Leon's life was now divided into before and after the confirmation in his gut. He was only a few weeks in, physically unchanged, but the weight on his shoulders was immense. The knowledge was getting harder and harder to keep hidden. He was a ticking time bomb, and every person he saw felt like a potential threat. He had to figure out what to do, and he had to do it alone. The thought of telling anyone, especially Harry, was a non-starter.
He was rushing out of the science building one afternoon, head down, buried in his phone, trying to find information on confidential options for Alphas. He wasn't looking where he was going. He rounded a corner and slammed full force into a solid wall of muscle.
Books scattered on the floor. "The hell, man, watch where you're going!" Harry barked, his usual reaction when things didn't go his way.
Leon looked up, dread pooling in his stomach. It was Harry.
Harry was mid-stoop, reaching for his own dropped laptop, but he froze when he saw Leon. The flash of anger in his eyes was instantly replaced by a look of confusion, perhaps even a hint of guilt. The two weeks of avoidance shattered in an instant.
"Oh, it's you," Harry said, his voice flat. He finished picking up his items, not meeting Leon's eyes.
Leon quickly gathered his own books, his hands shaking slightly. "Yeah. My bad. Sorry."
They stood in the empty hallway, the silence stretching between them, thicker than the tension. The air felt charged, heavy with the unsaid. Harry's scent, that familiar sandalwood, was overwhelming in the close proximity, but Leon could smell the underlying shift now, the subtle sign that told him everything he needed to know. Harry looked pale. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his own composure.
Harry noticed Leon's scrutiny. His gaze finally landed on Leon's calm, but pale face. "You look like you saw a ghost. You okay?"
Leon nodded quickly, gripping his books tight. "Fine. Just... thinking." He took a step back, needing air, needing space, needing to figure out his next move. "Gotta go. Bio lab."
He turned on his heel and speed-walked down the hall, leaving Harry standing there, a confused frown creasing his forehead. Leon didn't stop until he was safely in a bathroom stall, leaning against the door, his heart hammering. The encounter had rattled him more than he cared to admit. The secret was getting harder and harder to keep hidden.