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“Piper, I wouldn’t be able to be around you for too long. It’s unusual for an unmated alpha and omega to hang out as friends. And until your first heat passes, we can’t do anything that would cause an onset. It’s too dangerous for you, and it would cause any unmated alphas nearby to go a bit mad.”Including myself.
Her face fell with dejection. “But we can still do things within reason. Things like this - eating in public, doing things for a short period of time. The longer you are exposed to an alpha, the more unstable both our hormones will become.” I saw the realization hit her face and wanted nothing more than to reach over and gather her up to whisk her away and solve all her problems. “But, alphas can also take a rut suppressant, and that might help to make things much safer.” She seemed to get a little more chipper after that. In fact, I was shocked that they gave her the go-ahead to be out and about in public with no chaperone when she hadn't even been through her first heat. It had to be brimming just under the surface, kept away with a cocktail of medicine. But if she was allowed out, then presumably it would be okay to see her. If I wanted to officially court her, I would still need to register my pack as active again. I wasn’t sure if she wanted me in that way - I might be one of her only friends, and as much as I wanted her, I also didn’t want to push for something more unless she wanted it too.
We finished our food and I walked her out of the cafe. “Well, my lunch break is up. It was great seeing you, Piper. Hopefully, we can get together again soon.” She beamed up at me, leaning in as if drawn to me like a moth to a lamp. The sweet scent of vanilla and jasmine hit me, and I realized she was slightly perfuming despite her suppressants. “Piper - your scent - you need to get back to your housing now!” I covered my mouth and nose, wondering how she had managed to perfume on suppressants. She needed to get to the doctor and fix her dosage, or being in public would become a problem for her.
She looked at me with a dawning realization and quickly pulled out her ancient-looking flip phone. Did that thing even have the capability to use apps? “Here, let me.” I ordered an omega ride share service, requesting it ASAP. Luckily one was only a few minutes away. “Is it that bad?” She whined as she looked at me in distress.
“No sweetheart, it’s not bad at all - but you need to get the scent under control. Speak to the doctor as soon as you can. Stay inside until they get your scent regulated.” Her scent wasn’t too strong yet. It wasn’t bad enough that I worried about my control, but I didn’t want any unsavory Alphas getting the wrong idea. Just that thought almost had me growling in jealousy.What is wrong with me?I have never been this much of a hostage to my instincts.
I gave her a comforting smile as her ride pulled up, and although I would have loved to hug her, I didn’t want to scent mark her right before she left. It would be rude and possessive of me, and I was already losing myself around her. I gave her a wave as she left. Then I sighed as I pulled out my phone, already knowing I was fighting a losing battle against myself. I gave in and sent a quick text to my pack.
Hey guys, quick question. How would you feel about re-registering our pack to court an omega?
Chapter 8
Piper
I rode away from the cafe in the rideshare. I couldn’t believe my scent was already causing me problems. As happy as I was to run into the man who I had been obsessing over since I arrived in this new world, I knew that I had already mucked it up. I embarrassingly knew that I had only released that scent because I was aroused. I shouldn't have been out anyway.
The truth was that Dr. Calloway had told me to avoid going places in public until my omega traits had fully developed and I had been through my first heat. My late puberty, as they were calling it, was changing my body and my mind in ways I hadn’t quite accepted yet. Apparently, my nether regions were changing so that I would be able to accept a knot - something alphas had that connected them to omegas during sex. That whole piece was something I couldn’t wrap my head around. My emotions had been going wild, swinging back and forth, and I was craving security and protection in ways I hadn't experienced before. I was also experiencing a strong desire to build a fortress in my room out of blankets and soft pillows.
The only time I was able to go out was for my part-time job. I wasn’t even supposed to be at the cafe. I remembered the doctor and Callie warning me about it.
“Remember,” The doctor had said with a stern voice, “Come straight back to Omega Housing when you are off your shift. Use the omega rideshare. Your condition is unprecedented, and until you fully emerge as an omega we need to carefully monitor your body until you are ready for your first heat. If it erupts early, you might not be able to handle the knot.” I had crossed my arms and huffed at their rules. I couldn’t believe they were treating me like a ticking time bomb. Their cocktail of suppressants was supposed to help me keep the heat and perfuming under control and appear as an unscented beta.. and it had been working fine until I met with Aiden.
