The front door closed behind them. Julius stood where Harrison had left him, one hand against the wall, breathing harder than he wanted. The place felt too quiet, too empty, with no noise and no crowd to hide behind. Just Harrison standing there, watching him with that unreadable expression.

"I’m not staying," Julius said. Harrison turned to look at him, his expression unchanged. "You already are." Julius pushed off the wall and walked toward him, each step slower than it should have been.

His body wasn’t cooperating the way he needed it to. "Don’t start with me," he muttered, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I’m not the one who started tonight." Julius stopped, the heat under his skin still burning, steady and wrong.

It made his body feel like something he couldn’t fully control anymore. His mind was clear enough to understand what was happening, but that didn’t make it easier. Harrison watched him without moving, calm and unreadable as ever. It only made Julius angrier.

"You’re enjoying this," Julius said. "No," Harrison replied without hesitation. Julius let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "You let me walk into it."

"Yes." The answer came without shame. Julius’s gaze hardened. "You knew what she was planning."

"I knew enough," Harrison said calmly. "And you still let me go in there," Julius pressed. "You needed to see it for yourself."

Julius’s jaw tightened, he clenched his hands. I didn’t need you to teach me anything." Harrison stepped closer, slow and deliberate. Julius didn’t step back, even though he knew he should.

Harrison’s pheromones spread through the space, controlled but intentional, pressing against him instead of calming him. The heat climbed higher, sharper, making it harder to think. Julius exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay grounded.

"Are you even human?" he asked, voice rough. Harrison tilted his head slightly. "Why do you ask?"

"Aren’t you an Enigma?" Julius said, his voice tightening. "You’re supposed to calm it down, not make it worse." Harrison stepped closer again, closing the space between them.

"So why are you making it worse?" Julius asked. Harrison’s gaze didn’t shift. "I can calm you," he said quietly.

Silence settled between them. "I could bring it down right now." Another pause followed. "But I’m not going to."

Julius’s eyes hardened. "Why not?" Harrison’s voice remained low. "Because this is your punishment."

The words hit harder than anything else. Julius’s hand shot out, grabbing the front of Harrison’s shirt. His fingers tightened in the fabric as they stood there, close enough to feel each other’s presence.

"What are you doing?" Harrison asked calmly. Julius swallowed, his throat tight. "Shut up."

He pulled Harrison forward without thinking. Their mouths met in a sudden, reckless collision. It wasn’t soft or careful, just heat, anger, and loss of control crashing together.

Then Julius pushed him back slightly. "What the hell was that?" His voice cracked.

Harrison didn’t react, but his gaze had changed, darker now. Julius wiped his mouth hard. "That didn’t happen."

Harrison said nothing. Julius stepped back again, and his knees gave out without warning. He lost balance.

Harrison moved quickly, catching him before he fell. Julius pushed against his chest. "Don’t."

"You’re not standing," Harrison said. "I said don’t touch me." Julius’s voice sharpened.

"You already touched me first." Julius went still for a moment. Then the anger came rushing back. "Are you out of your mind?"

Harrison looked down at him. "Are you?" Without waiting, he lifted Julius completely. Julius struggled. "Put me down."

No answer came. "Harrison." Still nothing.

The bathroom door opened. A second later, cold water hit him. Julius gasped as he dropped into the pool, the shock ripping through him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he snapped. Harrison stood above him. "Cool down."

"You threw me into water." Julius shoved his hair back. "You kissed me," Harrison replied.

The words hit hard. Julius froze for a moment. Then his expression went cold.

"You think that meant something?" Julius asked. "No," Harrison said simply.

"Stop talking and take this medicine"

Julius stared at it. "Why would I trust you?" Harrison’s expression didn’t change. "You don’t have a better option."

Julius held out his hand. Harrison placed the tablet in it. Julius swallowed it without question.

That realization came seconds later. He hadn’t even hesitated. Harrison noticed. "What?"

"Nothing." Julius looked away. Harrison handed him water. Julius drank.

The silence shifted slightly. "It’ll start working soon," Harrison said. Julius leaned back. "Why are you doing this?"

"The mighty Alpha is asking questions now?" Harrison replied. "Answer me." Julius’s voice hardened.

"You have a fiancée," Harrison said. "The one who drugged me?" Julius snapped.

"Yes." Julius looked down. "I was already ending it." Harrison’s voice stayed calm. "You were going to anyway."

Julius’s eyes lifted again. "You think you know too much." Harrison didn’t move. "I know enough."

"That’s your problem." Julius’s voice was sharp. "No," Harrison said quietly. "It’s yours."

The medicine began to work. The heat slowly faded, loosening its grip. Julius could think clearly again.

He hated that it happened here. In Harrison’s house. With Harrison watching him like he had expected everything.

Julius stood slowly and stepped out of the pool. Water dripped from his clothes. Harrison handed him a towel, and Julius took it without argument.

That silence said enough. Julius dried his face, then his hands. When he looked up again, Harrison hadn’t moved.

"This changes nothing," Julius said. Harrison met his gaze. "It will."

"You don’t decide that." Julius threw the towel aside. Harrison stepped closer, just enough to close the distance again.

"You still think this is about decisions." Julius frowned. "Then what is it about?" Harrison held his gaze.

"You’re chasing answers you don’t understand yet." Julius went still. That tone again.

"What are you talking about?" Julius asked. Harrison didn’t answer. The silence stretched.

Julius stepped forward. "Then say it." Harrison’s voice remained calm. "You’ll see."

That again. Julius looked away first. It made something twist in his chest.

He turned and walked toward the door. His steps were stronger now. Not perfect, but better.

Behind him, Harrison didn’t follow. That somehow made it worse. Julius stopped at the door.

"I’m leaving in the morning." Harrison’s answer came quietly. "We’ll see."

Julius didn’t respond. Because one thing had already settled in his mind. Harrison knew something. And Julius was going to find out what it was.