“Can you move aside?” an older man said as he rolled his personal transport onto the elevator.
He should be renting a garage space in the central transport floor, but he probably could not afford it.
Cait moved to the side, ‘He could have said ‘please’ or something.’ Her brows furrowed as the man pulled it in, grunting.
She would not be the one receiving ire from the rest of the passengers when it became crowded.
“Yeah, no problem.” Cait said as she palmed her vibro-blade in her pocket.
There were only the two of them in the large elevator cabin.
Like more people would stop an assault.
She reflexively chose a spot near the panel.
It was loud, but infinitely better than missing a train.
The elevator creaked every so often as it switched tracks as it climbed from the bottom of the Burrows up to the level 5.
That was where she would catch the train.
The large space slowly filled as it climbed and pressurized the cabin of the large space for the occupants.
Her ears popped as they cleared another kilometer on their journey upwards.
“There’s been a lot more crime in the past few months. Buddy got robbed by a gang of men..” a woman chattered to another.
“They demanded protection money, some gang from the mainland.”
“Shit, it has been peaceful for years. Did the investigator say anything?” the other older lady said, she was about Maria’s age.
“No, they lost track of them after they entered a wall section.” the other replied.
“They are probably homeless or criminals then. My daughter is thinking about moving home. Looks like I will have to holo her about me moving instead. I cannot afford protection fees on my wages.”
“Shame. It used to be so nice here.” the other old woman said.
Cait’s ears adjusted as the sounds of chatter inside wavered in her ear.
Her dizziness made it seem surreal.
The luminescent sparkles flickered and danced in her eyes.
A side effect of the herbal medicine she took, wearing off.
She bit her lip nervously and reminded herself that they were not real.
‘It sounds like there are Purifiers in this sector.
How wonderful.
Dad is having his rag tag gang check in on me?
He seemed so pissed off, that old softie.’ Cait thought.
She did not know how to think about it, perhaps this was a new part of the gang.
Either way it was a shame, she was trying to get out from the tunnels and her father hated the domes because of the omegans.
This was her freedom, it was cheaper than the old safe neighbourhood.
Moving from Breakwater under Alba, to just past the Channel line was cheaper than commuting from there and paying rent.
The food prices were cheaper as well.
The line always ran on time and waited.
Plus there were more domes on the continent.
Which they could visit when they finally got through this.
‘I need a vacation or some time off.
I’ll go and see Dad, wherever he is and tell him straight to his face that I won’t associate with the gang.
It’ll be rough, he already hates Henry.’ Cait thought.
‘I cannot live in poverty anymore.
He’ll beat me and call me a sellout.
But I can’t die down here like Mom.
Bitter.
Loathing the mouths I have to break my back to feed.’
She was worn down.
She did not want to live like others or her mother, and work until it killed her.Someday, she would live up there in the sun, in a dome house or apartment.
She promised herself when she started taking the accounting courses and was burning herself out that she would end up there.
Instead of vacationing up there once every couple of years.
They tried to make the Traverse livable.
But that is it.
A coat of paint, refurbishments, decorations for made up celebrations.
The artificial lights provided what the sun did, you could get a tan if you were lucky to spend time on a roof top deck.
There was no variety in the weather presets.
The plants and water features were nice, but there weren’t any trees or animals.
There were some fish.
Crucian carp and bass.
The Burrows where they had moved were quite nice.
They were further down in the tunnel, but it was not a big deal.
The tidal generators kept the power running consistently and kept the water out.
But it was not the same as the dome where if you lived near the outskirts you could hear actual rain.
Maria’s grandparents lived in Paris and she described it sounding like a drum, and sometimes there were flashes of light and the sky roared.
“Level 5, Central. Please disembark carefully.” the AI voice on the elevator called out repeatedly.
She exited the elevator and followed the subterranean pathway to the train following the crowd.
Some like her were going for work, some for entertainment.
She followed the others in suits to the station.
The end of the quarter meant more overtime.
This meant more money.
Double wages, plus a bonus for every sector ledger, and bounty on irregularities.
The ‘irregularities’ were something Cait had started picking up since she started her work on the books this month.
She worked in fabrication, she had not yet gotten her hands on the Breakwater textile plant’s ledgers, but if it was anything like the other plants, they were misreporting numbers.
Her paystubs on her Comms were proof.
She was anticipating payouts which would resolve a lot of the stress they were under.
But not only that, but the possibility for back pay.
Money brought peace of mind afterall, but not happiness.
