He felt like a caged beast. Physically, there was nothing stopping him from taking Takato right then and there. But the last bit of reason left in his mind reminded him that Takato still kept his distance. He remembered the kiss they'd shared, and how Takato had slapped him when his senses blurred and he'd tried to mark him carelessly. But even that wasn't enough to stop him now... In that moment, even another slap from Takato felt like it would be sublime. He bit his lower lip so hard he thought it would bleed, trying not to remember the taste of his mouth or the heat of his body when held in his arms. But having him just a few inches away made it all the harder.

"Takato-san," he gasped, seeing the other man still frozen in place. "You should leave." The way he said it, firm and harsh, sparked a flicker of shock in the older man. Junta even caught a hint of indignation in his eyes. "I'm sorry... You came all this way, but... You need to go. I took a suppressant not long ago, but it won't last much longer"

«Not with you here», he thought.

Clearly he didn't understand. He knew the omega struggled with his own instincts—but why had he come, then? He probably hadn't realized the full weight of his actions. Surely he didn't understand what Junta might end up doing to him if he stayed. Just the thought made his craving burn hotter, like embers in a fire, the temptation of corrupting the man who looked strangely vulnerable in front of him pushing him to the edge. Even though he always stood proud and firm, the idea of breaking him down and making him cry fed his senses like an aphrodisiac.

"I... I just wanted to see if you were okay."

Takato finally said the most reasonable excuse he could think of. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, trying to stay calm and suppress the boiling emotions within. Unlike alphas, omegas had better resistance to alpha ruts—but that didn't mean he wasn't affected. On the contrary, it was his first time witnessing one, and knowing it was Junta made him dizzy. Every breath he took flooded his lungs with a ridiculous amount of pheromones, clouding his mind.

Junta laughed, though it was a forced, pained sound.

"I am... You're really sweet to worry, but... You really shouldn't be here"

"I... I can help you"

Junta, who had been keeping his gaze down to avoid temptation, immediately looked up again.

"What?"

His voice came out as a low growl, disbelieving and dangerous. Takato shivered at the reddish glint in his eyes.

"W-well... You helped me when I went into heat... I wanted to return the favor" The words spilled out before he could stop them, trying to justify his senseless actions. Junta only sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"That doesn't matter. You don't owe me anything... I did it because I wanted to"

"I want to do it too"

Takato insisted, and this time, his voice was steadier. He really had come too far, there was no turning back now. And somehow, Junta's rejection only made him more persistent, driven by a strange impulse to contradict him with every "no". Stubborn.

Azumaya looked at him like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Takato-san..." he growled, nearly a warning. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

Takato held his gaze, trying not to look intimidated, even though just hearing him speak made him tremble. He knew. He knew Junta was in rut, that his self-control was hanging by a thread—but he couldn't just leave. He didn't want to.

Junta clenched his jaw, and Takato's body froze when he saw him take a step closer.

"You really want to help me?" he asked again, voice lower, darker. "Do you really know what I'm capable of doing to you in this state?"

He didn't wait for a response and stepped even closer, suddenly grabbing the shorter man's wrist the very moment he saw him make a move to retreat, squeezing hard enough to make him gasp. He leaned into him, and at such close proximity, he noticed Takato's scent was faint, masked by the cologne he used to pretend he was an alpha. He growled, frustrated, his breath grazing the other's skin, trying to force him to release his pheromones so he could soak them in. His free hand reached for Takato's face, letting his fingers brush against the lobe of his ear. Takato trembled at the soft touch—it felt harmless, yet at the same time, like a threat. His breathing hitched, and his legs threatened to give out as Junta's hand trailed slowly and shamelessly down his neck, across his collarbone, and further still, brushing over his chest.

His body wanted to react—to writhe, to moan. And oh, a wave of searing shame began to consume him over how filthy such a small gesture made him feel.

"I could explore every inch of your body with my mouth..." Junta's voice dropped to a raspy whisper, his warm breath brushing the skin of his ear. "Bury my fingers in you... Hold you so tight you wouldn't even be able to escape."

Takato trembled, his chest rising and falling in ragged breaths, his face flushed in a mixture of nerves and something far worse... Anticipation.

"I could make you cry," Junta continued, his hand moving down his torso, slow, deliberate, provoking. "I could fuck you until there's nothing left of your pride"

The shaky gasp that slipped from Takato was so soft it was barely audible, but Junta heard it.

When he finally pulled back a few inches to look at him, Takato had his lips parted, staring up at him with those doe eyes that completely contradicted the rigid, confident persona he usually wore. His primal instincts screamed at him to throw himself on him, like a beast—but seeing that expression again was enough to hold him back... He looked terrified.

Junta clicked his tongue, clenched his eyes shut, and forced himself to back away, abruptly, as if the contact burned him.

"Leave... Please"

His voice was even harsher than before, and Takato actually hesitated for a few seconds, sensing the desperation laced in his tone, like some unbearable kind of agony. Junta turned, heading into his house, ready to shut the door. That was all he needed to restrain himself from giving in to his wildest urges. As soon as the door was closed, he'd chain his sanity there, keep himself from chasing Takato like prey.

