Ethan abandoned his college dreams to keep his mother's restaurant afloat—a selfless beta content with his quiet life, unburdened by the pheromone sensitivity that defines alphas and omegas. His mundane existence shatters when he rescues a dominant alpha named Zander not once, but twice. What begins as simple compassion spirals into an obsessive fixation Ethan never anticipated. Juggling his mother's struggling restaurant with an increasingly demanding alpha proves overwhelming. The situation intensifies when an underground synthetic emerges, mysteriously converting ordinary betas into unprecedented dynamics. As the world grapples with this controversial pharmaceutical development, Ethan desperately seeks the normalcy he once took for granted. Yet Zander's relentless pursuit and mounting infatuation make escape impossible. *** Ethan bends low to examine the man's injuries, reaching toward his face. A sharp slap repels him. "Get lost." He tries again, undeterred. When the man retaliates, Ethan catches his wrist and tangles his fingers through sweat-matted hair, pulling upward. A strangled groan escapes the stranger's lips. "They really did a number on you," Ethan observes quietly. A jagged wound runs across the man's left cheek, his nose blooms purple, blood clots his matted hair. "Probably need stitches." Once satisfied with his assessment, Ethan meets his gaze. The man's eyes snap open—a vivid emerald, luminous in the shadowed alley. Striking. "You're a beta?" the man rasps, his attention locked on Ethan's face. "You're definitely not." Ethan notes the violet markings circling the man's irises. A dominant alpha. "You're a beta?" the alpha repeats, voice strained. Ethan releases his grip, letting the man's hair fall back, shadowing those brilliant green eyes. "Yes, I'm a beta," Ethan confirms.