Nino could not help to laugh at his poor friend, Adrien. He had walked into school with tape on his nose and tissues stuffed up his nostrils.

"Nathalie wouldn't let me leave the house unless I wore this stuff." Adrien said sounding as if he had a cold.

"Did she tell you why?" Nino asked. His girlfriend, Alya had do the same thing until she bonded with Nino.

"Something about Omega pheromones." Adrien replied a confused look from Nino. There was no Omegas in the school that Nino knew of. The only the Betas who could trigger Alpha ruts were fated pairs like Alya and him.

"Omega? Do you have someone on the side I don't know about?" His nudged his friend in the side with his elbow as he noticed a hickey on his collar bone. "Maybe a fellow model?"

He ignored Nino's questions for the conversation of Alya confronting Marinette interested him more. He could see Alya hold her nose trying to lessen the Omega pheromones protruding from her bestie. He notice that Marinette wore what Chloe dubbed the 'shame' collar. A preventive against accidentally bonding.

Adrien felt bad. He had tried to call and text Marinette to apologize for his behavior the other day and hoped they could remain friends. But he couldn't see how to repair it if he just had better control over his actions. He didn't blame her for not answering. He thought if he was her that he wouldn't want to be his friend and that hurt.

Adrien swore to himself he would protect her. If not as Adrien Agreste then as ChatNoir even if it was on the sidelines. She was the only Omega in entire school he couldn't let harm come to her. Not when he thought of another Alpha possibly catching her in heat. At least he could transform into ChatNoir as the Miraculouses when transformed prevented the wearers from being affected by pheromones of any sorts.

This was the strongest reason he believed yesterday was his fault. He could've revealed his identity and gotten her some help but he didn't. He had enough reasoning skills to take her to the shower but not to say three words. Plagg told him that it was a stupid idea to transform if he was going through a rut but avoiding saying why.

He also wondered when he was in that moment that his subconscious was worried about telling Ladybug. She did take the news of Carapace and Rena Rouge exchanging identities with him pretty well. She would've understood. But Marinette probably wouldn't off. She would of felt betrayed after all she did confess that she had harbored feelings for Adrien to ChatNoir.

Alya was probably the only one thrilled with the circumstances as she had deduced that something happen with Adrien and Marinette. "Girl! Give mother Alya the details."

Adrien gulped down his nerves. He had to apologize before Marinette could reply. "Are you okay? I am really sorry about yesterday. And I know no amount of apologizes will ever be enough so if you never want to see me again I understand." He held his hands together begging for forgiveness. He was willing to drop down on his knees if it meant Marinette would keep him in her life. They didn't have to be friends but he couldn't lose her completely.

The poor boy looked like a kicked puppy. Both Alya and Nino wanted to intervene just to save Adrien from himself but they also didn't know the context. They could accidentally consul him when Marinette had a right to be upset. They did not want to take the wrong side and Alya was ready to beat the snot out of Adrien despite his pitiful expression but, only if he did indeed do something to hurt Marinette.

Marinette was going to reach for Adrien's right hand for his hand had a bandage wrapped tightly around it. She recalled the previous afternoon and the blood. It was surely to leave a scar. He probably got scolded by his father and it was her fault. If she had just stayed a Beta, she wouldn't been in this situation.

Adrien noticed that she resisted to take his hand. He thought she was probably worried if he was okay. To him that was a very Marinette thing to do. To think of all the events that she had went through and she was worried about HIM. "It's fine. As long as you're alright I'm alright." He flexed his fingers and wrist to show Marinette he had full motion even if it hurt. But nothing hurt more then the possibility of losing Marinette.

Marinette studied Adrien's face before letting out a cute little snort. "Are you wearing pheromone protection because of me?" The precautions looked funnier on Adrien then it ever did on Alya. He was supposed to be flawless or at least appear to be.

"Attractive isn't it?" Adrien joked trying to get back on Marinette's good side.

The four's attention was grabbed by a rude loud statement from Chloe.
"Ewww! Where's that disgusting smell coming from?" She was holding her nose and waving her hand with her ginger haired minion tagging along.

Alya looked at Marinette and knew that Chloé was about to make Marinette's day unnecessarily harder. Alya removed a hair tie from her wrist preparing herself to get into a fight. She might not get the chance to punch pretty boy but she be damn if she was going to pass up the chance to drag Chloe by her ponytail.

