“G-Guh…Agh—!”
Stella heard nothing but the frantic rhythm of her own heartbeat, pounding in her ears. Completely drenched in cold sweat. Her body was on the verge of combusting from the drug Ophelia had forced into her. The omega watched as the helpless alpha squirmed and fought her own primal instincts. Stella could only glare at her, wondering what was going on in that sick mind of hers.
“You’re developing resistance quite well.” Ophelia sank back into the couch with a smile. “I’m impressed.”
This had become Ophelia’s newest fixation: dosing Stella with an aphrodisiac and watching how long it took before she was devoured by her feral instincts. It was well-known that alphas and omegas held less resistance against such drugs. A single dose was enough to force them into rut or heat. However, Stella’s mental fortitude was built differently. She endured it all, clenching her jaw, biting down hard on her lip, and digging her nails into her palm until she nearly bled.
Pain was the way to make Stella stay conscious through this humiliation.
No matter how degraded her circumstances, Stella never let the abuse taint her dignity as a human. The raging fire beneath those blue eyes was still burning fiercely as always.
“You’re so hard to break…good.” Ophelia chuckled softly, her tone laced with satisfaction. “That’s what I like about you.”
Stella still remembered the first time Ophelia drugged her, and it was unbearable. She had come close to losing herself to her rut several times and would fight until she passed out on the floor. Stella would rather have died than submit to alpha instincts and share a bed with her fiancée. She refused to hand Ophelia the satisfaction of watching her break.
Each time she was drugged, she would harm herself. The more she was in pain, the easier it was to endure until she fainted. This maddening hobby began the moment Stella cleared Ophelia’s standards and won the Marquis’s permission to attend the Northland Academy the following term.
“You’ll be enrolled in the academy soon, and I need to make sure you won’t get yourself drugged or sleep around with other omegas,” Ophelia said as she rested her chin in her palm. “That would tarnish House Chevalier’s name immensely. I hope you understand that.”
“You know… I don’t care…anything about…you filthy Chevaliers…!” Stella groaned, forcing each word through her teeth while in agony.
“I know, but you have no choice regardless.” Ophelia chuckled softly. “What I hate the most is seeing others touch what’s mine.”
She approached and knelt beside Stella; her hands reached out to touch the bite mark she had recently left. It was a reminder that she belonged to Ophelia. Her green eyes stayed cold and indifferent, regarding the young Albrecht as her pet to be shaped into her ideal alpha.
It was sickening, but a high-risk, high-reward situation.
Stella was willing to trade her dignity on the line, complying with Ophelia’s outrageous demands in exchange for a place at Northland Academy. This was her ticket beyond the walls of Chevalier estate. All she needed was a chance. A chance to reach one of her father’s trusted allies and find the way out of this prison.
After demonstrating excellence in both academics and swordsmanship, Ophelia took full credit for successfully molding Stella into her perfect fiancée. The Marquis was satisfied to see the once-feral alpha had been tamed by his daughter. Thus, granting her permission to attend the academy alongside Ophelia.
“You should thank me for getting you enrolled. Make sure to behave yourself.” A smirk touched Ophelia’s lips. “If you don’t, I cannot guarantee when the next time you’ll be permitted to step outside these walls. My father isn’t nearly as lenient as me.”
“I’m not so foolish as to not understand my situation.” Stella shot back.
“Good girl.” Ophelia giggled in response.
Stella wouldn’t try to escape, not yet, though she wanted to. She knew it was pointless. What she needed was to reach Viscount Henry Lemaire, one of her father’s best friends since their youth at the Academy. He had treated her like Stella was a daughter of his own, and she also considered him like an uncle in turn. If there were anyone with the power to help her escape, it would be him.
Viscount Lemaire. He owned Lemaire Company, one of the largest merchandising guilds with a network spanning all of Northland, and he sat on the Academy’s board as well. Thus, attending the academy was her best shot to reach him.
For her entrance examination, Stella passed everything with flying colors, setting a record with an A-star rank. With special considerations, she was permitted to skip her first year and enrolled straight into her second. The news spread like wildfire and made her the talk of every circle in the school.
