Chapter Text
The car screeched to a halt and Gulf rushed out of the taxi, anxious to get away from the reckless cab driver. He threw his fare money to the man and walked towards his apartment, stomach queasy and nerves frayed. After a long day of work, he was anxious to get inside and rest, maybe take a bath and watch a movie. He shrugged his messenger bag further on his shoulder and fumbled the door to the foyer open. A waft of stagnant air slapped him in the face and he quickly strolled to his mailbox hoping to hurry into his apartment. He lived in a quiet neighborhood right on the cusp of a division of the good and bad parts of his smaller town.
As an omega he was lucky to even hold down a job to afford a apartment on his own. But he had learned early on to heavily track and regulate his heat cycle so he could live a normal life. He had put himself through college, his debilitating heats making it difficult to even graduate. Finally, he had found the suppressant mix that worked the best and had graduated from college, snagging a job as a guidance counselor for omega youth. He had devoted his life to supporting young omegas, helping to relocate them from potentially abusive households and guiding them educationally and medically. Being an omega was a balancing act. One mistake could tip the scales in the wrong direction.
After grabbing the stack of mail, he managed to maneuver into his apartment and headed straight for the sofa, he was getting headaches more often these days, a clear sign that his heat cycle was approaching. He sighed, hoping he wouldn’t have to take days off work this time around. He refused to sleep with an alpha, relying heavily on his suppressants and willpower. He had made it this far. He set the mail down on the small, dark coffee table settled in front of his sofa, but a black envelope stood out from the rest of the plain, white envelopes catching his attention. His stomach growled and he decided to open it later, his hunger was more important.
Languidly he strolled towards the kitchen and fixed supper, his mind on the mysterious black envelope. What could be in it? Fifteen minutes later he was back at the coffee table. He picked up the envelope gingerly and swiftly opened it.
Dear Mr. Traipipattanapong, You are hereby cordially invited…
Gulf read the letter over and over as his stomach filled with butterflies at the details of the letter:
“…as your heat is approaching please refrain from taking any suppressants and engaging in any sexual intercourse one week prior to the event…”
His knees weakened and he sat on the floor with a thud. The opportunity to be included in a high society event was tempting but the repercussions were alarming. The reduction in population of alphas and omegas had high society in a panic as the main, wealthy families were left without heirs. The result? Every six months or so they held private “parties” full of alphas in rut and omegas in heat, the goal being to reproduce and recover their numbers. This would be the first time he was invited to such an event, his heat cycle normally falling out of line with the parties. He was nervous. If he attended he would most likely wind up pregnant with someone’s baby.
Other omegas jumped at the opportunity to be included in such extravagant events, but he was scared. He had built his life from the ground up, is this how he wanted the rest of his days to go? Pregnant with some arrogant alphas baby and at the mercy of an extremely wealthy family? He sighed, surely they would accept him declining the invitation.
He wouldn’t go.
He definitely wouldn’t go.
No one could make him, right?
With his decision made, he tossed the letter in the trash.
His life was his own.
He had plans and dreams.
He had young omegas dependent on his guidance.
Most omegas were comfortable living their lives with a strong alpha and a house full of children, hell some even sought it out, but Gulf wanted more. He wanted a career unencumbered by the hassle of a heat. He wanted to be normal.
2 WEEKS LATER
“Hello? Gulf?”
“Hey Maiah”, Gulf said weakly as cradled the phone to his ear. Breathing deeply, he tried to focus through the pulsing migraine stabbing at his temples, “I won’t make it in to work tomorrow.”
“How bad is it? Do you need anything? You took your suppressants?” she asked worriedly.
“Yeah, everything is fine, I’m just exhausted. I’ve been fighting it all day.”
“Okay well get some rest and take more days if you need to. Just text me, keep me updated.”
The line disconnected and Gulf lay back on the sofa with a huff. He hated this. No matter the amount of suppressants his body craved an alpha. Desperate and aching, his back killing him and his body on the verge of a fever, he closed his eyes in the hopes of taking a quick nap.
Moments later a sharp knock on his door echoed throughout the room and he opened his eyes blearily, irritated at being interrupted. Deciding to ignore it, his eyes drifted closed again of their own accord. Once again, a knock pounded on the door, getting steadily louder. His migraine throbbed in time with the knocks, and he groaned in annoyance. If this were another pizza delivery driver that got the wrong apartment he would cry in frustration. The door whisked open, and he was taken aback at the large, tall man standing outside of his door, his tux form fitted and dark sunglasses covering his eyes.
“Can I help you?” he asked, tone clipped.
“Mr. Traipipattanapong?” the man asked with perfect diction, his voice accented.
“Uh… yes?”
“May I come in?”
“No”, Gulf replied forcefully “state your business.”
“Of course, sir. I come on the behalf of the Sutipak and Jongcheveevat families.”
