The majority of Chevaliers had returned from their summer vacation, and it was as expected that they frequently organized afternoon tea gatherings among themselves. Ophelia, one of the oldest siblings in her generation, was often invited to attend their small gatherings as well.
“Ophelia, we’re going to have an afternoon tea together in the garden since the weather is very lovely today.” One of Ophelia’s cousins approached her while she was studying in the library. “It would be wonderful if you could join us.”
“Hmm…well then,” Ophelia said. “I hope no one would mind if I bring my fiancée with me.”
“Of course not, Stella is more than welcome to join as well!” She nodded firmly, putting on her best delightful smile. “I’m very certain others would love to get to know her in person.”
Soon after the young cousin left the library, Stella lowered her book to speak to Ophelia.
“… Just so you know, I might not be nice around your cousins,” Stella said. “I don’t like any one of them.”
Stella had no reason to pretend around Ophelia, and the omega didn’t seem to mind that at all. Her expression remained unreadable as her smile widened.
“Do I look like I care about them?” Ophelia said, almost chuckling as she leaned into her seat. “You’ll be doing exactly as I said. Be agood fiancée and do not humiliate me.”
“I can do that,” Stella said.
Just as Ophelia was used to her attitude, Stella was equally used to her fiancée's bluntness, giving her a nonchalant response in return. Just as they thought the conversation had reached its end, the young alpha beside them spoke up out of the blue, catching them both off guard.
"...Sis, may I come along as well?" Matteo turned to ask Ophelia.
Neither of them had expected Matteo to show any interest in attending this vicious afternoon tea. Ophelia was quick to question him, especially given that he was a timid boy who always avoided interacting with any of their relatives.
“Why do you have a sudden interest in attending?” Ophelia asked. Her tone became stern all of a sudden.
“Uh, I just felt I should stop running away,” Matteo said.
His intention was sincere. It was evident the young man was trying to step out of his comfort zone, but that made Ophelia even more anxious.
“It is discourteous to attend a lady’s gathering without receiving a direct invitation. The reason Stella is coming is that she is my fiancée.” Ophelia said, lecturing him for his ignorance. “If you want to get into our family’s social gathering again, then you need to polish your basic etiquette again.”
Stella glanced at Matteo and saw the young man looking dejected. She understood his intention well enough. He wanted to become independent, not stand forever beneath his sister's protection. At the same time, the alpha understood her fiancée's point, too. The strict elder sister wanted to keep him safe, shielded from the family's cruelty, where everyone here was no different from vultures preying on the weak within their circle.
"Ophelia, let's not be too harsh on him," Stella interjected, trying to mediate.
She knew they both had good intentions behind what they were saying, and she felt the urge to step in, to smooth things over between the siblings.
“Matteo simply wants to make positive changes for himself,” Stella said on behalf of the young man. “We should encourage him the proper way to do it rather than discouraging him completely, right?”
“…” Ophelia answered in silence, before realizing her words might’ve come out too harsh.
She let out a long exhale and looked over at her dejected brother, who was disappointed in himself. Guilt gradually washed over her, and Ophelia took a few seconds to calm down, clearing her throat, and rephrased her words properly.
“…Look, I’m not against you attending our relatives’ gatherings, Matteo. However, you know what our family is like.” Ophelia continued. “If you show even a small weakness, then they will prey on you and make you feel inferior to them. You must educate yourself and master the etiquette well to avoid any mistake at all costs…and that’s how you can protect yourself in this cruel society we live in.”
Ophelia was more than familiar with the cruel reality of noble society, as both a Chevalier and an omega. It wasn't unusual for omegas to encounter young noble alphas who viewed them as baby-makers or sexual objects, rather than as equals. Being imperious and resilient had simply become part of the pink-haired omega's nature, a means of survival. It was thanks to Stella's gentle reminder that Ophelia was able to let her tough façade slip, calmly conveying her worries and the harsh reality of the society they had been born into. The young pink-haired boy listened to every word she said, quiet and attentive, before nodding firmly.
