Theron carried Aiden out of the warehouse like he weighed nothing, cradled against his chest. Every inhale Aiden took made his breath hitch, his body trembling with a need that wasn't his fault. The drug still poisoned his system, twisting natural instinct into something sharp and overwhelming.
And every heartbeat of it tore Theron apart.
By the time they reached the border of the pack lands, Aiden was shaking—half from pain, half from instinct.
"T-Theron…"His fingers fisted in Theron's shirt, clinging like he'd fall apart if he let go.
"I'm here," Theron murmured, kissing the top of his sweat-warm forehead. "I'm not leaving you, Aiden. Not now. Not ever."
Aiden's wolf surged, and he whined — a soft, desperate sound he would never make while conscious and aware.
Theron bit back a shudder.Even the sound made his own instincts flare dangerously.
He got Aiden safely inside his room, locking the door behind them, shutting out the pack, the world, everything except the two of them.
He placed Aiden gently on the bed—
—but Aiden instantly reached for him again.
"No—don't go," Aiden breathed, voice raw, eyes unfocused but pleading. "Stay. P-please stay."
Theron swallowed hard."I'm not going anywhere."
Clingy
Aiden crawled into Theron's lap without thought, straddling him and tucking his face into his neck. His scent was sweet and thick, clinging to the air and to Theron's lungs like a brand.
Aiden's arms wrapped around Theron's shoulders, locking him in tightly.His thighs squeezed around Theron's hips.
"I need you," Aiden whispered, trembling."Need… need to do the thing that— that makes pups."
Theron froze.
"Aiden— you're not thinking clearly. It's the heat. And the drug."
"But it feels real," Aiden whispered, lifting his head.His eyes were glassy, pupils blown wide, cheeks flushed.And he looked heartbroken.
"Why won't you want me?"His voice cracked.
Theron's heart shattered cleanly in his chest.
"Aiden," he whispered, cupping his face, pressing their foreheads together. "I want you more than you can imagine. I want you so badly I'm shaking. But I won't take advantage of your pain. I want you when you're you."
Aiden's lower lip trembled.He leaned into Theron's palm, rubbing his cheek against it like he needed the contact.
"So warm," Aiden mumbled."So safe."
His fingers slid into Theron's hair, tugging gently."Please don't put me down. Don't let go. Not tonight."
Theron wrapped his arms around him fully, settling them both on the bed with Aiden curled against his chest.
His little omega.
His warrior.
His everything.
Aiden suddenly stiffened.Then he scrambled off Theron — who panicked for a second, thinking Aiden was in pain — only to watch in stunned silence as Aiden tore the blankets from the bed.
He dragged them into a corner of the room.
Then pillows.Then Theron's hoodie.Then a jacket.Then another pillow.
Theron blinked.
"…Aiden?"
Aiden hissed softly at him like an angry cat."Mine. Need soft. Warm. Smells like you."
Theron's lips twitched.He should not find that adorable.He absolutely should not.
Aiden curled himself into the pile, then looked up with wide, wild eyes.
"You're not coming?" he asked, as if Theron refusing would be a betrayal of cosmic level.
Theron immediately stood, hands raised in surrender."I'm coming, I'm coming— gods forbid I anger a nesting omega."
Aiden patted the space right beside him.No — on top of him.
Theron laid down, and Aiden instantly crawled onto his chest, curling his entire body around him like he was the center of the nest.
Theron wrapped his arms around him.Aiden sighed — a soft, needy, relieved sound — and nuzzled under Theron's jaw, scent-marking him with instinct.
Theron closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe evenly.
He needed to stay calm.Stay controlled.Stay focused.
Aiden needed comfort, not claiming.
The Truth of What Theron Is
Aiden stirred, his breath brushing Theron's throat.
"Theron… you're not just a wolf," he whispered, voice hazy but honest. "Evelyn said— said something in you is… ancient."
Theron brushed fingers through Aiden's hair, gently untangling it.
"My wolf came from the first moon."His voice was quiet.Raw.Truthful.
"Aiden… I wasn't born a normal alpha. I wasn't born a normal king. I'm something the Goddess made when she needed a protector."
Aiden lifted his head, eyes soft, trusting even through the fog of heat.
"You protect me," he murmured.
Theron's chest tightened.
"Yes," he said."I do."
Aiden pressed closer, lips brushing Theron's collarbone.
"Then I'm safe," Aiden whispered."Even with this heat. Even when I'm like this. Because you're here."
That broke Theron.
He kissed Aiden's forehead—soft, lingering, reverent.
