He had gotten what he wanted, hadn’t he?

Earlier that day River had been contemplating taking out a small loan to afford a perfume of protection. The online sellers didn’t offer a sample, but River had managed to secure one for free.

A cloud of scent that clung to him, all around, and registered in his brain, innately, as alpha. It was unique, too, not just any alpha. There were hints of sage and mint that claimed the scent as Elliott's. That claimed him as Elliott's. The thought brought a flush of heat to his cheeks, chest and belly.

The difference was noticeable immediately in those around him. In the coffee shop he loitered in between lectures, the personal space he was afforded by every non-submissive in the establishment was doubled. Some avoided eye contact; all avoided physical contact like their lives depended on it. If the scent were real, maybe it did. Alphas were naturally the largest people in any room, and had a territorial tendency that sane betas didn't mess with. Not that Elliott would be rushing to defend River’s honour if he smelled another dominant on him. River had the protection of his scent, but it was an empty threat that permeated his pores. That was all he needed - all he had been browsing for: a skin-deep layer of defence.

The dominant beta on the till smiled nervously at him when he tapped his card. River smiled back, tucking a curl behind his ear, and let the people part for him as he approached the end counter to collect his order.

Rosebud tea tucked between his hands, he basked in the peace of a whole table to himself outside the shop. The best spot to enjoy the slow oncoming of spring. The air was briskly cold and energising, and the sun was shining its best through the clouds. There was no season as perfect as spring, not to River, at least.

In the calm of the scene around him, his mind quickly slipped back to him.

Elliott. River didn’t know his family name, although it was rumoured they were rich or royal or both. What reason did he have to do it? He didn’t actually need the money. River didn’t have to be able to identify designer brands specifically to know his clothes were of a much higher quality than his fellow students. Sweaters that felt soft and warming just to look at, crisp shirts underneath that River wondered if a maid pressed for him, and perfectly tailored trousers. Quiet wealth sewn onto a quiet young man.

River had never spoken to him beyond polite small talk. Very brief. Yet, when his throat had been pressed against his, he could feel their heartbeats pulsing against each other. It was the most intimate gesture River had ever received. And he was almost a stranger. Coated in a stranger’s scent, how shameful! He could hear his mother’s horrified voice in his head. It wasn’t his fault, though, Elliott had acted fully of his own choosing. Really, River should be offended. Maybe even report him for touching him inappropriately.

But he had gotten what he wanted, hadn’t he?

He thought of the girls, of the bowling night, and let himself smile. It would be fun to hang out with everyone, and he hadn’t gone to a bowling alley since he was a kid - when whole-class birthday parties were still the norm. And he would be safe. Wrapped in the protective scent of a dominant - an alpha, no less - he didn’t need to be as suspicious despite the sketchy area. He probably would still be… that was just common sense. He nodded at his wobbly reflection in his tea cup. Better safe than sorry.

The sun warmed his cheeks, but the chilly air was quick to remind him that spring wasn’t officially arriving for another fortnight. River pulled his chunky cardigan tighter around him. He was so ready for the flowers to bloom and the sky to clear and-

“River! How are you, darling?”

River snapped his face from being nose-deep in his tea-cup to blinking at a familiar face, fighting to put a name to it.

“Heather!” he recalled, just in the nick of time. Member of the Afternoon Tea Society, of which River was only really an honorary member these days. In first year he had been more heavily involved, now he paid his year’s membership and attended the few events he could fit into his schedule. Heather was vice-president, though, and always trying to bribe River to give the society more of his time.

Heather was already approaching so fast that River didn’t have time to warn her. “Goodness, that’s quite a scent you’re carrying!” she announced loudly, drawing the eyes of all nearby patrons.

It was no longer the sun warming River’s face.

“Keep this seat free for me, I need a mocha before I hear all about this new partner of yours!”

“It’s not-”

She was gone. Disintegrated into the bustle of the coffee shop. River sipped his tea nervously, searching for an easy way to explain his predicament. A pot of petals and buds was all that remained when Heather slid in beside him.

“Tell. Me. Everything,” she demanded.

“It was an accident.”