“I understand.” Matteo apologized to his older sister for his earlier carelessness. He understood she was only looking out for him, and that she'd been right to scold him. “I’ll do my best to polish my etiquette, so I won’t make a mistake again.”
“…That’s good.”
This was the first time Stella witnessed Ophelia as a gentle elder sister towards her little brother; she had her way to protect Matteo in this ruthless place. Now that things had smoothed over between the siblings, it was about time the couple needed to leave for afternoon tea. Amid the silence, the two of them walked down the corridor to the garden before the omega was the first to break the silence.
“…Don’t expect my thanks for earlier,” Ophelia said, her eyes fixed forward.
“Huh?”
“I didn’t ask you to intervene,” Ophelia said. “You should’ve minded your business.”
She spoke out of nowhere, and that made Stella confused for a second. Ophelia looked over her shoulder to give her a cold stare and said what she had to say before walking off again. She didn’t give Stella the room to respond or react. The Albrecht alpha was stunned by Ophelia's mixed messages, and it took her a couple of seconds to understand what she meant.
Is this her way of thanking me? Stella thought to herself quietly.
The subtle sweetness of her fragrance lingered in the air behind her and was more than enough to convey her hidden message. If she was indeed dissatisfied with the alpha for intervening earlier, then her pheromones would smell much more bitter and pungent, and it wasn’t.
She sure has…some cute moments like this too. A soft smile touched Stella’s lips, catching up with Ophelia.
When they arrived at the garden and the Chevalier ladies greeted them, Stella was struck with an odd sense of déjà vu. Being at the same location and seeing the familiar faces, she blinked a couple of times before she began recalling this particular past event. Today would be just like any other day the Chevaliers would attempt to humiliate her, but today was more special than usual.
“Stella, go inform the servants to bring tea and desserts for us.” Ophelia turned to her.
“H-Huh?” Stella was caught off guard for a moment. “Oh, sure.”
Thankfully, Ophelia's voice interrupted her train of thought, and the alpha headed inside the manor to find Emily or Reuben. Stella was grateful she'd gotten out of there before her reddened cheeks and ears could become too obvious.
Is it today already? Does that mean today is the day that Ophelia… Stella pressed her lips together, blushing slightly.
Something about a first time was unforgettable, leaving an everlasting imprint on one's mind. Her first mark, her first kiss—both taken by Ophelia, in her previous life. The distant memory of that day gradually resurfaced, making her cheeks heat up. She had no faith in this body's tolerance. Stella was already visibly anxious, even from direct exposure to Ophelia's pheromones. Animosity had once been her greatest immunity, something she could rely on whenever she needed to stay strong, but not anymore.
“You know what? There’s only one thing I can do,” Stella muttered softly, psyching herself up. “I just have to tough it up and…uhm, just get through with it…”
Stella took her sweet time finding Emily before returning to the garden with desserts and freshly brewed tea.
The ladies sat in the gazebo, enjoying their warm afternoon tea and the beautiful weather today. Even if Stella wanted to stay out of their conversation, these vicious ladies would find ways to make her the center of their little gossip.
“You know…it is a good thing your fiancée didn’t humiliate you in front of others in public.” One of the cousins spoke up. “I think you’ll have to educate her on the current trends and fashion among the nobles.”
All the sneering comments and giggles were aimed at her and Ophelia, but the omega foresaw this a mile away. None of their remarks elicited a response from her, and it was Ophelia’s nonchalant attitude that made some of them terrified. Since they couldn’t get the desired response from her, they turned their fire to the only alpha in the space instead.
“Stella, do you think these earrings are pretty on me?”
Mabel was the first one to strike up a conversation with the alpha, who was trying to avoid any conversation with them. Even though she wanted to avoid any sort of interaction with Mabel at all costs, Stella needed to put on an act just the way Ophelia expected her to. Just before she could even utter a word, Mabel intentionally interrupted her instead.
