Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the Governor's private dining room, casting warm gold across polished wood and elegant place settings. The scent of fresh bread and brewed tea mingled with the faint hum of servants moving through adjacent corridors.
Jade sat at his usual spot, pushing eggs around his plate with minimal interest. The warmth from yesterday hadn't faded—if anything, it felt more persistent this morning, a low simmer beneath his skin that made him restless.
Across from him, Lio was engaged in animated conversation with Amara about some new merchant who'd tried to sell them "premium" herbs that were clearly past their expiration date. Amara's indignant responses made Lio grin wider with each passing moment.
Niamh sat beside Jade, occasionally glancing at him with barely concealed concern. She'd checked his temperature twice already this morning, fussing over him until he'd gently but firmly assured her he was fine.
'Nothing serious'. He'd said
She hadn't looked convinced.
At the head of the table, Governor Kael Varros reviewed reports on a datapad, his morning routine as predictable as sunrise. The man could be in the middle of a crisis and still maintain his breakfast schedule with military precision.
Selene swept into the room like a force of nature, her emerald silk robe flowing behind her, hair perfectly arranged despite the early hour. She pressed a kiss to Kael's cheek—lingering just long enough to make him pause mid-scroll—before settling into her seat with a satisfied smile.
"Good morning, everyone," she sang, reaching for the tea service. "Isn't it a beautiful day?"
"It's the same as every other day," Kael replied, though his lips twitched with suppressed amusement.
"Exactly. Beautiful." Selene poured herself tea, then turned her bright gaze on Jade. "And how is my darling boy this morning?"
"Fine, Lady Selene," Jade said automatically.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You look tired."
"I'm fine," he repeated.
"That's what you said yesterday," Niamh muttered. "And the day before."
"Because I am fine—"
"You're not," Niamh interrupted, reaching over to touch his forehead again.
Jade leaned back, evading her hand with practiced ease. "Niamh, please. I'm not a child anymore."
"You are a child," she countered. "And if you're sick, you need to rest."
"I'm not sick—"
And that's when it happened.
A shift in the air. Subtle. Barely there.
Kael's hand stilled on his datapad. His head lifted slightly, nostrils flaring as he inhaled. His brow furrowed, expression shifting from focused to... confused.
"What is that?" he murmured, setting his datapad down. His voice carried genuine puzzlement. "That scent..."
Jade blinked, glancing around the table. 'what scent?'
Selene's teacup froze halfway to her lips. Her eyes went wide, emerald gaze snapping to Jade with sudden, sharp focus. Color drained from her face.
"It's sweet," Kael continued, almost to himself. His metallic aura flickered faintly as his senses sharpened, instincts as a dominant alpha automatically honing in on the unfamiliar stimulus. "Like... frost and honey melting together. Winter jasmine beneath fresh snow."
He inhaled again, deeper this time, and his expression shifted—confusion giving way to something more intent.
"It's compelling. Where is that coming from?"
Selene's eyes locked onto Niamh's across the table. She didn't speak, didn't move, but her gaze was screaming :
The boy. It's the boy. Get him out. NOW.
Niamh's face went pale as understanding crashed over her. Her eyes darted to Jade, then back to Selene, then to Kael who was still searching the room with growing intensity.
Oh no. Oh gods, no—
"It's—" Niamh's voice cracked. She cleared her throat, shooting to her feet so fast her chair scraped against the floor. "It's a new potion! Yes! A potion we've been developing!"
Kael's gaze shifted to her, still puzzled. "A potion?"
Jade looked between them, completely lost. What potion?
"Experimental!" Lio blurted, catching Niamh's panic even if he didn't understand the cause. He stood abruptly, nearly knocking over his glass. "Very—very experimental! Super volatile! We were—uh—testing scent profiles for—for—"
"For therapeutic applications!" Amara added desperately, also rising after having being almost pinched to death by Lio. "Aromatherapy! To help with—with sleep disorders!"
Jade stared at them. "What—?"
