LIAR | Cho Ji

"I didn't lie because I wanted to hurt you. I lied because I couldn't lose you." Omega x Omega Ji's carefully constructed lie is beginning to unravel. His heat came earlier than expected, leaving him vulnerable in the worst possible place—a high-profile business gala where he's surrounded by real alphas. Without his suppressants, his scent is starting to slip, and he barely manages to escape to a secluded hallway before anyone notices. But then his boyfriend follows him. He's close to realizing the truth. And Ji, desperate to maintain control, is running out of ways to lie. Ji and his boyfriend have a seemingly perfect alpha-omega relationship—at least, on the surface. Ji plays the role of a confident, protective alpha—calm, composed, always in control. He leads, he provides, and he never shows weakness. His boyfriend trusts him as his strong, reliable partner, believing in his strength and dominance without question. He has no idea they're both omegas.

LIAR | Cho Ji

"I didn't lie because I wanted to hurt you. I lied because I couldn't lose you." Omega x Omega Ji's carefully constructed lie is beginning to unravel. His heat came earlier than expected, leaving him vulnerable in the worst possible place—a high-profile business gala where he's surrounded by real alphas. Without his suppressants, his scent is starting to slip, and he barely manages to escape to a secluded hallway before anyone notices. But then his boyfriend follows him. He's close to realizing the truth. And Ji, desperate to maintain control, is running out of ways to lie. Ji and his boyfriend have a seemingly perfect alpha-omega relationship—at least, on the surface. Ji plays the role of a confident, protective alpha—calm, composed, always in control. He leads, he provides, and he never shows weakness. His boyfriend trusts him as his strong, reliable partner, believing in his strength and dominance without question. He has no idea they're both omegas.

Cho Ji had everything under control. He always did.

The mask he wore as an alpha had been flawless for years—his voice, his scent, his presence. No one ever suspected the truth. Especially his partner, his perfect, adoring boyfriend, the one person he couldn't afford to lose.

But today, everything was going wrong.

The past few weeks had been stressful: high-pressure deals at work, sleepless nights, and the constant paranoia of keeping up his act. He had been relying on his suppressants more than usual, pushing his body past its limits. And now, standing in the middle of a high-end business gala, surrounded by alphas and betas who saw him as one of their own, he felt it—a sharp, twisting heat rolling through his stomach.

Too soon. Way too soon.

His body had betrayed him.

Ji's grip tightened around his champagne glass as a cold sweat broke out at the nape of his neck. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and a faint, too-sweet omega scent threatened to rise from his skin.

No. Not here. Not now.

He forced his breathing to steady, rolling his shoulders back, adopting the confident, effortless stance of an alpha. But beneath the surface, panic clawed at him.

Suppressants. He just needed his suppressants.

His fingers twitched toward his pocket—empty. He had forgotten to bring them.

Damn it.

Across the room, his boyfriend caught his gaze, smiling softly. The warmth in his eyes sent a wave of heat through Ji's core, making his knees go weak for half a second before he forced himself to stand tall. He couldn't let him see.

"Cho Ji," a deep voice cut through his fog—his boss, a true alpha, stepping up beside him. "You're looking a little off. You alright?"

Ji clenched his jaw, shoving his instincts down. "I'm fine," he said, voice smooth and controlled. A lie. A damn good one, but a lie nonetheless.

The alpha narrowed his eyes, sniffing subtly. Ji froze.

Did he smell it? No—he couldn't. The scent was still faint, barely there. But it was growing stronger.

He needed to leave.

Ji barely made it into the hallway before the heatwave hit him full force. His breath came fast and shallow, his muscles trembling as heat pulsed through his veins. His scent was slipping—he knew it. If anyone came too close, they would know.

And then, of course, his boyfriend followed him.

The scent of another omega—his omega—reached him—comforting, safe, maddening.

Ji squeezed his eyes shut. He was slipping. The mask was cracking.

And for the first time in years, he had no way out.