Chapter One

Author's Note:

Hey, everyone!

I am so excited to finally be publishing this story! It's been such a fun ride to write, and I truly can't wait to share this journey with you. Buckle in, because it's a long one—over 40 chapters! But trust me, it’s going to be an incredible experience, filled with all the emotions, drama, and everything you love in a slow-burn story.

Also, for those of you who like things a little (or a lot) more graphic, this is the 18+ version of this story (also on AO3) and it's going to get REALLY steamy. I had too much fun writing those chapters. 

And don’t forget to leave a comment! I’d love to hear what you think—your thoughts mean the world to me!

Happy reading!

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Author’s Note: This story is set in an alternate universe, in an imaginary town and country, and during an ambiguous time period.

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Kazir sat at the far end of the long table, nursing his drink and hoping the evening would pass quietly.  

His coworker had begged him to come, insisting they needed one more person to even out the group and promising a night of fun with plenty of attractive omegas and beta women. Kazir had reluctantly agreed, not having the energy to explain that pretty omegas and women weren’t exactly his thing.  

It wasn’t that Kazir had anything against them—he was an omega himself, a secret he had fiercely guarded. He was simply interested in males, though few knew that about him. Truth be told, it wouldn’t have mattered if any of them had been a male omega. He simply wasn’t interested in the matters of the heart. He had always known he would most likely never get into a romantic relationship. It wasn’t his scene.  

His tall, muscular frame and rugged appearance, the result of years spent cycling and occasionally hiking, allowed him to easily pass as a beta. It was something he had used to his advantage for as long as he could remember. He had hidden his second gender so thoroughly that even those closest to him thought he was a beta. It was easier that way, safer. He had learned long ago that the world didn’t treat omegas kindly, and while his mother had raised him to be proud, the reality of it was far more complex.  

His eyes scanned the lively crowd. Everyone was engrossed in animated conversations, laughter bubbling up from all sides. His coworkers from the IT consultation department, whom he was meeting for the first time, were friendly enough, though they weren’t his type of people. Too loud, too chatty. Kazir wasn’t the life of the party—never had been. He preferred the quiet solitude of the outdoors, the rhythm of his own company. He had been fortunate to make friends who shared his love for his hobbies and the solitude they afforded.  

Eating his food, he wondered how long he had to stay before it would be acceptable to leave.  

Kazir made good money as a systems engineer at a large, prestigious company, and he had his life figured out.

He didn’t need the social scene. He had his hobbies—cycling, hiking, photography—and a solid group of friends he’d made through those activities. They were enough for him. Dating, relationships... that wasn’t on his radar. Especially since most people assumed he was a beta, and correcting them meant revealing a truth he wasn’t ready to share.  

He glanced around the table. His coworkers from the IT consultation department were loud and lively, engaging in animated conversations. There was laughter, flirting, and more than a few lingering glances exchanged as people tried to gauge their chances for the night. Typical.  

Kazir couldn’t wrap his head around the dating ritual that his fellow members of the human race partook in. A time waster.  

Kazir took a sip from his glass and sighed inwardly. He didn’t fit in here. He was the quiet observer, blending in thanks to his tall, bulky frame and rugged appearance. Most people assumed he was just a reserved beta, maybe a bit aloof. And that was fine by him. His height and build—thanks to his hobbies—had always helped him pass as a beta. No one ever questioned it. Why would they? Omegas were usually smaller, more delicate. Kazir was anything but.  

As he silently observed the others, someone slid into the chair next to him, breaking his bubble of isolation.

Kazir had heard Adisa talking and being the life of the party earlier in the night, though he hadn’t paid much attention. Their eyes had met occasionally, and every time that happened, he fixed Kazir with an easygoing grin. He seemed well-liked, the kind of guy who effortlessly charmed a room. Kazir, on the other hand, preferred to blend into the background. Not to mention, he didn’t want to be here.  

“The food’s decent,” Kazir replied, keeping his voice neutral, trying to keep the conversation short.  

Adisa chuckled, the sound full and easy. “Well, that’s something.”  

Kazir nodded, hoping he’d stop talking to him and let him at least enjoy the food, which truly wasn’t too bad. They had chosen a good restaurant for this waste of time.  

“I saw you sitting here all by yourself and thought I’d come say hi.”  

Kazir raised an eyebrow, nonplussed by his statement. “Hi,” he said dryly, hoping the smiling man would take the hint and move along. But he didn’t.  

Instead, Adisa leaned back in his chair, drink in hand, looking at Kazir with casual curiosity. “Hi, I’m Adisa. Adisa Kahari. IT consultant.”  

Kazir had no choice but to introduce himself. “Systems engineer. Kazir.”  

“No last name?”  

Did he think… No, he wouldn’t mistake him for an omega. But his teasing tone made it seem like he was flirting with him.  

What was going on?  

Kazir gave him a once-over. “No. Why?”  

Adisa languidly shook his head, his eyes shimmering. “Your first name will do.”  

What a strange guy.  

Kazir shrugged dispassionately.  

Kazir’s obvious disinterest didn’t deter Adisa from continuing his friendly, one-sided conversation. “So, who are you planning to get the number of?”  

Kazir blinked, caught off guard by the blunt question. He hadn’t expected this kind of forwardness. Yes, this was a dinner with the intention of putting a group of people together who were seemingly interested in dating, but still, Adisa’s directness made Kazir uncomfortable.  

