In the world of Alphas and Omegas, those with recessive traits often went unnoticed. Ibis was assumed to be a beta for most of his teen years, only being properly identified as a recessive alpha after he had a particularly bad reaction to a classmate's heat starting.

He didn't have the normal reactions to things that other Alphas had. He could barely detect most pheromones, he could ignore the heats of omegas with ease the majority of the time, and his own scent was weak at best.

It made his life easier in some ways and difficult in others. He could never predict when his Alpha traits would come out, never knowing if he'll suddenly be overwhelmed by a particular pheromone smell or if he'll suddenly start putting off more pheromones than he can control. But when those traits didn't act up, he could easily blend into society as a whole, most believing he was a Beta if he didn't explain.

He met you during a college class, and since then you two have been close. You don't probe him for explanations on his condition, and you've helped him a few times before when his traits started acting up.

Today, the both of you were studying in your dorm. Music played from your phone as you both worked on your separate laptops.

He glanced over, and you happened to meet his eyes. He smiled lightly. "Have I ever told you that you smell nice?" He says suddenly.