“Stella, do you think these earrings are pretty?” one of Ophelia’s cousins spoke up loudly. “Oh, wait! I doubt you would truly understand since you didn’t know how to choose a decent gift.”
“Oh gosh, you’re so mean, Mabel!” Another cousin chimed in.
It was the same script. The ladies at the table scoffed and giggled at Mabel’s mocking comments towards the alpha.
“Don’t worry about it, Stella.” Mabel smiled in her direction, a condescending one. “It’s okay to not be well-versed in these things, since you’re an alpha. I can teach you what kind of things we Chevaliers love to wear.”
Mabel must’ve anticipated that the alpha would be baited by her offer, but the corner of Stella’s lips lifted before she strode over to Ophelia’s side. She leaned in and rested her hand on the backrest of her chair, displaying their closeness.
“How kind of you, Mabel.” Stella chuckled. “However, I’m not that interested in what other ladies, that is, not my fiancée, find elegant or fashionable. What matters to me is whether Ophelia loves it or not.”
Be a good fiancée and do not humiliate me. That was what Ophelia said. Something about it clicked inside her head, and Stella decided to go with her hunch. The omega never once told her that she had to be nice to these spiteful ladies. All Stella had to do was publicly display her obedience solely toward Ophelia. If this was what her fiancée wanted her to do, then Stella was willing to cooperate and play along with her game.
I wish I could’ve seen her expression to know if I got her message right… Stella thought to herself.
At the very least, it was satisfying to see their smirk drop in an instant before they all wore a puzzled expression. In fact, Ophelia was also surprised by Stella’s bold approach, but that made the corner of her lips lift with relief. She was right to place her bet on her quick-witted alpha to take the best possible action in this scenario. Sometimes, Ophelia felt like their minds were in sync. Stella knew exactly what she wanted her to do or how to behave.
She leaned against the backrest and wore a confident smirk across her face before she delivered a savage counterattack.
“I hope you don’t mind her refusing your offer, Mabel.” Ophelia smiled, but it carried no warmth. “Since my fiancée only cares about what I like.”
Her smile of quiet confidence was enough to make everyone at the table nervous. To avoid making things awkward, they tried showering Stella with compliments about her loyalty to the omega. Her cousins were all such cowards before her green eyes. They were no different from vultures that prey on their target’s flaws, but once they realized they had no chance to bring her down, then they would sing sweet compliments and wear pretentious smiles instead.
Mabel was the only exception among all of them, the only one who dared to talk back to Ophelia regardless. Even though she was older by a few years, she still ranked beneath the omega in their family's hierarchy.
“Of course.” Mabel smiled back at her. “However, I didn’t expect your dog to be this blindly devoted to you.”
“That’s because I know exactly how to take care of my alpha very well,” Ophelia said.
Without knowing their pasts, Stella could already sense the bad blood between them, especially when the bitter scent of vanilla and lavender clashed in the air. They had no reason to hide their animosity towards each other, even before their relatives.
“Heh, I wonder what your secret is.” Mabel shrugged, her tone growing sharper. “Perhaps you must be so good in bed that you have your alpha pet completely wrapped around your finger.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Even though they were blood relatives, it was still indecorous for Mabel to bring people’s bedroom matters onto the public table. In the Northland’s society, it wasn't unusual for young adults to engage in sexual activity, especially between lovers or couples, so long as no one became pregnant before marriage. Speaking of such private matters, however, was considered highly inappropriate. No noble wanted their personal affairs on other people's lips. Mabel had done so out of spite, an attempt to taint Ophelia's pristine reputation.
“H-Hey, Mabel,” One of the cousins nudged her under the table. “I think that’s a little bit too much.”
Some ladies at the table felt that Mabel was crossing the line. They attempted to diffuse the situation before she would truly anger Ophelia, but it was futile. The older brunette omega nonchalantly expressed her thoughts to degrade Ophelia deliberately in front of everyone.
“I’m just being honest,” Mabel shrugged. “Seeing how close you two are, I’m certain that I’m not the only one here who wondered the same.”