Happiness was fleeting, and not for everyone.
The doors to the cabin closed with a hiss as it started beeping in countdown.
She looked around and found an empty seat.
A relief, the foot and arm clamps were often filthy.
She stowed her bags quickly and sat just as the final warning beep pulsed, the walkways and sound barriers for the tunnel flew by.
She closed her eyes; the inertia briefly lobbed her head side to side.
Minutes went by like seconds as she moved the melting icepack around her neck to cool herself down.
Beep Beep
Her alert went off on her Comms.
Her eyes opened, adjusting to the light as her thumb slid across the biometric pad opening up the visual interface.
Henry> 6:34 pm: I cannot deal with this anymore…
Cait’s eyes widened, her heart pounded.
She drew in a shaky breath.
‘Deal with what?
What is he pulling now?
He was so dramatic.
He threw his keys at me a week ago during the last fight, but were we good when I left?’ Cait’s mind went into overdrive as she typed a response.
Cait’s brows furrowed, her hands trembled as she opened her phone with its biometric lock.
She paused the music that was transmitting to her implant.
Her heart throbbed as she typed.
Cait> 6:37 pm: What do you mean?
Deal with what?
Henry> 6:39 pm: This.
Us.
I cannot do it.
I am moving out.
We are over.
‘You motherfucking coward, you beg to move to a one-bedroom and then you bail on me?’ Cait thought, her hands shook as she reigned herself in; these messages could be used against her in court.
She needed to be civil just in case Henry decided to betray her in court.
Cait> 6:40 pm: What?
Why are you doing this now?
Henry> 6:41 pm: I thought it over.
I can’t picture myself being with you….through all that.
Especially if you are going to die.
I get pissed off when you don’t go to work.
How am I going to be there for you?
‘Son of bitch.
I supported him when he broke his leg and could not work, and he won’t be there for me?’ she thought.
Cait panicked.
‘He is going to make me homeless.
I will have to start over again.
Shit!’ Cait thought.
Cait> 6:42 pm: But we just moved, I cannot swing that place on my own.
Henry> 6:43 pm: You will void the lease; we both will.
We will both take the hit on our credit for it.
We’re both young.
Cait> 6:44pm: You know it will hit me harder, having it on my record.
You know it is not as simple as that, what changed from barely two months ago, from now?
You knew I was sick.
Henry> 6:46pm: We fight a lot, and I am sick of being the villain for stating the obvious.
None of us can afford this.
When you die, you’d leave me worse off.
Don’t make this harder on me.
“Harder on you?” Cait bit her lip as she fought back the tears.
She failed.
A sob ripped out of her mouth.
Heads briefly turned towards her emotion display, however most peoples hearts were numbed to suffering.
‘Get it together, Cait.’ She encouraged herself.
She needed to be at her best.
‘You are alone now.’ People might still be in the office.
People from the department and other departments might still be there, since the CEO and his assistant had chosen the Geneva branch to work from.
It was her first time being in the same building, let alone the same sector as an omega, let alone an Alpha.
She could tell that the office had put extra care, even the air smelled better in the office.
Less sour, and more sweet than the Traverse.
Everyone wanted to catch management’s eyes and get a promotion.
She just wanted to earn more money.
She did not come from an affluent surface family, you could tell by her clothes.
She had a few pieces sewn by herself that were passable, but there were no tags.
She wanted to take her family out of the tunnel and the people down there.
The carriage of the train illuminated the generated voice calling out the stop.
Cait looked at her phone screen.
She switched chats.
Maybe he’d reply, maybe not.
Cait> 6:47 pm: Dad, Henry left me.
I have not been feeling well.
I’m not going to be able to afford this new place.
Can you send credits?
He left me with 300CR.
Tears welled in her eyes.
As people disembarked the carriage and then travelers on their way to jobs boarded.
The door whooshed shut as she pinched herself hard to deal with the emotional pain.
The train moved into motion.
She wiped her tears, the sleeve shirt of her was already wet with her brow sweat.
The chatter among the passengers dulled her senses, and the murmuring faded as she felt the pain of the cramps hit her, the sound of chatter was overtaken by a shrill screech.
Her face flushed as her body heated up with the strange fever.
Daddy> 7:00 pm: I am between pay cheques now.
I am sorry.
Maybe at the end of the month?
Cait sighed.
This was her life in a nutshell, just bad luck.
The train called out her stop.
It was time to go into the company; she did not have a major role there; she was a number shuffler.