"Adrikins?" Chloe questioned as she wondered why he wore Alpha precautions. She always thought he was really in control otherwise what excuse did he have for not throwing himself at her? Then she noticed Marinette's collar of shame.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Chloe asked pushing Marinette with her finger.

Adrien quickly pulled her away from Marinette before Alya got suspended for beating up Chloe although wouldn't be the first time.

"This isn't her fault. It's mine. I should've seen the signs before it got that far."

Marinette wanted to interject after all she had tried to take off her own shirt and his pants. Marinette blushed at recalling the little things she did remember.

"YOU WERE WITH HER?!"

He put his hands up as if he was a kid that got caught stealing cookies out of a cookie jar. "She came over for the project." he defended.

Alya and Nino exchanging suggestive winks and nods just to tease Adrien since Marinette didn't seem mad at him. This meant he was free game. "For the project." Adrien repeated to get the point across to Nino and Alya.

"Then explain her cone of shame." She said putting her hands on her hips. "If there's a bite mark, Agreste."

"I did try to mark her. I won't lie."

Adrien confessed getting the 'holy shit' look from Alya and Nino. "But I sacrificed my hand instead. I did this to myself and you shouldn't take it out on Marinette. She doesn't deserve that."

"She's an Omega! She probably threw herself on you and tried to take advantage OF YOU! And the worst thing is THAT YOU LET HER DO IT."

Chloe wasn't wrong that Marinette did throw herself on him but he wasn't going to let Chloe know that. Who cares of Marinette did? It wasn't her business. "Chloe, I take full responsibility for everything that happened between me and Marinette. It doesn't matter who did what and where. She's an Omega but she's still Marinette, my..."

He didn't know if they were still friends. He wanted to be but he needed to wait for forgiveness and not force it.  He looked at Marinette she smiled sadly before saying the word that Adrien couldn't. "Friend."

It did not take Adrien long to get annoyed with the precautions. As soon as he stepped into Miss Bustier's classroom  he was teased by Kim, Alix, Ivan and Max. They weren't as crude as Chloe and didn't pry on who he was with to get to this point. However, Adrien had noticed that Kim kept on glancing at Marinette as she chatted with Alya about something relating to coffee mugs and muggy weather.

Adrien knew Kim wanted to be with Chloe so his mind began to jump to conclusions. 'Is he willing to take my Marinette in exchange for Chloe?' He shook at the thought. 'Kim won't stoop so low as to do that.' Then he back tracked realizing he called Marinette, his. Thanking God that he didn't just say something so embarrassing out loud.

Miss Bustier started the class off by picking two students to compliment each other. She of course pick Chloe and Marinette. Chloe immediately followed with a protest at her desk. "Why should I? She's an Omega. She'll be dropping out anyway."

Marinette looked at Chloe confused. To her that sounded like a guarantee and not a threat. Chloe did not hold that much power to make Marinette drop out of school despite her daddy's position as Mayor. Even Miss Bustier looked at Marinette like her words held truth. Marinette then knew there was something that people weren't telling her and she was determined to find out.

"Chloe Bourgeois, that is incredibly rude." Miss Bustier scolded knowing that sending the spoiled brat to detention would only lead to a phone call to the Mayor. This didn't mean she couldn't get revenge in little ways. "Adrien please stand up here with Marinette." The class couldn't help but snicker at the two. It was obvious something had happened between them.

Adrien and Marinette stood in front of each other neither able to look the other in the eyes. Miss Bustier asked Marinette to go first. Marinette had so many things to choose from but she settled on the first compliment she ever told him. "You have your mother's smile."

Adrien blushed for the first girl that had ever told him that was Ladybug. "Thank you." He was proud that he inherited some qualities from his mother. " And you.. give me a moment it's hard to top something like that."

"It's not a competition."

"And you're good kisser. LISTENER! I meant listener. I'm sorry I don't know wants wrong with me." Adrien thought prehaps it was because he could smell pheromones from her. They weren't as potent as the other day.

Marinette laughed at his attempt of a cover up. She had corrected herself many times when around but never said anything so bold. "Thanks." She returned to her seat next to Alya who had a few questions to ask.

