—W-what do you mean? I still don't understand —Noah replied with a trembling voice, his heart pounding wildly. His pupils were dilated, his Omega glands activated by anxiety, and a sweet scent began to fill the air without him realizing. Although his face was marked by confusion and fear, his beauty seemed to shine even more in that vulnerable moment.
Theo, an Alpha with deep eyes and an unshakable expression, remained silent. He just looked at him for a few seconds, before, one by one, his tails began to fade into the air like ethereal smoke swept away by the breeze. Noah couldn't look away; it was as if something essential was dying before his eyes.
—Are you going to die? —he said with a trembling voice. —Hey! Answer me! —Noah cried out urgently, his voice slightly breaking.
But Theo said nothing. His golden eyes, which moments before had reflected firmness, were now struggling to stay open. His chest rose and fell with effort, as if each breath was becoming heavier.
Despite being an omega—or perhaps because of it—Noah couldn't bear to see someone suffer so intensely. His instinct screamed at him to do something, to move closer. So without thinking, he knelt in front of the Alpha and grabbed his hand, warm but weakened. As soon as he did, the change was immediate.
The tails that had vanished began to reappear, one after another, swaying gently as if awakening from a long slumber. Noah blinked, surprised. He counted one, then two, until he reached nine.
He sighed deeply. He was relieved.
And then he understood—or at least, thought he did. What Theo had called a "sacred gem" wasn't just an object. It was something much more intimate. A fragment of the Alpha's soul… and now it lived inside him. Theo had sacrificed a vital part of himself to save Noah's life. Without that connection, the Alpha couldn't survive.
And for some reason he still didn't fully understand, his presence was the only thing keeping Theo alive. Or well… that's what he interpreted.
—Wake up… how can I take the gem out and give it back to you? —Noah asked, clinging tightly to Theo's hand.
Theo sat up slowly, his body trembling. Still weakened, he sat before him under the cold glow of the moon, which lit up the forest clearing and emphasized the tension between them.
Their eyes met. Noah's, wide and full of questions, locked onto Theo's, which no longer hid his exhaustion… or his resignation.
—There are two ways —Theo said hoarsely—. We can kiss and transfer the gem… or you can stay with me for a hundred days.
Noah thought for a second. He looked down, then raised his gaze with determination.
—A kiss?
—Yes, just one —the fox replied.
—Then do it. It's faster, right?
Theo nodded slightly, his tone now softer.
—I'm sorry for putting you in this situation, omega.
—You don't have to apologize. You saved me. Thanks to you… I'm still alive.
—Then… close your eyes.
Noah obeyed immediately. He didn't hesitate. He didn't worry whether this would be his first kiss. And with his eyes closed, he couldn't see the sly smile that curved Theo's lips. That expression that betrayed something the Alpha preferred not to confess just yet.
Omegas were so trusting… so easy to read. And so easy to manipulate. But well, that's how humans were...
Theo leaned in and kissed him. His lips touched Noah's with a gentle gesture at first, but soon the kiss grew deeper, more intimate. It wasn't just a transfer; it was an exploration. The Alpha allowed himself to savor him, feel him, memorize the texture of his mouth.
In that contact, Theo felt fragments of Noah's memories flash through his mind. Pieces of his past… and the certainty: it was his first kiss.
But he didn't stop. On the contrary, he deepened it. He wanted that omega to remember him. To never forget the heat of his mouth, or the way his pheromones wrapped around him and made him tremble without knowing why.
And still… nothing happened.
When the kiss ended, Noah was panting, his face flushed. He felt hot, his stomach in knots, his legs trembling. His heart was beating so fast he thought it might burst from his chest.
—S-so? —he asked, trying to catch his breath—. Has the gem returned to you?
Theo shook his head.
—No.
—Why?
—Because we don't love each other —he answered bluntly.
Noah looked down, unsure how to react. The silence between them was dense, heavy with thoughts neither dared to voice.
—You must stay with me for a hundred days. But if you don't want to… it's okay. At dawn, you can leave the forest.
—And what will you do?
Theo didn't answer. He only gave a melancholic, resigned smile. But for Noah, it was enough. He knew immediately: if he left, Theo would die.
He shook his head firmly. His conscience wouldn't allow it. He had received his protection, his sacrifice. He couldn't leave him alone.
—We both have to live —he said firmly, and for the first time, his scent grew stronger. A sweet caramel with a warm touch that stirred the Alpha's senses.
Theo looked at him again, this time with something that looked like hope in Noah's eyes.
—If in those hundred days we fall in love… we could transfer the gem sooner —Theo added with a hidden smile.
—Alright. But… can we leave the forest?
—Yes. It doesn't matter where we are, as long as we're together.
—Can I take you to the city? To my world?
Theo nodded without hesitation.
—But about what I am… no one must know. Let it be just between you and me.
—I promise —the omega replied, determined.
A strong wind blew suddenly, cold and sharp. Noah hugged himself reflexively, shivering. His body was very sensitive to the cold.
Then, several of Theo's tails moved naturally and wrapped around Noah's body. They covered him like a living blanket, warm, soft… and surprisingly comforting.
Noah let himself be embraced. His instinct recognized the warmth of that Alpha. It wasn't danger. It wasn't a threat.
It was protection.
—My name is Theo —said the fox spirit in a low voice.
—Nice to meet you, Theo. I'm Noah.
And just like that, with the mere exchange of names, their fates were intertwined.
That night, they slept together. Noah wrapped in the Alpha's tails that had saved his life, and Theo holding the Omega who could fulfill his greatest wish.
Noah felt warm. And surprisingly… safe.
....