A pheromone blocker was something I rarely used in my previous life.
Being a recessive, I could waltz around the street and pass off as betas because the smell of my pheromone was almost nonexistent. The only time I needed this kind of pheromone blocker was when it's almost time for my heat, which happened irregularly once every month.
But it was different in this life.
Because people kept commenting about how strong my pheromone was, I needed to wear a pheromone blocker to mask my scent. That reason also made me curious, so I went to a hospital and did some check-ups…
"Congratulations! You have manifested into a dominant!"
"What?"
I stupidly blurted out a 'what' to my doctor's face when he announced my test result to me.
He calmly explained the chances and factors of change between pheromone and somehow convinced me that it was possible because of the growth in production of glands as I got older.
"But this was the first time I saw someone older than 20 having a change, so if you feel any pain or discomfort, you should come immediately to the hospital."
"Alright."
I absentmindedly nodded at any words coming from the doctor's mouth and took the paper containing my test result as I went out.
The hot sun prickling against my skin didn't even register in my brain as I mindlessly walk toward a nearby outdoor bench like a zombie.
Plopping down on it like a broken puppet, I gazed at the sky above me.
"He said something about having difficulties controlling my pheromones and a change in my heat cycle… Ah shit… What was it again?"
Being told that a big change happened in your body was something shocking to the mind. Just like how a person found out they had last-stage cancer or when you found out about an organ failure, my mind dissociated mid-conversation.
I looked at the paper in my hand. The part where I was an omega was still the same, but when I saw the details, it was changed from recessive to dominant.
People could say that being a dominant was more of an advantage because of how they stood in hierarchy, but to me, it was a dreadful sign. A sign that God Uola had something in mind and regarded my trait of a recessive as a 'price' for my regression.
A huge sigh came out of my mouth as my mind calmed down.
My grip of the paper in my hand tightened. I glared at the sun above me and raised the paper toward the sky.
"Fine then! Take it! Take any price you need! As long as I could live my life peacefully this time, I'll gladly pay for it!"
As long as Uola didn't hinder me on my way to reach my goal, there's nothing that could stop me from living my life to the fullest.
.
.
"You might already know this, but unlike glocks, you need to efficiently distribute your shots with a revolver."
"Because it holds a lower amount of bullets?"
"Yeah. But it's less likely to jam so there's a plus in a minus."
I nodded at Haide as I inspected the new revolver he had just bought. Unlike Cecily – who was made by a well-known gunsmith specializing in revolvers in our country– this one was imported from a country in the south called Bhastergio.
As I didn't know any of the gunsmiths there, I couldn't judge whether this revolver Haide asked me to try would be great or not.
Checking the barrel and the bullets inside the cylinder, I wrapped my hand around the grip – trying to get a better hold of it.
"Is there a way to load a revolver's bullet quickly?"
Haide asked, which made me glance at him.
"There's a speedloader, though it's quite heavy to bring around."
I refocused my attention on the gun, brushing against the frame.
'Oh, there's a small engraved word here.'
Just looking at the details of this revolver, the gunsmith must have put a lot of love into making it.
'Haide seems like a person with a good eye for picking a weapon.'
I smiled when that thought crossed my mind. I was about to search for other hidden details before the gun was suddenly snatched away from my hand.
"What are you doing?"
Asking Haide with a questionable look, I looked up at his face. He was the one asking me to inspect the gun, so why was he taking it away from me?
Haide smirked at my expression. Lowering his head as he brushed against my cheek.
"I think that's enough inspecting. Will you give all your attention to me now?"
I rolled my eyes, "Are you asking me to inspect the gun or to flirt with you?"
"To flirt with me. I bought a revolver to become closer to you after all."
He held my hand and brought it close to his lips – planting a gentle kiss at the back of my hand as he whispered.
"Even the sight of you inspecting the gun was so damn sexy to me."
'What part of it did you even find sexy?'
I turned my gaze away and pulled back my hand, sighing as I rubbed the back of my neck. Haide's laugh was what I heard next.
"Are you blushing? You're cute when you're shy."
I jabbed his side with my elbow, "I don't, stop laughing."
But Haide kept on laughing, not minding my pathetic excuse. Seeing him still going, I coughed awkwardly as I glanced at him.
'It's weird.'
We had only met for two weeks, yet whenever my mind was swirling in thoughts, the first person I thought about was Haide.
'I guess he has become someone important to me.'
He had somehow wiggled inside my heart and cozily placed himself there.
"Your vow is released tomorrow right?"
Haide smiled as he wrapped his hand around my waist. Hugging me from behind, he sniffed my nape and buried his face in my neck.
'I have gotten too comfortable with his touch.'
Since the kidnapping accident in my previous life, I was skeptical about leaving my back to someone I didn't trust. But with how touchy Haide was and how gentle he treated me, that wall of distrust slowly crumbled away.
'The feeling of slowly trusting people again is certainly refreshing.'
Haide spoke again, his breath trickling against my skin.
"I'll propose to you as soon as you are out of the church."
His tone was more like a declaration than a suggestion. I chuckled as I patted his soft hair.
"We've only known each other for a few weeks you know?"
"Then I'll be your boyfriend first and propose to you at the end of the year."
He released me from his hug and slowly spoke.
"Do you believe in the concept of fated mates?" Without letting me answer, Haide continued, "Because I do, since the moment I saw you enter this shooting center, I couldn't tear my gaze off of you."
He smiled, "And the moment I smell your pheromone, I knew you're the fated one for me."
Whispering in my ear, he said in a low growl – voice full of desire. "So don't become someone else's, Yolan. You're mine to claim."
Then with a serious tone he said, "Or do you not feel the same?"
'Haide is definitely serious when he courts me.'
I flicked his head, which made Haide yelp, "I'm not some kind of trophy for you to claim." I grinned, challenging him, "If you want to fully make me yours, try chasing my heart. Make me fall for you."
"Pfft… Haha!"
Haide laughed while holding his stomach for a few seconds before he finally sighed in content – his eyes narrowed in delight.
"Haa…This is why I love you Yolan, you're such a treat in my life." Wiping the tears that were starting to pool in his eyes, he continued, "That's why your pheromone smells like a flower field, it's a strong scent suitable for someone like you."
"Huh? Flower field?" I muttered under my breath.
'Not a single type of flower but a whole flower field?'
That's the first I had ever heard the case of.
"How… If you were to describe my pheromone in detail, how would it smell like?"
Haide pondered for a bit before explaining, "It's like a combination of soil freshly soaked by rain and the fragrance of flowers blown by the wind."
He stared at me, a playful light at the end of his eyes, "It's captivating, just as much as the flower I look at in front of me right now."
"That's such a cringe flirt line."
I turned my gaze away, feeling heat rising to my face. Seeing my behavior, Haide's grin became wider.
"But that 'cringe flirt line' makes your heart flutters no?"
"There's no way I- Fine, you win this time."
Haide gave me an all-knowing look, which made my cheek feel hotter somehow.
'Fine, I admit it, it does make my heart flutter a bit.'
I raised the white flag of defeat. This time, I'd let him have a taste of victory.