Dead silence fell over the table, and neither of them dared utter a word as the air around them grew saturated with Ophelia's thick pheromones. Her scent intensified with every passing minute, gradually shifting into something close to burnt. Something rotten. Even with no emotion on her face, Ophelia's pheromones spoke louder than words. It was obvious she was livid, and even this caught Stella off guard.
“Oh my…I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, Ophelia.” Mabel’s smirk grew wider, knowing she had successfully triggered her. “You know me. I’m just curious how much your uncivil alpha pet can become so obedient to you. Would you care to tell us how?”
Mabel simply waited for her younger cousin to respond, but little did anyone expect that Stella had had enough of this blatant defamation.
“Why must I act cordial to someone who doesn’t deserve it?” Stella’s voice cut through the conversation.
The alpha had had enough of staying quiet, of listening to Mabel spout repulsive accusations about Ophelia. Leaning forward, resting her hand on the table, Stella let the scent of rotten lavender give way to the intense aroma of smoked pinewood. The ladies at the table, the omegas especially, shivered before her. Even though the betas were insensitive to pheromones, they could still sense the dominating presence surrounding Stella.
“I have nothing but great respect for Ophelia, who carries herself diligently and dignifiedly at all times, unlike you.” Stella’s voice grew sharper, almost like a blade. “I suggest that you learn from her since your decorum is extremely lacking.”
Mabel had interacted with several different alphas in the past, but none of them could make her feel this terrified before. She couldn’t take her eyes away from those ruthless blue eyes, glaring straight into her core, making her heart shiver out of rhythm.
“Stella,”
“…”
The moment Ophelia called her fiancée, the tension in the air around dissipated at once. Everyone was able to exhale with relief. In this quiet silence, a wordless message was sent to everyone: Stella was both protective and loyal to Ophelia.
“It is not respectful to release your pheromones like that,” Ophelia glanced over her shoulder with a smile. Her tone was calm and soft. “Especially at the ladies’ gathering.”
“I apologize for my misstep.” Stella stood straight again, her head held high.
Even if what Stella did was considered extremely offensive to do at a ladies’ gathering, Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to be mad at the alpha for protecting her dignity and putting Mabel in her place. In fact, that made her heart skip a beat. The rotten scent of lavender around the omega gradually dissipated, and the omega was back to her usual stoic self once again.
“I hope everyone here can forgive my fiancée for overstepping.” She turned to everyone before they quickly shook their head.
None of them were bothered by that in the slightest. In fact, they were more grateful for Stella intervening, as none of them dared to. Now that Ophelia had accomplished what she wanted from this gathering after causing a mini commotion with Stella’s help, it was the perfect time to leave.
"I just remembered I have matters to attend to." Ophelia rose from her seat. "So, please, continue to enjoy the afternoon tea."
"O-Of course! We're happy to have had you and Stella join us today." One of the ladies said, lowering her head. "Please have a lovely afternoon."
Ophelia caught a glimpse of the humiliated omega, and she was convinced that this would put Mabel in place for a while. After the couple left the area, the Chevalier cousins awkwardly turned to the silent brunette immediately with a nudge.
“Hey Mabel, we know you dislike Ophelia.” One of them grabbed her shoulder. “But you really overstepped today.”
“She’s right.” Another lady nodded. “What if she reported to the Marquis and we get in trouble?”
While the ladies from the lesser branches were anxious about whether they'd be dragged into the mess Mabel had created, the brunette omega herself seemed unconcerned. Beyond simply not expecting the alpha to defend Ophelia, she hadn't expected to still be shivering like this, either. Just as expected from such a noble alpha, she didn't carry Albrecht blood for nothing. Her omega instincts screamed at her to surrender. Fear and thrill tangled together. She couldn't deny how drawn she felt to the presence of such a powerful alpha.
“…You’re right,” Mabel finally spoke. “Maybe I should go apologize to Ophelia later for crossing the line this time.”
