Chapter Text
Everyone in their department knew Daniela liked Sophia.
Not because Daniela said it out loud.
Daniela would rather throw herself into traffic than confess directly.
But she was painfully, hopelessly obvious in every other possible way.
It started with little things.
A matcha latte appearing on Sophia’s desk before morning lectures—the exact order she always got from the café near campus.
Sticky notes tucked into her textbooks.
You looked sleepy today so caffeine delivery was necessary.
—your academically concerned admirer
Or:
Why did the omega fail chemistry?
Because she couldn’t find the right reaction.
Sophia had stared at that one for a full minute before muttering, “That’s horrible,” while secretly folding the note carefully into her pocket instead of throwing it away.
Then there were the snacks.
Sophia would open her locker to find her favorite strawberry matcha sitting neatly inside with another stupid note attached.
Saw these and thought of you :)
Not because you’re sweet.
Okay maybe because you’re sweet.
Daniela always acted completely normal afterward too.
She’d lean against the hallway wall with her friends Manon and Megan, pretending she wasn’t staring at Sophia’s reaction from across the corridor.
And every single time Sophia would feel warmth creep into her cheeks beneath the alpha’s hopeful gaze.
It was ridiculous.
Corny.
Embarrassingly sweet.
Sophia loved every second of it.
She just never admitted it.
-
“You know she’s basically courting you at this point,” Yoonchae told her one afternoon while Sophia pretended not to reread one of Daniela’s notes during lunch.
Sophia immediately slid the paper face-down onto the table.
“She’s not.”
Yoonchae stared at her flatly. “Sophia.”
“What?”
“She leaves you personalized snacks.”
“She’s friendly.”
“She scented the hoodie she lent you.”
Sophia nearly choked on her drink.
Yoonchae smirked knowingly.
Omega courting traditions weren’t exactly subtle. Neither were alpha ones.
And Daniela...
Daniela practically radiated devotion.
Still, somehow, neither of them had actually done anything about it.
So they stayed suspended in this soft, yearning almost-relationship where Daniela adored Sophia openly and Sophia secretly waited for every tiny act of affection like it was the highlight of her day.
Which was why the sudden absence felt so wrong.
-
The first day Daniela missed class, Sophia figured she was sick.
The second day, unease settled heavily in her stomach.
No coffee on her desk.
No terrible jokes hidden in her locker.
No familiar cedar-and-amber scent lingering around campus.
Nothing.
Sophia tried to ignore how much she noticed.
By lunch, she was distracted enough that Yoonchae finally snapped her fingers in front of her face.
“You’ve been staring into space for ten minutes.”
Sophia frowned slightly. “Have you seen Daniela?”
Yoonchae blinked slowly.
Then, as if a bulb lit up in her head. “Oh my god,” she said immediately. “You miss your alpha.”
“She’s not my alpha.”
“Mhm.”
Sophia ignored her.
After classes ended, she finally spotted Manon and Megan near the student center.
Relief immediately pushed her toward them.
“Hey,” Sophia called.
The two alphas looked up.
Megan smiled instantly. “Sophia.”
Manon, however, looked exhausted.
Sophia’s chest tightened slightly.
“Where’s Daniela?” she asked before she could overthink it.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then Megan sighed softly.
“She’s at home.”
Sophia frowned. “Is she okay?”
Manon rubbed the back of her neck tiredly. “Honestly? Not really.”
A strange anxiety curled inside Sophia immediately.
“What happened?”
“It’s her rut,” Megan explained gently. “She said it’s the worst one she’s had.”
Sophia stilled.
Oh.
Alphas in rut usually isolated themselves for privacy reasons, especially un-bonded ones. It wasn’t uncommon.
But Daniela had looked fine just last week.
“She didn’t want anyone around,” Manon continued. “Locked herself in her room two days ago.”
Sophia swallowed hard.
“Has she eaten?”
“Barely.”
“And she keeps whining your name,” Megan added casually.
Manon elbowed her immediately.
“What?! She does.”
Sophia’s entire face went warm.
“She’s probably embarrassed now,” Megan continued apologetically. “But yeah. She’s been miserable.”
The anxiety in Sophia’s chest deepened into something heavier after that conversation.
The walk home felt strange.
Too quiet.
She kept thinking about Daniela curled up alone somewhere, suffering through rut with nobody comforting her.
Daniela, who always remembered Sophia’s favorite drink order.
Daniela, who walked her home after late classes without even being asked.
Daniela, who looked at Sophia like she hung the moon.
By the time she got back to the dorm she was visibly distracted enough that Yoonchae immediately noticed.
“Okay,” the younger omega said. “What’s wrong with you?”
Sophia hesitated.
Then quietly:
“Daniela’s in rut.”
Yoonchae blinked once. “…And?”
“She’s alone.”
Another blink.
Then realization crossed Yoonchae’s face so fast it was almost comical.
“Oh, you’re down horrendous.”
Sophia glared at her.
Yoonchae only grinned wider.
“You’re going over there, aren’t you?”
Sophia opened her mouth to deny it.
Then closed it again.
Because she already knew she was going.
The decision settled fully into place the moment she looked at the untouched canned coffee Daniela had bought her earlier that week.
Sophia stood abruptly.
Yoonchae burst into laughter. “OH MY GOD, you are.”
Ignoring her entirely, Sophia grabbed her hoodie and turned toward the kitchen where Lara sat doing homework.
“Lara,” Sophia said quickly. “Do you know Daniela’s apartment address?”
Lara looked up immediately, surprised. “…Why?”
“Please.”
Something in Sophia’s expression must’ve answered enough because Lara softened instantly. “Yeah, I do.”
-
Five minutes later, Sophia was rushing across campus with Daniela’s address clutched tightly in one hand.
The closer she got to the apartment building, the stronger the scent became.
Alpha pheromones saturated the entire hallway outside Daniela’s dorm.
Heavy cedarwood.
Warm amber.
Overwhelming distress.
