Personal Pheromones

Zhan Qing has a severe allergy to suppressants. His family arranged a compatibility test for him and ordered him to marry the Alpha who was the best match according to the results. He knew this was a family deal that benefited both sides, commonly known as a well-matched arranged marriage. But he never expected that the person said to be a 96% match for him would be the older neighbor who had lived next door since childhood. Though Zhan Qing looked aloof, he was secretly over the moon about the marriage. On the day they met for their arranged date, the person he had loved quietly for countless days and nights handed him a stack of gland patches. Ban Shuo: These are suppressant patches developed by our project team for people with unusual allergies. We've already set a launch date, so I'll give you a few boxes to try first. Zhan Qing's lips drooped, and his heart sank. You don't want to get engaged to me? Ban Shuo: You can find someone better. Zhan Qing: But we're a 96% match. Ban Shuo smiled faintly. There will be someone better. Some time later Ban Shuo: Hey, come back. Zhan Qing: What's wrong? Ban Shuo: I'm in heat. Zhan Qing got up and hurried home, teasing as he asked, "Didn't you say there'd be someone better?" Ban Shuo: ...Baby. Ban Shuo: Warm on the outside, cold on the inside, hard on himself, a gentle Alpha who can't live without his wife. Zhan Qing: Cold on the outside, warm on the inside, very Alpha, a somewhat obedient, short-haired wolfdog Omega. A few content warnings: - A romance between a strong Alpha and a strong Omega - The main character, an Omega, has a bit of an Alpha vibe - Each other's first love - No pregnancy or childbirth - Older love interest - There is some not-saying-what-you-mean romance, but no angst - As always, they dote on each other - Lots and lots of ABO worldbuilding of my own - A fictional setting; some systems and institutions are completely different from reality Let's have fun together~ Theme: Love, responsibility, and courage are all indispensable.