"Are you aware that the owner of this establishment is a beta? And yet you come here, acting superior and flirting with my partner?"
As footsteps approached, Lucas's jaw tightened as he spoke to the alpha standing in front of him. The veins on his neck stood out, and although his voice was calm on the surface, it carried a deep and simmering anger. His clenched fists showed how much effort he was making to not pounce on Raffael. He wasn't sweating, but his heart was pounding, his breathing heavy, and the rush of blood to his face made him flush with fury. His feet were firmly planted, facing Raffael directly, as an equal.
Lucas used his body to shield Andrea from the alpha's sight, making it clear he wouldn't tolerate any disrespect toward what mattered most to him. In the silence of the empty street, his firm voice echoed down the block. While many believed that a beta's voice lacked weight—due to the absence of pheromones or a so-called *"command voice"—this time, his voice held an authority that others often buried.
Andrea was visibly uncomfortable with Raffael's words, feeling a strange mix of guilt and shame for the impure thoughts that crossed his mind. To him, Lucas didn't seem like a beta—he looked like a powerful alpha. His body, his presence, made Andrea feel safe, and his "instincts" told him Lucas was the one.
Despite the calm expression on his face, Lucas's mind was filled with dark, violent thoughts about how to get rid of Raffael without going to prison—just to live in peace.
"Damn this alpha and his arrogance. Damn the day I met him. I'm tired of this shit—I just want to kill him, tear him apart, make him disappear, burn him alive."
"Damn this world where I can't live in peace. Why does he keep coming to my shop? Out of fifty others in this city, why here?"
"I just want a peaceful life. A life where I can breathe without being judged. Where I can exist like anyone else without paying the price for being who I am. Even the air in this country feels too heavy to breathe."
Raffael smiled widely, convinced he had full control of the situation. Without even realizing it, he began to release pheromones—sharp and oppressive, like thousands of needles directed straight at Lucas. The intensity was so strong that both Andrea and Raffael's omega companion tensed instantly.
Raffael tilted his head slightly to the left, his shoulders squared, hands buried in the pockets of his expensive suit. He smirked, trying to show the watching crowd who was really in control. His jaw was lifted with pride, convinced no one could challenge him. His goal was simple: to dominate the insolent beta.
"I had a feeling you were stupid," Lucas said coldly, "but now I'm sure. I'm immune to pheromones."
Like many alphas who ignored basic gender biology lessons, Raffael had forgotten that betas were naturally immune to pheromones. They could only sense their essence faintly—like a lingering perfume—if it was extremely strong or during rut, but otherwise, they remained unaffected.
He wanted to see Lucas broken—kneeling, begging for mercy. But before he could act, Lucas moved in front of Andrea again, this time turning his back to Raffael to block him completely. Raffael's lips twisted in frustration. His eyes opened wide, and his teeth ground together audibly. He didn't even notice that his own omega companion was now suffering from the same pheromones he was unleashing. He was too blinded by ego.
The tension grew. Children screamed. Parents shouted they were calling the police. Elderly bystanders hurled insults at the arrogant alpha. Raffael finally snapped out of his haze and realized the crowd was siding with Lucas. People demanded he leave, yelling that this wasn't the place for his drama. The mockery in their voices echoed in his ears.
"Get out," Lucas said with a calm smile. "I'm not the only one saying it. The neighbors agree."
At some point, during Raffael's arrogant trance, his omega companion had quietly moved to Lucas's side, seeking protection—his face now marked by fear and disappointment.
"LEAVE!" Lucas shouted firmly. "If I ever see you near my partner again, there will be consequences."
For the first time in his life, Raffael retreated—humiliated, surrounded by mockery and whispers. He had never experienced such a public, humiliating defeat.
Lucas turned to Lars, Raffael's omega companion.
"Are you okay?"
Andrea cut in harshly.
"If he's fine, then he can go."
Lucas, surprised by Andrea's sudden hostility, tried to ease the tension.
"Easy, Andrea. Lars—do you have someone who can pick you up? No rush."
Lucas temporarily closed the shop and led Andrea to the back room to talk.
"What's going on with you? He didn't do anything wrong."
"I just don't like how he looks at you. I want him gone."
"This isn't a game. He's affected too. Try to understand."
Andrea knew Lucas was right. Still, he hated seeing anyone else get close. He wanted Lucas to himself. More than anything, he wished Lucas wasn't just a beta—he wanted him to be untouchable by others.
When Lucas returned, Lars was calmer. He briefly explained his situation: born into wealth, promised to Raffael since childhood for marriage. He revealed Raffael's family—the powerful Llochers—were deeply influential in national politics and global weapons manufacturing.
Lucas felt a wave of anxiety. The danger was real. He immediately thought of Valentina, someone he could rely on for contacts or protection if things escalated. He accidentally said her name out loud.
Lars noticed and smiled.
"If anything happens, here's my card. I'll help you. You've been incredibly kind."
Lucas felt slightly embarrassed that Lars had heard his anxious rambling, but he appreciated the offer. In his years in marketing, he had learned: contacts meant survival. In a world as dark and hypocritical as his, it was better to live than be right.
"Oh—my ride is here," said Lars.
"Wait—take the chains with you. I want you to have them."
"No, please. Actually… would you like to have dinner sometime? I'd like to apologize properly and maybe introduce you to a few investors."
Lucas's eyes widened. Investors? He accepted instantly. He couldn't miss that chance. Of course, as a careful beta, he would never go alone. Always move in packs when ambush is possible. He handed Lars his number and smiled politely.
Andrea didn't say a word during their exchange. He refused to call Lars by name—especially not after hearing the dinner invitation. He understood that an investor could be a great opportunity for Lucas… but not if there was another omega around. He needed to go too. He needed to protect his man.
He knew those thoughts weren't right, but he couldn't stop them. And worst of all, they were getting stronger.
Andrea thought back to what he'd been feeling before Lucas had interrupted him. Maybe those old fables about castes and their changes… weren't so far from the truth.
His initial irritation had slowly evolved into a dark, consuming possessiveness. Deep down, he began to wish that Lucas belonged to another caste—so that no one else could ever take him away.
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Glossary
Command Voice: An instinctive ability some alphas have to influence or dominate others through a pheromone-charged verbal command.
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ALPHAS
Psychology
They are competitive, territorial, and struggle to accept defeat.They seek to lead in all things, and when they fail, they can become intense.Few manage their impulses well.