The midday sun streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a golden warmth across the quiet bedroom. It was creeping toward noon, well past morning before either of them started to stir.
Elio woke slowly, wrapped in a heavy sense of comfort. He was tangled entirely in Vyn's space, lying flush against the Alpha's broad chest with his face nestled into the crook of his neck. Elio's hands were wrapped around Vyn's torso, while Vyn's heavy arm lay possessively over his waist, locking them together even in sleep.
Careful not to break the peace, Elio slid back just enough to look at him. Without the chaotic fever of the rut, Vyn looked remarkably peaceful, the sharp lines of his face softened by deep sleep. Gazing at this rare vulnerability, Elio reached out, his fingertips hovering just inches above Vyn's jawline.
Before he could make contact, Vyn's hand snapped up in a quiet reflex, his fingers wrapping firmly around Elio's wrist.
Elio caught his breath, startled. But as Vyn's eyes blinked open, his intense gaze softened instantly. A faint smile touched Vyn's lips.
"Morning," Vyn murmured, his voice a low, gravelly rasp.
"How are you feeling?" Elio asked softly.
Instead of answering, Vyn raised Elio's hand to his lips, pressing a slow kiss against his knuckles. His eyes drifted downward, scanning Elio under the bright light. The slate-grey silk pajamas had slipped, unbuttoned at the top to expose the curve of Elio's pale shoulder—and the fresh mark Vyn had left behind. Even now, the skin around the mating bite was slightly flushed, a permanent biological seal of the Alpha's claim.
Burying his face into the hollow of Elio's shoulder, Vyn pressed a warm, lingering kiss there before trailing up his neck, inhaling the sweet scent of blooming white lilies and crisp mint.
Elio's breath hitched. A flush rose to his cheeks, and he lightly pressed his palms against Vyn's chest to push him back. Vyn ignored the slight resistance. His large hands slid up to cup Elio's jaw, pulling him down into a deep, slow kiss. It was lazy and deeply possessive, tasting of a lingering hunger.
When Vyn finally pulled back, Elio was entirely flustered, his chest heaving as his ears burned. Trying to regain his footing, Elio forced his expression to tighten.
"I think you're perfectly fine now," Elio said, shifting his weight to get out of bed.
He didn't make it an inch.
Vyn's hand locked around his waist, easily hauling Elio back down. Losing his leverage, Elio collapsed forward, landing flat against Vyn's chest as the Alpha pinned him from below. Vyn wrapped both arms securely around him, anchoring Elio on top of him while burying his face back into his neck.
"Let's stay like this for a bit," Vyn whispered, his arms tightening.
Elio let out a soft sigh, his body instantly relaxing against the Alpha's solid heat. The weight of the fresh mark on his neck contrasted with the sudden, grounding stillness in his chest.
"What are we now?" Elio asked directly.
Vyn's grip tightened slightly, his breath warm against Elio's skin.
"Whatever you want us to be, Elio," Vyn replied, his voice dropping low. "The bond makes you mine, yes... but it makes me entirely yours. My instincts answer to you now. If you want us hidden, we stay hidden. If you want me to tear anyone down, I'll do it."
Elio turned his head, his gaze level and piercing despite the flush on his cheeks. A teasing smile curved his lips. "Really? So, if I want you to tear someone down, you'll do it?"
Vyn's expression shifted instantly, all traces of soft affection locking into a cold intensity. His dark eyes narrowed, completely serious. "Who do you want me to tear down?"
Elio let out a soft laugh, the heavy atmosphere evaporating. "No one. I'm just hungry. I'll cook for you."
Vyn looked down at him, his gaze dropping to the elegant fingers resting against his chest. He caught Elio's hand, lifting it between them as he traced the pale skin. "You know how to cook with these beautiful hands?"
"Of course," Elio said, offering a proud grin. "I've been cooking since I was young."
Amusement broke across Vyn's face, his eyes crinkling at the corners as a low smile returned, thoroughly charmed.