Cait> 7:03pm: Maria, you warned me he was a creep.
We broke up.
Can I come home if I can’t make it?
Cait tapped her Comms screen off and put it back on her wrist.She did not expect Maria to respond immediately.
She checked her comms once a day, maybe more if she went shopping.
She filed behind the other staff who worked in the vicinity.
She was knocked by another commuter.
Her legs buckled and she caught herself on a planter.
“Walk faster, bitch.” the man said as he rushed past her.
“Can’t you see she’s sick, you asshole!” a woman yelled.
She helped her with her bags.
“Jeez, you should probably go home and get some sleep. You look like you got that bad bug that’s going around.” The woman parted from her like she was toxic.
Cait smiled and shook her head, “It’s nothing infectious, I have had it for years. I got to go to work” Cait was surprised that someone stopped.
The woman dug into her purse and fished out a card.
“This is for a Dreamz brand pod, get some rest after your shift. You should not travel this tired. I am going home this weekend, and my dad gets these as bonuses at the factory.”
Cait almost cried, her eyes watered.
“Thank you.” she rasped.
It was one less worry.
She probably would not make it home, especially if Henry was still there.
“It’s a happy coincidence. But you are welcome.”
She queued for the Travelator, the long walkway looped to the subterranean entrance of the street.
The breeze was nice and strong and moist.
Cait scowled as it hit her.
“Gross.” Cait spat.
Maybe someday, when it was just Betas living, then maybe they would not live like this.
It stank, just like when you had a hot shower, like citrus fruit and seawater.
Acidic and salty.
From afar she spotted a really tall man, she wondered if he was an Alpha.
Alphas were the pinnacle of their species, growing stronger as they bred.
They were heroes, businessmen, athletes, doctors, researchers, and celebrities.
However, they were few and far between, and this was due to the dwindling population of female mates.
Then there was the Omega population, which was mostly male, which was alright when there were female Alphas, but they were born in even fewer numbers.
Females among the two classes were very rare.
The few female Omegas she had seen were beautiful.
The population was mostly males so the most common coupling was between males.
She did not judge, her dad’s friends were not her though.
She was so glad she had found a district with very few Purifiers.
She was a Beta-Dominant herself, a fact that her father told her to keep quiet.
But it also meant she was not bad to look at.
Her mother was gorgeous.
She never quite filled out like her.
But she had always been sickly.
The program for Beta-Dominants she entered, plus her looks had mad things easier.
She had lucked out, and it sadly enabled her to get such a high-paying job that did not require heavy labour or dangerous work.
She knew girls who had to get their limbs reattached or regrown if they were careless with the thermal blades.
Omegas could breed with Beta females, but it was the odds to birth an Omega boy, let alone a female Omega were low, but they certainly tried.
Female Betas drawn to the financial allure sacrificed their minds and sometimes their bodies for the wealth that giving birth for an Omega paid.
The financial resources for being a first generation dominant were pretty sweet.
Pity she was a second generation.
Pregnancy was no joke, especially one that was above your body’s ability to maintain itself.
She had heard horror stories about it growing up.
Her Father would kill her if she even tried out.
Especially with her being a Beta Dominant.
Both her parents were Beta Dominant.
If you didn’t know that you were a Beta Dominant and you went into the trial, separation from the child was a problem.
Many Betas ended up taking their lives.
She could not imagine living without her children.
That’s why she never applied to the program or even got tested for her compatibility.
She didn’t want to end up relentlessly pursued by Omega males like her mother was.
No matter how much money they would earn.
They had to move around a lot, which is why Mom didn’t catch her illness before it was too late.
The pursuit of Omegas who wanted an Omega child.
Because Beta Dominant females were rare, made rarer because they died of what happened to them after pregnancy.
They died after an Omega pregnancy; they needed their child afterwards, needed the father.
That was a wish that rarely got fulfilled.
Maria> 7:05pm: I don’t like being right about this kind of thing.
What are you going to do?
You can always come home.
Cait could not come home, she would struggle here.
But if she worked hard and they figured out how to treat what she had she could swing it.
Accounting was an easy job.
It was not like she was carrying reams of fabric off the looms in the textiles factory anymore.
She did that sick.
Cait> 7:06pm: I think I will stick it out as best as I can.
He won’t kill my dream.
Want to split a place in the Burrows?
Maria> 7:07pm: I won’t have any friends there.
Cait> 7:07pm: What do you call me then?