He paused and made eye contact with Adisa, who looked too pleased with himself. He didn’t appear to understand why Kazir had tensed up. His eyes were still bright and filled with unwanted friendliness.  

He was truly getting on his nerves.  

What a strange man!  

“I hope you’re not thinking of getting mine,” Kazir said, his voice sharp with annoyance. Not the tone he intended to use, but he shrugged and rolled with it.  

Adisa’s eyebrow arched, amusement flickering across his features. “Why not?”  

Kazir bit back his irritation, not in the mood for games. “Just not interested.”  

“But if you were?” Adisa said in an easy-going drawl, leaning forward in Kazir’s direction. His cologne drifted toward Kazir, teasing his senses. It was a scent Kazir had once found pleasant, but now it was beginning to grate on him.  

“I’m not, that’s the point.”  

“Yes, but,” Adisa pressed, dropping his elbow on the table and fully turning his body toward Kazir, his smile deepening as dimples popped in his cheeks. Kazir frowned.  

His heart started racing. Was this guy serious? Kazir wondered, an alarm crawling up his neck.  

“I’m a beta.” He sipped his drink, moisturizing his suddenly very dry throat.  

Adisa shrugged, the smile still playing on his lips. “Lucky for you, I don’t discriminate.”  

“Lucky?”  

Adisa nodded, his impossible smile growing wider and sneakier.  

Kazir’s mouth grew dry. He fixed Adisa with a challenging look. “I’m male.”  

There was no way he could tell he was an omega. It was impossible. No one had ever done so, not even an alpha. He had no detectable scent.  

Another shrug, his smile widening. “I prefer men.”  

“That’s...” That gave Kazir pause. Adisa picked up on that, and his smile grew so wide his teeth were on full display.  

He was messing with him.  

Well, he wasn’t going to play along like an idiot. He didn’t even know this man. He was a stranger who deemed him “teasing” worthy. He wasn’t a toy.  

Grabbing his bearings, Kazir said, hoping his tone was deadpan, “Well, I’m glad to hear that.”  

Adisa laughed. It was deep, charming, and easy-going. “I’m going to stop. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”  

“I wasn’t,” he snapped, his feathers ruffled. His reaction only served to make Adisa laugh again.  

“Good. Because, let the record show, I wasn’t actually trying to hit on you. I was just making conversation.”  

“You call that conversation?” Kazir bit back, feeling no qualms about his rudeness.  

Adisa chuckled and bit his bottom lip before adding, “You’re easy to tease.”  

Kazir was rightfully flustered and back to being peeved. “I’m not easy to tease. I... I don’t even know you.”  

“I think we’d make good friends.”  

Friends? Kazir sneered silently in his head.  

“I just want to eat,” he muttered begrudgingly, hoping Adisa would leave him alone now that he’d had his fun.  

“The food is good.”  

Kazir decided to stuff his mouth and nodded, avoiding eye contact. He hoped Adisa would disappear as suddenly as he had appeared.  

Adisa took a sip of his drink, pausing for a moment before adding with a grin, “So, why are you here?”  

Universe!  

“The food.”  

Adisa laughed again, the sound loud and rich. He had a nice laugh. He sounded genuinely happy, as if he were conversing with a best friend he had known all his life.  

“That’s fair. But this is a group date,” he said, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.  

Kazir glared at him. Big mistake. Adisa’s large, charming smile was still blinding. He waggled his eyebrows.  

“You’re drunk?”  

“You’re frank.”  

“Just trying to match you.”  

There was that laugh again.  

“You’re so funny.”  

“I’ve never heard that one before.”  

“No, you must have. I’ve never laughed this much in my life with someone I’ve just met.”  

“We haven’t...” Kazir stopped himself from finishing his cutting remark.  

“So, were you dragged here?” Adisa asked, not losing focus. He gulped his drink before placing his glass back on the table.  

Kazir sighed. “I’m here to fill a quota.”  

“Hey, look at us having something in common.” He slid his glass over and gently tapped it against Kazir’s.  

“Oh.” Kazir arched an eyebrow, openly looking Adisa over. That made him giggle.  

“What was that?”  

“Nothing.”  

“You don’t like what you see?”  

“Whoa, dude!” Kazir coughed into his drink, his cheeks warming.  

What a strange dude! He thought for the millionth time.  

“Teasing, but... I’m not entirely opposed to it either.”  

Kazir narrowed his eyes, now certain this strange man was toying with him. “What?”  

“If you like what you see—”  

“I’m not interested.”  

He couldn’t even accuse him of sexual harassment because this was a group date. The intention was to be flirtatious. Adisa was clearly not dragged here like him. His intention was to take someone home, and he seemed to be vying for Kazir’s attention, keen on being persistent.  

He had met his match in Kazir.  

Kazir, who had been single since birth, had no foreseeable plan of changing that, much to his parents' chagrin.  

“Why not? I don’t think I’m offensive to look at,” Adisa declared, his tone light and teasing, though there was a curious glint in his eyes.  

“I hadn’t noticed,” Kazir replied coolly.  

“Now that I’m bringing your attention to it.” Adisa winked, his smile charming.  

It would have worked on disarming anyone but Kazir.  

He shrugged. “I still haven’t noticed.”  

Adisa laughed again. “You’re so funny.”  

“Again, I’m not. You think so because you see your humor reflected in my reactions.”  

“Huh?”  

“Nothing.” Choosing to put an end to their frustrating banter, Kazir simply said, “I’m not interested in alphas.”