Elio padding into the kitchen in his loose, unbuttoned silk pajamas didn't deter Vyn. The Alpha followed right at his heels, moving like a shadow until Elio stopped in front of the counter. Instantly, Vyn's large hands slid back around Elio's waist, his chest pressing flush against Elio's back as he anchored himself once more.
Elio sighed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he opened the upper cabinet. "Do you want spaghetti?"
"Yes," Vyn murmured, his chin resting comfortably on Elio's shoulder.
Elio chuckled softly, pulling down a box of pasta. "You don't have a choice anyway. These are the only ingredients I have right now. If you don't want it, we can just order food."
"I'll eat whatever you cook," Vyn replied without hesitation. His grip tightened a fraction, his nose brushing against the side of Elio's neck as he took a deep, slow breath.
"Vyn," Elio protested weakly, trying to reach for a pot while carrying the weight of a grown man attached to his spine. "How am I supposed to cook if you're acting like a clingy koala? Let go for a second."
"No," Vyn refused softly, completely unyielding. He pressed a warm kiss right below the fresh mark on Elio's neck, making Elio shudder. "I like your scent. It's addicting... it completely calms the remnants of my rut."
"You're a menace," Elio muttered, though he didn't push him away. He simply worked around the embrace, his movements confident and practiced despite the beautiful distraction wrapped around his waist.
A little while later, the rich, savory aroma of tomato sauce and garlic filled the unit. They sat across from each other at the small dining table, the atmosphere peaceful and extraordinarily domestic.
Elio twirled a forkful of spaghetti, watching Vyn eat. Seeing the formidable Alpha sitting in his dining room, quietly enjoying a simple home-cooked meal while wearing borrowed pajamas, felt strangely surreal—and incredibly satisfying.
"How's the taste?" Elio asked, leaning forward with an expectant look.
Vyn paused, setting his fork down as a rare, genuine smile softened his sharp face. "It's perfect. Delicious, actually." He looked at Elio with curiosity. "Who taught you how to cook?"
"At the children's home where I grew up," Elio said casually, taking a bite of his food.
Vyn froze. The quiet sound of his fork against the plate stopped entirely. His face went blank, the usually unshakeable Alpha suddenly left without words.
"I've been helping in the kitchen to cook for all the kids since I was young," Elio continued. "You learn how to make big meals taste good pretty quickly."
Vyn just stared at Elio. His throat felt tight as a heavy wave of protectiveness washed over him.
Sensing the deep look in Vyn's eyes and wanting to keep things light, Elio smoothly changed the subject. "Anyway, we should be celebrating! Congrats on the comeback concert, by the way," Elio said with a warm smile. "You guys completely nailed it."
Recognizing the shift, Vyn took a quiet breath and followed Elio's pace, matching his lighter tone. "Thanks. But congratulations to you, too—the fans are losing their minds over your visuals in our MV. They're calling you the 'forest angel' all over my timeline."
Elio propped his chin on his hands, looking up through his lashes with a playful pout. The angle framed his eyes perfectly, making them appear wide, round, and strikingly innocent—a pair of soft doe eyes that held an arresting vulnerability.
Vyn's heart gave a sudden, violent flutter. His expression tightened, his gaze turning serious. "Don't make that face around other people."
Elio grinned, leaning in a bit closer with a mischievous tilt of his head. "Why not?"
Vyn didn't even let him finish. He leaned across the small table, catching Elio's jaw. His thumb pressed firmly against the center of Elio's chin, cutting off the playful defiance.
"Don't look at them like that," Vyn murmured. His voice dropped, low and heavy with a sudden, lethal possessiveness. "I want that angel all to myself."
Before Elio could process the shift, Vyn leaned in and kissed him soundly—a clean, silencing press of lips that put an immediate end to the teasing.
When Vyn pulled back, Elio was left blinking in surprise, a faint, breathless flush creeping up his neck.