“I heard that she is Duke Albrecht’s younger sister, right?” one student whispered to another. “I didn’t expect her to be such a genius…”
“I heard she even aced the combat examination too.” Another whisper could be heard from the crowd.
Stella’s name was on everyone’s lips in every corridor of the Academy. Of course, she had aced the combat examination effortlessly. Nothing about it could compare to Captain Jayson’s brutal training sessions. One of the examiners had even stepped onto the grounds to test her himself, and lost. Fortunately, it seemed the goddess of luck was on Stella’s side, rewarding a year’s worth of hard work and patience…
“W-Wait!!”
A loud cry ran out from behind. Stella stopped in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder with a frown, assuming it was some classmate who had followed her. But when the scent of sweet peach reached her nose, her eyes widened with disbelief. She could never forget that familiar, irresistible fragrance belonged to the young lady with pastel orange hair.
“L-Linda?”
“It’s really you!” Linda beamed with relief. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming—”
The omega ran straight into Stella’s arms, burying her face in her shoulder, embracing her so tightly as though she feared Stella might slip away. Linda Lemaire. She was the eldest daughter of the Viscount Lemaire and a year younger than Stella. They had grown up together as childhood friends, and on top of that, they were bound by a soulmate connection.
Soulmates were often described as fated partners destined to bond with each other. They were considered ideal partners in every sense: genetically, psychologically, and spiritually. A soulmate pair was said to share an inexplicable spiritual connection and perfect physical compatibility, making them an ideal couple in every way possible. Northland's society held soulmates in high regard. It was widely believed that they were bound together by divine will, born to be each other’s partner. No social convention was considered reason enough to stand in the way of what fate had already decided.
Stella and Linda were among the very fortunate few to find each other at a young age and had a chance to grow up together. Their fathers had been best friends since their youth, coincidence or not, it felt as though everything was already set in stone for them to end up together.
It was truly something out of a fairy tale.
Everyone who had watched them grow up could see how deeply they loved and cared for each other. To both families, it was obvious they would one day marry. To Stella, Linda was the only person in the world who truly understood her. Whenever she was with her, she felt nothing but comfort. Surprisingly, they had never been formally engaged. Perhaps their parents simply didn’t see the need, given how clearly they only had eyes for each other. No one could’ve expected the former duke to pass away so suddenly, or that Stella would be sent to Chevaliers and engaged to Ophelia instead.
“We tried so hard to reach you,” Linda’s voice was shaking, almost crying, but she held her tears back. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay!”
“Yeah…I’m so glad to see you again.” Stella embraced her tighter, afraid Linda might slip from her arms.
Every bit of pain Stella had endured these past months just to make it to the Academy felt worthwhile.
Linda’s peach pheromones were exactly as she always remembered. Soothing and irresistible. Being isolated from her loved ones for so long had nearly made Stella forget the warmth of an embrace. Though they were in different years, their paths still crossed often at the Academy. Stella had to complete several first-year classes as prerequisites, which meant more time together than either of them had expected.
The moment Stella began to feel too good to be true, it gave birth to something inside her heart. Something close to fear.
It was impossible for Ophelia not to find out, and she was right to think so. The pink-haired omega had eyes all over the Academy, and it wasn’t long before she learned Stella had been spending a great deal of time with this underclassman. Soon enough, Ophelia’s friends and followers made Linda their new target, publicly mocking or humiliating her. It only grew worse once they learned that Linda came from a far lower-ranking family than Ophelia. As a result, people began steering clear of Linda, afraid of being targeted themselves or caught in the crossfire.
Only a handful of people stood by Linda’s side, including Stella.
Stella had no problem enduring all the abuse and insults aimed at her, but not at the people she loved, especially Linda. It was unbearable to watch her face deadened by fatigue and stress. Although Linda insisted that it didn’t bother her, it clearly did, and Stella knew she was partly to blame for that.
For the first time, she visited Ophelia’s bedchamber at night after dinner. Standing before her, Stella begged, for the first time, pleading with this lunatic omega to leave her soulmate alone. At that point, Stella was willing to pay any price if it meant that Linda would be safe.