Sophia’s omega instincts reacted immediately with concern.
She knocked quickly.
A few seconds later the door opened to reveal Manon, who looked genuinely shocked. “Sophia?”
“Can I see her?”
Manon stared for exactly half a second before stepping aside immediately. “She’s in her room.”
The apartment smelled intensely of rut.
Sophia’s heart clenched.
Manon pointed quietly toward the closed bedroom door down the hall.
“She’s been having a rough time,” she murmured. “She might calm down if you’re there.”
Sophia nodded quickly before moving down the hallway.
The scent grew stronger with every step.
By the time she opened the bedroom door, her omega instincts were practically aching.
Daniela lay curled tightly in blankets on the bed, breathing unevenly. Her room was dim and smelled painfully like distressed alpha pheromones.
At the sound of the door opening, Daniela lifted her head weakly.
Their eyes met.
And immediately Daniela made the softest, most broken sound Sophia had ever heard.
“Soph…”
Sophia’s chest shattered instantly.
“Oh, Dani.”
Daniela looked wrecked.
Hair messy. Eyes glassy. Hoodie half falling off one shoulder while she curled tighter into herself instinctively.
“You came,” Daniela whispered like she couldn’t believe it.
Sophia crossed the room immediately.
“Of course I came.”
The second she sat on the bed, Daniela practically collapsed toward her on instinct alone.
Sophia caught her immediately.
And suddenly Daniela was everywhere.
Arms wrapping tightly around Sophia’s waist.
Face buried against her neck.
Breathing her in desperately.
The effect was immediate.
Daniela’s trembling eased almost instantly as Sophia’s omega scent surrounded her.
“There you go,” Sophia whispered softly, stroking through her hair. “It’s okay.”
Daniela whined quietly against her throat.
“You smell so good,” she mumbled weakly.
Sophia’s heart nearly stopped.
Rut made alphas clingier, more instinctive.
And apparently Daniela’s instincts had decided Sophia was comfort.
Sophia adjusted carefully until Daniela was fully curled against her chest beneath the blankets.
Instantly the alpha relaxed further.
“There’s my girl,” Sophia whispered before she could think about it.
Daniela melted.
Actually melted.
A soft purr-like rumble escaped her chest as she nuzzled closer, breathing Sophia in deeply.
“You came,” Daniela repeated quietly.
Sophia smiled softly and pressed her cheek against Daniela’s hair.
“You looked for me every day,” she murmured. “Thought I wouldn’t come look for you too?”
Daniela made another weak little sound and tightened her hold around Sophia.
Sophia’s omega instincts purred happily at being needed like this.
She began scenting Daniela gently without even realizing it—rubbing her cheek softly against the alpha’s temple and neck, letting calming omega pheromones settle around them both.
Daniela practically shivered in relief.
“Better?” Sophia asked quietly.
Daniela nodded immediately against her neck.
“So much.”
Sophia smiled.
Outside the room, she could faintly hear Megan whispering something that sounded suspiciously like finally before Manon shushed her.
But Sophia ignored them.
Because right now Daniela was warm and sleepy in her arms, slowly relaxing for the first time in days while Sophia held her carefully against her chest.
There was nowhere else she’d rather be.
-
Sophia stayed.
At first, she only meant to stay for a few hours.
Just long enough to calm Daniela down. Long enough to make sure the alpha actually rested instead of suffering alone in her room for another miserable day.
But sometime around one in the morning, with Daniela asleep and clinging tightly to her waist beneath the blankets, Sophia realized she wasn’t leaving at all.
Nobody seemed surprised.
Manon blinked at her sleepily the next morning when Sophia emerged from Daniela’s room wearing one of Daniela’s hoodies and carrying an empty water bottle.
“You stayed.”
Sophia frowned slightly. “Obviously.”
Manon looked deeply amused.
Behind her, Megan nearly choked trying to suppress laughter.
Sophia ignored both of them completely.
“She needs food,” she said instead. “What groceries do you have?”
Megan stared at her for a moment before quietly muttering to Manon. "She’s nesting.”
“I know.”
“I’m obsessed with this.”
Sophia rolled her eyes and moved toward the kitchen.
The apartment was peaceful in the soft early morning light. Daniela’s rut scent still lingered faintly in the air, though weaker now than yesterday. Sophia could still feel traces of it clinging to her skin too, mixed with her own omega scent after hours spent curled together.
It should’ve embarrassed her.
Instead, it made her chest feel strangely warm.
She quietly started cooking breakfast while the apartment remained mostly asleep.
Well.
Attempted to cook.
Because approximately fifteen minutes later, she heard slow footsteps shuffling into the kitchen.
Sophia looked up instinctively.
And nearly melted.
Daniela stood in the doorway wearing oversized sweatpants and a hoodie, hair messy from sleep and eyes still heavy.
But the second she spotted Sophia, her entire expression softened.
There she is.
Sophia could practically see the thought happen in real time.
Daniela shuffled closer without a word.
Then immediately wrapped both arms around Sophia’s waist from behind and buried her face into the crook of her neck.
Sophia smiled despite herself.
“Good morning.”
Daniela only hummed sleepily against her skin.
“M’tired.”
“I know.”
“You left.”
“I came to make breakfast.”
Daniela tightened her hold immediately. “Come back.”
Sophia laughed softly.
“Baby, I’m literally right here.”
Daniela made a quiet complaining noise and nuzzled closer anyway.
Rut made her impossibly affectionate.
Not that Sophia minded.
Actually, Sophia was discovering she liked this version of Daniela very, very much.
The clinginess.
The soft little sounds.
The way Daniela constantly sought her out like it was instinct.
Sophia stirred the pan one-handed while Daniela remained attached to her back like an oversized sleepy wolf.
“You need to eat,” Sophia reminded gently.
“Don’t wanna.”
“You also need medicine.”
“No.”
Sophia turned her head slightly. “Dani.”
Daniela groaned dramatically.