Chloe gave Marinette at glare that could cut scissors out of their packaging. Adrien returned the favor to Chloe this ruffled her feathers. He was treating Marinette as if she was his mate. Just before the class divided up into their project groups she had to say a snide remark about Marinette to Sabrina. "One hook up doesn't entitled her to Adrien."

Alya handed Marinette a book titled 'Alpha 101.' She had two copies due to her eldest sister buying her one and her parents buying her another. Marinette took the book and looked at the index. There was many topics focusing on Alphas and she turned it to Alpha ruts just to see what exactly it was.

"Alphas get these..." Marinette blushed not realizing this was what they went through.

"Something wrong?" Adrien asked. He had finally started participating the project. He tried to keep his distance from Marinette by sitting as far as he could. Adrien felt bad for embarrassing her infront of their entire class.

"Nnn.... othing.... I'm fine... it's fine." Marinette said as she plastered the book to her chest not wanting Adrien to see what she was reading.

"Really?" He raised his eyebrow. He knew she was hiding something. He wanted to grab the book and see what got her all tongue tied but at the same time he didn't want to invaded her space.

Alya couldn't help but to call out her best friend since she could see what page Marinette was on. "Marinette, you picked Fated Bonds not Alpha ruts."

"ALYA!" Marinette scolded as she clutched on the book harder almost breaking it's spine. "I was curious, okay."

"You should be reading about that." Adrien said holding out his hand excepting Marinette to hand the book over.

"I can read about whatever I want."

"I'll take it from you." Adrien said scooting closer. He was not going to let Marinette's innocent be ruined.

"Its my book."

Adrien went to grab the book but halted when she looked at him with terror.
Marinette released the book and handed it over.

"I just want to know so I could possibly help in future." She mumbled.

"I could never ask you to help me to do such a thing nor should you feel obligated to." He flipped the book to the Fated Bond section and handed it back to her. "I don't like that side of me. Never did. You're an important person to me and I am sorry I scared you."

He began to scoot back but she grabbed onto his hand. "We only one have one of this book and you can't see it if you're clear over there."  She then proceeded to lay the book onto the desk so they could both look off of it.

"Are you sure? It's not the best idea." He said pointing out he took his precautions off.

"If you keep worrying about me, we won't get any work done." She handed him a notebook and a pencil. She didn't want him to grab his things since she would have to let go of his hand.

Adrien started to read a paragraph from the book. "A Fated Bond pair are usually an Alpha and Omega. An Alpha's bond can only be undone by an Alpha sibling that shares the same mother and father as the Alpha in question."

"I'm so glad you haven't meant my brother." Adrien added getting a wide eyed expression from Marinette who had no idea that Adrien had a sibling let alone a brother. She had practically read all the magazines that even mentioned Adrien's name but there was never any mention of a brother.

"I didn't know you had one."

"He's older then me by seven years. Father doesn't like to mention him."

Adrien felt uncomfortable talking about his brother. He could recall the day in which his mother had disappeared that his brother had gotten in a argument with their father. The last Adrien had talked to him was when he was eleven and asked his big brother when he was coming back. He said "Never."

"What's his name?" Marinette asked.

Adrien threaded his fingers into her's. Tightening his grip when he uttered his brother's name. "Felix."

Alya nudged Nino. "What?" He asked irritated that he was hardly getting work done and Alya had more work done then him.

"Look." She whispered pointing to Adrien and Marinette holding hands.

"Oh no. Unprotective hand holding. How scandalous." Nino scarastically stated.

Adrien continued reading passage wanting to suppress the memories of Felix and what better way to do it then school work? "Fated Bond pairs tend to keep physical contact when in each others company." Adrien paused and thought about what Ladybug would do with ChatNoir. She would hold his hand to take him to places, let him lay across her lap, ruffle his hair, and she would scratch his ears. These sounded more that she treated him like a pet more then a love interest. "It could be as simple as hand holding but they can not resist the urge to be with their partner."

Marinette glanced at her hand. Knowing that if she was a Fated Bond pair it would probably be with ChatNoir but, she wanted to hold on to Adrien, metaphorically and literally. The idea scared her for the first time. She needed to find away to help him so she could be with him. It was selfish, she knew that. Finding out that he disliked that side of himself made her heart skip a beat.

"Prehaps it's instinct." Adrien added turning the page with his right hand since his other was otherwise occupied.