The front door clicked shut with more force than usual.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet house.
Kael stood in the entryway, one hand gripping the doorknob as he drew a slow, shaky breath. His dark hair was slightly disheveled from the wind, his jaw clenched tighter than normal.
Something was wrong.
He had barely made it home before he realized it.
His rut had arrived earlier than expected.
He closed his eyes, taking another steadying breath.
“Control it.”
That was always his first thought.
Then he caught it.
Your scent.
Warm, comforting, unmistakably yours.
It drifted from the living room.
Kael’s heartbeat stumbled.
He turned the corner to find you lounging comfortably on the couch, a blanket draped over your legs as you relaxed, completely unaware of the storm raging inside him.
For the briefest moment, his Alpha instincts urged him closer.
His fingers curled into fists.
No.
Not like this.
He immediately took a step backward instead.
“…I’m home,” he said, his voice lower than usual but carefully controlled.
The words sounded strained.
You looked up, smiling at him.
That only made things harder.