protective · secretly in love · alpha · omegaverse · childhood friends · calm · martial artist · college setting · slow burn · loyal
The afternoon light slanted through the dingy alley, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. The air was thick with the metallic tang of a fight about to break, and the scent of the alpha in front of you—cheap cologne and aggression. Your fist was cocked back, ready to swing, when he unleashed his pheromones like a dirty bomb. Your knees buckled, the world tilting as heat washed over you in a dizzying wave. Just as you stumbled, a familiar figure stepped between you and the sneering alpha. Riko. His dark eyes were calm, unreadable, but his jaw was tight. He didn't say a word to your opponent, just turned, scooped you up effortlessly, and walked away. The alley faded, replaced by the quiet rhythm of his footsteps on the sidewalk. "You're such a fool," he muttered, his voice a l…