Heather snorted. “Some alpha accidentally covered you in their scent? River, it’s coming off you in waves.”

“I’m just hot!”

“You’re wearing a summer jumpsuit with a cardigan,” Heather replied, deadpan. “In winter.”

“Spring is on its way!” River argued. He would rather get in a pointless bickering match than try to explain his embarrassing predicament with Elliott.

“I would be out here in a snow suit if it wasn’t so difficult to pee in,” Heather admitted with a shiver. She sipped on her mocha, dramatically warming herself and sighing afterwards. “Back to the most important issue at hand - who is this alpha?”

River shrugged. “Just a guy in one of my classes.”

“And you’re what? Dating?”

“No.”

“Having a fling?”

“No.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“We’re not even friends.”

“Oh my god, did he force himself on you?”

“No!”

Heather dropped back against her seat. “I’m lost.”

“Me too,” River admitted.

He felt the scrutiny pressing in on him as Heather bounced her brows while taking a loud slurp of her drink.

“It was just a misunderstanding, but it will fade soon,” River said as sternly as his voice would allow. Hoping Heather took the hint of finality. “I’m much more interested in what you’ve been up to. I have to get going for my next class in-” he checked his phone, “-fifteen minutes, but fill me in with everything you can until then.”

Heather grinned. “Mission accepted!”

×

Returning to campus, River felt like a stranger. The heavy scent of alpha caused stumbles in passers-by, brought cautious glances from those that didn’t know him, and sly smiles from those that did. He had expected the scent of a dominant to ward people away, not draw their interest inwards. He wasn’t prepared for the attention. He hurried his steps, arriving to his final class of the day flushed and sweating - bringing about a new wave of strength to the scent mark clinging to him.

There was no opportunity to chit-chat, the lecture starting as he dropped his butt into a seat, so those fascinated by his new perfume slipped notes from all directions for the entire duration of the introduction.

Who's the lucky alpha? xoxo JJ

When were you going to tell me you were seeing someone?? - Honeysuckle

Dude, you stink. Love that for you. Catch up over coffee soon? Em x

More and more of the same sentiments. River tucked them into his notes folder and refused to write back. He didn't know how to address it, what the story should be. The truth was too embarrassing. He needed to concentrate, his tutor was definitely saying lots of interesting things, if only he could ignore the eyes on him, the scraps of paper invading his fold-out desk...

The moment they were dismissed, River bolted, trailing scraps in his wake.

Two of the girls were waiting for him outside. The worry scrunching their faces told him that their partners had already given them the forewarning about River’s new odour.

Willow was Ilex’s girlfriend, and a fellow member of the Hedgehog Housing Group that River volunteered with. They did not have any activities that evening. Beside her, Savannah (Rowan’s girlfriend) stood with her hands on her hips. River occasionally helped out with costume and prop making for the Cosplay Society, of which Savannah was a member, but he hadn’t been informed of any projects in the works for him to lend his paintbrush to.

“Hey,” River croaked. He felt like a child, about to be scolded by his mothers. The rest of the class were invading at his back. "Can we talk about this somewhere private?"

"Of course."

They walked in a line to an unlocked study room, keeping watch for following eavesdroppers, and brought the blind down on the door behind them.

“The boys told you what happened, I take it?”

“Oh, River,” Willow gasped. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I told them I was fine. Everything is fine.”

"How can you be?" Savannah asked, her voice soft and her eyes pitiful. "An omega getting scented on by some alpha he barely knows! It's disgraceful! And what could someone in your position do?" She was riling herself up, preaching to River and a sorrowful-looking Willow. "We should be protecting the vulnerable members of our society! I'm so disappointed in the boys-"

“I was asking for it-”

“Don’t you say that!” Savannah was trembling. “It doesn’t matter what you were wearing or how-”

“No, I mean that literally, Savannah.”

Savannah froze, a finger in the air. “What? You asked him to scent mark on you?”