"The scent must have lingered from yesterday's work!" Niamh said, moving toward Jade with perhaps too much urgency. She gripped his arm, already pulling him from his chair. "We were testing it in the workshop and—"
"Wait, what scent?" Jade tried to resist, genuinely confused. "I don't re—"
"It's very potent!" Lio interrupted, grabbing Jade's other arm. His face was flushed, words tumbling out in a rush , finally understanding why Niamh was panicking. "Very—uh—very strong! Probably not safe to—to breathe too much of it! We should go! Right now!"
Selene had risen as well, positioning herself between Kael and the group now physically hauling Jade toward the door. "Darling," she said sweetly, though her smile was strained, "why don't you finish your reports? I'm sure the scent will dissipate soon—"
"It smells incredible," Kael said, standing now. His attention was fixed on the space around the table, trying to pinpoint the source. His dominant alpha instincts were fully engaged, seeking out the origin of something his biology recognized as significant even if his mind didn't understand why. "What compounds are you using? I've never encountered anything like this."
"Proprietary!" Niamh called over her shoulder as she and Lio practically dragged a protesting Jade toward the door. "Trade secret! Can't reveal it! Very competitive market!"
"Wait—" Jade tried to dig his heels in. "Can someone please tell me what's happening—?"
"We really need to go decontaminate!" Lio added, his voice cracking slightly. "The—the scent! It's dangerous! Could cause—uh—respiratory issues if exposed too long!"
"What respiratory—?" Jade's protest was cut off as they hauled him through the doorway.
Amara grabbed their bags, bowing quickly. "Breakfast was lovely! Thank you! We'll see you later!"
"Much later!" Lio squeaked.
And then they were through the door, practically running down the corridor with Jade stumbling between them.
"Niamh?!" Jade demanded as they rushed toward the exit.
"Not here," Niamh hissed. "Just—just keep moving."
Behind them, the dining room door closed with a soft click.
...
...
They didn't stop running until they reached the shop.
Niamh fumbled with the locks, fingers shaking, and practically shoved everyone inside before slamming the door shut and engaging every security rune in the building.
Jade pulled free of their grips, backing away with genuine alarm. "What is wrong with you all? Why did we just flee breakfast like the mansion was on fire?"
Niamh pressed her back against the door, breathing hard. Lio leaned against the counter, looking shaken. Amara was breathing fast, one hand pressed to her chest.
"Someone," Jade said slowly, "better start explaining. Now."
Niamh opened her mouth, but no words came out. She looked desperately at the door, as if hoping—
It burst open.
Selene swept in, her composed mask completely shattered. She closed the door firmly behind her, engaged the lock, then turned to face them.
"Is he alright?" she demanded.
"I'm fine," Jade snapped. "Except for the part where everyone's lost their minds! What just happened?!"
Selene crossed to him in three strides, hands cupping his face as she leaned in and—
Inhaled.
Deeply.
Her eyes widened. "Oh, Jade..."
"What?!" His patience was wearing dangerously thin. "What is everyone smelling that I'm apparently not?!"
Selene released him, turning to Niamh. "His glands have developed."
The words hit the room like a physical blow.
Niamh's hand flew to her mouth. "No. Already? But he hasn't—"
"What glands?" Jade demanded, but a cold dread was already settling in his stomach. "Wait. You don't mean—"
"Your scent glands," Selene said gently, turning back to him. "They've developed. You released pheromones this morning, darling."
The world seemed to tilt.
"No," Jade said flatly. "No, I didn't. I would have—I didn't feel anything"
"You wouldn't necessarily," Selene explained, voice soft. "The first releases are often unconscious. Your body producing them before you're even aware of it."
Jade's hands clenched into fists. "But—but I don't—there's no way—"
"Kael noticed," Niamh said quietly. "He's a dominant alpha. His senses are sharp enough to detect even trace amounts."
That scent... frost and honey... compelling...
Kael's words echoed in Jade's mind, and suddenly everything clicked into horrible place.