“…Please, I’ll do anything you want.” Stella swallowed hard as she lowered her head. “Just leave Linda alone.”
“My, you’ve become such a docile puppy for another omega.” Ophelia tilted her head. “She must be quite special to you, isn’t she?”
“She is my childhood friend.” Stella shot back. “I hate seeing those I care about hurt by awful people like you filthy Chevaliers.”
“You’re begging me to help, yet your tongue is still as sharp as always.” Ophelia chuckled, amused by the sudden shift in Stella’s demeanor. “You should be grateful that I happen to like that side about you.”
Ophelia strode toward her and seized Stella by the collar of the shirt. Their faces were only a few inches apart now, and the young alpha flinched. When their eyes met, Stella’s brows furrowed with a mixture of disgust and surprise.
“Satisfy me with a kiss.” A coldhearted smile touched Ophelia’s lips. “Then I’ll consider fulfilling your request.”
Stella froze, hesitation flickering across her eyes. Although they had kissed before, it was always Ophelia who initiated it. This time, the cunning omega wanted Stella to make the first move. Just the thought of it twisted her stomach with discomfort. Then again, what choice did she have?
“Do you promise to leave her alone?” Stella muttered under her breath.
“You have my word that I, Ophelia Chevalier, will not lay a finger on or harass Linda Lemaire.” She made a vow without hesitation. “I won’t say a single word that could encourage others to bully her.”
“…You promised.”
Stella grabbed her by the wrist, her other arm circling Ophelia’s waist. This is for Linda, she told herself quietly before forcing her lips against Ophelia’s. The kiss was brief and rough. The moment their lips parted, Ophelia seized that opportunity, pressing her body against Stella’s, closing what little distance remained between them. Her hands rose to cradle her fiancée’s cheeks.
“Satisfy me, Stella,” Ophelia whispered against her mouth, drawing her closer. “You have only one chance before I change my mind.”
When Ophelia felt Stella start to pull back again, she held her face more firmly.
“…”
Stella swallowed her pride before returning to the kiss. Bitter, yet strangely passionate. She pinned Ophelia against the nearest wall. Their lips parted wider, and their tongues found each other’s rhythm. Soft moans and gasps slipped out between their kisses. Ophelia’s hands burned hot as they slid to Stella’s neck and shoulder, nails digging into her skin. Her body responded to Stella’s pinewood pheromones thickening with every passing second.
“M-Mmh… ah…”
Ophelia whimpered as the sweet fragrance of lavender began to bloom from her scent glands. Just as Stella was about to pull away again, the omega bit her bottom lip and dragged her back in, almost desperate for her touch. Ophelia’s instincts craved an alpha’s warmth and scent, even one that carried a touch of pungency and bitterness. Such a strong, acrid scent of pinewood, but that didn’t stop Ophelia from craving it.
The longer they kissed, Stella’s body began answering to Ophelia’s pheromones. Sweet, enticing lavender wrapped around them both. Stella suppressed her instinct with sheer will, repeating to herself that this was for Linda’s sake. It was just a kiss. Just a physical act. Nothing more. And yet for a moment there, they looked almost like lovers.
It ended only when Ophelia had had enough. When Stella pulled away, all she could feel was how swollen and sore her own lips were.
“I didn’t expect you to be such a good kisser.” Ophelia licked her lips. Her cheeks warmed to rosy pink. “I’m very satisfied.”
“…It’s your turn to honor your promise,” Stella said as she wiped her mouth at once.
“You know I always keep my word.” An unreadable smile touched the corner of Ophelia’s lips.
Something about her smile was different, leaving an unsettling feeling in Stella’s chest. She couldn’t exactly find the words to describe what she had seen. All she knew was that it wasn’t her usual infuriating smile. But Stella’s mind was too consumed with thoughts of her soulmate to notice any subtle hints, even if one was standing right in front of her…
Ophelia did keep her promise.
She did not lay a finger on Linda, nor did she encourage anyone to target her.
However, she had never promised to be held accountable for her followers’ and acquaintances’ actions. It had been their own decision to go after Linda without Ophelia saying a word or lifting a finger. Even when Stella confronted her fiancée about it, Ophelia only shrugged, telling her it was beyond her control. If Stella wished to stop the bullying, she had to confront them herself. Stella cursed herself for being a fool, for not realizing the loopholes in their agreement. She had no choice but to protect Linda in her own way.