Sophia laughed under her breath. “Stop being difficult.”
Daniela finally lifted her head enough to mumble, “You smell nice.”
Sophia’s cheeks warmed instantly.
Rut-brain Daniela had absolutely no filter.
“Thank you,” Sophia murmured.
Daniela looked at her with sleepy sincerity. “Prettiest omega ever.”
Sophia nearly burned the eggs.
From the living room, Manon’s muffled voice floated over:
“Please save the flirting until after coffee.”
“Mind your business,” Daniela called back immediately before burying her face against Sophia’s shoulder again.
Sophia bit back a smile.
Eventually she managed to pry Daniela away long enough to get her seated at the kitchen counter with breakfast and medicine.
Daniela looked deeply betrayed by the pills in Sophia’s hand.
“You’re evil.”
“You said that yesterday too.”
“You made me drink electrolyte water.”
“You were dehydrated.”
Daniela narrowed her eyes suspiciously before opening her mouth expectantly.
Sophia blinked once. “…Are you asking me to feed you?”
Daniela kept her mouth open silently.
Sophia stared.
Then laughed so suddenly she nearly dropped the spoon.
“Oh my god.”
“Please?”
Sophia should’ve said no.
Instead, she sighed fondly and scooped up another bite.
Daniela looked unbearably pleased with herself afterward.
“You’re spoiled,” Sophia informed her.
“Mhm.”
“And dramatic.”
“Mhm.”
“And impossible.”
Daniela smiled lazily. “But you like me.”
Sophia froze.
Daniela froze too.
The kitchen went silent.
Even Manon looked up from her coffee.
Because Daniela had said it casually, instinctively, without thinking.
But now her face slowly turned red as realization hit.
Sophia stared at her for one long second.
Then another.
And quietly:
“…Maybe a little.”
Daniela looked like she might actually die.
Manon immediately stood up. “Megan, let’s go.”
“Whyyy, I want to watch more." Megan whined.
“We are leaving.”
The two disappeared into the living room, Manon dragging Megan, while Daniela continued staring at Sophia in complete disbelief.
Sophia suddenly became very interested in fixing Daniela’s blanket around her shoulders.
“You should finish eating,” she mumbled softly.
Daniela reached for her wrist gently.
Sophia looked up.
The alpha’s expression had gone soft in that devastating way she always looked at Sophia.
“You stayed for me,” Daniela whispered.
Sophia swallowed.
“Obviously.”
Something unbearably tender crossed Daniela’s face then.
Before Sophia could process it, Daniela tugged her closer carefully until Sophia stood between her knees.
Then Daniela rested her forehead lightly against Sophia’s stomach.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Sophia’s heart practically folded in on itself.
Her fingers slipped automatically into Daniela’s hair.
“Get better soon,” she whispered softly.
Daniela smiled against her.
“With this kind of care?” she murmured. “I think I’m already healing.”
-
The next few days felt soft in a way Sophia had never experienced before.
Slow mornings tangled together beneath blankets.
Daniela following Sophia around the apartment because rut instincts insisted she stay close.
Cooking together while Daniela clung to her waist.
Movie marathons where Daniela fell asleep halfway through with her head in Sophia’s lap.
Gentle scenting whenever Daniela became restless again.
Sophia taking care of medicine schedules and meals while pretending not to adore every sleepy, affectionate look Daniela gave her.
By the third day, Daniela was significantly better.
But she still whined when Sophia tried to leave the bed.
“You’re clingy,” Sophia informed her one evening while Daniela practically laid on top of her during a movie.
“You like it.”
Sophia looked down at the alpha curled against her chest.
Daniela blinked up at her sleepily.
Warm.
Safe.
Completely trusting.
Sophia’s chest ached so badly with affection it almost scared her.
So instead of answering, she leaned down and pressed the softest kiss against Daniela’s forehead.
Daniela went very still.
Then slowly smiled.
And neither of them mentioned the blush spreading across Sophia’s face afterward.
"Sleep now." Sophia whispered.
"Hold me close."
"Always."
Sophia's omega melted in content as she felt the vibrations of Daniela's purrs.
-
Time really do fly fast when you enjoy something.
Daniela’s rut was supposed to end tomorrow.
That thought sat heavily in Sophia’s chest all evening.
She knew she should’ve been relieved. Really, she should have. The past few days had revolved entirely around taking care of Daniela—making sure she ate, stayed hydrated, rested, didn’t overwork herself trying to fight through the pain.
But somewhere between sleepy kitchen mornings and long cuddling sessions tangled beneath blankets, something inside Sophia had quietly shifted.
She’d gotten used to this.
To Daniela seeking her out first thing every morning.
To warm hands wrapping around her waist while she cooked.
To sleepy kisses pressed against her shoulder before Daniela even fully woke up.
To the constant comforting presence of alpha scent surrounding her.
And selfishly—
Sophia didn’t want it to end.
That realization embarrassed her enough that she buried it immediately.
Still, as they settled into bed that night, Daniela curled instinctively against her chest like she had every night before.
Sophia stroked slowly through her hair.
Daniela sighed contentedly.
“You’re thinking too loud,” the alpha mumbled sleepily.
Sophia smiled faintly. “Go to sleep.”
Daniela tilted her head just enough to press a lazy kiss against Sophia’s collarbone before settling again.
“Stay when my rut ends?”
Sophia’s chest tightened painfully.
“…Okay.”
Daniela smiled against her skin and fell asleep minutes later.
Sophia stayed awake much longer.
Listening to Daniela breathe.
Memorizing the warmth of her tangled around her beneath the blankets.
Pretending she wasn’t already dreading tomorrow.
-
Something was wrong.
Sophia realized it before she even fully opened her eyes.
The room smelled wrong.
Daniela’s scent flooded the bedroom so heavily it was almost suffocating—sharp cedarwood burned into something distressed and painful. It clawed at Sophia’s omega instincts instantly.
Danger.
Pain.
