𝕡𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕡𝕤

grey saw her bolt.

like a spark on dry kindling, he lit up.

“fuck yes,” he breathed, almost gleeful.

he didn’t hesitate—just surged forward, barreling through the brush with violent purpose. not careful. not calculating. just fast. relentless. his feet tore up dirt and dead leaves as he chased the blur of her scent, thick and taunting in the air. she wanted to run? fine. he wanted her to. he liked the chase. lived for the sound of branches whipping past his ears, for the blood pumping in his veins, for the high of hunting something that dared to think it could outpace him.

and lia? she wasn’t just prey. she was his prey.

but medallion didn’t move yet.

he watched the direction she ran, eyes unreadable. calm.

he knelt down, fingers brushing the earth where her foot had landed seconds earlier. not to track. just to feel. the heat, the pressure, the curve of motion she’d left behind.

“she’s smart,” he murmured, mostly to himself. “sharp turns. quick exits. she won’t double back until she’s forced.”

he finally stood and moved—no urgency in his steps, no panic in being second.

he didn’t need to be first.

he just needed to be right.

while grey tore through the forest like a wildfire, medallion slipped between trees like smoke. silent. low. ghosting in the direction lia had gone, but not straight. not direct. he cut at angles, letting instinct pull him. because if grey scared her into turning? he’d be waiting.

and if she turned into his arms?

he’d be gentle.

at first.

it was strange to feel pride in knowing that she had marked him deep enough, that she had made him crave her the way that he seemed to be craving her. it was even stranger to feel the heat of arousal crawl through her veins at the thought of it. lia could hear him behind her, he wasn't hiding, wanted her to know who was after her.

her breathing was heavy from the running, and the brunette didn't doubt that he could scent her, trail her... her body warmed even more. something was decidedly wrong with her, wasn't it? his scent shouldn't be so strong, shouldn't create such a reaction on her.

turning to the left, she moved through the trees, trying to lose the alpha even if she wanted to stop and let him take her. but that would be giving up and that was the last thing that the omega ever wanted to do. something changed in the air that made her come to a halt on her run, the scent was the same and yet it was not. similar in the base notes but different details.

green eyes widened, trying to look around the forest to see where both alphas were, trying to quickly think of where to go to avoid them as they came closing in.

"is this seat taken?" keria swirled the drink in his glass—red, but not wine—and let the silence stretch between them as he sat. "you’ve been watching me for a while. should i be flattered… or concerned?"

grey’s eyes snapped to her the second she stepped into view.

lia.

fuck. same damn smile. same arrogant little sway in her hips like she hadn’t almost been caught last year. like she didn’t give a shit that he’d been breathing down her neck until the bell rang and stole her from his hands. she’d laughed. laughed. like she was proud to slip out of his grip.

his lip curled. not this time.

she blew him a kiss. grey didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, but his fingers twitched like he wanted to rip something apart. she thought she was clever. untouchable. and maybe she had been—once. but he’d spent the whole goddamn year remembering the way she smelled, the way she moved, and the sound of her breath when she ran.

he was going to break her streak. leave his mark so deep she’d never forget. then he heard the step beside him.

“she’s hot,” medallion said quietly, like it was just an observation. his eyes stayed on her—unblinking, unreadable. “looks fast.”

grey didn’t answer. didn’t need to. he could feel his brother’s attention settling in, like fog rolling over a battlefield.

“you couldn’t catch her last time,” medallion added, soft voice almost curious. “maybe she wasn’t meant for you.”

grey snapped his head toward him, eyes sharp, teeth bared in something that wasn’t a smile. “don’t start.”

medallion just tilted his head. didn’t challenge, didn’t back down either. “if you miss again,” he said, voice calm, “i’ll take her. i don’t think she’ll mind.”

the horn blew. grey surged forward like he’d been lit on fire. medallion followed—quieter, steadier, eyes tracking every shadow like a predator waiting for the perfect moment. not rushing. just… watching. waiting. because whoever caught her first? that was the one she’d be left with. and medallion didn’t mind being patient if it meant winning in the end.

slipping down a slope, the omega looked around, trying to see if there would be any good hiding spots. she was about to move when the hairs on the back of her head stood on attention, suddenly the air was too still and she felt as if someone was watching her.

a deep breath, something tempting on the outskirts of all the scents confusing her. someone was close, someone who had her instincts screaming between between running and presenting. dangerous, wicked, sin and predator wrapped in one.

did they want to play?

lia could certainly give them a challenge.

finally, she made a move, bolting towards the thicker parts of the forest, knowing that her size and quickness would only aid her in keeping the alpha away.