Young Mihoshi was as gutsy as he was now. Discipline taught him never to use aikido for violence, only for self-defense. Pride and resilience built him, and with the hopes and dreams of a teenager in his prime, Mihoshi never expected to find himself flat on his back, unable to free himself from the dominant alpha overpowering him.

It wasn’t a high-skilled technique.

It wasn’t a difference of a split second.

It was raw physical strength.

And an indescribable aggression that didn't belong to a normal person, because no normal person would have eyes that shone bright golden like a wild beast.

The familiar large hand gripped his neck, choking his breath, filling his hollow chest with an ominous, acrid sensation that made his stomach twist. At that moment, all his skills and techniques went out of his mind like a panic-strickened deer caught by a predator, and yet, he continued to struggle by throwing his arms at the man.

Mihoshi didn't remember what exactly he shouted, but the perpetrator hesitated for a moment. He thought it was his chance to slip out of the grip, but the false sense of relief quickly shattered when the dominant alpha lunged at him. The only thing Mihoshi registered was the intense pain crushing his arm as the man sunk his fangs into his flesh, deep enough to draw blood.

How could Mihoshi ever win against a beast?

“Anyway, it's an old story not worth mentioning. I don't want to remember it.” Mihoshi shook his head to end the conversation despite Tsuyu's pleading eyes. “Dominant alphas are crazy, but you also need to stay away from those rude alphas. I know you're curious about everything, but just don't. You shouldn't go anywhere near those accidents. Leave the messy stuff to us. That's why we're here.”

A mischievous grin tugged Tsuyu's lips. “Y'know, Mihoshi-san. You're really our knight in shining armor.”

“What?” Mihoshi raised an eyebrow.

“No other servers are as chivalrous as you. Who would willingly throw themselves into danger? Many times, on top of that. You’re the only one who never hesitates to walk into a room filled with alpha pheromones. You don’t even care how many of them there are. You simply walk in, beat them—I mean, calm them, and make sure all of us are safe.”

Tsuyu grinned. He, for one, had never had any trouble with his clients, but conversation and gossip always happened in the break room. And Tsuyu wouldn’t miss out on an interesting story.

“Did you know that we all have a challenge going for who can get to kiss you by the end of this year? Oops, did I say that out loud?”

“WHAT?!” Mihoshi gasped in disbelief.

Tsuyu snickered. “If you were an alpha, we would all be insisting we're your Fated Pair.”

At that, Mihoshi froze again.

Fated Pair.

A term he hadn't heard of in so long and one he didn't think would be said in this kind of establishment and environment where sex prevailed over romantic gestures. For every alpha in the world, there is the perfect omega to complete them. There is no scientific evidence, but it is believed that when these two people meet, instincts will tell them exactly what they are. As a Fated Pair, their mind, body, and soul match each other like a pair of long-lost puzzle pieces. Unseen by the naked eye, sensed only through their pheromones, it is a most romantic escapadee.

But none of those mattered to Mihoshi.

“Don't be silly,” Mihoshi said. “That's not going to happen.”

“Yes, I'm aware. We're aware.” Tsuyu smirked at Mihoshi's discomfort. “Some of the new ones believe that if they try hard enough, somehow, by some ridiculous miracle, they will become your Fated Pair. But that's impossible.”

Because Mihoshi is a beta.

One who wasn’t affected by pheromones at all.

“Still…” Tsuyu grinned. “There's nothing stopping them from crushing on you, alpha or not. Fated Pairs ain't it all.”

Mihoshi's gaze lingered on Tsuyu. He knew Tsuyu was smart and charming—that's how he snagged the top spot in the club—but sometimes, under the many sexual services and slutty appearance, Mihoshi forgot just how eloquent Amemiya Tsuyu was.

“What? Did you fall for me?” Tsuyu batted his eyelashes and pouted his lips. “Will you kiss me now?”

“Oh, come on. You've got a booking soon.” Mihoshi laughed and playfully pinched Tsuyu's cheek.

