Assume Theres A Daddy In It

Cooper POV 

You get distracted by everything, one minute it’s a tumbleweed, the next it’s a random piece of metal, the next it’s a random radroach or rad-rabbit, he has to snap, snarl, growl and chase after you every goddamn time and he’s getting pissed. He’s also getting worried, the suns setting and you still haven’t changed back, he can’t stomach the thought of you being feral, you’re not exactly feral though, the feral shifters he’s met are crazed by rage, they want nothing but to hunt. You, you’re like a pup in an adult wolf body, he’s surprised you got used to your wolf form so quickly given the circumstances. He also notices when you come back to him you rub your body along his, scent marking and swapping, before you run off to another piece of trash. He knows in wolf behaviour it’s considered bonding, he just wishes you were aware you were doing it. You yelp and dart suddenly away from a building and his head snaps seeing a mole rat standing there, looking like it got a little to bold and nipped you, sending you running, tail between your legs. He’d laugh if he could and that’s an odd feeling, this is possibly the longest time he’s spent shifted in… well a long time. He usually avoids his wolf form, given how fucking ugly and nightmarish he looks, compared to your furry form currently sniffing something else with your tail perked up, mole rat forgotten. He can’t mind link with you, you’re not mates, you’re not pack, he can’t talk to you, or get any information across. Dogmeat ever the brave girl walks beside him, watching you with her own ears perked, getting excited when you do, wagging her tail when you do. Somewhere along the way when she joined him, he half thought she had been mutated to be abnormally intelligent, wouldn’t surprise him given this wasteland is a fucked up experiment. She even goes over a few times to sniff what you’re sniffing only to realise it is in fact a piece of metal or rubbish and gets disinterested quickly. He scouts a building, finds it clear, he nudges you towards a room, growls when you try to leave, you get the hint, this is the den for tonight. He watches you curl up, you put your tail over your nose and your fur seems to fluff up more in the cold. Dogmeat steals your warmth and softness, doesn’t blame her considering he’s all leathery harshness. He guards the door, lets you sleep seeing as this is your first shift and you’ve spent the whole day inspecting every little thing and killing a man. He grimaces, you’re gonna break down, he’s gonna have to deal with that breakdown and he is in no way equiped to handle that. People die all the time up here, ain’t nothing new, to you though it is, first kill then eating him, goddess help him. 

Sometime during the night he hears a pained whimper. His head snaps up, he watches as you thrash, listens to the first bone breaking and reshaping. He’s quicker, shifting back into his human form, while you struggle through the first time going back to human. 

Your POV

There’s pain everywhere, it floods your system, you hear your bones crack and pop, feel your muscles reshape. Your snarls and growls turn into pain cry’s and you feel cold flood your system. There’s a voice, distant, not now you think, not now. You cry one last time before you curl up, body shaking, pain flaring. 

“Hey, come on sweetheart open those eyes” you frown, you know that voice, your eyes open weakly, you come face to face with the ghoul, who is- naked? You breathe and look away then freeze. His scent floods your body, you feel everything light up, you feel a tug, familiarity, a sense of calm and belonging. 

“Fuck” he mutters as your eyes snap back to him. You’ve got tears rolling down your face. 

“I know, look before you chew-“ you tackle him, not to attack, but to hold. He grunts in surprise as you tremble and press your naked body to his. You don’t care right now, you press your face to his neck, soak in his warmth. Wait… how did you get the mate pull? 

“Don’t freak out” he warns a bit, his arms wrapping around you. 

“I’m freaking out” you whisper. 

“I just said fuckin’ don’t” he huffs, still the same ghoul then. 

“I’m freaking out” you repeat your shaking getting worse. 

“Are you listening to me?” He grumbles and you shake your head. 

“Fuck sake” he says lifting your head, he kisses you suddenly. Your body floods with endorphins and the mate pull hits you like a punch. You whine, press closer, he shifts positions though, gets you on your back his body draped over yours. Your arms wrap around him, your knees bracket his hips and squeeze. This is best thing ever, to hell with jell-o cake. He pulls back and you chase after him, but he gives you a look. 

“You freakin’ out still?” He asks breathless and you shake your head, your mind a little blank. 

“Tell me what happened when you walked into that town” he says and your mind reels. Flashes hit you, gun shots fill your memory, pain floods your body and you whimper. 

“No, you ain’t there anymore tell me what happened before” he says voice rough and demanding, but it keeps you grounded. 

“I- I bought you clothes” you say remembering talking to the clerk. Blood fills your vision, a mangled body and you let out a sob. 

“Clothes, stay with me, you bought clothes then what?” he urges. 

“I- I left the store I was heading back, someone grabbed me” you shudder a bit. 

“Grabbed you how?” He asks body tensing. 

“My hips, he grabbed my hips, he smelt like liquor, he, he pressed himself against me he was hard” he snarls at your words and you bare your throat. 

“Then I blacked out” you whisper and he relaxes a bit nodding. 

“Did I- did I kill someone?” You whisper in horror. 

“Darlin’ that is the least of your worries right now. You shifted” he says and you freeze eyes wide and staring at him. 

“That’s not possible” you say and he scoffs. 

“The hell it ain’t I saw you on all fours and furry” he huffs like it’s a joke. Your mind reels, flashes again. You remember the pain, the screams the gunshots. You attacked the man who groped you, you bit his hand when the shooting started and darted into the general store again. You attacked the clerk, you killed him. 

“The clerk” you whisper, the ghoul looks at you and nods. 

“He didn’t-“ you cry, feeling tears. 

“He had his gun out, he was shootin’ you that’s self defence” he says and you shake your head. 

“Listen to me. You shifted, that bastard triggered it by feeling you up like that, you’ve been in your wolf form since this morning till now, that’s a whole day and some, you got new smells and sounds hitting you from all directions and new feelings, one dead guy isn’t worth the worry” he says like it’s so easy to forget that you just killed a man. You shake your head and he growls making you stop and stare at him. You swallow, relax a bit looking at his hazel eyes in the darkness, the moon peeking through a hole in the roof. 

“Right” you whisper. 

“Right” he agrees voice lower. 

“I don’t, remember much after… killing the clerk” you say. 

“You were even more of a pain in my ass” he says annoyed. 

“What?” You blink. 

“You kept sniffin’ everything, you fought every rad-roach you found, then a mole rat bit you and you ran off yelping” he glares. You stare at him then laugh, he blinks in surprise as you break out in giggles, your tears forgotten. 

“You think that’s funny?” He growls tensing up  and you nod giggling some more. He sighs, huffs through his nose and you see his lips twitch slightly. 

“Wait… the mate pull, have you-? This whole time?” He tenses, eyes darting away. He gets off you then and panic floods your body. 

“No, wait please-“ you say. 

“I need a minute” he snaps and you flinch, but nod sitting there on the floor still naked. You awkwardly cover yourself and he sighs sitting nearby you, leg propped up to cover his privates. 

“Why didn’t you say anything?” You ask after some silence. 

“The fuck was I supposed to say? You wouldn’t have believed me” he glares ahead. 

“I-“ he’s right in some way, you wouldn’t have considering your relationship has been nothing but threats, growls and snarls. You glance at him, he looks… vulnerable without clothing. Leathery scarred skin on display, he’s got some muscles, but isn’t bulky like most male wolves you’ve seen. The males in your old den were always big, with either muscles, weight or height. 

“I’m sorry” you whisper. 

“Ain’t nothin’ to be sorry for” he says huffing through his naval cavity. 

“There is. I dreamt about you” you whisper and he frowns looking at you. 

“Your wolf and mine, I could always hear and smell you, few nights ago I finally saw you. Then you shifted in real life and I realised it was you I’d been dreaming about since I met you” you explain nervously. 

“Since I was… kicked out of the vault, for the first two weeks nothing happened. I found an old lady named Granny Ky, I worked for her, she gave me food, water, clothing and a place to stay. Then the legion came, she told me to go inside, but I was too slow I was waiting for the caravan Brahmin, I used to brush her, I didn’t know who they were though. They asked if I was untouched and not married. Should’ve been my first clue, I told them no and they put a hood over my head and dragged me away, Granny Ky didn’t help, then again she couldn’t do anything. When I was with the legion I felt so restless, on edge, pent up, one night their leader brought me to his tent and said I’d be his bearer for strong sons. Panic gripped me, something in my brain clicked and I grabbed his sword and killed him before he could blink. Then I ran, I kept running, and running, something urged me faster away from danger till I collapsed and passed out. Then I found that town called filly after I found some dead raiders. Then I met you” you tell him your story while fiddling with your fingers. 

“Shit” he sighs. 

“Yeah. Shit” you repeat the word sounding funny in your mouth. 

“Bein’ up here, it messes with your head if you ain’t been born into it” he says and you frown. 

“You weren’t born into it?” You ask confused. He tenses again, his eyes staring ahead. 

“I’ve been around a long time. Before the war” he says quietly and you freeze. Before the war? 200 years ago and then some? 

“How-?” You ask. 

“Spite” he jokes and you frown. He makes jokes at the wrong times. 

“Radiation, ghouls live a long time if I can keep my vials” he says then freezes again. 

“You- you don’t have any” you whisper seeing the panic in his eyes. 

“What happens?” You dare ask. 

“I go feral” he mutters and your heart thuds against your chest. 

“We need to get you some” you say standing up searching the room for something like clothes. 

“Darlin’ you’re butt naked and so am I” he snorts. 

“Then we shift” you say. 

“You just had your first shift out of pure panic, it don’t work like that without training” he huffs. 

“I’m panicking right now!” You fight back. 

“Not enough, plus people tend to shoot wolves” he grunts. 

“I don’t care you can’t go feral on me! You’re-“ you stop and breathe his eyes snapping to yours. 

“You just can’t” you flush and finish going to find some clothes, hearing a muttered curse behind you. 

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@softycheol

Part 6

The ghoul sort of managed to, repurpose his clothes, his duster, hat and boots, the main things to survive clothing wise. The rest were torn, claw marks in them, he said there was a settlement nearby few hours north. You offered to get him new clothes so he could stay back, which is how you ended up in the general store of whatever this town was called again. He gave you a pouch of caps, vaguely said his size before he sat down in an rubbled building, got a needle and thread out and got to work. You hesitated getting him clothes then, if he was just gonna mend these one, then again he looked awkward and uncomfortable without his clothing on so you left him to it. Dogmeat was by your side sniffing the shelves in excitement while you found some men’s clothing that looked like it would fit him. You lay them on the counter, the man gives you a once over and raises an eyebrow. 

“Your man send you?” He asks. 

“My man?” You frown having never heard that saying before. 

“Yeah, husband, boyfriend, partner” he clarifies with a roll of his eyes as he checks each item. 

“Oh, no, we’re just… traveling companions” you settle for. The clerk snorts in response before looking at you.  

“100 caps” he says, you nod and dig into the pouch the ghoul gave you. You give the man a 100 caps, take the clothes and head out the building. You sigh a bit heading to leave the town when hands grab your hips. Your body freezes and you go to turn around. 

“Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes” the man chuckles, a different man, he stinks of liquor. He squeezes your hips and you grimace trying to push him off. 

“Sir, please leave me alone” you say and he just snickers, pressing his hips forward. You feel something hard press against your backside as he grinds against you. You feel a rage fill you before everything goes dark. 

Cooper POV 

What the hell was taking the she half wolf so damn long? He’s sitting here half naked and feeling a little more than vulnerable in more ways than one. He hears shots, makes him jolt, his head snaps up as he pin-points the shooting to the town you’re in. Shit. He’s quick when he wants to be, gun already out, he’s tryna figure out what people are shooting at, and where the hell you are. 

“It’s a mutant!” Someone yells and he frowns not smelling or seeing any super mutants, or any mutations for that matter. 

“Shoot it, it’s in there!” Coopers ears, eyes and nose working double time, where the hell are you? He hears Dogmeat’s barks and quickly goes towards the sound. He’s in the general shop by the looks of it, blood hits his nose as does your scent. You’re in here and you’re pissed. He frowns gun raised as he wonders briefly if you went feral somehow. He hears the sound of something eating flesh, he peers behind the counter and freezes. There, eating whoever run this place is a wolf, bigger than normal, same colour fur as your hair, hackles raised, bullet wounds in your side healing. 

“Did you kill it?” Someone yells from out the store and he curses as the wolf’s head snaps up. He sees your eyes, but it ain’t you in there, not right, right now you’re running on baser instinct and anger. 

“Easy” he murmurs as your nose twitches and you tilt your head. 

“Yeah I know, you smell me now don’t you?” He says hoping to keep you from eating someone else. However the wasteland isn’t full of smart people and someone comes walking in gun raised and starts shooting at you. He snarls, turns and blows the fuckers head off, his body falling to the ground. 

“Come on she wolf we gotta depart” he says looking for a back way out, you’re only interested in eating though. 

“I know you’re ravaged right now, first turnin’ and all, but we ain’t got time for you to snack on clerk man here while the town wants us dead” he huffs at you. You growl at him, muzzle covered in blood, teeth red. 

“Oh so now you wanna growl back at me?” He scoffs, but you just continue and he sighs. 

