Page 7 of Broken Alpha

Ryan had a really fucking nasty habit of trying to set me up with people he thought I’d be interested in. He hadn’t done it in a few months, so I figured he’d given up. Apparently he hadn’t.

“I’m Sterling,” his voice taking on a sultry tone before nodding to the bartender when he brought our drinks.

“I don’t care.”

“Ryan already told me your name, so there is no need to tell me yours.”

“How nice of Ryan to tell you so much about me, yet I know nothing about you.” I wasn’t trying to be rude; Sterling did nothing wrong, but I was annoyed the more he opened his mouth. Ryan had lied to set me up, and I was going to kill him.

Sterling chuckled, unaffected by my annoyed behavior, and turned more towards me, plucking the bar menu from its stand between us and glancing over it. “Ryan works with my sister at the clinic. I mentioned I had a free night since my buddies canceled on me, and he suggested I come here instead. He said anything I purchase is on him, so why don’t we both go nuts?”

While the idea of draining Ryan’s wallet on a blind date sounded enticing, doing so with Sterling next to me made it less so. There wasn’t anything wrong with Sterling, but he wasn’t Aidyn, and I had zero interest in letting Sterling believe that this could be something more. If I was going to have a third beer, I should probably put something into my system, but I couldn’t bring myself to. The food here honestly wasn’t bad, but it was limited since this was a basic bar. Mainly fried foods and wings that pair nicely with a beer of your choosing. I planned to call Ryan once I left here, intending to rip him a new asshole. Whenthe hostess at the bar took Sterling’s order, he ordered a basket of pretzel bites and some onion rings, but I waved her off when she glanced at me.

“Look,” I finally said. “I’m sure you’re a really nice guy, but I’m simply not interested. Rack up the highest bill you can on Ryan’s tab and enjoy your night.”

Standing up, I grabbed my jacket from the back of the seat and pulled it on. Turning toward the exit, I felt Sterling reach out to stop me. Fighting not to recoil at his touch, I glanced at him, unable to make out the expression on his face, but his eyes moved to the seat I just vacated.

“What happened to your arm?” he asked, glancing at my injured arm.

“Nothing that won’t heal in a few days. Have a good night.”

I put cash on the counter for my two beers and left the bar. By the time I had returned to my car, I had tried to contact Ryan twice. When he didn’t pick up the first time, I punched in the number again but only received silence. I sighed and put my forehead on the steering wheel. Ryan meant well; I knew he did, but I couldn’t date someone I didn’t want. What bothered me the most, at that moment, however, was that I couldn’t tell what Sterling’s designation was. Even with suppressants, Omega’s were said to have a chemical scent mixed with hints of their pheromonal scent, yet I could detect nothing from him except leather from his motorcycle gear. So why could I scent only Aidyn Keller? What made him so fucking special that he could consume my very being?

“So you really couldn’t tell that he was an Omega, huh?” Ryan asked, stabbing a grape with his fork at breakfast the next day.

“No. And stop setting me up with people. I’m not interested!” I said through gritted teeth, glaring at Ryan as I took a sip of coffee, wincing at the mediocre taste. I woke this morning feeling uneasy and a tad nauseous, despite not getting drunk last night, and just couldn’t bring myself to stomach anything other than the liquid of the gods. Even if it was burnt.

“To be honest, I just thought you needed to get laid. Sterling is kind of a slut, his words, not mine. I don’t think he actually does relationships, he prefers no-strings-attached sex.”

“I’m also not looking to get laid, nor do I need your help to do it!” I growled low under my breath, startling an Omega nearby who glanced our way.

Ryan merely shrugged and took a bite of his toast. I woke this morning still on edge and rather embarrassed with myself and at who I was becoming. I had been unable to sleep and found that pulling my sweater out of its Ziploc helped. I had fallen asleep with it clutched close to my chest, my nose buried in its fabric, the scent of woods a sweet lullaby to my jumbled mind. I was grateful that I hadn’t woken up in a rut, but I was still rather embarrassed by how clingy my Alpha was to an Omega he had zero chance with. Maybe Ryan was right, not that I would ever tell him that. Maybe I did need to sleep with someone, but the only thing I could think of at the bar last night was how badly I wished the person beside me was Aidyn.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened to your arm?” Ryan asked, snacking on the last of his bacon.

“Not in the middle of a diner during morning rush hour, no.” I grumbled.

“Now I’m even more curious.”

Ryan gestured to our waiter, and we paid our bills as we exited the diner. Overnight, clouds and rain brought a chilly edge to thewind and dampness to the earth around us, settling in my bones. I zipped up my leather jacket and waited for Ryan outside, my head tilted to the sky. With a jingle of the diner bell, Ryan came out with a furious expression on his face.

“How the fuck did Sterling manage to spend $156 at a fucking bar that we pay $50 tops?! What the fuck did he order???”

My laughter came deep in my chest and bubbled to the surface while we walked to his car. The diner was less than a block away from the college, so I had just parked my car there and walked over to meet him. It was Wednesday, which meant I only held office hours for a little bit to be available to my students should they need it. It’s also the time I take to grade papers, put together lectures, and construct the quizzes and tests for the term. It also meant that I didn’t get to see Aidyn today, and it made my Alpha antsy.

“Arm. Do I need to treat it?” Ryan finally asked; this time, his expression was serious.

“It wouldn’t hurt for you to look at it, but honestly, it’s not anything major.” I took a deep breath before avoiding his gaze. “I…I think I went into a rut yesterday.”

“You think? Either you did or you didn’t, dude. You would know if you did. Wait…is this your first rut?”

“Yes,” I growled, feeling heat rise into my face from embarrassment. “It was my first one, and apparently, I bit myself in the process while I knotted a cock sleeve.”

Ryan stared at me, mouth open in surprise. His eyes were large as they blinked at me before he erupted into a fit of laughter, leaning against his car to hold himself up. I just glared at him, annoyance evident, until he finally got a hold of himself. His arms were wrapped around his stomach, and he panted as he looked at me before erupting into laughter again.

“Careful you don’t impregnate your cock sleeve. Your Omega would be so jealous!” Ryan spat out, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“And we’re done here.”

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