Chapter Text
Zoey glanced around the cafeteria, other packs had already claimed tables for themselves leaving few and far between left. She chewed the inside of her cheek in frustration.
Eventually after the fourth or fifth scan of the room she spotted a table in the back with only one person sitting at it. As she started walking over to the table, the rest of the scents in the room seemed to fall away as she focused.
This girl was an omega for sure, she smelled like autumn and sweetberries. Two charcoal black horns protruded from her head, noticeable but not massive.
Zoey sat down across from her at the table giving her a warm smile, trying her best to keep her own scent from overwhelming the girl.
“Heya! Sorry for intruding, do you mind if me and my pack sit here with you? Will your alpha mind?”
Two deep emerald colored eyes peered at Zoey, their pupils narrowing for a moment. To Zoey she looked shy, like she didn’t really want to be perceived.
“I-I don't have an alpha…never have.”
“Oh, sorry for assuming. I'm Zoey!”
“Alex…and…i dont think i can refuse to let you and your pack sit here…”
“You can always say no, at least to me.”
Alex hesitated, looking nervous before she finally spoke. “...you can sit here…”
Zoey beamed, thinking she was breaking through the omega’s shell already.
“So, where are you coming from?”
“...the states…new england”
“Oh! I'm from Cali myself! What brings you all the way out here?"
“My adoptive dad got a better job here. I didn’t really have a place to go so I just kinda followed. Realized the college in town had a good Magical sciences course so I jumped at the chance”
“Sounds like fun!”
Alex smiled weakly, keeping her head down their entire conversation. Zoey stared at her for a while, thoughts bouncing in her head.
This girl doesn’t have an alpha, which means she doesn’t have a pack. Which means she is probably all alone in a completely different environment from normal.
She was starting to see herself in Alex, her heart wanted to cry out to the girl. Next thing she knew Zoey’s mind acted on impulse, speaking the words before she had fully thought it through.
“If you don't have a pack, do you want to join mine?”
Zoey watched as Alex froze, like a deer caught in the headlights. Something flashed in the girl's eyes, like a dull ache. Like something inside her was telling her no.
“I-i mean you don’t hav-”
“Yes.” she said it fast, like she was trying to get the answer out before someone convinced her otherwise.
“What?”
“Yes, i would like that…just…if i can ask, id…like to go at my own pace…”
“Of course!”
It was subtle, but Zoey, ever vigilant to take care of those she considered hers, noticed it. Alex flinched at Zoey’s exclamation, that confirmed it, she needed to help this girl.
Zoey tries to pass the time with idle chit chat before she can feel arms wrap around her from behind and the smell of cinnamon hits her nose.
“Hi Mira~ clingy aren't we?”
“Mmm, who's the girl?”
“New pack member!” she said cheerily as if she didn’t just make a big decision without talking to Rumi or Mira about it.
Likewise Mira stared at Zoey for more than a moment as if she wanted to be angry but couldn’t muster up the emotion.
“Zo, you took in a new pack member and you didn't let us know you were doing it before hand?”
Alex opened her mouth to speak but mira held up a finger towards her to silence the girl.
“Your fine sweetie, It’s Zoey's decision but me and Rumi do like to be informed. I'm Mira by the way.”
“Alexandrite…I go by Alex mostly”
Zoey interrupted the introduction seemingly overflowing with energy. “I’ll explain why later, we still have the guest room at the house right?”
Mira let out a sigh that made her sound both annoyed and amused at the same time. “Okay, Zo you need to put more thought into this if it happens again. Yes we still have the guest room."
Zoey and Mira started talking preparations, leaving Alex to just stare at them unsure if she should say anything. Rumi finally joined the table, seeming to have a better grasp of the situation from the bits of Zoey and Mira’s conversation.
“Alex, right? Do you need help moving anything? I'm free after lunch so I can help you get stuff to the house if you want.”
“Oh uh…i can just…put it all in my dufflebag…i…dont have a lot. Just clothes, and my school stuff I leave in my bag.”
Alex could feel all three of them staring at her now, had she done something wrong?
“Wait…what do you do for like…nesting? Or your cycles?” Rumi gave her a concerned look, she couldn't imagine an omega without a nest, or even comfort objects.
Alex looked away not wanting to talk about that. How she could still feel the molten heat crawling under her skin, under her scales threatening to burst and burn everything it touched. It hadn't happened since that night, but she was always worried it would happen again.
“I…dont want to talk about that, but dad doesn't live far so ill leave some things I don't need right away with him…just…for now.”
That seemed to get them to avoid continuing with the topic. Alex could tell this was going to take some getting used to.
A Few hours later Rumi was Leading Alex into a house that seemed a tad bit too large for just three people.
“My moms helped us get this place. It has plenty of space, a full kitchen, rooms are a good size, and even an indoor pool, Zoey's favorite feature.”
“Who the fuck is your mom.” Alex let herself blurt out before she could catch herself.
“Do you know the sunlight sisters? My mom was Ryu…but I was raised by my other mom Celine."
Rumi led her down a hallway and opened one of the doors. Inside the room Mira and Zoey were already cleaning up the room, putting fresh bedsheets on the mattress.
“Oh! Alex you're here!” Zoey bounded over, a smile plastered across her face.
“I didn’t want to do this earlier since you seemed pretty shy, but I should probably mark you.” Zoey started to lean in gently holding onto Alex’s shoulder.
Panic flashed across Alex’s face as she violently jerked away tripping over herself and falling to the floor. A memory resurfaced, something unpleasant: a man's voice loud and threatening, the scent of blood, and burning flesh.
“N-no, nononononono. S-stop!” Alex’s voice called out, not to the girls in the room with her but to something they couldn't see
Zoey stepped back, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what was happening. Rumi stepped in, crouching down next to Alex trying to talk her out of whatever was happening.
“She’s having a panic attack. Just, try to make her feel safe.” Zoey spoke, but she wanted to run…this was her fault, she was too much again. Too Zoey… “im just gonna make it worse probably…”
She wanted to reach forward, to hug the girl in front of her. But she moved too fast once already. What if she just hurt her more.
Alex inhaled deeply, scenting the air for anything to ground her. Cinnamon almost like cookies, that one was Mira’s. The next one that smelled of jasmine tea was Rumi. Zoey’s scent hit last, the ocean. Alex, despite every single ounce of her telling her to run from the alpha, wanted to walk towards her, the omega inside telling her the alpha would protect her.
Zoey’s scent triggered something else. A memory: Her mother taking her to the beach, just the two of them. Alex wasn’t allowed to swim because her back was still healing. But the ocean was a nice place to just sit and enjoy the sound of the waves with her mom.
she took a step forwards, burying her face into the alpha’s shoulder inhaling her scent. And for once…she felt like she might have found a home.
“Im sorry…im sorry.” She repeated the words over and over again, each time she felt her body get heavier and heavier before she passed out into the alpha’s arms.