* * *

“Imprint… you say?”

Imprint. Even in his dazed state, Etienne’s eyes widened at the word.

Once Imprinted, an alpha becomes insensitive to the pheromones of other omegas, and an omega becomes insensitive to the pheromones of other alphas.

In other words, they react only to each other and crave the other’s pheromones.

Moreover, an Imprinted alpha and omega are somewhat freed from their heats and ruts.

They only experience them two or three times a year at most, significantly reducing the frequency.

And this act would bring several changes that Etienne wasn’t particularly happy about.

“No, no way…”

Etienne shook his head desperately, refusing.

Research on the body of an un-Imprinted omega was still lacking; it was too soon to undergo Imprinting.

It was something to be considered in the next research phase.

Of course, Imprinting wasn’t irreversible. If exposed to each other’s pheromones for a short time of one to four years, the Imprint could naturally fade.

But that was only possible between individuals who didn’t see each other for years.

Meanwhile, Etienne and Lucian were inseparable for even a few days, so the idea of the Imprint fading was out of the question.

“Why not?”

However, Lucian didn’t give up, persistently pressing Etienne.

“Research… is being affected…”

“But you said it yourself, Etienne.”

Lucian, deliberately emitting his alluring pheromones, seduced and captivated Etienne completely.

After all, Etienne would only consider all this to be the effects of pheromones and alcohol, unaware of Lucian’s true feelings.

“There’s no need to resist, such desires are natural.”

Mixed with someone’s warm breath, the sweet scent of the Omega and the refreshing scent of the Alpha blended together, creating a heated atmosphere.

Through his disheveled auburn hair, Etienne’s green eyes had long since become cloudy, while the Alpha’s eyes, gazing down at him, glowed fiercely with passion.

“This is my desire, Etienne.”

“Research… Your Grace, our research…”

“Aren’t you feeling the same?”

Etienne shook his head, tears streaming down his face.

Endless kisses rained down on the Omega’s weakly trembling face.

Along with seductive pheromones, the kisses were tingling and embarrassing, scattering his mind.

“Really?”

“Your Grace, wait…”

“Do you truly not want this?”

Etienne, tears pouring down, clung to Lucian with trembling arms.

He pressed his forehead against Lucian’s solid chest and pleaded, shivering.

“This… can’t we do something about this…?”

However, unlike his usual self, who would have already pounced, Lucian only teased and stimulated Etienne, not giving him what he truly desired.

“Your Grace, please…”

“If you allow me to Imprint you.”

At this moment, Lucian had something he desired even more desperately than immediate pleasure.

“Just one word, Etienne.”

He whispered, nibbling lightly on Etienne’s earlobe, pushing him to the brink and toying with him.

Already at his limit, Etienne sobbed, frustrated by the Alpha who wouldn’t give him what he wanted.

‘Why, why…’

Why wouldn’t he embrace him?

He wanted it so much, so desperately.

He wished the Alpha in front of him would somehow relieve this painful thirst.

“Just that one word that you want me too.”

“No… no…”

“It’s not that difficult.”

No, it can’t be. It shouldn’t be. I mustn’t…

“Come on, Etienne.”

It shouldn’t, but…

Why shouldn’t it?

“Hurry.”

His vision blurred.

His mind clouded.

It felt like his brain was melting.

He couldn’t even remember why he was refusing, or what he was refusing.

Faced with such overwhelming stimulation, thick pheromones surrounding him, and his judgment impaired by intoxication, the young Omega finally succumbed.

“… please.”

Trembling from head to toe, Etienne burrowed into Lucian’s arms.

With boundless affection, he clung tightly to Lucian and managed to stammer out the words.

“Do it… Your Grace.”

“What do you mean, Etienne?”

“Everything, all of it…”

Lucian’s heart trembled along with Etienne’s shaky voice.

Even Lucian, who was barely maintaining his patience, felt the soft hair brushing against him like the devil’s temptation.

The sweet breath tickling his nose made his mouth water.

And finally, at the moment of the long-awaited permission.

“Your Grace, please do as you wish.”

The Alpha, whose desire was ignited, lunged with fierce eyes.