Other students had been calling Linda the ‘homewrecker-in-training’ and many other vulgar names. In the Academy, everyone saw Stella and Ophelia as a perfect power couple. Both were exceptionally intelligent and came from powerful families. Hence, it made Linda look like the outsider, the third party who tried to insert herself and seduce Stella away.
Linda had always insisted none of this bothered her, because she knew that wasn’t true. They were soulmates, and it was Ophelia who was the one who took Stella away from her, not the other way around. While they were on Academy grounds, the couple would find a quiet corner in the library to spend precious alone time together.
“I’m so sorry I have dragged you into this mess with me,” Stella said, her voice low and apologetic.
“I don’t care what others call me, Stella,” Linda said with a smile, comforting her. “I just…want to be with you. None of this is your fault at all.”
“We just need to be patient and wait for the right time,” Stella said as she held Linda’s hand firmly.
“Dad and I will do everything we can to get you out of there, I promise,” Linda said.
The younger omega’s gaze drifted to the bite mark on Stella’s neck, and something inside her heart twisted, close to resentment. The flicker of jealousy burned beneath her pastel green eyes. That mark left by another omega claimed what had always belonged to her. Her omega instincts couldn’t tolerate that.
“…Stella, you’ve kissed Lady Ophelia before, right?” Linda asked, already knowing the answer, but asking anyway.
“…”
Stella’s reaction said it all. Discomfort and disappointment flickered across her face. Linda gently cupped her partner’s cheeks, drew her close until their lips met. The kiss was soft and tender, almost magical. Their lips lingered for a few seconds before slowly parting.
“At least I have saved my first kiss for you.” Linda smiled, as if comforting both herself and her alpha. “It’s okay, Stella.”
“Linda…”
Whispering against each other’s lips, they kissed more. Tender and unhurried, the kiss between two people who truly loved each other. They let themselves drown in the warmth of the moment, in each other’s pheromones quietly. Both clung tightly, as if afraid the other might slip away. These sweet, magical moments with Linda gave Stella the strength to endure whatever hardship that came her way without losing sight of hope.
Whenever Linda asked how Ophelia and the Chevaliers had been treating her, Stella never shared the full extent of it. She didn’t want her omega worrying about her well-being. It would break her heart.
Stella still remembered that night vividly. It was one of the most terrifying moments of her life.
The Chevaliers had thrown one of their special banquets that night, exclusive to members of the family, held in one of the magnificent halls located adjacent to the manor. This meant Stella had been left behind in her room to rest for the night. As she thought she would have this one special quiet night to herself, a soft knock interrupted her.
Stella had a visitor. Before she could ask who it was, the figure behind the door spoke first.
“Stella, are you inside? Ophelia asked me to pass something on to you.” A feminine voice said, muffled through the door. “She specifically wanted me to hand it to you directly.”
Stella recognized that voice. Mabel Chevalier, one of Ophelia’s older cousins. The alpha was reluctant to open the door to her, but since the message was from Ophelia herself, she had no choice but to deal with it quickly. The moment she opened the door, she had no idea it would turn out to be one of the gravest mistakes in her life.
“—!?”
Something was sprayed directly into her face. Wet. Was it water? Whatever it was, Stella felt threatened. Stella stumbled back from the door at once to put a distance between them. Then, within seconds, her body was hit by a sudden wave of heat.
It rushed up her head, expanding rapidly, as though her head was on the verge of exploding.
Dizziness struck her hard. Disorientation followed and hit her all at once.
After being drugged by Ophelia numerous times, she recognized this smell instantly. Aphrodisiac. However, this was far more potent than the ones she had taken before. Its effects were so strong that it made her want to throw up.
“U-Ugh… T-This is…!” Stella struggled to force words through her lips while salivating. “H-How dare you…!”
Usually, no one from the branched families dared to anger a member of the main branch. Never once did she see any of Ophelia’s cousins dare to speak ill toward her. No one wanted to make on the omega’s blacklist, except Mabel. Who would’ve thought that this deranged woman would be so bold as to charge into Stella’s room in the middle of the night and drug her.
