Micah

Giving Alistair my phone number had to be on the top ten worst mistakes list. What was I even thinking? It seemed like the man either had a surplus of friends. Or a surplus of phones. Either one. Because as soon as he’d text me from one number. I’d block him, and then it would be on to the next one.

I’d have to give him one thing and one thing only. The man was persistent on what he wanted.

The messages started with a quick “Hey, it’s Alistair.” Then as I continued to block his number, the next day it was. “Did you block me on purpose?” So on and so forth. Then it seemed like he would start bothering me at not just one but both of my jobs, which turned out to be a nuisance at the bar because he would drive my potential other customers away. Then that’s when it became a problem for me because I no longer had that extra flow of cash coming in to help me afford to live.

With rent coming up, I was getting desperate. To the point where I damn near was half tempted to ask an alpha, I had previously fucked if they’d like another lay just to make ends meet.

Like fuck, didn’t Alistair have work?

Somehow, when I walked into both jobs today, he hadn’t shown up. I didn’t realize I had been looking for the alpha until I left the bar after my shift. I felt like my senses were heightened to the alpha because I was always prepared to attempt to worm my way from the alpha. It was more tiring anticipating him than it was trying to push him away.

I lugged my backpack over my shoulder, braving my walk back home for the night. My ears peaked at every sound. From clattering in the alleyways to the sounds of others' voices. I swallowed and quickened my pace. I had a feeling in my gut that wouldn’t go away.

Usually, when I had those feelings, nothing good came from them.

When I turned down my street, three alphas walked out of the alleyway in front of me. I bowed my head, trying to avoid the trio and walk around them. I was almost past them when one of the burly men grabbed onto my shirt, pulling me back to them.

“Where do you think you’re going, omega?” The man's voice was gruff.

I knew better than to tell him anything because saying anything was even more of a risk than not at all.

“Hey, you deaf? He asked you a question.” One of the other two alpha’s slurred. I kept my eyes averted to the ground to avoid theirs. I didn’t want to cause trouble, nor did I want to be in it either.

When I didn’t respond, the alpha, who hadn’t talked yet, smacked the side of my head. Attempting to get a reaction out of me. “He asked you a question. Stop playin’ stupid.” He grabbed my face, forcing me to look him in the face.

I let out a whimper, “Home.” My voice was shaky.

The man that had a hold of my shirt pushed me up against the building closest to us. He pushed my face sideways and moved his hand down to my ass. “How about you give us an ‘I’m sorry’ gift for bumping into us?” The alpha pushed himself up against my backside. The other two alphas stood at my sides.

I could feel his hard-on against my ass. I furrowed my brows, trying not to poke the bear. “Let the boy go.” A deep alpha’s voice appeared.

Alistair.

“What are you gonna do if I don’t?” The man asked.

I could hear the clicking sound, and it didn’t take a genius to know that it was a gun. “You tell me?” I still couldn’t move my head because he still had a strong grip on me.

“You wouldn’t shoot us.” The man replied.

“Do you wanna test it? I just had it cleaned.” Alistair responded.

The alpha let go of me, and he mumbled at the other two to leave me be. Saying a few more profanities to Alistair as he brushed past him. I looked over to the alpha, who still had the gun in his hand, and when he realized the group of them wasn’t going to come back, he tucked the piece back into the back of his pants.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding, and I melted into a puddle on the ground below me. Out of all of the things I’d done, the times I had been in danger, this time had been so close.

“Are you okay?” Alistair’s voice sounded, but I couldn’t comprehend the words. My breathing picked up.

“No.” I managed to gasp out.

“Here, let me help you.” Alistair pulled me up to my feet. “I’m here.” He leaned me up against the wall. His yellow eyes met mine. “What can you see?” He asked.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What?”

“Let me know one thing you can see.” He replied. My brain began to think of a response. I didn’t understand what he meant.

“Your eyes,” I replied, keeping my eyes on his.

“Good.” He rubbed my shoulders.

“Now, how about something you smell?” Alistair asked.

My brain reeled for a moment. I took in a deep breath. Searching for just one smell. “I can smell garbage.”

Alistair chuckled, “You’re not wrong.” He moved one of his hands to my hair. “Now, how about something you feel?”

“I feel…” I closed my eyes. “I feel your hand in my hair.”

“Good boy,” Alistair responded. “Now, say random numbers out loud and keep repeating the same numbers.”

I did as the alpha commanded, reciting the same numbers in a random order over and over again until I realized I had calmed down.

“Are you okay?” He asked again, and I relaxed in his touch. In a way showing the alpha that I now trusted him.

I nodded my head at his question.

“Do you want me to take you home?” Alistair cupped my face in his hand. His yellow eyes were almost hypnotizing, calming, and trusting.

“Please,” I whispered, still shaken about what had just happened.

What if Alistair hadn’t shown? What would have happened to me?

“Your scent is a bit strong.” Alistair wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “You about to go into heat or somethin’?” He tried small talk to take my focus from what just happened.

But it was a failed attempt. I hadn’t realized that they would be able to smell me… But it brought my memory back to the failing BetaT. I knew I had a few days until my quarterly heat. I would still be able to work during my heats because the medicine used to nullify all effects of my heat, aside from the mild discomfort I’d have during my heats.

“Maybe.” I managed to get out.

“Are you not on suppressants or something? Aren’t omegas required to take those?” He cocked his head to the side, looking at me.

“Too much money,” I replied through clenched teeth.

“Do you need help getting some?” He hummed. His question seemed genuine, and from what he had done for him back there. I guess I could trust him just a little now.

“I don’t think it’ll help this heat,” I said through clenched teeth. “Too much BetaT.”

“Wait, isn’t BetaT bad for omega’s, well, unless they wanted to transition into a beta.” Alistair shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that. Are you trans?”

“No, I just don’t make enough.” I bit down on my bottom lip. “I know the repercussions. I planned on waiting until my next heat to take off work and ride it out to see if my body would reset so I could take the medicine again.”

“Do you want–” He paused. “Do you want help to sate the heat this time around?”

“I can take care of it myself.” I snapped.

“Oh,” Alistair replied, stopping. “Well, here’s your building.” He unwrapped his arm from my shoulders, pointing at the building.

“Thank you.” I closed my eyes. “I appreciate what you did for me tonight.”

“It was no problem.” He gave me a nice smile. It wasn’t the usual smirk he wore. It almost looked genuine. Just the look of him woke something inside of me that almost felt animalistic. I could feel slick run down my ass cheeks just looking at the man. One thing I’d never lie to myself about Alistair was that he was one hell of an attractive alpha. “Y’know, I wouldn’t mind walking you home, hell, even driving you home after work if you wanted. But, y’know, you have a knack for blocking my numbers.”

Ah, and then there he went, ruining the moment where I probably would have succumbed and asked him to join me in my shit shack of an apartment. “I’ve been doing this for years.” I rolled my eyes. “This is the first and only incident I’ve ever had in regards to something like this.” I walked up the stairs to my apartment building.

“You’re still an omega.” He replied firmly. “Whether you like it or not, you’ll always need some type of protection for yourself.”

“I’m not dainty or anything.” I turned toward him, crossing my arms.

“I didn’t say you were.” He quipped. “I’m just saying, biologically, you’re smaller and weaker than a hungry alpha. Please take care of yourself, little mouse.”

“Well, thank you for your concern, but I’ll be okay.” I turned the knob to the door and slipped inside the building, not letting Alistair say anything more.