After a short moment of silence, Mabel put on a smile and played along with the others' suggestion to apologize, to keep the peace between them. The remaining cousins decided to carry on with their little tea, but Mabel seemed quite distracted, lost in her own thoughts instead. No one knew what was going on in her mind, behind that smirk.
Once the couple left the tea party, Stella quietly followed right behind Ophelia back to her bedchamber. The omega didn’t have important matters to attend to, as she stated earlier. She simply gave a convincing excuse to leave the tea party since she gained nothing by prolonging her stay.
“You need to mind your business back there,” Ophelia said, turning around to face Stella. “All you have to do is just be my good, obedient fiancée.”
Ophelia shot her a stern glare, warning her that this was a family feud, one Stella had no place in. But the alpha had no intention of standing idle, letting Mabel defame Ophelia so blatantly.
“You cannot expect me to watch that heinous woman speak to you in that way,” Stella said.
“I’m not going to thank you for that,” Ophelia said, crossing her arms. “What you’ve done is considered crossing the line.”
“I know, and I don’t regret that,” Stella said, remaining stubborn. “I’m just doing what I believe is right.”
The couple was equally stubborn once they made their decision. Neither one intended to back down. Even if Ophelia told Stella to stay out of her business, it would be futile. Unfortunately, the omega couldn’t possibly show that she was genuinely happy with Stella standing up to protect her honor. However, she needed to take this stubborn alpha. Ophelia can’t afford to have her act however she wanted, or else the Marquis will doubt her ability to keep Stella on a leash.
“Sit down,” Ophelia said, crossing her arms. “Right now.”
Stella didn’t dare to anger her further and did as she was told. But she wasn’t mentally prepared for what happened next. Ophelia leaned in closer and swiftly straddled her lap. Stella blinked, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind the moment she met Ophelia’s green, glistening eyes.
“O-Ophelia, what are you—” Stella stuttered, feeling the heat blooming across her face.
Stella swallowed hard. It was too close. The sweet scent of lavender filled the air, rising from Ophelia’s porcelain skin.
“Even if you’re misbehaving,” Ophelia said, resting her hands on her shoulders. “It doesn’t feel so bad having a protective pet who’ll bite anyone who touches her master.”
Her long, slender fingers traced along Stella’s collarbone, down to where the first button sat. The alpha’s body shuddered under her soft, playful touch. She gulped again. Her embarrassment was so plain on her face that Ophelia couldn’t help but tease her more.
“Why are you so nervous?” Ophelia asked, a soft smirk touching her lips. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
"Who in their right mind would keep such a straight face as you, in a situation like this?"
Heat crawled up her neck, reaching her cheeks and ears, as though it had a mind of its own. For a moment, Stella was so tense that she forgot to even breathe. The tension and heat between them grew, and it was starting to affect Ophelia. Seeing her alpha flustered by just her touch stirred something deep inside her. As Stella showed no signs of resistance, it only encouraged Ophelia to push further, testing her limits.
“I was thinking I should punish you,” Ophelia whispered, leaning in closer. “But wouldn't a reward be more fitting?”
“H-Huh?”
“For standing up and protecting my honor earlier.” Ophelia smiled. “I must say…that’s very sweet of you.”
Ophelia’s hands began tracing the shape of her neck and collarbone, studying her closely. She could feel the fire of Stella’s body beneath her delicate fingers.
“W-What are you going to do…?” Stella stammered.
“Be a good girl and sit still,” Ophelia whispered, her tone low and seductive. “Seeing you protective of me makes me want to mark you.”
This alpha beneath her had always been pragmatic, wise, and fearless, despite knowing her position in the Chevalier estate. And now, Stella was wearing such an adorable, innocent expression, like someone who had never had an intimate experience with an omega before. This was dangerous. The more Ophelia touched Stella’s bare skin, the more she found it harder to stop.
“How is that a reward to me??” Stella’s voice rose in pitch, protesting under her breath. “That sounds like a punishment instead!”
Even as Stella tried to stay as composed as possible, the omega’s sweet lavender fragrance had already filled her nostrils and lungs. Sweeter and thicker by the moment. The alpha’s body refused to listen to her mind. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
“That’s true,” Ophelia chuckled. “How about I let you mark me instead?”
