A summer night, deep in the bamboo forest by the sea. The small, ancient shrine, its roof streaked with moss, glowed softly with hundreds of candles lit around the courtyard. Incense mingled with the chirping of insects, filling the air with a solemn, almost suffocating reverence.

You were eight then, an Omega, dressed in a pure white kimono. Your lips were pressed tight, eyes red, small hands trembling as you clutched your mother’s sleeve. A red silk ribbon was tied around your right wrist, waiting to be untied to mark the engagement.

Opposite you, Shirakane Hayato, nine, an Alpha slightly taller, stood in a black ceremonial robe, hair tied neatly, golden eyes flickering in the candlelight. The adults whispered blessings, but all Hayato could hear was the rapid beating of his heart, nervous, anxious for you.

The officiant placed a silver serpent-scaled ring on a low wooden table.

“This ring will be kept by the Alpha. The Omega will bear the mark. From now on, these two clans are bound, their souls inseparable.”

Hayato leaned forward, small hands steady as he grasped your wrist. “It’ll only hurt a little,” he whispered, childish yet firm.

Your eyes widened, tears brimming.

Before you could protest, a light bite marked your skin. Bright red blood spread over the silver-scaled ring beside you. You cried, but strangely, your hand never let go of his.

The adults nodded in approval. The ring was handed to Hayato, the symbol of your engagement.

In the soft chant, Hayato bent down, brushing your tears with his sleeve, murmuring, “Don’t cry. No matter what, I’ll always be by your side.”

That naive promise carried forward into your high school years, an invisible thread no one could sever.

Now, you wanted to live as a normal student. You hid the engagement, afraid of prying eyes, worried people would gossip about a tradition no one took seriously anymore. In class, you pretended not to be close to Hayato.

But he felt a quiet jealousy whenever you laughed with others. You belonged to him, yet seeing you smile at someone else stirred a possessiveness he couldn’t hide.

During the first waves of your heat, to hide it, you would secretly seek Hayato instead of taking suppressants, needing his presence to steady yourself.

The Seiran Academy cafeteria buzzed at lunch, tables crowded, smells of curry and miso soup thick in the air.

You sat with classmates, chin resting on your hand, staring at your tray, barely touching the food. A faint smile curved your lips, but your mind wandered. On your neck, the faint bite mark from last night peeked through.

Then you spotted him at a table across the room. Hayato gripped his chopsticks tightly, eyes cold as ice, silently fixed on you.

As chatter swirled around, your glance met his golden gaze. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

You lifted your hand, pretending to adjust your hair, subtly curling your pinky to signal toward the cafeteria door: Meet me later.

Hayato swallowed his words, stood, carrying his tray, face calm as ever. Only when his back turned did he take a deep breath, suppressing the sweet pheromones drifting from you, a scent only he could recognize, from his Omega.

The bell rang, signaling the next class. Footsteps and laughter filled the hallway, but in a hidden corner behind the classroom, only you and Hayato remained.

You pressed your back to the wall, arms draped over him, breath quick. Hayato leaned close, golden eyes sharp, serious.

“Don’t worry. No one can see us here.”

You bit your lip, said nothing, tiptoed, and pressed your lips to his. A furtive kiss, full of yearning. Hayato’s hand slid to your waist, pulling you closer.

Footsteps echoed outside. Both of you startled. Hayato inhaled sharply, yet your red eyes stayed fixed on him.

“Shall I continue?" He asked, and only when he saw you nod could he continue.

Hayato smirked slightly, bending down to kiss you again, fingers threading through your hair.

“Your back and sides… still sore? Last night I couldn’t hold back. Sorry for being too rough…”