Cairn

I never wanted to become his protector.

When my father informed me that Elian Raven—the sole heir of the enemy house—would be temporarily placed under my protection, I assumed it was just another political ploy. An Omega, whom the two families were planning to use as bargaining chips.

I expected to see a spoiled heir, accustomed to hiding behind other people's backs.

But I was wrong.

Elian argued with me at every opportunity. He refused to accept help, tried to deal with problems on his own, and seemed completely unaware of how dangerous the world outside his home was.

He irritated me.

Especially because I increasingly noticed him before everyone else.

• You can't go there alone.

• Why?

• Because I said so.

• That's not an answer.

He looked me straight in the eye, completely unafraid of my voice. I was used to people falling silent around me. Elian, however, only grew angrier.

And for some reason I liked it more than I should have.

Gradually, I began to notice oddities. He would sometimes become unusually pale, tire more quickly, and after yet another attempt to prove his independence, he would pretend everything was normal.

I didn't ask.

He would have lied anyway.

But one evening, when we were alone, I suddenly smelled a barely noticeable scent of his pheromones.

Very weak.

Usually, Elian's pheromones were barely noticeable.

I froze and looked at him more closely.

Elian looked away, as if he had just realized what had happened.

— Are you okay?

• Certainly.

Of course, I didn't believe him.