The Enigmatic Omega Male

Champ's POV

"On your marks... ready... set... GO!"

The instructor's voice rang out, and in an instant, we all surged forward, the race officially underway.

From the very beginning, Deux's speed was undeniable. He shot ahead like a force of nature, leading the pack with ease. And just behind him—was me.

It didn't take long to notice that this race had already boiled down to just the two of us. The others? They had fallen far behind, struggling to keep up. This wasn't just a simple competition anymore—it was a battle between Deux and me.

As expected of an Alpha like Deux. His raw strength, his agility, his speed—it was on an entirely different level. But did that mean I would just let him win? Did that mean I—a mere Omega—would simply accept defeat?

Absolutely not.

I gritted my teeth, steadying my breathing, and pushed my legs harder against the ground. Faster. Stronger. I wouldn't back down. I couldn't afford to.

The cheers of our classmates and the instructor grew louder, their voices blending into an electrifying roar. They could see what was happening. This was no ordinary race—it was a head-to-head clash between two opposing forces.

Deux was laser-focused on the finish line, his gaze unwavering, his body moving with the precision of someone born to win.

But then...

Something unexpected.

His scent.

Vanilla.

Thick, intoxicating, and growing stronger with every step. His body heat carried it through the air, surrounding me, distracting me.

I bit the inside of my cheek. No—focus, damn it!

But before I could regain full control, Deux suddenly glanced at me, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. He inhaled deeply—then sped up.

Just like that.

Why?

Why did he suddenly run faster? Was it because he saw me catching up? Because he was angry? Frustrated? It was as if my presence alone had triggered something inside him—something that made him run with even more ferocity.

And now, just like that, he was ahead again.

But I couldn't lose.

I refused to lose.

My life depended on this. If I lost here, I knew what would happen. Defeat would mean humiliation. It would mean failure. And I wasn't even close to finishing my mission—to become strong, to build my own clan, to find my mother.

This can't be where my story will end.

I clenched my fists and forced my body to move even faster. The heat rising within me was unbearable, my blood surging like fire beneath my skin. It was as if my body was reacting instinctively—releasing energy, pushing me forward.

And then, I saw it.

I was catching up. No—I was gaining on him.

Was I getting faster? Or was Deux slowing down?

I watched as he tensed, his jaw clenched. He looked... irritated.

And then he did something unexpected—he covered his nose.

My eyes narrowed. He was reacting to something.

And then it hit me.

The finish line was close. Very close.

This is my chance.

I knew what was happening. Deux wasn't just reacting to exhaustion—he was reacting to my scent.

Lavender.

It was overwhelming, thick, and heavy in the air, just like his vanilla scent was suffocating me. Our bodies, burning with heat, were releasing everything in full force—and Deux wasn't handling it well.

I could tell.

His movements were just a little stiff. His expression? Pure frustration.

But did that mean he would just let me win?

Of course not.

Even with his irritation, even with whatever he was feeling, Deux refused to back down. He forced himself forward, running like he had something to prove.

And so did I.

The finish line was right there. Few meters away.

My eyes locked onto that single line that would decide it all.

Could Deux really accept defeat?

Could he handle the shame of losing to an Omega?

Let's find out.

🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬

Deux and I were neck and neck, pouring every last ounce of our strength into this race.

The finish line was just within reach, but then—something caught my attention.

On the far right, just beyond the finish line, a safety barrier had collapsed. A set of massive metal poles, dislodged from their restraints, began rolling toward the track at an alarming speed.

My instinct screamed at me to stop.

But I couldn't.

My body refused to slow down, even as the impending danger grew closer. My mind was singularly focused on one thing—winning.

Even if it meant risking my life.

Deux must have noticed it too, because I saw him slow down, his gaze flickering toward the incoming threat.

This is my chance.

I clenched my fists, pushing my legs harder against the ground, determined to reach the finish line before him.

But then—everything slowed down.

A metal pole came hurtling toward me, a deadly force that would crush me in an instant.

For a split second, I froze.

And in that moment—

BAM!

A powerful force slammed into my back, sending me sprawling across the ground.

CLANG! CLANG!

The metal poles crashed against the pavement, just inches away from where I had been standing.

I gasped for air, my chest heaving as I lay there, dazed. Slowly, I turned my head toward the finish line.

