The rumor spread like wildfire. Some people were genuinely happy for her, while a few envious omegas grumbled that someone "just like them" had managed to snare such a wealthy, high-ranking alpha. Others simply wanted to put out a warning to anyone still harboring fantasies of seducing the boss: It's time to stop. She's officially taken.
That day, Viona couldn't help but notice her employees stealing glances at her, their eyes filled with burning curiosity. They were dying to know what kind of omega had finally captured their alpha boss.
As is the nature of office gossip, the story mutated as it passed from cubicle to cubicle. What started as a simple whisper that the boss had an omega quickly escalated into a definitive conclusion. By lunchtime, the prevailing rumor was set in stone: "Our boss has married an omega girl."
No one actually knew the truth, but the betas, in particular, were thoroughly enjoying the drama.
It wasn't that Viona lacked admirers; she had been the unrequited crush of many omegas in the company for years. However, very few had ever dared to approach her, and those who did always walked away disappointed. Naturally, those rejected omegas were now the most bitter. They couldn't stomach the fact that someone else had actually succeeded.
But what the gossip mill didn't know was the reality behind closed doors: that proud, unapproachable alpha had been forced into an arranged marriage, only to fall hopelessly in love with her clumsy new husband.
Whenever Viona recalled how she had ended up in this situation, she found it hilarious. Yet, secretly, she was profoundly grateful to her mother. Her mother had found a hidden gem, a man who had made her see the world in vibrant new colors. Her omega. She was an alpha who finally had her very own partner, and though the reality of it still felt surreal, she absolutely cherished the feeling.
In fact, she was thoroughly enjoying boasting about it to her inner circle.
"Ya! Why are you showing off so much?! We get it, okay? Stop bragging!"
The outburst came from Mark, Viona's long-time friend and fellow alpha. They were part of a tight-knit trio that had been inseparable since their school days. The third member of their group was a female omega named Helena—a dynamic that had always raised eyebrows, as it was highly unusual for a lone omega to run with two dominant alphas.
Helena had been the school beauty back in the day, and today, she was the director of the sales department in Viona's company. Because of their proximity, she and Viona met almost every day for lunch. Mark, who had taken over his father's company, couldn't join them as often, but he always made time for their regular dinner and drinks routines.
Over the years, Helena had stolen the hearts of countless alphas. Yet, she rejected every single one of them, claiming to her friends that she already had a crush and was just waiting for the right moment to confess. Because she kept the details strictly classified, neither Viona nor Mark had the slightest clue who this mysterious alpha could be.
Many omegas envied Helena because she was constantly flanked by two protective alphas. Spoiled and doted on by both Mark and Viona, she carried herself with an arrogant, childlike demeanor. She commanded the spotlight and couldn't stand anyone being prettier or more noticed than she was. Because of her sharp, exclusionary attitude, most other omegas were terrified to even look her way.
When Helena first heard that Viona had gotten married, she was consumed by a quiet, violent fury.
The alpha she had been pinning after for years was Viona.
Helena had spent years systematically sabotaging Viona's love life. Whenever another omega showed interest, Helena would subtly threaten them or manipulate the situation to drive them away, ensuring she remained the only omega in Viona's orbit. If Viona ever expressed interest in someone, Helena would suddenly fake an illness to monopolize her attention, later poisoning Viona's mind with fabricated rumors about the person.
Blissfully unaware of this manipulation, Viona had simply assumed she was unlucky in love, never questioning the strange coincidences because she trusted her friends implicitly.
Helena's fatal flaw had been her pride. She had wanted Viona to be the one to confess first, fearing that a rejection would ruin her reputation. She was highly confident in her looks and had tried to seduce Viona multiple times, but Viona, entirely dense to the hints, had always treated her strictly like a best friend.
Now, hearing that Viona was married, Helena realized how foolish she had been. If she had just swallowed her pride and confessed, Viona would have surely chosen her. Instead, she had sat back and waited, only for another omega to take her place.
"Hey! Viona keeps saying how amazing it is to have her own omega," Mark chuckled, leaning over the lunch table. He had managed to join them for lunch that day. "What do you think changed her mind so fast? Remember how she used to say relationships were a boring waste of time?"
Helena forced a bright, cheerful laugh, hiding the jealousy tearing her apart. She leaned in closer, deliberately clinging to Viona's arm. If she couldn't have Viona, she was damn sure going to make certain that whoever this new omega was wouldn't enjoy her either. She was already formulating a plan to breed misunderstanding between the newlyweds.
Her first move was simple: she intentionally rubbed against Viona, heavily coating the alpha in her own omega scent. When Viona went home tonight, her new spouse would undoubtedly smell it, and the resulting argument would be the perfect first crack in their foundation.
"She used to go 'Ewww, I don't want a mate' back then. Look at her now!" Helena teased, her voice dripping with a sickeningly sweet pretentiousness. "So, now that you're a married woman, why don't you show us a photo of her?"
Helena desperately wanted to see her rival. Operating on the company rumors, she assumed it was a woman. After all, Viona had always stated she preferred female omegas or betas.
Viona felt a sudden urge to proudly show off her spouse, but she hesitated. Ethan was slated to join her company as an employee soon. If his face was revealed as the boss's secret husband, it would create an incredibly difficult work environment for him. Even though she trusted Mark and Helena with her life, she felt a wave of protective guilt. Ethan valued his privacy, and he wouldn't appreciate his picture being passed around.
Deciding it was best to keep his identity hidden for now, she offered a small, sheepish smile. "Actually... it's not a 'her.' It's a 'him.'"
The table went dead silent. Mark and Helena stared at her in utter shock.
"The hell? You actually married a male omega?" Mark asked, a broad grin breaking across his face as he leaned in.
"Mm. He's a male omega," Viona confirmed, clearing her throat. "I'm sorry, but I can't show you guys his face just yet. I don't actually have any photos of him on my phone anyway."
"I thought you liked females..." Helena said, her voice dropping to a low, tight whisper.
Viona, completely missing the dark undertone in her friend's voice, just smiled warmly. "Mmm... well, it turns out I didn't really have a type after all. It was an arranged marriage my mother set up. But he's incredibly sweet and cooperative. It's totally fine to fall in love after marriage, right?"
Thinking of Ethan, Viona couldn't suppress the genuine, radiant smile that spread across her face.
"Then why didn't you make a public announcement? And when did you even meet him? You kept us completely in the dark!" Helena bombarded her with questions, desperate to dig up any vulnerability she could exploit.
Secretly, though, Helena felt a surge of relief. It was an arranged marriage. Viona had been forced into it. To Helena, that meant breaking them apart would be a walk in the park. She possessed unwavering confidence in her own charm and malice.
As Helena pointedly interrogated her, Viona happily answered every single question, entirely blind to the venom hiding right behind her best friend's smile.