L*ck Me If You Can

Chapter 203

“Ash!”

Suddenly, Ashley went pale and began to vomit. Dropping to his knees, he curled up, retching uncontrollably, and Koi ran to him in shock, shouting his name.

“Ash, what’s wrong? Snap out of it, Ash!”

No matter how many times he called his name, Ashley’s seizure only grew worse. Eventually, he began to gasp for breath. Koi, now completely pale himself, looked around in desperation—but quickly realized something even more terrifying.

He was gone.

No matter how he looked around, the person he was searching for was nowhere in sight.

Angel had vanished.

Nearly in a panic, Koi realized that while he had been entirely focused on Ashley, Angel had quietly disappeared. The only ones left now were Ashley, himself, and the man who had brought Angel—still collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious.

With Ashley gasping in pain, Koi scrambled to call the front desk—but just as he got up, Ashley grabbed his arm. Startled, Koi looked down to find Ashley choking back another wave of nausea, barely managing to speak.

“Ph...one.”

“Huh?”

Koi leaned down, straining to hear through Ashley’s ragged breaths.

“My... phone... on the table.”

Following the direction of his barely raised hand, Koi spotted the phone. He rushed over, snatched it up, and brought it to Ashley.

“H-Here.”

Gasping for air, Ashley unlocked the screen and tapped a few buttons. A moment later, fresh air began to circulate and a soft mechanical hum filled the air.

The house-wide ventilation system had activated.

Even as the air flowed, Ashley kept retching. Though nothing was left to vomit, he began spitting up bitter stomach acid. Koi, unsure what to do, quickly fetched a glass of water and returned. But by the time he got back, Ashley was already unconscious, sprawled out on the floor.

“Ash!”

Koi tried to prop him up and pour water into his mouth—but it only dribbled out past his lips. He shook Ashley, calling his name again and again, but there was no response. A dreadful feeling weighed down in his chest. That’s when a voice came through the phone.

– ...Mr. Miller? Are you alright?

Hearing the repeated voice, Koi quickly answered.

“Um, Ash just passed out! I don’t know what to do...”

There was a pause, then the person responded.

– What happened? Briefly explain.

Koi hesitated, then decided to be honest—leaving out most details about Angel, he simply said Ashley had reacted badly after being exposed to the scent of a Hyper-Omega.

– I’ll be there shortly. No need for an ambulance.

The caller didn’t ask who Koi was or identify herself. She simply hung up. Though bewildered, Koi trusted the woman, since Ashley had called her first.

She arrived not long after, just as she had promised. And when Koi saw who it was, his entire body stiffened.

He recognized her the moment he saw her, even though she looked much older now.

“It’s not that you don’t like Ashley Miller, is it?”

It was Ashley’s father’s secretary.

*

The moment they exited the elevator, people poured into the living room and immediately surrounded Ashley. Koi was shoved aside before he could react. He tried to push his way back to Ashley, but someone grabbed him.

Startled, he turned around—of course, it was her. She was gripping his shoulder.

“L-Let go of me.”

Koi was clearly scared, but managed to squeeze out the words. She remained expressionless as she spoke.

“There’s nothing you can do, just like before.”

She hadn’t changed—still striking where it hurt the most.

“You were there, and Junior still ended up like this.”

It was the truth. Koi couldn’t deny it. He was helpless then, and he was helpless now. But that didn’t mean he was going to just back down.

“Ash needs me.”

“No. What Junior needs are medical professionals and the staff to handle the aftermath. Those people right there.”

She gestured toward the medics, then looked Koi straight in the eyes.

“Don’t you think you’d be more helpful if you stepped aside?”

There was no way to refute it. Koi bit his lip in silence. The secretary let go of his shoulder and began to walk past—but Koi called out to her.

“Why did Ash react that way? You can at least tell me that, can’t you?”

His voice held more desperation than anger. She turned and looked at him. Koi quickly continued.

“Ash is an Alpha. It doesn’t make sense for him to have a seizure just from Omega pheromones. Aren’t Alphas and Omegas supposed to... go into heat or something when they catch each other’s scent? Then why did Ash react like that?”