He lifted Etienne in his arms as if he had been waiting for him.

Reflexively, Etienne wrapped his arms around Lucian’s neck, clinging to him.

“Willingly, my Etienne.”

With no reason left to resist temptation, Lucian finally let go of his reason and joyfully pounced.

He exuded pheromones filled with secrecy and possessiveness, biting into the white neck revealed between the shirt collar.

To leave his Imprint on that beautiful and precious being, a seductive little demon, or his uniquely shining deity.

“Your Grace… Your Grace…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, Etienne.”

Panting for breath in the enveloping pheromones, Etienne surrendered his neck to the greedy Alpha.

As they became one, a sensation more intense than any they had ever felt wrapped around them.

It was the moment when the Alpha, fallen in love, and the Omega, blinded by instinctive lust, completed their bond.

---

When Etienne woke up the next day, the midday sun was already shining outside.

Birds chirped in the garden beyond the window, and the sounds of people busily moving could be heard beyond the door.

“Ouch…”

As he sat up in bed, Etienne felt a stinging pain below and a splitting headache, letting out an involuntary groan.

“Oh, damn…”

The pain in his lower back was particularly severe.

As he lowered his head, trembling, fragments of last night’s memories flahed in his mind.

The alcohol was bitter, the chocolate was sweet… and as usual, the pheromone-fueled impulses led to such acts.

Etienne could only recall the messy tangle of flesh before shaking his head, once again realizing the painful truth that humanity in this world were slaves to pheromones and hormones.

Not that he had any complaints about it, but his back was a different story.

The pain was so severe it felt like his spine might burst at any moment.

Thankfully, Lucian had at least cleaned him up thoroughly.

“Are you awake, Mr. Harrington?”

“Oh, damn, you scared me.”

Thinking no one was there, Etienne was startled by the sudden voice and looked to the side.

There stood Lucian’s butler, Ferden, a familiar face by now.

“Ferden…? Why are you here?”

Etienne pulled the blanket up to cover himself as he spoke.

Surprisingly, Etienne did have a sense of shame and decency.

The problem was that it never manifested in front of Lucian.

Of course, trying to cover up with the blanket was futile as the kiss marks Lucian had left were clearly visible.

“I apologize for startling you. It’s a strict order from my master to attend to you with utmost dedication, so I had no choice.”

“Oh… no, it’s fine. I should have woken up long ago, anyway.”

Etienne gratefully accepted the glass of water handed to him by Ferden and took a sip.

However, as he absentmindedly drank the water, a question soon popped into his mind, causing him to tilt his head and speak.

“But why would the Duke give such an order to you, Ferden?”

“It seems he was concerned. This is a letter from the master.”

But why was he concerned, Etienne thought.

It wasn’t the first time he had drunk anything.

Moreover, a letter?

Did he leave without a word?

Confused, Etienne accepted the luxurious parchment Ferden handed him.

“Sorry for leaving you first, Etienne.

I tried to stay until you woke up, but I had to enter the palace by royal command.

I’ll try to return before the night is deep.

Your body must be exhausted, so avoid experiments and rest.

We’ll talk about the rest when I return and see you in person.

• Your partner, Lucian”

Reading the letter didn’t clear his doubts. Instead, it only deepened them.

Leaving for a royal command was one thing, but why leave such a letter?

Unable to understand, Etienne asked again.

“So why did he leave such a letter? What’s the point?”

Ferden’s answer made Etienne’s mind go blank.

“Well, didn’t you and the master imprint on each other last night?”

Imprint. Lucian and he, imprinted.

Lucian and he, the alpha and omega…imprint.

“Wait a moment.”

The full memory of last night suddenly came back.

What exactly had happened.

Etienne’s hand lost its grip on the glass, and it fell to the floor with a crash.

The cold water spilled, and the sound of breaking glass was drowned by Etienne’s scream.

“Aaaah!”

Ferden looked at him like he was crazy, but Etienne, lost in his despair, grabbed his hair and screamed.

“Imprint, I imprinted!”

Damn, my experiment plans!

All ruined!

* * *