“Fuckin’ fine then” he mumbles, his clothes are shit anyway. He kicks his shoes off and his throws his duster off, his bones crack, his muscles reshape as his body goes from human mutant to wolf mutant. You tilt your head, sniffing towards his direction, seeming more interested in his wolf form than his human right now. He growls when you go back to eat and your ears flatten, you lower yourself covering your neck and belly. Using his bigger mutated size he nudges you away from the dead clerk and out the back with a snap and warning snarl.  He barks at Dogmeat who perks her head and joins them. He picks his hat up with his jaw, he’s gonna miss his duster, his clothes, they were a comfort, a protection. He walks behind you as your ears twitch this way and that, listening to new sounds, your nose is twitching hardcore too, smelling things you’ve never probably smelt. You dart off suddenly and he mentally curses before chasing after you. You run into a run down shack, he smells the rad roaches too and watches you tear into them with an unnerving amount of ferociousness. He lets you, seeing as he took you from your last meal, though he knows rad-roaches taste like shit. He sits back on his hind legs awkwardly, placing his hat down. You’re tearing into one of the larger roaches before you’re turning back to him. He watches your eyes, it still ain’t you in there, he’s worried, if you’ve gone feral from your first shift, well… most don’t come back from that. You pick up the roach and walk over to him dropping it at his feet before sitting on your haunches too. You nudge the roach towards him and he huffs through his nasal cavity. What sort of mate would he be if he denied your hunt and food offering? He grumbles in his head, leans down and begins chewing on one of its legs. Your tongue lolls out, your tail wags, there’s that he supposes, while chewing the disgusting meat. He can’t stomach much of the thing, but you seem satisfied with your sharing of your hunt as you stand up again. You get in his space and he snarls out of instinct. You whine, ears pinning back, lowering yourself submissively again. He huffs, shakes out his body even though he doesn’t have any fur to shake, then leans closer to you. Your ears perk up again, eyes focusing on him as you lift yourself up again. Your tail wags behind you, he forgot how easy it was to excite a newly shifted wolf. You lick at his muzzle and he freezes his mind blanking for a moment. He snarls gently, in warning, you’re persistent though, he knows you can smell him, knows you can catch his scent properly, can probably feel the pull too if you weren’t currently using your animal brain. You lick him again, this time he nips at your nose and you lower yourself to the ground. He hears shouting, footsteps, his ears perk up, his head snaps towards the direction. Time to go. He nudges you, picking his hat up in his jaw and forcing you to your legs and out the building, Dogmeat following behind them as he tries to put distance between them and the town. 

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@softycheol

PART 5

Your hands shake, your mind races to process what just happened. He shifted, but it wasn’t a normal wolf, it was like the one you saw in your dream, the exact same. You’d been dreaming about him? Why? Your thoughts spin, gosh he almost stepped on the land mine too, and then somebody shot it. You’ve got burns on your arm, but apart from that he took majority of it. Gosh you hope he’s ok, he has to be ok. You can’t think though, can’t get yourself to move as you hear gun fire and the sound of screams and a howl of victory. Dogmeat whimpers by you and you pet her with a shaky hand. 

For five minutes you hear nothing. Deafening silence beside your heart beating and shaky breaths. You hear a crunch of rubble and snap your head. You freeze, you see him, his wolf form, mutated. He’s got no hair, his skin is leathery and red, covered in scarring. His front legs are longer, his paws looking like hands. His back legs are longer too bending at an awkward angle. He’s got no nose either and his muzzle is covered in blood, but his eyes, you know those hazel eyes as they stare at you. 

“Hey” you whisper swallowing shakily. He just eyes you and you worry a bit. Is he fully man right now? 

“Are you ok?” You whisper and he glances awkwardly to the bullet wounds on his body. 

“Oh goddess-“ you panic a bit. 

“Come here, let me-“ let you what? Prob at him? No stimpak he needs a stimpak. 

“I have a stimpak, yeah-“ you shuffle your bag and open it as he stalks closer. He’s unnerving to look at, nightmare material, but you don’t feel in danger when you clearly should. Your hands shake so bad and you curse yourself as you try to hold the syringe steady. He’s close by and you jump a mile. He whines, actually whines and steps back. 

“No- no, you just- you have silent movement” you say softly taking a breath. 

“It’s ok” you whisper and hold your hand out. His hazel eyes dart to your hand and you briefly wonder why he doesn’t shift back. 

“Can I give you a stimpak?” You ask. He huffs a bit and lies down, you relax and nod. 

“Sorry” you whisper before injecting it into his side. He doesn’t even flinch though, you take it out and toss it to the side. You glance at Dogmeat and freeze a moment, but she just sits there like this is normal. 

“Gosh” you sit back a bit hands still shaking. You watch in mild horror and mild fascination as his healing kicks in. The bullets leave his skin, clattering on the ground before sealing over with a slight scar. 

“Did you get them?” You ask and he nods making you relax a bit. 

“Raiders?” You ask and he shakes his whole body. 

“Not raiders” you whisper as he grumbles and walks closer to you. 

“Oh” you whisper a bit. His eyes stare at yours intensely and you take a shaky breath. You lift your hand and he snarls a bit. You falter before he stops, you move again slower this time before you touch his head. He watches you intently before closing his eyes. His skin is weirdly soft despite being scarred. You don’t know why you’re touching him he looks like a horror story, covered in blood. 

“Bet they didn’t taste good” you joke softly despite it all and he snorts through his naval cavity a cool puff of air hitting your arm. You look at his ears, they’re large and long, one has a scar, like a bullet skimmed it, you never noticed that on his human form. He snarls softly though and you freeze seeing his eyes looking at your burnt forearms. 

“I’m ok, just light burns” you try to downplay it despite the burning pain going through your arms. You freeze as a wet tongue slides across your arm. You try not to gag, you know he’s only trying to help, but his muzzle is covered in blood. 

“No- you’ve got blood all over you” you nudge his head gently. He growls again in warning before he seems to understand. 

He growls again suddenly and you jolt as he stumbles away, his bones cracking. He’s shifting back. You stand up you spot his duster he managed to get off and grab it quickly. You see him lying on the ground on his stomach naked and freeze a bit before your brain kicks in. You cover him and he snarls weakly. 

“It’s me” you say softly lying the duster over him. 

“I’ll check your clothes and stuff ok?” You say and he just groans. You frown a bit, you thought for his age he’d be used to shifting. His clothing however is showing a different story. Torn, broken or burnt. You grab his guns, his hat, saddle bags, boots and the scraps before walking back over to him. Dogmeat masks at him and you huff at her. 

“Your clothes are um-“ you trail off before he coughs violently and you tense up. 

“What’s wrong?” You panic and kneel by him. He speaks but it’s barely audible. 

“Hey- try again, here’s water” you try and he snarls. 

“Vials” he gets out and you frown. Oh! Those vials, the one he inhales. You scramble through his saddle bag and hiss in pain as something cuts you. Oh no. You pour the contents out, broken shards of glass. 

“Ghoul… they’re broken” you say checking the other pocket as he coughs violently again. Your hands begin to shake again and you find one intact barely. It has a crack along the side. 

“Here, this one has a crack in it, you might have to drink it, just-“ he groans weakly. 

“I’m gonna turn you over” you say and he growls weakly but can’t do much as you turn him over. You cover him with his duster before you pop off the top of the vial. 

“Here” you grab his head and rest it in your lap before pressing the vial to his mouth. He drinks it and you sit there and wait as his body is abnormally still, his breathing nothing but rasps. 

“Come on” you whisper your heart pounding in your chest, your hands shaking as you cup his cheek. Your mind flickers a bit, between growling him awake and shifting to protect him. Which is impossible given your situation. He gasps, dry coughs leaving him as you sigh in relief and Dogmeat barks. 

“Relax- hey! You gotta breathe” you say holding him steady. He stops coughing eventually and you hold the canteen to his lips for him to drink a bit. Your hand is still on his cheek as his eyes refocus, he frowns a bit before staring up at you. You freeze, realise the position you’re in and flush. He breathes in and frowns eyes snapping to your bleeding hand. 

“I cut it on glass” you explain softly. 

“Your vials, your things they uh-“ you trail off a bit as he looks at the broken shard pile. He growls in frustration, but doesn’t move much, his body must be still out of it. 

“We can get more right?” You ask and he frowns looking at you again. 

“You… you saved me. I can help you get more kinda my fault anyway” you offer your thumb brushing over his cheek. Gosh what are you doing? What is this feeling? Why is he so warm? Why does he smell so good? 

“Wasn’t your fault” he grunts finally speaking and you relax. 

“You said they weren’t raiders” he sighs and shakes his head. 

“Mercenaries, too well geared up” he says in thought. 

“Why?” You say confused. 

“Cause I piss a lotta people off half wolf” he snorts and you blink at him. 

“Did you just joke?” You ask looking at him like he’s got two heads. 

“You’re meant to laugh not interrogate me” he sneers and you smile a bit. 

“Your wolf…” he tenses up his eyes flicking away from yours and you stop the conversation or thoughts. 

“You’re gonna need new gear” you say instead and he grunts as you show him his pile of clothing. 

“Fuck” he sighs. 

“I ain’t a damn dog you know” he says and you frown before you realise you’re still touching him and stroking your thumb on his cheek. 

“Sorry” you flush a bit.  

“S alright” he mumbles. 

Next part ->

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@softycheol

Cooper POV kinda gorey ngl

He’s so fucked. Never in his life has he been more fucked than he is right now. It isn’t because of radiation, it isn’t because of bullets, it isn’t because of raiders or anything else in the wasteland that wants to kill you… no it’s a goddamn she wolf who isn’t even a full wolf. He snarls at the thought while his wolf side is practically drooling and howling at the thought of you. Stupid son of a bitch he was, thinking he’d take up an easy bounty for some religious dick heads. Figured it was a run away pregnant woman stupid enough to kill a man in that situation and managed to not get killed. The moment he smelt you though he knew he was fucked. His sense of smell was out of control, once the radiation did its damage he was left twisted, looking like a freak show in and out of wolf form and some weird new perks going on, like the ability to smell things he shouldn’t be able to smell outside of being a full blooded wolf. So when he waltz into that legion camp and got caught of your fear lingering in the hut he needed to go for a hunt. Promised whoever was in charge to get you, that was a lie, no way in hell was he letting anyone have you. You just had to be a fucking vault dweller though, stupid ass pip-boy and wide eyed naiveness. Still… the moon goddess whether she’s still here or not likes to play her jokes and made his mate the exact thing he hates. Mate… that was a new word, even before the war it wasn’t thrown around much besides when he was younger and living on his daddy’s ranch. He didn’t believe his mammas stories till it literally happened right in front of his fucking eyes. First it was catching your scent, then the need to hunt filled him so much he barely made conversation with that legion man and up and left ready to sink his teeth in whatever the hell was smelling this good. Then he saw you, and like some fucking fairy tale he felt the pull. You weren’t dressed like a vault dweller but he knew, could smell it lingering on your skin. Problem was, you were a half wolf, you didn’t get the mate pull, nor did you have any fucking clue who he was to you and that was some sort of sick fucking joke the moon goddess would send his way for all the bullshit he’s done. You were a defiant little thing though, little ain’t exactly a word he’d use though for you. No you were a woman through and through and with hell of a soft body too. It’s rare seeing that kind of thing in the wasteland, everyone’s rough, hagged and withered. You’re just a ray of fucking sunshine and damn it he hates you. He hates you so much, because why did you have to come now? When he was so close to finding his chosen family, he could’ve just killed you, stolen your pip-boy and been done with it. Instead he dragged you along and you’ve got no idea about this wasteland and how it works. Like some baby fucking Brahmin with your stupid eyes and stupid soft body. 

He growls and swipes off the contents of the table in front of him, making them clash to the floor. He needs to get a hold of himself. 

“Hey? You ok?” Your voice pierces through his thoughts and he turns to look at you standing in the doorway awkwardly, Dogmeat by your side. 

“Fine” he snarls and you just sigh. His snarling and growling used to make you flinch or at least side eye him, apparently within the span of a week you couldn’t give a fuck about his attitude and that just pissed him off even more. Fear he could work with, not this indifference of ‘I’m a she wolf and I don’t give a damn you’re snarling and growling like some posturing male dick head’ You walk off and he sighs wanting to pinch the bridge of his nose. 

Something ain’t right with you though. Nah half wolves don’t have those senses and attack modules in their brain. You went full feral on his ass, one minute you were sleeping beauty the next you were strangling him like he assaulted you. Which he kind of did, still he’s kicked you before and you didn’t act all feral on him. Something had shifted, your scent had spiked and he saw a faint glow in your eyes that wasn’t there before and felt fear flood him. You couldn’t pick it up thankfully, not after you snapped out of it and he shoved you off like a rag doll. His hands had shook though, his adrenaline had spiked and his wolf had shoved forward in his mind demanding submission. Only she wolf he ever submitted to was his mamma, now she was terrifying and not afraid to beat his ass. Barb and him had a respective relationship, he did love her, even though she wasn’t his mate, he loved Janey too, that was his pup and he’d do anything to get her back. 

The hospital is picked clean, nothing but empty syringes and boxes of would have been chems. He sighs stupid waste of time, he needed something to distract him though. Suppose he could get some rad scorpion poison, then again he tried that once, woke up two days later in somewhere he didn’t recognise with his shit gone. He had real fun hunting them fuckers down and tearing them apart in his beast form. 

“Half wolf” he snaps as he walks past you still sitting in the waiting room area, Dogmeat by your legs. He expects you to follow and you do, it relaxes him a little that you do listen to him despite being indifferent to his snarls and snaps. Dogmeat walks by his side and he glances down at the dog, she looks up at him head tilted like he’s questioning what he’s doing with you. He huffs and looks away from her before hitting the road.

