Miller
"And that’s all for today on how to control your pheromones around your agitated Enigma mate," Dr. Joe, the pheromone coach, announced as he clapped his hands together, bringing the session to a definitive end.
The class was specifically designed for the partners of Enigmas, teaching us the mechanics of scent regulation so we could actively de-escalate tension and avoid disputes.
Throughout the entire hour, however, I couldn’t focus for a single second. I shifted in my seat more times than I could count, my mind entirely trapped in a loop, thinking about what the hell had happened during sex with Leo last night.
Why had his pheromones suddenly changed like that?
I had desperately wanted to confront him about it right after the call with Rhys and Kayden, and even later when we gathered around the central bonfire, but the timing was never right. I didn’t want to ruin the peace between us, especially since we were finally building a stable foundation on this island.
But as I sat in that lecture hall listening to Dr. Joe break down the biological laws of pheromonal output, my curiosity completely boiled over.
The moment everyone started leaving, I wasted no time pushing past the empty desks to approach him.
"Dr. Joe, may I see you for a moment, please?" I called out as he gathered his materials and headed toward the back exit.
He paused, giving me a questioning look as his brows furrowed in concentration. Then, he offered a brief nod. "I noticed you were completely checked out during the lecture, Miller. I assume it must be something urgent. Come with me to the office."
I followed behind him, secretly in awe of how perceptive the man was. He paid ridiculous attention to every student in that room, calling out people who were slacking off just as quickly as those who were actually taking notes.
"Right this way," he said, opening the door that led directly into his private office.
I thanked him and stepped inside. The room was relatively small but felt incredibly grounded, the walls lined with dark wood shelves filled with minor professional trophies, research plaques, and framed photographs. Most of the pictures showed him alongside Director Gerald Lincoln at various island galas, surrounded by dozens of successful couples he had personally coached through the treaty over the years.
Dr. Joe walked around his heavy mahogany desk, sitting down in his leather chair before gesturing toward the empty seats opposite him. "Please, sit."
Once I settled into the chair, he offered a reassuring smile and leaned forward, signaling for me to begin.
I heaved a deep, heavy sigh, placing my palms flat on the desk and leaning closer so we could keep our voices down. "It’s about my partner, Leo."
"Ah, Doctor Ackerman," Dr. Joe murmured, his expression shifting to curiosity. "How is he doing? I take it he still hasn’t released a single baseline pheromone during your private exercises?"
I shook my head.
"He’s an incredibly stubborn case, isn’t he?" he remarked, chuckling softly under his breath.
I nodded in response, my face tightening as I forced myself to get to the point. "But that’s actually not why I’m here, Doc."
"Oh? Indulge me, then. What exactly is happening?"
"Last night, when we were..." I paused, my throat locking up as I tried to force the word sex out. Even though we were both adults in a clinical setting, a sudden wave of heat hit my neck, making me feel ridiculous for being hesitant.
"Please, feel entirely free to speak candidly here, Miller," Dr. Joe encouraged gently. "Nothing leaves these four walls."
I nodded, shifting uncomfortably in the chair before pushing through. "The thing is... when Leo and I were having sex last night, he released a scent that was entirely different from his. It didn’t have that heavy, dominant weight at all. This was incredibly sweet—like blooming night jasmine. It smelled exactly like an Omega."
Dr. Joe’s eyes widened instantly, his entire posture stiffening. Seeing his shock honestly made me feel a wave of relief; at least I wasn’t the only one going crazy here, and the man who literally studied pheromones for a living thought this was just as absurd as I did.
"So, if I am understanding your report correctly," Dr. Joe said, lowering his voice, "you are stating that during physical intimacy, your partner manifested a secondary pheromonal profile that completely contradicts his biological designation?"
I nodded quickly. "Yes."
"If I may pry, and I apologize if this is overly personal—but who exactly is taking the submissive role in the bedroom?"
"It usually used to be me at first," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. "But recently, we switched. Ever since we made that change, it’s been him bottoming, and Leo has absolutely no issue with it. He actually prefers it."
