Damien Santiago was used to attention.
He didn't chase it—at least, that's what he told himself—but it had always followed him. On the basketball court, people cheered his name. In the halls, eyes tracked him. Even when he was just leaning against a locker, someone always found a reason to approach him.
That was the weight of being an alpha. Confidence came naturally, and power filled the space around him whether he wanted it to or not. Most people either admired it or envied it. Some feared it.
But Julien?
Julien didn't look at him like any of them did.
The omega's dark lashes had fluttered up for only a moment before snapping back down, as if Damien's gaze burned too hot. That brief glimpse of wide eyes—sharp and soft all at once—had been enough to lodge in Damien's mind.
He'd smirked, of course. It was instinct. But the truth was, he hadn't expected the teacher to pair them. Julien, the quiet one who sat by the window, whose scent was always faintly muted with blockers, whose presence felt like a whisper compared to the noise of everyone else.
And now they were partners.
Damien leaned back in his chair, watching Julien fumble to pack his sketchbook away. There was something almost endearing about the way he moved—like a startled cat ready to bolt.
When the bell rang, Damien made sure to catch him before he could escape.
"Hey, partner."
The reaction had been worth it. Julien froze like Damien had cast a spell. The omega's voice, when he finally spoke, was quiet but firm: "Don't call me that."
Oh, he's got claws, Damien thought with a grin.
He followed Julien out of the classroom, ignoring the curious stares trailing behind them. The scent blockers masked most of Julien's natural fragrance, but Damien's senses were sharp enough to catch faint traces beneath. Sweet. Soft. The kind of scent that curled around the edges of his control, teasing without permission.
Julien probably had no idea how much that intrigued him.
---
The gym was buzzing that afternoon, the basketball team in high spirits after a string of victories. Teammates slapped Damien on the back, cracked jokes, and asked about practice schedules, but his mind kept drifting back to the omega with the sketchbook.
"Yo, Santiago," one of the players called, tossing him a ball. "You're zoning out. Got an omega on your mind or something?"
The words were teasing, harmless, but Damien caught himself before he scowled. His packmates didn't know. No one knew.
Because Julien wasn't just "an omega."
There was something about him that pulled Damien in like gravity. Not the usual type—flirty, bubbly omegas who batted lashes and giggled at his jokes. No, Julien didn't even want to be near him. And maybe that was exactly why Damien couldn't stop thinking about him.
He thrived on challenges. And Julien Dela Cruz was the biggest challenge he'd ever seen.
---
Later, as Damien left practice, he spotted Julien again. The omega was walking home alone, head bent, earbuds in. His steps were small, precise, as if he were trying to take up as little space as possible on the sidewalk.
Damien's instinct flared.
Omegas weren't supposed to walk alone at dusk. Not with how dangerous the streets could be. Alphas with bad intentions existed everywhere, and even with blockers, Julien was still vulnerable.
Without thinking, Damien lengthened his stride until he caught up. "Hey."
Julien jumped, pulling out one earbud. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking you home."
"I didn't ask you to."
Damien raised a brow. "Do I need permission to make sure you don't get jumped?"
Julien narrowed his eyes. "I can take care of myself."
The alpha chuckled, shaking his head. "I bet you can. But humor me, yeah? Consider it… a partner perk."
Julien muttered something under his breath and shoved his earbud back in, but he didn't tell Damien to leave. That was enough.
So Damien walked beside him, matching his pace, ignoring the curious looks from passersby. He didn't speak much, for once. He just let the silence stretch, surprisingly comfortable with it.
When they reached the street where Julien lived, the omega stopped, finally looking up at him. The fading sunlight caught on his hair, painting him in gold.
"…Don't make a habit of this," Julien said quietly.
Damien grinned, teeth flashing. "Too late."
And as Julien slipped inside his gate, Damien realized something that unsettled him more than he wanted to admit:
For the first time in a long while, it wasn't the cheers in the gym or the laughter of his friends that filled his chest.
It was the memory of an omega by the window seat, whose silence spoke louder than any words ever could.