The old buildings barely stand around him, dust and debris making his nose twitch too much. Why the hell didn’t they make nose coverings for ghouls, that shit would sell. 

“Wait!” He jolts as your hand grabs his arm with surprising strength that shouldn’t be normal for a half wolf. 

“The fuck you do that for?!” He growls. 

“Look” you point to the ground. He frowns and sees a land mine… well shit. 

“Fuck” he mutters stepping back a little. Your hand clenching his arm tightly, hand shaking a little. He’d been so caught up in his thoughts he almost blew himself to fucking pieces. He glances at you, your eyes are wide, your chest is heaving a bit, you still haven’t let go either. You’ve got anxiety and panic in your scent too and you’re staring at the land mine a little too harshly. Double shit. He hears a shuffle of movement, a cock of a gun and his head snaps to one of the far buildings. He snarls, quickly throwing you both to the ground as the shooter hits the land mine. Heat engulfs his back and he groans as pains floods him. You scream under him pressing closer as rubble crashes around you. Rage fills him quickly, these fuckers tried to kill his mate. His body shifts on its own, he barely has time to shrug his clothes off as his bones crack and his muscles reform. 

“Hide!” He gets out though it sounds like a super mutant more than anything as he shifts. You thankfully listen as you scramble into cover into the building nearby. He tears his clothes off the rest of the way before he lets out a growling howl and charges towards the building the shooter was in. His heart pumps loudly in his ears, his vision tinged red as he pushes his muscles to burn. He jumps up the stairs ignoring the bullets hitting him as he opens his jaws and goes straight for the shooters face. His jaws snap shut, the taste of blood fills his mouth as his eyes snap wide open, as blood lust and hunt satisfaction fills him. He lets go, the man’s head no more, limp body falling to the ground. He howls in victory before more shots hit him. His head snaps and turns seeing another man armed with an assault rifle. Too kitted to be a raider. He charges towards him too, deciding to take his take, the man’s cries of pains and begging filling the air. 

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Nothing is said about your little anger spurt. You keep your words to yourself and hope he doesn’t hold some sort of grudge towards you for pinning him to the ground and wrapping your hand around his neck. He had your neck too though, guess it was even in that sense. You can’t shake the feeling though, that anger, that growl that wasn’t entirely human, the way your reflexes moved lightening speed and not at all human. The dream too, that figure, it wasn’t a normal looking shifter wolf, but their eyes looked so familiar, you just can’t place it. Your thoughts are interrupted though by a voice. 

“Half wolf” the ghoul calls and you sigh. You’ve told him your name multiple times, but apparently your name is now half wolf and he enjoys reminding you of your lack of shifting and wolf half. 

“What?” You answer despite your bristling. 

“Map” he says hand out expectantly.  You roll your eyes, a please would be nice, or could I have a look at the map? Something that isn’t one worded anger. Suppose though you deserve it, you did jump the man, but, he also kicked you awake. You walk over to him holding out your pip-boy, he grunts tugging you closer so he can get a better look. You stumble a bit, you hate getting in his space, he radiates warmth, smells comforting, but he’s an asshole through and through. 

“Can I ask you something?” You say quietly. His hazel eyes dart to yours, staring you down. 

“What?” He grunts and you perk up, it’s better than the sneer and no you usually get. 

“You’re a ghoul right?” You ask. 

“No shit” he says narrowing his gaze. 

“I’ve never seen a ghoul, I didn’t want to assume, you match the description though. But, the- a lady I worked for said ghouls can be feral?” You tilt your head and you watch his eyes snap to your neck, his tongue running over the front of his teeth. 

“I ain’t feral yet” he huffs, you go to ask another question, but he’s walking off sneering. 

“Hustle up half wolf, you’re slowing us down” he snaps. You falter, stutter a bit, he’s the one who stopped in the first place! You make an annoyed noise and follow after him. 

So ghouls can be human and feral. What does feral even mean for a ghoul though? Granny Ky just said crazed beings who like human flesh, now you’ve seen what he eats and uh… you’re pretty sure it isn’t animal, doesn’t smell like animal. Plus he’s a little trigger happy, maybe not crazed, but he isn’t exactly what you call normal. With wolves of any kind feral means loosing yourself to the animal side, you loose your humanity, the ability to shift, any connection to the goddess or the pack, you just… become a beast with enhanced urges depending on how you went feral. Confined feral’s are the worse, you’ve seen it one in your pack a young man named Thomas, he had started showing signs and they locked him up with the doctor. You don’t think they helped him, they just kept making excuses, it was too late, or too severe, he was already gone. They had to kill him, put him down with an injection and then burnt his body. 

You approach a large building, an old hospital by the looks of it. Cooper approaches the entrance, breathing in deeply through his naval cavity. 

“Look alive” is all he says before walking on in, his pistol out. You unholster your pistol too, to be completely honest you have no clue what you’re doing with it, praying that if you sort of aim and squeeze the trigger it’ll hopefully shoot. You strain your ears listening for anything, he obviously caught something, but you can’t smell or hear anything. You follow behind him, Dogmeat sniffing anything she finds interesting along the way. 

“Should be some chems in here…somewhere” he says searching the first room. 

“Somewhere?” You question. 

“Stop hanging ‘bout in my pocket go search the other rooms” he sneers. You hold your hands up in surrender and sigh walking to another room. There’s nothing but junk and a skeleton, you move to the next room and that’s when you hear it, scuttling. You snap your head to the pipes that are over your head. Something just moved those pipes. You take a deep breath in, your nose scrunches though, smells like poison or radiation. You can’t hear it now though and assume it’s scurried off. You sigh a bit in relief and head to check other rooms. 

Nothing. All the chems or whatever he’s looking for has been cleared out already. You sigh and wait in what looks to be a waiting room area, sitting down on one of the more sturdy look chairs. Dogmeat finds you, her tongue lulling out as she sits beside you, ears perked as she listens. The ghoul finally joins you, raising an eyebrow. 

“The fuck you doin’ sittin’ round for?” He sneers. 

“I didn’t find anything” you say and he makes an annoyed growl before something crashing catches both your attention. You jolt and look a barricaded room, the door jolts again, rattling the old tables and chairs blocking it. 

“What’s that?” You whisper and stand up walking over to him instinctively. You catch the smell of poison and radiation again. Dogmeat barks and snarls towards the door making the door jostle again. 

“Dogmeat” the ghoul snaps and she quickly walks back over to him. 

“Think we should leave” he says voice quiet. You just nod not wanting to find out what’s behind that door. You delay in turning, watching the table crack under the insistent bashing. 

“Ghoul-“ you breathe in a panic as the door bursts open. You stare as a giant scorpion crashes through the door, shaking its head through the debris before its spots you. 

“Half wolf!” The ghoul snarls snatching you by the collar. Your body jolts as you feel an arm go around your waist and your feet being dragged back. Shots go off by your ear before you finally get the sense to take out your gun and shoot aimlessly. You hit it a few times out of sheer beginners luck. Something falls from the ceiling though, you yelp and jolt out of the ghouls hold. It’s another scorpion, not as large as the big one, but still abnormally big given the history you’ve seen on them. You struggle with the smaller scorpion on you, you cry and force it to the floor, a surge of energy going through you as you bash it with the butt of your gun. A disgusting smell fills your nose as blood and guts spray everywhere. You groan and shuffle back on your bottom only for your foot to be grabbed. You look at the ghoul who quickly tugs you to him and you glance back seeing a large stinger embedded right where you were. More shots go off, a hand gripping your shoulder in an iron grip, the scorpions head exploding and finally collapsing to the floor. You pant, you’re gripping the ghouls leg desperate for something sturdy to hold onto. You look at the giant scorpions your nose filled with acid and poison. The hand on your shoulder moves, gripping the back of your neck instead, it relaxes you quickly, you remember to breathe properly instead of quick harsh pants that aren’t getting any oxygen in. 

“What… is that?” You whisper in question. 

“Rad scorpion mamma” he mutters in response. 

“That?” You whisper pointing to the smaller one. 

“Rad scorpion baby” he answers and you shudder, pressing closer to his leg. You hate this place. 

“I smelt one in a room I looked in. I didn’t know what it was” you whisper, hating yourself a little for not recognising the danger. 

“You ain’t been up here long, don’t know what things smell like” his words surprise you, they feel like forgiveness, like he doesn’t blame you. 

“Get the fuck off my leg half wolf” he grumbles. Never mind then, moments ruined. You let him go and he walks to the barricaded door. 

“Are you stupid?!” It slips out before you can control as you get to your feet. 

“The fuck you call me?” He snaps stalking towards you again, getting up in your personal space, leering down at you, showing dominance again. 

“That, mamma rad scorpion came from there!” You say not backing down. 

“It’s dead now, can’t smell anymore, probably ate her other babies for a snack” he smirks showing yellow teeth and a slight fang. You frown a bit, is he half beast half wolf then? He growls and walks off apparently not liking you not backing down or looking at his teeth. 

You decide it’s easier to wait for him, make sure the dead scorpion doesn’t twitch or something. You sigh sitting down on a sturdy chair, you can feel your hands shaking. You look at them, trembles going through your body as the adrenaline crashes. You clasp your hands together shaking your head. You try not to look at the dead rad scorpions or breathe in too deeply through your nose. The ghoul though, he had protected you, grabbed you even if it was more like hauling you around like dead wait. He let you cling to his leg too for a short while, his hand had grabbed the back of your neck too, a calming and grounding gesture amongst wolves. Maybe he went as aloof as he leads on to be, that or he just needs you alive for some stupid selfish reason. He could just steal your pip-boy though, he doesn’t need you, so why did he save you?

notes: thinking bout doing cooper pov next

Next part ->

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Travelling with a ghoul is harder than it was when you were travelling by yourself those first two weeks. He never stops, he never slows, he rarely sleeps, hardly stops to eat or eat in general, and his communication is straight-up rude besides grunts and threats of making sure you don’t go too slow for his liking. 

It’s been a week of travel with him. Apparently, you're heading to Vault 25, for some unknown reason, he won't tell you. You’ve tried to ask him when he decides it’s time for rest, but he just grunts, lowers his hat on his face, and silently orders you to take first watch. Hell, even the dog, her name is Dogmeat apparently, is more of a conversationist than he is, she’ll sit by you, grumble or huff in response to your chatter. Probably out of annoyance, but it’s nice that someone at least listens.  You don’t believe he actually sleeps, just sits there resting rather than going into REM, then sometime during the night he’ll get up and decide you can have your turn at sleep, which you’re more than happy to take, you need sleep, you rely on sleep to not be grumpy. However, he doesn't seem to get the memo.

Every night you dream the same dream, running, you can’t tell if you’re on all fours or two legs, though, it’s always through your eyes. Dusty desert of endless soft warm sands, the moon glowing ethereal above you, full and closer than it has ever been to the earth, like the goddess is shining on your journey. You’re never alone, though you can always sense a presence, always hear a low, distant howl that you can't quite reach, a scent you can’t quite catch fully enough to follow. You get glimpses, a shadow mostly, a figure like a ghost. Every time you wake up, you wonder if it is your pack, your mother trying to connect to you despite the severance of the tea, or pack bonds trying to reconnect. You doubt that, though, nobody in your pack ever liked you beyond tolerance of what was expected for a ‘high-ranking’ family of the pack. You never understand them, never bring it up with the ghoul either, you doubt he’d care or listen. Dogmeat just gives you a cute tilted head look every time you ask her questions, like she doesn't know their meaning either.

“Can we stop here tonight?” You ask, legs aching, hips stiff. He grunts, looks around the half-crumbled building and decides no. 

“No”, he says and continues to walk, leaving you even more annoyed and in pain than before. 

“What do you mean, no? It’s a good spot to stop!” You say wanting to throttle the ghoul and his stupid endurance and lack of communication or explanations. 

“I said no”, he sneers, expecting silence after he sneers. 

“We need to stop the dog is tired, I’m tired!” You snap back. The ghoul glances at Dogmeat, who looks back at him. She whines, tilts her head before panting again. She’s not tired, but maybe he’ll take pity on the dog instead of you. 

“She’s fine”, the ghoul says, ignoring your tiredness completely. Bastard. You walk on till the sun finally sets and the cold of the night creeps up. Another damn thing about him, he won’t light a fire, doesn’t matter if you’re part wolf or have wolf genes, you didn’t get the nice in-built heating system that comes with them. He finally slows in front of a rubble-filled building. Eyes it up and down before deciding it’s up to his standard and walks in. You scoff, looks exactly like the building you picked, what a prick. You follow in after him, lay down your blanket on a flat, sort of clean area and sit down without him even confirming it’s clear, screw him. The ghoul eyes you, sneer on his lips, you glare back, jutting out your chin again in defiance as Dogmeat lies down beside you blissfully unaware. He snarls and scouts the rest of the building, while you smirk to yourself in small victories of making him look away first and pissing him off. You share your food with Dogmeat, and she doesn’t mind cold beans as much as you do, they taste…funny. 

The ghoul finally comes back, apparently happy with his scouting off the building. He doesn’t look at you, and you take that as another small victory as he sits down on the floor, long legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed as he sighs. You can’t help but glance at him as he settles in, hat lowered across his face once more.

“Was a white cross on the wall” he says, suddenly making you frown. At his sudden words and lack of explanation… again. 

“What?” You ask, confused. 