Satisfied, Vyn picked his fork back up, completely unfazed as he smoothly shifted gears. "Anyway, how was the music fest?"
"Exhausting," Elio replied, his voice a little softer now. He brushed a slow finger over his lower lip before resting his chin back on his palm, his eyes tracking Vyn closely. "What would you have done if I wasn't at home last night?"
"I probably would have lost my mind," Vyn said, his voice dropping into a quiet, serious register. "If you hadn't opened the door, I might have torn it down." A small, wry smile touched his lips.
Elio let out a soft, breathy laugh, his own strong nature meeting Vyn's gaze directly. "Is that a threat or a confession?" he teased softly, even as his heart gave a distinct, warm thump against his ribs.
"Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore... my entire being is longing for you," Vyn said, the intense truth of his words melting away any remaining playful pretense.
He reached across the table, his fingers wrapping gently around Elio's wrist, his thumb tracing the soft skin right over his pulse point. "So don't disappear on me. My sanity is pretty much in your hands now."
Elio smiled, his eyes glinting with a mix of affection and his usual unshakeable confidence as he slid his hand up, letting their fingers intertwine over the table.
"Don't worry, I'll buy a leash for you," Elio joked lightly, giving Vyn's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Now eat your food before it gets cold."
Vyn smiled—a rare, genuine look that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He gave Elio's hand one last squeeze before finally returning to his meal.
The smart panel chimed, a sharp electronic ring echoing through the unit. Elio stood up, walking over to check the screen. He blinked, turning back to the table with a bewildered look.
"It's Joey. What should we do?"
Vyn's brow furrowed, his expression souring instantly. He got up, stepping past Elio to press the intercom.
"Why are you here?"
Joey's voice crackled through the small speaker, entirely unbothered. "Why are you there? Let me in."
Vyn clicked the latch open and pulled the door back. Joey stood in the hallway, a massive, knowing smirk plastered across his face. His eyes darted instantly from Vyn to Elio, taking in the fact that both of them were still in their pajamas—with Vyn visibly wearing Elio's borrowed clothes.
Joey stepped inside, immediately launching into a casual nag. "When you weren't at your place, I knew you'd be over here—and voila! I wasn't wrong. What the heck are you even doing here anyway? You're in a rut. You're supposed to be locked up at your place isolating, not bothering Elio."
He paused, his eyes narrowing as they dropped to Elio's slightly unbuttoned pajama shirt. Right there on the exposed skin of Elio's neck was the fresh, unmistakable shape of a mating bite. Joey's jaw nearly dropped, his gaze darting fast between the mark and Vyn's dark, protective expression. A wicked, playful glint lit up his eyes, and he raised his hands, suggestively hooking his index fingers together.
"Or are you two..."
"Why do you need to know?" Vyn snapped, his voice dropping into that sharp, familiar edge that usually kept people at a distance.
Joey didn't even flinch. Completely ignoring the Alpha's glare, he sidestepped Vyn and walked straight over to Elio, playfully grabbing his arms.
"Elio, tell me the truth—"
Elio's eyes widened slightly, a sudden flush rushing to his cheeks as he stood there, completely flustered and caught in the crossfire.
Before Joey could even ask a question, Vyn stepped in. With a swift, unyielding movement, he brushed Joey's hands away and pulled Elio securely behind his back, shielding him from view.
"Why do you have to ask when it's obvious?" Vyn growled, his possessive instincts flaring in plain sight.
Joey let out a dramatic sigh, though his face was practically beaming with amusement. He looked past Vyn's shoulder, giving Elio a look of pure relief before shifting his gaze back to Vyn with a smug grin.
"Look at you, you're so whipped," Joey teased, clicking his tongue as he shook his head. "Honestly, Elio? I'm just happy you're around now. Thank goodness I don't have to be the one catering to him and managing his chaos every time his rut hits. He is officially your problem."