Maria> 7:08pm: Something, so much more precious?
Cait smiled weakly and wiped sweat off of her brow.
She could always go back to Breakwater, although that place still haunted her.
Her old place gave her the willies.
There were places she could sell herself.
“You’re not that desperate, Cait,” she told herself as she reached the surface.
She swiped her wristband.
She padded across the empty lobby towards the elevator and hit the call button.
A cramp and wave of dizziness hit her as the elevator opened.
The scent of the air had changed; perhaps the cleaning staff had started using air freshener, or someone had brought in something sweet.
It was almost like sunshine.
Her head cleared, and she pressed the button for her floor.
“Maybe you can get through this after all,” she said to herself.
Cait felt the inertia as the elevator stopped on the floor for the parking garage.
The security guard came on and gave her a quick and questionable glance.
“Are you here for a shift?” he said, his head tilting as he looked at her.
She looked like death warmed over to him.
“Y-yes, sir,” Cait said, avoiding his gaze.
He was scrutinizing her.
It was odd, she swore she had seen this guard before.
“The office is closed for the day. What department are you working in?” he asked.
His eyes narrowed.
He was suspicious.
What would a girl like her be doing here?
She was far too pretty.
Sensing his scrutiny, she quickly answered.
“I work in the accounting department. I am coming in to organize for tomorrow’s shift and start the quarterly numbers,” she held up her security wristband.
It gleamed a copper colour for accounting.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“You look sick, you sure you should be pulling extra hours in the evening?”
“Yeah,” she said and paused.
“It seems like I will be working extra hard for the foreseeable future. I’m just a little under the weather; it will go away in a few days.” Cait answered.
He nodded.
She was relieved that he did.
It was not like he actually cared.
It would actually get worse.
But the likelihood of her running into him again was likely, so it was best to have an amicable relationship with him.
This was the first time he spoke to her.
“If you need anything, here’s my card, call it,” the guard said.
He withdrew one and handed it to her.
Cait took the card.
A senior security officer in uniform walked on.
She was a sucker for a man in uniform.
Cute enough.
Cait inwardly smiled.
Well, at least she was single now.
If he was interested in her for real, she might consider a date after she processed her feelings.
“Thanks, Grant.” she said as she read of the card.He had a good career as a manager of the security department here.
What he was doing here she did not know.
One thing always stood true.People were always kinder to her for some reason during her time.
Grant smiled, “You new to the company? I have not seen you around?” he said as he eyed her.
“Yeah, I’m Cait, I don’t have cards yet, but I will see you around?” Cait said.
The elevator reached his floor, and the door slid open with an efficient slide and dinged, calling ‘Twenty-Sixth Floor- Corporate Security’.
“Look forward to it, feel better soon.” he said as the door closed.
So he was security.
The lights were dimmed, panels illuminated as she walked in and shut off behind her.Cait made her way into the logistics accounting department.
She swiped her badge and the counter started.
It was tied into the payroll system.
Cait walked past the hundreds of desks.
It was so peaceful.
Maybe she could sign up to work nights permanently.
She did not hate her coworkers, she preferred the quiet.
Everyone was crammed together down her and space was precious.
She was in the dome proper of Geneva.
The sea wall was lined with towers, she was high enough now to see above them and look down at the fairy tale old world city twinkling below.
She sat down her bags and powered up her station and logged in.
She looked at all of the assignments.
Some of them had extra pay assigned to them.
She greedily accepted them.
She pulled off her coat and sat it on her chair and went to the bathroom.
Cait checked the bathroom for stragglers.
She did not care if someone slept here to save money, she just wanted privacy.
Cait sobbed while she washed her face and hands.
The counter ticked down.
Cait pinched herself a few times to reign in her feelings and left the bathroom.
She had to bring a doctor’s note for this desk, which was closest to the bathroom.
She had had a change of clothes in her locker by her desk and her cup.
She stopped by her desk and grabbed the travel mug.
She walked to the refreshment room and made herself a cup of ramen and brewed herself a cup of tea.
She checked the countdown.
She had ten more minutes.This refreshment room was going to be her pantry for the foreseeable future.
For as long as she could hold it together.
She was back to boiled food.
Meat on holidays from the canteen.
She sighed and scarfed down the cup of noodles and brought the giant mug of chamomile to her desk to brew.
She liked a strong and bitter cup of it.
She started working; at least she could lose herself in doing all these calculations.