"That was me?" His voice came out strangled. "The scent he was talking about?"
"Your pheromones," Selene confirmed. "And Jade... they're beautiful. Absolutely intoxicating. Any alpha within range would—"
"Stop." Jade held up a hand, feeling sick. "Just—just stop."
But Selene pressed on, because he needed to understand. "Your scent is unique, darling. It's compelling. Dangerously compelling."
Jade sank into the nearest chair, mind blank.
"Pre-heat pheromones are inconsistent," Niamh said, moving to kneel in front of him. "They come and go. Flare up and fade. That's how we got you out before he could track the source."
"Pre-heat," Jade repeated hollowly. "Meaning—"
"Meaning your heat is coming," Selene finished softly. "Soon. Days, maybe a week at most."
The words settled over him like a death sentence.
Lio finally found his voice. "Oh. Oh. That's why Kael was so focused. His alpha instincts were—" He turned slightly green. "I'm going to pretend I didn't just think about that."
"Good idea," Amara muttered, also looking queasy.
Jade stared at his hands. Mind already thinking of a hundred million ways to get back at the Goddess for this dilema.
Niamh gripped his shoulders firmly. "I know this is a lot to take in , sweetheart. But ready or not, your body has decided it's time."
"What do we do?" Jade asked, and hated how small his voice sounded.
Selene was already moving, all business now. "First, you stay here. Away from the mansion. Away from any alphas."
"What do we tell Kael?" Lio asked.
"Nothing," Selene said firmly. "He can't know. Not about this."
"He'll ask questions," Amara pointed out. "He's already suspicious about the 'potion' excuse."
"Then I'll handle him," Selene said, her expression hardening. "I'll distract him, redirect him, whatever it takes. But we can't let him find out". "I mean unless you want to tell him". She added.
"I know," Niamh interrupted quietly. "Believe me, I know."
Jade's mind was spinning. "How long until it actually starts?"
"Hard to say," Niamh admitted. "You're already showing pre-heat symptoms—the warmth, the inconsistent pheromone releases. It could be three days. Could be seven. There's no way to predict precisely."
"And when it starts?" His throat felt tight. "What happens?"
Niamh and Selene exchanged glances.
"We've already discussed this," Selene said gently. "You'll isolate here. We'll guard you. The suppressants will help manage the worst of it."
"And we have to make sure no alphas get anywhere near this building," Niamh said fiercely. "I don't care what it takes."
Selene nodded. "I'll post guards. Discreet ones. And I'll make sure Kael is occupied elsewhere when it happens."
"I'll help too," Lio said immediately. "Whatever you need. Guard duty, supply runs, anything."
"Me too," Amara added.
Jade looked at them—at these people who'd dropped everything, fled breakfast, and were now rearranging their lives to protect him from something he couldn't control.
Something he couldn't fight.
"I hate this," he whispered.
Niamh pulled him into a fierce hug. "I know, baby. I know."
Selene joined the embrace, one hand stroking his hair. "We'll get you through this. I promise."
Jade wanted to believe them.
But as that persistent warmth pulsed beneath his skin—now recognizable for what it truly was—he couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
Whether he was ready or not.
----------------------------------------------------------
Later, after emergency suppressants had been administered and plans had been made, Jade sat alone in the shop's private quarters.
The warmth had subsided slightly—the suppressants working, at least for now. But he knew it was temporary. A delay, not a solution.
His heat was coming.
And there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He stared at his hands, remembering Kael's words.
Compelling. Intoxicating.
His pheromones—the scent he couldn't even detect himself—would draw alphas like predators to wounded prey.
I'm not prey, he thought fiercely. I'm nothelpless.
But biology didn't care about his power. Didn't care about his training or his talents or his determination.
His body had its own agenda.
And all he could do was survive it.
...
...
Outside, the city of Nexus hummed with life, unaware that in a small shop in its heart, a boy was realizing that some battles couldn't be won with strength alone.
Only endured.
And the clock was ticking.
...