It was impossible that Ophelia wouldn’t find out about this, yet that hadn’t stopped Mabel.
As strength rapidly drained from her body, Stella grabbed the nearby chair before she could’ve lost her balance. Her surroundings began to tilt and twist, making it difficult to stay upright. Her entire body felt unnaturally sensitive, especially to omega’s pheromones.
Stella coughed vigorously at how strong the vanilla scent was coming from Mabel, worsening her dizziness.
“Ugh…guh—!”
“I managed to get my hands on this powerful drug.” Mabel smiled as she closed the door behind her. “They told me that no alpha could resist its effects and would lose their minds within a minute…”
Mabel pushed Stella onto the bed before slowly bending toward her. She was still wearing her red dress; its revealing cut felt almost intentional. To drug Stella in the middle of the night, especially while Ophelia was away, could only mean one thing. The realization hit her hard, sending chills down Stella’s spine.
Ophelia wouldn’t return until much later, until the banquet ended. It was enough time for Mabel to carry out her plan: getting herself impregnated by Stella.
“You see, I just need a little help from you to get me pregnant.” A malicious smile touched her lips as she whispered. “Be a good alpha tonight and give me a child who will carry the blood of Albrecht and Chevalier.”
“—!”
“I hope you’ll be good in bed and satisfy me as well.” Mabel moved in closer. “Let’s have a good time, Stella…”
Mabel’s hands went towards Stella’s trousers, attempting to unbuckle them. The older omega was growing bold and confident, believing that everything was about to go according to plan, but little did she know that Ophelia’s twisted hobby had given Stella the willpower she needed to resist. In that split second, fear and anger surged through her veins, adrenaline flooding her system.
“Get OFF of me, you bitch!!!”
Shouting at the top of her lungs, Stella used every ounce of her strength to kick Mabel away. Right in her stomach. Stella watched Mabel stumble backward, crashing into the nearby table and chairs before collapsing onto the floor.
The vase toppled from the table and shattered, and one of the fragments flew and caught Mabel’s arm, leaving her with a cut. For a noble omega, obsessed with maintaining their appearance and beauty, such a small injury like this was enough to send her into a panic.
“O-Ouch… It hurts!” Mabel glanced at the blood trickling down her arm. “Oh my god. B-Blood! I’m bleeding!!”
“Serves you right,” Stella muttered, breathing heavily in pain. “You sick bitch…”
“How is the drug not working!?” Mabel shot daggers at Stella in disbelief. “You should’ve been in a rut by now!”
As Mabel tried to process the situation, panicking from the injury and the fact that her plan was falling apart, she didn’t realize someone had arrived. The door opened as a tall pink-haired figure stepped inside, unhurried with quiet grace, in her long deep blue dress.
“My my…” Ophelia’s green eyes gazed at Stella, then to the aphrodisiac bottle on the floor, and then to her poor, trembling cousin. “I didn’t expect to find a fat sewer rat to make its way to my fiancée’s room.”
Her voice dropped to a chilling level, causing Mabel to tremble with fear. She didn’t dare to make eye contact with Ophelia now that she realized her plan had failed miserably, and that she was caught red-handed. The scent of vanilla was soon overtaken by the burnt scent of lavender, rotten even.
Through her half-lidded eyes, Stella witnessed for the first time Ophelia genuinely livid.
“I didn’t expect you to be this shameful as to drug my fiancée to satisfy your lust.” Ophelia’s voice was sharp as a cold blade. “You’re such a disgrace to the Chevalier name!”
“A-Ah…!” Mabel jolted with fear. She was on the verge of breaking down.
“Do not show your face in front of my Stella again, or I will expose everything you’ve done today to everyone.” Ophelia continued. “Let’s see if you’ll even have a place to stand in the Chevalier family after that.”
Mabel scurried out of the room in desperation while she still had the chance to leave. The moment that woman left, Stella was hit by a wave of relief, though her body was still trembling from earlier. If it weren’t for Ophelia training her to develop aphrodisiac resistance, she may not have had the strength to resist and save herself from this predicament. Stella couldn’t imagine what could’ve happened to her if Ophelia didn’t step in when she did.
