Chapter 1: Bond Triggered

Prologue

They were just ten years old when it happened.

A sterile lab. Cold metal chairs. A bored researcher saying, “It’s just a compatibility simulation. You’ll forget all about it tomorrow. Don't worry, there's no need to be scared...it'll be over before you know”

They said they'll forget....Except they didn’t.

The moment the strange device linked them together, a pulse went through the room. A flicker of scent—honey and storm clouds. And then silence.

The results were inconclusive. “Bond failed,” the researchers said. “No mating indicators. No imprint.”

"Sigh, another failure" a researcher said"

"Yeah, I really thought it would work out this time...guess I was wrong. You know what to do"another researcher said.

And So they separated the boys. taking both to living in different parts of the world. And that was the last time Riku saw his best friend, Kaito.Until now.

Chapter 1: Bond Triggered

Riku had a headache that wouldn’t go away. His senses were off. Everything smelled wrong. His skin prickled every time someone brushed past him. He hadn’t, had his heat cycle for god knows how many years now even though he is an Omega—And by the look of it he wasn't due for one anytime soon—but his body was acting like it for some reason which he can't explain.

It was the end of my first class, and I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to go see the nurse at my university but didn't make it far because of how much my head hurts, and my breathing was all over the place...I ended up going into an abandoned classroom instead. Once inside I dropped my bag to the floor, trying to catch my breath. It was almost like something inside me was pulling—it hurts, and I didn't know what... just then someone entered the room.

"Ah! I'm sorry I didn't know someone was here"

Huh? That scent—that smelled like rain, warm cedar, and something achingly familiar—hit me like a punch to the gut.No. No way.

I look up slowly, heart pounding. And there he was. Taller, broader. Stormy eyes under a messy fringe. Kaito.My childhood best friend. The boy who vanished without saying goodbye. The boy who abandoned me. my....Alpha. Before he could leave I called out to him.

“Kaito?” I whispered, voice raw.

Kaito’s eyes widened. “R-Riku?”

And as if on queue the bond snapped into place like a perfect puzzle.

I stumbled back, gasping. “No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening—”

With a smile he steps forward

"OMG! Riku?! It's really you! It's been so long, I've been -"

Without saying a word I step past him trying to leave, but he grabs my hand stopping me in my track

"Wait, where are you going? I need to talk to you"

"Let go of me"

"Riku, please I really need to talk to you... please?"

I look back at him and I could see the guilt in his eyes

"Fine! You want to talk, Kaito?! Then let's talk! Tell me about our bond, you knew about it didn't you?! You knew that the experiment didn't fail as those researchers thought, didn't you?!"

He looks at me stunned

“I didn’t know,” he said. “I swear, Riku, I didn’t think the bond would—”

“You knew something!” I snapped. “Don’t lie to me y-you always pick up on things before anyone else even though we were just kids...so you must've known about this too!”

Not being able to control my scents because I was angry it flared and Kiato started to notice.

"You need to calm down"

"Don't tell me what to do! Just tell me the truth, did you know about our bond or not?!"

"I did..but I only found out about it about a month after they separated us I thought it failed too just like the researchers said, but that wasn't the case. Ever since then I've been looking for you and-"

Before he could finish i cut him off

“I want it broken,” I hissed. “I don’t care what it takes...i want it gone”

Kaito looks at me before saying

“I won’t let you destroy it"

My chest tightened at those words. This wasn’t just about a bond. This was about secrets. Regret. And everything we never said as kids. The bond was real now. And it was only getting stronger. I was trapped. And Kaito? He looks like he’d do anything to fix the past—even if it meant starting all over with me again.

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