“Back at the building you said we should stop at. Was a white cross, means it’s marked, a common dealer spot for raiders usually,” he says, sipping some of his canteen, not bothering to look at you still. 

“Oh”, you whisper, feeling embarrassed. You didn’t notice any cross, just saw a roof and assumed it’d be a good place to rest, plus you were aching all over and wanted to rest. 

“You’ll learn,” he says quietly before going silent. Guess you’re on first watch then. He never sorted out a system. Sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he doesn’t, sometimes he just rests, and you have no idea what’s going on in his head. You sigh, finishing your food before hugging your knees. Dogmeat takes up the end of your makeshift bed, curling up and closing her eyes. You smile a bit at her before you glance at the ghoul who is leaning against a wall. You wonder what he’d look like in wolf form. Was he a full shifter? Or werewolf, half man, half beast. Would he have no nose too in that form? No hair? Would he look like how his face is, scarred and leathery rather than covered in fur? You take a deep breath, and he smells different to your pack, obviously, given the circumstances and his radiation. You can smell the chemicals on him, too, whatever he pulls out of his bag and inhales, or chews or whatever else he does to get his fix. Your nose isn’t as good as a full-blooded wolf, though, you’re only half, barely, enhanced senses, slightly enhanced endurance, slightly enhanced strength, everything else is just… not there, no changes during full moon, no heat cycles, no mate calls, no tug of the moon when it nears its fullness. You can pick up certain cues on emotions, how scents change, though you can hardly pinpoint them properly. If you were full-blooded, your nose would be able to pick up any hormonal or scent change from a person; instead, you just get a vague notion of their smell, usually up here it’s just dirt, grime, blood… other things you dont want to mention, nobody smells good… not that you expect them to, that would be rude. The ghoul, though, he smells familiar, probably because he is a wolf too, but there is something else, something you can't pinpoint, he smells more comforting than your mother somehow, like safety, which is stupid, given what he is and where he comes from, not that you should judge, but you are.

Sometime during the night, the ghoul stirs awake, you’re thankful, you’re ready to collapse. You’re still hugging your knees, your eyes are closed, but you’re listening. You hear him stand and walk, the shink of his spurs slow. 

“Real good watching,” he jokes lowly. 

“I’m listening,” you say, not bothering to open your eyes. You shiver a bit, the cold getting to you more now in the night. 

“Listenin’ huh? How goods your hearin’ half wolf?” He asks mockingly, and you open your eyes, trying not to look surprised at his initiation of conversation, even if he is mocking you. 

“Better than humans, less than a full-blooded”, you explain. He stares down at you, head tilted slightly as he studies you. 

“Hm”, he says and walks off, his scent wafting past you. Dogmeat follows him, wanting to do whatever her master is doing. You sigh and lie down, curling up and trying to keep your middle warm. You’re almost asleep when you hear his footsteps return, but you still tremble from the cold, though. You listen to his steps stop by you and pretend you’re sleeping instead of wanting to listen to him scold you about how you’re not asleep. 

“Dogmeat,” he says in a low, quiet voice. 

“Lie down here”, he orders the dog quietly. You end up ignoring him, instead glad he isn’t going to wake you up. Dogmeat lies by your legs, though, and you have to hold in a sigh at her warmth. You hear rustling of cloth, and suddenly a heavy blanket is laid over you before his footsteps leave. You blink, open your eyes and see his duster covering you, your heart jumps. You tug it closer, and it smells like him and the wasteland, it’s oddly comforting, warm too. You sigh and press closer to Dogmeat and make sure she’s covered, too, before finally falling asleep again.

You’re dreaming again. You’re running on all fours, looking out through eyes that see in the night so much more clearly. The stars sparkle, the moons glows other worldly over you. Warm sand under your paws, a cool breeze through your fur. You hear a distant howl, your ears perk, and you change direction. This time, you’re not running and running, and to catch up to whoever howled, though, you see a figure in the distance, hunched, on all fours, but it isn't a natural look for a wolf shifter. They almost look like a werewolf. You approach slowly, tail low, but stiff, the stranger turns and snarls, yellowing sharp teeth, saliva drooling from its maw, they dont have a nose either, skin burnt back to the bone. You notice they have no fur, too, leathery and scarred skin instead, tail bent crooked in the middle like it didn't heal properly from a break. It breathes in through its naval cavity, making a rasping sound before its ears perk forward. You approach slowly, slowly it lower’s it’s head, eyes focused on you, you recognise something about its eyes, as if you know them from somewhere. You're getting closer, sniffing, but not scenting anything. You lower your head, a submissive gesture. You watch the wolf twitch, watch it thrash, snarl, then roar before it stands up on its back legs and charges. 

You wake up to a kick on the ankle, your dream interrupted, your adrenaline kicking in. You growl, an inhuman sound as you can’t tell dream from reality. You’re tackling whoever kicked you, sending you both to the ground in a blur. You hear a curse, you dont register it though as you grab the hand grabbing you, force it above their head and wrap your hand around their throat, snarling.

“What the fuck?” You hear a voice come out from whoever is under you and freeze, eyes focusing on the ghoul under you. You’re gripping his neck, the other hand is holding one of his wrists to the floor, and his hand is around your neck too. You’re straddling him, breathing heavily. He’s eyeing you, you’re eyeing him, what was that? You’ve never snapped like that before. The dream, you remember that… Wolf attacking you, you thought… 

You pant a bit, trying to gain reality back, your hand loosening on his throat, feeling him swallow beneath your palm. Gosh, what are you doing?

“You goin’ feral on me?” He snorts and smirks. You flinch, hands leaving his wrist and neck quickly at his words, eyes wide. 

“No! No- I’m sorry-“ you stutter a bit, but don’t move. He’s warm, so warm and solid between your thighs, he smells good, familiar. 

“Get off me,” he snarls, shoving you by the neck. You flush and nod, getting off him quickly, your cheeks red, your heart pounding. 

“We’re losin’ daylight”, he scoffs, heading out of the half-ruined building. You just nod, pack your things and follow him quickly as he’s already walking off into the sand, Dogmeat barking after him, her tail wagging, oblivious to the sudden tension of you all but jumping him. 

The wasteland is cruel and hard; nobody deals in kindness or the good of their heart. Nobody has good in their hearts anymore, and nobody does kindness, it’s all for something or their own agenda. You remember the day you woke up, too hot, afraid, trying to get back into your vault, your home. 

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There’s a beep and static noise that wakes you. You jolt, thinking the elders want you or you forgot a chore. You can’t smell the elders, though, can’t smell the familiar home of your pack ground. It’s just dust and irradiated air. Goddess. Your eyes snap open, and you look around the endless sands of nowhere. You’re on the surface, the above, where the moon goddess actually shines. Only she doesn’t, she’s hidden, shining another part of the world while the sun blisters you in heat. You groan, force yourself onto your feet and look around. The stories were true, everything is dust and ruins. You take a deep breath, only to sneeze from the amount of dust that goes up your nose. Why’re you out here? What happened? You remember meeting with the elders, taking some weird tea and then darkness. They said it was a blessing, that it would make your wolf emerge. They lied. A familiar rage of disappointment fills you, you should’ve known. Nobody in the den likes you except your mother, your father always thought you were a disappointment, the elders thought there was something wrong with you, and others called you a freak. You had heard whispers of someone being sent to the surface. Nothing really happens in secret in a den full of werewolves, which is why the den is lined with silver in the walls, just enough for privacy, not enough to harm. You stare at your Pip-Boy, Vault Boy gives you a thumbs up, and a message is written.  

‘You have been banished to the surface for your lack of faith’

Lack of faith? In what? In the fact that you’ll never shift? Never be a true wolf? 

‘You may not return, not until you are whole’ 

The message disappears. You feel a rock in your stomach. They banished you, cut off your ties with the pack, you can’t even feel your mother. The tea…spicy and floral, a banishment tea, made to sever connections from one’s pack. 

You move with those thoughts, move till your legs hurt, and the moon joins you. Her cool presence is a balm over the scolding heat. You find a ruined home to stay in, there’s no familiar scent of your mother or comfort of your walls and a bed, just the smell of rubble, dust and decay. They gave you a bag at least, basic things, perhaps your mother’s doing. You check it, some food, canned water, a blanket, and an envelope at the bottom. You frown and open it, a cord with a silver crescent moon slips out, it was your mother’s, given to her through generations of women. You feel tears prick your eyes, your emotions catching up with you as you curl up and sob, holding the necklace close. 

You wander for a few days. A bonus to being part wolf shifter, you can go longer without food or water and basic necessities. Though now you’re feeling it. The desperate cramps of hunger, the dryness in your mouth, just make your provisions last till you find… well, anything. You manage to stretch your food for two weeks, then you’re getting desperate, you’ve been scouting what looks like a place where people go in and out of it, and you can smell the cooked meat and sweaty bodies. In and out, that’s it, just get food and maybe some water and directions. To where, you don’t know. You thought being around people would make you feel better. It didn’t. Everyone’s so… dirty. That’s the nicest way to put it. People are so different from your pack and den. Everyone’s so rough around the edges with no manners. You find a general store, people give you weird looks, and everyone’s human, which seems strange. 

“Welcome to Granny’s goods”, you jolt as someone speaks and turn, seeing an elderly woman, smiling widely with no teeth and crazy, greying hair. 

“Hi”, you manage out. 

“Well, looky here! A vault dweller! Damn, thought y’all were dead or something,”  she snorts. 

“No?” Your eyebrows furrow in question. 

“Ain’t mean nothing by it, Bluey, what you doing all the way down here, huh?” She asks. She seems nice, well, sort of, that gun on her back doesn’t make you feel any better. 

“I was-“ you trail off. 

“Thrown out?” She finishes, and you nod. She frowns and looks you up and down. 

“You handle your weight?” she asks, and you get defensive. Sure, you’re on the bigger side, but gosh, that’s rude. 

“I mean, can you work?” She clarifies. 

“Oh”, you flush and nod, sure you’ve done all sorts in the vault. 

“I can work”, you answer. 

“Righto then. Come with me,” she waves, and you blink but follow her upstairs. She smells… nice in a weird way, warm and a little spicy. 

“Well, now, my dick head grandson went up and ran away because he’s some rebellious teen idiot. So now I need some help around the shop, my back ain’t what it used to be,” she says rubbing her back. 

“How can I help?” You ask quickly, you’re good at helping, doing things for people. 

“Excellent! Well now. Got a room for you! You’ll get paid in water, food and shelter. Sound good?” She grins with a gummy smile. You nod too quickly. 

Granny, or well Grandma Ky, is a funny old woman, she doesn’t take crap from anyone, but she treats you good. Shelter, food and water, you learn new things about the surface, the wasteland, caps are currency, people trade, there are two-headed cows, raiders are bad guys, her grandson is a dick head, she reminds you every day for some reason. You don’t mind, you get food, water, a bath every now and then, you help, you’re good at helping. Sure, it’s no pack, but Granny Ky seems good enough to start. She doesn’t know about you, though. Sometimes she asks about the vaults, then forgets what she asked, then goes off on her own tangent about whatever Jo next door did. Jo, the owner of the bar next door, is always on her so-called ‘shit list’ you’re unsure what it means, but apparently it isn’t a good thing by all her complaining. 

Must’ve been two weeks you’d been helping, a whole month up on this land. You miss your home, your den and pack, you miss your mum and her smell, miss the familiar walls of safety and a nice bed that doesn’t itch. It had started out as a normal Wednesday, trader day when that two-headed Brahmin would come in, and you’d get to brush her down. You enjoyed that, brushing her down, it was therapeutic, even if she had no fur covering her. You reckon she liked the feeling. You waited outside, sipping some water, when you saw men walk in that aren’t traders or the Brahmin. You frown, they’re dressed up like olden Romans. 

“Get inside!” Granny hisses, and you jolt getting up. 

“Hold there, profligate!” A voice booms. The town goes still, and a man approaches you. 

“Excuse me?” You frown. 

“Are you of clean cloth?” He asks. 

“What?” You frown, looking at your sort of clean clothes, Granny found you. You glance back at her, but she’s gone from the shop, your stomach drops. 

“Untouched? Unmarried?” He presses, and you blink. 

“Yes?” You say confused. His eyes light up, he points at you, and suddenly, more men are surrounding you, a hood is put over your head, and you’re being dragged. You shout for granny, for anyone, but no one helps, you struggle, but the men are stronger as you’re dragged and taken.

When your hood is pulled off, you’re in some kind of camp. The smells assault you first, rotten flesh, human waste, blood, sweat and tears, men and women. It’s gross. Too much for your brain to handle as you’re shoved into a tent filled with more men in Roman armour. You swallowed, looked at a man with a golden leaf crown. They all stared at you, about ten men, just looking, deciding on something that wasn’t for your ears. 

“Breeding pen”, the man with the golden leaf crown said, and you felt your stomach drop. 

“What? No-!” You struggled, but the men dragged you to another tent. You wanted to throw up, it smelled like more human waste, babies, something sour and creamy. The smell of fresh meat hit your nose, too. There were three heavily pregnant women sitting on cushions, they wore tunics and looked uncomfortable as they rubbed their bellies. Four other women were probably only a few months pregnant by their smaller bellies, as they worked on chopping meat. Two women sat with babies in their arms, nursing them, their breasts exposed. You grimace at the bruising on their breasts, purple and angry and teeth? Indents. You were shoved forward, and you stumbled. One of the heavily pregnant women caught you and sat you down. 