The job had been my one piece of normalcy. The national security team had deemed me not a threat, but wanted me to stick around in the area. As if I could leave - I had no money and I was already being monitored like crazy at the Omega House. Once I had finished my first week of real work, I felt a little more normal. Although it did suck that I couldn’t go out and explore on my own. But on this particular day, I had been let off early and thought a quick trip to the cafe wouldn’t hurt.
So instead of going back to the Omega House, I walked over and bumped into Aiden. Just looking at him had my pulse racing. I felt drawn to him like a magnet, wanting to lean into him as he paid for my food. That was a welcome surprise - I had never actually had a man pay for me before. My boyfriend - well, ex-boyfriend now, as I wasn’t able to get back to my world anytime soon - had always been broke and depending on me. Having Aiden care for me and provide so casually made me feel warm and flustered with attraction. His honey eyes and masculine scent had caught me off guard, and all I could think about was having him on top of me, caressing my face, running his hands through my hair as he thrust into me, satisfying all my cravings. Then he noticed my perfume.
My face heated now at the thought of it. He must have known I was attracted to him. All of my education so far had taught me that omegas perfumed around an alpha that they were biologically desiring to mate with. I cringed at the memory, then looked out the window as the Omega House came into view. Thanking the driver, I rushed inside and gave a quick call to my doctor.
“Was there anything you know of that caused you to perfume? Have you been taking your suppressants?” The doctor said through the phone.
“Well… I did come into contact with an alpha. He was respectful, as soon as the scent got stronger I got away from him and into an omega rideshare.” I didn’t want the doctor to know I had bent the rules a bit and went to the cafe.
“Please, Piper, try to avoid unmated alphas as much as possible. We don’t know how you will react, and it’s too soon for you to get thrown into heat. Their knot will damage you, and in the frenzy you might not even realize it or care. Take an extra suppressant and check in with me tomorrow. Also, we need to get you on the registry soon. Then we can organize dates with alphas so you can find someone before the heat arrives.”
I felt chagrined at the doctor’s words. All I wanted to do was be normal again! I dropped the flip phone on the bedside table and took an extra suppressant as I curled into my makeshift nest. I could feel my eyes flutter as I relaxed into it, and thought about my situation. I mean, it wasn’t all bad. I was able to finally breathe, not being obligated to work all days of the week. My classes were fine, and my body was finally able to take a break from all the stress I had been through the past ten years of my life. In fact, I kind of didn’t know what to do now that I had free time. I had spent the first few weeks catching up on sleep in between my lessons and interviews with medical professionals and the police. But now, it was a bizarre schedule of sleep, self-care, classes, and now a few hours of work. Also, everyone seemed to be overly caring towards me. Both alphas and betas regarded me with kid gloves and concern, which I had never felt in my life. As my body melted into the nest, I started to drift off.
A few hours later I awoke to a knock at my door. I stumbled over to open it, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Bella, one of the young omegas from my classes, was at my door holding out a package.
“What’s this about?” I asked as she beamed at me.
“I hope I didn’t wake you Piper! We just got a delivery for you. I brought it up right away.” I remembered that Bella volunteered at the front desk part-time.
“Oh, okay, thanks.” I held out my hands as she handed the package to me, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Well?” She asked, and I looked at the bubbly woman with confusion. “Is it a gift from an alpha admirer?”
I looked at the label. Some of the young omegas were very interested in my love life as I was somewhat of an anomaly in their world. Most of them waited for a scent match and dated around, being courted until they found a pack that they clicked with. I had been uninterested in any of that so far. I was more preoccupied with how I ended up in this world, much to the chagrin of my doctors and the staff at Omega Social Services. They were pushing me to find a pack as soon as possible, which I had been avoiding. I wasn’t going to pre-select a bunch of men to have sex with me. I wasn’t even sure if I would get this heat that they kept talking about.
“I highly doubt it. Well, let’s find out.” I motioned for the young woman to follow me in as I started opening the box. Inside was a brand new smartphone and a note.
Hope this makes your transition to our world a bit easier! The service is pre-paid a year out.
-Aiden.
A gasp came from the young omega. “I knew it! You have an admirer! He’s courting you!” She bounced up and down with her hands at her mouth as I pulled out the smartphone.
