**[DREAM REALM]**
Caspian was walking from the shallow sea into deeper water.
He wanted to stop, but his body wouldn't obey. It kept dragging him deeper. The water rose past his chest, his chin. He was about to drown when a hand clamped around his arm and yanked him back.
He turned to see who had saved him—
And woke up.
Caspian sat up fast, breath ragged, eyes darting around the room. No one was there. The bedroom was huge, silent, unfamiliar. He glanced at the mirror and saw himself on the king-sized bed, clutching a black jacket, blankets tangled around his legs.
_What is this place? Where am I?_
The questions barely formed before the flashbacks hit him.
_Is it… the Good Guy?_ he murmured to the empty room.
He hadn't slept this peacefully in a long time. For the first time in ages, his body felt rested.
The sound of a lock turning made him go rigid.
He yanked the blankets over his head, hiding himself completely, but left his eyes peeking out. His heart hammered. Panic clawed up his throat again.
The door opened.
Zayden stepped in, dressed casually this time. Dark black hair fell messily over his forehead. He looked annoyingly gorgeous.
Caspian's breath hitched.
Zayden froze the moment he saw him. Light blue eyes stared back at him, wide and cautious. For a second neither of them moved. Then Zayden's expression softened.
"You're finally awake?"
Caspian didn't answer. He lowered the blankets slowly, nodding.
Zayden went still again. The sudden glimpse of that face caught him off guard. He composed himself quickly and shut the door behind him.
Caspian watched him as Zayden moved to the other side of the bed. "What's your name?" Zayden asked, sitting down with his back to Caspian, tugging off his shoes.
"Casp… Caspian," he whispered.
Zayden paused for half a second, then finished removing his shoes and slid under the blanket.
Caspian couldn't stop staring. He smelled the rich pheromones of dominant alpha "What are you doing?" Caspian voice was small, but the room was quiet enough for Zayden to hear.
"I'm sleeping in my bed. Is that wrong?" Zayden said with a faint smile.
"But—" Caspian started, then stopped himself. He'd never fought for himself since he manifested as an Omega. He changed the subject instead. "So… what's your name?"
"Zay," Zayden replied, closing his eyes and turning his back. The message was clear: _let me sleep._
Caspian's stomach growled. Quiet, but loud enough in the silence. Zayden heard it. He didn't turn around. He wanted to see what Caspian would do.
"Zay," Caspian called again.
No response.
Caspian reached a hand out toward him, then froze. Something cruel flashed in his memory. He pulled his hand back fast.
_What if he gets angry? What if he hits me? What if he throws me out? What would I do then?_
The thoughts came fast and ugly. He slid out of bed. The carpet under his feet was warm—nothing like the cold floors he'd run from before. He moved to the door, trying to reach the lock. The palace doors were massive, built for someone like Zayden. For Caspian, they were too high.
He tried. Failed. Tried again.
Hunger gnawed at his stomach. He looked around for a chair, found only a heavy sofa. Gritting his teeth, he pushed against it. It barely moved. He shoved again and again until one arm of the sofa scraped against the door.
He climbed onto it, stretching for the lock. It's still too far.
Zayden watched him quietly, curious.
Caspian struggled until his stomach cramped. He knew if he reached any further he'd fall. He stopped, breathing hard, and looked back at the bed.
Zayden shut his eyes fast, pretending to sleep.
_Should I ask him? But what if he hates me for waking him?_
Tears pricked Caspian's eyes. Hunger was winning. He moved toward the window. He slipped quietly behind the curtains and curled up, hiding from sight.
Zayden waited a moment. Then he heard it—a small sob.
It hit him like a punch to the chest. He jolted out of the bed and moved instantly, pulling the curtain aside.
Their eyes met.
Caspian looked up, tears spilling over. For the first time in a long while, Zayden felt guilty just for existing. He crouched down and took Caspian's hands, wiping his tears with his thumb.
"What happened? Why are you crying?"
"Hungry," Caspian whispered.
Zayden's expression softened. He pulled Caspian into a hug, patting his back. "You should've woken me up. Why are you crying over that?"
Caspian sniffled but didn't look up.
"Come on," Zayden said, helping him stand. "Let's go eat."
They left the room. Caspian watched as Zayden opened the heavy lock with one hand— the lock he'd fought for ten minutes to budge. He swallowed the urge to cry again.
Downstairs, the palace was empty and quiet. Zayden pulled out a chair for him at the dining table, then disappeared into the kitchen.
Ten minutes later he set a bowl of spaghetti in front of Caspian.
"It's all I could make in this time. If you want anything else—"
Caspian didn't let him finish. He ate fast, too hungry to wait. Zayden shook his head and placed a glass of water beside him.
"Drink some water. At this rate you'll choke."
Caspian didn't look up, but he took a sip between bites.
When he finished, he set the bowl down and glanced up. He felt a gaze on him. Zayden was scrolling on his phone, face neutral.
_Did he stare at me, or am I imagining it?_
The moment he thought it, Zayden looked up. Their eyes met.
"Want anything else?" Zayden asked.
Caspian shook his head.
"Then I'm going back to sleep," Zayden said, standing.
"You can stay in the palace, but don't go outside. It's dangerous. And find me if something happens."
Caspian nodded.
Zayden disappeared up the stairs.
Zayden entered the room but didn't lock the door. He got into bed, pulled out his phone, and opened the gallery. Dozens of photos of Caspian eating were already saved.
He scrolled through them slowly, murmuring to himself, "He's so cute."