"You're safe," he whispered back."I'll stay with you through every minute of this. I'll cool you down, hold you, keep you steady. I won't leave. Not once."
Aiden melted against him, body softening completely, trust pouring out of him in waves.
Theron held him through the rising heat, through the shakes, through the instinct-driven clinginess.
And for the first time…
Aiden didn't hide from him.
Aiden wanted him.
Aiden trembled in Theron's arms, breath shaky, face buried against Theron's throat. His body was too warm—burning, almost—and his fingers kept clenching in Theron's shirt like he was desperately trying to anchor himself.
Theron stroked along Aiden's spine in slow, steady motions, trying to calm the shaking.
"Aiden… talk to me," he whispered.
Aiden didn't speak.He whimpered.
A tiny, raw, heartbreaking sound that cut straight into Theron's ribs.
Theron closed his eyes.
He could call a healer.He should.
But Aiden's scent—heavy and sweet, thick as honey—clung to his skin in a way that told him very clearly what would happen if anyone else walked in this room.
Aiden wouldn't tolerate another alpha.Or even another wolf.Instinct would send him into a panic.
And Theron…Theron wouldn't tolerate anyone touching him in this state.
He lifted his head, scent flaring protectively.
"Only I can help him," he murmured under his breath. "Only me."
Aiden squirmed, pressing closer, thighs tightening around Theron's waist.
"Hurts…" Aiden whispered, voice thin and broken. "Please— feels like I'm burning."
Theron cupped his face, forcing him to look up.
"I know," he whispered.His thumb brushed Aiden's cheek, wiping away a tear."I'm going to help you. Okay? But only in ways that keep you safe."
Aiden nodded, desperate.
Theron kissed his forehead first—slow, grounding.
Then his temples.His cheeks.The corner of his mouth.
Every touch was soft, soothing, the kind of affection that steadied instinct rather than feeding it.
Aiden sighed—a long, trembling release—and leaned into it, lips brushing Theron's jaw without meaning to.
Theron swallowed hard.
"You're doing good," he murmured, massaging Aiden's nape, his shoulders, then down along the tense muscles of Aiden's back. "Breathe with me."
Aiden's body loosened under the massage, tension melting.Heat still pulsed through him, but he wasn't spiraling anymore.
His nails lightly scraped Theron's chest.
"More," Aiden whispered.
Theron's breath hitched before he forced himself to stay calm.
He shifted, gently easing Aiden to lie back against the nest of blankets.
Theron leaned down, his forehead against Aiden's.
"I'll give you a little more," he murmured.His voice was soft but firm."A kiss. Comfort. Touch to ease the worst of the pain. But I won't take what you'd never give me fully awake."
Aiden's lips parted, breath warm on Theron's mouth.
"Theron…"His hand slid up, fingers curling at Theron's neck."Kiss me. Please."
The plea unraveled something in him.
Theron kissed him.
Softly.Slowly.Deep enough to soothe, not deep enough to claim.
Aiden melted—completely—his entire body going slack beneath Theron's, a relieved whine caught in his throat.
Theron pulled away only when Aiden's breathing steadied, lips still brushing his.
"That's it," he whispered."Good. You're doing so good, little wolf."
Aiden's eyes fluttered half-open, glassy but focused on Theron with such devotion it made Theron's heart ache.
"Stay," Aiden breathed."Don't leave. Don't… don't make me go through this alone."
Theron tucked him close again, chest to chest, one hand rubbing soothing circles between Aiden's shoulder blades.
"I'll stay all night," Theron promised."As long as it takes."
Eventually, Aiden stopped trembling.
His breathing deepened.His body curled tightly around Theron's.
But even as the worst of the heat eased…Aiden refused to let go.
Every time Theron shifted even a little, Aiden made a soft sound—
—not a plea, not panic—
—but a claim.
Theron kissed the side of his head, stroking his back.
"I'm here," he murmured. "I'm not going anywhere."
Aiden's voice was soft, thick with exhaustion:
"You smell good…"
Theron let out a breathless laugh.
"You're drugged, overheated, and half-awake… and you're flirting with me."
Aiden blinked up at him, pupils wide, cheeks flushed.
"Theron?""…mm?"
"I think I like you."
Theron froze.Absolutely stopped breathing.
Aiden nuzzled into his chest and promptly fell asleep.
And Theron?
Theron sat in the nest, holding him, swallowing down the sound of a disbelieving, shaken laugh.
"You're going to destroy me," he whispered into Aiden's hair.
But he tightened his arms around him anyway.