Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 2

Taehyun had expected a chance to be with an omega, but instead of a voluptuous and attractive omega, he was met with a large, tiresome older guy he already knew. It was bound to be unpleasant. This wasn’t a typical blind date or social gathering; it was a meeting arranged for finding a mating partner, otherwise known as a contractual mating.

Near the end of the 19th century, “traits,” which began to be studied in earnest with the development of medicine, were simultaneously considered fully understood and yet a field with much left to explore. Traits, a type of constitution that grants secondary reproductive functions based on a pheromone system regardless of outward gender, still held many mysteries despite extensive research. While surgical studies on individuals with fully developed traits were nearly complete thanks to advancements in anatomy and various examination techniques, the mechanism of trait development and the pheromone system remained largely undeciphered.

Take Taehyun’s case, for example. As long as he consistently took his trait suppressants, even an alpha right next to him wouldn’t be able to tell he was an omega. However, Taehyun bore the full brunt of the side effects. Considering the regulation standardized by an international organization at the end of the 20th century – that all athletes must lower their pheromone levels to non-trait levels to avoid interference in competitions – Taehyun had to carry this burden every time he stepped onto the field.

Of course, not all trait carriers suffered side effects like Taehyun, whose primary symptoms were decreased cardiorespiratory function and muscle strength. For non-athletes, social acceptance was much more lenient if they were open about their traits, and the variety of available medication was considerably wider. However, when one’s profession required frequent pheromone level checks with portable kits, coupled with strict regulations on permissible medications, especially during the competitive season, difficulties were inevitable.

Back to the present awkward situation. Taehyun had never imagined that his attempt to lessen the side effects before his last Olympics would result in such an unexpected predicament.

The only way to stabilize and lower pheromone levels besides medication was to utilize the very mechanism by which pheromones worked. Alphas craved omegas, and omegas craved alphas; this instinct, etched at the genetic level, used pheromones as a reproductive system. In other words, if an alpha and an omega interacted without suppressing their pheromones, a scientific cancellation reaction would lower their pheromone levels to non-trait levels until the next mating cycle. This was because the fundamental purpose of the pheromone system – reproductive activity between opposite traits – would have been achieved.

Therefore, among athletes like Taehyun who experienced adverse reactions to authorized medications, there was a covert practice of finding partners to address their pheromone issues. These were known as mating partners. Taehyun had received countless offers, but the process and purpose of this relationship were simple: meet regularly and exchange pheromones. The easiest method was sexual contact, or sex. This supposedly helped synchronize pheromones, allowing athletes to focus on their performance without pheromone constraints during competitions.

While sex between consenting adults might not seem like a big deal, it became a different matter when connected to sportsmanship. Enhancing athletic performance through sex partners wasn’t exactly socially acceptable. This was precisely why Taehyun had consistently refused the offers from his agency.

Of course, nearing his late twenties, he wasn’t naive enough to believe in “no sex without love.” However, meeting a stranger for the sole purpose of sex and mutual exploitation wasn’t appealing, so he had avoided it entirely. While he wasn’t seeking a serious or heavy relationship, he didn’t have a frivolous view of intimacy either. But even a cornered rat will bite a cat. Convinced that this would be his last Olympics, he had nothing left to lose.

“Ha… All this for the Olympics.”

What else could it be? Taehyun scoffed, answering his own question. It was every athlete’s dream and goal. Having unfairly lost two prior opportunities, Taehyun had no other choice. Having faced inexplicable misfortune at every Olympics, he sensed it was time to give way to younger athletes and retire.

While it might seem petty to complain about not winning an Olympic medal when hundreds, thousands couldn’t even represent their country despite dedicating their lives to sports, it was a dream Taehyun couldn’t easily let go of. He had carried the weight of everyone’s expectations since childhood, hearing constant encouragement that he would be an Olympic star. Even setting aside those expectations, he felt a burning determination. He had the skills, so why did he always falter at the Olympics? If he retired without breaking this jinx, it would undoubtedly haunt him forever.

If this was his last chance, he wanted to give it his all. He hadn’t imagined that “his all” would include finding a mating partner. However, while he was grappling with these thoughts, news reached him that an alpha from the same agency was seeking a mating partner. This was welcome news for Taehyun.

It wasn’t a one-sided request; they both needed this. With this simple rationale, he went to the meeting, never expecting to encounter someone so uncomfortable, if not an outright nemesis. Taehyun discreetly tried to get up, placing his hands on the table and straightening his back, trying to avoid the other man’s gaze.

“I’ll talk to the manager. I’ll explain it so you don’t get caught in the crossfire…”

As Taehyun, avoiding eye contact, pushed his chair back with the back of his knees and stood up, the other man, who had been pointedly silent, suddenly spoke.

“Why?”

Why? Taken aback by the absurd question, Taehyun frowned.

“Well, it’s uncomfortable for both of us. And you, especially, must have had certain expectations, and seeing me, an omega who doesn’t seem like one, must be a turn-off.”

Did this really need explaining? Taehyun was flustered by the sudden halt to his escape. His history with the man before him went back four years. Having to potentially have sex with someone he knew as a minor four years ago was far from ideal. Neither of them could have imagined meeting someone they knew as a mating partner, which made the situation even more uncomfortable. Lacking the courage to bluntly state, “If you don’t leave now, we have to have sex, you know?” Taehyun tried to express it indirectly. To his surprise, the other man responded with a series of unexpected statements.

“I don’t mind. Aren’t you saying this just because you don’t like me?”

“What?”

Taehyun couldn’t believe his ears. What was this guy saying? As he struggled to process it, the other man drove the point home.

“I’m okay with having sex with you. So, if you don’t want to, don’t make excuses and just tell me you don’t like me.”

He had some nerve. In Taehyun’s mind, this guy was still an 18-year-old kid. How could someone who looked like a high schooler say such things! Even without reacting like a conservative elder, there was plenty to criticize. Moreover, Taehyun felt wronged. Excuses? He was offering him a way out of this awkward situation. But the young alpha before him was resolute. Taehyun, about to jump up, asked again.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not.”

Of course he was being ridiculous! Taehyun felt dizzy. Did this guy not understand words? He could understand a young alpha, with sex on his mind, not wanting to miss an opportunity for (somewhat) legitimate sex. However, this wasn’t just any alpha; it was Joo Sejin.