"Huh?" Stella blinked, something inside her chest pulling taut.
Stella paused for a second; had she misheard that? But the moment she saw Ophelia unbuttoning her dress in front of her, her blue eyes went straight to her exposed nape. Stella swore that her hands had never moved faster in her life as she grabbed Ophelia’s hands to stop her from unbuttoning any further.
“W-Wait! Stop for a second—!” Stella’s voice rose to a pitch.
In the blink of an eye, Stella looked as though she was about to combust. Ophelia was surprised, never thought that was even possible. Her alpha looked like a flustered little puppy, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
“So, what do you choose as your reward?” Ophelia said, grinning from ear to ear.
“You’re seriously a bully, aren’t you?” Stella muttered under her breath.
"I deserve to have some fun exacting my revenge,” Ophelia said. “After all the headaches you've given me since you arrived.”
This was Ophelia's turn to get back at Stella, who'd always teased her whenever she had the chance. This time, it was her turn to make the alpha taste her own medicine. Stella clenched her jaw in frustration, fuming, yet her blue eyes remained gentle as ever. There was never a moment when the smell of her pinewood pheromones was unpleasant. Her scent was gentle, warm, and protective, just as Ophelia always remembered it.
"Ugh, fine! Have it your way," Stella said, sighing sharply. "Just mark me, and let's get it done."
A soft chuckle escaped Ophelia's lips.
Once Stella let go of her hand, the omega buttoned up her dress before moving to her fiancée’s shirt. Unbuttoning one by one, exposing the crook of her neck. Ophelia stared at Stella’s scent gland, feeling her throat dry and tight as she swallowed hard. She couldn’t help but shift closer to kiss her smooth skin.
“Relax…don’t tense too much,” Ophelia whispered, brushing her lips against her skin.
Ophelia brushed her teeth against her skin, feeling Stella's warmth against her lips before she sank them in. In that instant, all strength left Stella's body. Her pheromones began oozing out uncontrollably. The alluring scent of lavender and pinewood blended harmoniously into one, and even the alpha could feel Ophelia's body burning hotter. Stella did everything she could to brace herself mentally for the incoming bite, but her young body, brimming with vigor, disobeyed her wishes.
“A-Ah…” Stella breathed heavily, a husky exhale escaping her lips.
Her arms wrapped around Ophelia tightly, clutching onto her, which also caught the omega by surprise. Still, that didn’t stop her from sinking her teeth in and filling her mouth with Stella’s pheromones. She had moments when she planned to stop, but the alpha’s smoky pinewood scent was too irresistible for her.
“H-Hey…” Stella whimpered. “T-That’s enough…”
A hoarse protest escaped her lips, but it was futile. Ophelia had gone deaf to her pleas, her omega instincts taking full control of her body. Her mind drowned completely in Stella’s irresistible pheromones. Her grip on the alpha tightened, firm enough that she couldn’t push her away. Ophelia’s lips danced across her skin, nibbling and sucking on her gland.
Just…a little bit more. Ophelia thought to herself, craving it.
The more she kissed, the warmer Stella’s skin grew, and the less possible it became to stop. The alpha below showed no resistance, no signs of pushing her away, which only made it harder for Ophelia to stop herself. Stella shuddered at every soft breath, every kiss, every bite, every touch against her bare skin.
“You have to…” Stella muttered weakly, her voice fading before she could even finish. “I-I can’t…”
But Ophelia didn’t hear her plea. She had no intention of stopping. She was too lost in the moment to realize that Stella was soon to reach her limit. Gasping desperately, Stella used her remaining strength to grip Ophelia’s shoulders, trying to make her stop before her consciousness could slip away.
“O-Ophelia…” Stella panted, forcing each word out. “S-Stop…t-that’s enough!”
When Ophelia met Stella’s gaze, she saw nothing but primal hunger in those clear blue eyes, as though they might swallow her whole at any given moment. Stella panted heavily, sweat beading down her forehead, brows furrowed with frustration. A different kind of frustration.