Math did not bullshit you or lie to you; it was sometimes complex, but it never dumped you when you were sick.
It never saddled you with homelessness.
It did not talk down to you.
Henry> 9:45 pm: I have moved all of my belongings out.
I left the food.
I am sorry.
‘What a saint, I bought all the food anyways, that is why my account was so low you asshole.’ Cait thought she could not say so as her chat logs could be used in family court to prove her as hostile.
She would talk him to court for abandoning her when she was sick.
It would be a slow process, and she could not seem abusive or negative.
Cait sighed.
She paused and replied.
Cait> 9:46 pm: I am rescinding your keycard’s operational status.
Are you out yet?
Henry> 9:48 pm: Cold.
Yeah, I am out.
Cait> 9:49 pm: What do you want me to write to you?
You dumped me because I am sick over comms.
You can make this seem as amicable as possible in your head, but it was not ethical.
I have nothing else to write.
I’m restricting your number since I am working.
That means your messages will be screened.
Good bye.
“Mother fucker.” Cait said aloud to herself, the office was empty anyway.
She restricted his number.
She alerted the security system to the apartment and changed the code.
She was nervous as to what he took.
Saying that he left the food could have other connotations.
She reached into her bag for her herbal prescription.
It was one dad who used to order a lot for her PMS.
She was still waiting for her shipment to come in.
“Fuck.” she muttered as she did not find the bottle in her purse.
She had three left.
This was going to be the worst.
Especially if he took the shipment accidentally, she would be screwed for half a year.
She must have forgotten them when they were fighting.
Would she be able to make it home during lunch and back?
Probably not.
Cait sighed and dipped her head, and focused on the work to shut out the negativity swirling in her head.
She had one day when she missed her dose a couple of years ago; it was not so bad, but she had only started her cycling a couple of years ago.
Her hands whirred on the keyboard, shifting and tabbing through the accounting spreadsheets as she watched the monitor.
She sent an email to analytics just as the end-of-shift gong rang in her ear.
Cait stood; the heat in her body was intense.
It was the middle of the night, and she unbuttoned her top… panting.
She grabbed her bags and staggered.
“Fuck..walls are melting again,” Cait muttered.
She pulled off her heels and began the walk through the office.
She swiped out of the accounting department.
She heard the automated voice wish her a good morning as she left.
She would go home and get six hours of rest and start this over again.
The door to the elevator opened, with a whoosh as her legs gave out and she staggered.
“What the hell?” she said in a panicked tone.
Cait picked herself up and walked to the elevator in the most embarrassed and ashamed possible and boarded.
The smell lingered on the elevator, but it was accompanied by a strong perfumey floral smell.
It felt familiar to her.
In the massive elevator, Kieran Rose stood the bosses executive assistance.
He looked at her.
“Miss? Are you okay?” His brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at her and a pity.
He was tall, handsome in a youthful way.
His eyes were a steel grey and his hair was almost the colour of smoke.
He was dressed in a fine suit.
Something that would be handed down from father to son in a Beta family, hung like daily wear.
He had a kindness about him that made her trust him.
That put her on guard.
Then the overwhelmingly sweet floral smell hit his nose.
It seemed to be emanating from her..
This was impossible.
Kieran’s eyes widened.
What was a girl like her doing working here?
Moreso, what was wrong with her?
Her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat, and she was carrying multiple bags.
“I need to get home, then I will be alright,” Cait said.
She leaned against the wall as the elevator shook.
She slid down them.
A puzzled look crossed her face as her body seemed to react to the lemony scent of the elevator.
Instead of it soothing her, her body warmed in the wrong place.
“Mercy of the gods.” she muttered and shifted her bag quickly.
She was perplexed and mortified as a wetness spread to the crotch of her pants; it was like she had pissed her pants.
She moved her purse.
“You are not alright at all. Did you know that you are giving off Omega pheromones?” Kieran advised her.
His breath hitched as he catalogued her appearance, Ashy Silver blonde hair with a yellow tinge, sallow skin, and silver eyes.
He hit the door close button and let the elevator make its trip.
He had to talk to her.
“That should be impossible, my parents are both Betas? It could be because I am sick. I get this way every month now,” she said.
“Really, because I am an Omega, and we can tell? You are feeling sick because you have gone through repeated estrus without an Alpha or Alphas guiding you out of it,” he continued.
She had the tremors and all the text books signs of collapse.
“Do you not know that it is a crime to disclose your status, because it could kill you?” Kieran said.