He hesitated, awkward over the word “heat,” but still asked. She stared at him, and he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Suddenly, she raised her hand. As Koi instinctively stepped back, she unexpectedly reached out and touched his cheek.

Koi froze. Her voice came surprisingly gentle.

“You’ve grown into a handsome man, Connor Niles.”

Koi blinked, caught completely off guard. She narrowed her eyes slightly and murmured to herself.

“You couldn’t even meet my eyes back then. I’m impressed.”

Only then did Koi realize she was teasing him. He shook his head, knocking her hand away.

“Please answer my question. What’s happening to Ash? Why does he react so badly to Omega pheromones?”

Her expressionless face finally moved—she raised her eyebrows in mock surprise, then swept her bobbed hair over her shoulder.

“A typical Alpha wouldn’t have that kind of reaction to Omega pheromones. Not even a Hyper-Alpha.”

“...Then it’s because it was a Hyper-Omega’s pheromones?”

“No.”

She shut that down immediately.

“Junior reacts like that to any Omega scent. He can’t tolerate it. An Alpha who has seizures from Omega pheromones—absurd, but it’s the truth.”

Koi understood every word, but none of it made sense.

Why? Why only Ashley?

“What happened to Ash...?”

She seemed to think for a moment, then answered.

“You should ask Junior that yourself. It’s not my story to tell.”

“Wait!”

Koi called out as she turned to leave. She stopped, and Koi hesitated before speaking.

“If the pheromone scent is still lingering when Ash wakes up... will it happen again?”

His voice was weak, uncertain. She responded with a blank expression.

“Most likely, yes. He’s always reacted this way to Omega pheromones.”

She turned again—but then paused.

“By the way, it’s not ‘hey you.’ It’s Miss Bernice.”

With that, she walked over to the people administering first aid. Koi stood frozen in place, watching them.

*

Ashley has a rejection response to Omega pheromones.

Koi wandered through the streets, dazed. Surrounded by busy people, he could do nothing but be in the way. He had no choice but to leave after asking them to contact him when Ashley woke up. His mind was in complete disarray. Before he knew it, he had walked quite a distance.

So that’s why Ash said he preferred me being a Beta?

Then how had he avoided pheromones all this time? Had all his past partners been Betas?

I don’t understand any of this...

He’d have to wait until Ashley woke up to ask. But another thought lingered.

What if Angel was right?

A cold chill ran down his spine.

If I really am an Omega, then I might actually be harmful to Ash.

His heart dropped.

Maybe I won’t be able to stay with him anymore...

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

At that thought, a wave of heat surged through his body. Koi froze in place, breath quickening. His blood pounded, and dizziness hit him. Arousal flooded him from his toes to the top of his head.

He remembered this sensation. He’d felt it once before—when he was burning up for days, convinced it was just the flu.

You’ll know when your heat cycle comes.

Angel’s words flashed through his mind as his vision went white.

Ariel paced ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ nervously around the living room. The apartment was thick with pheromones. Each time she paused in her pacing, her eyes shifted to the same spot—the room where the scent was strongest.

The room where Koi had locked himself in, suffering through his first heat cycle.

Ariel let out a frustrated sigh.

What the hell is going on?

She touched her burning forehead and closed her eyes. Koi had called her out of nowhere, just as she was finishing up an article. Happy and relaxed, she’d answered her friend’s call—only to hear a trembling, terrified voice.

By the time she found him, the heat cycle had already begun.

This is definitely Omega pheromones.

She was sure of it—she’d smelled it before. There was no mistaking it. What was hard to believe was something else entirely.

How could it be Koi?

He was definitely a Beta. Unless he’d been on suppressants... but no, Ariel was sure. Koi would never lie to her about something like that.

Then how had there been no scent until now? Was it a mutation? Did that bastard Ash turn him into one?

I don’t know.

Her head pounding, Ariel popped a painkiller and glanced toward Koi’s room again. The suppressant should kick in soon. She’d ask questions once he calmed down. Pressing her fingers into her tense forehead, she sighed again.

