Avery's pheromones had soured into something bitter and acrid, the kind that clung to the air like smoke. His day had already been riddled with back-to-back meetings, hostile board members whispering doubts about his leadership, and calculations of international partnerships that had yet to finalize. And then, as if the universe delighted in striking him while his guard was down, his father had appeared.
Mr. Cheng entered the office with his usual sharp gait, his eyes narrowing as though Avery were nothing more than an offending blemish. "I cannot understand," Mr. Cheng began, voice cutting through the room like steel, "how despite having most of your responsibilities stripped away, you haven't once come to me for forgiveness. You walk around as if this… exile does not touch you."
He paused, leaning closer, his lips curling into a sneer. "You've become a lazy rat. Wandering. Useless."
The words should have burned Avery. To anyone else they might have. But Avery, seated tall in his chair with his hands clasped on the desk, let a thin smile slip. "You made me a lazy rat," he answered coolly. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be working like a dog chained to your leash."
Mr. Cheng's jaw flexed. His eyes, sharp and glinting, looked at Avery as though he were a stranger, some unfamiliar son who had slipped from his grasp. "Even that new little Omega of yours doesn't seem to be putting sense into your head," he spat. "An American on top of that. Where did you even find him?"
Avery didn't flinch. There was satisfaction, almost smug, in watching his father's control slip. His father, who is so used to orchestrating every move, pulling every string, was faced now with a son who refused to bend.
The elder Cheng's patience snapped. "If you continue down this path, I'll see to it you're blacklisted across the industry. No company will touch you."
Avery's calm exterior didn't betray much, but inside he felt the truth of those words. He knew precisely what his father was capable of; he had seen others destroyed for less. That was why his secret overseas ventures mattered so much. He needed them solidified before his father could crush everything he'd built.
When his father finally left, leaving the office tense and charged with venom, Avery's body betrayed him. A sharp rush of heat spiked down his spine, his control fracturing. His breath hitched, and his pulse throbbed erratically. The suppressant in his system wasn't holding. His father's presence, the anger, the humiliation, it had burned through its effects too quickly.
"Is this why they warn not to stress when on suppressants?" Avery muttered to himself. He grabbed his bag in a swift motion and stormed out, heading straight for his car. He couldn't risk anyone else noticing.
By the time he reached the hospital, dusk had painted the sky a deep violet. Dr. Wu was locking up, shoulders sagging with the exhaustion of a long shift, when Avery appeared before him. The Alpha's looming presence made the doctor flinch. Avery's eyes were dark, the faint sheen of sweat at his temples betraying his fight for composure.
"You scared me," Dr. Wu exhaled, steadying himself. "What brings you here?"
"I need more," Avery said. His voice was low, guttural, Alpha-charged. He didn't bother finishing the sentence.
Dr. Wu studied him carefully, noting the subtle pheromone flare, the restless tension in his body. He checked his calendar, brows furrowing. The rut wasn't due for at least three more days. Suppressants usually bought him a comfortable two weeks, and the effect usually start wearing off a few days after the expected time. For it to be crashing this soon, something was wrong.
"Step into my office," Dr. Wu said, voice clipped.
The examination dragged for thirty minutes. Avery's patience wore thin; his nails dug faint crescents into his palm as he sat rigidly on the chair. Finally, Dr. Wu returned with a sheet of results.
"I only came for more suppressants," Avery snapped. "Not endless tests."
Dr. Wu ignored the tone, scanning the data one more time before meeting his patient's eyes. "Your rut is here, Avery."
Avery blinked. "That's impossible. It's early."
The doctor's gaze sharpened. "There are only two reasons this would happen. Either you've been targeted by pheromones… or you've bonded."
The word hung in the room like a guillotine.
Bonded? Avery's mind scrambled. He didn't remember marking Noël. And as for pheromone targeting, it was absurd. Who would dare? Only an Enigma could target an Alpha, and it was rare. Plus he wasn't in contact with any Enigma.
Dr. Wu sighed, folding his arms. "Another one of Noël's… unusual abilities as an Omega who manifested both genders at birth is that he can unconsciously release targeting pheromones. This can happen when he is jalouse or feel a strong sense of ownership over his partner. They act much like an Alpha's influence on an Omega—triggering. But I doubt Noël is aware of this ability. Which makes the second possibility more likely."