“Gosh, you’re shaking like a leaf” She holds your hands, and you realise now you are indeed shaking. 

“Here, it’s water”, she hands you a canteen. You take it, sipping the water hesitantly. 

“I’m sorry”, she says softly. 

The women aren’t bad, it’s the men, horrible men. They have no sense of modesty or privacy. These poor women are forced to lie there while the men just… take. Whether it be sex or nursing, you have to bite your tongue, have to do what’s asked, otherwise you’ll get whipped or your head sliced off. Poor Andrea, she disobeyed, as the men say, you can still feel her blood on your skin as the man sliced her head off. You cut meat, you fetch water, you do as you’re told, so far no man has touched you. A week has passed, and you barely get anything to eat but leftovers, two canteens to share amongst yourselves. It wasn’t enough. You rarely slept, babies crying, women crying, the groans of men. Every night you’d lie and clutch the necklace under your shirt and hope to the moon goddess that something would happen. 

One night, you’re pulled from your bed. You struggle out of instinct before you let yourself be dragged to another tent. You’re placed in front of Caesar, as they call him, only they say it funny. He wears a golden leaf crown, fancy armour and a dirty cape. The two men leave you with him, and you take a shaky breath. 

“Tonight, you will be my bearer”, he says, and your blood runs cold. 

“You will bear my seed and grow round with strong sons”, he says, pressing his hands together, closing his eyes and praying. You’re frozen in fear when he opens his eyes again, and he walks towards you. Something snaps, you grab his sword, and slice it across his neck before he can even scream. It’s not a clean cut, but he collapses to the ground nonetheless. It takes you a moment to get into action. Run. Something spurs you, you dart out the back of the tent, over the mountain and into the wasteland as cries and shots ring out behind you. You run under the moonlight, run till your legs burn, till you can’t tell if your heart is beating or not, till you sweat. 

‘Faster’ 

Something urges your muscles, something makes you run till you find shelter and collapse. You pant heavily, struggle to suck in air as your body shakes and trembles. You lie on your back, stare at the moon through the broken roof till your eyes slip shut and nothingness comes. 

You’ve been wandering for a week now. You managed to find a dead raider, took his weapon and things and headed off. You saw smoke ahead, whether that be a good sign or not, you need food, the raider had 50 caps, which should be enough. You see a house nearby, smell the human male too, you walk closer and see him, a white tank that isn’t really white anymore, and a homemade diaper. 

“Excuse me”, you call, gun at the ready. 

“Well, hey there. I ain’t got no weapons on me,” he says, and you eye him over. 

“That smoke, what is it?” You ask. 

“That’d be a town called Filly,” he answers. 

“Traders?” You ask. 

“Sure are”, he says. 

“Thanks”, you say and walk off, putting your gun away once he’s far enough. You walk into the town smelling the cooked meat and bustle of bodies. Too much noise input in your ears. You sigh and walk through the large pipe and scout the town. Food, water, maybe some bullets, that’s it. You spot a general trader and sigh in relief. Heading over, you take a deep breath before stilling. Your head snaps, and you scan the bustle of bodies taking in another breath, gone, nothing but humans and sweat. You frown and shrug it off before heading into the store. 

“Evening”, you greet. 

“Evening”, the lady replies. 

“Food and water, some bullets for this”, you hold up your pipe pistol. 

“Uh-huh”, she drawls, grabbing a pack of rationed food, a canteen of water and a box of bullets. 

“How much?” You ask. 

“100 caps”, she eyes you. 

“100? That’s expensive,” you say. 

“Maybe,” she stares you down. 

“Rationed food is only 10 caps a bag, canteen? 20 caps, that pack of bullets ain’t worth 70 caps,” you say cocking your hip, arms going over your chest. 

“Smart one, hey?” She eyes you, then smirks. 

“Fine, 50 caps and that leather shoulder armour”, you sigh at her words. That deal wasn’t any better, but this armour doesn’t fit. 

“Fine”, you grumble and hand her the armour and caps. 

“Much obliged”, she grins as you put your items in a bag and head out of the store. A shot rings off, landing right where your foot was about to go. The shot makes your ears ring, you grimace and flinch. You see the town stop, and someone approaches you. You lift your head, trying to get your hearing to focus. The stranger walks slowly, his spurs making a noise with each step. You look at him, the old cowboy outfit, the guns holstered on him. You take a breath, then freeze. wolf, he’s a wolf, he’s like you. He lifts his head, and you freeze. No nose, orangey leather skin, Granny told you about ghouls, but you’ve never seen one before, only know what Granny Ky ever told you. 

“You must be the pretty little filly who ran off from the legion after killing their great Caesar” his words are spoken in a rustic southern drawl, they make you shiver, make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, make your body melt. 

“Never heard of a woman of your… stature, to run hard and fast for that long”, he smirks, and you feel yourself go embarrassed and scoff at him and his subtle comment to your weight.

“Then again, you ain’t all woman are ya?” He says only loud enough for you to hear. Your body jolts, you stare at him a bit, wondering what he wants or what he’s going to do.

“Smell pretty fresh to me too, Vaultie”, he sneers, taking a deep breath in, and you hide your pip-boy quickly out of instinct. 

“What do you want?” You demand, trying to sound calm and confident, but failing. You don’t like the way he’s looking at you, don’t like the way your body wants to go over to him and take in his scent, don’t like how something inside you stirs in response to his presence. 

“Well, usually when someone goes around killing emperors, someone has to pay”, he drawls, walking over to a food stand. He picks some cherry tomatoes up, pays for them and walks back over to you, eating them slowly before spitting the pit out. 

“He was a general”, you correct quietly. 

“Scuse me?” He asks, eyes narrowing on you, and you flush a bit out of embarrassment again. 

“Ceaser, he was a general, not an emperor, well in old Roman times”, you say. He spits out a pit and sneers a bit before he smirks. 

“What do you want?” You repeat not liking how he’s stalking you like prey. 

“That is a good question,” he says, stepping closer. He falters, though, he takes a breath in through his naval cavity and stares at you like you shot him. 

“The fuck you smell like that for?” He demands. Excuse him? Smell like what? The wasteland? Everyone does! It’s the universal smell of not being in a vault with showers and soap! 

“Excuse me if I haven’t had a shower in a while!” You flush, you dont smell that bad, do you? You subtly smell yourself, ok maybe he’s right. 

“Nah, it ain’t that”, he growls and stalks closer, getting up in your business. You freeze, eyes wide, while something inside your brain preens under the attention of this ghoul wolf. He breathes you in again, studying you too intently for your liking. You hear a bark nearby and jolt a bit, eyes darting to a snarling dog. 

“Easy, Dogmeat”, he orders without taking his eyes off you, and the dog stands down. 

“Dormant,” he says suddenly, and you force yourself not to react. 

“ ‘splains why you used a sword to kill him”, he says more to himself, eyeing you up and down, making you feel exposed. 

“Where’s your wolf side, huh?” He asks, shame and embarrassment flood you, and you look to the ground. People around you eventually go back to what they were doing previously, seemingly finding your encounter too boring for the likes of them.

“Asked you a question, Vaultie”, he snaps, making you look back at him briefly. 

“I don’t know! Ok! I don’t know, I just don’t have one, I’ve never shifted” You can’t look at him as he stands too close and breathes too loudly beside you. 

“Never?” He asks. 

“Never,” you whisper in response. 

“So you’s a shifter wolf?” He tilts his head, and you nod slowly, at least your parents are, that's what everyone in the vault is too, though you know of some who were werewolves, half man half beast, though they were before your time, and never stayed in the vault, whether from being kicked out or leaving, you dont know. 

“Still don’t explain why you smell like that”, he sneers, like your scent is annoying him.

“Like what?” You frown and finally meet his annoyed eyes. You don’t like your body, don’t like how you feel calm being close to a complete stranger, or how you want to step closer and make sure his scent is on you so everyone knows you’re his, even if they’re only human. Wouldn’t mind if he used those teeth on your neck, he’s currently sneering at you with either. What the hell? You just met this man! He eyes you, though before he flinches, he blinks, then steps back as you burnt him, making you frown at his reaction, you dont smell that bad! 

“Doesn’t matter”, he finally says, getting on with the conversation. 

“Got a pretty little bounty on your head. Though those legion boys are a bunch of stuck-up pricks with morals of a mole rat,” he sneers, and you silently agree. 

“You got a pip-boy though, you got vault knowledge”, he mutters more to himself, his tongue going over his teeth as he breathes. 

“What?” You frown, wondering what that could have to do with anything about this situation. 

“You’re comin’ with me”, he says final, no room for argument. 

“What? No I’m not!” You snap, you just escaped one prison, you’re not going back to another. 

“Excuse me?” He sneers, stepping into your space again. You falter, mouth opening and closing as you take in his fired-up scent. You didn’t realise how much you missed the smell of another wolf, even if this one is irradiated and mean. He’s trying to intimidate you, though, scent and presence, you dont want to admit it's working, though, the way you can feel yourself wanting to tilt your neck in submission, show you know who is in charge here.

“You don’t have a choice, half wolf, I’m not taking you back to the legion, so you owe me”, he sneers, leaning closer, his scent wrapping around you. 

“Owe you? For you deciding not to give me to the legion?!” You glare, meeting his dominant stance instead, you jut your chin out, and meet his gaze head-on instead.

“You wanna go back to the legion half wolf? Cause i can make that happen real easy,” His voice lowers, his scent sharpens and his hand hovers over the gun in his holster.

“That’s blackmail,” you snap back despite your stomach churning and your brain ringing the warning bells of danger, watching him smirk and run his tongue over the front of his teeth. 

“What else would it be? Now, you coming or am I gonna have to tie you up and drag you like a Brahmin all the way back to legion?” He asks, head tilting, studying you, daring you to say no. You weigh your options, you’re not even sure why the legion wants you back, then again, you dont know much about the wasteland, having only been up here a month, people like the legion, well, you doubt they have any good excuses or reasons for their actions. 

“Fine”, you whisper, defeated, giving too easily, but somehow it doesn’t feel like a bad decision. 

“Good half wolf”, he smirks, lowering his hand from his gun and walking, expecting you to follow. You bristle, but follow. He lets out a sharp whistle that makes you cringe. You’re ready to chew him out when you hear a bark, and the dog from before rushes over and walks by his side, tongue hanging out happily. 

PART 15 

You awake groggily. Your world spins, you feel nausea run through your stomach. A groan leaves your lip, you hear a beep then a familiar voice. 

“Easy darlin’ “ you open your eyes and see Cooper standing beside you. 

“Bucket-“ you get out before he quickly grabs one nearby before you’re puking. A noise leaves your lips of disgust and part gag. There’s a warm hand on your back gentle rubbing up and down. A nurse comes in not looking surprised you just puked. She takes the bucket with a small smile and heads out the door. 

“Sorry” you say. 

“Don’t be sorry! Trust me happens all the time. At least it wasn’t on me or the bed” she jokes. Doesn’t make you feel better as you sag against the pillows. 

“Cooper?” You ask focusing on him. 

“Yeah I’m here sweetheart“ he smiles his hand holding yours. 

“What happened?” You ask weakly glancing around. 

“That’s a long story” Cooper answers rubbing the back of his neck as the nurse comes in. You frown at him before looking at the woman. 

“Glad you’re awake! Now, we’ve got you on an IV, fluids and what not to flush the drugs out your system. Did you know what they gave you?” She asks looking at your chart. You nod grimacing not wanting to look at the IV in your arm now that you notice it. 

“They gave me HeatONs, MindNumb, controlEM, PainFree, slickEN and sleepNow” you answer wincing, Cooper tenses beside you, his scent sour as he sneers. 

“Above the dosage too it seems, you’re gonna be unwell for the next week. We’re keeping you here for observation, we were going to call your father-“ you cut her off. 

“No! Please don’t” you beg and she frowns but nods. 

“In that case, if you’d like I can get a form that allows your alpha to make decisions and sign off on things as well” she says. 

“My alpha?” You frown and she looks at Cooper confused. 

“Oh” you whisper and flush. 

“Uh yeah he can, I’ll fill out the form” you say. 

“Excellent. I’ll be back with those. A doctor will come in with food and water and go through the next steps with you” she smiles and walks off. 

“Is that ok?” You ask Cooper. 

“Yeah sweetheart” he answers and you relax a bit. 

“I feel sick” you complain softly. 

“You’re gonna feel off for a while with the amount of drugs they was pumping into you” he says an unhappy look on his face. 

“I’m sorry” you whisper. 

“What you sorry for?” He asks. 

“Going there. Leaving…” you trail off tears in your eyes. 

“Hey, yeah I was pissed darlin’ but, it was your choice I wouldn’t force you to do something you didn’t wanna do, that place is real dodgy, the police took it down” he explains. 

“The police?” You ask wide eyed. 

“Yeah. Soon as they knocked you out with something I called the cops. My ex-wife Barb, she’s in government, she helped take down that place and got you out” he adds. You blink and stare at him surprise. 

“Told you it was a whole story” he chuckles softly and damn did you miss that noise. The doctor comes in, he’s got a food tray in his hand. 

“Glad to see you’re awake” he says and lays the food tray down on a table by your bed. 

“Sure the nurse updated you. Our hospitals a buzz with a bunch of omegas in the same case thanks to Mr. Howard here, they’re all situated and being treated. Damn place, glad they went to hell” the doctor bristles his beta scent souring with displeasure. 

