Page 8 of Broken Alpha

I continued to walk past his car and headed in the direction of the college before Ryan stopped me, apologizing despite the large grin still on his face. Pulling the first aid kit out of the back of his car, Ryan inspected the bite marks on my arm. They still looked a little angry and tender to the touch, but the swelling had gone down drastically. He pressed around the corners of the marks to ensure there was no fluid buildup before he cleaned the wounds and applied ointment and a bandage.

“Well, you didn’t bond yourself to yourself, so that’s good. It would’ve been the first case ever if that happened, and I could’ve won some award or medal for making the discovery!” He laughed, closing the first aid kit. “It’s not infected, so keep it clean, and it’ll heal up in a few days. It’s clear that your Alpha instincts kicked in, and you were trying to mark someone. It’s like you’re experiencing puberty all over again. You sure you couldn’t scent Sterling?”

“I’m sure. You know other Alphas and Omegas frequent that bar. I couldn’t detect anyone’s pheromones, as if I were a Beta. I’m not sure what’s going on, if I’m honest. Why can I scent one Omega but not another?”

“I wish I had answers for you. Your case is really unusual, and to experience a first rut and a first knotting this late in life isn’t normal.”

Luke

Upon entering my classroom Thursday afternoon, I was confused as my eyes drifted from student to student. Aidyn’s woodsy scent was present, yet he was not. It was mild, as if watered down and stale, faint with an underlying scent of sandalwood and cinnamon wrapped in it, like a holiday spice. Except something seemed off about the scent as well, and I realized it was artificial, something the neutralizers couldn’t filter. They were designed to filter out pheromone scents, not perfumes and cologne, leading me to the conclusion that it belonged to a Beta. Immediately my eyes zeroed in on Erik Harllow. Next to the seat that Aidyn normally occupied was avery exhausted-looking Beta, and I tilted my head in confusion. I watched him open a can of energizer coffee and pour some of it into the large iced coffee cup before he topped it off and took a sip. I couldn’t help the thoughts swirling in my head as my Alpha tried to piece together the puzzle before him. Harllow was exhausted. The last time I saw Aidyn, he was experiencing a heat cycle, and Aidyn’s comment about using a Beta for his last heat came flooding back to me. The idea of him sleeping with Harllow created a low growl in my chest, my teeth grinding together as I fought to regain control.

During my lecture, I prayed that Aidyn would walk in late like he had the first time I saw him. When he didn’t, my Alpha grew agitated, and I could feel him begin to pace in my head like he had the night I left Aidyn in the nurse’s office. I began to feel anxious and restless again, which channeled into anger when Harllow fell asleep toward the end of my class. The hustle and bustle of the students around him as they packed up their things to leave startled him awake, and he grumbled to himself while he followed suit. With the classroom mostly empty, the scent of Aidyn was more obvious, and I needed to find out if he was fucking my Omega or not.

“Mr. Harllow, a moment, please.”

Harllow looked up before nodding, stuffing his laptop’s power cord into his backpack, and making his way toward me. The closer he got, the stronger the woodsy scent was, mixing with the artificial scent of sandalwood and cinnamon. I fought the growl that threatened to escape from my throat; its vibration rattled in my chest, and from the shocked look on Hallows' face, I could tell he heard it.

“Yes, sir?”

“I’m just curious as to why you’re sleeping in my classroom. If you’re not feeling well, you should’ve stayed home.”

“I’m sorry, sir.” Harllow blushed, the red tinge to his face clashing horribly with his auburn hair. “My roommate is sick, and I stayed up most of the night trying to care for him. We share the same class, and I knew he would be furious if I didn’t try to take notes.”

“Your roommate?” I tilted my head. Maybe they weren’t lovers. He just smelled like Aidyn through association.

“Aidyn Keller. He….got sick Tuesday, and I’ve been trying to care for him.”

“By fucking him?” I snap, the words leaving me before I can stop them.Fuck! Get a hold of yourself, Ellis!

“Excuse me?” Harllow narrowed his eyes at me, his face void of any expression. His body went rigid, and I knew that was a stance meant to fight off anyone who dared to endanger someone he wanted to protect.

“Mr. Keller went into heat in my office on Tuesday afternoon. You reek of an Omega in heat under that artificial scent you wear. Are you fucking him and claiming that you’re caring for him?”

“How I take care of my friend is no concern of yours,MisterEllis.”

Venom laced his use of my honorific, reminding me of my place, and I fought every cell in my body not to answer the challenge. I knew I had overstepped. I would be really lucky right now if he didn’t march over to the dean and report me. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I knew now was the time to keep my mouth shut before I got myself into more trouble. He hadn’t confirmed anything, but he was right. I had no claim to Aidyn. I stared at Harllow for a moment before I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and headed toward the classroom door.

“How can you scent him? None of the other Alphas seemed to notice; the government requires neutralizers to filter out pheromones in buildings.”

I turned to look at Harllow. He was still angry, fury etched on his face, but curiosity was in his eyes.

“Why sandalwood and cinnamon?”

“Aidyn likes it. Said his ideal Alpha would smell like autumn.”

Ah. Now I got it. Harllow was a Beta in love with an Omega who wasn’t the least bit interested in him, but he was still willing to try. He changed his scent to something he thought would appeal to the person he loved, and in the end, it did nothing to change his circumstances.

“How is Mr. Keller?”

“Shit. He’s in pain, and he won’t let me help him. He hasn’t had anything to eat or drink since we got home after I picked him up from the nurse’s office two days ago. At first, when he was still coherent enough, we tried his emergency suppressants, but they weren’t working. If this goes on for another day without relief, I’m going to call the Omega clinic.”

“Don’t,” I barked, flinching at the hardness of my tone. Omega clinics were the worst places for Omegas in heat. They could never figure out a reliable method of helping out an Omega who truly needed help. The most common method was putting them in a room with an Alpha with an implant that halted sperm production. The government had deemed this method as medically necessary for Omegas in heat, using Alphas, who have been pre-screened for cleanliness and disease-free, but most Omegas come out of their heat feeling violated. Legal rape for the greater good, in a nutshell. The alternative was being in a medically induced coma until it passes, but this also has its own drawbacks, and Omegas hate this option too; this is why they either find suppressants that work or have a pack. So, where did Aidyn fit in all of this? University policy stated that he had to be on suppressants, and every semester he has to present proof, like other Omegas.

I sat my bag down by the door, zipping off my leather jacket and handing it to Harllow. I also grabbed a business card from my pocket and used a whiteboard marker to write my personal cell number on the back of it. “I was the only Alpha around when he went into heat. I’m the one who took him to the nurse's office, and they wouldn’t let me stay with him. See if the jacket helps calm the worst of his symptoms. If he doesn’t improve by Saturday morning, call me. But there is no way in fuck he’s going to one of those clinics.”

Aidyn

Idon’t remember much of what went on during the past week. Despite being on suppressants, I still went into heat because, naturally, the medication didn’t do its fucking job. Vaguely, I remembered an Alpha being nearby and begging for him like a pathetic animal, begging him to knot me and end my suffering. At some point, Erik brought me home and set me up in my room, but by then, the agony of my heat was almost unbearable, and I curled in on myself. He had tried to help me, but I pushed him away, my Omega crying out for the Alpha from earlier, which was probably a fevered illusion. There was a moment when suddenly the pain became tolerable, and I was coherent enoughto drink water, but I still couldn’t stand Erik anywhere near me. I knew it was hurting him. He had helped me in the past, but I couldn’t accept him.Where was my Alpha? Why wasn’t he here to take care of me? I need him. Go find him!Erik only met my questions with silence.

---