Sebastian.

Sebastian was standing in front of his house, innocently holding a plastic bag of pharmacy items. Though, it wasn’t the important part. Chester’s heart pounded so fast as he was filled with horror at the thought of an Alpha in his vicinity. He was terrified—he was alone. An Alpha could do anything to an Omega in heat—and being in proximity at such an enclosed space—Chester was already weak enough in his sickness, he couldn’t run away from the Alpha.

Though, as if realizing Chester’s concern, Sebastian said, “I have taken my inhibitor.”

It wasn’t enough of an assurance for Chester, as Chester noticed the Alpha’s ragged breathing under his mask. And that wasn’t the only problem. Just the presence of an Alpha—his supposed fated pair, nonetheless—was enough to entice his pheromone.

Chester trembled, feeling his body losing its strength. He needed to tell Sebastian to go away, but his mind was in daze. His pheromone became stronger and noticeable—even Sebastian, who had taken his inhibitor and was wearing a mask, could easily inhale the intoxicating scent.

Chester was controlled by his instinct—by his instinctual need of an Alpha. Though terrified deep inside his mind, he crawled to reach the Alpha, trying to get a hold of him. Sebastian—upon realizing the wave of stronger pheromone—bit his bottom lip so hard it bled, trying to force his instinct back and get his sober mind in control.

The Omega was already losing his mind—his breathing pattern became unstable and his legs buckled as they lost strength. Upon losing control over himself, his consciousness left his body.

Fortunately, Sebastian caught him on time before he collapsed to the ground. Unfortunately, the lack of distance between them caused Chester’s pheromone to penetrate through his mask easily—and it drove him insane. His breathing became raggedy as he brought Chester closer. He put the man’s head on his shoulder, revealing the white skin at the back of his neck.

His vision hazed as the scent grew stronger. Instinctively, he pulled his mask open, letting the whiff of strong pheromone struck his nostril and caught his sanity captive. He inhaled and exhaled in animalistic manner; his unfocused vision treaded on the Omega’s neck. He opened his mouth slightly, saliva running through his fangs down his hungry mouth.

As an urge of marking dawned his mind, he inched his fangs closer to the Omega’s nape and—

—He bit the back of his own hand.

The pain and the temporary satisfaction of biting rushed his sane mind back into his brain, waking him from the rush of animalistic instinct. Still breathing heavily and face becoming pale, he flickered his gaze down to the Omega’s nape—which was, fortunately, empty. Wave of relief rushed through his body as he realized the worst possible outcome didn’t happen. He pulled his mask over his nose once again, focusing himself to control his breathing as he floundered to drag the Omega back into his room.

The whole flat was full of Chester’s scent—both his pheromone and his natural scent—to the point of suffocating. He felt like an idiot, thinking that one injection of inhibitor could stop his Alpha nature.

Fortunately, he was still able to bring Chester back into his room. He propped Chester down his bed—a little too rough that he intended—and rushed out the room, closing the door behind him. Staggering and panicking, he went through the bag of pharmacy item to find another inhibitor. Upon finding one, he injected it straight to himself, not caring whether he injected it the right way or no.

He couldn’t care less if he overdosed from the inhibitor—that, to him, could be a good way to atone his sin of egotistical mindset, that he thought he could overcome the Alpha in him. All he cared right now was Chester’s safety, and Chester’s safety only.

As the dosage of inhibitor took effect on his rut, Sebastian sighed in guilt and relief. Only when a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead that he realized he was drenched on his sweat.

He waved the neckline of his T-shirt, trying to ease the heat with a little breeze from the wave of his clothes.

Sebastian decided to do some simple cooking, as he realized that Chester wasn’t on his best condition. On his text previously, Chester only said that he was under the weather—but when Sebastian told Caleb that he would pay the man a visit, Caleb told him the possibility that Chester was in heat. So, he had taken inhibitor once beforehand, while also carrying several more inhibitors.

Though, he didn’t expect it would be so bad.

He had taken care of an Omega in heat once—though a recessive Omega, and her heat wasn’t unbearable. He was conceited for thinking that Chester’s heat would be similar to that.

Of course not. Who was he fooling?

Chester was supposed to be his fated partner. Thinking that Chester’s heat affected him the same way other Omega pheromones did—that was naive.

He had injected a second inhibitor after putting Chester on his bed. With the Omega being on a different room and unconscious, the scent diminished into a bearable one. Though, to be safe, he still wore his mask over his nose.

When he was letting the soup boiling in a pan, a knock came over the front door. Sebastian was puzzled. He didn’t expect anyone—and he couldn’t think Chester expected anyone either, being that miserable on bed.

Though, even when he ignored the knock, the sound continued persistently. In the end, Sebastian gave up. If it were someone unwelcomed, he could kick them away. If it were—by odd chance—someone that Chester expected, he could wake the sleeping guy up.

Turning down the stove and wiping his hands with kitchen towel, he said, “Coming,” and strode towards the door.

Turning the doorknob, he pushed the door open to find a—

—Woman?