~chapter ~

Kael forced himself to look away from the orchids, but they kept dragging his gaze back — like they were alive, like they were begging him not to walk away.

Not again.

He clenched his jaw and shoved the flowers into his coat, hiding the glow before anyone else could see. His heartbeat wouldn’t slow. It kept tripping, stumbling, pushing him forward.

Toward the shop.

Toward Rion.

He took two steps out of the alley—

—and froze the moment he saw him.

Rion Azrel.

Standing outside Flora Haven, sweeping fallen petals from the doorstep. Soft silver hair tied loosely at the back. Warm light pooling around him like he was born to shine in places Kael had long forgotten were real.

He looked peaceful.

Untouched by the chaos blooming violently inside Kael’s chest.

But the moment Rion lifted his head and their eyes met…

everything shattered.

Rion stiffened.

His soft scent — moonlight and vanilla — hit Kael like a punch, stronger than before, sweet and warm and calling to parts of him he’d buried years ago.

“Kael…?” Rion whispered, voice barely a breath.

Kael said nothing.

He couldn’t.

He could only stare, every instinct he had rising like a tide he couldn’t control.

Rion took one small step toward him.

And that was all it took.

Kael’s composure cracked.

“Stay back,” he growled, more harshly than he meant.

Rion froze, hurt flickering across his eyes.

The wind lifted Rion’s scent again, fragile and impossible to ignore. The orchids in Kael’s coat throbbed with a quiet glow, matching the pulse slamming through his veins.

Kael swallowed hard.

He didn’t want to hurt him.

He didn’t want to push him away.

But he remembered that night.

He remembered the fire.

The screams.

The one omega he couldn’t save.

And he saw that same danger in Rion’s soft eyes.

“Kael…” Rion whispered again. “You’re shaking.”

Kael looked down.

His hands were trembling violently.

He hadn’t even realized.

Rion stepped closer this time — slower, gentler — and Kael didn’t move. Couldn’t move.

When Rion reached up and lightly touched his sleeve—

Kael’s entire body reacted.

Heat tore up his spine, sharp, fierce, terrifying.

Rion felt it.

He gasped softly.

His fingers curled around Kael’s coat as if drawn in.

Their eyes met again.

Something passed between them — something neither of them could lie to anymore.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Rion asked, voice breaking just a little. “What did I do wrong?”

Kael’s chest tightened painfully.

“You did nothing,” he whispered hoarsely. “That’s the problem.”

Rion blinked in confusion.

Kael took one step back.

If he stayed any longer… if he breathed Rion’s scent one more second… he wouldn’t have the strength to walk away.

And he had to.

For Rion’s safety.

For his own sanity.

For the past that still bled inside him.

But the moment Kael turned, Rion grabbed his wrist — soft, desperate, trembling.

“Don’t leave,” Rion whispered. “Not again.”

Kael froze.

Every wall he had built… every rule he lived by… every reason he kept himself cold and distant…

All of it crumbled at the sound of that single, fragile plea.

Rion’s fingers tightened.

“Please.”

Kael slowly turned back, heart in his throat.

The orchids in his coat glowed — bright, unmistakable.

Rion saw the light.

His eyes widened.

His breath hitched.

He understood.

“Kael…” Rion breathed, voice shaking. “They resonated with me…?”

Kael swallowed.

He couldn’t lie.

“Yes.”

The world felt like it stopped.

Rion’s lips parted as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Then, softly, trembling:

“What does that mean… for us?”

Kael’s breath stuttered.

For us.

He had no answer.

But the truth was already burning between them.

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