Chapter 2: “Heat Warnings & Hallway Tension”

When I woke up, I had two thoughts.

One: I was still alive.

Two: I was definitely not in my own damn bed.

The room was massive—blackout curtains, sleek black walls, and silk sheets softer than any sin. Everything smelled like cool thunderstorms and pinewood.

Caspian’s scent.

And unfortunately, it was all over me.

Memories of last night crashed into me like a slow-motion car wreck. The rooftop. The dare. The kiss. The tongue. The fake fainting. And then Caspian carrying me to his private mansion like I was some tragic Omega bride.

I sat up fast. Too fast.

The blanket slipped down—and I realized, horrified, that I was shirtless.

“WHY AM I SHIRTLESS?!”

“You were sweaty and annoying,” came Caspian’s familiar, far-too-calm voice from the doorway.

I nearly choked. “You undressed me?!”

He leaned against the frame, arms crossed over his chest, expression unreadable. “I took off your shirt. You were muttering in your sleep and clawing at your collar like it was strangling you.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you wanted me to take off more?”

I scrambled to grab the nearest pillow and flung it at his head.

“Get out!”

He ducked, unfazed. “Breakfast is downstairs. Try not to scream into your eggs.”

When he was gone, I fell back on the bed with a dramatic groan and dragged the pillow over my face. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t process anything. I kissed my archrival. And worse?

I might’ve liked it.

⸻

I got dressed—yes, fully—and followed the scent of food downstairs. My ankle was still sore, but better, thanks to that weirdly tender ointment moment.

Caspian had already plated breakfast: tofu skin rolls, steamed buns, soft rice porridge. All my favorites. Stuff I never mentioned out loud, not even in the cafeteria.

How the hell did he know?

“Eat,” he said, not looking up from his cup of tea.

“Creepy,” I muttered, sitting down across from him.

“Accurate.”

We ate in tense silence. But halfway through the meal, something changed.

A faint buzzing sound ticked inside my head. Then, a soft ding.

A floating message appeared, glitching like a hologram in the air.

[System Notice: Alpha Heat Warning Detected]

Affected: Easton Virel

Mild pheromone leak in progress. Please regulate immediately.

I froze mid-bite.

“Wait—what?”

I reached up to touch my neck, where my glands pulsed faintly with heat. No way. No. Freaking. Way. I hadn’t had a heat cycle since sophomore year. I was a male Alpha, not an Omega. Heats were rare, almost impossible.

Unless…

Unless an Enigma’s aura triggered it.

My eyes darted across the table.

Caspian was staring at me.

Not blinking.

Not breathing.

Like a wolf watching something small and cornered.

“Don’t,” I said immediately, panicking.

“I’m not doing anything,” he said slowly, setting his tea down with deliberate calm.

“You’re leaking aura!”

“You’re leaking scent.”

We glared at each other in silence, the floating message blinking between us.

[Public Heat Alert Active for 4 Minutes]

Nearby users notified. Please seek privacy.

“YOU BLASTED MY BUSINESS TO THE ENTIRE CAMPUS?!”

“You triggered the alert, Easton.”

“YOU triggered me!”

His eyes gleamed with something far too smug. “Interesting choice of words.”

“I hate you.”

“You kissed me.”

“TO AVOID DYING!”

“I liked it.”

My brain melted.

I stood so fast the chair nearly flipped. “I’m going back to the dorms.”

“You’re still in a mild heat.”

“I’ll regulate it myself.”

“…Will you?”

I shot him a look that could kill. He smiled like it gave him life.

⸻

Back at campus, whispers followed me like perfume.

“Is that him?”

“The one who kissed Caspian?”

“I saw the heat warning—he’s an Alpha, right??”

“Wait, can male Alphas even have heats?”

“Maybe he’s a hybrid…”

I pulled my hoodie over my head and stomped into the hallway. I didn’t care about the stares. I didn’t care about the whispers. I just wanted to collapse on my bed and pretend this entire week didn’t exist.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

Because as I turned the corner near my dorm room… Caspian was already there.

Leaning against my door.

Like he owned it. Like he belonged there.

“What now?” I snapped, exhausted.

He shrugged. “Just checking. Making sure you didn’t faint again.”

“I will literally push you down the stairs.”

“Sure,” he said casually, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. “But I’d land holding you.”

My body betrayed me with a full-body shiver.

I hated him.

I hated that I didn’t hate him.

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