Chapter 1 : Dangerous Reunion

**Heat. So much heat.**

Ethan Reed knelt on the floor, trembling fingers reaching for the drawer. Items scattered across the carpeted floor—thank the stars every inch of the Sterling villa was covered in plush carpeting that muffled all sound.

The digital clock on the nightstand blinked: 7:26 AM. If Alexander Sterling wasn''t waiting in his room by 7:35, Ethan had no doubt the man would barge right in. He always did.

Ethan gritted his teeth, sweat-damp strands of hair clinging to his forehead. His glasses had disappeared somewhere in the chaos. A faint blush colored his cheeks as he fumbled blindly through the drawer.

Alex had returned to the villa just last night. Three years on the frontier battling insectoids had transformed the S-class alpha from the Sterling family''s young master into an Imperial Major General. He''d left as a privileged heir; he returned as a decorated war hero.

Of course, a retired Imperial Major General now.

Omega heats weren''t supposed to come this frequently—maybe three times a year at most. Ethan had taken an inhibitor just last month. He didn''t understand why his body was betraying him now.

The poor omega could feel his control slipping. He bit his lower lip hard, using pain to anchor himself. The sweet, floral scent of camellias began permeating the room. The air purification system whirred at maximum capacity, struggling to neutralize the concentrated pheromones.

7:30. Ethan finally found the inhibitor hidden in the drawer. He knelt there, hands shaking as he aimed the needle at the skin of his neck.

Inhibitors didn''t have to be injected directly into the gland—omega glands were fragile, needing careful protection. But Ethan had no choice. Direct injection worked faster.

He couldn''t let Alex discover he''d presented as an omega.

The needle point jabbed uselessly against the gland patch on his neck. Ethan remembered belatedly he hadn''t removed it. The patch was supposed to contain pheromone leakage, though Ethan knew it was useless during heat. Still, he''d kept it on—a pathetic attempt at self-deception.

But now he could tear it off. The omega gland beneath glistened pink and inviting. Ethan didn''t hesitate, driving the needle home.

"Mm."

A soft groan escaped him. As the inhibitor liquid entered his bloodstream, the camellia scent gradually dissipated.

7:33. The empty syringe clattered to the floor. Ethan leaned against the foot of the bed, tilting his head back as he tried to steady his breathing.

Just in time.

7:35. As predicted, a knock sounded at his door.

---

Alex''s knocking was purely perfunctory—two taps before he pushed the door open without waiting for permission. "I''m coming in."

He entered to find Ethan unusually without his glasses, hands braced against the desk behind him. "My apologies," Ethan said, his voice carefully neutral. "I overslept this morning."

Alex took two steps forward, then paused, frowning.

Ethan fought through the lingering weakness in his limbs, the air purification system cranked to maximum. His heart hammered against his ribs. He swallowed, forcing calm into his voice. "Is something wrong?"

Alex''s gaze traveled slowly from Ethan''s face down his entire body.

Ethan felt his skin prickle under that scrutiny. Alex spoke casually, "Why aren''t you wearing your glasses today?"

Ethan''s brain hadn''t fully recovered from the inhibitor''s effects. He hesitated. "I... I was just about to put them on."

His nearsightedness wasn''t severe, but Sterling Industries produced mechs—precision instruments requiring meticulous attention to detail. Ethan turned back to the desk, searching for his glasses. His body temperature began rising again despite his efforts.

Everything was changing with Alex''s return.

Alex glanced casually around the room, spotting the glint of lenses on the floor. He bent, retrieving the discarded glasses.

Ethan didn''t notice Alex approaching until the alpha''s arm reached around him from behind, as if Alex were embracing him without actually touching.

Ethan held his breath carefully. Alex''s voice, lazy and amused, sounded near his ear. "Just about to put them on, hmm?"

Ethan''s eyes focused, recognizing what Alex held. He took the glasses awkwardly. "Thank you."

Alex''s gaze fixed on Ethan''s neck. The white dress shirt collar hid everything perfectly. Ethan always buttoned his shirts to the very top.

As Ethan put on his glasses and started to turn, he felt something press against his lower back.

Ethan froze. That something was hot. Worse, it seemed to be... changing.

He turned his head in disbelief. "Alex?!"

Alex chuckled lowly. "Ethan, has anyone ever told you how utterly adorable you are?"

Ethan was losing his mind. He hissed, "Get up! Your father expects us at the office by 8:30. Do you want a repeat of three years ago?"

Alex shrugged. "Could be fun."

But despite his words, Alex didn''t want to push too hard on his first day back. He obediently stepped back.