*

Koi moaned uncontrollably, his body writhing on the bed. He wanted to scratch at the heat crawling through his stomach but couldn’t. All he could do was twist and groan.

Ash, Ash, Ash.

He repeated the name over and over again in his head. If Ashley had been here, he would’ve given him what he wanted immediately—filled him up, satisfied that ache inside. Maybe that would’ve cooled the fire. He didn’t know anymore. His thoughts were a mess, and all he could feel was unbearable desire.

It was the first time his entire body had been consumed like this. Finally, he broke down crying, clutching the sheets.

*

It wasn’t until a full day later that Koi finally recovered, the heat subdued. Whether it was the suppressant or exhaustion, he had fallen into a deep sleep. When he woke, Ariel was there, her expression serious.

Instead of questions, she gave him soup and waited for him to settle.

“Feeling any better?”

Koi nodded weakly.

“Thanks, El.”

His voice was raw and hoarse. Ariel quietly patted his arm. As her eyes met his, Koi drank some water and finally spoke.

“I don’t really know what happened, either.”

“Just say whatever comes to mind. It’s okay.”

Encouraged, Koi hesitated for a moment, then slowly began recounting what had happened. When he explained about Angel and the Hyper-Omega talk, Ariel looked surprised—but listened silently. He ended the story with Ashley fainting from the scent, and Ariel finally opened her mouth.

“So... that Angel guy is gone?”

Koi nodded.

“I don’t know where he went. He just disappeared.”

“I see.”

She paused in thought, then asked,

“And you? You’re okay? Nothing else happened?”

“Uh... yeah.”

He nodded, though hesitantly. It made sense she’d worry, considering his heat had started in the middle of the street. Recalling the memory, he added,

“Some people came at me, but I got away okay. I’m taller now, stronger too. If this had happened back then, I’d have been screwed.”

Flexing his arm with a laugh, Koi tried to lighten the mood. Ariel smiled.

“That’s good.”

But her expression quickly turned serious. Koi’s smile faded too, and they sat in silence for a moment.

“I still don’t know, Koi.”

Ariel spoke first.

“You always thought you were a Beta, right? Trusting everything that guy Angel said—it’s a bit much, don’t you think? He’s a complete stranger. Sure, what he said fits, but...”

She was just as confused as he was. But Ariel knew no matter how shaken she was, it couldn’t compare to what Koi was going through.

“You can stay here for now. I’ve got room, and I haven’t found a new roommate yet anyway.”

“Thanks.”

His voice was still hoarse. He wished he could afford rent, but unfortunately, he couldn’t. Ariel gave his hand a squeeze.

“So Ash still doesn’t know you’re an Omega?”

“Yeah... probably not.”

Koi muttered without confidence.

“I might’ve released pheromones, but... if he knew, he would’ve said something.”

Would he, though?

Ariel wasn’t so sure. The Ashley she knew wasn’t the straightforward type anymore. Maybe he used to be—but not now. He was sly, unpredictable.

What if he still hasn’t changed his mind about Koi...?

It was entirely possible. But what Koi said next shook her certainty.

“And besides... if Ash really had smelled my pheromones, wouldn’t he have reacted right away? But he never has.”

There was no argument for that. Ariel begrudgingly nodded, but the feeling in her gut wouldn’t go away. The unease stuck with her. Still, she decided it was more important to help Koi rest. After asking if he needed anything else, she got up.

“Rest, Koi. We’ll think more when you’re better.”

“...Okay.”

Koi managed a weak smile and lay back down. After watching him drift off again, Ariel quietly stepped out of the room.

If Koi was right—if Ashley really reacted that violently to Omega pheromones—then it would’ve been obvious by now. Especially if the two of them had ever been intimate. He would’ve noticed it then.

That was the rational thought. But even so, Ariel couldn’t shake the unease.

But what if...

What if Koi really is a Hyper-Omega, and Ashley’s known all along—and hid it?

That could lead to something irreversible. She shook her head in denial—but even so, a cold chill ran down her spine.