I had crossed it.

I... won?

A smile tugged at my lips as I knelt on the ground, breathless. "I won."

But that fleeting moment of triumph vanished the instant my gaze landed on Deux.

He stood there, panting, his face shadowed with disappointment.

His voice, low and steady, cut through the chaos.

"If I hadn't pushed you, you'd be dead right now. What kind of Alpha throws himself into danger without thinking? A true Alpha assesses his surroundings, understands the risks. He doesn't charge forward blindly to his death. You didn't win this race. And to be honest... I don't even know why I felt the need to prove myself against someone like you."

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "But what I really don't understand... is why I even bothered to save you."

And just like that, he turned his back on me.

I watched him walk away, his movements rigid—his body not quite steady.

That's when I noticed something.

The metal poles.

The ones he had stopped from hitting me.

A sinking feeling settled in my chest. Did he... take the hit for me?

But why?

"Deux..." I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

His Beta subordinates rushed to his side, their expressions full of concern as they steadied him.

And then—Jiggs was by my side.

"Champ! Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes darting toward the scratches on my arms, the result of my rough landing.

"I'm fine," I muttered. "But Deux—"

"He'll be alright. He's an Alpha," Jiggs reassured me. "If he weren't, that impact would have been fatal. Alpha bodies are built tougher than ours. He took the brunt of the hit that was meant for you. But knowing Deux? He'll be back as soon as he recovers."

I wasn't so sure.

A knot formed in my stomach as I replayed Deux's words in my head.

"A true Alpha assesses his surroundings... A true Alpha doesn't run blindly to his death..."

But Deux didn't know the truth. I wasn't a real Alpha.

Which meant... he was right.

I had no instinct for survival. No control over my surroundings. No understanding of the dangers around me.

Because I wasn't an Alpha at all.

And now, I didn't just feel defeated. I felt... ashamed.

I wanted to chase after Deux. To say something. To apologize.

But I couldn't.

If I did, if I showed weakness in front of everyone, they'd see through my disguise. They'd realize the truth—that I wasn't who I pretended to be.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to remain still.

And then, the instructor approached, holding a small ticket.

"Congratulations, Champ! As the winner, you receive this special prize—an all-you-can-eat hotpot and buffet voucher!"

I stared at the ticket as he placed it in my hands.

But for some reason...

It didn't feel like mine.

"This doesn't belong to me," I muttered under my breath.

"Oh, come on, Champ!" Jiggs clapped me on the back, grinning. "You're an Alpha! Take everything that's yours! Own it!"

But deep inside, that wasn't what I felt.

Because at this moment... all I could think about was Deux.

I wanted to see him. I wanted to make sure he was okay. I wanted to thank him for saving me.

But I knew I couldn't.

It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't fit the image I was trying so hard to maintain.

And then, as if to snap me out of my thoughts, Jiggs leaned in with a sly grin.

"Oh, by the way, Champ. Some Beta males were watching your race. I talked to them, and they want to join our clan." He smirked. "I already screened them—they passed my test! They'll be the perfect counter to Deux's Betas. So don't worry. You just focus on him—we'll handle the rest."

I exhaled slowly.

I had no choice.

I had to keep pretending.

Deux's POV

I sat in my room, my injured leg resting before me, the dull ache a constant reminder of the reckless decision I had made today.

My fingers traced over the bruised skin where the metal poles had struck me. I clenched my jaw, exhaling sharply.

"Why did I do that?"

Why did I save an Alpha like him?

I should have been the one to win that race. I should have been the one standing victorious at the finish line.

But instead... I moved.

Without thinking. Without hesitation. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I saved him.

It didn't make sense.

My entire life, I was taught that an Alpha stands above all. My father, the Alpha King, ingrained that into me from the moment I could walk.

Show no fear. Show no weakness. Never submit.

All my life, I've been taught to dominate, to challenge any Alpha in my sight. My father, the Alpha King, instilled in me the belief that everyone—Alpha, Beta, Omega—must bow to my might.

I have defeated countless Alpha males. I have crushed them under my strength, forced them into submission, and made them kneel. Many of them now run under my command.

And yet... there's something about this Champ—a rookie Alpha with that peculiar scent that unsettles me.

So why...

Why was this one different?

