The next day felt suffocating.
Klan couldn't shake the words Kael had whispered last night, the heat of his breath against his skin, the raw fire in his amber eyes.
Because you're mine.
He barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt Kael's hand on his wrist, his body so close, his voice breaking with something Klan didn't dare name.
And now, here they were, sitting side by side on the couch during a live broadcast for their fans.
"LUMINA fighting!" Tavi cheered into the camera, flashing his bright smile as comments flooded the screen.
The group was doing a casual live stream on Aurora's channel—laughing, answering questions, eating snacks. Everything looked normal. To the fans, it was perfect.
But to Klan, nothing felt normal anymore. Not when Kael was sitting this close, his thigh brushing against Klan's every time they shifted. Not when the Alpha's scent—warm, intoxicating—wrapped around him like a second skin.
"Kael-hyung, fans are asking what your ideal type is," Eren said suddenly, reading the comments with a teasing grin.
Klan stiffened. His fingers froze around his water bottle as all eyes turned to Kael.
Kael looked calm, leaning back in his chair, his long fingers draped over his knee. But when his amber eyes slid to Klan for the briefest second, something dangerous flickered there.
"My ideal type?" Kael repeated slowly, his voice low. "Someone who knows their worth. Someone who stays by my side, no matter what."
Klan's breath hitched. He dropped his gaze to his lap, hoping the camera didn't catch the way his ears turned pink.
"Ooooh," Tavi teased. "Sounds like someone special."
Kael smirked slightly but didn't answer, and the comments exploded with speculation.
Klan forced a small smile for the fans, pretending to laugh at Eren's jokes, but his heart was pounding so loud he could barely hear anything else.
When the live ended, the members scattered—Tavi and Eren heading to the kitchen, Sion disappearing to his room.
Klan stood to leave too, but Kael's voice stopped him.
"Klan."
The omega froze, his back to the Alpha.
"Stay," Kael said, and it wasn't a request.
Klan turned slowly, his gray-blue eyes meeting Kael's molten amber ones. The leader was still sitting on the couch, but his gaze pinned Klan in place like a command.
Kael patted the space beside him. "Sit."
Klan hesitated for a heartbeat too long before obeying, lowering himself onto the couch.
Kael didn't speak at first. He just watched Klan, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Why didn't you sleep last night?" Kael asked finally, his tone deceptively calm.
Klan's throat tightened. "I… couldn't."
Kael's lips curved slightly—not into a smile, but something sharper. "Because of what I said?"
Klan swallowed hard, his fingers curling in his lap. "Kael…"
Kael leaned in, slow and deliberate, until his breath brushed Klan's ear. "You think I didn't notice?" His voice was low, dangerous, intimate. "You've been avoiding my eyes all day."
Klan's breath caught. His whole body felt like it was on fire, trapped between fear and something far more dangerous.
Kael pulled back just enough to look at him, his gaze molten. "Tell me, Klan. Do you want me to stop?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Klan opened his mouth, but no words came out. His heartbeat was so loud it drowned out everything else.
Kael's hand lifted—slow, almost hesitant—and brushed against Klan's jaw, tilting his face up. The touch was soft, but it made Klan shiver.
"I won't do anything you don't want," Kael murmured. "But if you don't tell me to stop… I can't promise I will."
Klan's breath trembled. He wanted to speak—to tell Kael no, to tell him yes, to say something—but nothing came.
And Kael's eyes burned like a storm, waiting for an answer that never came.