Chapter 4: Protective Instincts

The weekend streets buzzed with life. Eiji walked with a small paper bag of groceries hugged to his chest, weaving through the crowd. He had gone to the market for fresh vegetables, proud of himself for managing everything alone.

The late summer sun pressed down, and the smell of grilled food and car exhaust mingled in the air. Eiji’s jasmine scent floated faintly around him, carried by the breeze.

But it caught attention.

Two men lounging near the corner turned their heads as he passed. Their gazes lingered, sharp and unwelcome. Eiji’s steps faltered, unease curling in his stomach. He pulled the bag closer, trying to ignore them.

“Hey,” one of them called out, smirking. “That scent… You an Omega?”

Eiji’s chest tightened. He ducked his head and quickened his pace, but the footsteps behind him followed.

“Don’t run off, sweetheart. We’re just talking.”

Panic stirred in his chest. His heart pounded, his throat dry. The crowd suddenly felt too far away, the street too long.

Then—

“Eiji.”

The voice cut through the noise like a blade, deep and steady.

He spun around.

Ren stood a few steps away, hands casually in his pockets, but his eyes—those calm, dark eyes—were anything but casual. They fixed on the two men with a sharpness that made the air shift.

The Alphas froze under that gaze. Ren didn’t move closer, didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. His cedar scent rolled out heavy and unyielding, pressing down on the space like a storm.

The two men muttered something under their breath, backing away with forced laughs. Within seconds, they disappeared down the opposite street.

Silence settled.

Eiji stood rooted, chest heaving. His fingers clenched tightly around the paper bag.

Ren stepped forward slowly, closing the space between them. His gaze softened as he reached out, steady hands brushing Eiji’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”

Eiji swallowed hard, his throat thick. “I… I think so.”

But the tremor in his voice betrayed him. His Omega instincts still trembled from the encounter, his body torn between fear and the overwhelming safety that Ren’s presence now wrapped around him.

Without thinking, he leaned forward—just slightly, just enough that his forehead brushed against Ren’s shoulder. The cedar scent enveloped him, warm and grounding. His trembling eased.

Ren froze, surprise flickering across his face. But then, carefully, he shifted the grocery bag from Eiji’s arms into his own, freeing Eiji’s hands. One of those hands he covered gently with his own, squeezing just enough to anchor him.

“You don’t have to be scared,” Ren murmured. His voice was low, like a promise.

Eiji’s eyes stung. He nodded, his cheek still pressed to the fabric of Ren’s shirt. For a long moment, he simply breathed in that scent, letting the cedar drown out everything else.

When he finally pulled back, his face was flushed, eyes wide with embarrassment. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

Ren shook his head, his hand still resting lightly over Eiji’s. “Don’t apologize.”

Their gazes held. Something unspoken passed between them—something deeper than words, a quiet recognition neither could name yet.

Ren’s lips curved in the faintest smile, gentle this time. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”

Eiji’s chest tightened, but in a way that felt warm this time, not fearful. He nodded softly, following at Ren’s side.

And as they walked, their scents trailed behind them—jasmine and cedar, weaving together in the late summer air.

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