Alpha suffering.
Sophia shot upright immediately.
The bed beside her was empty.
Panic hit her chest all at once.
Then she heard it.
A harsh choking sound from the bathroom.
Followed by coughing.
Then vomiting.
“Dani—”
Sophia was already moving before she finished speaking.
The bathroom door was half-open.
Inside, Daniela sat crumpled against the wall beside the toilet, breathing unevenly. Her entire body trembled violently. Sweat dampened her shirt and her face was flushed an alarming shade of red.
Her eyes looked glassy with pain.
And the scent pouring from her nearly made Sophia’s instincts panic.
“Oh my god,” Sophia breathed.
Daniela looked up weakly at the sound of her voice.
“Soph…” she whimpered.
The sound shattered something inside Sophia instantly.
She dropped to her knees beside her without hesitation, hands immediately reaching for Daniela’s face.
The alpha was burning.
Not fever warm.
Burning.
“Dani, what’s happening?” Sophia asked shakily. “Your rut was supposed to end.”
“I-I don’t know,” Daniela gasped.
Pain visibly wracked through her body. She doubled over with a broken sound, clutching desperately at her stomach like she could somehow stop whatever was happening inside her.
“Fuck—ah, it hurts, Soph.”
Sophia’s heart lurched.
Daniela looked worse than she had at the beginning of her rut.
Much worse.
Her breathing turned ragged as another wave of pain hit her. The scent flooding the room sharpened again—raw suffering and distressed alpha pheromones.
Sophia’s omega instincts screamed immediately.
Help her.
Comfort.
Mate.
Mine.
Bite.
Sophia froze.
Bite.
The thought hit her all at once.
Bonding bites.
Alphas and omegas sometimes bonded during severe rut or heat distress when instincts overwhelmed the body completely. A mating bond stabilized pheromones, soothed instinctive pain, regulated hormonal overload.
Would it help?
Sophia looked at Daniela curled miserably against the bathroom wall.
Then she made her decision instantly.
“Baby look at me.”
Daniela blinked at her weakly.
“Bite me.”
Sophia shifted closer and tilted her head deliberately, exposing the sensitive scent gland along her neck.
Daniela’s pupils blew wide immediately.
The reaction was instant.
Alpha instincts surged visibly through her expression before she forcibly dragged herself back under control.
“What?” Daniela rasped. “No.”
“Dani—”
“No.” Daniela shook her head weakly despite another painful shudder wracking through her body. “I-I can do this. You don’t have to mate me.”
Sophia’s chest clenched painfully.
Even now, Daniela was more worried about her than herself.
“Daniela.”
The alpha looked at her helplessly.
Sophia reached up carefully, brushing trembling fingers against Daniela’s cheek.
“Bite me,” she whispered softly. “Please.”
Daniela stared at her like she was terrified to hope.
“A-are you sure?”
Sophia didn’t hesitate.
“Do it.”
That did it.
Something inside Daniela finally snapped.
A soft broken sound escaped her throat before she surged forward suddenly, hands gripping Sophia’s waist almost desperately.
Then—
Sharp pain.
Sophia gasped.
Daniela’s teeth sank carefully but deeply into the scent gland at her neck.
The sensation exploded through Sophia instantly.
Pain first—sharp and overwhelming enough to make her entire body tense.
Then heat.
Then something deeper.
Something impossible.
Sophia’s eyes fluttered shut as Daniela’s scent crashed into her all at once, flooding every instinct she had. Cedarwood and amber wrapped around her omega instincts possessively, desperately.
Mine.
The bond forming felt almost alive between them.
Threads pulling tight.
Two instincts tangling together irrevocably.
Sophia’s breath shook as Daniela let out a broken moan against her neck, the alpha practically melting with relief the deeper the bond settled.
The pain in Daniela’s scent began easing almost immediately.
Sophia could feel it.
The frantic instability smoothing into something warm and connected.
Safe.
Safe safe safe.
The sensation overwhelmed her completely.
Without thinking, Sophia leaned forward instinctively and buried her face against Daniela’s neck.
Then bit down.
Daniela cried out immediately—a sound somewhere between a moan and a whimper.
The alpha’s hands tightened around Sophia’s waist hard enough to bruise as her own bond snapped fully into place.
Sophia purred softly against her skin before she even realized she was doing it.
The sound made Daniela shudder violently beneath her hands.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard.
The bathroom smelled overwhelmingly of bonded pheromones now.
Warm.
Possessive.
Complete.
Daniela stared at her in complete disbelief. “…You bit me too.”
Sophia smiled faintly despite the lingering ache in her neck.
“What?” she murmured softly. “You didn’t want me to?”
Daniela’s entire face turned red immediately.
Sophia almost laughed.
Then Daniela suddenly blurted:
“We’re mates.”
The words hung between them.
Sophia looked up.
"You don't mind that?"
Daniela stared at her nervously, vulnerable in a way Sophia had never seen before.
Like she was waiting for regret.
For panic.
For rejection.
Instead, Sophia only looked mildly amused.
“Would I tell you to bite me if I didn’t want it?”
Daniela just stared at her.
Like her brain had completely stopped functioning.
Sophia reached up gently and brushed sweaty hair away from Daniela’s forehead.
“How are you feeling?”
Immediately concern returned to her expression as she looked Daniela over carefully.
The alpha still looked flushed and exhausted, though the agonizing pain scent was finally gone.
Daniela blinked slowly.
“…Still burning,” she admitted quietly. “But not hurting.”
Relief nearly made Sophia dizzy.
“Good.”
Daniela leaned instinctively into her touch now, bond-drunk and visibly calmer.
Sophia softened immediately.
“Come on,” she murmured. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
Daniela nodded weakly.
The second they stood, however, Daniela immediately reached for Sophia again like she physically couldn’t help herself now.
Sophia felt warmth bloom in her chest at the instinctive gesture.
Mine, her omega instincts purred contentedly.
