"Being on the receiving end is not Uta's cup of tea, and I do not believe he will ever consent."

"I hail from a family of Normals. Whatever role I assume, it must be one of leadership, even in matters of intimate partnership."

"Uta is an Alpha, born as such. Surely you are acquainted with an Alpha's pride."

"His pride is of no consequence to me."

"If you desire to be with him, you must regard that pride. It is not as though he can alter it, and furthermore, I know my best friend will never forgive you for making him an Almega. Not in this lifetime. You must be aware of how highly sought after special genders are for partnerships... or, in the case of Betas, for their more... docile uses. Uta's transformation into an Almega renders him desirable to all sexes. Once word spreads of an Almega in town, all will covet a piece of him. His Alpha pheromones have already shifted, acquiring an additional layer to their appeal. Bonded or not, you and he must find a way to coexist, or one of you will surely be harmed. And in this case, I fear both of you will suffer."

Noelle's words induced a moment of thoughtful silence in Hun. Uta did not strike him as the type to harbor such vindictive sentiments. Indeed, during their encounter at the park, he had held Hun's wrist in a manner that suggested he desired reconciliation. However, Noelle likely knew her friend better than Hun. Yet, there was another matter that weighed heavily on Hun's mind. Raised in a conservative household, Hun had long been branded as an outcast due to his abnormality. He had not encountered another Abnormal until his introduction to Uta's father. It was through this acquaintance that Hun's family had learned of his betrothal to another Abnormal, a Dominant Alpha.

Norma, risking her livelihood, had worked to rid him of the oppressive indoctrination that had led him to loathe himself—a cycle of isolation that had begun the moment his gender results were revealed.

"My son, an Omega? Impossible!" his mother had cried.

"The results are definitive, madam. Preparations for his first heat cycle should commence."

"That cannot be! We prayed for a Beta for our firstborn!"

"Regardless of prayers, this is his reality. As his guardian, it is your duty to register his abnormal sex upon its manifestation."

"Doctor, there must be an error! There is no history of minority genders in my lineage, nor in my husband's. Our bloodline is of superior Beta stock!"

"It is quite possible that a recessive gene manifested itself. The trait may have lain dormant for generations. But now, your son is a Dominant."

"Dominant!"

"You should consider yourselves fortunate. Were he to mate with a Recessive Alpha, the rare possibility of producing an Almega is almost assured. As a doctor, I would be most honored to witness such a birth."

"No! This would bring nothing but disgrace upon our family!"

Hun, despite himself, chuckled darkly at the memory. His parents had made every effort to conceal his nature. Noelle's voice broke his reverie.

"Do you truly believe Uta is vindictive because of that?"

"I jest, Hun. Uta is more laid-back than you give him credit for. His grudge will pass in due time, but the two of you must find a way to coexist. It is evident to me that you are new to the intricacies of relationships. You must attempt to view things from his perspective. While your focus may be primarily physical, Uta remains, at his core, an Alpha. His instinct to pursue a mate is deeply primal."

"I fail to see how that is relevant. Is not the end goal mutual pleasure?" Hun replied, perplexed.

Noelle burst into laughter. "You are hopelessly ignorant, aren't you? If that is truly your mindset, Uta is entirely justified in harboring resentment towards you."

"Whenever I see him, his expression hardens, and I respond in kind."

"That is utterly childish."

"Then what must I do?"

"Not every body reacts the same way, and some may derive no pleasure from certain types of physical stimulation. Keep in mind, Uta has never been bottomed before, and you transformed him into an Almega, a fate he abhors. His resentment is profound, and he will remain tense, no matter your approach. Think on it: how would you feel if someone you loathed, someone who had never once shown you respect, forced themselves upon you? Imagine this person also jeopardized your livelihood—the very means by which you care for an ailing parent—merely to satisfy their own selfish desires."

Hun's face grew flush as Noelle's words struck him with undeniable clarity.

"That... would indeed be unpleasant."

"Exactly."

After a pause, Hun confessed, "I must admit, this is the first time I have experienced such intense desire toward another. For the past two years, I have wrestled with the notion of whether my feelings are sinful. On many occasions, I have summoned the courage to propose to him, but I could always sense his disdain, hidden beneath his corporate demeanor. I feared he would reject me."

"Rejection does not apply here. The two of you have never been in a relationship."

"We do have a relationship, however fraught it may be. I see him nearly every day—except for this past month when his unprofessional behavior caused him to disappear." His voice grew softer, more hesitant. "And... not every Omega wishes to play the submissive role simply because of their gender."

"Ah, a Dominant Omega, are we?" Noelle teased, leaning back with a smirk.

Hun's face flushed further as memories of Uta's fierce gaze, his resistance, and their shared intimacy flooded his mind. He glanced away, unable to face Noelle's perceptive eyes.

"You do not need to confess anything if it makes you uncomfortable," Noelle said, noticing his hesitation.

"It is not that. It is simply... I have never desired to possess something—or someone—this much. Uta confounds and excites me in equal measure. I would rather endure his anger than lose him entirely."

"You truly are a strange one, Hun."

"Is it wrong to feel this way?"

"Your heart must race every time you see him."

"Yes," he admitted, his voice scarcely above a whisper.

"You are infatuated, Hun. That much is clear. But you must understand that subverting an Alpha, especially one like Uta, will only lead to disaster."

They shared a moment of quiet contemplation before Hun sighed.

"I may have been too hasty in revealing my thoughts to you. This conversation has been... revealing."

Noelle chuckled once more. "You're just now realizing that, are you? You are no match for Uta when it comes to emotional games. You need to tread carefully with him."

After a beat, Noelle's tone shifted. "One thing still puzzles me, though: why did you expose Pheromone Experience? Uta and I rely on that business to keep things afloat."

"Expose it? I had no reason to do so. I have been a beneficiary of your friend's pheromones since childhood. Why would I sever that connection?"

"Since childhood?" Noelle repeated, her brow furrowed. "You mean to tell me you've been attached to Uta's pheromones since before the two of you officially met?"

Hun nodded solemnly. "Indeed. My parents, being Betas, sought to conceal my true nature. I was drawn to the scent of his father's Alpha pheromones long before I ever knew Uta. When his father fell ill and ceased visiting, I fabricated a story about daisies to bring him back. My parents believed me, and the flowers became my lifeline."

"But the shop has always been in Uta's family."

"It is not the daisies themselves that I craved. It was the pheromones within them. Uta's father possessed that unique scent, and now... so does he. I am bound to it, whether I like it or not."

Noelle's eyes widened with realization. "Hun... you're completely bonded to Uta's scent. Do you realize what that means for you, as an Omega?"

"Yes. He is mine."

Noelle shook her head. "No, you fool. It means you can never bond with anyone else. Uta is your soulmate."