"Haa… Hmph!"
Haide's tongue slipped inside my mouth, the sweet and sour taste of the candy instantly burst in.
'Is it citrus?'
I rolled my tongue deeper inside Haide's mouth, trying to taste it more. Slick wet sounds of our mouths digging into each other filled my ears as I closed my eyes.
The heat made me dizzy, but my mind craved for more. And it seems like Haide shared the same sentiment as me.
"Haa…"
I pulled away, gasping for breath, but Haide immediately chased my lips again. This time, he sucked harder, like a hungry beast devoid of warmth.
His hands, wrapped around my waist, became tighter as he pulled me into his embrace. That triggered something unpleasant in my memory.
"H-Haide, enough."
I pulled away and covered his mouth, intending to end this kiss. Kissing was the limit for me, if he went any further, I wouldn't allow it.
Haide raised his gaze and locked his eyes with mine. His pupils gave a soft glow, like a predator ready to pounce.
'Is he entering his rut?'
"You-"
"Haa… shit, why do you smell so good? Now I can't let you go and let someone else have you."
He buried his face on my nape, presumably inhaling my pheromone – which I myself couldn't smell.
It brought a mixed feelings to my heart.
'My pheromone smelled like roses back in my previous life. I don't know if it's different or the same in this life.'
That ice cream vendor's remark made me unsure of myself. Maybe there were more things that had changed inside me than I realized.
'I wonder what Haide's pheromone smells like.'
That question naturally came up in my mind. I didn't know I would be this curious over someone else's pheromone, but here I was, wondering what someone I had just met smelled like.
Brushing his hair with my fingers, I whispered to him.
"Have you calmed down?"
He took one deep breath before finally releasing me from his arms.
"Yeah."
"Good, it's already late, we should go home."
"Should I accompany you?"
I shook my head, which made Haide look at me with sad puppy eyes. He didn't say anything though, so I gave him the gentlest smile I could.
"See you."
I patted his shoulder and walked away. His shout could be heard a few seconds later.
"I'll visit you tomorrow!"
'He's such a persistent one.'
I didn't reply to him and kept walking, but the edge of my mouth still curled up into a smile.
.
.
CHIRP! CHIRP!
The joyous humming of birds was heard outside my window. The warm sunlight pouring inside my apartment room indicated today would be a beautiful sunny day.
Of course, there would always be a 'but' when everything was going smoothly.
"Haa…"
I curled in my bed as my body flared up, panting heavily as I hugged my pillow.
My irregular heat had to strike right when I least expected it.
'S-Suppressant. I think I have it somewhere in the living room drawer.'
Trembling, I tried to get up and leave my bedroom.
THUD!
But all I could do as soon as I stepped out of my bed was to lie weakly on the floor. The dizziness in my head and the pain spreading all over my body made me gasp breathlessly.
'I need someone.'
Someone, anyone, who could help me relieve this pain.
Weirdly enough, the first person whose face showed up inside my mind was the overconfident man I had just met two days ago.
'He said he will visit me.'
My mind paused.
'Or will he?'
It didn't take long before my question was answered.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The knock on the front door made me raise my head.
'He came.'
I slowly stood up, stumbling as I reached open the bedroom door and crawling to the front door.
'Haide!'
The thought of suppressant was already shoved to the back of my mind. I didn't care if the pain in my body was making me weak and hindering me, I just wanted to see him – feeling the warmth of his embrace as he stayed by my side.
I held the key and was about to turn it open-
"Hai-"
"Yolan, I know you're inside."
But the voice behind the door wasn't what I expected it to be.
'Kei…th.'
My hand on the doorknob slid down as the last bit of my rational mind took over.
'It's not Haide, it's Keith.'
THUD!
My knees buckled as I collapsed to the floor. I had already used every last bit of my energy to reach the front door, thinking it was Haide who visited me. But instead, it was the bastard I never wanted to see again.
"Yolan?"
'Shut up.'
Even hearing his voice from beyond the door already pissed me off so much.
"Are you in heat?"
I froze when I heard his words.
'How could he know that? Is the smell of my pheromone that strong?'
"You are right behind the door aren't you? Let me help."
The soft tone of voice he used just now was totally different from the cold Keith I had known for years.
It seemed alluring, like I was someone he cared about – something I had hoped and waited for him to do in all the years we were together.
'What is this?'
Did he get struck by lightning or something? The sudden change of personality was even making my instinct to grab any alpha I could, dormant just from hearing it.
"Yolan…"
A soft whisper, as if longing.
That was when my last shred of rationality snapped.
"Leave! Don't you ever show your face to me again!"
"Yolan… Please hear me out-"
"Why are you still here? We've already finalised the divorce papers, there's nothing between us anymore- ugh!"
A sharp pain spiked inside my body, leaving me heaving for air. The fact that even in this situation, my body was still craving for an alpha to comfort me – including the man beyond the door – made me scowl in disgust at myself.
'It's always this damn body of mine which is the problem.'
CLACK! CLACK!
Like a madman, my house's doorknob was forcibly turned by Keith.
He was trying to break in.
That wasn't his rational mind speaking anymore – that was his instinct. His instinct to dominate an omega in heat because of the influence of my pheromone.
I rubbed my arms as chills started crawling up.
'I'm scared.'
I didn't feel safe in this place anymore. The one I wanted to avoid the most had already found out where I live. The supposedly sanctuary I could rest my mind in became a public area for him to just waltz in.
'Cecily.'
I raised my head when the corner of my eye caught the glimmering light from Cecily's metal body. I had stashed her in my coat's pocket the day before, thinking I would go out with Haide again today.
'She's my last chance to defend myself.'
Staggering toward the rack I hung my coat on, I grabbed Cecily inside the pocket.
BAM!
And as if right on time, Keith had broken through the door and immediately scanned the room for me.
"Haa…"
Still panting heavily, I tried my best to hide behind the door, but even with my muffled sound, Keith could easily detect my presence.
He locked eyes with me. His feral gaze seemed to dig deep into my soul.
"D-Don't… Haa… Don't move."
I tried my best to steady Cecily in my hand, but as expected, it's hard.
TAP!
Keith took one step forward.
TAP!
Then another step.
TAP!
And another one as he jumped toward me.
CLICK!
BANG!
I aimed my gun at him, but with my trembling hand, I missed my shot.
THUD!
Knocking Cecily out of my hand, Keith grabbed my wrist and slammed my body onto the wall. I winced in pain as he pressed on my injured shoulder.
Sniffing my body, he growled, "You're my wife aren't you? Why is there someone else's scent on you?"
"Ugh! Stop!"
His grip on my wrist tightened, making me groan in pain. But of course, my plea went over his head.
"You're mine. I don't like the thought of you staying with other alphas besides me."
"You're not my husband anymore! Even on paper! I'm not yours to claim!"
"But the church hasn't blessed our divorce, you're still my wife under the eyes of Uola."
He grabbed my pyjamas, yanking them. The clothes tore, revealing my bare chest. His eyes glowed as he gazed lustfully at my body. Keith immediately buried his face in my nape.
The uncomfortable memories that immediately showed up inside my mind made me froze.
Even though he never wanted me in all our relationship… so why now?
"Stop…"
I could only weakly call out to Keith as he left marks on my body. The tears that had been flowing out of my eyes made my vision blurry, and my hands and feet that had been in Keith's grip had started to go numb.
This was the same helplessness I felt back in my previous life.
"Yolan!"
A shout of my name came from outside the door and soon after, Keith on top of me was yanked onto the floor.
I raised my gaze.
The familiar person with dark ash grey hair was standing in front of me, shielding me from Keith.