And this time,
Daniela’s alpha scent answered right back.
-
By the time Sophia woke up again, sunlight had already started spilling through Daniela’s bedroom curtains.
For one long sleepy moment, she forgot everything.
Then Daniela shifted beside her.
The fresh mating bond between them pulsed warmly at the movement, alive beneath Sophia’s skin in a way that still felt surreal.
Mate.
Mine.
Sophia’s cheeks warmed instantly.
Daniela, meanwhile, looked entirely too peaceful for someone who had terrified Sophia half to death a few hours ago. The alpha slept curled tightly around her waist, face tucked against Sophia’s chest while soft purrs vibrated faintly from her throat.
The sound made Sophia melt immediately.
She carefully brushed fingers through Daniela’s hair.
The alpha stirred at once.
Golden-brown eyes blinked open slowly before softening the second they landed on Sophia.
“You're awake already.” Daniela mumbled sleepily.
Sophia smiled despite herself. “Good morning.”
Daniela immediately buried her face against Sophia’s neck again.
The new bond flared warm between them at the contact.
Sophia sucked in a tiny breath.
God.
Everything felt stronger now.
Daniela’s scent.
Her warmth.
The instinctive pull tugging Sophia closer.
Daniela inhaled deeply against her scent gland before making a pleased little sound.
Mine.
Sophia could practically feel the alpha thinking it.
“You’re clingy,” Sophia murmured softly.
Daniela only tightened her hold.
“Mhm.”
Sophia laughed quietly.
The alpha seemed significantly better now—still tired and slightly flushed, but no longer trembling in pain.
Relief settled deeply into Sophia’s chest.
Eventually she managed to untangle herself enough to get dressed and head toward the kitchen.
Daniela followed immediately.
Of course she did.
Sophia had barely started cooking breakfast when she heard footsteps behind her before warm arms slid around her waist.
Daniela rested her chin on her shoulder with a sleepy hum. “You left.”
“I walked ten feet.”
“Still counts.”
Sophia smiled helplessly and continued stirring the pan while Daniela clung to her from behind like an oversized affectionate wolf.
The bond made it impossible not to soften at the contact.
Every touch felt instinctively right now.
Comforting.
Natural.
The apartment door to Manon’s room opened a few minutes later.
Megan stumbled into the kitchen first, yawning dramatically before freezing mid-step.
Sophia immediately knew why.
The scent.
Bonded alpha and omega pheromones practically saturated the kitchen.
Megan’s eyes widened slowly.
Then narrowed.
Then widened again.
“Oh my god.”
Manon walked in behind her, paused immediately, and looked between them once.
“…No way.”
Sophia nearly dropped the spatula.
Daniela buried her face deeper into Sophia’s shoulder immediately.
Megan gasped dramatically and pointed at Sophia’s neck.
“YOU GOT BIT.”
Sophia instinctively slapped a hand over the mark.
Too late.
Manon burst out laughing.
“Oh, they definitely bonded.”
Daniela made a deeply embarrassed noise behind Sophia while Megan looked one second away from exploding.
“You guys do the—?!” Megan whisper-shouted.
“No!” Daniela blurted immediately.
Sophia side-eyed Megan flatly while the alpha behind her turned increasingly red.
“It wasn’t like that,” Daniela mumbled weakly.
Megan looked scandalized. “Then how did you accidentally end up with mating bites?!”
Daniela opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then buried her face against Sophia again in surrender.
Cute.
The thought hit Sophia so suddenly she nearly smiled into the pan.
Manon looked suspiciously emotional now.
“I can’t believe the pining finally paid off.”
“I hate all of you,” Daniela muttered into Sophia’s shoulder.
Sophia laughed softly under her breath.
“No, you don’t.”
Daniela immediately squeezed her waist tighter.
“No,” she admitted quietly. “I really don’t.”
Megan dramatically clutched her chest.
“They’re disgusting now.”
“They were disgusting before,” Manon corrected.
Sophia ignored both of them entirely and focused on plating breakfast instead.
Then she turned slightly toward Daniela.
“Sit down.”
Daniela blinked at her.
“You’re feeding me again?”
“You nearly collapsed this morning.”
Daniela smiled lazily. “Okay.”
The alpha obeyed immediately, settling into a chair while Sophia brought over food and medicine.
Megan stared in disbelief.
“Oh, she’s whipped whipped.”
Daniela looked deeply unashamed.
Sophia handed her the pills.
Daniela frowned at them immediately.
“Cruel.”
“Take them.”
“You’re mean to me.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
Daniela instantly swallowed the medicine obediently.
Manon snorted into her coffee.
-
The rest of the morning passed softly after that.
Daniela remained attached to Sophia in some way almost constantly—holding onto her hoodie, leaning against her side, rubbing absentmindedly at the fresh bond mark on Sophia’s neck whenever she got sleepy.
And every single time, Sophia felt her chest ache helplessly.
Because Daniela looked so content now.
So safe.
The sharp painful edge in her scent had disappeared completely.
By afternoon, though, reality slowly started settling back in.
Sophia had classes tomorrow.
She needed to go back to her own dorm eventually.
Daniela realized it around the same time she started gathering her things near the kitchen counter.
Immediately the alpha’s entire expression dimmed.
Sophia had barely slipped her bag over her shoulder before Daniela wrapped both arms around her waist.
Strong.
Warm.
Clingy.
Daniela rested her forehead against Sophia’s stomach and sighed quietly.
“I’m not ready to let you go yet.”
Sophia’s heart melted instantly.
She rested one hand gently on top of Daniela’s head and stroked slowly through her hair.
The alpha purred immediately.
Actually purred.
Sophia nearly folded on the spot.
“I have to go eventually,” she murmured softly. “We’ll see each other tomorrow, okay?”
Daniela’s arms tightened around her waist in response.
Sophia smiled helplessly.
“Look at me.”
Daniela lifted her head slowly.
Pouting.
Sophia almost laughed out loud.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’re leaving.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow after school.”
