Obruche_Princess

The hum of the coffee shop was like any other a blend of clinking cups, hushed conversations, and the soft swish of the barista’s apron as they moved behind the counter. Adrian strode in, his sharp gaze barely flicking toward the order board as he walked past the line of people. His mind was preoccupied, his phone held firmly in one hand, eyes scanning through an email from his company’s legal team.

He was too distracted by his thoughts to notice the petite figure standing in his path until it was too late.

A gasp broke through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of liquid splashing. Adrian's body jerked, the scalding hot coffee sloshing onto his dark gray suit just as his phone flew out of his hand.

“Shit!” came the voice, soft but hurried, as the person in question scrambled to steady their own coffee cup and avoid more damage. Adrian barely had time to react as a small figure stepped back, eyes wide with panic.

"I.I’m so sorry!" The voice trembled, and Adrian finally looked up to meet the wide, apologetic eyes of the person who had crashed into him. His gaze softened as he saw the clear panic on the other person’s face.

The person in front of him was a young man slender, with messy dark hair and a few stray strands falling into his face. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, flicked nervously from the coffee splattered on Adrian’s suit to Adrian’s face. His lips parted in a silent apology as he clutched the coffee cup, looking for something to say, but the words seemed to fail him.

Adrian’s frown deepened, his suit already ruined, but the surprise of the moment faded quickly. He tilted his head slightly, giving the man a once-over.

"Are you alright?" Adrian asked, voice calm yet with an edge of amusement, despite the ruined suit. He reached for the napkins on the counter to dab at the coffee stains.

The guy blinked rapidly, as if processing Adrian’s question. “Yeah, I... I mean, yeah, but oh god, your suit! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” His hands fluttered in the air awkwardly as he stepped forward, his movements frantic.

Adrian couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “It’s fine, really. I’ve had worse.” His voice held a quiet authority, but something in his expression softened. He took a breath and added, “Not the first time something like this has happened.”

The young man Kai, as Adrian now saw on his name tag bit his lip and exhaled a shaky breath. "I'm so embarrassed. I swear, I’m usually more careful." He finally seemed to calm down a little, though his nervousness lingered.

Adrian couldn’t resist. “Seems like you’re a little distracted. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Kai blinked again, almost flustered. "Huh? Oh. Just... life, you know?" He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Work stuff... which is apparently bad luck today.” He pointed toward the stain on Adrian’s suit, his fingers twitching nervously.

Adrian’s eyebrow arched. “Work stuff, huh? What do you do?”

Kai hesitated for a moment. “Uh... marketing. At... uh, a company. Not nearly as cool as... whatever it is you do.”

Adrian chuckled again, shaking his head. “I’ll say this, though: I’m not in the marketing game. I’m actually... not great with people, so let’s just say you got me at a good moment. A coffee spill’s the least of my problems today.” His voice was smooth, almost teasing as he finally took in Kai’s nervousness.

Kai looked embarrassed but a little relieved. “Well, if it helps, I’ll pay for a new suit?”

“Too much of a hassle,” Adrian replied. “But you do owe me a drink. How about we get one sometime this weekend?”

Kai blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Wait, you mean... after spilling coffee all over you?”

Adrian smiled, a sly glint in his eyes. “Well, if you’re willing to make it up to me, why not?”

Kai’s hesitation was palpable, but there was a playful curiosity there now, his shoulders relaxing as he gave a half-hearted laugh. “I’ll be honest, I wasn't expecting that...

Between Fangs and Claws

All day, all night. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt it, Adrian's lips, cool and soft, brushing his own like a secret. A promise. A threat.

He was spiraling. No he was screwed.

Because Adrian wasn't just a vampire. He was the heir to a bloodline responsible for centuries of werewolf bloodshed. Kai wasn't just some innocent omega. He was the son of a disgraced alpha, raised to hate everything Adrian stood for.

Kai slammed his locker shut in the gym's changing room, frustration buzzing through his veins. He came here to work out the tension, not to make it worse. The moment he stepped into the ring to spar, he pushed harder, moved faster, fought like he could outrun the memory of Adrian's mouth.

"You fight like someone trying to forget."

Kai turned slowly. Adrian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, dressed in all black like some gothic dream or nightmare.

"I call it strategic coincidence," Adrian said with a smirk. "You're not that hard to find, sweetheart."

Kai rolled his eyes. "I could report you for harassment."

Adrian stepped into the gym. "But you won't."

"Because the moment I kissed you, you didn't pull away," Adrian said, eyes flashing. "You leaned in. You wanted it."

Kai's fists clenched. "That was a mistake."

"No," Adrian said, voice dropping low. "It was inevitable."

The words hung between them, heavy and hot. And just like that, the room felt smaller, the air thicker.

Kai stepped forward, chest rising and falling with every agitated breath. "Why are you really here?"

Adrian didn't blink. "To see if you'd do it again."

The tension snapped like a livewire. Before Kai could think before either of them could breathe he grabbed Adrian's collar and yanked him close.

Adrian pressed back, fangs scraping against Kai's bottom lip not enough to draw blood, but enough to warn. Kai growled against his mouth, the wolf in him clawing to the surface, and Adrian shivered at the sound.

When they finally pulled apart, panting, Kai's eyes were wild.

"This doesn't mean anything," he said.

"Keep saying that," Adrian murmured, brushing a thumb over Kai's bruised lip. "Maybe one day you'll believe it."

Kai shoved him back, breath shaky. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to show up in my space, kiss me like that, and act like we're not enemies."

Adrian's smile twisted. "If we were really enemies, Kai, you wouldn't be here letting me put my mouth on you. You'd be clawing my eyes out."

Kai snarled, low and threatening. "Don't tempt me."

"Oh, but I want to tempt you," Adrian said, stepping forward again, voice a smooth curl of sin. "You think I don't see it? The way your scent spikes every time I get close? You want this as badly as I do."

Adrian's eyes darkened. "Since when have we ever cared about right and wrong?"

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Adrian sighed, breaking the moment. "I have to go. There's a meeting in twenty."

But as Adrian turned to leave, he tossed a final glance over his shoulder. "Don't wear yourself out too much, puppy. We've got a long week ahead."

Adrian laughed all the way out the door.

Kai stared at the empty ring, heart thudding like a warning drum in his chest.

This was the beginning of a storm.

Chapter 8: Bloodlines and Bruises