Kyle POV
Every night, I'd fall asleep holding Seth—transformed into his wolf form—in my arms. It felt like having a giant, warm body pillow made just for me. His warmth never faded, even on the coldest nights; it was as if his body was always aflame with heat.
But every morning when I woke up, he was gone.
He'd always slip away early—patrolling, hunting, or handling some clan business. Seth was a busy man. I understood that. I knew that.
Yet today, unexpectedly, I felt lonely.
Maybe it was because of everything that happened last night.
He warned me not to bathe alone in dangerous places, promised to prepare a second room just for me, and… invited me to officially join his clan.
In that moment, my heart wavered.
He treated me so well—better than anyone ever had. Good enough to make me want to give up all my silly hopes. But I just couldn't help myself. Last night, I was so happy, my own scent must have turned thick and sweet, sticky with desire—so intense that even now, remembering it makes me blush with shame.
But what happened this morning was far worse.
When I woke up, my body felt wrong.
I had… morning wood.
My sheets were damp and sticky, the air thick with my Omega pheromones—sweet to the point of cloying, almost burning hot. Worse, I smelled an Alpha's scent.
It was faint, but unmistakably Seth's.
Had he… felt it too?
Had I affected him?
Is that why he left in such a hurry?
My cheeks burned fiercely. My ears were flushed red.
I didn't know how to face him.
Tonight… would I still be able to hold him as I always did?
Would he still want to keep me warm?
I knew I liked Seth. Not just gratitude for saving me, but a deeper, more embarrassing feeling I couldn't even admit to myself.
He'd always treated me kindly, never looking down on me for being human or an Omega. Compared to the cold, fake people in the city, these people felt like a warm sun, and Seth was the warmest of all.
He cared for me, tolerated me, responded to every little need I had. Bit by bit, I realized that beneath his Alpha pride was a bright, gentle boy.
Every moment with him felt safe and comforting.
Sometimes I'd sneak glances at him, and he'd look back with eyes so soft, so tender, my heart would race uncontrollably.
Chris teased me, saying Seth had feelings for me.
But Seth never said a word.
He was so restrained it drove me crazy.
If he liked me, why wouldn't he say it?
If he didn't, then what was that gentleness in his eyes?
The first time I held him in his wolf form while falling asleep, I hadn't thought much—just that he was warm, like a living blanket.
But looking back, it was dangerous.
He was Alpha, I was Omega. If he had any intention, I had no power to resist.
Yet he did nothing.
Not even this morning.
He just lay quietly in my arms, nudging my face with his nose, licking my chin now and then—like a loyal dog.
Maybe that was the truth.
The reason he held back and didn't cross the line
was because—
he simply didn't like me.
Seth probably never liked human Omegas.
That thought hit me hard.
The morning hardness that had blossomed inside me just moments ago softened along with my mood.
I sat up and scratched my messy hair. My lower body still felt sticky—evidence of the fluids I'd leaked. The thought of my scent lingering in the air so long made my face flush scarlet.
I needed a shower.
Right now.
I jumped out of bed and grabbed a clean set of clothes.
At the door, I hesitated. Seth had warned me only yesterday not to bathe in that remote river again. But I really didn't want to strip in front of anyone, especially not in the communal bath.
Besides… it would be way too eager to ask Seth about the second room he promised me after just one day.
This would be the last time.
I just… didn't want anyone to see me like this. Just this once. After this, I'd listen.
Steeling myself, I quietly opened the door, closed it behind me, and hurried toward the river.
I should have known better.
"Last time" was never really the last time. Every time I thought that, life would slap me hard.
When I finished bathing and put on my clean robe, I was about to head back when—
A white wolf I'd never seen before appeared in front of me.
Its eyes were cold, cruel. Its lips curled back, exposing sharp, glistening fangs. It took slow, deliberate steps toward me.
I scrambled to decide which way to run, if I could even outrun it.
Before I could move, it lunged.
It pinned me to the ground, teeth aimed straight for my neck.
I shut my eyes.
But the pain never came.
Instead, a sudden force slammed into the white wolf, followed by a roar.
I opened my eyes.
A few meters away, two wolves fought fiercely—one white, one brown.
The brown one—
I recognized immediately.
It was Seth.
He saved me.
My heart jumped, my body froze. I could only stare as they tore into each other.
Seth bit the white wolf's shoulder mercilessly. With a low growl, the white wolf finally fled, tail tucked, unwilling to look back.
When Seth made sure it was gone, he ran to me.
I instinctively bowed my head, unable to meet his eyes.
Of course—
"Didn't I tell you yesterday? It's dangerous here! Why did you come?"
His voice rumbled like a growl, raw with anger. My body trembled. My Omega instincts screamed to flee.
"I… I just—"
Before I could finish, a sharp cracking sound broke through the air.
I looked up sharply as Seth began shifting back to his human form.
But he didn't stand.
Instead, he threw himself at me, pulling me tightly into his arms.
"I thought you were dead…" He buried his face in my neck, voice trembling and low. "I really thought… I was too late."
I was stunned.
The air was thick with his anxious scent, almost suffocating me.
I slowly raised my hands, wrapping them around his back.
"I'm sorry, Seth… I made you worry."
He said nothing, just held me gently, swaying as if trying to soothe his own panic.
I reached up, softly running my fingers through his hair—an instinctive gesture to calm an Alpha, something I didn't even know where I learned.
Gradually, Seth's breathing slowed. His scent faded.
I whispered again, "I'm sorry."
He snorted, sounding like he was sulking but also forgiving.
"Good to know."
Then, finally, he loosened his hold a little and cupped my face in his hands—
I held my breath.