Elio offered a small shrug, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Don't worry, Joey, I can handle him," he said easily, his voice quiet but full of that same calm, cool confidence.
Joey grinned, his eyes lighting up even more at Elio's quiet confidence. He pointed a finger at him dynamically. "See? That's exactly what I wanted to hear. You're a lifesaver, Elio. Seriously, no returns or exchanges—he's entirely yours now."
Vyn's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing into a sharp glare that would have sent anyone else running out the door. Yet, despite the cold look he shot Joey, the warning rumble in his chest lacked any real bite.
Only then did Joey lift the takeout bag dangling from his wrist, casually setting it down on the counter.
"Alright, alright, I won't ruin your little honeymoon anymore," Joey teased, giving them a mock salute as he backward-walked toward the front door.
He paused at the threshold, casting one last, meaningful look at Vyn's lingering, intense aura before winking at Elio. "Just make sure he actually takes his suppressants, Elio. Clearly, his wild instincts are still running a bit too high."
With a laugh, Joey stepped out and let the door click shut behind him, leaving the unit quiet once more.
——
Onyx Biomedical laboratory was bright, cold, and hidden deep underground. White lights reflected off long rows of silver computer screens.
In the middle of the large room, five tall glass capsule pods stood in a row. They looked like sleek, heavy glass structures standing in a perfect line, completely sealed off from the outside world. Inside each capsule pod, a person was sitting back in a smooth, reclined chair.
These five people made up the very first batch. They were all high-profile, rare-tier individuals: two were famous celebrities whose public schedules were carefully managed, and the other three were corporate employees of the Onyx Group itself. None of them knew what was actually going on beneath the surface of this project. To them, this was simply an elite, mandatory health perk. They had been picked up directly from their residences earlier that morning by Onyx medical staff in private transport vans, a specialized service that would be repeated for every single phase.
The room was silent and had zero smell. Before being led to the pods, Onyx made all of them ingest a high-grade chemical blocker. Onyx told them this premium suppressant capsule was a necessary safety protocol to protect the facility and stop their rare scents from leaking. But the real reason was much darker. The chemical blocker acted like a cold biological dam, trapping their natural heat and fever entirely inside their bodies. With nowhere to go, their natural scents were forced backward, causing the delicate glands at the base of their necks to swell to maximum, painful capacity.
"Just lay back and relax," an extraction specialist's voice murmured softly through an intercom speaker inside one of the capsule pods. He was looking at one of the Alphas—a well-known actor who was trembling slightly, exhausted from fighting his own suppressed fever. "The medicine will stabilize your temperature now. Count backward from ten."
With a soft, pressurized hiss, the heavy glass doors of the capsule pods sealed shut, locking them into absolute isolation.
A medical-grade sedative began to flood their IV lines. Within seconds, the tense lines of their bodies went completely limp against the cushions. Their eyes fluttered shut, and they slipped into a deep, forced sleep.
The moment the monitors confirmed total sedation, the atmosphere shifted into something terrifyingly industrial.
Inside the glass capsule pods, small mechanical arms moved forward with fluid, silent precision, adjusting themselves right against the napes of their necks. The modern extraction arrays didn't use blades or cause physical pain; stress would ruin the quality of the harvest. Instead, the devices emitted localized sonic pulses that gently softened the outer lipid layers of the glands.
Then, the machine released a chemical catalyst to dissolve the dam caused by the high-grade blocker. Because the liquid had been building up pressure for hours, it immediately rushed out toward the vacuum of the tubes. A soft, rhythmic whirring filled the glass pods. For the next hour, a thick, amber-colored fluid traveled slowly up through the clear lines attached to the capsule pods, collecting into vacuum-sealed glass vials labeled with corporate barcodes. It was clean, bloodless, and devastatingly efficient—they were simply skimming the cream off the peak of the cycle while the subjects slept.
Once the hour was up, the vials were detached, sealed, and placed into freezing storage cases.
