The morning air at Lupine Academy was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and dew. Daniel adjusted his uniform for the third time that day, trying to calm the steady buzz of tension running through him. The previous days had left him exhausted—not from the physical drills or exercises, but from the constant awareness that Leo's amber gaze was always on him. Every glance, every smirk, every whispered word from the alpha lingered in his mind, teasing him, testing him.
"Daniel!" a cheerful voice called. Daniel turned to see Mika, his roommate, waving energetically. "Ready for today? You look tense. Did Leo do something to bother you again?"
Daniel forced a smile, brushing off the concern. "I'm fine," he said evenly, though Mika's knowing look suggested she didn't quite believe him. Mika had a knack for noticing details Daniel tried to hide. She followed him toward the training grounds, chatting lightly to distract him from the gnawing anxiety in his chest.
The academy's instructors had announced a team challenge for the day: students were paired randomly to complete a series of combat drills, obstacle courses, and tactical exercises. Daniel's heart sank when the pairing system dropped a token with his name: he was paired with Leo once again.
"Looks like fate loves testing us," Leo said, his voice carrying that same teasing undertone. His amber eyes scanned Daniel, sharp and unreadable. "Don't make me regret giving you a chance."
Daniel's pulse quickened, but he held his composure. They began the exercises, their movements synchronized yet competitive. Every touch—Leo correcting Daniel's stance, brushing past him during drills—sent subtle jolts of awareness through Daniel's body. His omega instincts, always carefully hidden, stirred faintly, reminding him of who he truly was beneath the alpha facade.
Meanwhile, side characters added life and tension to the day. Ryo, Leo's right-hand man, watched Daniel closely, his expression unreadable but clearly skeptical. Elian, a sly classmate with a penchant for gossip, observed from the sidelines, jotting notes and whispering to friends. Daniel caught his gaze for a fleeting moment and froze—another risk of exposure.
As the drills intensified, a sudden mishap forced Daniel and Leo to cooperate more closely than ever. A heavy obstacle, meant to test strength, required teamwork. Daniel's careful control and Leo's raw power combined seamlessly, and for a moment, they moved almost perfectly in sync.
Leo's gaze lingered on Daniel longer than necessary, as if analyzing every nuance, every movement. "Not bad," he murmured, close enough for Daniel to feel the warmth of his breath. "You might be stronger than I thought."
Daniel forced a nonchalant shrug, though his chest fluttered. "I've had good teachers," he replied, careful to mask the surge of emotion the words triggered.
By afternoon, the challenge concluded, and Daniel's secret was intact—but just barely. A small slip, a hint of omega vulnerability, had caught Leo's attention. Daniel could feel it in the weight of Leo's stare, the smirk tugging at his lips. The tension between them had shifted: from rivalry to curiosity, from curiosity to something more… dangerous.
Mika met him after the drills, her eyes bright with concern. "Careful, Daniel. Leo's noticing things about you… things you can't hide forever."
Daniel nodded, swallowing hard. "I know. I just have to survive."
That night, as he lay in bed, replaying every movement, every glance, every subtle brush of contact, Daniel realized something he hadn't admitted even to himself. The academy was dangerous. Leo was dangerous. But… he wanted to see him again.
And the thought scared him more than any exposure ever could.