“Not exactly.” The good deed of the boys keeping his perfume browsing to themselves would have to be tossed away, unfortunately. Along with River’s dignity. “We were just joking about those scent perfumes in those weird adverts.” Willow and Savannah pulled faces of disgust and River nodded along with them. “It led to how much the guys would charge for their stink, and I said something about finding someone and getting a good deal.” He sighed. “Elliott gave me what I asked for - he scent marked me for free.”

"Still!" Savannah huffed. "He should have explicitly asked for your consent!"

"Sure, but if the offer was phrased nicely I probably would have taken it, so it's a non-isssue." He wasn't sure that was entirely true, but he also felt like he hadn't had a moment to breathe and process the day's events since the infamous scent marking occurred. Everyone else wanted to dig into his feelings before he could. Even his relaxing tea time had been interrupted.

Maybe in the morning he would be angry at Elliott. Maybe he would feel violated.

For now, he could only focus on bowling and the chance to be a part of the group that was going. It was easier than dissecting power dynamics and his difficult relationship with them as an omega.

"If you change your mind, though, if you decide he didn't give you enough time to consider or enough warning, we'll be right by your side to report him."

"Thank you, I do appreciate it, I just need to settle into my new stink, I think."

The girls laughed awkwardly. They weren't convinced by his assurances, just as their boyfriends hadn't been.

"It's really something, River," Willow said with a head shake. "Alpha scent marking is way more intense than I thought."

Savannah crinkled her face up. "Yeah, it's like your body is telling our noses to fuck off."

They laughed again, the tension finally melting.

"It's going to take some getting used to, but in a week it will have faded," River said, hoping he was right. He didn't actually know much about scent-marking beyond the basics, but Daria had been in dire need of Sky's scent when he went away on a family holiday and her mark from him began to fade. The girls had joked that it was an addiction.

"Fine, but remember, we're always ready to leap into action, unlike those useless boys," Savannah grumbled.

"They were taken by surprise," River offered in their defence. "They're good guys."

"Well, we've told them they need to be much more protective of you in the future," said Willow. River fought off a groan, being babied for being an omega was the last thing he wanted. "Although, Elliott's scent has probably got you covered for the meantime."

"That was a terrible pun and I'm leaving," River teased. He didn't want them to see how desperate he was to get home, to curl up in bed and press his face into his pillows and replace Elliott's scent with his own. He needed a moment of nose normalcy. As extroverted as he was, it had been a strange day, and his social battery had been punctured by Elliott's scent and its effect on everyone in a ten-metre radius.

They walked him out and offered to keep him company all the way home, which he refused with gratitude, and said goodbye.

On the walk out of the centre of town where campus sat, he checked his phone and found he had been added to yet another group chat.

culture of curation project

Every word of the chat name was punctuated by an emoji, and River smiled at the one that must be him: a flower. Sky had to be the cloud, Rowan the tree, and Ilex the wave (he liked to surf on his school breaks, and there were no Christmas wreath emojis). Their group assignment was a project on the culture of curation in their chosen time period, they had chosen their time period... and gotten little else done in class.

Instead of a discussion of their topic and how they were going to divide the work, the chat was filled with apologetic messages - possibly typed under the noses of very angry girlfriends.

River wrote a quick response, reminding them once again that he was fine. He added that they hadn't done anything wrong and that he just needed them to not treat him any differently. He wasn't just talking about the scent, he didn't want them acting like bodyguards because the girls were panicked about an omega getting touched by an alpha.

He closed the chat, turned his music up a little, and hurried home. His housemates called out greetings that he returned but didn't stop to chat. In his room he flung his bag to the floor, locked the door, and collapsed.

Tomorrow, Thursday, he promised herself a mental health day, he needed to hide under his bed for at least twenty-four hours. He began drafting his profuse apology to the fencing club for not being able to help them make up numbers for their friendly competition the next afternoon. River didn't fence, but he also never said no to a friendly favour. Plus, they had promised him that he would be shown how to not injure himself or others beforehand. His message was nine lines long and extremely apologetic, and they would still probably assume he'd chickened out... He frowned at his phone. He really would never let them down if he didn't have a good reason. Maybe just a half day for mental health would be enough?

He would decide tomorrow. One night wasn't going to get them an alternate, he had already left it far too late. The message remained a draft.