Gulf stared at him blankly. The names were vaguely familiar, but he had no idea what was going on right now.
“They are the families hosting this month’s omega soiree” he explained kindly.
“Soiree? Seriously? It’s a fucking orgy. And I’m not going” Gulf retorted as he went to close the door.
“Mr. Traipip-“, the man began as he placed his hand on the door.
“Just Gulf is fine” he interrupted.
“Mr. Gulf, I’m only here to escort you to the soiree. You may take up the matter of your attendance with the hosts.”
“Or I can shut this door right now and you run back to your employers and inform them I’m not coming.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Well then I’m afraid you’ll be standing out here for a while” Gulf said snarkily right before dizziness struck him and his legs gave out from under him. He stumbled catching himself on the door frame as the large man started forward to help.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Mr. Gulf”, he said as he held his arms out in a placating gesture, “I only meant to help. Please let me help you into your home.”
Gulf’s gaze sized him up before he sighed and allowed the harmless beta into his home. He was helped to his couch before the man sat across from him.
“You know that you could get rid of this pain if you just came to the soiree.”
“Can you please stop saying soiree?”
The man chuckled slightly before gaining his composure, “just come to the party.”
“What’s your name?”
“Ah, that’s unecessa-“
“What’s your name?” he repeated.
“You can call me Sam.”
“Well, Sam I’ve already taken suppressants. I would be no good for this orgy.”
“And look how good those suppressants are doing you. On the sofa writhing in pain, flushed and in need. One encounter with an alpha and you would feel much better Mr. Gulf.”
“I’m not going” Gulf stated stubbornly, his arms crossed against his chest.
Sam sighed in exasperation, “of course Mr. Gulf, I can’t force you to come. I’ll tell Mr. Sin Sutipak that you declined.”
Gulf’s eyes widened, “S-Sin?”
“Ah, yes. He requested you specifically.”
Gulf chewed on his lip in indecision, Sin Sutipak was the founder of his youth center and basically his boss. Would he be fired if he didn’t go? Surely, they couldn’t. Maybe he could just go, make an appearance, and get the hell out of there before being affected by the pheromones. His suppressants should keep him in the right frame of mind. All he would need is ten minutes.
“Fine, but I’m only going to speak with Mr. Sutipak and then you’ll escort me right back home” he exclaimed.
“Of course, Mr. Gulf. Your safety and comfort are my number one priority.”
They stared at each other for a long moment before Gulf nodded in agreement, “Let me just get dressed.”
_______________________________
Gulf stepped through the elegant doors and was immediately overpowered by the pheromones. The mingling scents were almost too much for his sensitive body to handle, the rich fragrance of so many dominant alphas had his breath coming faster and his face flushed. His heat was beginning to take over, the suppressants being overwhelmed, and soon he would be nothing but primal as he searched for the nearest alpha that called to his animal side. His legs began to shake as his hand shot out to steady himself on the closest wall. He sucked in deep breaths, hoping to clear his head, but the cloying smell kept him staggering under the weight of desire. He glanced around for a sight of Sam and scoffed. “Safety and comfort my ass” he mumbled to himself as his nose twitched.
Underneath all the pheromones he smelled something delicious. The aroma of dark spices with a hint of earth filled his nose and his feet automatically turned in the direction of the smell. He needed to breath it in, bathe in it, wallow in the scent, cover himself so he could smell it for days. As he delved farther into the ostentatious home in search of the irresistible smell his eyes lingered on the omegas, comfortable in their skin and draped with jewelry, sauntering seductively through the rooms as the eyes of alphas followed their movements. Many couples were behind curtained rooms, the noises leaving nothing to the imagination as moans of pleasure filled the room. Whereas some didn’t even bother to seclude themselves preferring to mate as a tangle of limbs on oversized cushions and sofas placed strategically in the middle of the room. He was desperate to stay on the edge of the room, hoping to remain out of sight. If an alpha neared him, he was unsure of what he would do. The scent became stronger and his will to leave the party was slowly deteriorating. He wanted a hard male body pressed against him. He wanted to mate. He wanted a baby. Gasping at the errant thought, he slapped his fevered cheek. He did not want a baby. What the hell was he thinking? He needed to leave.
As he turned for the door, he smelled it. It was close. His head whipped around, and his eyes locked onto the source of his hunger. A man was sitting on a sofa close to the edge of the room arms outstretched along the back and his legs crossed at the ankles. Omegas strutted around him, yet none ventured near him. As his gaze landed on the man, his eyes rounded in shock. The man was staring at him intently, nostrils flaring as if he scented Gulf the same way. His ankles uncrossed and he leaned forward his elbows resting on his legs as he summoned Gulf with his gaze alone. His will crumbled and he let his nose lead him to what was most likely a terrible decision.