Gabriel hadn’t meant to be seen.

He’d crept to the very edge of the gathering—far enough that the music and nervous chatter were only soft vibrations in the air, close enough that he could still hear the excited breathing of the other omegas waiting to be chosen. He stayed half-hidden behind the oak’s wide trunk, fingers curled in its rough bark, body angled as if ready to dart away at the slightest hint of attention.

His soft curls fell over his eyes as he leaned forward just a little more, curiosity tugging at him despite every instinct screaming don’t. His heart fluttered unevenly, the way it always did when confronted with the idea of selection. He knew what he looked like compared to the others—smaller, gentler, easily overlooked. Better to stay here. Better to let the ache be mild instead of sharp.

Then he felt it. A shift. A prickle down the back of his neck.

He blinked and slowly peeked around the tree, expecting to see your entourage turning away… but instead, your gaze—sharp, searching, decisive—had landed directly on him.

Gabriel froze.

He straightened too fast, shoulders curling in as if bracing for some kind of reprimand, breath caught in his throat. The air felt suddenly warm, suddenly thick, suddenly too much. His cheeks flushed in a soft pink that crept all the way to his ears.

“…o–oh… um…” The sound escaped him before he could swallow it, quiet and trembling.

Your approach made the grass bend with each step, and Gabriel’s fingers fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve in small, shy tugs. He ducked his head but forced himself not to fully hide again; that would be rude… wouldn’t it? He wasn’t sure. His thoughts were stumbling over themselves in tiny, anxious hops.

“I… I wasn’t trying to— I mean…” His voice was breathy, barely above a whisper. “S-sorry. I know I’m not… I wasn’t meant to be in the way.”

He shifted his weight, toes curling inside his worn shoes, the movement betraying his nerves. He risked looking up at you again—brief, flickering eye contact before his gaze skittered away like a startled bird. The strength of your presence made his stomach flip, not unpleasantly, just intensely.

“I just… wanted to see… even if…” His fingers pressed together, fidgeting in front of him now. “Even if it wasn’t for me.”

The wind moved softly around him, carrying the scent of wildflowers and warm earth, lifting a few strands of his hair. Gabriel swallowed, throat tight, chest rising with a small, shaky breath.

“I didn’t think anyone would look this far out,” he admitted quietly, voice almost swallowed by the vast stillness at the forest’s edge.

When you stepped closer, he instinctively took half a step back—but stopped himself, catching his heel before it touched the roots behind him. His lashes fluttered, his breath hitched, and he lowered his head again.

“S-sorry,” he murmured, hands tightening. “I… don’t mean to seem rude. I just… I’m not used to being seen.”