Avery's chest tightened. "Bonded…"
"Yes. Bonded," Dr. Wu repeated. "It seems your feelings for Noël have deepened enough that the bond formed without the ritual of a mark. You're linked. Whether you meant for it or not."
Avery's breath came slow, heavy. The thought of Noël tethered to him was both terrifying and grounding. It explained the unshakable pull, the way his control unraveled at the thought of losing him.
"I can't go home like this," Avery admitted. His voice was rough, breaking through his usual walls. He meant what Dr. Wu knew too well: going home in a half-linked, unstable rut state was dangerous for any Omega in the house.
Dr. Wu's expression softened slightly. He reached into a locked cabinet, pulling out a vial and a small pill. "This will hold you for three days. No more. You must find your own solution before then."
Avery took it, fingers brushing against the doctor's as the weight of reality settled on him. Three days. That was all he had to secure his control and protect Noël from the storm his body threatened to unleash.
After swallowing the suppressant pill, Avery felt the restless haze in his body subside. His breathing steadied, and the tension in his shoulders finally loosened. The bitter aftertaste lingered on his tongue, but it was better than losing control. Dr. Wu, however, was less than sympathetic. With his sharp eyes narrowing behind his glasses, he waved Avery toward the door.
"You've already delayed too long," Dr. Wu scolded. "Go home. My wife needs me, not my office. You already delayed my time off."
There was no room for argument. Avery could only nod, pressing his lips into a thin line before leaving.
The evening air outside was crisp, and as he slipped into the driver's seat of his car, his thoughts spiraled. He hadn't intended it. He hadn't even been conscious of the act but he had bonded with Noël. His fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter as he tried to wrap his mind around it. He knew he liked Noël, perhaps even loved him, but a bond? That was something deeper, something instinctive.
At least it seemed temporary. That thought gave him some relief. If Noël wasn't ready for such a step, Avery couldn't force it onto him. Still, unease prickled at his chest. Would Noël accept him if the bond became permanent? Or would it drive him away?
Then another memory flashed across his mind—Noël's pheromones. They had pushed him into the edge of rut. That wasn't normal for an Omega, not even a rare one. Targeting pheromones were the domain of Enigmas, and even then, they mostly weaker Alphas. For Noël to have influenced an S-tier Alpha like him… Avery exhaled slowly, almost in disbelief. At this Noël wasn't merely different. He was evolving into something beyond the ordinary classifications. Avery thought to himself.
No wonder the scientists wanted him.
The car engine hummed softly, but Avery barely noticed the passing city lights. All he could think of was how dangerous it would be if others discovered this about Noël. That thought alone cemented his determination—he would protect Noël no matter the cost.
By the time he reached the mansion, exhaustion had settled in his bones. He headed straight for his room, stripping off his clothes before stepping into the shower. The hot water cascaded down, washing away the sweat and the faint traces of pheromones he despised smelling on himself. When he finally emerged, towel slung low around his waist, he felt marginally human again.
What he didn't expect was to find Noël waiting. The smaller man sat quietly on the bed, eyes heavy with sleep but alert enough to catch Avery off guard.
"Did I wake you?" Avery asked softly.
Noël nodded once. "I heard the shower."
Avery quickly pulled on a pair of light pajama pants before slipping onto the bed. Without hesitation, he drew Noël into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss onto his forehead. He lingered for a moment, his dark eyes tracing Noël's face as though he still couldn't believe this boy was his. Then, almost instinctively, he captured Noël's lips in a brief kiss.
"Let's sleep," Avery murmured. "I'm a bit tired."
Noël simply nodded, burying his face against Avery's bare chest.
The next morning came too quickly. Avery kept his composure at breakfast, ignoring Jay's subtle but desperate attempts to draw his attention. There was no spark anymore. Now that he knew he was bonded to Noël, any lingering interest in Jay had vanished.
Jay, however, looked bewildered, as though he couldn't comprehend what he had done wrong.
Midway through breakfast, Avery's phone buzzed. He excused himself and answered. Miss Reed's efficient voice came through.
"Two investors have confirmed partnership, sir. They're ready for the next step."
Relief surged through him. His chest loosened, and without realizing it, his gaze drifted to Noël. A soft smile broke across his face.
"Good. Organize a meeting," Avery instructed before ending the call.
He stood, brushing a hand over Noël's shoulder. "I have to leave earlier today."
Noël tilted his head in curiosity but said nothing. He didn't know the details, but the glow in Avery's expression was enough to tell him—it was good news.