Ethan retreated quickly, putting distance between them. He took a deep breath. "You should go. Chef Wu prepared dim sum for breakfast. I still need to finish getting ready. I''ll be down shortly."

Alex slid his hands into his trouser pockets, glancing at Ethan''s desk—unusually messy.

He moved toward Ethan. "Ah, so you remembered I like dim sum for breakfast. Did you specially request it? I''m touched."

"Don''t come any closer."

The corners of Ethan''s eyes still held traces of redness that hadn''t faded. Alex loved teasing Ethan. The man had always been serious-faced since childhood, but his fair skin betrayed every emotional fluctuation with obvious blushes.

But it was morning. Ethan had just woken up. Why would he be blushing?

Alex stopped, raising his hands innocently. "Don''t be nervous. I won''t do anything."

Ethan felt dizzy. Alex''s exquisitely handsome face was particularly striking in the morning light, but no one would mistake him for an omega or beta. Ethan had never met an alpha with more commanding presence than Alex. But S-class alphas were rare—it would be strange to encounter them daily.

Alex playing pitiful could indeed soften hearts, but Ethan remained unmoved. The man claimed he wouldn''t do anything, but Ethan clearly smelled the distinct scent of juniper berries.

His freshly injected gland began swelling and heating again, blood vessels throbbing beneath the skin.

And Alex had the audacity to ask with feigned confusion, "Do I smell... flowers?"

Ethan''s legs nearly gave out. He pinched the bridge of his nose, meeting Alex''s amber eyes. "You. Out."

Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise but retreated politely. "Alright. I''ll wait downstairs. Don''t forget—before 8:30, brother."

Only when the door locked again did Ethan collapse to the floor.

He covered his face with his hands, headache blooming. Alex had been back for barely a day...

Ethan didn''t have time to dwell. He sighed, pushing himself up to head to the shower.

By the time Ethan descended, Alex was already seated at the dining table.

Exquisite dim sum covered the table, but Alex hadn''t touched anything. He sniffed his shirt subtly, detecting a faint, elusive floral scent.

As an S-class alpha, his sensitivity to pheromones far exceeded other designations. He wasn''t mistaken.

He turned to Ethan as the man approached. "The crab roe buns are just the right temperature."

Ethan paused slightly, then walked over as if nothing were wrong. Under Alex''s teasing gaze, he still pulled out the chair beside him and sat.

Ethan''s obedience pleased Alex.

The fresh gland patch effectively contained the camellia scent. The inhibitor was doing its job.

Ethan focused on his congee. Alex no longer smelled that elusive fragrance. He picked up a crab roe bun with his chopsticks, bringing it to Ethan''s lips. "Open."

---

Ethan had no choice. The bun was juicy, some broth spilling at the corner of his mouth.

Alex wiped the droplet away with his thumb, then brought it to his own lips, sucking it clean. He didn''t spare any praise. "The flavor really is excellent."

The next moment, Ethan choked on the bun, coughing violently.

He coughed until his face flushed red again. Pale skin had its disadvantages—every emotional shift showed clearly.

Alex smiled, offering his water glass. "Some water, brother?"

Ethan couldn''t avoid it. He took a hurried sip. His gland began itching again. He wondered if the inhibitor Noah had prescribed was starting to fail.

Alex propped his chin on his hand, watching Ethan. Ethan composed himself. "Today is mainly familiarization with the company. We can leave early. Your father arranged dinner with Young Master Liam tonight."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Did I agree to that?"

Ethan paused, then answered honestly. "No."

Alex''s eyes cooled. "So you agreed for me?"

Ethan corrected him. "Not me. The Liam family proposed the marriage alliance three years ago. It was only postponed because you went to the frontier. Now that you''re back..."

Alex didn''t want to hear about third parties. He focused on Ethan''s lips. "What does the Sterling family want? That the Liams'' youngest is an omega?"

Ethan''s lips were red and soft. Alex''s mouth curved slowly. "If you were an omega, brother, I''d marry you directly."

Ethan''s fingers curled tightly. He said calmly, "First, I''m not your brother by blood or legal relation. Everyone knows this. Second, though I have no substantive connection to the Sterling family, you should still show me basic respect. Stop doing... strange things."

Ethan ignored the odd feeling in his chest and continued, "Especially since you''re about to enter a marriage alliance with the Liams'' young master."

Alex''s ears didn''t register that third name. He grew interested. "Strange things? You mean when I bit you during my rut three years ago? Or just now when I got hard for you?"

Ethan finally lost patience, whispering angrily, "Pervert."

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**End of Chapter 1**