KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenIn the lecture hall, the faint scent of lavender and cedar lingered, a scent I couldn’t ignore even if I tried. It was Sage’s scent, soft, alluring and a whisper of the beta’s presence that made my wolf stir beneath his skin. Sage didn’t know his own allure, oblivious to the ripple of interest he left behind everywhere he went. But I knew. I had always known.From the moment we met, I had vowed to protect Sage from everything, including himself. Alphas were predators by nature, drawn to the innocence and vulnerability of a beta like Sage. He wasn’t an omega yet he possessed qualities like one.But I wasn’t an alpha, although I was possessive, territorial, and deeply aware of how much control it took to keep myself from claiming Sage outright.The problem was, Sage didn’t belong to me. Not yet.Sage was sitting in the front row, furiously jotting down notes as Professor River droned on about some engineering stuff. His deep voice was smooth as honey, laced with that Alpha autho
SageI was a failure as a man.All through my Twenty five years, I could count the number of times I have spoken to the member of the opposite sex except asking for directions. I was inept when it came to talking to women and for some reason, Kaiden thought he could help me.The low hum of conversations buzzed in the background as I sipped my black coffee. The window seat was my favorite spot, close enough to people-watch but far enough to feel removed from the crowd. I couldn’t focus today, though. My eyes kept darting toward the door every time it opened. I don’t even know why. Maybe I was hoping for some sign that the universe didn’t hate me.“You’re brooding again,” Kaiden’s voice cut through my thoughts. He wasn’t even looking at me, just scrolling through his phone as his hands tapped absently on the table, like he was the most confident person in the room.I gave a half-hearted chuckle. “Just thinking.”Kaiden raised an eyebrow without looking up. “About?”“Nothing important.”
By the time we got to Kaiden’s apartment, my nerves were frayed. I trailed behind him, my steps slow and hesitant. What the fuck had I just agreed to? My mind kept replaying the conversation at the coffee shop. The idea of “training” with Kaiden had seemed ridiculous at first. But now, standing in his apartment, it felt real and terrifying.Kaiden unlocked the door and walked in like it was just another normal evening. He tossed his keys onto the counter and kicked off his shoes without a care in the world. Meanwhile, I hesitated in the doorway, my hands stuffed deep in my pockets, the air feeling way too heavy.“Relax,” Kaiden said, flashing me a grin as he shrugged off his jacket. “I’m not gonna bite.”I tried to laugh, but it came out strained. “Right. I know.”Kaiden leaned against the kitchen counter, crossing his arms as he looked at me. His gaze wasn’t judgmental, more amused, like he was waiting for me to settle down.“You’re making this a bigger deal than it is,” he said af
SageI blinked slowly at the command, and gulped when I saw the precum leaking from his cock.I licked my and shaped them into an 'o'. My hands reached out to grab the base of his cock and Kaiden flinched, the desire in his eyes growing by the second. “L…like this?” I asked, unsure if I was doing the right thing.Kaiden nodded.I tightened my fists around the cock with my heart pounding so hard in my chest. I felt a stirring in me that I have never before, I found myself wanting to please Kaiden.I leaned forward before I could stop myself with my tongue darted out to lick the precum,“Jesus,” Kaiden swore, his hand coming down on my head to grab a fistful of hair. He guided my head to his dick.“Open your mouth,” he ordered.I did as he said as he guided my mouth to it, the taste of him filled my senses. The mixture of salt and something masculine made my mouth water.My tongue darted out to lick it when Kaiden’s hand tightened on my hair, I let out a groan and looked up, that same
KaidenMy eyes narrowed as soon as I entered the bar, right there in front of me was Sage with his head on someone’s shoulders.A male, a male that wasn't me.I was pissed off, when the call came from Sage that he was going to hang out with friends on a school night, I immediately discouraged it.I didn’t want anyone having Sage’s attention and I certainly didn’t want them hitting on Sage. Only I knew how beautiful Sage was, and with his kind of body, everybody wanted a piece of him but the little shit didn’t know it.He was naive and oblivious to everything and everyone around him, that made him an easy target but I wasn’t happy with that because I was the only one allowed to manipulate Sage.My fists clenched involuntarily when Sage’s course mate leaned in and whispered something in his ear, and Sage laughed.The little shit actually laughed like he was being entertained by a comedian and that made me pissed because Sage was supposed to be pushing them away and not laughing at their
SageKaiden kissed his way down to my belt and unbuckled it, he pulled off my pants and I hurriedly kicked them off. My whole body was on fire.Kaiden went back to kissing me while I fought with myself, I was experiencing something foreign, a feeling that was completely new to me. There was excitement brewing inside of me, a need I was desperate to satiate.Kaiden went feral when I licked my lips, his tongue swirled around mine stripping me of every control I thought I had. I moaned into the kiss as he dug his hand into my briefs. He bit a part of my lower lip.He pulled away from the kiss and a sound of disappointment left my lips, he kept his eyes pinned on me, I felt like he could see the dark desires I was struggling to keep hidden in my eyes. He trailed kisses accompanied with his tongue sliding down to my boxer band. I closed my eyes as the pleasure zapped through my spine and tingled all the way down to my toes.Kaiden smirked at the bulge in my briefs before tugging it down
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize
SageThe next morning, Kaiden and I walked to school in silence. The meal we shared was so brief and he stayed with me. The professor didn’t come home and when I called him, he said he was working late and we should enjoy ourselves.I knew it was because he didn’t want to spend time with Kaiden. After their argument, they have been tense with each other.I didn’t want to Interfere in their problems as it could escalate into something I wouldn’t be able to control.I looked at Kaiden, I know we have already talked about this but I was so curious.I wanted to ask him again about where he’d really been that day, but the tension in his jaw warned me off. Still, I couldn’t help myself. “So,” I started, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk, “you never really told me where you went. Like, actually went.” His steps didn’t falter, but his grip tightened around the strap of his backpack. “I told you. I needed to clear my head.” “Yeah, but that could mean anything,” I pressed. “You just
SageI stood just outside the hospital’s main entrance, staring at the parking lot like it was a war zone. The discharge papers were crumpled slightly in my grip. I could feel my fingers tremble, but I didn’t loosen them. The sun was bright, the day clear, but I felt like I was standing in the middle of a fog, one that hadn’t lifted since I was attacked.Kaiden mentioned he would come and pick me up, hence the hesitation. I felt like if he wasn’t here to do that, I wouldn’t go. “Ready?” His voice pulled me out of my head.I turned toward him. He had one hand in his pocket, the other adjusting the strap of my duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t even bothered with a brush this morning, and his hoodie looked slept in. But his eyes, his eyes were alert. “I don’t know if ready’s the word I’d use,” I admitted. My voice sounded too thin to my own ears. “I feel like I’m being pushed out of safety and right back into the middle of whatever this me
KaidenI slept at my place after the detective dropped me off. He was looking at me like he had a lot to say about what happened but I didn’t.Yes, I overreacted but I couldn’t go back there. I felt suffocated and the only thing I needed was freedom. I needed to find my answers and not let it extend to my relationship.I decided to go see Detective Bryan. The man in charge of narcotics. The one who might know what the hell was really going on. I hadn’t told Sage or the professor anything. Not yet. I couldn’t, not until I had something real. Something more than just paranoia and late-night shadows tailing me.I sat hunched over my laptop in a dingy little café two blocks from my apartment, the place reeking of burnt espresso and desperation. I typed in “Detective Bryan, Narcotics Division, city PD” and hit search. A few articles came up. He was decorated, involved in several high-profile raids. One article had a photo, square jaw, stern face, early forties. Not someone you’d expect to
SageI woke to silence. Not the peaceful kind, the kind that sets your skin crawling with dread, like the air itself is holding its breath. The clock on the wall read a little past 3am and I could see the shadows stretched along the floor, motionless. I looked around and noticed with a slight disappointment that Kaiden wasn’t here. I blinked twice and turned my head toward the small couch across the room. No professor either.My heart sank.They were gone. Both of them.I have never felt so alone. I thought they would both stay with me so I won’t be scared. But I was a big boy and could handle myself.I sat up slowly, the sheets slipping off my chest as I scanned the dim room. Maybe they went for a walk. Maybe Kaiden needed air and the professor tagged along. Maybe I was being paranoid.Or maybe something was very, very wrong.I was about to slide out of bed when the doorknob turned.I froze.The door creaked open, and the harsh fluorescent light from the hallway spilled into the r
KaidenI left the hospital with a gnawing unease in my gut. I hadn’t told Sage or the Professor the full truth, that I needed to test Raines myself, to see if he was really on our side or if he was playing us. If I had voiced my suspicions, the professor would have warned me against it, and Sage… well, Sage would have insisted on coming with me, injuries be damned. But this was something I had to do alone. I couldn’t pretend for the life of me. If the detective wasn’t on our side then I needed to know now, to save myself the trouble of finding out later.I know that the professor was just trying to be cautious but the detective was kind of my friend so I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt.I stared at my phone for a long moment before making the call, my thumb hovering over his contact. This was a gamble, if he was dirty, I might be tipping my hand. But if he was clean... I needed to know. Taking a steadying breath, I hit dial. He answered on the third ring. "Kaiden?"
KaidenThe note terrified me, I wouldn’t lie. I kept the smile on my face for the nurse’s benefits. I didn’t want them to be asking if I was okay and interrupting my peace.Those words, scrawled in jagged letters sent a chill down my spine that lingered long after I first read them. I had spent the night restless, checking the locks on the doors twice, then three times, before finally settling into a chair beside Sage’s hospital bed. He was still unconscious, his face bruised, his breathing steady but shallow. Whoever had done this to him had a message, and now it seemed that message was meant for me. I had no idea how to protect him or even protect myself. It felt like everything we did was a waste of time and we were heading nowhere.I didn’t bother sleeping again because I was so anxious. I was tempted to call the professor and explain to him but I knew he would drive down here the second I call him.By morning, Sage was stable, still asleep but no longer in danger. I made sure
Kaiden I stood next to the professor, watching the detective’s face shift between concern and indifference as he closed his notebook with a heavy sigh. “We’ll look into it,” the detective said. “But if you’re asking me for guarantees—” “I’m not,” I cut in, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just… do your job.” He gave me a nod that felt more like a dismissal. And then he walked off, disappearing into the murmuring noise of the precinct. When I called detective Raines, he said he had been assigned to a case and directed us to his partner in the precinct. We had to go there but it didn’t seem like it was working out for us. The professor hadn’t spoken since the detective left us. His arms were crossed tightly, jaw locked, his usual calm gone. He looked like a man barely holding himself together, and that scared me more than anything. He usually had answers. He always had a plan. But now? His phone rang. He glanced down, muttered something under his breath, and answered. “Hello?”