Chapter Eleven

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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“I think I’m getting better at this,” Adisa said, wiping the sweat from his brow as the rest of the group rolled in. The cycling club had their usual Saturday meet-up, the sun warming the early autumn air just enough to make it a perfect day for a ride.  

The group had finished their ride and was making their usual sweet stop. They were getting soft-serve ice cream this weekend. It was a small, family-owned place that everyone in town adored.

Kazir stood in line beside Adisa, trying not to think too much about how easily he had gotten acclimated to the cycling club. He thought it was amazing how quickly and easily Adisa seemed to make friends and get comfortable in new and different environments.  

“True. I’m surprised at how well you keep up.”  

“I have good stamina.”  

“I can tell,” Kazir muttered, reaching for his wallet.  

“You can tell?” Adisa probed.

“What are you getting?” Jaay said, walking toward them from the back.  

“Swirl of vanilla and chocolate,” he said, looking up to make eye contact with his friend. Jaay was looking at Adisa, practically glowing.  

The sight made Kazir uncomfortable.

“I think I’ll try that,” Adisa said, keeping his gaze on Kazir.  

“I’ll do that, too,” Jaay chimed in, sliding to stand on the left of Adisa, sandwiching him between Kazir.  

When they came up next to order, Adisa said to Jihoon, “You go first.”  

“Thank you.” He slid up to the counter and began placing his order.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Adisa started, leaning in slightly, his brow furrowing as he sniffed the air subtly. “What’s the brand of your cologne?”  

“Huh?” 

“Hey, you two. Order up.”  

Kazir quickly stepped up to the counter and placed his order.  

“Two, please,” Adisa added. “We’re getting the same order.”  

The young teenager nodded. “Coming right up,” he said cheerily.  

“I’ll pay,” Kazir said. “My treat.” And before Adisa could refuse, he swiped his card.

As they made their way outside with their ice cream, Jaay now occupied with another member, Kazir said, “What was that earlier?”  

“Huh.” Adisa licked his spoon.  

Kazir swallowed and looked away, hating the way his skin heated up and his eyes followed the slight movement of Adisa’s tongue and the way his Adam Apple bobbled as he swallowed.

What was wrong with him?

He frowned into his ice cream. “Never mind.”  

“Oh, yes. Your scent. You smell nice, I… recently noticed. My brother’s birthday is next week, and I was thinking of getting him some nice cologne or body wash. What’s the smell? Detergent?” Adisa asked casually, his tone light but curious. “You smell nice.”

Kazir froze, his heart stuttering in his chest. Smell? A strange, visceral reaction flooded through him, panic rising quickly. His heart slammed into his ribs, panic blooming deep in his gut.  

He hadn’t changed anything about his routine—no new soap, no new cologne. It took everything in him to keep his face neutral as alarm bells rang in his head. Was his hormone chip malfunctioning?  

No, no, this couldn’t be happening. His chip was fine—it had to be fine. He had just been to the doctor. They had checked everything. His hormone levels were the same, and no pheromone had been detected—as per usual. It was functioning perfectly.  

He forced himself to respond calmly, though his voice came out a little tighter than he would’ve liked. He fought to keep his expression neutral. “No.” He stabbed his ice cream with his flimsy plastic spoon. It bent. “You’re probably just smelling things.” He glanced away, pretending to be interested in the two rosy-cheeked cyclists talking a few steps away from them.  

This can’t be happening. 

“Hnn.”  

He dared to look at Adisa, who gave him a slightly weird look, raising an eyebrow as if he wasn’t entirely convinced but let it drop with a small shrug. “Huh, you do smell nice, though.” His eyebrows furrowed and he looked at him. His voice was deep and grounded as he added, “Really nice. If you don’t mind me asking, could you—”  

“You smell better,” Kazir interrupted, smiling shiftily at Adisa, who was also smiling but no longer looked relaxed. His eyes widened at the statement, and his reaction made Kazir’s face feel hot. With the tips of his ears burning, he added, “Give him your cologne. I think he’d appreciate smelling like his older brother.”

Adisa didn’t say anything for a moment, looking a bit stunned but also curious as he studied Kazir. Just as he opened his mouth to continue the conversation, Jihoon, his savior, happened upon them and eagerly pulled Adisa into a conversation. He was inviting him to hang out later that evening.  

“Family engagement,” Kazir said when they focused on him, trying to fade into the background.

His world was spinning. His stomach churned as he watched the two engaged in easy chatter, Jaay leaning a little too close to Adisa, his interest clear. Adisa, of course, for all intents and purposes, appeared oblivious, laughing and talking as if nothing was out of the ordinary.  

Kazir, on the other hand, felt like he was losing it. His mind raced: Did he smell my pheromones?  

It was impossible—he had gone through his check-up not long ago, and the doctor had assured him that his hormone chip was working perfectly. His pheromones should be suppressed, undetectable to anyone. He has never released pheromones before—never.  

Could Adisa really have smelled his pheromones? But that was impossible. No one had ever smelled his pheromones before.  

He had only gone through one heat cycle in his life, his first estrus, and then—mercifully—his parents had agreed to let him get the heat-suppressant chip. After he had experienced his first estrus at thirteen years old, the overwhelming rush of heat had terrified him.

He had begged his parents to get him the suppressant—something he could put in his body and not have to worry about for years. He couldn’t bear the idea of feeling like he had and losing control like that again. At first, they had been opposed to the chip. But a few years later, at sixteen, they agreed. Since then, he had lived his life in relative peace, never having to deal with the challenges most omegas faced. His chip had always worked perfectly, allowing him to pass as a beta without any issues.  

And the chip had worked perfectly for years. He hadn’t had any problems. There was no reason to believe anything had changed.

Kazir’s fingers tightened around his cup, nearly crushing it as his anxiety spiked.  

But now? Now, Adisa, an alpha, had smelled something. Kazir could feel the cold dread creeping down his spine. His body had never betrayed him like this before. Could the chip be malfunctioning? No—he couldn’t think like that. His doctor had been thorough, and he hadn’t noticed anything strange himself. His head spun with the possibilities, his heart racing with a mix of fear and frustration.  

Adisa had to be imagining it, or maybe he had caught a whiff of someone else in the group. Kazir glanced around, scanning the cyclists that surrounded them as if hoping to find a rational explanation.

He tried to steady his breathing, to focus on the others, on the lighthearted conversation and the ice cream in his hand. This was nothing. He was overreacting. There was no way his pheromones had slipped through the chip’s control. Adisa was laughing with the group, oblivious to the storm brewing in Kazir’s mind.  

But as much as Kazir tried to push it aside, he couldn’t shake the gnawing thought that something was wrong. If his pheromones were leaking out, even in small amounts, it would be disastrous. And Adisa had been the one to notice.  

The thought of anyone knowing his true status as an omega sent a shiver of fear through him. He had kept this secret for so long, and he wasn’t about to let one small slip change everything. 
Writer's note: Happy Halloween! I hope you all eat a lot of candy and have a great evening with loved ones.