After a couple more teasing, Tsuyu went off to his awaiting client, leaving Mihoshi alone at the bar on the open floor. Chatters and giggles filled the atmosphere, the sound of wine pouring and glasses clinking a constant buzz in the background. Tonight was another busy night.

Mihoshi stood by the counter, watching the hosts and customers, making sure everything was alright. The conversation with Tsuyu lingered at the back of his mind, coaxing the thoughts and feelings he had suppressed all these years, and when the heartache returned like it never left, Mihoshi's smile fell.

He was a beta.

He could never have a Fated Pair.

Which was why his first love could never be fruitful.

Like many teenagers, Mihoshi brimmed with curiosity and energy, and like the many students of his year level, he was smitten the moment he laid eyes on the strikingly handsome transfer student. Hair the color of the night sky, and eyes the gleaming darkness of obsidian gemstones, he commanded everyone's attention simply by existing. Tall, broad shoulders, long legs that gave him a relaxed but poised stance. It was obvious, even before they took the secondary trait test, that he was an alpha. Students flocked to him, displaying their interests, vying for his attention.

Naive and simple, Mihoshi decided to push away his feelings and walk away from a life that he couldn't have.

“I gave up too easily…damn…” Mihoshi muttered under his breath. What's the point of his courage and tenacity to take on unruly alphas when he didn't have the guts to admit his own feelings?

It's been five, no, six years… Mihoshi justified himself. Just forget about it.

“Can you take these to VIP Room 1?” The bartender placed two bottles of wine and seven glasses on the serving tray. “One of them is an upcoming actor, and the other two are the manager and producer.”

“Got it.” Mihoshi balanced the tray with ease and proceeded up the stairs and down the hallway towards the VIP rooms, willing the uncomfortable memories to fade away. This was all Tsuyu's fault.

He had tried his damndest to move on from his silly teenage crush, but no amount of discipline or training could erase the happiest times of his life. Sometimes he wondered what happened to that person then. Sometimes he wondered what would have become of them if he had said something differently. He told himself that it wasn't—shouldn't be—his business, and he had more pressing matters to attend to. Like dealing with alpha clients and paying back his debt.

Standing in front of VIP Room 1, Mihoshi breathed in and knocked on the door. “Excuse me.”

The first thing he noticed was the familiar scene of the alpha clients dressed in expensive suits, in contrast to the omega hosts clad in tonight's themed crop-top and denim shorts. One of the alphas was clearly middle-aged, gray haired and wrinkled, most likely the producer. His arms were thrown over the shoulders of two omega hosts on either of his sides, his rings-adorned hands caressed and squeezed the lithe shoulders. True to their profession, the hosts giggled, whispered, and returned the caresses.

The woman directly across from the producer appeared to be in her forties, but looks could easily deceive the eyes. Either way, age wasn't what mattered. Unlike the producer, the manager had her hands to herself, yet still allowed the omega hosts to lean against her shoulders. Perhaps it was the business setting, but neither of them were exuding pheromones.

Looks like no trouble at the moment. Mihoshi thought to himself before his gaze flickered to the last alpha in the room.

And his heart dropped.

Much younger than the other two, the man sat with relaxed arms crossed over his chest. Although he didn't take part in the conversation, nor did he have any omega hosts by his side, his gait and presence dominated the room. As though he could pounce any second, as though it was simply by his grace that the room and people were still intact.

Black hair styled in a wolf-cut reached past his pierced ears, framing his strong jaws and angular face. His lips settled on a polite smile, his nose sharp and perfect, and his eyes…his eyes that met Mihoshi's gaze were the color of ink drops in the night sky, rippling with recognition and realization, and Mihoshi couldn't hear the chatters and giggles over the thunderous beating in his chest, the screams twisting in his stomach telling him to run…

Run out of the room, or run into the man's arms.

Hokushin Sora.

His first love.

The dominant alpha who nearly killed him.