STUDY HALL
726 Words
AIDEN
I walked into the library and scanned the room for Kaito. He was already there, sitting at a table near the window, focused on a book.
I felt a flicker of irritation. He’d ignored my message earlier.
“Hey,” I said, dropping into the chair across from him.
Kaito looked up slowly. His sharp eyes locked onto mine. “You’re late.”
I checked my watch. “I’m on time.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Only because I came early.”
I bit back a response and opened my notebook instead. “So, what’s the plan?”
Kaito leaned back in his chair, never breaking eye contact. “I’ll handle the research. You’ll do the writing.”
I looked up. “You don’t think I can research?”
“I don’t think you’re qualified,” he said calmly.
My temper flared, but I forced it down. “Fine. I’ll write. But I’m not just sitting around while you do everything.”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
We got to work. Kaito was intense— efficient, and annoyingly good at what he did. He skimmed sources quickly, passing me key points while I took notes.
Every time I glanced up, I felt like he was watching me, waiting—like he expected me to mess up.
As the hours passed, our sharp exchanges softened into quieter conversation. To my surprise, I didn’t hate working with him. I almost… enjoyed it.
Then Kaito went still.
“Aiden,” he said quietly. “I need to ask you something.”
My pulse jumped as he leaned closer. “What?”
His gaze sharpened. “What are you hiding?”
I laughed, forcing it to sound casual. “Why would I be hiding anything?”
“I can tell when people lie,” he said. His voice was low, steady.
I rolled my eyes. “Wow. Impressive. All-knowing alpha and all that.”
Before he could reply, I felt it.
Heat rushed through me. Panic followed instantly.
My omega pheromones stirred, pushing against the inhibitors. No. Not now.
“I—excuse me,” I muttered, grabbing my bag and standing too fast.
I didn’t wait for his reaction. I bolted out of the library and rushed into the nearest washroom, locking myself inside a stall. My hands shook as I dug through my bag and pulled out the injector.
One quick jab.
Relief washed over me as the pheromones retreated, forced back into hiding. I leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
How did I let this happen? I’d been so careful.
After a moment, I straightened, fixed my expression, and left the washroom.
Kaito was waiting outside.
His eyes searched my face. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “Just… stomach issues.”
He studied me for another second, clearly unconvinced, but said nothing. “Let’s go.”
I nodded, unease settling deep in my chest. He hadn’t believed me. I was sure of it.
---
KAITO
The moment Aiden rushed past me, his scent hit—faint, but unmistakable. Sweet. Warm. Wrong.
That scent shouldn’t have existed.
He was an alpha. I was supposed to be dominant, unaffected. Yet my instincts had reacted before my mind could catch up.
Impossible.
My senses had never failed me before. If Aiden was hiding something, it wasn’t just behavior—it was biology.
But what if I was wrong?
The thought unsettled me more than I liked.
Aiden didn’t fit the patterns I knew. His reactions, his scent, the way my attention kept drifting back to him—it all felt off.
Aiden gathered his things. “So… is that all for today?”
“For now,” I said.
He nodded, clearly relieved. “Great. I’ll see you later.”
As he turned away, I spoke without thinking. “Aiden.”
He paused. “Yeah?”
“Be careful,” I said. “Around here.”
He frowned slightly. “Careful?”
“It’s not always safe,” I replied.
Something flickered in his eyes—fear, maybe. He forced a smile. “Thanks for the advice.”
Then he left.
I watched him disappear down the hall, my thoughts unsettled.
Whatever Aiden was hiding, I was certain of one thing—
This wasn’t over.
- Writer
