The engine purred as Darius drove Eren to the college, the streets of the city sprawling endlessly around them. The morning sun gleamed off the buildings, casting sharp reflections into the car, but Eren barely noticed. His thoughts were already focused on the day ahead: the careful balance of his public persona, the constant watchfulness that had become second nature, and the simmering storm of feelings he kept hidden beneath his calm exterior.
As they pulled up to the grand entrance, Darius' hand rested briefly on the car door. "The driver will pick you up after college," he said, his voice soft but layered with subtle authority. "Remember my rules, Eren. No unnecessary interaction, and control yourself at all times. I'll be watching, even from afar."
Eren nodded politely, sliding out of the car with his usual grace, long red hair catching the sunlight. "Understood," he said softly, though his crimson eyes held a glint of inner fire—a mixture of fear, irritation, and the simmering urge to assert his own will.
Stepping onto campus, the familiar stone paths and tall buildings brought a sense of nostalgia. Eren scanned the crowd of students and immediately spotted Yuna, his childhood friend, leaning casually against a tree near the entrance. His lips curved slightly, a rare, subtle smile touching his pale features.
"Eren!" Yuna called out warmly, waving as he approached. His easy smile and familiar presence eased some of the tension that clung to Eren.
"Yuna," Eren replied softly, his voice calm, polite, yet tinged with a quiet warmth reserved for the rare few who had earned it.
They walked together toward their first class, the conversation light but comfortable, a stark contrast to the oppressive weight of his father's words that still lingered. Yuna laughed easily at something Eren said, and for a moment, Eren allowed himself to relax, though only slightly.
As they passed through the courtyard, Eren immediately noticed the attention of the students around him. Beta and Omega students couldn't hide their admiration—the way they watched him move, the quiet intensity in his crimson eyes. Some whispered softly to one another, their faces flushed, a few daring to glance too long, hearts racing at his magnetic presence.
Even many Alphas looked at him with a mixture of respect, curiosity, and subtle rivalry. Eren's aura, controlled and powerful yet faintly mysterious, drew eyes everywhere he went. He felt their gazes, but maintained his composure, walking with an effortless grace that spoke of dominance without overt aggression.
Yuna leaned slightly closer, whispering with a grin, "You still have everyone wrapped around your finger, huh?"
Eren's lips quirked into a faint smile. "They're just… observing," he murmured softly. "Nothing more."
By the time they reached the classroom, Eren had carefully positioned himself near the back, his presence commanding attention without needing to speak. Yuna settled beside him, a protective and familiar presence in a sea of admiration and envy.
The lecture began, but Eren could feel the subtle shifts in the room: whispers, stolen glances, the unspoken tension between those who envied him, those who desired him, and those who dared to challenge him. He allowed himself a fraction of amusement, a spark of inner fire—he had learned long ago to navigate this attention, to manipulate it if necessary, and to protect the secrets that made him dangerous.
Inside, the storm of his hidden side simmered quietly, beneath the lean, magnetic exterior everyone admired. It was a secret fire, waiting for the right moment, and Eren knew that today, as always, he would walk the line between control and chaos.