“Anyway, with all those drugs in your system it’s gonna take a while for things to smooth out. well keep you a week here for observation, then you can go home and come back in another week or if anything goes wrong. That sound good?” He asks smiling. 

“Yeah that’s fine” you whisper. 

“I’ll leave you two to talk. If you need anything hit that red button” he points to the button by your bed and you nod. He leaves and you sag a bit into the bed, you feel… well you can’t describe how you feel. Wrong? Used? Stupid? You hug an arm around your middle, still not looking at the IV or moving it. 

“Sweetheart?” You jolt a bit lost in your thoughts as you look to Cooper. 

“Sorry?” You ask. 

“Asked if you wanna talk?” He asks. 

“Oh” you say. Did you? Not really. You don’t know what you want right now. You shake your head and he nods. 

“You’re wishing things were just school, and plays and stupid teens huh?” You joke but it comes out pained. 

“Maybe. I don’t wish changing anything about you, except the bad bits. Wish it were under better circumstances, maybe I could’ve taken you out on a nice date, court you proper” he smiles warmly making your stomach flip. 

“Court me?” You ask chuckling. 

“What? That an old school word?” He goes a little red. 

“A little. But it suits you” you say and he huffs softly looking at the floor. 

“Cooper…” you begin slowly stewing over your words. 

“I don’t know how to feel right now. I feel wrong, I did something stupid, i- i was forced to be my father, high on drugs” you shudder tears pricking your eyes. 

“And now, I don’t know what to do” you wipe your eyes. 

“All you gotta do right now is get better. Get them drugs out your system, then you come home with me. If you want too” Cooper says gently, his hand squeezing yours. 

“I’m a mess Cooper, omega distress, drugs, the shelter, everything, I don’t expect you to deal with me” you shake your head more tears rolling down your face. 

“Deal with you darlin’?” He frowns looking offended. 

“I don’t have to deal with anything. I’m helping you because I want to, because… because I wanna be your alpha. Help ya through all this, make sure you get better” he adds. You stare at him for a moment blinking through tears. 

“Scotch forward” he says letting your hand go. You frown a moment before he gestures for you to move, you shuffle forward on the bed being careful of the wires and what not. 

“What are-?” You frown at him as he climbs onto the bed behind you, it’s awkward, you’re scared the beds gonna tip before he sits himself behind you. 

“Come ‘ere” he says hands going to your waist. 

“Shuffle back” he adds and you do till your back is resting against his chest. His arms wrap around your waist, tugging you closer again. You flush a bit, tense up till his scent fills your nose and you sag against him. He hums in his throat, nuzzles his head into your shoulder and sighs. Your mind short circuits, still not used to an alpha, he breathes you in, his body relaxing too. 

“Got me real scared when they knocked you out. Almost went into feral alpha mode” he sighs. 

“Feral alpha mode?” You frown. 

“Mhm, happens when an alpha experiences too much aggression, loses one’s mind, turns to baser animalistic instincts. It ain’t pretty” he shudders a bit. 

“That sounds horrid” you say shrinking a bit. 

“I won’t let it happen. Don’t you worry” he mutters against your neck. You sit there for a while, the beep of the heart monitor filling the silence. Cooper is warm, sturdy, comfortable, you sigh and lean your head against his shoulder. 

“Take what you want from me, I’m here” he sighs and holds you tighter. 

PART 14 

Cooper leaves your mind he feels alien now like a blip in the past. For the next few days you’re in strict lessons on how to be the perfect omega. You’re given your vitamins morning and night, you are being shaped for society. Security is everywhere in this place, sometimes an omega becomes too distressed as Fran says and requires handling, they don’t come back for a month when they do they are normal again. You complete your chores and tasks. You meet with appropriate alphas though only one will claim you once this training is complete, you will be able to join society and be useful. Your mind is a blissful haze of chores, teachings and meetings, this is what you were meant to do. 

This morning your vitamins are handed to you, they look different though, you don’t comment and take them. You go to your lessons and have lunch. The omegas beside you eating peacefully. Though the one to your right seems a little twitchy. 

“It’s starting” she whispers, but you don’t look up. 

“They’re giving out heat inducers, heatON it’s called. They’re going to sell us to the alphas” her words make something crawl up your spine. 

“They’re all cruel, I say Beth get beaten by one, Fran was watching and didn’t say anything” her words make you pause, make your mind flood back to your father, to his beatings. Your stomach drops, you feel sick. 

“They’re training us to be submissive, to be breeders, punching bags, whatever they want, this isn’t a shelter, it’s a con place” she whimpers. 

“Hey!” A security guard snaps and you flinch. Usually you don’t react, usually you don’t flinch or listen. Her words stick with you, you feel a pit in your stomach, feel thoughts creep back that were suppressed. Your father, his cruel ways, what if what the omega said was true? 

The next day, on your break you sneak to where you met with alphas before. You listen in, hear the familiar sound of a slap, the sound of a boot meeting stomach. There’s no whimpering, just a hitch of breath and silence. 

“She’s very good” a male voice says. 

“She’s our best” Frans voice says. 

“She won’t make a sound while I discipline her?” The male asks. 

“None. She will do whatever you say” Fran responds. Your blood runs cold. You walk off before anyone can see you, your hands shake and your mind rushes with thoughts. You do your chores, heading to medicine to sort through the vitamins. You pay attention to the labels though, the descriptions as you seperate them. HeatONs a heat inducer chemical, MindNumb, another chemical that alters brain chemistry, controlEM, an emotion regulator at the highest dose, PainFree, turns off pain receptors to your brain, slickEN, a slick producer, SleepNow, a sleeping tablet. You feel sweat go down your back, they’re controlling you, everything is the highest dose, everything is two tablets, above the recommendation. You try not to think about it, try to finish your chores and lessons, try to focus on your meetings with an alpha. That night you’re given your vitamins. You’ve never had to fake take pills, you fake swallow, the security nods and disappears. You spit them into your disposable cup, you put them in your pocket and ask to go to the toilet. You flush them down the toilet, try not to panic as you go back to your room and sleep. 

The next morning your nerves feel on end. You go to toilet quickly and throw up. This is what your father did if he didn’t have a fix. Your mind is swimming, you’ve become an addict without knowing it. You try not to take too long so you don’t raise suspicion. You notice how everyone is a walking robot, nobody is helping an omega in distress, they’re just numbing them. You act like everyone else, you try to plan on how to get out of here before you remember Cooper. Cooper who came to you, Cooper who broke your door down, Cooper who said you had a bond with him, Cooper who said you were his. A craving hits you, a need, you need your alpha, you need Cooper, you never needed this, you needed him. You were so angry, so numb, you shut off your emotions naturally and then had them shut off chemically. Gosh, Cooper, he’s suffering, you put him through this, he was trying to figure this out as much of you, of course he set boundaries, you’re his student for Pete’s sake. You miss him, you miss your alpha, you miss his scent, his bed and his warm hugs. You miss his clean house, you miss Roosevelt and his wiggly butt. His words replay in your mind. 

‘Every morning 7am. I’ll wait’ 

Your chest seizes, you can’t leave, you’ve seen one omega who tried, she was dragged back in and not seen for a month, Fran said it was for her own good. You make an excuse to do a chore at the front desk, said you were helping with cleaning. You look out the glass double doors hoping to see his car. It’s late though, the afternoon. Your heart pounds as you busy yourself with cleaning. Dinner time you put yourself on the roster for front desk cleaning again, in the morning. You fake taking your pills, ignoring your anxiety and nerves, keeping your scent carefully reeled in. You clean the front desk while the receptionist and a security guard flirt. It’s 6:30 he’ll be here soon. He has to be. You keep glancing to the clock, 6:40, 6:50, 6:55, you see something move and your head snaps up, his car, you see it pull into the park, hidden behind other cars. He’s here, he’s actually here, like he said. You don’t know how to get to him though, don’t know how to reach him, tell him you want to go home. You see him leave at 1pm he sat there for six hours, even while you weren’t at the front desk. Your heart pounds and flutters.  During dinner you find the omega who spoke to you before, you sit beside her and she frowns, but doesn’t move. 

“I need to get out of here” you whisper, casually eating. She tenses, but continues to eat. 

“My alpha. My real alpha he’s here. He waits outside in the carpark 7 am to 1 pm” you continue, sealing your mouth when security walks by. 

“Take out the trash” she whispers. 

“It’s outside” she finishes. You don’t react, but your heart speeds up and you feel something like hope. 

The next day you sign up to take out the trash, a guard comes with you. It’s 6:50 am, you head outside, the guard standing too close as you slowly walk to the bins. He gets annoyed and shoves you, you nod and speed up. You take your time throwing the bags out before you see a familiar car. You look at it as does the guard. You see Cooper in the front seat and someone else in the passenger seat a woman. He points to the building saying something, you can’t quite see their expressions them from here. The guard looks back to you and you freeze before continuing to throw out the rubbish. You try to make lots of noise, dramatic throwing in movements before the woman finally points at you. You sigh in relief, now what though? He’s going to assume you’re drugged. You look at the security guard, look at the trash bag in your hand and the trolly. Here goes nothing. You ram the trolly into the guard, hit him with the trash bag, trash goes everywhere before you find speed. 

“Cooper!” You shout, he’s quickly getting out the car before you’re tackled to the ground. You hear the security guard radio something in. You hear doors open, feel something prick your neck before everything goes dark. 

PART 13 Cooper POV

Coopers numb the drive home. What happened? What did that damn doctor say to you? One minute you were accepting his plan, apologising for things that weren’t your fault, taking the blame for things you didn’t do. The next you were as cold as a frozen Sunday turkey, numb, scent bland and off like you’d given up. The moment they walked into that ‘shelter’ he was determined to just carrying you like a sack of potatoes out of there. Those women with fake scents and even faker smiles. He can’t argue with you, he doesn’t want to, doesn’t want to force you to do things you don’t wanna do, but leaving you there to those psychos didn’t seem any better. 

He stares at the ceiling, Roosevelt on the couch beside him whining softly when he stops petting him. There’s an uncomfortable feeling in his whole body. You should be here, with him, not in some mental hospital in disguise. This whole thing just got blown out of proportion in a way he didn’t think it would. He should’ve expected you to shut down and go numb, but this was cold hearted numbness, like you hated alphas, gave up on them. He doesn’t blame the thought or idea, but he ain’t your father, he isn’t your peers either. 

That night he doesn’t sleep. Unsettled, everything is uncomfortable, he doesn’t like not hearing you, doesn’t like how your smell lingers rather than overlaps. He said things he didn’t want to, he could’ve handled things better, he’s just a man though, he couldn’t even keep his marriage together. His divorce was messy because of paparazzi and gossip, what should’ve been a simple separating of two people who just lost love for one another turned into a scandal, made Barb angry and made Janey upset. So he left, just enough to out run the bullshit for them both. Bullshit follows him though, he isn’t a sheriff hero or handsome cowboy saving the lady, he’s just a man, an alpha and right now his omega is suffering. 

A few days pass, his mind is stewing too much, he can’t get himself to do basic things, Roosevelt is always by his side in a state of worry. He can’t keep going like this. 

That morning he heads back to his old house, he gave Barb the house, she liked the hot tub too much and that was fine by him. She wouldn’t be too happy about him just showing up, right now though he doesn’t know who to talk to who isn’t a gossiper. He’s nervous standing at the front door before sighing and knocking. Barb opens the door she’s wide and confused. 

“Daddy!” He hears Janey’s voice cry before a bundle runs into his arms. 

“Hey sweetheart” he picks up and hugs his little cowgirl and sighs burying his face in her shoulder. He glances at Barb who catches his look, she frowns but nods for him to come in. He carry’s Janey inside before putting her back down. 

“Think you can play in your room for a bit why mummy and daddy talk?” He asks and she nods smiling and running off. 

“Cooper” Barb says as they head to the kitchen. 

“A heads up would’ve been nice” she says pouring them some water each. 

“Yeah. I’m sorry” he says rubbing the back of his neck, when did it get so awkward to talk to her. 

“I need help” he blurts. 

“I figured” she huffs softly but smiles. 

“It’s a bit of a shit show” he says sipping his drink. 

“When isn’t it?” She jokes softly but it still stings as they sit down at the table. He tells her, everything, she listens much to his thanks, she doesn’t interrupt once. Once he’s finished, his hands are shaking a little and his heart pounding. Barb processes, blinks a bit, takes a sip of water before she sighs. 

“You said she was at a vault-tech omega shelter?” She asks and he nods. 

“Getting her out will be messy” she explains. 

“I don’t know if she wants out” he sighs running a hand through his hair. Barb frowns and studies him, he feels like an open book and swallows. 

“You said you kissed her?” She asks and he flinches, but nods. 

“Just once?” He nods again. 

“She shut down, went numb, like she’s given up” he sags. 

“I know I didn’t handle it well, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m tryna do the right thing without messin’ her up more” he sighs. 

“You’re all out of sorts Coop” Barb says softly and he scoffs softly, but agrees. 

“She listens to your alpha?” She asks suddenly and he freezes, his body goes a little warm with embarrassment. 

“She does, well did” he says. 

“The doctor isn’t wrong. She’s in severe distress. However what he said about her not thinking clearly or being allowed to be left alone or make choices? that’s wrong Cooper, she’s fully present, omega distress isn’t a drug crash or some sort of psychosis phase. It’s, it’s like a depressive state, our brains aren’t quite right. But we’re not incapable, what we need is a safe place to make choices. A safe person to ground us, be what we need, we need someone more than ever. What the doctor suggested is dangerous, meant to send her into that psychosis stage” Barbs words hit him like a punch in the gut. 

