The moment P'Sang carried me out of that room, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest, but the feeling of disorientation didn't disappear. I could still feel the effects of the pheromones in my system, my body reacting in ways I couldn't control. It was overwhelming, almost suffocating. My hands were shaking, and I tried to focus on my breathing, but it was hard to think straight with the adrenaline coursing through me.
"Take me home now, Sang!" I snapped again, the frustration and confusion bubbling over. The last thing I wanted was to stick around for some observation. I just wanted to be far away from that place, away from Nattawut, away from the whole damn situation.
P'Sang didn't respond right away, his face a mask of calm, but I could see the concern in his eyes. He knew how much I hated these screenings, how uncomfortable they made me. He nodded silently and began walking faster, clearly eager to get me out of there as quickly as possible.
I could still feel the burn of Nattawut's pheromones lingering in the air around me, even though I was no longer in the room with him. It was a strange sensation—like something had attached itself to me, a reminder of what had just happened. And yet, it wasn't as overwhelming as I'd expected it to be. Despite the way my body had reacted earlier, there was a strange calmness that I hadn't anticipated, and I wasn't sure how to process it.
I closed my eyes and leaned against the seat, trying to block out the memory of his presence. I hadn't expected to react that way—hadn't wanted to. My entire life had been about avoiding the pheromone-driven relationships that so many people seemed obsessed with, and now, I felt like I was caught in the middle of something I didn't even want to be a part of.
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2 days later Third person pov:
"His been running a fever for 2 days now, did something happened during the screening?" His mom asked.
"His experiencing his first heat, I guess the pheromones from the alpha triggered it." Dr. Han replied.
"This doesn't usually happen, usually after a screening he'll be sick in bed for a night do why this now?" His sister Arisa asked.
Niran lay in his bed, sweat soaking through his sheets as his body trembled. His usually sharp and stubborn expression was now softened by exhaustion, his face pale and flushed at the same time. His mother hovered by his side, wringing her hands nervously, while his sister sat on the edge of the bed, dabbing his forehead with a damp cloth.
"This is different from what usually happens," his mom said, her voice shaking with worry. "It's been two days, and the fever isn't breaking. Did something happen during the screening? Why is it so much worse this time?"
Dr. Han, standing nearby with a clipboard, exhaled deeply, trying to explain. "Niran's body is reacting to its first heat. It seems that the pheromones from the alpha we introduced during the screening—Nattawut—triggered this. It's not uncommon for latent heats to manifest under strong or compatible pheromones."
Arisa, looked up sharply. "But this doesn't make sense! Every other time, he's just been sick for a night. Why now? Why him?" She glanced at her brother's frail figure, frustration and fear evident in her voice.
Dr. Han sighed again. "Niran's condition is unique. He's been suppressing his omega instincts for so long, and his body has resisted these natural responses. But the recessive alpha pheromones likely slipped past those defenses because they're less intense. His body was unprepared for the reaction—it's as though everything he's been suppressing came rushing out at once."
Arisa's jaw clenched, her protective instincts kicking in. "So what do we do? Just sit here and wait for it to pass?"
Dr. Han shook her head. "He'll need to take some supplements, if he takes them for at least two days he will be fine."
"But if he ever goes into heat again I'm afraid Supplements won't work, he will need to spend it with an Alpha. But not just any Alpha, I'll recommend the you get the Alpha that triggered his heat."
Arisa stood up abruptly, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're saying my brother's only solution is him? Some stranger? That's absurd!"
Dr. Han kept her calm demeanor, though her voice carried an undertone of urgency. "I understand your frustration, Arisa, but Nattawut's pheromones are uniquely compatible with Niran's. It's rare, but it happens. His reaction during the screening was proof of that bond."
Mrs. Thanom, their mother, shook her head, her face pale. "But… Niran doesn't want anything to do with all this alpha-omega nonsense. He's been so firm about staying independent. How do we even tell him that he might need this man to help him in the future?"
Dr. Han softened her tone. "Right now, let's focus on his recovery. Once his fever breaks and he's stronger, we can discuss the next steps with him. Niran deserves to know, but we don't have to overwhelm him while he's like this."
Arisa folded her arms tightly, glaring at Dr. Han. "And what about Nattawut? Are you planning to just… call him up and tell him he's supposed to drop everything and be here whenever Niran's in heat? Does he even know about this supposed bond?"
Dr. Han hesitated. "He knows that his pheromones had an effect on Niran, but not the full extent. I'll have to reach out to him and explain the situation. However, it's his choice whether or not to be involved. No one can force this bond—not Niran, not Nattawut."
Arisa's expression darkened. "Good. Because if Niran doesn't want him here, then that's the end of it. I won't let anyone pressure him into something he doesn't want."
