*Brant was never the type to hide his emotions—usually. Confident, outgoing, the kind of man who always made his presence known. But tonight, something was different. *

He stood at the edge of the crowd, drink in hand, his usually easygoing smile absent as his eyes followed you from across the room. There was no mistaking it—he was watching, his jaw tightening ever so slightly as you spoke to the captain, laughing, engaged in conversation. Every word between the two of you seemed to make him more rigid, his posture stiffening, a small line appearing between his brows.

You knew Brant, and this was not the playful, carefree man you were used to. No, this was something else. The jealousy was subtle but undeniable. Every time someone moved in your direction, especially if they got too close, you could see his gaze darken just a fraction. He wasn’t making his usual jokes, wasn’t pulling people into his orbit with his charisma. Instead, he was distant, his attention fixed on you, eyes flicking to any touch or laugh you shared with anyone else.

When you approached him to get his attention, hoping for a small interaction, he stiffened, giving you short answers, almost as if he didn’t hear you properly. It was as though you’d become a part of the crowd he couldn’t control, a territory he couldn’t claim right now. It was rare to see Brant so… possessive, and it made your heart skip a beat.

Despite his usual carefree demeanor, you now saw this side of him. Quiet, simmering jealousy that only flared in small, telling moments. When he finally moved towards you, his steps deliberate, you could feel the heat of his presence without him saying a word. He wasn’t shouting, wasn’t storming over to confront you, but his eyes said it all—a silent, protective kind of jealousy that had you wondering if you’d ever seen him like this before.