“What about her becoming dependent?” He asks softly. 

“Omega distress is dealt by family members, mates, friends, where a bond is already present. She doesn’t have anyone Cooper. She clings to you because you are filling that space whether you wanted to or not” Barb explains. 

“I- I pushed that bond away” he realises with horror. 

“Now she’s numb and has given up” Barb finishes, god he feels like an idiot, a goddamn idiot, he did this, his words pushed you away that last little thread of hope you had. 

“I gotta-“ he stands up shakily. Barb stands to her hand on his shoulder. 

“Cooper. Be the alpha she needs” she whispers, kissing his cheek, her blessing. He nods. 

“Tell Janey I’m sorry” he says and she nods giving him a nudge before he’s striding out the door and getting into his car and speeding off. The drive to the shelter place is a buzz of speeding, horns and near misses, he doesn’t care if he gets a ticket. He barely parks properly, doesn’t lock his car before he’s rushing in through the double doors and going to the front desk that has an over smiling beta there. 

“Hi there? How can I help you?” She forces smiling. 

“I need to see an omega. Came in here few days ago” he says giving the woman your name. She sputters a moment before typing into her computer. 

“She’s in room 103, however- Sir!” She can’t finish he’s off, his legs moving quickly ignoring looks from the other poor unfortunate omegas who got stuck here and their so called ‘nurses’ he checks the room numbers, counting in his head. ignores the security called by the woman he just passed. He finds your room try’s the door handle, locked. He sneers and kicks the door, it’s way harder in real life with a real door. The lock breaks though and he walks in seeing you shot out of bed and wide eyed. He sighs in relief, walks over to you and hugs you tightly, burying his face in your neck. You smell wrong, different, chemically changed, he instantly hates it. 

“What did they do to you?” He demands, lifting his head. 

“What?” You blink a bit at him and he sighs. 

“You smell different” he clarifies. 

“I don’t know-“ you’re cut off by security and that Fran woman you both met few days ago. 

“Mr Howard” she says like an annoyed mother. 

“You barged into an omega shelter do you know the charges for that! As well as property damage!” She yells. 

“I’ll pay to replace your damn door. I’m takin’ what’s mine home” he says seeing your backpack, he picks up and sees your things still in there. 

“Mr Howard. The young omega is not yours and if I remember correctly you brought her here” Fran sneers. 

“And it was a damned mistake” he sneers. 

“Mistake? The young omega is in distress! She is not stable!” The woman continues, he doesn’t like how she avoids saying your name, hates how she implies you’re unstable. 

“Yeah and right now what she needs is her alpha. You gonna argue with biology?” He glares. 

“You are not her alpha. You lay no claim to the young omega” she fights back arms crossing over her chest the security behind her tense. 

“Not right now I ain’t, she got a bond with me though and that’s good enough” he says. 

“Good enough? No it is not good enough!” She says annoyed. 

“Too bad. It’s gonna be enough. Now I’m leavin’ gonna walk out that door with said omega and you are gonna let us” his tone is a threat that makes the security uneasy, he doesn’t care, he’s getting you out one way or another. 

“Cooper” he frowns and looks at you, your voice small. 

“What is it darlin’?” He asks quietly. 

“She’s right” you mumble. 

“Fuck you mean she’s right?” He says a little snappy watching you flinch. 

“Shit. I’m-“ his apology gets cut off. 

“See that right there! Is exactly why she shouldn’t go with you!” Fran yells clinging onto a small piece of mishap. 

“Excuse me if I’m a little tense when I’m currently being held hostage with my omega” he sneers at the woman annoyed at her. 

“She is not yours!” Fran all but screams. He’s done, he is over it, you’re coming home with him and he’s gonna help you the proper way like Barb said. 

“Cooper” you try again and he looks back to you taking a deep breath. 

“She speaks the truth” you say carefully as his face scrunches up in confusion. 

“I’m not yours. I am unstable and in distress” you say like an old record, it feels like a punch in the gut. 

“That’s not true and you know it” he says. 

“It is true and I know it” you correct.

“The hell you do to her huh?” He snaps at Fran. 

“I am conditioning her” Fran says holding her ground. 

“Conditioning her? For what? To be a damn robot?” He sneers at her. 

“To be a better omega, one society will need” Fran answers. 

“Better omega? Fuck society she’s damn perfect as she is. She doesn’t need to be changed, she just needs to be cared for and I’m gonna do that” Coopers pissed. He’s not backing down against this woman, not till you’re safe. 

“You cannot care for her the way I do. I am making her valuable” Fran says. 

“The fuck does that mean?” His voice goes low and Fran’s lips twitch. His mind spirals. 

“It means I am making her better. Now get off this property before I call the police” she snaps. He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration before turning to you. 

“Sweetheart” he says and you shake your head. His face falls his grip tightening on your backpack before he places it back with a sigh. 

The next day you’re sitting in a fancy waiting room at a private doctor’s office. The lady at the reception desk had smiled brightly and her bubbly attitude was a little too much. You’re wearing a simple well used black t-shirt and pants, your ruined shoes standing out. You had an awkward washing moment yesterday, Cooper offered to wash your clothes while you showered. You shook your head and said you’ll do it yourself. So you spent an embarrassing amount of time in a towel not having any change of clothes, thankfully you could hide in the spare room you were sleeping in. You sit beside Cooper awkwardly, there’s only two other people, a beta woman and an older beta gentleman. Ever since the kiss and argument Cooper is quiet, you don’t know how to deal with this silence, you can deal with shouting and anger, violence, but this silence while he makes you food and offers to wash your clothes is almost worse. A man calls you in a little older than Cooper. He smells like the nurse, hospital and cleaning agents. 

“Mr Howard. Always good to see you” the man greets with a warm smile shaking Coopers hand. 

“Dr. Grey” Cooper greets. 

“Dr. Grey at your service” he holds out his hand to you and you shake it telling him your name. 

“Now how can I help you both?” He gets right to business offering you a place to sit. Cooper lets you sit closest to the doctor’s office and you take a small breath. 

“She’s got bruises we need you to look at” Cooper says thankfully. 

“Bruises plural?” Dr Grey asks and you nod. 

“Alright” he nods back and you hesitate before standing up hands shaking. 

“They’re on your torso? Would you prefer Mr Howard step out?” Dr Grey asks. You frown and glance at Cooper. 

“Your choice” Cooper says. You hesitate a moment, it would look weird for him if he stayed. You nod despite not wanting him to go. Cooper stands and leaves closing the door softly. You watch him leave sagging a bit in sadness. You ignore it and lift your shirt off. 

“What happened?” Dr Grey asks his eyes clinical as he puts gloves on and examines your bruises. 

“Uh” you begin faltering. 

“This…. Is a boot print” he says and you seal your eyes shut as his fingers ghost over your left rib. 

“You were beaten” he concludes, you open your eyes as you see his blue eyes looking at yours. You shove your shirt down wincing wanting to leave quickly, heart hammering. 

“Take a seat please Miss, just take a deep breath” he gestures to the bed. You shuffle and sit on the edge of the doctors bed. 

“Judging by your scent and behaviour I can also assume you’re in pure omega distress?” he asks clinical. You nod in response, hands shaking, eyes watering. 

“Alright, would you tell me everything that has caused this episode? While I examine for broken bones?” He asks and you take a shaky breath and nod. 

“Lie down please” he orders. You do as he says. He examines your bruises, pushing gently, it hurts, but you don’t say anything about it. You tell him what happened, avoiding looking at him as he listens, he asks a few questions, but mostly listens. 

After he examines he sits down in his chair and begins typing. 

“Would you be comfortable with a prescription pain killer?” He asks, you tense up, your father always try’s to get pain killers from doctors. You shake your head. 

“Very well, how about a cream?” He asks. 

“Cream is fine” you whisper and he types that in. 

“It will warm and numb the area and promote healing” he explains and you nod. 

“Given your current state, I can administer an anti-anxiety and anti-depressant, do you have suppressants and scent blockers?” He asks. 

“Uh, the nurse at school gave me some” he nods typing again. 

“And the others?” He asks. 

“I-I don’t know” you whisper. 

“They will take a few weeks to kick in, but will help with mental side of things, we’ll start on the lowest dose, one tablet of each a day I highly recommend it” he explains. 

“I’ll also print of this information leaflet, written by a well known omega doctor, it gives you tips with omega health and what to do in distress” he clicks a button and the printer starts. 

“Ok” you whisper. 

“Now, your relationship with Mr Howard” he starts and you freeze. 

“Mr Howard is an excellent alpha, calm and collect, stable. Given your state and can see why you… clung to him, however I must suggest you do not pursue him, you’re unable to make those type of decisions right now, after this is over, you will be better and able to return to normal life and leave him behind, your feelings and thoughts may change so I suggest keeping your relationship simple as him being your current legal guardian, do not pursue him, the leaflet also goes over that” his words feel like a slap in the face. A legal guardian? You’re a legal adult. 

“You’re not thinking properly you understand yes?” The doctor presses. A rock settles in your stomach. You’re not thinking properly, you can’t make decisions, you’re being blown off because you’re an omega in distress, just take medication and you’ll be better. 

“Yes” you whisper to please him. He smiles and nods. He hands you pages from the leaflet and three prescriptions. 

“You may want to look into omega shelters that are better equipped for you” he says handing you another leaflet. 

You leave his office, unsettled. You don’t say anything to Cooper as you follow him to the car. He drives home, you hand him the prescriptions without word. He reads them and nods. 

“Want me to get these?” He asks. 

“Sure” you say numbly. Cooper opens his mouth then closes it, but you walk upstairs numbly. 

You read the leaflet in a state of cold numbness. You’re not in the right thought process, or you’re the equivalent to someone on a high crash, you’re not allowed to be alone, you’re not allowed to make critical choices or any choices for that matter, but it’s all in your head and it will pass, meditation, medication, mindfulness and become the perfect omega again. An omega in distress is the same as someone in a high crash? You’re no better than your father. 

You don’t know how long you spend staring at the leaflet. You hear the door open downstairs, hear your name being called out, but you don’t register it. Your mind has gone to a dark place, you’re a problem, you’re just like your father, you’re a useless omega in distress, you’re not desirable, no alpha is for you. Your mind flickers back to what the doctor said, there’s shelters for omegas, hospital like places to keep omegas… contained. Maybe you belong there. 

“Sweetheart?” You blink and glance to Cooper who is holding a white paper bag. 

“Just- put them in my bag” you say quietly. Cooper nods and places them in your backpack glancing to the paper on the bed. 

“This info the doc gave you?” He asks and you just nod. 

“Is there a shelter I can go to?” You ask numbly. 

“Shelter?” Cooper frowns. 

“Like an omega shelter” you clarify eyes staring at the piece of paper. 

“Darlin’ those places… they’re not exactly shelters” he says carefully. 

“Doesn’t matter” you whisper. 

“This one seems fine” you say gesturing to the leaflet. He frowns and opens it, reading over it. 

“Better equipped to handle me” you whisper the words. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cooper asks frown deepening. 

“Means exactly what I said” you say still numb. 

“Look, right now our plan is just starting first steps, it’ll get better. I don’t mind you being here” he says. Doesn’t mind? Doesn’t want you here though. He’s an alpha, alphas like their space, free of a useless distressed omega. 

“The shelter would be better” you say still not feeling anything. 

“It’s your choice, But-“ he starts but you cut him off. 

“This one is nearby, I know the street it won’t be too long for me to walk there. Thank you for your help, I’ll clean up and pack my things properly” you get up, grab your papers and put them in your backpack while you straighten and smooth the bed. 

“This really what you want to do?” Cooper finally speaks up his face an emotion you can’t read. 

“It’s for the best” you say. 

“For the best” he repeats quietly almost like a question. You grab your bag and put it on without looking at him. 

“I’ll drive you” he whispers. 

“That won’t be necessary” you say. 

“Yes it is” he says firmly and you frown something flickering in your chest before it dies. 

“Ok” you agree quietly. You follow him downstairs, watch him grab the keys before he’s out the door with you trailing. You ignore his posture, his scent, the way he glances at you while driving. This is for the best. 

The shelter if you could call it that is a large white building. Almost like a hospital. 

“Thank you for driving” you say and get out, frowning when he does to. 

“What are you doing?” You ask. 

“Lookin’ “ he says and walks to the double doors before you can say anything. You sigh and follow. 

“Hey there have you been seen?” A bright woman asks. She wears a uniform, a name tag around her neck, her smile overly wide. 

“I got a leaflet by a doctor about this place” you explain. 

“Oh how wonderful! Well lucky for you we’ve just had a spot open up! How about a tour?” She beams. Her scent is artificial, sweet like candy. 

“And you must be her-?” The woman looks at Cooper and he frowns at the woman. 

“Friend” he mutters. 

“Well alright then! Follow me!” She laughs forcedly. The woman, Angel, shows you around. Your stomach grows more unsettled the more you’re here, the others here seem so… distance barely there. She goes over the history of this place, made by the government, taken over by a company called Vault-Tech ‘dedicated’ to helping omegas. All the while Cooler keeps going more rigid, his scent sours and his brows furrow. She takes you to the room that you would stay in. There’s a single bed. A simple pillow and quilt, a desk, a chair, a small drawer set for clothes, the walls are a pale yellow with flowers on it like some children’s hospital wall. 

