Ethan kissed the glands twice, rubbing with his firm teeth back and forth.
The heat inside his body slowly started to subside. The sweet scent of oranges at the tip of his nose became more pronounced.
So this is Ethan's pheromone.
When Noah opened his eyes again, he found himself in his own bed. His eyes, swollen from crying so much the night before, were barely recognizable.
Noah had never realized just how many tears he could shed.
He wasn't missing any memories—everything was clear, like a tape ready to be played back at any moment.
"Feeling better?" Ethan asked, wearing a bright yellow apron and holding a pot in his hands.
"Much better, thanks for last night," Noah replied, though for some reason, he felt a little embarrassed. His gaze wandered, avoiding Ethan's eyes.
The landlord's cabinets here were pretty stylish, he thought.
"I'm going to wash up first. You didn't need to bring it in for me," Noah said, lifting the blanket. He was in such a hurry that he even put his slippers on the wrong feet, the hurried sounds of his footsteps echoed before the door slammed shut.
By the time Noah returned, fully dressed, he saw Ethan sitting upright at the table.
"Don't you need to go to work today?" Noah asked.
"I already took care of it in advance. Besides, I was worried about you," Ethan answered directly.
Noah paused for a second at Ethan's bluntness, then continued walking, though it was awkward, like he was walking in sync with his opposite foot.
"I'm fine, really. I just cried too much yesterday, and now my eyes are so swollen it's hard to see."
Before checking himself in the mirror, Noah had thought it was just water retention. But now, though it didn't affect his sight, his eyes were barely slits.
With Shawn away for a couple of days, Noah decided to rest as well.
"How are you feeling now?"
Noah instinctively touched the back of his neck, still feeling faint tooth marks.
"Better."
But after all this, Noah had finally come to understand his own feelings. His heart told him: I like Ethan.
"Ahem, how about we go watch a movie this afternoon?"
His eyes should be much better by then.
"Sure, there's a new thriller out. I heard the cast and director are excellent."
Noah nodded, a smile in his eyes. He hadn't expected that their taste in movies would be so similar.
"Great, I'll check for tickets later."
"Make sure to wear a blocker patch when you head out this afternoon. It's not that I'm worried about anything else, but now that you have pheromones, things are different from before."
Noah took a spoonful of soup, surprised at how this conversation had turned out. He hadn't expected to be experiencing his heat at nearly thirty years old.
"I know. I've got some at home," he replied, remembering that he'd started wearing them around his neck just like other omegas, hoping to blend in.
At that time, Noah couldn't accept his identity as a "subpar" omega. He thought that if he was different from everyone else, he would become an outcast.
Later, as his mind matured, Noah came to terms with everything that came with being a "subpar" omega, both the good and the bad, accepting it all as part of who he was. However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Noah never openly admitted his inferior status.
After Ethan left, Noah stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at the noticeable bulge on the back of his neck, where faint bite marks could still be seen. He applied the healing ointment that Ethan had prepared for him, and even the drawers in both the bedroom and living room were stocked with enough suppressants.
After placing the order on his phone, Noah sent a screenshot through Messenger.
There was a knock at the door—it was the ice Americano Noah had ordered, his secret weapon to reduce swelling.
He looked at the deep brown liquid, inserted a straw, and stirred it a couple of times, listening to the ice cubes clink against each other. Taking a big sip, the coldness immediately reminded him of the shots he'd gotten at the emergency room the night before. He quickly swallowed.
Watching the liquid barely move, Noah lifted the lid and took out the ice cubes. The water level visibly dropped, and with the determination to finish it all at once, Noah tilted his head back, his Adam's apple moving up and down as he drank.
By the time he finished the last gulp, Noah slammed the empty cup down on the table, shivering from the cold.
He cursed himself for not having done enough research—drinking an ice-cold Americano in the winter was a mistake, but it did have some effect. By the afternoon, Noah could tell that it took much less effort to open his eyes.
Humming a tune, Noah started rummaging through his closet. These were new clothes he had bought recently, but for some reason, none of them seemed quite right. After much deliberation, he finally chose the first outfit he had picked.
Downstairs, Noah saw Ethan standing by the front door, waiting for him.
Ethan's hair was still styled with gel, but today he didn't have the usual elite, polished look. His bangs softened his features, making him look younger and more approachable. He wore an oatmeal-colored coat that made him look tall and full of energy.
Noah liked this new look. No matter what, Ethan always had a charm to him.
Noah ran toward him, a bright smile on his face, the ears on his hat shaking with his movements.
"How long have you been waiting here?" Noah asked.
Ethan grinned, his hand resting on his fluffy hat, which felt nice to the touch. "Not long. Let's get in the car."
Though they didn't speak much on the drive, Noah found himself stealing glances at Ethan over and over again. No matter how he looked at him, Ethan just seemed perfect. His one-handed grip on the steering wheel looked good, his long, clean fingers were attractive, his chiseled side profile was stunning, and even his fluttering eyelashes were mesmerizing.
When they arrived at their destination, they walked side by side. The gap between their hands was small, and every now and then, their hands would brush unintentionally.
"I'll go grab the tickets," Noah said.
When he returned with the tickets, he saw someone chatting with Ethan—probably a beta or an alpha. Noah suddenly felt like the old Ethan was better. The cold, unapproachable aura he had would've kept away anyone looking to flirt with him.
"The movie's about to start, let's head in," Noah said, smoothly linking his arm through Ethan's and flashing a sweet smile.
As though noticing the person for the first time, Noah feigned surprise. "Who's this? I haven't seen you before. Are you one of his friends?"
The man hurriedly waved his hands. "Oh no, I was just asking for directions. I won't bother you anymore. I'll leave now."
Once the man left, Noah let go of Ethan's arm and quickly shoved one of the tickets into Ethan's hand.
Ethan looked at Noah, who walked ahead without a word, carrying popcorn and a soda behind him.
Actually, Ethan had already turned down the man earlier, telling him that he had someone he liked and wasn't planning on giving out any contact information.