She didn’t want to imagine the possible outcome of that scenario.
Ophelia began to inspect the aphrodisiac bottle Mabel had left on the floor. The moment she saw the label, she realized this was an illegal drug circulating in the black market. It had been banned years ago due to severe side effects, such as disrupting the victim’s rut and heat cycles. Fortunately, using it just once wouldn’t cause permanent damage.
“I see why she was so terrified earlier.” A sinister smirk touched Ophelia’s lips. “This ought to be interesting to use to tame that sewer rat if she misbehaves again.”
Ophelia knew how vile her cousin could be, but she had not expected her to go this far, to use products from the black market. After putting the drug away, she approached Stella and produced a small vial in her hand.
“Take this.” Ophelia’s voice dropped to something close to gentle. “It’s an antidote, if you’re going to panic. It will help alleviate your pain.”
“…Is that…really an antidote?” Stella spoke with great effort, panting from the side effects of the drug.
“You can play stupid games and win some stupid prizes.” Ophelia sat on the bed next to the weakened alpha. “Your only way to alleviate your pain is to either drink this or have passionate sex with an omega, which would be me. Pick one.”
“…Give me the vial.”
“Good girl.” Ophelia smiled as she brought the rim of the vial to Stella’s lips.
Stella had no strength to resist and just swallowed whatever Ophelia poured into her mouth. Though her mind was still hazy, she could hear the omega explaining that the antidote would only help alleviate the pain and any severe side effects, bringing them down to a tolerable level.
“The drug will make you drowsy,” Ophelia explained. “Don’t be surprised that you’ll fall asleep.”
“Ugh…”
It was painful and embarrassing. Stella could feel whatever was in her groin growing erect, forming a firm bulge straining against her trousers. Even though her mind could somewhat withstand the drug’s influence for now, her body refused to. Even before Ophelia gave her the antidote, she had already been on the verge of rut.
“Get some rest,” Ophelia said, her tone soft and calm. “I’ll order Emily to guard your room the entire night until the effects of the aphrodisiac wear off.”
Stella expected her to tease or humiliate her in this vulnerable state, but she didn’t. Ophelia was oddly gentle with her, and the sudden shift in her behavior left Stella even more confused. What was her objective? What does she want? Why was she being unusually kind?
“W-Why…” Words escaped from Stella’s lips, faint and weak. “Why are you being nice to me…?”
“Don’t take it the wrong way. As your owner, I should take care of my little alpha, right?” Ophelia turned her gaze to her. “If you break now, then who am I going to keep by my side?”
She was back to her usual self again, cold and indifferent, but something about it felt different tonight. Unfortunately, Stella had no strength to think about that, not while she was in this much pain. All she could think was how grateful she was that Ophelia arrived just in time to save her from Mabel. That was it.
Finally, the drowsiness from the antidote began to kick in, and the tension in her body and nerves started to loosen. Though the heat was still blooming across her face and body.
Stella tried to part her eyelids, but it was difficult to stay awake. A mellow scent of lavender wafted through the air, cocooning her. Then she saw Emily speaking to Ophelia, though sadly, their conversation was inaudible to her.
Her half-lidded eyes drifted to Ophelia, staring at her with mixed feelings. Grateful yet despising. After over a year they lived together, she still couldn’t understand what was going on inside Ophelia’s head.
The lavender in the air smelled so sweet. So soft. So warm.
It felt as though it was trying to comfort Stella through her heat…and that was when her body moved on its own. Amid the pain she was enduring, Ophelia’s pheromones were the only thing easing her discomfort right now. The more she inhaled, the more her body cooled down.
Stella reached out for it instinctively, closing the gap between them.
Darkness flooded Stella’s vision, leaving only blurred patches of color and light.
All she remembered before everything fell into darkness was that her mouth was flooded with that soothing fragrance of fresh lavender.
It was a long, deep sleep before Stella woke up again to another level of trauma and confusion.