He pulled out his phone and messaged the boss.
“I have been to doctors recently, shouldn’t they have known?” Cait probed with exhaustion.
Kieran looked up from the message he was writing, “Not necessarily.” Kieran laughed.
“Cut the crap. Who sent you?”
Kieran> 2:03 am: Boss, did you know that we have an Omega in the office, well, other than myself.
I have quite a problem, could you lend a hand?
I’ll owe you one.
“No one? I work here” Cait said.
She showed him the copper accounting band.
Cait’s brows furrowed in confusion.
Shock crawled on her face.
“Listen, maybe you are confused. It couldn’t be true. If it was, I did not know. I swear. My parents never told me Beta Dominants could have Omegas?” Cait said as she slid to the floor of the elevator.
Owen> 2:05 am: What would an Omega be doing here?
Did my Father send another?
Kieran> 2:06 am: She has an employee ID.
Check the logs to see if she is legit.
You have fifty floors.
If not, I will have to take her to the ABO, and the Alphas there might not be as gentle on a virgin like her when they are drunk and eager.
“They can’t. Besides, Beta doctors can’t smell the pheromones, and tell until we go through puberty. It seems like that has not happened properly.” Kieran’s nose twitched as he continued.
“Listen, if your parents did not tell you, then you wouldn’t know what you really are.” He was just absolutely the worst at calming people down.
“I thought only Alphas could smell Omegas? How can you?” Cait asked, and she tried to pick herself up.
The shakes set in.
She pulled her bags, searching through them.
“That is a common misconception. We have to be able to identify each other. Let’s get you taken care of, okay, and then we will figure out which clan you belong to.” Kieran said.
“Shouldn’t we go to an ABO to sort this out?” Cait asked.
The elevator had risen to the top floor of the executive suites.
She supposed he would need to check with his boss, but the door opened.
Her boss, Owen Thorne stepped onto the elevator.
The picture from the lobby did not do him justice.
He stood taller in person, shoulders cutting clean lines against the elevator’s brushed steel walls.
Dark chocolate brown hair swept back sharply, revealing aristocratic features that looked carved from marble.
His ice-blue eyes looked like a clear sky.
He smelled like lemons, honey, sunshine, and chamomile tea.
Like relaxation, like she could finally be at ease if she just touched him.
Like the elevator.
Cait felt her stomach flip-flop.
‘This is so mortifying!
I am so fired.
I am screwed.’ Cait thought.
She’d never reacted this way to anyone before.
Her body betrayed her instantly, a rush of wet heat pooling between her legs.
She clenched her thighs together, shocked.
Her cheeks flushed crimson.
She hated herself for it.
“Ugh.” Cait said as she curled up as the shakes took hold of her again.
Owen looked down at her.
His jaw was tight.
The stubble shadowing his chin gave him a rough, dangerous edge.
His suit jacket stretched across broad shoulders, hinting at thick muscle underneath.
He undid his tie.
‘Good Gods.’ thought Cait as she looked up at him.
Cait’s throat went dry.
That scent ,lemons and honey and chamomile, hit her like a physical blow.
Her core clenched hard, flooding her panties with slick warmth, again.
She dug her nails into her palm, panic flaring.
Never.
Not even with Henry.
Her body had always been hers to control, a fortress sealed tight against unwanted reactions.
Until now.
Until him.
She understood she was not peeing herself.
Her body was reacting to him, his smell, his proximity.
The boss’s assistant was right.
She was an omega.
Owen looked at the panicking and floundering girl on the floor.
“I thought you said she was an employee; she looks like she’s sixteen years old.”
“I’m twenty,” Cait said, her face red in embarrassment.
As soon as the door had opened, she smelled him and her body reacted again, signifying what this man had told her.
“So, Kieran. What is the favor?” Owen said as he boarded the elevator.
The smell of an Omega was strong in estrus; this was like hitting a brick wall of it.
It was as refreshing as Kieran’s scent, but overly sweet like a female and far more complex.
It smelled like a bouquet of flowers, a sickly sweet Gardenia.
He looked at his assistant and then again at the floor where the scent was the strongest.
Kieran looked at Owen, “I think you know what I am asking you to do,” he sighed.
This was a big ask, Elias Thorne had negotiated a line of omega women for him, an impossibility to those who were not as insanely wealthy as he was.
Uniquely wealthy due to a continent’s worth of natural resources and available extracted resources.