Ophelia froze for a moment, still dazed from Stella’s pheromones, until her senses gradually returned. That was when she felt it. A firm bulge pressing against her from below. Her mind went numb for a few seconds before blood rushed straight into her head in a heartbeat.
“H-Hey, don’t move!” Stella grunted, almost pleading. “Just…stay still.”
Stella held her tightly, keeping Ophelia still as she forcibly clenched her teeth and looked away. If she looked at her now, her eyes would drift straight to her neck and the intrusive thoughts would flood back in.
“Just…stay still…” Stella muttered weakly, her voice gradually fading. “Until I calm down… and don’t laugh.”
She couldn’t begin to describe how embarrassed she was. Her body was far too honest, betraying her against Ophelia's pheromones. Excited, aroused, and helpless. How was she supposed to stop an alpha’s instinctive response to an omega’s attraction, even if she wanted to? Now the two of them were stuck in this awkward moment, Ophelia could no longer hide her own fluster. Her cheeks, her ears, both were already burning crimson.
“I-I’m not that cruel to laugh at a natural reaction, okay?”
“…” Stella was still panting heavily.
Ophelia’s original plan had been to make Stella despise her. They were supposed to build a toxic relationship, but she never imagined it would end up like this. Ophelia felt somewhat guilty for nearly pushing Stella into rut. She had been biting and sucking on her scent gland a little bit longer than she should have. Still, she had no intention of teasing the trembling alpha who was fighting her own instincts.
Stella lost count of how many times she exhaled heavily. Her entire body was on fire, burning with the urge to devour an omega. Her innate instinct kept producing a stream of intrusive thoughts. To push Ophelia down. To ravage her. To satiate her rut.
“Ugh…” Stella clenched her jaw and swallowed hard.
Resisting the urge growing inside her was becoming painful. Her erection showed no sign of calming, still pressing against Ophelia from below.
“Seriously,” Ophelia let out a quiet sigh. “You’re so helpless.”
The omega watched the alpha struggle quietly, then pulled Stella into her tight embrace, burying her nose in the crook of her neck.
“H-Hey!” Stella’s voice rose a pitch, panicked. “What are you doing—?”
“Just close your eyes and try to calm down, idiot.”
The pheromones in the air shifted. The mellow scent of lavender filled her nose and lungs, washing the heat from her body, as though Stella was graced by a spring morning. After a few breaths, she began to feel in control of her body again. The feral urge was still there, but it was tolerable now. No longer painful to resist.
After a minute or two of silence, Ophelia noticed Stella’s breathing had steadied, and the bulge pressing against her had slowly faded away.
“Can I move yet?” Ophelia asked.
“…Yeah.” Stella nodded softly. “Sorry for earlier.”
At last, Ophelia was able to move, sliding off the alpha, who was still red-faced with embarrassment over what had happened. Stella touched her own neck, tracing the indentation Ophelia had left behind. It was finally over. Less than ten minutes, and yet it had felt like an eternity.
“I didn’t expect you to be this weak to an omega’s pheromones,” Ophelia said, making a sharp remark. “You’re already aroused from just being marked.”
The omega returned to her usual self, though her ears still burned crimson.
“That’s not my fault!” Stella protested. “I didn't ask you to mark me, to suck on my gland until you nearly sent me into rut!”
Stella protested that she wasn’t the one to blame. Both glared at each other, brows furrowed, refusing to budge. Even though Ophelia knew she was partly at fault, she didn't want to openly admit it.
"Hmm, it seems it's about time to introduce some new training for you," Ophelia murmured. "It would be horrible if some omega tried to seduce you behind my back."
Even if Stella's mind could resist her feral urges, this young body might still betray her. Ophelia's concern was justified, but that would be Stella's problem for another day. She still had time to build up an aphrodisiac tolerance before the incident with Mabel.
"I despise them enough that their pheromones would only be a turn-off for me." Stella tried to stay calm and collected.
