Morning came gently.
No black cars.
No heavy Alpha pressure.
Just sunlight leaking through thin curtains and the distant noise of vendors arguing downstairs.
Lior woke up to the sound of his alarm vibrating against the wooden table.
6:10 a.m.
Too early.
Way too early.
"…Why did I choose morning shifts…" he groaned into his pillow.
Because rent existed.
Because textbooks existed.
Because scholarships never covered everything.
That's why.
He dragged himself up anyway.
The apartment was small enough that three steps took him from bed to kitchen. One cracked mug. One dented kettle. One chair with uneven legs.
It wasn't pretty.
But it was his.
He liked that.
No expectations. No pressure.
Just quiet.
He poured hot water into instant coffee and stared at the steam.
For a strange second—
his mind replayed something.
Grey eyes.
A calm voice.
"Because I want to."
He frowned.
"…Why am I thinking about him this early?"
He shook his head quickly, grabbed his bag, and left before his brain could betray him further.
The café bell jingled as he stepped inside.
Mireo was already there, half-asleep and tying her hair.
"You're late by thirty seconds," she said.
"Fire me then."
"Tempting."
They both laughed.
It was easy here.
Customers came and went. Students ordered cheap drinks. The regular old man complained about sugar prices like always.
Normal life.
The kind of life that didn't care about corporate empires or powerful Alphas.
At 8 a.m., a classmate named Tomas came in.
Engineering major. Loud laugh. Always broke.
He dropped coins on the counter. "One coffee. The cheapest one. Like my future."
"You say that every day," Lior said.
"And every day it's still true."
Mireo slid him the cup. "Pay your tab first."
"I thought we were friends—"
"We are. Pay."
Lior smiled softly watching them argue.
These were his people.
Not executives in suits.
Not boardrooms.
Just ordinary humans trying to survive the week.
And honestly—
he preferred this world.
By noon, campus was buzzing louder than usual.
Colorful banners hung between buildings.
COLLEGE FESTIVAL – ONE WEEK LEFT
Clubs recruiting. Stalls preparing. Music rehearsals echoing across the grounds.
Lior found Alaric sitting under the same tree again.
But today—
he wasn't smiling.
His sketchbook lay closed.
"…Hey," Lior sat beside him. "You look like someone stole your snacks."
Alaric forced a laugh. "Nothing like that."
"Family?"
Silence.
That was answer enough.
"…Dad wants me home tonight," Alaric said quietly. "Some dinner with relatives."
"That sounds normal."
"For you maybe."
Lior knew.
Alaric's house wasn't warm like it should be.
Full of strong Alphas.
Cold expectations.
And one "weak" Omega son they treated like a mistake.
"They still—?" Lior asked carefully.
"…Yeah."
That small word carried too much weight.
Lior clenched his jaw.
He hated it.
Hated how gentle Alaric always pretended everything was fine.
"…My brother will be there at least," Alaric added softly. "He always makes it better."
Lior smiled.
Yeah.
Kaizen.
The only one who never treated Alaric differently.
Funny.
The scariest man in the city…
was the softest only with his brother.
Life was weird like that.
"Alaric."
They both looked up.
Calix again.
Hands in pockets. Calm as ever.
But this time he carried two drinks.
"One for you. One for the grumpy friend," he said, handing one to Lior.
"I'm not grumpy."
"You look grumpy."
"That's just my face."
Calix smirked. "Then it's permanent."
Alaric laughed between them.
The tension eased.
Just a little.
Lior noticed how Calix naturally stood closer to Alaric.
Not possessive.
Just protective.
Like a quiet wall between him and the world.
"…You coming to the festival meeting later?" Calix asked.
"There's a meeting?" Lior blinked.
"You signed up for the literature booth, remember?"
"…Oh."
He did.
Because extra credit meant less tuition stress.
"Yeah, I'll come."
"Good. Don't disappear like yesterday."
Before Lior could ask what that meant—
a familiar shadow fell across them.
Too tall.
Too steady.
Too commanding.
"…You attract people easily," Kaizen's voice said calmly.
Lior looked up.
And there he was again.
Black coat.
Silver cufflinks.
Completely out of place among messy students.
Calix straightened slightly, recognizing him.
Two powerful Alphas in one space.
The air subtly tightened.
"Brother," Alaric smiled.
Kaizen's expression softened instantly.
"…Did they bother you today?" he asked him first.
"No."
"Good."
Then—
his eyes moved to Lior.
Steady.
Evaluating.
Like always.
"…You didn't eat breakfast," he said.
Lior blinked. "How do you even know that?"
"You look tired."
"…That's rude."
"It's observation."
Calix snorted quietly.
Alaric hid a smile.
For some reason—
this ridiculously normal conversation felt more dangerous than anything else.
Because Kaizen didn't talk to anyone like this.
Only him.
And Lior didn't know what to do with that.
From across the courtyard—
someone watched again.
Leaning against the railing.
Phone in hand.
Camera zoomed.
Click.
Click.
Zyren's lips curved slowly.
"So that's the weak spot…"
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Later that evening, as the sky turned orange—
Lior walked home alone.
Bag heavy.
Feet tired.
Brain louder than usual.
He kept thinking about today.
About Calix's quiet care.
About Alaric's fragile smile.
About Kaizen noticing he skipped breakfast.
Such small things.
Ridiculous things.
But somehow—
they mattered more than big dramatic moments.
Because no one had ever paid attention to small things about him before.
And that scared him a little.
"…Don't get used to it," he muttered to himself.
Because people like Kaizen Vale didn't stay in people like his life.
Worlds that different weren't meant to overlap.
Right?
Behind him—
far down the street—
a black car slowed briefly.
Just enough to make sure he reached his building safely.
Then drove away without a sound.