Daniela still looked unconvinced.
So Sophia leaned down slightly and pressed the softest kiss against her lips.
The effect was immediate.
Daniela froze.
Then slowly melted beneath her hands, eyes fluttering shut as soft warmth bloomed across her cheeks.
When Sophia pulled away, the alpha was smiling stupidly at her.
Sophia grinned.
“Should’ve known you’re a kiss-lover type.”
Daniela’s blush deepened immediately.
“It’s your kiss,” she mumbled.
Sophia laughed softly and tapped lightly at Daniela’s wrists.
“Let me get my bag properly.”
Daniela reluctantly loosened her hold.
"Do you have some medicine for fevers?" Sophia asked, glancing around the kitchen.
"It ran out, Dani used all of it." Megan absentmindedly answered from the living room. Daniela immediately flushed at the mention of her name.
"We do have some syrup though." Manon said, standing up from the couch and Daniela's face immediately cringed.
"Please no, that syrup tastes so bad." Dani her puppy eyes appearing to plead but was met with Sophia's raised eyebrow.
Sophia’s eyebrow lifted a little higher at Daniela’s dramatic pout. “You’re running a fever and refusing medicine because it tastes bad?”
Daniela crossed her arms deeper into the oversized blanket around her shoulders, grumbling under her breath. “It tastes like melted cough drops and betrayal.”
From the living room, Megan snorted loudly. “That’s weirdly specific.”
“It lingers,” Daniela complained, pointing accusingly toward the kitchen cabinet like it had personally wronged her.
Manon was already digging through the shelf, finally pulling out the bottle of syrup with a triumphant little hum. “Found it.”
Daniela looked genuinely distressed. “Sophia, please. Don’t let them do this to me.”
“You say that like they’re trying to execute you,” Sophia muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward.
Still, she took the bottle and read the label carefully before pouring the syrup into a spoon. The sharp medicinal smell immediately filled the kitchen.
Daniela recoiled. “Oh, absolutely not.”
“Dani.”
“No.”
Sophia sighed patiently, then glanced down at the spoon in her hand. For a second, Daniela thought she was going to argue more.
Instead, Sophia tipped the spoon back and took it inside her own mouth.
Daniela blinked in confusion.
“…What?”
Before she could question it further, Sophia stepped closer, one hand gently cupping Daniela’s cheek. Daniela barely had enough time to widen her eyes before Sophia kissed her.
Soft. Warm. Sweet for exactly one second—
—and then Daniela tasted the syrup.
Her face scrunched immediately as Sophia pulled away, trying very hard not to laugh.
Daniela stared at her in complete betrayal.
“Sophia.”
“You took the medicine.”
“You weaponized a kiss!”
“It was effective.”
“That is so evil,” Daniela whined, voice muffled as she buried half her face back into the blanket. “You can’t just do psychological warfare on sick people.”
Megan was laughing openly now from the couch. “Honestly? Genius move.”
Daniela pointed at Sophia with narrowed eyes. “I’m never trusting affection again.”
Sophia folded her arms calmly. “You’ll survive.”
“…Can I at least get a real kiss that doesn’t taste like expired cherries?”
That finally made Sophia laugh softly, stepping forward again to press a quick, proper kiss to Daniela’s lips this time.
“There,” she said. “Better?”
Daniela huffed dramatically, but the tiny smile she tried to hide gave her away completely.
"This is so cruel."
"Big strong Alpha, scared of some medicine." Sophia teased and took her own bag.
Daniela's eyes followed the movement and followed Sophia to the door.
“Do you want me to drop you off?”
Sophia stared at her in disbelief.
“You, my clingy alpha, need to rest.”
Daniela pouted again.
Sophia sighed dramatically despite the smile tugging at her lips.
“What can I do to make you not sad anymore?”
Daniela hesitated.
Then, quietly:
“…Maybe another kiss.”
Sophia pretended not to hear her.
“What was that?”
Daniela looked embarrassed for exactly two seconds before forcing herself to repeat.
“Maybe another kiss?”
Sophia softened instantly.
Then she stepped closer again and closed the distance between them.
This kiss lasted longer.
Slow.
Warm.
Tender enough that Daniela’s entire body relaxed beneath her hands almost immediately.
Sophia could feel the alpha smiling against her lips halfway through.
When they finally pulled apart, Daniela kept her eyes closed for another second.
Then,
“…Fuck.”
Sophia burst into laughter.
Daniela opened her eyes just in time to see her grinning at her.
“You’re cute,” Sophia informed her.
Daniela looked completely gone for her.
“Text me when you get home, okay?” Daniela asked softly.
Before Sophia could answer, the alpha gently took her wrist and rubbed it against her cheek instinctively, scent-marking herself again with Sophia’s omega scent.
The gesture was so affectionate Sophia nearly kissed her again.
“Okay,” she whispered instead.
Daniela walked her all the way to the apartment door anyway.
And Sophia absolutely did not look back three separate times before leaving.
She did not.
—
The second Sophia stepped into her own dorm, both Yoonchae and Lara looked up from the couch.
Then immediately froze.
Yoonchae’s eyes widened dramatically.
“Oh my god.”
Lara gasped.
Sophia blinked once. “What?”
Yoonchae pointed aggressively at her neck.
Sophia touched the bite instinctively.
Too late.
“YOU GOT MATED?!”
Sophia nearly dropped her bag.
“It’s not—”
“You smell completely bonded,” Lara interrupted, looking stunned.
Yoonchae looked seconds away from exploding.
“You disappeared for like four days and came back MATED?!”
Sophia’s face burned instantly.
“It was an emergency.”
Yoonchae stared flatly.
“An emergency that ended with matching bites?”
Sophia opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because honestly?
There was absolutely no normal explanation for this situation.
Yoonchae made a strangled noise.
“I need details immediately.”
Sophia pointed toward her room instantly.
“No.”
Then she escaped before either roommate could continue interrogating her.