"I doubt it." Ophelia shot back, crossing her arms. "Judging by how you reacted to me earlier. What if I hadn't subdued your rut? Do you really think you could've resisted that?"
“Well, that’s because—!”
Stella couldn't finish her sentence. Perhaps this was the first time the alpha had come close to losing an argument with Ophelia. It wasn't that she couldn't refute her, but that she couldn't possibly tell the truth.
“Because?”
"...I'd like to take a shower," Stella said, averting Ophelia's gaze. "My clothes are soaked with sweat."
She avoided answering entirely. Stella headed for the connecting door between their rooms at once, before the omega could press her further.
"You certainly dare to leave without answering my question." Ophelia scowled at the fleeing alpha, who seemed entirely immune to her threatening tone.
When Stella closed the door behind her, she was finally able to exhale. She had been too embarrassed to answer, because she didn't want to admit that Ophelia's pheromones had made her feel good. The way the floral fragrance wrapped around her body, tender and warm, felt almost like an indirect confession of love from Ophelia.
Besides, Stella reminded herself that she already had a soulmate. It was embarrassing to admit that she had gotten an erection over an omega that wasn’t Linda.
“I need a cold shower…” Stella grunted in frustration.
Even now, Ophelia's scent still clung to her. As she peeled off her clothes and prepared to shower, something in her reflection caught her eye.
“H-Huh?!”
Stella stared at her neck, and a wave of heat rushed to her face. Beyond the bite mark, faint kiss marks scattered across the crook of her neck, left there by Ophelia.
"These are going to take days to fade,” Stella said, her brows furrowing. “That Ophelia—!"
It was no surprise the omega kept triggering her rut. She'd been marked by Ophelia again, though it hadn't played out quite the same way it had in the past. This time, they hadn't shared their first kiss. Perhaps they'd both been too distracted by everything else that had happened. Just recalling how honestly her alpha body had reacted to Ophelia's pheromones was enough to set her ears burning again.
"I swear I'm taking this secret to my grave..." Stella muttered to herself. "Linda can never know about this."
She hoped that Ophelia wouldn't breathe a word of it to anyone. But what if they crossed paths, and the woman decided to tell Linda out of spite? Too many scenarios spun through Stella's mind, each one worse than the last. She'd just have to worry about that if the time ever came.
Shortly after Stella retreated to her room, Ophelia finally had a quiet moment to herself. Finally, she dropped her mask. Her fingers traced her lips, still tasting the smoky pinewood lingering on her tongue and teeth. Stella's pheromones filled her mouth, her nose, so completely that it was the only scent she could smell now. Replaying what had happened earlier, her face and ears burned all over again.
That was too dangerous, too unhealthy, for her heart.
She hadn't expected that marking her fiancée could turn this chaotic. Ophelia would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted to push the alpha past her limits. If Stella were to lose control and pounce on her, Ophelia wouldn't have resisted. And yet, part of her almost wished the alpha had shown some resistance to her touches and kisses. It would have made it so much easier for Ophelia to rein in her own primal instincts.
"I need to be more careful next time," Ophelia sighed. "Or I'll be the one who loses control instead..."
Ophelia knew she needed to mark Stella with more restraint. This omega's body could be such an inconvenience. The primal urge she was born with made her want Stella, crave her, for herself alone. And it only grew harder to fight, now that her feelings were romantic. She kept catching herself lost in intrusive thoughts, imagining ways to bind this gentle alpha to her, so that she could never leave.
If she were to get pregnant, by some chance, Stella would never leave her. Someone so soft, so gentle, would never abandon her own child.
But of course, Ophelia pushed all those thoughts aside. It took sheer determination to ignore her primal desire for the one she loved and stay focused on her true goal instead. Right now, though, what she needed most was a cold shower, something to wash away the heat and quiet the intrusive thoughts still swirling in her mind.
"Ugh... I think I need a cold shower to cool down, too." Ophelia exhaled sharply and stepped into the bathroom.