---
"Is this… what death looks like? But it's supposed to hurt… why do I feel… relieved?"
A soft murmur escaped him. His pale body lay on the street, delicate features untouched by fear, still hauntingly beautiful even in his last moments.
With a faint, almost serene smile, Jiwon Han took his final breath.
This… this was the price he had to pay for being born an Omega.
There is a thing in this world called pheromones. From the very beginning, they were meant to be the purest form of a person's emotions—an invisible reflection of who they truly were. But people misinterpreted them, twisting them into symbols of lust and desire. They began to judge a person's personality, authority, and power based solely on their pheromones, ignoring the true self beneath the scent.
Every gender shows a difference in the nature of their pheromones. In this world, Alphas, with their strong pheromones, are dominating and respected. Betas, who have very minor amounts, are often neglected and discriminated against. And finally, Omegas, whose pheromones are strong but calm, are misunderstood as weak and fragile, supposedly in need of protection.
But protection is just a cover for control. Shields are merely cages to restrain them. They have value, but no respect. In this society, an Omega is treated like a beautiful, expensive decoration in the house of a dominant Alpha.
The power of a person doesn't come from their pheromones, but from their upbringing and the environment around them. Alphas, receiving more attention for their muscular, strong appearance, often become arrogant. Things worsen when their pheromones begin to influence and control those around them.
And then it gives birth to a powerful entity—a dominant Alpha.
Ruthless and emotionless.
As they grow, the balance of power shifts.
The Omega, always treated as weak, becomes a tool for pleasure.
Jiwon Han had always felt the weight of that truth—every glance, every whisper was a reminder of his place. But now, the chains of a slave had finally disappeared. The Omega, Jiwon Han, was free at last.
Jiwon Han had an ordinary family and a calm life. But everything changed when he was identified as an Omega at the age of seventeen, during his first heat cycle.
In this world, when an Omega reaches eighteen without a partner, the government assigns one for them. They claim it's because Omegas cannot survive without an Alpha. They say it's for protection, citing the high rate of Omega assaults—but in reality, they don't want to punish Alphas, so they impose strict control over Omegas.
And this was how he entered the hell that stole his happiness, his dreams, his hopes… and, in the end, his life.
---
Jiwon's eyes twitched as he opened them. A sudden wave of uneasiness spread through him, but in an instant, it was replaced by surprise. His eyes widened as he looked around—a small, familiar room. The sound of chatting came from the hall. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, touching his face.
His hand brushed against his face, then slowly moved down to his arms and chest. He examined himself with urgency, again and again—there was no blood, no pain.
As every second passed, the voices around him grew clearer. But the moment a sound of laughter reached his ears, his body moved on its own. His steps grew faster and faster until he reached the hall.
In the hall, two familiar figures came into view. His steps stopped.
His breath caught. His eyes grew moist. His vision began to blur. It felt as if time itself had stopped.
Memories from the past pulled him into the clouds of grief—
the image of his younger self, sitting in the corner at his parents' funeral.
Pale. Lifeless.
"Jiwon."
The sudden voice pulled him out of his memories. His mother, who had been sitting on the couch, was now approaching him.
And then—everything started to fade into darkness.
He could still feel the things around him, but he couldn't respond.
A panicked voice.
Arms holding him.
Someone calling his name again and again.
Until, at last, everything turned dark.
When Jiwon opened his eyes again… his life had already begun to change.