"First phase extraction complete for batch one," the lead scientist announced calmly, checking his monitor. "Yield is optimal. Inject the recovery serum."
The capsule pods automatically administered a secondary injection—a high-grade, proprietary recovery serum formulated exclusively by Onyx Biomedical. The serum was engineered to perfectly mimic the natural, peaceful down-curve of an ending cycle while giving the body a false surge of physical stamina.
When the capsule pods finally decompressed and clicked open, the five subjects blinked their eyes open, the sedative replaced by a fabricated sense of normal exhaustion. They were immediately moved to private, luxury recovery suites upstairs to fulfill a mandatory twenty-four-hour observation period.
Later, a nurse walked into the VIP suite of a young Omega celebrity, checking his vitals with a warm, practiced smile. The Omega touched the small, flesh-colored patch on the side of his neck. Thanks to the exclusive Onyx serum, he felt surprisingly functional, and the burning heat of his cycle was completely gone.
"How am I looking?" the Omega asked softly.
"Your vitals are perfect," the nurse replied smoothly, hanging a fresh bag of fluids. "The protocol went exactly as planned. Just a reminder, because your genetics are so rare, this protocol is a three-phase routine. Each phase will work exactly like today. Medical staff will pick you up from your residence during your next peak cycle for Phase Two, and do the same for the final phase on the cycle after that. And just like today, after your twenty-four-hour observation is over tomorrow morning, our staff will drive you straight home for your safety."
"Three phases," the Omega murmured, letting out a soft, relieved breath. He smiled, feeling completely taken care of by the medical team. "Alright. If it keeps my cycles this controlled, I don't mind. Thank you."
He settled back into the plush pillows, entirely unaware of the invisible clock ticking inside his own body. The high-grade recovery serum had tricked his system into feeling perfect, but beneath the skin, his gland had been structurally primed, left raw and hyper-sensitized for when they would fetch him again next month.
——
As the afternoon bled into evening, the unit was bathed in a warm, amber glow. Vyn's heavy, volatile rut fever had finally settled into a calm, grounded stillness—the quiet peace that only comes after a successful bond. The frantic, aggressive edge was completely gone; his instincts were entirely satisfied just by being right next to Elio, anchored by the steady, comforting pull of his scent.
They were lounging together on the living room sofa, catching the fading sunlight. Vyn lay with his head resting comfortably in Elio's lap, his long legs stretched across the cushions. Elio sat back against the armrest, his fingers casually running through Vyn's hair, enjoying the quiet moment.
Breaking the relaxed silence, Vyn looked up. "Elio..." he murmured softly.
"Hmm?" Elio's eyes dipping down to meet Vyn's.
"I want to know more about you," Vyn said, his voice low and relaxed. "Is it okay if I ask about your childhood?"
Elio didn't stop the gentle movement of his fingers. "Sure," he replied easily. "What do you want to know?"
"The children's home you mentioned," Vyn asked, his eyes locked onto Elio's. "What was the name of the place?"
"Bright Future Children's Home," Elio answered. "My aunt actually owns and runs it. It's just a small place— usually with less than fifteen kids."
Vyn's expression softened with curiosity. "How old were you then?"
"I was eight when my aunt took me in," Elio replied.
Vyn paused for a brief second, his voice dropping a bit lower. "And your parents?"
"I don't really remember my father, he died when I was three," Elio said, his tone completely casual. "And my mama died when I was eight."
A deep silence settled in Vyn's chest. His heart ached at how calmly and easily Elio spoke about losing his parents so young. He was left temporarily without words in front of Elio's casual strength.
Seeing Vyn's sudden, tense silence, Elio gave him a small, reassuring smile to lighten the mood. "It's fine, Vyn. Really. I was happy there. I had a lot of siblings to grow up with, so it was good."