But before he could do it, he felt a tug at his wrist.

He stopped.

Confused, he looked down, and saw the slender hand of the shorter man holding onto his wrist.

His pupils sharpened, and his heart started to pound against his chest as he turned his head to look at him again, more clearly this time. And there he was. Takato stared at him with his eyebrows subtly raised, and despite the darkness surrounding them, the blush staining his face was obvious. His expression was full of frustration and shame, and when their eyes met, the air between them grew heavy again. That glow was there, clear as ever, woven between fear and... Something else. Was he angry at himself? Maybe his own wolf was urging him to stay, but there was no way to know, since he hadn't uttered a single word. He just kept holding his wrist, looking at him like he was asking for something.

Blood rushed through his veins, and the heat he'd felt until then became unbearable. His breath grew even more uneven, and his entire body vibrated with the fiercest instinct he had ever experienced. Takato had just opened a door he shouldn't have, and every fiber of Junta's being roared to cross it.

He didn't think twice.

He slipped out of the other's grip without a word, only to grab Takato's slender wrist himself. The smaller man barely had time to protest before he was yanked forcefully into the house and the door slammed shut behind them.

His body was slammed violently against a wall, giving him no time to react, and only then did Junta crash his lips against his.

. 

. 

Their hot breaths mingled, just like their saliva, and Takato felt his body weaken as he sensed all of Junta's intense pheromones pouring over him when he was dragged into the bedroom. The entire room was soaked in his scent, and that alone was enough to make him lose his breath and stop thinking clearly. His hands clutched tightly at the taller man's half-worn shirt, maybe trying to keep himself from collapsing to the floor from how fragile he was starting to feel. And as if reading his mind, Junta's arms wrapped firmly around his waist, holding him up and keeping him steady as the kiss deepened and their tongues quickly tangled together. Junta kissed him like a ravenous beast, sucking on his tongue and devouring him without mercy, while Takato, unable to even breathe, simply shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to fully face what was happening—the situation he had brought upon himself. Saliva trickled down his chin.

"Look at you, Takato-san... Who would've thought a single kiss could make you like this"

His eyes opened, dazed, as that husky voice brushed against his ears. Takato tried to breathe properly, arching his body in a way he didn't fully manage to hide. Shame struck him again as he noticed the hungry look Junta gave him after pulling away slightly, but he barely had time to react before Junta's mouth was on his again.

His teeth tugged at Takato's lower lip, and a loud moan echoed in the room. Junta licked his lips and then pushed his tongue between them once more, rubbing it against Takato's. His hands gripped his waist tightly, and unconsciously, his hips began moving against him, as if he wanted to take him right there, against the wall of the room. Takato tensed his legs, just now realizing the hard bulge rubbing desperately against him. It was as if neither pants nor underwear could do anything to hide that thick piece of flesh.

His senses spiraled, and he suddenly felt terrified of what would happen, but pulling away didn't even seem like an option.

Junta's tongue explored every inch, from his palate to the softest parts of his mouth, tasting him deeply. Then his hands slid lower, tracing the shape of his hips until a stifled gasp left Takato. The warm, rough feeling of those large hands gripping his ass made him tremble. But Junta didn't stop there, his hands moved boldly, groping and kneading him as if searching for something. Takato clutched at Junta's arms, maybe in a futile attempt to stop him—or perhaps just to release the tension boiling inside. But Junta showed no sign of stopping. He kept devouring his mouth mercilessly until the kiss became suffocating, stealing all the air from his lungs. His fingers dug deeper into Takato's cheeks, squeezing and exploring every curve with such intensity it pulled an involuntary moan from him, until those long fingers nestled between them, grazing the fabric of his pants torturously slow.

That's when Takato forcibly broke the kiss, turning his face to gasp for air, staring at Junta with a whirlwind of emotion in his eyes. Lust, fear, disbelief, maybe even a hint of curiosity.

But it was a mistake.

Just inhaling was enough to notice again the overwhelming amount of pheromones Junta was releasing over him, and it was inevitable, his own pheromones began to leak out, intertwining with the alpha's. The neutralizer lost its effect, became completely useless. He didn't even notice at first, too lost in the whirlwind of sensations coursing through him.

"H-Hey... Wait a second" he tried to push him away, but Junta only pulled him tighter, his erection grinding hard against him and drawing out a wave of heat so intense he thought his legs might give out. Junta's fingers moved torturously slow, sliding up and down between his cheeks even through the fabric, making him jolt with every touch.

"Wait?" Junta repeated, a low chuckle rumbling in Takato's ears. "Takato-san... Do you really think I'm in a condition to wait?"

Takato flinched as his hands moved up to grip the taller man's shoulders, clutching at his disheveled shirt while his eyebrows knit together. Minutes passed, and the pheromones began to take effect. His body weakened, intoxicated by Junta's scent. He tried to answer, but his throat closed up when he felt the alpha lowering his head, kissing along his face until he reached his neck. Takato's whole body tensed, but Junta was too engrossed in identifying his scent to notice... It was intoxicating, and his pupils dilated as his nose brushed directly against Takato's scent gland. He tasted his true fragrance and smiled in bliss, rubbing against his neck and feeling his mouth go dry.