The second her bedroom door closed behind her, Sophia leaned against it with a long exhale.
Everything still felt unreal.
The bond.
The bites.
Daniela.
Mine, her omega instincts hummed contentedly.
Sophia smiled helplessly before pulling out her phone.
A message already waited for her.
dani 🐺:
miss you already :(
Sophia’s chest melted instantly.
She typed back:
soph ♡:
I literally left twenty minutes ago.
The typing bubble appeared immediately.
dani 🐺:
and yet my statement still stands
Sophia laughed softly to herself.
Then finally typed:
soph ♡:
I got home safely.
Take your medicine and sleep, clingy alpha.
Three dots appeared instantly.
dani 🐺:
yes ma’am :(
come back tomorrow please
Sophia stared at the message for a long moment before smiling helplessly into her phone.
Then she replied:
soph ♡:
I will. ❤️
-
The next morning felt strangely nerve-wracking.
Sophia stood in front of her mirror adjusting her uniform for the third time while trying very hard not to acknowledge the real reason her stomach kept fluttering.
It definitely wasn’t because she was about to see Daniela again.
Definitely not because they were mates now.
And absolutely not because Sophia had spent most of the night rereading Daniela’s clingy texts with a smile she couldn’t control.
Yoonchae watched her from the doorway with narrowed eyes.
“You’ve fixed your hair six times.”
“I always fix my hair.”
“You’re literally glowing.”
Sophia shot her a flat look.
Yoonchae grinned wider. “Mate glow.”
“Stop talking.”
Lara walked past behind them and immediately paused.
“Oh wow, she really does have mate glow.”
Sophia groaned softly and grabbed her bag before either of them could continue.
“I’m leaving.”
“I'm so proud of you!” Yoonchae called after her.
Sophia ignored them entirely.
Unfortunately for her dignity, the moment she stepped onto campus she started looking for Daniela immediately.
Not intentionally.
Her eyes just… drifted automatically.
Every familiar alpha scent made her instinctively glance up hopefully before realizing it wasn’t Daniela.
The bond made the absence feel noticeable now.
Like something tugging faintly in her chest.
By the time Sophia reached their department hallway, she finally caught Daniela’s scent nearby.
Warm cedarwood.
Comforting.
Home.
Sophia slowed instinctively around the corner.
Then stopped completely.
Daniela stood near the lockers with Manon and Megan, though she barely seemed aware of them. Her shoulders slumped slightly, expression distracted while her eyes scanned the hallway over and over again with a small pout in jutting on her lips.
Looking.
Searching.
For her.
Sophia’s chest melted instantly.
She stayed hidden behind the wall for another second just to watch.
Daniela looked practically deflated.
Until—
Her eyes landed on Sophia.
And suddenly it was like watching the sun come out.
Daniela visibly brightened so fast it almost startled Sophia.
Then the alpha was moving.
One second beside her friends.
The next directly in front of Sophia before strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
Sophia barely had time to react before Daniela buried her face against her shoulder with a relieved sigh.
“I missed you,” Daniela whispered softly.
The bond between them practically purred at the contact.
Sophia immediately melted despite herself.
“You are so clingy,” she murmured instead.
Daniela lifted her head instantly.
Pouting.
“You don’t like it?”
Sophia tried.
She really tried to stay strong.
But staring contests became deeply unfair when Daniela weaponized those stupid puppy eyes against her.
Sophia lasted approximately three seconds.
Then she groaned quietly.
“This is so unfair.”
Daniela grinned immediately, victorious.
Before either of them could continue, Megan’s voice interrupted nearby.
“Wow,” she said dramatically. “I blinked and she disappeared. Should’ve known it was you.”
Daniela playfully glared at her while keeping one arm firmly around Sophia’s waist.
“You’re annoying.”
“You’re obsessed,” Megan corrected.
Manon snorted softly beside her.
“She’s been looking for Sophia since she got here.”
Daniela looked completely unashamed.
“I was.”
Sophia’s cheeks warmed instantly.
Megan clutched her chest dramatically. “God, they’re somehow even worse after bonding.”
“We’re not that bad,” Daniela argued.
Sophia looked at her pointedly.
The alpha was still clinging to her in the middle of the hallway.
Daniela blinked once.
“…Okay maybe a little.”
“A little?” Megan repeated incredulously.
Sophia laughed quietly before Daniela immediately looked back at her like she’d just discovered sunlight again.
There it was.
That look.
The one that always made Sophia’s chest ache helplessly.
Soft.
Warm.
Completely gone for her.
Daniela reached up absentmindedly and brushed fingers lightly against the bond mark peeking above Sophia’s collar.
The touch sent warmth spiraling through Sophia instantly.
“You covered it,” Daniela murmured softly.
“Because unlike you, I enjoy privacy.”
Daniela smiled lazily. “I like showing people you’re mine.”
Sophia nearly choked.
Manon made a horrified noise.
Megan screamed silently into her hands.
Daniela immediately realized what she’d said and turned bright red.
Sophia stared at her for one long second.
Then slowly smiled.
Cute.
Dangerously cute.
“You’re lucky you’re pretty,” Sophia murmured.
Daniela looked devastatingly pleased by that response.
Then immediately leaned closer like she was physically incapable of staying farther than six inches away now.
“You smell nice,” she whispered against Sophia’s ear.
Sophia’s face heated instantly.
“Dani.”
“What?”
“You’re doing that on purpose.”
Daniela grinned.
“Maybe.”
Megan looked genuinely exhausted already.
“It’s eight in the morning.”
“They’ve become unbearable,” Manon agreed.
Sophia ignored both of them completely as Daniela tightened her hold around her waist again.
“You ate breakfast?” Sophia asked automatically.
Daniela nodded obediently.
“Took my medicine too.”
“Good.”
Megan looked scandalized. “Oh my god, she’s trained now.”
Daniela gasped dramatically. “Excuse you.”
Sophia laughed softly under her breath.