Mrs. Tharaporn glanced at her daughter, her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of Niran's blanket. "But what if he doesn't have a choice, Arisa? What if the next time is worse?"
Arisa's resolve wavered for a moment, but she quickly masked it with determination. "Then we'll figure it out as a family. Like we always have. Niran isn't alone in this, and he never will be."
Dr. Han watched the exchange silently, knowing that this was only the beginning of a much more complicated situation.
——————
Meanwhile, at Nattawut's apartment
Nattawut sat on his couch, staring at his phone screen, the message from Dr. Han still fresh in his mind:
"We need to discuss the effects of your pheromones on Niran. Please let me know when you're available to meet."
He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "What does she mean, effects? I just did the screening for the money."
Mali, his younger sister, peeked her head around the corner, holding a half-eaten cookie. "P'Nat, you look stressed. Did something bad happen?"
He forced a smile, waving her over. "Nothing bad, Mali. Just some… work stuff."
She climbed onto the couch beside him, her big eyes studying his face. "You're not gonna quit, are you? You said the money is for my school stuff."
Nattawut ruffled her hair gently. "Don't worry. I won't quit. I just have to figure some things out first."
But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever this was, it wasn't going to be simple.
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3 days later Niran's pov:
After 4 days of suffering here I was seated in my bed Dr. Han sitted across from me with her clipboard in hand, she was the whole the reason I was in this situation in the first place.
"Let's start easy," she started looking up at me. "Do did the pheromones smell to you!" She asked.
I looked at her blankly not being able to answer, it wasn't the same musky smell i always smell from alphas. This time they smelt soft.
"I can't really explain it."
Dr. Han nodded, jotting something down on her clipboard. "That's common when the body begins to respond differently to pheromones. They might smell less intrusive, even comforting, depending on compatibility."
I frowned. Comforting? That wasn't the word I'd use, but I didn't feel suffocated like I usually did around alphas. It was different—softer, like she said—but I wasn't about to admit that.
"What does it even matter?" I asked, leaning back against my pillows. "It's not like I'll ever be around him again. This whole thing was a fluke."
Dr. Han pursed her lips. "It matters because this reaction was a major breakthrough, Niran. Your body didn't reject his pheromones outright, which is a sign that—"
"Stop," I cut her off, feeling my irritation spike. "I don't care about signs or breakthroughs. I didn't ask for this, and I don't want it. I don't need an alpha to 'fix' me."
She sighed, setting the clipboard down on her lap. "I'm not saying you do, Niran. But your body is telling us something important. If your heat happens again—"
"It won't." I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling settling in my chest.
"If I don't encounter him or be around him which won't be a problem nothing that happened these past few days will happen." I stated.
Dr. Han raised an eyebrow, her expression calm but firm. "You think avoiding him is the solution?"
"Yes." My response was quick, definitive, and left no room for argument—or so I thought.
Dr. Han leaned forward slightly, resting her clipboard on her knees. "Niran, this isn't just about avoiding Nattawut. The reaction you had wasn't entirely because of him; it was your body responding to its natural instincts after years of suppression. He was just the catalyst. The truth is, even if you never see him again, something else could trigger this reaction in the future."
I stiffened, the weight of her words pressing down on me. "I've been fine up until now. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Why can't things just go back to the way they were?"
"Because your body is changing," she said gently. "Suppressing your instincts worked for a while, but it's not a long-term solution. The fact that it happened with a recessive alpha means it's only a matter of time before something else triggers your heat—potentially with a dominant alpha, which could be far more intense."
I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "No. I'll keep taking the suppressants. I'll avoid alphas altogether if I have to. There's no reason this has to happen again."
Dr. Han sighed, looking at me with an almost maternal softness that made me feel exposed. "I'm not here to argue with you, Niran. This is your choice. But I want you to be realistic. Running from this won't solve the problem—it'll only delay it. I'd advise you to think carefully about how you want to handle it moving forward."
I clenched my fists, frustration and fear swirling inside me. Why did everything have to change now? I'd spent years building a life that didn't depend on anyone else—certainly not on some alpha.
Dr. Han stood, gathering her clipboard. "I'll leave you to rest. We won't push you into anything, but I'd like you to consider coming in for a follow-up in a week. In the meantime, keep taking the supplements and let your body recover."
She paused at the door, glancing back at me. "And Niran… it's okay to ask for help. You don't have to go through this alone."
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the floor as she left the room. Alone was how I'd always handled things. It was safer that way.
But now, as I sat there in the suffocating silence of my room, I couldn't shake the faint trace of Nattawut's scent from my memory—soft, subtle, and disturbingly comforting.
TBC