"...You smell so good" his husky voice sounded like that of an addict, savoring the forbidden fruit after far too long.

The omega felt those words echo in his ears, and his hands clutched even tighter at Junta's arms. He was the first person to ever say that to him... The first one to break through his barriers so shamelessly, wanting to take everything from him. A whimper escaped him as he arched in Junta's arms, something inside him pushing forward. He wanted to drown in his scent too, even though his rational side kept screaming escape routes. He could hit him in the stomach, maybe, to get him off... Maybe he'd gain some time to run. But he didn't move.

"You smell delicious... You're driving me insane"

Takato squirmed in his arms, instincts threatening to take over. He genuinely thought he'd lose his mind under the weight of the shame and pleasure bubbling through his body, threatening to drown him. Junta tore off the cloak he'd been wearing to protect from the rain, and suddenly he felt exposed, though he couldn't focus on that.

He didn't even realize when Junta lifted him so easily into his arms. Their lips met again in a disordered kiss where the alpha took complete control, and Takato didn't open his eyes until he felt himself laid down on something soft, Junta's bed. Disoriented, he panted when the kiss broke again, and Junta gazed at him with burning eyes, admiring the sight of him in his bed. The scent of oranges clung to every inch of the sheets, concentrated in that exact spot, and Takato felt like he might choke from the intensity of the pheromones.

"Takato-san is in my bed..." Junta's voice was dazed, and the omega gave him a bewildered look. "Hahh, I must be dreaming."

Junta laughed, as if speaking to himself, and didn't give Takato time to react. Saliva dripped from his lips as his hands reached for the elegant brooch on his collar and carelessly removed it, the jabot flying away, as lust fogged his mind upon seeing the exposed skin. The smaller man whimpered, instinctively wanting to cover himself, but Junta was faster, removing his vest and skillfully unbuttoning each button. He held himself back from tearing the clothes apart, and once the vest was finally off, Takato once again tried to push him back.

"W-What are you going to do?"

His delicate hand looked small against Junta's rigid shoulder, and the alpha responded with a dark smile.

"Didn't I tell you before we came in, Takato-san? I warned you what would happen, and you still stayed..." his hands found his wrists, slowly removing the fine gloves he wore, leaving wet kisses on his hands. "You came here on your own, and said you wanted to help me... Have you changed your mind already?"

He asked, leaning in to blow hot air over his ear, and Takato's eyebrows jumped at the sensation of his breath. He felt vulnerable, processing the truth in those words... It was true—he had come here, he had insisted... But the nervousness was too much, stealing his breath as the reality set in: this was the first alpha he'd ever been with... This would be his first time. Saying it aloud felt too shameful, and he simply clenched his jaw to stop himself from revealing it. He would face his own decision, after all, even his wolf didn't seem very interested in leaving. So for the first time, he'd listen to his wolf, that primal part of himself dulled for so long by suppressants.

"Do you feel this?" Junta asked when he got no answer, nibbling his ear gently while his hands gripped his waist tightly and shamelessly ground his hips against him. Takato felt the hardness of his erection again, hot and solid like a rock of lava, rubbing desperately against his thigh. "This is what you do to me, Takato-san."

His warm breath sent shivers down his spine as he listened to him pant heavily. Their eyes met, and Takato could see how his eyes gleamed with that mix of green and amber in the darkness. And he already knew... It was crystal clear to him that Junta wasn't the angel everyone claimed him to be. In his eyes, he was no better than a ravenous beast, and now that the rut had consumed his senses, it was like having a wild animal on top of him. He knew staying wasn't the reasonable choice, but he couldn't fight it. Feeling that hard bulge rubbing against his leg made him whimper. His eyebrows arched as he shifted on the bed, and suddenly, his entire face flushed, overheated by the realization that he was partly to blame for that erection.

He felt wetness between his buttcheeks, and slowly, the fluid slid down. The natural lubricant stained his pants, and in that moment, his heart began to race in chaotic rhythm. Shame became unbearable, and he had to cover his mouth with the back of his hand when he noticed how, at the same time, his own pheromones intensified, spilling everywhere and shamelessly betraying his growing arousal.

Junta licked his lips, delighted, and immediately leaned down to bury his nose in Takato's collarbone.

"That's it... Just like that, Takato-san" he praised him deeply, his husky voice sending tingles across Takato's body. "Fill this place with your scent... Flood every corner, drown me in it, until there's nothing left but you"

Takato clenched his jaw, unable to form a coherent reply. His shirt was stripped away, and he had no time to dwell on his embarrassment before Junta's lips pressed onto his again, swallowing any sound and tasting his mouth with urgency. Junta savored him as his hands slid down his chest, and amid his fleeting sanity, he realized once again he had never tasted anything so sweet before...

It was fascinating.