Vyn's eyes softened completely, filled with a quiet, deep admiration. He sat up slowly, closing the distance between them. Gently cupping Elio's face with both hands, he leaned in and pressed a few soft, tender kisses against his cheeks.
As Vyn pulled back slightly, Elio kept his hands resting gently on Vyn's shoulders, his voice dropping to a softer, more careful tone. "What about you? I know your father is... well, you know. But how about your mother?"
Vyn's expression stayed quiet. "I actually had two fathers," he explained softly. "But I never met the other one—he was an Omega. They told me he died giving birth to me."
Elio's eyes softened with instant sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that, Vyn."
"It's alright," Vyn murmured, offering a faint, reassuring smile. "I wasn't completely alone in that house, though. I have an older brother, and we're actually very close."
Elio's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. "Really? Is he an Alpha, too?"
"Yes," Vyn said, a genuine warmth touching his eyes. "I'll introduce you to him sometime."
Leaning in just a fraction closer, Vyn looked at him with a relaxed smile, wanting to let the heavy past rest. "Sing for me?" he murmured softly.
"What song?" Elio asked.
"The one from the showcase." With a soft hum, Vyn settled himself back down, resting his head comfortably in Elio's lap once more and looking up at him.
Elio paused his fingers in Vyn's hair, a soft smile touching his lips. "Why that song suddenly?"
"Just sing it," Vyn murmured, his voice quiet and relaxed in the dimming light.
Elio let out an amused huff, but he didn't refuse. Leaning his head back against the sofa, he began to sing softly. Without a stage or a backing track, his voice sounded incredibly raw and intimate, filling the quiet space between them.
When the last note faded, Elio looked back down at Vyn, resuming the gentle strokes through his hair. "So, why that song?"
"That was the first time I saw you," Vyn answered honestly, his eyes tracing the way the golden light hit Elio's features from this angle.
Elio's brow arched slightly. "And?"
Vyn tilted his head up a fraction closer to Elio's torso. "I was mesmerized."
A surprised laugh broke from Elio. "Oh, really? I thought you hated me."
"Something about you completely consumed me," Vyn murmured. Shifting his position, he turned his face inward, burying his nose against Elio's stomach before nuzzling his way up to the crook of his neck. "And I liked your scent. I just couldn't admit it."
Vyn pulled himself up slightly, pressing lingering kisses right over Elio's fresh mating mark, tracing down to his collarbone.
Elio tilted his head back, letting his eyes flutter shut as a pleasant shiver ran down his spine. But amidst the warmth, a memory surfaced.
"Then why were you so cold and arrogant?" Elio asked softly, his voice a little breathless as Vyn's lips brushed his collarbone.
Vyn stopped. He lifted his head slowly, the cold intensity returning to his dark eyes.
"That's just who I am. And being near an Omega has always been agonizing." He paused, his gaze locking onto Elio's. "I thought there was no one suitable for me—until you. You calm the chaos in my head. I can't stop thinking about you."
Elio just smiled and pinched his cheek.
Vyn blinked in mild surprise, his expression instantly melting into quiet amusement.
"Besides," Vyn continued, a smirk tugging at his lips, "you weren't exactly warm either. You were just as cold to me."
Elio let out a soft scoff, mischief in his eyes. "Me? I was just matching your energy."
Vyn's lips curved, and before Elio could say anything else, he leaned right back down, resuming the soft kisses along his jawline.
The warm breath against his skin made Elio laugh softly, the sensation tickling. He tried to shrug his shoulder, gently nudging Vyn's chest.
"Stop, that tickles," Elio laughed, his voice fond. "You're going to drain my scent."
Vyn only let out a low, satisfied hum against his skin, his arms wrapping tightly around Elio's waist as he anchored himself in his lap.
"Good."
"Seriously, let me go," Elio chuckled, gently patting Vyn's arm. "I need to take a bath. Look at us, we're still in our pajamas."
Vyn didn't loosen his grip an inch. Instead, he tilted his head up, a slow, teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Then let me join you."