The Morning After

The sun was too loud.

​That was Jax’s first thought as he pulled the blanket over his head in his private room at the Team Onyx house. Every bird chirping outside sounded like a gunshot. Every car driving by sounded like a jet engine. His head felt like it had been used as a practice target by a professional tank player.

​"I’m never drinking again," Jax groaned into his pillow.

​But as his brain slowly woke up, the memories of the night before started to download. The VIP room. The blue light. Kaelen’s hands. The way his own Alpha pride had simply... vanished.

​Jax sat up so fast he got dizzy. "No. No, no, no."

​He checked his phone. It was 9:00 AM. Practice started in an hour. He scrambled out of bed and ran to the mirror. He looked for a "mark" a bite, a scratch, anything that would prove to the world that an Enigma had claimed him. Luckily, his neck was clear. But his skin felt sensitive, and that rain-and-cedar scent was still clinging to his hair.

​"Wash it off," Jax hissed to himself. "Wash it all off."

​He jumped into the shower and used half a bottle of orange-scented body wash. He scrubbed until his skin was red. He had to be the Captain today. He had to be "Rage." He couldn't let anyone see that he was shaking.

​Jax finally walked down to the kitchen, he was wearing his thickest Team Onyx hoodie and a pair of dark sunglasses.

​The rest of the team was already there. Leo was happily scrolling through his phone, and Toby was shoving a large forkful of pancakes into his mouth. The team’s chef, Mrs. Kim, was busy at the stove.

​"Morning, Captain!" Leo chirped. "You look like you got hit by a bus. Was the party that good? I lost you after midnight."

​Jax sat down heavily, his head throbbing. "I went home early. I had a headache."

​"Funny," Toby said with a mouth full of food. "Kaelen didn't come back until 4:00 AM. Did you guys run into each other?"

​Jax froze. His heart skipped a beat. "How would I know? I was sleeping."

​Just then, the door to the kitchen opened. Kaelen walked in.

​Unlike Jax, who looked like a ghost, Kaelen looked perfect. His dark blue hair was neat, his skin was glowing, and he looked incredibly relaxed. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt that showed off his strong arms.

​Kaelen walked straight to the coffee machine, which was right behind Jax’s chair. As he passed, that cold, fresh scent hit Jax like a physical blow. Jax gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white.

​"Morning, everyone," Kaelen said smoothly. He didn't look at Jax, but Jax could feel Kaelen’s eyes on the back of his neck.

​"Morning, Kaelen!" Leo said. "Sit down! Mrs. Kim made the 'Alpha Special' today."

​Mrs. Kim walked over with two large plates. "Here you go, Jax! Extra bacon, extra eggs, and spicy sausages. You need your strength for practice!"

​Usually, this was Jax’s favorite meal. He loved the smell of greasy bacon. He loved the spice. But as the plate landed in front of him, something terrible happened.

​The smell of the eggs hit his nose, and his stomach didn't just growl it did a somersault. The grease smelled like old trash. The spicy sausage smelled like poison.

​Jax’s face turned from pale to green in three seconds.

​"Jax? Are you okay?" Leo asked, looking concerned. "You’re shaking."

​"I... I’m..." Jax covered his mouth. He couldn't even speak.

​Kaelen sat down directly across from Jax. He took a slow sip of his black coffee and looked Jax right in the eyes. "What’s the matter, Captain? Don't you like the 'Alpha Special' anymore? I thought you were the toughest guy in the league."

Jax glared at him through his sunglasses. He wanted to shout, but he knew if he opened his mouth, he would lose his dignity right there on the table.

​"I'm just... not hungry," Jax managed to choke out.

​"But you have to eat!" Mrs. Kim insisted, pushing the plate closer. "Look at the bacon! It’s extra crispy just for you."

​The smell of the crispy fat was the final straw. Jax stood up so fast his chair flipped over.

​"I forgot something in my room!" Jax shouted.

​He bolted out of the kitchen, running as fast as he could toward the hallway bathroom. He barely made it inside before he slammed the door and locked it.

​Ten minutes later, Jax was leaning against the cool tile wall of the bathroom. He had washed his face with cold water, but he still felt like the world was spinning.

​"It’s just a hangover," he whispered to himself. "It’s just the drinks. I’m fine. I’m an Alpha. Alphas don't get sick from bacon."

​A soft knock came at the door.

​"Go away!" Jax yelled.

​"It’s me," Kaelen’s voice came through the wood. It was quiet, but it had that "Enigma" weight to it that made Jax’s heart flutter against his will.

Jax opened the door just a crack. Kaelen was standing there, holding a glass of cold water and a single green apple.

​"Get lost, rookie," Jax hissed, though his voice was weak.

​Kaelen didn't get lost. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind him. The bathroom was small, and suddenly, it felt like there wasn't enough air.

​"You’re not hungover, Jax," Kaelen said. He stepped closer, putting the water and the apple on the sink counter.

​"Oh, really? Are you a doctor now too?"

​Kaelen reached out. Before Jax could pull away, Kaelen put his hand on Jax’s forehead. His palm was cool and steady. Jax felt a shiver run down his spine. The "glitch" was happening again his body wanted to lean into the touch.

​"Your temperature is normal," Kaelen murmured. His eyes moved down to Jax’s stomach, then back up to his face. "But your scent is changing. It’s getting... softer. Like a blossom."

​"Stop talking like a weirdo!" Jax pushed Kaelen’s hand away. "I’m just tired. Practice starts in twenty minutes. Get out of my way."

​Jax tried to brush past him, but Kaelen grabbed his arm. He leaned down, his lips inches away from Jax’s ear.

​"The green apple will help with the nausea," Kaelen whispered. "Eat it before practice. I don't want my Captain throwing up on his keyboard. It would be bad for my win rate."

​Kaelen let go and walked out, leaving the door open.

​Jax stood there, fuming. He looked at the green apple. He wanted to throw it in the trash. He wanted to scream. But as another wave of nausea hit him, he looked at the apple again. It looked... crisp. It looked clean.

​He took a small bite. The sour, fresh taste immediately made his stomach feel better.

​"I hate him," Jax whispered as he chewed the apple. "I hate him so much."

​But as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he noticed something. The "Rage" in his eyes was gone. He looked confused. He looked like someone who had lost a match before it even started.

​Jax finished the apple and drank the water. He didn't know that this was the first day of his new life. He didn't know that his Alpha body was already rewriting its code to protect the tiny "glitch" growing inside him.

​He walked out to the training room, trying to look tough. But every time Kaelen glanced at him from the Mid-lane desk, Jax felt his face heat up.

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