Luther is a lucky individual. He comes from a good old money type of family. At the ripe age of 27, he has more powerful connections than most of his politician co-workers because of his wealthy starter.
His position as the head of Population Affairs lined up perfectly with his second gender.
-Sir, candidate number 47 is scheduled for today's dinner.
-Who was that again?
Luther rubbed the side of his temples in an annoyed manner. Today's affairs were more than enough of a headache without another meaningless dinner with an alpha who would get poisoned by his pheromones.
-He is the son of Akna Pharmaceutics. They are the providers for over 60% of legal pheromone stabilizers and stimuli. Your father insisted on this meeting.
-Which of these meetings doesn't my dad insist on, Lucia?
The woman smiled almost pitiful. Luther moved this hand in a dismiss sign. Lucia, his personal assistant, left the room quietly, leaving the man annoyed and defeated.
Luther got up from his desk and faced the window wall of his office. The town was starting to get lively as the night poured over it.
The streets were full of omegas walking in "bouquets". The mark of their flower was showing in the corner of their eyes in the street lamps lights. Some, more daring, were wearing crop tops showing their flower full design on their stomachs.
Every omega had a distinctive flower and smell. The design of their petals appeared on the side of their eyes, above their eyelashes when their second gender showed. At the same time, a full flower would bloom on their abdomen and it would shiver when a compatible alpha would come too close.
After their pheromones developed, they would give a sweet scent to their mates and poison for the other alphas who would dare come too close.
Luther's flower never shivered. He also never met an alpha who would find his scent pleasant or, at least, not poisonous. He was getting tired of meeting three alphas a day in the hopes he would find a mate.
-How ironic, he mumbled to himself bicker. The one who should represent the fertility of the population is incapable to get fucking laid.
He ruffled his hair and loosened his tie before stepping out of his office. He felt like this dinner was about to give him indigestion.
Killian entered the restaurant a half-hour late to his arrangement. He smelled like flowers, a fact not surprising at all given the very "green" afternoon he spent in the company of a bouquet.
His company was developing a new drug that cut the poisonous effect of omega's pheromones. He was enjoying testing his efficacy with the subjects.
He almost regretted his very pleasant afternoon that made him late when he laid his eye on Luther.
With a fit build, dressed way too formally even with the loosened tie, the man was measuring him up from head to toe. His purple eyes seemed rather disappointed in Killian's appearance.
Killian noticed that Luther wore patches to hide the petal marks on the side of his eyes. He smirked. A stuck-up, prude and arrogant omega. But God, he was beautiful.
-Sorry I'm late, said Killian sitting down at Luther's table.
-It was for the best. It excused me from an awkward dinner after you got poisoned. I already ate and given your rudeness, I'm sure you'll handle the bill as an apology, right?
-An optimist at heart, huh?
-I like to keep things realistic. So, shall I let loose my scent and save us from wasting more time?
-Please do, chuckled Killian.
Luther took a deep breath, closed his eyes and let his pheromones fill the air for just a second. When he opened them again, he saw Killian holding his throat with his hand and coughing relentlessly.
He got up, grabbed his coat and left the table quietly. But after just a few steps, he was turned around by Killian who was sitting in front of him with crying eyes, but a ginormous grin.
-You smell so incredibly sweet, darling.
Trying to keep his composure, Luther analyzed him. Usually, his dates would end in the ER or coughing up blood, crying, pleading for a gasp of air. Yet, this man was standing in front of him looking like he choked on a piece of food, chuckling like a schoolgirl in love. Saying he was confused was an understatement.
-Looks like I'm still alive and kicking. Your father is not a bad matchmaker, huh?
-I-I'm sorry. I can't do this.
Luther's purple eyes got unfocused. His figure, in the beginning oozing with confidence, was now bent and belittled by the mix of feelings overwhelming the made, giving him heartburn.
Killian tightened his grip around Luther's wrist. He changed his playful, idiotic demeanor in one almost threatening.
-What do you mean? I know you've been searching for a mate for years. I know you need one in order to keep your job as the head of Population Affairs. Why would you run away now that you find one?
His tone was demeaning answers. Answers Luther did not have, yet every inch of his body was repulsed by the idea this man survived his poison.
It was dangerous angering an alpha your protection system seemed to accept. Luther straightened his back, forcing his brain to think, to unfroze and to get him out of this hell.
-My flower didn't shiver. I feel nothing. The fact that you are resilient to my poison doesn't mean anything.
Killian looked at him. His gaze was piercing Luther, yet the man did not break the eye contact. Defeated, the alpha let out a frustrated sigh.
-One more date!
Luther looked at him like he had just fallen out on his feet from the ceiling. He cleared his throat.
-What?
-Give me one more date. I know I could make it shiver. These things take time.
"Why is he being so pushy about this?" Luther asked himself. "He's an alpha. Open flowers are throwing themselves at his feet just to be watered".
-Oh, so you're an expert in making flowers shiver? I am not interested.
Luther pulled his hand violently fast out of his Killian grip. He turned his back and left the building, leaving Killian standing there alone.
Killian, left bamboozled by Luther's rejection, made his way to the bathroom. He washed his face, resting his face in the cold water for a few moments. The poison was still burning his guts, his eyes, he could barely breathe or stand straight, but his heart was pounding.
His heartbeat was ringing in his ears. He couldn't stop smiling. He heard about alpha's being poisoned by an omega scent, but- for all the 24 years of his life- he had nothing but "open flowers" in his way. It was his first time getting poisoned and he was getting high on the feeling.
-Luther Wilkers. I'll remember your name for sure, honey!