Micah

Nothing was more dreadful than the alarm clock going off just a few hours after falling asleep. I quickly dressed in my uniform, just a pair of skinny black jeans and a forest green button-down shirt. I skipped brushing my teeth because I had hit the snooze button too many times, and it would have been the choice of going to the bathroom or brushing my teeth. I quickly threw on my coat and boots, hoping I had grabbed everything I would need for my morning shift. I grabbed my bag that held my apron, name tag, and my bow tie that hung on the door handle. 

I quickly exited my apartment, locked the door, and walked outside. This time of the morning was typically quiet, with all of the troublemakers leaving the streets to the gutters where they came from and the people who worked regular daylight hours still resting in their beds. Of course, a few stragglers were rising before the sun just as I was to work a hard day at a blue-collar job that didn’t pay shit just to survive.  

The walk to work was a typical one, colder than fuck, I was tired as fuck, and already done as fuck with the day. When I got to the cafe, I opened the back door from the alleyway for employees only. The fresh smell of espresso filled the air, calming me. 

“You’re late, Micah!” My boss Sherry– an alpha– yelled behind the counter. 

“You should be more worried if I’m on time at this point, Sher. So what do you need me to do today?” I mumbled, shuffling behind the counter and into the kitchen area. 

“Well, you need to get your cute ass into your uniform. Are you wearing the same clothes as yesterday? How many days has it been that you’ve been wearing that shirt? 3 or 4 days now? You know hygiene is something you’re supposed to keep up with, right?” She raised one of her perfectly groomed brows at me. 

“I’m like Arthur from that PBS show, and I never change my clothes; I have like 3 of these shirts because it suits my skin tone. So, in short, fuck off, Sher.” I glared up at her. 

She was a tall goddess of a woman, and if I were straight, I would be trying to fuck her daily. Her hair was styled into a short pixie cut, and her black hair faded into blue tips. Her face had high cheekbones, a prominent nose, and thin cupid bow lips. She was stunning. 

“Well, you’re gonna need to change it up, a little princess. Our regulars are going to think you’re a dirty omega.” 

“For all our customers know, I’m a beta, and I don’t smell like an omega.” I shrugged, plopping my bag down, pulling my apron out of the bag, putting it on. I laced it up in front of me, tying it together. “Can you help me with my bowtie?” 

“Look, kid, the BetaT isn’t working as it used to a couple of years ago. I can tell you’re an omega now lately. Your scent is becoming more potent. To be honest, you might need to try getting on one of those suppressants.” Sherry crossed her arms and pursed her lips. I rolled my eyes, putting the bowtie around my neck, coming over to her. “You remember what I told you when you first started, right kid?”

“How am I a kid to you? I’m only two years younger than you!” I could feel my face becoming red. 

“No diverting this topic, Micah. You know what I told you, the moment you become a liability to me is the last moment you’ll be employed with me. Get on suppressants.” She said in a final tone. 

“I can’t afford them, not with the shitty healthcare the bar provides. You know I’ve been barely scathing by getting the BetaT injections.” I frowned, biting down on my cheeks to stop myself from crying. 

“I can’t take the risk, kid. You heard what happened at the valley view mall a while back, right? One of their Omegan employees fell into heat, and Alpha’s in the shops nearby came into the place and tore it up. Nothing was salvageable, and the omega was hospitalized. I can’t risk that, Micah. I’m sorry. This cafe is all I have. My parents thought this was a fever dream of mine. I just wanna prove to them that I can run a successful business.” I nod my head, no longer wanting to talk about this topic. 

If I thought too hard about it, I would crumble from the inside out. I would just have to find another way… If I was having this conversation with Sherry, I dreaded talking to Xari (pronounced zar-e) at the bar about this conversation. He was also unequivocal when he was hiring me. The first time I got touched at his bar inappropriately, I would be let go. I knew he didn’t mean it out of malice; it was more to stop him from killing a customer. Over the years, I had gotten close with Xari and Sherry as my bosses. They considered me as their little kid brother in their own way. Sherry was more of the sister who liked talking about my conquests, and Xari cared more about my living situations, safety, and well-being. 

I needed to find some way to get ahold of those suppressants for cheap, and I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask Bryce to see if he had some since he was the one to get me the BetaT for cheap. 

I swallowed back the tears that had built up, “I understand.” 

“Alright, kid,” She walked over to me, towering over me with her tall, lean stature of 6’, and she placed her hand on my shoulder and then started to help me tie up my bowtie. “Today, you’re working the front counter. I don’t think I can handle another day of taking customers' orders. I about flipped my shit yesterday when that bitch of a beta lady came in and kept demanding a refund for her muffin that she ‘didn’t like’ but ate the whole thing.” Sherry rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, I don’t understand people and their reasoning for bullshit.”

“You’re the one who opened the cafe, Sher… You had to know there would be ignorant customers.” I blinked. 

