'Why is he leaning in like this? Again?'
Ezra's thoughts scrambled as Helios moved closer, the memory of yesterday in the carriage flashing through his mind.
That time, Lior had been there.
This time, there was no buffer, no excuse to look away.
Just Helios.
Helios had braced his arms on either side of the chair, not touching Ezra, but close enough that Ezra felt boxed in all the same.
Trapped without actually being trapped, which somehow made it worse.
Or maybe better.
Ezra tilted his head up despite himself. Their faces were far too close now, close enough that Ezra caught the familiar scent of pine.
Helios's scent hadn't changed.
Pine trees, clean air, something steady and grounding. It was strange how calming it still was, how it always had been.
Omegas were supposed to react differently to an Alpha's presence, but Ezra never had. If anything, Helios's presence quieted the noise in his head.
That realization alone made his chest tighten.
