Aiden woke with the faint taste of the kiss still on his lips.
He didn't want to think about it.He didn't want to feel it.
But the warmth in his chest wouldn't go away.
He washed his face twice, combed his hair, and double-checked that his scent wasn't too obvious—before realizing how absolutely stupid that was.
He could still smell Theron on him.
And worse…his wolf was proud of it.
Stay calm. Just walk out. No one will notice.
He opened the den door.
Every head in the clearing turned.
Aiden froze.
A wave of whispers spread through the pack like wildfire. Beta hunters paused mid-training. Two young omegas nearly tripped over each other. An alpha scout sniffed the air with widening eyes.
Ronan was the first to reach him.
He skidded to a stop, brown tail wagging so fast it was practically vibrating before he forced it still with effort.
"...Aiden." Ronan inhaled, eyes going comically wide. "Is that—"
"No."Aiden shoved past him."Don't say anything. Don't even think it."
Ronan trotted after him anyway.
"Okay but—Aiden. Buddy. You smell like the king."
"I said—don't."
"And not like 'we trained together and got sweaty.' More like—" Ronan sniffed again, then made a face "—like 'I was pinned to a wall and kissed senseless.'"
Aiden walked faster.
Ronan kept up.
"Dude, I'm serious—are you okay? Because if the king forced—"
"He didn't." Aiden snapped, ears flattening. "It wasn't— He didn't force anything."
Ronan blinked.
"Oh. Oh."A grin spread."SO YOU LIKED IT."
"I will actually murder you."
They walked into the main clearing. More pack members looked up, scents shifting—curiosity, surprise, recognition.
Someone whispered:
"Is that Theron's scent on him?"
"Smells like his alpha musk—strong."
"Gods, did something happen?"
Aiden wanted to dig a hole and never come out.
Ronan cleared his throat loudly, puffing up."EVERYONE SHUT UP. NOTHING HAPPENED."
A beta raised a brow."Then why does he smell like—"
Ronan hissed."HE SAID NOTHING HAPPENED."
Aiden groaned and covered his face."Ronan, you're making it worse—"
"Aiden."
His stomach flipped.
Theron's voice was unmistakable—deep, resonant, the kind that settled in Aiden's bones before it even reached his ears.
Aiden turned slowly.
Theron stood near the treeline, dressed for duty, composed——but his eyes softened the second they landed on Aiden.
The scent of alpha warmth drifted over like a tide.
Ronan leaned in and whispered:"Oh yeah, you're screwed."
Aiden elbowed him violently.
Theron approached, each step controlled, precise—but Aiden caught the flicker of his wolf in the tension of his shoulders, the slight rise of his tail, the way his pupils had thinned to sharp rings of gold.
He'd noticed the scent too.
"So," Theron murmured when they were close enough for only Aiden to hear, "everyone knows."
Aiden clenched his fists."I noticed."
Theron's lips twitched—not quite a smile, but close."Aiden. Look at me."
"No."
"Aiden."
Against his better judgment, he did.
And Theron's expression softened in that dangerous, heart-twisting way.
"I'm not taking it back," Theron said quietly. "Not the kiss. Not what it meant."
Aiden swallowed hard.His wolf leaned forward inside him, tail lifting, ears alert.
He pushed the feeling down.
Theron continued, voice low and close:"If you regret it, tell me now."
Aiden looked away, cheeks burning.
"I didn't say that."
"So you don't regret it."
"I didn't say that either!"
Theron's breath ghosted his ear as he leaned in."Aiden."
"What."
"You smell like me."
Aiden froze.
Theron added, voice a soft growl only he could hear:
"And I smell like you."
Aiden's heart stuttered.
Ronan watched from a distance, eyes wide.
"OH MY GOD," he mouthed silently, waving at three omegas to come see.
Theron ignored the spreading audience and straightened, expression slipping back into Alpha King composure.
"Aiden," he said softly, "come with me. We need to talk… properly."
Aiden swallowed hard, throat tight, wolf thrumming under his skin.
He nodded.
Just once.
As Theron led him away—the whispers exploded behind them.
And for the first time in his life…
Aiden didn't run.
Theron didn't look back as he walked, trusting Aiden would follow.
And Aiden did.