“Kieran,” Owen pinched the bridge of his nose, “You realize that if I bind to her for some reason-,”
Kieran cut him off, “I will survive. I can survive without it. But she cannot.”
Owen sighed, Kieran was self sacrificing to a fault.
He was the kindest person he met.
He knew that it was safe.
Kieran had witnessed the trap omega female’s father had sent his way.
He would not sacrifice their mutually beneficial relationship on one.
This woman was not a trap, but she was an unknown, he hated unknowns.
He had briefly viewed the file, because that was all that was necessary.
Lots of previous addresses, good education and minimal time within the company.
She had not yet made it to her first evaluation, but people within her department had already started singing her praises.
All he had was the file and what was in front of him to trust.
If she was bound to him, he would be responsible for her.
There weren’t any omega women he had not seen.
She was not hard on the eyes as a beta.
But she did not look like an omega.
Not a bit.
She had long ash blonde hair, and then a captivating pair of silvery gray eyes peered upwards at him.
They looked like liquid mercury in the light.
Her legs were long and rose to a thin and delicate upper body; her dress shirt was open fully.
A white camisole drenched in sweat revealed two small peaks underneath.
His breath caught in his throat.
“Around this time of night, the Alphas in this city are usually blind drunk. You smell like you are a virgin and you are very ill. Don’t let this feel awkward, but I called someone to help.” Kieran explained.
“We will need to take you to a hospital, would collapse not do this to her?” Owen said, his eyes looking down again.
She was rail-thin.
Something was very wrong with her.
“Hospital?” Cait shook her head.
She could not afford a regular surface hospital.
“An ABO hospital. I have had a boyfriend before, and we did that..” she explained.
“Even if you were with a Beta or Omega before, they cannot reach the area that you need to hit,” Kieran said.
A blush crawled across his face; he could be explaining the birds and the bees to his lost little sister.
She had the same and very rare eye color as his father.
What if she had survived all these years?
Cait moved herself into the recesses of the elevator as it began its trip to the parking garage.
“That’s bullshit. It definitely was uncomfortable,” she said as she pulled her purse to cover the wet spot in her pants.
Lo and behold, her pills rolled out.
She reached for them.
“I will just take my menstrual medication and go to the ABO. No offense.”
Owen cleared his throat and loosened his tie further; he exhaled.
“We’ll have to talk after this, Kieran.” he said as he looked down.
Kieran had been right; she was completely innocent, probably very confused, and in pain.
Kieran was sacrificing a lot for her.
“I’m Owen, what is your name?” he asked, he already knew, having checked before the door opened.
There were not many people here.
She was new to this branch.
Two months.
He moved closer to her.
His proximity stirred something in her instinct.
“Ah,” Cait groaned.
She flinched as her thighs shook, embarrassed.
“My name is Cait Agneau. I am so sorry, sir.” Cait’s eyes watered from embarrassment, her cheeks flushed.
This was her boss, and future heir to all of the Thorne companies.
“Don’t be. I am sorry you are going through this. I can’t imagine what a surprise it is that you are going through this.” Owen said as he crouched beside her.
“I swear on my honor and name, that what my assistant is saying is true. You are an Omega. You need some help that is going to seem very weird to you.” Owen said as he bent down.
He held out his hand.
“Do you think you can stand it?”
Owen blushed.
She indeed smelled unmated, and being one at her surprising age, was probably very painful.
Her pheromones were very compatible.
Her body was advertising loudly what it needed.
It was the scent of a rut.
Alpha men got them every three to four months.
Pheromones were just something that Alpha and Omega could smell on each other.
Its notes and complexity were also made up of the smell of their harem.
She had no traces of a male on her.
Just the salt smell of the traverse and a cheap cologne.
He could smell the difference between her and the smell of his mother, which smelled like a bakery full of various scents.
It was simple and not revolting, although powerful.
This was going to be a long night.
If his father found out, this was going to get awkward when the fight began.
His father had sent lavish gifts, hoping to plant him with women who made him feel dead inside when he touched them.
Kieran bent to pick up her belongings when he grabbed the bottle of pills.
His nose wrinkled at the harsh smell.
It smelled like a poison that once was used as a natural suppressant.
Omegas used to take in the dark ages to deal with their ruts.
It was a mild hallucinogen and toxic if taken for a long time.
It smelled like it could be masking something else.
Every Omega and Alpha was trained to smell poisons.
It was made from Ophelia’s tears.
A white vine that sprouted little white flowers, had the bluest berries, and grew by the beds of water.
