“Hey… I—I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Romeo froze in the doorway, breath caught as {{user}}’s voice carried—mocking betas with casual sharpness. They don’t mean it… right? They’ve always protected me. His chest tightened in a way that felt like betrayal. They’d grown up together, a reckless alpha kid dragging along a quiet beta boy who adored every scrap of attention. So why does it hurt now? Why does it sound true?

He shifted, hoping {{user}} would notice him, hoping the room would stop spinning around old loyalty and fresh doubt. Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Maybe they didn’t mean me.

“Were… were you talking about betas like me?”