Rui stepped into the clinic, the automated doors swishing shut behind him with a soft sigh. The air inside was cool and sterile, subtly scented with professional-grade scent blockers that immediately soothed his overactive omega senses. It felt like stepping into a different world, far removed from the bustling school and the intense gaze of Kian Elros, who remained just outside.
He found a quiet corner in the small, tastefully decorated waiting room and sank into a plush chair, trying to steady his racing heart.
The receptionist, a kind-faced Beta, smiled warmly. "Rui Chen? The doctor will see you now."
His appointment was brief, yet profound. Dr. Lee, an older, experienced Omega, looked over his updated charts with a calm, discerning eye. She tapped a stylus on her tablet, then looked up at him, a gentle furrow in her brow.
"Rui, your records indicate you were classified as 'Undeveloped Omega: Beta-Equivalent.' However, your current scans show a significant biological shift. Your pheromone glands are now fully developed and highly active. Your heat cycle seems to be… initiating."
She paused, her expression quizzical. "Have you experienced any recent, unusually strong Alpha pheromones? Or perhaps an encounter that felt… profoundly significant?"
Rui swallowed hard, his hands clenching in his lap. This was it. He had to tell her everything, without giving away too much. "Yes, doctor. I… I met my fated mate."
The words tumbled out, laced with years of suppressed shame and confusion. "I… I thought I was defective. They told me my body lacked proper omega functionality, that my pheromones were minimal. That I'd never have a heat." His voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion. "But then I met him, and everything changed. My body started reacting. I… I think I'm in pre-heat now."
Dr. Lee's eyes widened slightly, then softened with understanding. "Ah, the bond has indeed awakened your dormant status," she murmured, her voice filled with gentle wonder. "It's rare, but your symptoms and the rapid progression indicate a remarkably high compatibility match. Your body is now trying to catch up on seventeen years of suppressed development. And the intensity of your pheromones, now that they're active, confirms it. You're a dominant omega, Rui. A powerful one."
Rui's breath hitched. "Does this mean… I'll have heats now? Regular ones?"
Dr. Lee nodded. "Yes. Your first full heat could arrive anytime within the next few weeks, possibly sooner given your proximity to your bonded Alpha. We've adjusted your suppressant dosage, but it will only alleviate the most intense physical symptoms. You'll still experience heightened sensitivity, scent changes, and a strong pull towards your mate."
She looked at him kindly. "It's a lot to process, Rui. You've lived most of your life expecting something entirely different. But it's nothing to fear. It simply means you're naturally aligned for a profound connection."
A profound connection. With Kian Elros. The thought both terrified and exhilarated him.
He left the clinic feeling both overwhelmed and strangely, profoundly affirmed.
He wasn't defective.
He was dominant.
A rare, powerful omega.
As Rui stepped back into the late afternoon light, he almost expected Kian to be gone. But there he was, leaning against his sleek black car, precisely as Rui had left him. Kian pushed himself off the vehicle, his gaze immediately finding Rui's, sharp and expectant.
"Everything alright?" Kian's voice was low, laced with an underlying current of concern that made Rui's omega instincts hum.
Rui nodded, surprised by the sudden comfort he felt from Kian's presence. "Y-yes. The doctor explained… a lot."
He hesitated, then, feeling a strange urge for honesty, added, "My omega status… it was dormant. But now it's fully awakened. Because of the bond."
Kian's eyes narrowed, not in anger, but in intense contemplation. "I see." He took a step closer, his alpha scent, a warm, grounding cedar, subtly strengthening, surrounding Rui like a protective cloak. "I suspected something was happening. Your scent… it's more prominent today, even with the blockers."
Rui flushed, self-conscious. "She gave me a stronger suppressant."
"Good," Kian simply stated, his gaze softening almost imperceptibly. "You shouldn't be unprotected." He paused, then: "Do you have somewhere safe to go for your heat?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.
Rui lived in a tiny, rundown apartment, barely secure, let alone safe for an omega in heat.
"I… I don't." His voice was barely a whisper.
Kian nodded slowly, his expression firm.
"Then you'll stay with me."
Rui's eyes widened. "What?"
"My penthouse is secure, and I have staff who can ensure your privacy and safety," Kian continued, his tone calm, unwavering. Then, his eyes locked onto Rui's, a possessive gleam entering their depths, his voice dropping to a low, commanding rumble. "You are my omega, Rui. I need to ensure your safety."
His gaze held Rui's, a silent demand and a quiet reassurance intertwining.
Rui wanted to argue, to refuse, to cling to the last vestiges of his independence. But the heat suppressant was already losing its battle against the deep, primal instinct now fully awake within him. His body was craving proximity to Kian's grounding alpha presence, an undeniable, almost desperate need for the safety his mate offered. And a logical part of him, the part that remembered his precarious situation, knew Kian was right. He couldn't risk a public heat.
He looked at Kian, truly looked at him – not as the billionaire CEO, but as the alpha who had saved him, who was now offering unconditional protection.
"Okay," Rui whispered, the word feeling both terrifying and utterly right.
A subtle, almost imperceptible smile touched Kian's lips. "Good." He opened the passenger door to his car. "Let's go."
As Rui got into the plush leather seat, the scent of Kian's own strong, comforting pheromones surrounding him, the system chimed softly in his mind:
[New Task Triggered: Accompany Kian to his Residence – Reward: 150 Points]
[Hidden Bonus Unlocked: Trust Meter (20%)]
Rui leaned back, the car smoothly pulling away from the curb. His world, once small and barren, was rapidly expanding, pulling him into a destiny he never imagined, guided by a system and the magnetic pull of an alpha. He stole a glance at Kian, who was focused on the road, his profile sharp in the dimming light.
"Kian," Rui asked, the question surprising even himself, "when did you know I was your mate?"