Dr. Joe stood up abruptly, turning toward the bookshelf directly behind his head. He scanned the titles rapidly before pulling down a thick, leather-bound volume. "Fascinating. I have read historical theories regarding dual pheromonal manifestation, but I never truly expected to encounter a living case," he muttered, flipping through the pages until he found a specific passage. He laid the open book flat on the desk, sliding it across the mahogany toward me. "Read these last two lines right here."
I pulled the book closer, tracking the small print with my finger:
...Though exceptionally rare, Enigmas who successfully suppress or completely tame their dominant nature over prolonged periods may begin to manifest a dual biological frequency. These unique individuals are classified under the ancient term: the Janis Enigma.
I looked up, my chest tightening. "Are you saying Leo could be a Janis Enigma?"
Dr. Joe nodded solemnly, pulling the book back toward his side of the desk. "It doesn’t occur naturally to standard Enigmas, nor does it manifest in every person who simply represses their instincts. Statistically, it only develops in roughly one out of a hundred cases. If your sensory observation is accurate, Miller, Leo is the second documented individual on this island’s history to exhibit this specific secondary variation."
"So... this doesn’t mean he’s actively transforming into an Omega?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the science.
"No, his genetic baseline remains Enigma," Dr. Joe explained. "However, a Janis Enigma possesses a biological switch. When taking a submissive role, their internal chemistry mimics the opposite designation. He could realistically exhibit standard Omega traits—meaning he is susceptible to experiencing regular cycles, exhibiting nesting behaviors, and yes, even becoming pregnancy."
"Pregnancy?" I gasped out, the air completely leaving my lungs.
My mind immediately flashed back to last night in the tub, and every single time before that where I had knotted him over and over again without a care in the world, entirely under the assumption that he was physically incapable of conceiving because of his dominant gender.
"Precisely," Dr. Joe continued. "And conversely, his primary Enigma side retains the capacity to impregnate you as well. It completely explains his sudden preference for choosing a specific role in your dynamic. However..." He trailed off, his expression darkening as he stood up again, reaching for a completely different book—a weathered, red medical journal this time. He sat back down, flipping it open with a hard snap. "We cannot rule out a far more dangerous alternative. There is a secondary condition known as Pheromonal Atrophy Syndrome ."
My eyes widened, my heart hammering against my ribs as I shook my head so fast I thought it would snap. "No. No way. There is no way that’s what’s happening to him."
"It is a documented risk for Enigmas who aggressively suppress their true nature," Dr. Joe said, reading straight from the text. "When the primary pheromones are forcefully sealed behind psychological walls for too long, the body’s internal endocrine system begins to mutate out of sheer desperation. The sweet scent you smelled might not be a secondary gender manifesting at all; it could be the chemical byproduct of his system failing. If left untreated, the cellular degradation can cause organ failure, and they might end up dying."
A cold dread washed over me, my hands trembling slightly against my knees. "We can’t just sit here and guess. There has to be a way to know for sure."
"We won’t have any definitive answers until we bring him into the clinic and run a full diagnostic panel on his blood and pheromonal receptors," Dr. Joe advised, closing the red journal. "But if you want to understand the history of the Janis Enigma condition more thoroughly, I highly recommend you speak directly with the Director. He was personally involved with the case of the man who manifested it years ago."
"Director Gerald?" I asked.
Dr. Joe nodded. "Yes. Gerald Lincoln can give you the exact insights you need regarding the behavioral shifts. Does Leo have any awareness of these changes yet?"
I shook my head, my throat dry. "None. He thinks he’s just hiding his standard scent from the coaches."
"Then I strongly believe now is the time to tell him, Miller. He needs to know exactly what his body is doing under the surface so we can initiate these tests and find out the true root of his condition before it’s too late."
"Thank you, Dr. Joe," I said, immediately pushing myself out of the chair, desperate to get back to the villa. "I appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me."
Dr. Joe stood up, stretching his hand across the desk for a firm handshake, which I returned with a tight grip. "Anytime, Miller. But please, don’t waste any time. Go tell Leo immediately."