Not because he had to.Not because he was omega.Not because of instinct.
…because he wanted to.
He hated that realization more than anything.
They walked past the training grounds, past the kitchens, past the hot springs. A few pack members bowed as Theron passed, only to immediately lean toward each other afterward and whisper:
"Is that Aiden with him?"
"Look how close they're walking—"
"They smell bonded already—"
Aiden's ears burned so hard they felt like they might fall off.
Theron glanced back once, eyes narrowing at the whisperers. They shut up instantly, standing rigid and still as statues.
But the second Theron faced forward again—
Aiden heard:"…definitely mated soon."
He almost tripped.
Theron noticed.Of course he did.
"You okay?" Theron asked quietly, slowing his stride just enough for Aiden to catch up.
"I'm fine," Aiden lied.
"You're bright red," Theron said.
"I SAID I'M FINE."
Theron's lip curved in that infuriating, knowing way."Your scent says otherwise."
"My scent can shut up."
Theron chuckled—actually chuckled—and Aiden hated how his stomach flipped at the sound.
They reached the Alpha Den. Theron opened the door and stepped aside for Aiden to enter first.
Aiden huffed."I can open a door myself."
"I know," Theron replied with a calm nod. "I still want to do it."
…Aiden's wolf liked that.Which only made Aiden walk faster, trying to outrun that warm, embarrassing flutter in his chest.
Inside, the den was dim and cool. The heavy stone walls blocked out the pack's noise, letting the tension settle between them like thick air.
Aiden stopped in the center of the room, arms crossed."Okay. Talk."
Theron closed the door.
The sound echoed.
And suddenly…Theron wasn't acting like the alpha king.
He was acting like Theron.
The man who held him through half a heat.
The man who lost control in a rut but still pulled away from marking him.
The man who kissed him like he was something precious.
"Aiden," Theron said softly, stepping closer, "I want to be clear."
Aiden swallowed."…Clear about what?"
"About us."
Aiden stiffened."There is no—"
Theron cut him off with a single look.
Not a dominant glare.Not a king's command.
Something gentler.More dangerous.
Honest.
"We kissed," Theron said. "And you kissed me back."
Aiden opened his mouth—
"And don't tell me it was an accident. You don't kiss like that by accident."
Aiden shut his mouth.
His face burned.
Theron took another step, voice low and steady.
"I'm not asking you to decide anything now. I'm not forcing a bond. I'm not pushing you into anything."
Aiden blinked.
Theron's voice softened even more.
"But I need you to stop running from the truth."
Aiden's heartbeat faltered.
"What truth?" he whispered.
Theron moved closer, close enough that Aiden could feel the warmth radiating off his chest.
"Aiden," he said quietly, like it was the easiest, truest thing in the world,"You want me just as much as I want you."
Aiden felt it.
Like a spark down his spine.Like claws curling in his chest.Like his wolf lifting its head, finally admitting—
Mhm.
Theron wasn't touching him.He didn't have to.
The heat between them was its own gravity.
Aiden forced himself to breathe.To speak.
"I don't— I can't— It's not that simple—"
"It is," Theron murmured."You're scared."
Aiden stiffened."I'm not scared."
"You are," he said softly. "Of me. Of the bond. Of being seen."
Aiden didn't move.
Didn't deny it.
Because Theron wasn't wrong.
But then—
Theron reached out…
…and placed two fingers under Aiden's chin, tilting his face up just slightly.
Not forceful.Not dominant.
A whisper of a touch.
"Aiden," Theron said quietly, "you are not weak."
Aiden's breath hitched.
"You are not fragile."
His eyes stung.
"And you don't have to pretend you feel nothing."
Aiden's throat tightened painfully.
He didn't cry.
He didn't break.
He just whispered—barely audible:
"I don't know how to do this."
Theron leaned in, forehead almost touching Aiden's.
"You don't have to know," he murmured."You just have to stay. For once."
Aiden's chest trembled.His wolf brushed against the inside of his ribs, soft and wanting and terrified.
He whispered back:
"…Okay."
Theron's eyes flickered—something warm and fierce.
But he didn't kiss him again.
Not yet.
Instead, he stepped back, giving Aiden space.
Respecting the moment.Respecting him.