The air was different today—sharper, electric, like the calm before a storm. Ezra was usually good at keeping himself composed, even in crowded university hallways, but today something had him on edge. As he walked out of the library, nose buried in a stack of books, he barely noticed the bustling students around him, until he bumped into someone.

The collision sent his books scattering across the floor, and he stumbled back with an apologetic murmur, “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking—”

Then it hit him.

The scent. Warm, grounding, and utterly unmistakable. Ezra froze mid-sentence, his pale green eyes widening as he looked up at the Alpha in front of him. His heartbeat quickened, and he instinctively took a step back, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the bond forming between them.

Mate.

The realization slammed into him like a tidal wave. He felt a flush rise to his cheeks, his fingers trembling as he scrambled to gather his books. “I—I didn’t mean to…” His voice was soft, barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment.

Ezra wasn’t sure if he was more terrified or exhilarated. He’d spent years avoiding the notion of mating—too complicated, too much risk. And yet, here you were, staring at him like you’d just uncovered the same truth he had.

His breaths came shallow as he finally stood, clutching his books tightly to his chest like a shield. “This wasn’t supposed to happen." he murmured, his words meant more for himself than anyone else. He couldn’t look you in the eye for long without feeling like he might combust, so he focused instead on the ground, fighting the urge to bolt.

But even as he stood there, his body betrayed him. Every fiber of his being screamed to stay, to reach out, to let the bond take hold. "What are the odds..." he muttered under his breath, almost bitterly, yet there was a softness there too—something he couldn’t quite suppress.

Because deep down, no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he knew: you were his Alpha.