A few hours later, that same evening, in a famous restaurant in K City, a tall, striking young man gritted out in a hoarse voice.
"But I'm an Alpha!"
He groaned, his dark eyes stormy—darker than the cloudy night itself, yet flecked with gold like tiny stars. His jaw tightened as he stared straight at his mother in frustration.
"I'm a dominant Alpha, Mom! I can pretend to be an Omega all my life if you want—but how do you expect me to get pregnant?"
He pressed a hand to his forehead. His once-pristine suit was now creased.
"Just how? I don't even have the biology for it! Damn that old woman! She's already over a hundred—why won't she just die already?"
His mother shouted at him.
"Yuris Parker!"
That shut him up immediately. Her eyes were red-rimmed but she harden her face and looked at him with a solemn gaze.
"In the end, she's your great-grandmother and my grandmother. Don't curse her…"
Yuris let out a bitter, amused snicker.
"Great-grandmother? Does that woman even deserve that title? She hates Alphas—and because of that hatred, I had to spend my life pretending to be an Omega just so she wouldn't have me killed like father."
His fists clenched even tighter.
"But this... this is too much, Mom. She will know I'm not an Omega the moment I meet the dominant Alpha she chose for me. How am I supposed to sleep with an Alpha when I'm one too? Our pheromones will naturally clash and repel each other! I can mask my scent with perfume and meds... but if I get too close, any Alpha will sense the truth!"
His mother, Hue Parker, gently took his fists in her hands to calm him down. Seeing the tears in her eyes, he let out a defeated sigh.
If it weren't for her, Yuris would've walked away from the Parker family long ago. He knew she understood what he was saying.
Yet, she had no choice. She didn't want the family business to fall into the hands of her twin sister, who was just like Clara Parker.
She wanted Yuris to inherit it.
So, once he had full authority over it, he could live the way he wanted and abolish the broken family rule that demanded all Alphas associated with the Parkers be killed.
After all, if Yuris's great-grandmother ever found out he was an Alpha—dominant, no less—she would've him killed on the spot.
She wouldn't even hesitate.
That's how heartless Clara Parker was.
***
In their world, humans weren't just simply divided by class or status—they were born into roles written into their very biology:
Alphas, Betas and Omegas.
Alphas were dominant by nature—strong, sharp, and often natural-born leaders. They all emitted powerful, distinct pheromones that demanded obedience. Their instincts drove them to protect, possess, and—when it came to their Omegas—conquer. Once a year, they entered rut—a period when their senses dulled under overwhelming desire, leaving them craving Omega partners.
While most Alphas were men, there were also female Alphas, and both were seen by society as ideal partners. Altogether, they made up around 20% of the population.
Omegas, on the other hand, were delicate and small. Their pheromones were sweet, and their appearance alluring. Their bodies were also capable of bearing children.
Once every month, Omegas experienced heat cycles—periods that left them weak, yet dangerously irresistible to Alphas.
They all possessed scent glands on their necks that, unlike Alpha glands, were very sensitive. As a result, a single bite from an Alpha could bind the Omegas completely, marking that Alpha as their lifelong mate.
After that, the omega would never be able to bond with another Alpha—though their Alpha could still mate with other Omegas.
Because of this, Omegas protected their scent glands with medicated patches.
Moreover, suppressants and specialized medications were developed, and Omegas and Alphas were prescribed them as soon as they reached maturity—the stage when they began experiencing ruts or heats.
While most Omegas were women, there were also male Omegas. Altogether, they made up about 15% of the population.
Alphas and Omegas were classified into normal, dominant, and recessive types.
Dominant ones were stronger, with more intense pheromones and greater influence over others. Recessive ones, on the other hand, had milder traits and weaker scents.
Lastly, Betas. They were ordinary humans. They couldn't emit pheromones, nor could they sense them. Betas lived quiet, stable lives and made up most of the population.
Although invisible in power struggles, they were essential in holding society together.
***
Shaking her head, Hue Parker took a deep breath. She patted her son's hand, slipping a vial filled with red liquid into his palm.
"I know… all of this has been hard for you. Just a little longer, my son. Just a little."
Her eyes narrowed with determination.
"This was bound to happen, so I've been preparing for it. What I'm giving you is a medicine that can dull an Alpha's senses—no matter how dominant they are. Three months. Just three months is all we need. Stall for time. Pretend to sleep with him once. Then I'll forge documents saying you're pregnant. We can adopt a child."
Yuris shut his eyes.
"Will this even work...?"
His grip tightened around the tiny vial his mother had given him as he watched the crimson liquid flicker with a murky glow.
"I just want to live a normal life. Really. If only there were someone powerful enough to stand up to that old woman. But... that kind of person doesn't exist."
His phone rang, and he picked it up. The voice of his secretary—personally hired by his great-grandmother to keep an eye on him—came through on the other end.
"Sir, the Chairwoman has been informed that you still haven't started packing. She has ordered you to move in with the Alpha today. I've been instructed to escort you and report back to her immediately."
Yuris wanted to fire this jerk—but he knew he didn't have the authority to do that. In the end, he just swallowed his frustration.
"I understand."
He stood up and straightened his suit.
The restaurant he was in was completely empty; his mother had reserved the entire place for their private conversation.
After all, even walls have ears.
"l will take my leave, Mom. The old woman is already growing impatient to kill the one she just picked for me. Let's just hope your plan actually works..."
Just as he turned to leave, his mother spoke—her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Son... make sure you don't fall in love with him. Like your mom did. I don't want you to break down after he's gone. Even if my plan works, we won't be able to save that Alpha."
Yuris scoffed.
"Love? I'm not that foolish. I don't have the luxury, the time, or the heart for it. Falling in love isn't something I'll ever do—especially not with another Alpha. Don't worry."