It began with a headache.
Not the dull kind that came from lack of sleep — no, this was sharper, coiling behind Ruo Han's eyes, spiraling down into his core. It struck as he was fetching scrolls from the library archives, alone for the first time since the council.
His hands trembled as he set a scroll back in place. The cedar-storm scent of Lan Xiyue — faint but unmistakable — was already threading into the air, even though the alpha was nowhere nearby.
He's calling to me.
The realization was terrifying. This wasn't conscious summoning — the bond was reaching for him on its own. His knees weakened, heat prickling along his spine.
Footsteps approached.
Ruo Han straightened quickly, schooling his expression — only to see a tall figure step into the narrow aisle. His robes were deep crimson, edged in gold, the crest of the Scarlet Sun Sect stitched over his chest.
The man's scent hit first — strong, spiced like iron and fire. An alpha.
"Well, well," the stranger said, his gaze sweeping over Ruo Han in a way that made the omega's skin prickle. "I didn't know Azure Cloud Sect had begun accepting omegas into its ranks."
Ruo Han froze.
"You're mistaken—"
"Am I?" The man stepped closer, his qi flaring — not enough to be overtly hostile, but enough to press against Ruo Han's senses like a testing hand. "Your scent is faint, but it's there. And beneath it…"
His head tilted, curiosity sharpening.
"…cedar. Not yours. Which means an alpha's already claimed a hold on you."
Ruo Han's breath stuttered. "You have no right—"
"Rights?" The stranger smiled — slow, deliberate. "You must be new to the ways of sect politics. My name is Feng Lian, heir to Scarlet Sun. And if you belong to Lan Xiyue…" His eyes gleamed. "…then you're more valuable than I thought."
Before Ruo Han could respond, the temperature in the room shifted. Cedar and storm flooded the air, stronger than before, drowning out the spiced heat of Feng Lian's scent.
Lan Xiyue stood at the end of the aisle, hand resting on his sword, gaze locked on the other alpha. His voice was soft, but it cut like steel.
"Step away from him."
Feng Lian arched a brow, but he didn't move.
"Your bond is leaking into the air, Xiyue. You should know better — it's practically an invitation."
"And you should know better than to touch what isn't yours."
The two alphas faced each other in the close, paper-scented air, their auras colliding — storm against flame. The pressure made Ruo Han's skin tingle, the bond inside him pulling tight toward Lan Xiyue as if to anchor him.
Feng Lian's smirk didn't fade, but he took a step back, hands raised.
"Consider this a friendly warning," he said, his gaze sliding to Ruo Han one last time. "Not everyone will be as polite as I am."
With that, he turned and strode out.
Lan Xiyue closed the distance in two steps, his hand gripping Ruo Han's wrist — firm, grounding, and entirely too intimate for a public space.
"I told you to stay close."
"I didn't—" Ruo Han began, but stopped when he saw Lan Xiyue's eyes — the storm in them barely leashed.
The alpha's voice dropped.
"Next time, if another alpha tries to touch you… you call for me. No matter where you are. Do you understand?"
Ruo Han's pulse was still racing, but he nodded. "…I understand."
Lan Xiyue didn't release him immediately. His thumb brushed against the inside of Ruo Han's wrist — a fleeting touch, but enough to send the bond pulsing between them, stronger than ever.
And somewhere in the back of Ruo Han's mind, a chilling thought took root:
If Feng Lian had noticed the bond… others would too.