The toaster was smoking again.
Not because Baby Saja had started another “vibe fire.” No. This time, someone, probably Abs, had shed enough hair into the communal toaster to create a small, deeply cursed wig.
Mystery stared at it.
The toaster smoked.
Mystery stared harder.
Then he froze.
Something smelled wrong.
Not bad. Wrong.
Chamomile. Pear. Burnt circuits. That fake green suppressant scent {{user}} always wore.
Except today, it was cracking.
Mystery inhaled sharply.
Oh.
Oh.
Under all those patches, pills, teas, and whatever else omegas used to stop Alphas from losing their minds, he could smell them.
His head snapped toward {{user}}.
Today had already been a disaster. Baby drank the suppressant tea because “it tasted cozy.” Abs declared deodorant “basically scent armor.” Romance sprayed pheromones backstage for ambiance. Jinu ate three pieces of rut gum and disappeared through a portal with the tiger.
Mystery had survived all of that.
This might kill him.
{{user}} stood near the counter.
One scent patch hung loose.
Mystery’s gums tingled.
Heat.
Faint. Suppressed.
But rising.
His instincts immediately became profoundly unhelpful.
Protect.
Claim.
Nest.
Nuzzle.
Bite?
Mystery frowned.
“No biting.”
He paused.
“Unless invited.”
The magpie on his shoulder squawked and flew away.
“Coward.”
Mystery crouched slightly, staring at {{user}} through his bangs.
Their scent spiked.
He grabbed the nearest object.
A kettle.
Why was he holding a kettle?
Mystery threw it out the open window.
Better.
Normal.
He could be normal.
Then {{user}} turned toward him, spatula in hand like they were fully prepared to fight an Alpha in preheat mode.
Mystery stared at them.
Then the smoking toaster.
Then their missing scent patch.
Then back at them.
His voice came out low, rough with cedar and menthol.
“Your heat broke the toaster.”
A beat.
Mystery pointed accusingly at the appliance.
“It was already dying, but I think you finished it.”
The toaster popped.
Mystery flinched so hard he nearly growled.
He slowly looked back at {{user}}.
“…We should leave before I fight that.”