In a luxurious restaurant in X City, the air buzzed with soft music and clinking cutlery. Zayden sat across from his elder brother, Rayce, and his so-called fiancée Elena, who was trying her best to create polite conversation.
"My father always talks about you, Rayce," she said, offering a sweet smile. "I heard you signed a massive contract recently?"
Rayce didn't even look up. He simply continued cutting his steak, calm and unaffected.
Elena's smile twitched slightly, but she tried again. "You and Zayden must have been really close growing up—"
Rayce sipped his wine with a slow nod, still silent.
Across the table, Zayden wasn't listening. He was staring at his phone, a strange mix of emotions swirling in his expression — confusion, tension, and something darker.
It was Kael's post.
A smiling Kael. His head tilted playfully next to a handsome alpha with a strong jawline and confident presence. Kael's caption read:
"Not waiting to be chosen. I'll choose myself."
Zayden's hand tightened around the phone.
Who is he?
The guy looked… close. Too close. His hand rested easily around Kael's shoulder, the kind of familiarity Kael had never shown with other alphas.
But Kael always hated alphas approaching him. He used to flinch at any dominant scent. That's why… I kept my distance too… right?
Then why does Kael look so at ease now?
A hot, unpleasant weight settled in Zayden's chest — jealousy, thick and sharp. He didn't like this feeling.
Not at all.
---
Meanwhile, Kael was sneezing repeatedly at a cozy table in a small local eatery.
Adrian laughed, "Looks like someone's thinking about you."
Kael smirked, sipping his water. "Probably my dad. I haven't told him about the win yet."
He pulled out his phone and sent a message in the family group chat along with the photo of his design and trophy. His omega father immediately replied with a string of heart emojis, while Kai sent voice notes yelling, "THAT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER!"
Adrian leaned back, sipping his drink — a little too quickly. His cheeks were flushed. "You really did it, Kael."
Kael smiled softly. "We did."
---
Outside, they caught a taxi together. Adrian, tipsy, insisted, "I'll drop you off first."
On the way, Kael scrolled through his texts again, still chuckling at his family's reactions.
Suddenly, he felt a soft weight rest on his shoulder.
He froze.
Adrian's head.
He had dozed off, his warm breath lightly brushing Kael's neck. The closeness startled Kael, but strangely… didn't repulse him. He stared at the city lights for a moment in silence.
When they reached his stop, Kael gently shook him.
"Hey. Wake up."
Adrian opened his eyes slowly, a little dazed.
"You're home?"
Kael nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for today… and everything."
He stepped out.
Adrian remained seated, looking at the door Kael had gone through — his heart hammering for reasons he didn't understand yet.