Poisonous Chocolate, Lemon and Lavender

Prologue

Aoto

"I'm back," I announce, slipping off my shoes.

"Welcome back, Ao," Mom calls from the living room.

I step into the cool, air-conditioned space, closing my eyes with a smile as the chill washes over me, a welcome escape from the relentless heat outside. Summers in Japan are unbearable, especially for someone like me, who despises hot weather.

"How was school today?" he asks.

"It was okay. We learned about secondary genders and stuff." I shrug, feigning disinterest.

"Oh? Is that so?" Mom's eyes light up, intrigued.

"Yeah. The teacher explained about Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, and how most people manifest their secondary gender around fourteen. He also talked about Alpha ruts and Omega heats, which sound... terrifying." I shiver at the thought of spending several days a month overwhelmed by primal urges. "I really hope I'm a Beta," I add, frowning.

Mom sighs, his face softening. "I hope so, too... As you know, your brother manifested as an Alpha, which was a relief."

"Sota's always been the perfect Alpha—tall, muscular, handsome, smart, and good at everything," I say, picturing my older brother with a sense of admiration and pride.

Mom watches me for a moment, his gaze shifting, a shadow of worry flickering in his dark eyes. "Your brother takes after your father, but you... you take after me." He hesitates, brows knitting. "As a rare male Omega, I know all too well the struggles that come with it. Omegas—especially males—are often treated as breeding objects, existing only for the sake of Alphas. If your father hadn't saved me from my parents, I would have been thrown onto the streets, forced to sell my body just to survive."

I gaze at him, the man who gave birth to me and my brother, as I absorb the weight of his words. In our world, society divides people into three main categories—Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. Alphas, both male and female, are at the top, especially the dominant ones—born leaders destined for success. They're rare, though not as rare as Omegas, particularly male Omegas, who can get pregnant and give birth just like women. Unfortunately, Omegas are at the bottom, seen as little more than objects for Alphas, their lives often restricted and judged harshly. Then there are the Betas, who make up the majority and usually stay out of the Alpha-Omega dynamic entirely.

"What else did you learn?" Mom's question pulls me from my thoughts.

"Pheromones," I reply simply.

He chuckles. "Your father smells so good. So does your brother."

I grimace, recalling my teacher's explanation of Alpha and Omega pheromones. They release pheromones to attract one another, especially during ruts and heats, to encourage mating. The idea horrifies me; during those periods, they often lose control and don't remember anything once it's over. I can't imagine being with someone like that and then forgetting them afterward. What if it's a stranger? What if they're abusive? What if they already have a partner, and the whole thing feels like cheating driven by biology? It's so messed up that it bothers me even to think about it. Betas have it easy—they don't emit pheromones and can't smell them either. They're just... normal.

"I'm back," my fourteen-year-old brother yells from the entrance of the apartment.

Mom's face lights up, clearly pleased to have both of us home.

"Hey, I want to introduce my boyfriend to you," Sota announces, stepping into the room with a grin. Once he has our full attention, he gestures behind him, and a strikingly handsome boy steps forward. He has that unmistakable look of a Dominant Alpha—someone born with a golden spoon, destined for success.