The rhythmic melody of raindrops tapping against the windowpane never failed to ease Ethan's inner turmoil. He couldn't quite explain why, but the gentle tempo of the downpour seemed to soothe his restless mind.

As an omega, he faced countless challenges and struggled to find his place in a world that often saw him as nothing more than a label. Oh, how he yearned for the days before his manifestation when life was simpler, and he could simply exist without the weight of societal expectations bearing down on him.

Being an omega brought with it many challenges that Ethan found difficult to cope with. At times, he longed to escape to a place where no one knew him, where he could take his suppressants and live his life as a beta - a status that tended to attract much less attention. 

He manifested as an omega relatively late, at the age of seventeen, which was quite unusual as most omegas experienced their first heat before their twelfth birthday. Despite this, Ethan refused to let his omega status define him. He stood tall at an impressive 5' 11", with a toned physique earned through years of sports. Not only was he physically capable, but he also excelled academically and was a star player on his high school volleyball team.

Ethan had hoped to continue playing volleyball while in university, but his plans were shattered after his first heat. Suddenly, everyone began treating him like a fragile porcelain doll, and he felt as though he had no choice but to leave the team. Even his friends, with whom he used to joke around with, started whispering behind his back. To make matters worse, his parents became noticeably colder towards him. 

Upon learning that their only son was an omega, Ethan's mother was devastated, as if she had lost a child. She held onto outdated and unfair beliefs that being an omega meant he would become nothing more than a sexual object, a whore, only worthy of lying on his back for alphas.

But

That was not the life he wanted for himself.

The sudden presence of someone sitting beside him jolted Ethan back to reality. Glancing around, he noticed that the lecture room was slowly filling up. He felt fortunate to have secured a spot in this class since alphas typically had the first pick, and the class would fill up within minutes of opening up. 

The professor for the course was the third son of one of the country's largest advertising agencies. It was a significant opportunity since, by the end of the semester, he would choose five students to intern at his father's company - a highly sought-after position.

"Hey, did you hear? Professor Hanley got injured in a skiing incident over the winter break and won't be teaching this semester" Ethan's ears perked up at the gossiping behind him. Just his luck, he got into the class to try for the internship, only for it not to be an option.

"Damn, that sucks," the second boy replied. "I only signed up for this class for a shot at the internship."

"You may still have a chance," the first boy murmured as the energy in the room changed.

As an intense electric feeling surged through his body, Ethan felt the hairs on his arms stand on end. He looked up from his sketchpad to find himself staring into a pair of glistening emerald eyes.

Ethan's breath caught in his throat as a sudden rush of air left his body. Was this what it was like to be in the presence of a dominant alpha? He had been around alphas before, but dominants were rare, and their commanding aura exuded an unmistakable sense of danger. 

Attempting to steady himself, he took a deep breath, only to be hit with a wave of heady pheromones that filled his nostrils. He bit his lip, trying to suppress a moan, as he struggled to keep his composure.

What the hell was happening to him?

Ethan heard someone snicker, "Look at all the omegas in the class practically drooling over him." It was like a cold splash of water to his face, and he quickly regained his composure. He glanced back at the man speaking at the front of the lecture room, trying to focus on the discussion despite the distracting presence of the dominant alpha.

"So I will be taking over as your professor this semester," the mystery man stated. "My brother will resume his post in the fall."

A voice from the front of the classroom asked, "Professor Hanley, is the internship still available this semester?"

"Professor Hanley is my brother; you can call me Hanley," he responded. "And to answer your question, yes, but with a catch. This year, I will only be offering three paid internships. Those three lucky individuals will have the opportunity to work directly with a top-level executive at Hanley Enterprise. So make sure you bring your A-game if you're interested."

After the introduction, the lecture seemed to pass by in a blur. Despite his efforts to stay focused, Ethan found himself occasionally getting lost in the captivating gaze of the dominant alpha. No matter the topic at hand - be it charts or spreadsheets - the man exuded a raw, irresistible sex appeal that left Ethan entranced and confused.

As soon as the class ended, Ethan hastily gathered his belongings and made a beeline for the exit, eager to leave the room as swiftly as possible.

Lost in his hurry, Ethan carelessly collided with someone in his path. He was about to apologize when he suddenly recognized the person. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.