She remembered the omega gave her the medicine, and then fell asleep, but then why did she wake up in Ophelia’s bed? Many questions flooded her mind as she tried to recall what happened last night, but nothing came to her. She glanced around, and the moment her eyes found a small patch of reddish-brown color on the bed, the blood drained from her face all at once.
“W-What… happened?” Stella muttered, trying harder to remember.
She stared at that dried patch of blood on the bed. She had no wounds on her body, so who did it belong to? Did she sleep with Ophelia last night? As Stella was busy trying to figure out what happened, she was interrupted by Ophelia stepping out of the bathroom in her bathrobe.
“Oh? You’re finally awake.”
Stella’s eyes noticed something quickly: a deep bite mark on Ophelia’s neck. At that moment, an image from last night flashed through her mind. The back view of Ophelia’s nape and how sweet her pheromones were when she sank her teeth into her scent gland, before everything disappeared into darkness.
Did she attack Ophelia last night?
Even though it was faint, she could still taste the lingering floral fragrance on her lips. Stella was still in shock, still in disbelief at what had possibly transpired the night before she fell asleep.
“Don’t tell me you forgot what you did to me last night?” Ophelia said, feigning disappointment. “You attacked me.”
“W-What? I don’t remember anything…” Stella’s mind was still foggy from her long sleep. “U-Uh, are you saying that we did...”
“Is this patch of blood not enough to prove what happened?” Ophelia said, crossing her arms.
Stella only vaguely remembered the bite mark, and nothing beyond that. At first, Stella questioned again whether Ophelia had truly given her the medicine, and the omega adamantly insisted it was an authentic antidote.
“An antidote is not an elixir.” Ophelia’s brows furrowed. “I told you last night that it alleviates your symptoms. It doesn’t erase or cure them.”
The fact that Stella woke up without severe side effects should have told her that the antidote was real. Given how potent the aphrodisiac Mabel used on her, the antidote Ophelia prepared in advance was never going to neutralize its effects completely.
“You’re the one who marked and attacked me from behind, and now you’re blaming me for taking advantage of you?” Ophelia sighed, giving a light shrug. “Did you, perchance, forget that I’m just an omega? Am I supposed to have the strength to push off an unconscious alpha in rut?”
“…”
Stella was too speechless to form any words. In this situation, what was she supposed to say? She wasn’t even sure what kind of expression she was wearing at the moment. She definitely felt guilty, as though she had betrayed Linda by sleeping with another omega. Even though it was beyond her control, the guilt remained.
“Deny it all you want, but the truth remains that you’ve marked me, Stella.” Ophelia angled her neck, revealing the bruised mark. “I hope you’ll take responsibility for it.”
“…”
Thanks to the drug Mabel used on Stella, Ophelia had wonderful news to share with the Marquis and Marchioness. If it weren’t for her vile cousin, she wouldn’t have had such an opportunity to sleep with her alpha. Of course, Ophelia didn’t tell her parents about Mabel, only informing them that she had shared a passionate night with Stella.
Just to be safe, she took birth control right afterward, not wanting to be seen as an impatient omega who couldn’t wait for her fiancée to reach adulthood.
That same day, the news spread like wildfire, and every Chevalier and servant knew what had happened between Stella and Ophelia. That was when Stella noticed something shifted in the manor. Everyone’s attitude toward her changed all at once. The other Chevalier omegas distanced themselves from her, as though out of fear, especially Mabel. As for the Marquis and Marchioness, they began treating Stella considerably better. Their sudden change in demeanor unsettled her. Even someone like Theo had stopped targeting her.
All this changed by just one night with Ophelia.
Many things happened in such a short span of time, but one thing Mabel had said still lingered in her mind.
A child who will carry the blood of Albrecht and Chevalier.
Something about it was unsettling. What did she mean by that? She started to suspect this engagement between her and Ophelia wasn’t simply about getting rid of her from the Albrecht estate…and it would be a matter of time before Stella uncovered the truth.
A few days later, the entire Chevalier family attended an outdoor event and brought Stella along with them. Most likely, for the family’s good publicity. During the event, Ophelia pulled her fiancée aside for a walk through the garden. It was quiet and peaceful, just the two of them.