This was the first time—the first time—I had ever saved another Alpha at my own expense.

And what unsettled me even more... was his scent.

Lavender.

His presence exudes an alluring, almost dangerous lavender aroma, something distinctly different from the typical robust musk of seasoned Alphas. It's as if his very essence radiates an enchanting quality, one that both fascinates and repels me.

A scent so unlike any Alpha I had ever encountered.

Normally, the scent of other Alphas irritated me—an oppressive, suffocating presence that screamed of dominance and rivalry. But his?

His scent was different.

Today, in the heat of the race, everything shifted. As I pushed myself to lead, I felt an unfamiliar stirring inside—a conflict that made my body and mind rebel against my very nature.

I've never hesitated, never shown weakness, yet when I saw him catching up, something inside me snapped.

A surge of anger, maybe even jealousy, spurred me on to accelerate. I wanted to prove that I was the superior Alpha, that I could never be bested by someone like him. But even as I ran, I sensed something was off.

The overwhelming vanilla scent that I always carried—my signature, my mark of authority—now mingled with a strange hint of uncertainty.

As we neared that finish line, I noticed Champ gaining on me, and I felt an inexplicable reaction—a mix of disdain, confusion, and a spark of something else.

Was it admiration?

Or perhaps a recognition of a shared secret?

My heart pounded with conflict as I instinctively covered my nose, as if to block out an odor I couldn't quite identify.

I was furious with myself—why was I reacting so strongly to him?

Then, as fate would have it, the safety barrier at the finish line collapsed, sending massive metal poles hurtling toward him. In that chaotic moment, I made a split-second decision.

Despite the bitter rivalry, I couldn't stand by and let him be killed by the falling debris. Something deep inside urged me to act—even if it meant sacrificing my chance at victory. I lunged forward, shoving him out of harm's way, and in doing so, my own momentum faltered and took the damage instead.

I had saved him. Why? To the extent that it got me hurt instead of him.

We are both an Alpha but why did I do it?

What is this feeling?

Why did my body do this on its own?

There is far more to this relationship than I could yet understand. The fact that I saved him baffled me. I was meant to defeat him. Not protect him. I never had to do anything like this before. Not for other Alphas... why him?

After the danger that occurred, I stood in front of Champ, panting and wounded, I am overwhelmed by a torrent of conflicting emotions.

I wonder if I've lost something essential—if, by saving him, I've compromised the very Alpha I was supposed to be.

His reckless, defiant spirit, his intoxicating scent... they stir something in me that I cannot easily explain. I find myself questioning whether I am truly the invincible Alpha I've always believed myself to be, or if there's a hidden flaw in me—a weakness that this Champ, with his mysterious, alluring aura, has exposed.

I watched him smiled as he thought he was the victory, and a bitter irony tugs at me. I saved him, yet in doing so, I feel a profound sense of loss—a loss of pride, of certainty.

I felt disappointed after seeing him, but I am not sure which one is it. Am I disappointed because of myself on how I acted on that situation, or because of losing to a mere rookie?

As my Beta followers have already begun to gather towards me that time I was walking away from him, trying to rally around me, I feel detached, as if I stand on the edge of an abyss.

Could it be that I, too, harbor a secret of vulnerability? Is there something in his presence that has unraveled the armor of my Alpha persona?

Could he be my weakness that I never knew of?

I cannot allow myself to be consumed by these thoughts. I must understand what is happening within me. There is something wrong with him—something in his very being that calls to me in ways I have never experienced before.

But no—perhaps it is me who is flawed. I must uncover the truth. For now, I retreat into the shadows, my mind swirling with questions and unspoken truths.

I have always believed that a true Alpha never shows weakness. Yet today, in the midst of our fierce competition, I found myself saving him—an act that contradicts everything I've been taught.

And now, as I nurse my injuries, I can't shake the haunting scent of lavender mingling with my own vanilla. I am left with a bitter taste of regret and an unsettling realization: perhaps, in saving him, I have also saved a part of myself that I long to understand.

I gritted my teeth, gripping my injured leg in frustration.

What the hell is he?

There is something wrong with that so-called Alpha named Champ.

And I am going to find out exactly what it is.

Because there's no way this is my problem.

The problem... is him.

His very existence.

End of Chapter 4