Aligned Fantasy

If someone had told Maya he'd run into his ex on a scorching Sunday afternoon at a shoe store, he would have stayed home. No hesitation, no debate—he would have locked himself inside with a tub of ice cream and binge-watched old anime reruns until the sun set.

Because now, standing under the buzzing fluorescent lights of Sports & Kicks, was the very last person he wanted to see.

Dante.

And to make matters worse, Maya’s current boyfriend was just a few aisles down, trying on basketball shoes, oblivious to the hurricane unfolding only steps away.

Maya wasn’t the one who noticed Dante first. In fact, he had no idea how Dante even spotted him. Maybe it was his scent. Maybe it was just dumb, cosmic misfortune. Was Maya pleased? Absolutely not. Was he panicking? Yes—unquestionably yes. His fingers were trembling, his breath shallow. Because standing in front of him wasn’t just his ex of barely a year ... it was the ex he was still hopelessly, tragically in love with.

His name sat heavy in Maya's chest: Dante.

And behind him, at the far end of the aisle, stood Taiga—his boyfriend. Tall, brash, talented, kind. Unknowing.

Maya was an Omega—an Elite Prime Omega, to be precise. The kind that wasn't supposed to let emotions override reason. The kind expected to hold composure like royalty. He had control, power, and rank. But right now, the distress scent curling off his skin betrayed everything.

Dante, of course, noticed. His trademark smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, effortlessly cool, like nothing had changed.

But everything had changed.

In their society, secondary genders meant everything. Alpha and Omega—those were just the basics. Each had ranks, each a rung on an unforgiving social ladder. For Alphas, the hierarchy went: Alpha, Prime Alpha, Elite Prime Alpha, Enigma, Elite Enigma, and the rare Elite Prime Enigma. For Omegas: Omega, Prime Omega, Elite Prime Omega, Luna, Elite Luna, and finally Elite Prime Luna. Lunas were considered the top—rulers of the matriarchal system in theory—but in practice, Omegas were often treated like background noise unless they had status. Respect was reserved for the high ranks. Power, for the rare.

And Dante? He was an Elite Prime Enigma.

A rarity. An anomaly. Possibly dangerous.

He was either someone powerful or the child of someone even more so. A rising basketball star on the national team, not NBA-level yet, but it was only a matter of time. His father ran an electrical company and more businesses than Maya could count. They had met in middle school, played on the same team, dated in their third year, and broke up just before graduation.

Now, here he was again.

The air was heavy with unspoken words. Maya’s scent pulsed with unease.

He wanted to run. But footsteps approached behind him, firm and fast.

“Maya, are you okay?” Taiga’s voice cut through the tension. “You smell... off.”

Maya flinched. He didn’t answer.

Taiga stepped beside him, blinking when he noticed Dante. “Oh—Dante? What a surprise. What are you doing here? Haven’t seen you since the Winter Cup.”

Dante’s gaze shifted to him, unreadable and cold. He didn’t speak.

The silence between them was sharp.

Maya felt it—saw it. The way Taiga squared his shoulders. The way Dante tilted his head slightly, appraising. The way the air suddenly seemed too thin to breathe in.

Panic flared.

Before things could escalate, Maya bowed stiffly, took Taiga’s hand, and tugged him toward the back of the store.

“We meet again, Maya,” Dante said behind them, voice smooth and cruelly calm. “I see you’ve already replaced me.”

He walked away without waiting for a reply.

Maya stopped mid-step. Taiga stared at him, confusion bleeding into concern.

And Maya?

He had a whole storm of explanations to give—and no idea where to begin.

Maya didn’t speak for a while—not even when they stepped outside into the sticky afternoon heat. His fingers stayed wrapped around Taiga’s, but his mind was somewhere else entirely, replaying every second of that encounter like a looping curse.

Dante’s smirk.

That voice.

“I see you’ve already replaced me.”

Maya flinched just remembering it.

Taiga finally tugged his hand gently. “You’re shaking.”

“I know,” Maya muttered. His voice sounded smaller than usual.

They were parked two blocks away, but Taiga didn’t move. He tilted his head, watching Maya with quiet concern. Most people misread Taiga at first glance. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and loud when he wanted to be—but he was also observant, painfully so.

“You wanna tell me what that was?” he asked. “Because I’ve never seen you go that pale before.”

Maya opened his mouth, then closed it again. The words sat at the edge of his tongue like shards of glass.

“I used to date him,” he said eventually, voice barely above a whisper. “Dante. He was my... my first real relationship.”

Taiga blinked, surprised but not angry. “You guys were a thing?”

Maya nodded.

“For how long?”

“Almost two years. We broke up right before graduation.”

Taiga let out a low whistle, stepping back just enough to lean against the nearest tree. “Damn. And I just shook his hand at the Winter Cup like it was nothing.”

Maya gave a sad laugh. “You didn’t know.”

“Still,” Taiga muttered. “Guy’s got an aura. He stares at people like he’s looking straight through them.”

Maya nodded again, this time slower. “That’s because he does.”

Taiga went quiet, giving Maya space to speak—or to stay silent if he wanted. It was one of the things Maya appreciated most about him. He didn’t push. He waited.

Finally, Maya said, “He’s an Enigma. Elite Prime. We never really knew how or why. His file was always... vague. But he has this pull. Like he bends a room the moment he walks into it. I used to think it was just charm, or confidence. But after a while, it felt more like gravity. Like I couldn’t leave even when I wanted to.”

Taiga’s jaw clenched just slightly.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked, the words careful but edged.

Maya’s gaze dropped. “No... not physically. He was never cruel like that. But he knew exactly how I felt. And he used it.”

Silence settled between them again.

Then: “You’re still in love with him?”

The question was soft, not accusing. Just a truth needing air.

Maya hesitated. “...Yes.”

There. He said it. The words hit like thunder in his chest, but at least they were out.

Taiga didn’t flinch. He looked off down the street, nodding slowly. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Maya echoed, confused.

“I mean, I don’t love it,” Taiga said honestly. “But people are messy. You don’t just switch off feelings like a light. I’d rather know the truth than have you fake something for me.”

Maya stared at him, heart cracking a little at the unexpected grace.

Taiga finally pushed off the tree, walking ahead a few steps, then turning back. “But Maya... if he tries to worm his way back in, you better believe I’m not stepping aside quietly.”

A smile pulled at Maya’s lips despite himself. “I wouldn’t ask you to.”

“Good,” Taiga said, and gave him a wink. “Now come on. I think those shoes are on sale, and you owe me a game.” unknowingly to maya taiga's mind is in a haze.