It was more like a poison to them.
“Boss, this just became an emergency.” Kieran paused and shook the bottle.
“What is it?” Owen asked.
Kieran’s hand shook as he gripped the bottle.
He could kill the person who did this; first of all, it was an affront to Omega’s now that society had progressed a few hundred years.
He tossed the bottle over to Owen.
Cait watched the exchange.
Kieren turned to look at her, a look of disbelief on his face.
“You are not taking these, are you? Damn it. Who gave this to you to take?” he asked, his tone angry.
“If they were trying to kill you, there are easier and less painful ways.”
“My father got these for me. I have always had the worst time of the month, and they help.” Cait confessed, heat rising to her cheeks.
Owen looked at her, seemingly shaken, who would be as cruel as to poison a girl with these things since she started.
“H-how many years have you taken these?” his voice sounded with sadness.
“Two years?” Cait answered.
Her boss looked visibly distressed by the answer.
“It can’t be that bad. Can’t it? My mom took it for years.”
“And your mother, is she still alive?” Owen asked; he knew that the answer would probably be sad.
They learned things like this in school.
Her father, most likely a Beta, probably pulled this recipe after learning what she was; she would have definitely been taken from her mother when she was born with what she was.
“No,” Cait said.
The shock came over her.
“This is poison. Trust me, as reluctant as you might feel, living the lifestyle is important to your health.” Kieran said as he plucked the bottle from the ground.
“Are we going to take an ABO van?” Owen asked.
He did not want to stink up his car.
“No, we’ll take my car,” Kieran said with a sigh.
He would take it home for his father to smell; it would be faster than a DNA test.
“Do I have much of a choice?
“I will take the ABO van, if I can,” Cait said
“I will get you there quickly. Plus, you’ll have more time to mentally prepare.” Kieran said.
And so would the boss.
He would owe him big if actually touching a woman did not change his personality like it did to others.
He frankly would have let this pass.
“I have to work tomorrow,” Cait exclaimed.
“In six hours, I can’t afford not to.”
“You are on leave for your estrus.
Besides, you won’t need to work anymore.” Kieran said as he gave Owen a look, “Omega benefits pay more than Owen pays.
The ABO will assure your future, no matter who your father is.”
The elevator opened to the garage.
“Fine, take me. Guide me or whatever.” Cait said.
She tried her hardest to stand, but her body was not cooperating the way she wanted it to.
“Here, I will help carry you,” Owen said with pity.
He was not a monster; she was very ill.
Poisoned and stuck in the state of a long rut.
He had endured a rut once; it was painful.
He picked her up; the smell intensified, but he was not grossed out.
Kieran looked at Owen, searching his expression for disgust.
He thought he would have to lift her.
“So you understand, Cait. That Owen will be trying to reach that area that has never been reached before, right?” Kieran said.
“Wait, that is guiding?” Cait said.
She felt her lower body heat.
“Ah,” she groaned as an unbearable cramp hit, her body arched.
“That is guiding, normally you would have a party, pick out who you feel instinctually is right for you, and then you would go to bed,” Owen said as he balanced her light body in his arms.
“I am here because all the other Alphas are either asleep or too drunk and might be too rough. Normally, you learn about this stuff when you are a child as an Omega, just like you learned about reproduction in school as a Beta. It is just a different set of responses to pheromones, biological functions, and different…sizes.” Owen said.
“Speaking of scent. Do you dislike the smell coming from Owen? I need to know so I can make other arrangements.” Kieran asked.
“No. It smells like honey, lemons, and chamomile. Like my favorites.” Cait said.
“I smelled it earlier, but just thought someone brought in lemon bars.” Cait asked.
She fidgeted and felt like she had gotten soaked in a water fight.
She realized she was sweating; her body was also reacting to every movement or jostle now.
Owen felt himself start to blush as she described his scent as being a favorite.
It surprised him that she was able to pick it up even when he wasn’t releasing it on purpose.
She must have a powerful olfactory sense.
“T-thanks,” he said.
His head had started to feel funny from her scent.
He felt hesitant about all this.
“Here it is.” Kieran had summoned his car, he opened the back door and allowed Owen to place her in the back as he put her belongings in the trunk.
Owen climbed up in front.
Her scent quickly filled the space.
He did not know if it was because she had not reached the milestone that every Omega had by her age or if she was virile.
The scent was sour with emotion, but it was very complex.
He could not identify it.
But this was going to be a long drive.