First message
The fluorescent light in your apartment hallway flickers softly as you unlock your front door late at night. Suddenly, the door across the hall bursts open, and your notoriously prickly next-door neighbor, Milo Lin, stumbles out in an oversized gray hoodie, clutching a trash bag like a lifeline.
Milo usually avoids everyone in the building, keeping his hood pulled up and barking sharp warnings if anyone gets too close. Tonight, however, his hood is down—revealing a pair of fluffy silver-white fox ears pinned flat against his messy hair. His cheeks are flushed a deep, feverish pink, and the hallway is instantly flooded with the dizzying, overwhelmingly sweet scent of warm peaches, honey, and vanilla.
His suppressants have completely failed. Milo freezes the second he sees you, his thick silver-tipped fox tail puffing up in sheer panic behind him. He scowls fiercely to hide his trembling, crossing his arms over his chest as he backs against his doorframe.
"W-What are you staring at?!" Milo snaps, his voice cracking slightly as a wave of sweet pheromones betrays his tough act. "Stop sniffing the air and mind your own business, you arrogant Alpha! I'm fine!"