“So, you said you have something to talk to me about?” Ophelia turned to meet Stella’s gaze. “I’m listening.”
“Well… you see,” Stella exhaled once before she continued. “I want to apologize to you about a few days ago.”
“About?” She questioned.
No matter how much Stella despised Ophelia, part of her was still guilty for what transpired that night. Stella couldn’t recall anything from when they had slept together. She had no idea how aggressive or rough she might’ve been under the influence of the aphrodisiac. She also left quite a bruise on Ophelia. From the look of it, it would take at least two weeks to fully heal. In the meantime, Ophelia would be carrying a faint trace of pinewood mixed into her lavender pheromones. A wordless announcement to everyone that she was already claimed by Stella.
All in all, as an Albrecht, Stella found her own actions unacceptable.
“I want to apologize if I hurt you or made you uncomfortable in any way,” Stella’s eyes lowered slightly. “So, uh… what I want to say is that I’m sorry.”
“…”
Ophelia was stunned for a moment before she let out a soft chuckle, breaking the awkward silence between them. Stella felt genuinely confused and embarrassed all of a sudden. She had been trying to give her a sincere apology, and instead, Ophelia had laughed in her face.
“Hey, I’m being serious here!” Stella shot back, her eyes narrowed. “I would appreciate it more if you would just take the apology and move on.”
“Hahaha, I know, silly.” Ophelia was still chuckling, seemingly unable to stop. “I just didn’t expect you to apologize to me at all…”
Amid their exchange, Stella was taken aback by the expression Ophelia wore. Unlike her usual unbothered smirk, devoid of emotion, the smile she wore now was natural and genuine. A kind of smile that somehow suited her.
“You’re so righteous as always, no matter what situation it may be.” Ophelia’s lips curved into a gentle beam. “You don’t have to apologize for what you don’t remember. I know that it is not your fault.”
“I still need to apologize.” Stella insisted. “Even though I despise you, it doesn’t mean it’s okay for me to treat you poorly in…uh…”
Stella stuttered and was too embarrassed to finish her sentence. Even though she was an alpha and understood the natural pull between alphas and omegas, Stella was still an innocent girl underneath it all. Ophelia found her reaction cute, funny even, but knew not to tease her alpha too much.
“Okay, I know what you’re trying to say,” Ophelia said, crossing her arms. “I genuinely appreciate your concern for me.”
“Don’t take it the wrong way, I’m just doing—”
“I know, you’re just doing what you believe is right,” Ophelia cut her off mid-sentence and continued. “Even though you didn’t do anything to make me feel uncomfortable at all. When you marked me, you were surprisingly gentle.”
“U-Uh, okay.” Stella stuttered, clearing her throat. “Well…good to hear that, I suppose?”
Stella felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. For the first time, it was as if she were speaking to an entirely different Ophelia. The young alpha didn’t dislike this exchange, and nothing about it felt forced at all. Perhaps, for the first time, they were having an ordinary conversation.
“You’re too kind for your own good, Stella.” Ophelia smiled. A quiet exhale escaped her lips. “I like it more when you’re retaliating.”
“What a sadistic, twisted hobby of yours.” Stella shot back, her eyes narrowed. “I can never understand what’s going on inside your sick, deranged head of yours…”
“You wouldn’t want to know.” Ophelia shrugged. “Someone as adorable as you might die out of embarrassment.”
“Ugh, you’re just so—!”
Even when Stella wasn’t putting any filters on her words, Ophelia responded with ease and never offended, because she had no filter either. Throughout their toxic relationship, neither of them spoke to spare the other’s feelings. They said exactly what they thought and felt, which was strange and oddly refreshing. If they were to strip toxicity and hatred from the equation, it might almost look like they were close friends bickering with each other.
“Enough with our banter... Let’s go back, Stella.” Ophelia turned and kept her eyes on the pavement. “We should go before people start wondering where we wandered off to.”
In that moment, Stella was too focused on her apology to notice something had shifted in the way Ophelia spoke to her. If the omega had suddenly started acting kind, Stella assumed it was just another passing occurrence, not something to take so seriously.
… But who would’ve guessed it was the first and last time Stella ever spoke to the real Ophelia.