“I don’t need your smart mouth this early in the morning. So I’m assuming the dick you got last night was terrible with the sour mood you’re in?” 

“How am I in a sour mood? I’m always a fucking cup of sunshine at the asscrack of dawn when I just got home a few hours ago….” I mumbled, rolling my eyes. “Yes, it was terrible,” I answered. “He only lasted a few minutes, and then he mentioned his wife and newborn.”

“Vile.” Her face scrunched up as she tightened the tie. 

“Agreed.” I nod. We started preparing the sandwiches we would typically heat up for customers. “I’d prefer not to know any of that shit at all. I never get why Alpha’s cheat on their wives after carrying their spawn.”

“Some of us Alpha’s don’t like to be told six-plus weeks of no sex. I am not condoning it, just telling you the perspective from an Alpha.” She sliced open the croissants. “If anything, women and omega’s need more time to heal, but men and some Alphan women don’t like to hear that. Sometimes they just need to burn off some pent-up steam.” 

“If I end up having kids, and my Alpha cheats on me like that, I’m taking the kid and leaving that son of a bitch behind.” I furrowed my brows. “What’s the point of being mated with someone who treats you like shit?”

“Well, you know the risks of removing the mark.” Sherry raised one of her neatly groomed brows. 

“I’ve heard of cases where Omega’s survive  the removal.” I pursed my lips. 

“They put a hot casting iron against the Omega’s neck. Even if you passed out from the pain, the risk of infection, or even major blood vessels breaking open, might kill you.” She frowned. 

“It’ll be better to be single for the rest of my life. Unless I manage to snag a rich Alpha that can sweep me off my feet.” I chuckled at the unrealistic dream, Sherry joining my laughter. 

– – –

A few hours into my shift, the cafe was busy with a line out of the door with customers waiting for their morning cup o’ joe to get their blood running to their regular 9-5. The other part-timers were making coffee while Sherry helped expedite the rest of the food and goods. 

I gripped onto the register, staring at the customer who was still looking at the menu, trying to figure out what they wanted. I could tell the customers behind them were getting antsy waiting on the beta to order their food. 

“Would you like to try a mocha? They’re delicious, and they have espresso, chocolate syrup, and your choice of milk?” I asked, trying to speed up the decision-making. 

“Hmm, I don’t know if I’d like that… What flavors of Lattes do you have?” He asked, without glancing at me, still staring up at the menu. 

“We have vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, hazelnut–” I started to run off the list of flavors. I could tell the Alpha behind him was about to beat him up from how his face turned red. 

“Do you like hazelnut? I’ve never had hazelnut before?” 

“It’s sweet, and I typically recommend getting less syrup because of that. Maybe a splash of vanilla in there to balance it out.” I tapped my index fingers on both sides of the screen. “Do you wanna try that?” I asked. 

“Sure, I’ll have one of those. Make it a medium.” I nodded, tapping the touch screen, adding the order in. 

I recited the order total, and he handed me his card for me to swipe. After the Beta was taken care of, the next customer, an Alpha, was still flustered from the man in front of him. 

“Large black coffee with espresso.” I nodded, typing in the order, repeatedly continuing with the same thing for a couple more hours. 

Until. 

A tall figure that reminded me of the Alpha I had run into just hours before stood in front of me. He had bags in his deep amber eyes, almost scarlet in the proper lighting. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” He smirked, “a little mouse. Fancy seeing you again.” 

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Hello, how can I help you today? Can I interest you in a mocha?” I asked in my most up-to-par customer service voice instead of asking him to shut the fuck up. I would have said it kindly, but I knew Sherry would write me up again. 

“Hmm,” He raised a brow. The smirk didn’t leave his face. “Do you remember me, mouse?” 

“Sir, just order or leave.” I crossed my arms, pursing my lips. 

“Oh, the cold shoulder.” He furrowed his brows, a frown settling on his features. 

“There is a line. Please just order your coffee and continue with the day. Just like everyone else.” I respond. 

“Fine then, I’d like five large coffees. Extra cream and sugar on the side.” The handsome man held out his card for me to take. I grabbed it out of his hand, our fingers brushing ever so slightly. I bit my lip, keeping my composure. 

When I handed him his card back, Sherry was already handing him a drink carrier with the cups of coffee and a small paper bag filled with creamer and sugar. “Can I at least get your name, mouse?” His eyes met mine. 

“Noneofya, as in none of your business. Have a nice day.” I smartly replied, giving him my fakest smile. 

“Micah!” Sherry snapped at me, putting a firm hand on my shoulder. “Alistair, thank you so much. He’s usually not like this.”

“I think it would add to the zest of this place. I might be stopping here a bit often because of him. It was nice seeing you, Sher. I bet my associates will love the coffee.” He raised the tray full of coffee. “Have a good one,” His eyes shifted to me, “you too, Micah.”