Then Daniela leaned down slightly, voice quieter now.
“You really came back.”
The sincerity in her tone made Sophia’s chest tighten.
As if part of Daniela still couldn’t fully believe it.
Sophia’s expression softened immediately.
“I told you I would.”
Daniela smiled then.
Small.
Warm.
Hopelessly in love-looking.
Sophia thought she could spend the rest of her life chasing that exact smile.
-
By the end of the day, Daniela had somehow become even clingier.
Sophia didn’t know how that was physically possible considering the alpha had spent the entire day attached to her side like a devoted shadow, but apparently mating bonds unlocked levels of affection previously unknown to mankind.
Not that Sophia was complaining.
Okay.
Maybe she was complaining a little.
But only because Daniela kept looking at her with those unbearably soft eyes every five minutes like she’d personally hung the stars in the sky.
It was distracting.
Very distracting.
Especially during lectures.
Sophia had been trying to take notes during their afternoon class when she suddenly felt eyes on her again.
She sighed without even looking up.
“Daniela.”
“Hm?”
“Stop staring at me.”
“I’m literally just sitting here.”
Sophia finally glanced sideways.
Daniela was indeed sitting there normally.
Except for the fact she was openly gazing at Sophia like she was the greatest thing she’d ever seen.
Sophia narrowed her eyes.
Daniela smiled immediately.
“You’re pretty.”
Sophia’s pen slipped slightly across the page.
Behind them, Megan made a gagging sound.
“This is sickening.”
“You’re jealous because nobody likes you this much,” Daniela shot back instantly.
“I was happier before hearing that sentence.”
Sophia pressed a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
Daniela noticed anyway.
Of course she did.
The alpha brightened immediately like she’d just been rewarded.
Sophia’s heart betrayed her completely.
By the time classes finally ended, Daniela looked one step away from vibrating out of excitement.
Sophia barely packed her things before Daniela was already standing beside her desk.
“Ready?”
Sophia blinked up at her. “For what?”
Daniela looked genuinely confused.
“To go home.”
Sophia stared for a moment before realization hit.
Home.
Daniela’s apartment.
Their apartment, her omega instincts corrected immediately.
Sophia’s cheeks warmed.
“Oh.”
Daniela softened instantly at her reaction.
“Come on,” she said gently, reaching for Sophia’s bag automatically before she could carry it herself. “I missed you all day.”
“You saw me literally every hour.”
“Still counts.”
Sophia laughed softly.
Behind them, Megan leaned heavily against Manon’s shoulder.
“I can’t survive another month of this.”
“You’ll live,” Manon replied dryly.
Daniela ignored both of them entirely as she slipped naturally beside Sophia while they walked through campus together.
The bond hummed pleasantly beneath Sophia’s skin the closer they stayed.
Warm.
Content.
Daniela kept glancing at her every few seconds too.
Sophia finally sighed dramatically. “What?”
The alpha looked delighted she’d asked.
“I’m excited.”
“For?”
Daniela smiled sheepishly.
“Taking you home.”
Sophia’s chest did something deeply embarrassing.
“And cuddles,” Daniela added immediately after. “Definitely excited for cuddles.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The clinginess.”
Daniela looked completely unapologetic. “You love it.”
Sophia opened her mouth to deny it.
Then stopped.
Because unfortunately...
She really did.
Daniela noticed the hesitation instantly and grinned victoriously.
“I knew it.”
“You’re annoying.”
“You’re in love with me.”
Sophia nearly tripped on the sidewalk.
Daniela burst into laughter beside her.
“You can’t just say things like that!”
“You didn’t deny it.”
Sophia glared at her while Daniela continued looking far too pleased with herself.
The alpha reached over then and quietly intertwined their fingers together.
The simple touch made warmth spread instantly through Sophia’s chest.
Daniela smiled softly at the reaction.
“See?” she murmured. “You’re cute when you get shy.”
Sophia looked away immediately.
“I’m not shy.”
“Mhm.”
They reached Daniela’s apartment just as the sun started setting.
The second the door closed behind them, Daniela visibly relaxed.
Then immediately turned toward Sophia with unmistakable hope written all over her face.
Sophia blinked once.
“…What?”
Daniela hesitated.
Then very quietly,
“Can I have my cuddles now?”
Sophia stared at her.
The alpha looked so sincere asking that Sophia physically felt her resolve collapse.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Daniela stepped closer immediately.
“But can I?”
Sophia sighed dramatically like she was deeply burdened by this request.
Then opened her arms slightly.
Daniela practically lit up.
The alpha immediately wrapped herself around Sophia with a relieved sound, burying her face into the crook of her neck while the bond between them settled warmly.
“I'm so happy.” Daniela mumbled happily against her skin.
Sophia melted instantly despite herself.
Daniela smelled like comfort now instead of pain.
Warm cedarwood.
Home.
Sophia’s omega instincts purred contentedly.
“You missed me that much?” she asked softly.
Daniela tightened her arms around her waist.
“Yes.”
The immediate honesty made Sophia’s chest ache.
Daniela rubbed her cheek lightly against Sophia’s scent gland before inhaling deeply.
“Missed this too.”
Sophia’s fingers slipped automatically into her hair.
The alpha practically melted on the spot.
“Oh,” Sophia murmured teasingly. “So you’re spoiled now.”
Daniela looked up at her immediately.
“By you specifically.”
Sophia failed to hide her smile this time.
Daniela stared at it like she’d just won the lottery.
Then, very softly:
“You should smile more.”
Sophia’s heart folded in half.
When Daniela pulled her toward the couch afterward with obvious plans to spend the entire evening tangled together beneath blankets, Sophia followed willingly.
-
"Stay?" Daniela whispers to her later that night, laying on top of Sophia and looking at her with that hopeful eyes Sophia knew was her weakness already.
"I'll be here 'till morning" Sophia whispers back, pulling Dani close to her.
Yeah, that was the best decision she ever made.