As Charlie sat at the dining table, savoring the sweet taste of the mangoes she had been craving, she couldn't help but express her delight.

"Aunt Carol, this mango is so sweet! It must be why it was so hard to buy these..." Charlie exclaimed between bites, a joyful grin spreading across her face.

For Charlie, who had once struggled to afford such luxuries in the real world, the simple pleasure of indulging in a ripe mango felt like a small taste of paradise.

"Yes, Miss... It's really good. I'm glad that you enjoy it!" Aunt Carol replied, her own smile mirroring Charlie's as she watched the young Alpha relish in the moment.

Serena's return from the Sutherland Estate led her straight to the dining hall, where Charlie's cheerful voice greeted her.

"I'm back...." Serena greeted with a smile, though it quickly faded as she observed Charlie's evident enjoyment of the mangoes.

'Do you like mango that much...' Serena's thoughts turned bitter as she recalled Lisa's mango-scented pheromones, a reminder of the unsettling feelings stirred within her.

"Oh hey, Serena! Look at these, the mangoes that I asked Aunt Carol to order arrived! It's so sweet! Try it!" Charlie exclaimed eagerly, her smile infectious as she offered Serena a slice.

Serena felt a surge of annoyance as she watched Charlie savoring the fruit, her irritation mounting with each bite.

"I don't like mango," Serena replied coldly, her tone laced with a hint of disdain, unable to mask her annoyance any longer. 

The sight of Charlie indulging in the mangoes stirred a pang of jealousy within Serena. In her mind's eye, she couldn't help but imagine each bite as a sensual caress, the touch of Charlie's lips on the fruit invoking thoughts of Lisa. It felt as though Charlie's every bite was an intimate encounter with her, and the thought unsettled Serena, casting a shadow over the innocent scene before her.

"But you have to try these... it's really good!" Charlie said.

"I told you, I don't like it... just smelling it makes me feel very uncomfortable..." Serena said.

Charlie suddenly notices that the sweet scent of strawberry champagne pheromones of Serena turned sour... 

"Serena, are you feeling okay? There's something wrong with your pheromones... they're a little sour..." Charlie's words were laced with genuine concern, her voice soft and gentle.

Charlie's innocent inquiry caught Serena off guard, her heart skipping a beat as she realized her emotions were betraying her.

Serena felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at being caught in her jealousy. She hadn't realized her emotions were so palpable, let alone manifesting in her pheromones..

'Was it obvious that I'm jealous? My pheromones are sour... I hate this feeling.' Serena's mind raced with self-conscious thoughts, her inner turmoil adding to her discomfort.

Serena attempted to brush off Charlie's observation. "I'm fine, Charlie. Just a little tired, that's all," she replied, hoping to downplay her emotions and regain control over her swirling feelings.

Meanwhile, Charlie remained unaware of the true reason behind Serena's sour pheromones. Concern etched on her features, Charlie could only assume that Serena's reaction was due to an allergic reaction to the mangoes.

"Was it the mangoes? Are you allergic to mangoes?" Charlie worriedly asked, her voice tinged with genuine concern.

"S-something like that..." Serena stammered, her face turning crimson with embarrassment as she struggled to come up with an explanation. She couldn't believe she resorted to such a flimsy excuse.

"AUNT CAROL! TAKE AWAY THESE MANGOES! SERENA IS ALLERGIC TO MANGOES! NO MORE MANGOES ALLOWED IN THIS HOUSE!" Charlie's voice rang out, her concern evident as she called out to Aunt Carol.

"Stop exaggerating, Charlie!" Serena interjected, watching with a mixture of amusement and disbelief as Charlie overreacted to the situation.

As Charlie's exaggerated concern unfolded before her, Serena couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Charlie's actions than met the eye. A warm feeling blossomed in her chest as she realized the depth of Charlie's care for her.

'Do you really care about me that much?' Serena silently mused to herself, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she pondered the thought.

Charlie knocked at Serena's room...

Charlie's heart skipped a beat as Serena opened the door, revealing herself in all her captivating elegance. With her hair slightly tousled and clad in a satin nightdress, Serena exuded an ethereal allure that left Charlie breathless.

"Are you already asleep?" Charlie managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in the sight before her.

"Hmm... I just dozed off... do you need something?" Serena's voice was soft, her blinking eyes betraying her fatigue.

Charlie's gaze lingered on Serena, enchanted by her beguiling presence. Despite the late hour and the weariness evident in Serena's expression, there was an undeniable charm about her that Charlie couldn't ignore.

"I brought you allergy meds..." Charlie finally offered, extending her hand to pass the medication to Serena.

"I told you I'm fine... I was just really sensitive to the scent of Mango... it makes me feel uncomfortable..." Serena explained, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"May I come in?" Charlie asked, her breath catching in at the thought of being alone with Serena in her bedroom.

Serena's nod of approval sent a surge of excitement through Charlie's veins, her heart racing with anticip