“What do you think?” Angel beams. 

“Yeah it’s-“ your arm is grabbed. 

“Give us a minute” Cooper says and Angels face falters before smiling and leaving. 

“What is it?” You ask confused. 

“This is a damn mental asylum” he says. 

“So?” You ask. 

“So? You’re not insane” he cocks his eyebrow. 

“I’m an omega in distress. I’m not allowed to make major decisions, or be alone, this place will help me” you say rehearsed. 

“Not allowed? Who the hell told you that?” He frowns. 

“The doctor” you answer and his face drops. 

“What?” He mutters before you’re interrupted. Angel coming back in with an older woman. 

“Ah you must be our newest omega, I’m Fran” she greets. You tell her your name. 

“Well alpha, we can take her off your hands now, she’ll be welcomed and in good care here, no need to bother you anymore” Fran says to Cooper who tenses. 

“She ain’t botherin’ me” he says. 

“Right… anyways. Settle in! Leave your things we got paperwork to sought out” she grins. 

“You don’t have to do this” Cooper whispers. 

“I do. Goodbye Mr Howard” you say quietly ignoring the way your heart breaks and your stomach drops as you follow Angel and Fran. 

You grab your backpack, put on your socks and shoes, you make sure everything is neat and as you found it. Once the room looks the same as you walked in yesterday you head downstairs again. 

“Sweetheart listen I didn’t-“ you cut him off accidentally. 

“I’d like to go home” you blurt despite your whole body tensing. 

“What?” Your professor asks frowning. 

“Or back to school. You can drop me off at school and I’ll walk home” you say thankful your voice isn’t wavering. Your heart is pounding in your ears and you’re already bracing yourself. 

“I don’t think you should go back home. Not in this state” he says frowning a bit. 

“I’m fine” you lie heading to the door. 

“Wait a minute-“ he steps in front of you before you can reach the door. 

“Did I say something wrong? Darlin’ the money ain’t an issue, I was an actor I’ve got plenty of it” he explains. 

“Please don’t call me that” you say forcing yourself numb, forcing your scent in. 

“Don’t do that” he whispers his eyes searching yours. 

“Don’t shut me out, you can shut down, just don’t shut me out” he steps closer and you step back making him sigh. He whispers your name and you force yourself not to cry or react. 

“I’d like to go home” you repeat, your voice going slightly higher in pitch. His head hangs, you watch his shoulders tense and brace yourself for the enviable of how every alpha reacts. He steps closer and your eyes close as you wait for the blow. You feel breath by your face though and frown, you feel a forehead on yours and your eyes snap open. 

“Please. Omega, I’m beggin’ you, don’t shut me out” he whispers. 

“Talk to me, even if it doesn’t make sense, tell me anyway” he adds. Tears well up in your eyes, your mouth opens and closes. 

“You’re not real” you whimper. 

“I’m real, I promise you I’m real Darlin’ “ he whispers grabbing your hands and resting them over his heart, it’s beating quickly in his chest. You shake your head against his feeling yourself let out a shaky sob. His hands cup your face, tilting it and suddenly you feel lips on yours. Your mind stops and your body freezes. Professor Cooper Howard is kissing you. Cooper Howard an alpha is kissing you. Something in you breaks again, you press closer, kiss him back without knowing how too, your hands fisting his shirt. You whimper against him as his hands go to your hips and tug you closer. Your arms go around his neck, his tongue swiping your bottom lip. Your mouth opens automatically, his tongue meeting yours. You follow him, his lead, his hands gripping your hips, the swell of your backside, he pushes you against the wall nearby and you make a small noise as his body presses against yours, his leg going between yours. You’re out of breath, you pull back and he stops. Your eyes open a little watery with tears, you pant heavily, chest heaving. His eyes on yours, watching you, his chest is moving quickly too, his scent is muskier and you smell alpha arousal on him, feel it pressing against your hip. 

“I’m real” he whispers voice husky. 

“Show me” you whisper and his eyes widen a bit.  You flush realising what you said, but don’t take it back. 

“You’re in distress omega, not thinkin’ clearly” he sighs leaning his forehead against you. 

“I don’t care” you whimper. 

“I care. I ain’t takin’ advantage of you” he huffs. 

“You’re not, I asked” you whisper. 

“You’re makin’ it real difficult” he grumbles softly. 

“Please. I- I need to know that this is for me, that this is real” you beg. 

“Darlin’ this is very real. And all this IS for you” he grinds his hips against yours making you flush. 

“Not just that” you say and he frowns against your forehead before lifting his head. 

“I think-“ you swallow a bit. 

“I’m confused” you say. 

“With what?” He asks gently. 

“With what I’m feeling. What I wanna do” you explain. 

“What do you wanna do?” He asks. 

“I want… I want to stay here with you. I want to build a nest in your bed, I want to smell like you, I want to know what it’s like to have an alpha that’s mine… that doesn’t hate me or think I’m ugly or unworthy” you admit and he sighs. 

“Please don’t say it’s because I’m in distress” you beg softly. 

“Your mind is latching onto things it perceives as safe, clinging to them” he whispers and you shake your head more tears in your eyes. 

“Please. Not after that kiss” you whimper. 

“Omega, listen to me” he sighs stepping back. 

“No!” You snarl and bring him back with surprising strength, his eyes widen a bit. 

“Let go” he orders softly. You shake your head crying again. 

“Let go” he orders calmly. You let him go, crumpling as he steps back. Of course, it’s always the same, none of its for you, it’s never for you, alphas aren’t for you. You pick your bag up between hiccups. 

“You’re not safe at school or at home” he says. 

“Oh but I am here? You don’t care about me! Alphas never do! Nobody cares about me! They see an omega and see a punching bag, someone to ruin, someone to just use and throw away. You’re like the rest of them!” You cry wondering why you’re shouting at an alpha. Cooper flinches you see him take a small breath his fists clenching. 

“Go on! Hit me! Everyone else does!” Your words are cruel, taunting, daring him to show him true self. His eyes narrow and you freeze, his face is between hurt, shock and anger. 

“Do not. Compare me to your father or the ones who abuse you. I will never hurt you or lay my hands on you. But I am not letting you go back to your abuser, you will stay here and you will get better, once your distress is over, you’ll understand what I’m doing” he speaks carefully, doesn’t raise his voice though, keeps it level and calm. You shake your head and go back upstairs to the spare room, closing the door softly and sitting on the floor, hugging your knees and sobbing. It’s always the same, it will always go back to you being alone, nobody wants you, nobody wants an omega who is in distress, who’s a punching bag, who is fat, who is ruined. 

You don’t know when you passed out from exhaustion again. You wake up in a soft bed, one that doesn’t smell like your professor how did you get in the bed? You open your eyes weakly, you feel worse. Your eyes look over the closed curtain, the sun peeking out the sides. You groan, your body hurts, your head is foggy. You remember the argument and hiding in here. Was he still here? Maybe he went to go get drunk like your father always does. You sigh and get up, you open the door and listen closely. You don’t hear anything. You glance at his room, empty, you head down the stairs making no noise, thankful this house doesn’t creak. You see the living room and kitchen empty. You sigh, in relief or sadness? You’re not sure. You get a glass and quietly get some water, you drink quickly your mouth dry. You see a notebook open on the counter and peer at it. You see the words ‘plan’ at the top and swallow a bit. You move to the other side of the counter before reading it. 

PLAN 

food 

Toiletries 

Hair brush

Soft blankets 

Clothes 

Shoes

Doctors 

More pillows? 

More blankets?? 

Soft things??? 

You see the annoyed question marks with his hard he pressed them into the paper. 

You hear a bark outside and jolt a bit before you remember Roosevelt. You peer out the slightly open sliding door, you spot your professor, sitting on the lawn, throwing a ball for Roosevelt. You sag a bit in relief, he didn’t leave. His posture is slumped in what looks like defeat, throwing the ball every time Roosevelt comes back enthusiastically. The dog spots you, his whole backside wiggling as he decides you’re more interesting than his owner. Cooper frowns watching his dog go to you at the sliding door before his eyes meet yours. Roosevelt drops the ball at your feet staring at you expectantly, tongue hanging out. You bend down carefully and pick it up before chucking it for him, he barks happily and chases it. You swallow a bit before walking over to Cooper, sitting on the lawn beside him, legs in front of you. You sit in silence for a while, Roosevelt a little confused to choose who throws his ball before settling on his owner. 

“Your plan is good” you say quietly and he frowns before it clicks. 

“I don’t need more blankets and pillows though” you whisper fiddling with your shirt hem. 

“I know if I argue about the other stuff you’ll say it’s needed” he doesn’t speak, just continues to throw Roosevelt’s ball. 

“You- you’re right too” you say softly. 

“Bout the whole clinging to safety, I’m sorry for forcing a kiss on you, and manipulating you” there you’ve apologised, you’re to blame. 

“Forcing?” He asks voice strained. 

“Im an omega, I naturally make alphas want to do things they don’t want, so I take responsibility” you explain watching his whole body freeze. 

“Who told you that?” He asks quietly. 

“Well… it’s always implied” you mumble and fiddle with a loose string on your shirt. He scoffs softly and you flinch on instinct. Roosevelt finally stops, lying down beside Cooper. The alpha just pats him, not reacting further than a scoff. 

“Uh, you said on your plan about doctors? Medical bills are expensive, I’m not on anything to help” you swallow nervously. 

“You didn’t force me” he says instead. 

“But-“ you begin. 

“I kissed you because I damn well wanted too” he says firmly and you close your mouth quickly looking at your lap. 

“You didn’t force me to kiss you, you didn’t force me to pull you close and grope you or pin you against the wall, you sure as hell didn’t force me to get hard” you keep your mouth shut your cheeks burning, before he sighs running a hand through his hair. 

“I’ve got a private doctor I see, he’ll just check your bruises, see if anything is broken, maybe give you some stronger pain meds or bruise cream” he answers your doctor question before you can respond. 

“Ok” you whisper your shoulders sagging. You stand up his silence deafening. 

“I’m sorry Cooper” you mumble and leave to go back upstairs where you can’t bother him. 

Cooper POV 

He feels you go limp slowly. Your breathing shallows into shaky slow hics, your hand not clenching his. He sighs he should let you go, shouldn’t have probably let you into his bed in the first place, but watching you stand there in his doorway like a sad little puppy broke his heart. Your scent was open around him, letting him pick up easily on you, you weren’t reeling it on or suppressing it. God your body was so warm and soft. Your plush curves, your ass fitting snugly against his hips, your soft stomach so warm under his palm, he’s mindful of bruises, keeping his hand gentle. The next few days are gonna be hell, for you especially, he understands you’re not gonna get everything, you’re gonna need to be told clearly, no beating round the bushes or timid ramblings, you’re gonna need guidance, control, clear choices and options. It’s also gonna be dangerous, you’re gonna cling to safety and grow dependent on him. God help him he wants that, he wants you dependent on him and no one else, wants you to come to him for everything, wants to shower you in praises and nice things, wants to make sure you’re the most comfortable omega alive. It’s a dangerous road, mentally and physically, the selfish alpha part of him wants it bad, it’s not just him though. It’s you, it’s Janey, it’s work, hell even Barb. He needs to make a plan in his head, he should take you to doctors, hopefully they’ll get off their asses and do something. He hears pattering off feet on the carpet and peers over your shoulder seeing Roosevelt tilting his head in confusion at a human in his morning cuddles spot. 

“She’s hurting pup, she needs attention” he whispers. Roosevelt ever the good boy looks between you both, decides he’s fine with it and lies down on his bed in the corner. 

“Good dog” he mumbles his eyes closing. 

Sleeping in isn’t the worst idea, his eyes slip back shut, but his minds awake now, ready to make plans. He doesn’t want to leave your warmth though, doesn’t want to leave your scent or neck. Too damn soft, too damn good. His hips press closer without thought and he sighs at himself and his body currently waking up in places it shouldn’t be right now. He gives your stomach a soft squeeze before he pulls himself away before his dick gets any ideas. 

He takes Roosevelt out the back so he can piss, grabs the newspaper, before he gets the dog his breakfast snack and makes himself some coffee. He sits on a stool at the kitchen island drinking and reading, more of the same. He should make a list and a plan. He stands grabs a pen and paper and sits back down, right what do women need. You’re gonna need clothes, like hell he’s taking you back to your daddy’s place to pick them up. Shirts, pants, underwear, socks, maybe some new shoes. Right toiletries, shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t smell like him, body wash, moisturiser, what did Barb have in her cabinet? Makeup? Probably don’t need that right now considering. He sighs. Food they need food too, whatever you eat. Blankets, omegas like blankets. He looks at his list and raises an eyebrow and wonders what the hell he’s doing. 

“Cooper?” He hears tiredly up the stairs. He looks back seeing you, your hair a mess, clothes a little ruffled. 

“Morning sweetheart” he greets as you walk down the stairs carefully. 

“How you feeling? You feel better you slept in?” He asks standing up. You yawn then look at him and freeze. He freezes too, what? Did he spill coffee on himself? Has he got a pimple? 

“Uh-“ you look away embarrassed. He frowns and looks down at himself, he forgot his fucking shirt. 

“Shit. I’m sorry, usually-“ he’s embarrassed now. 

“No- it’s ok, I mean you’re, it’s your house all that- um” you trail off awkwardly cheeks as red as a tomato’s. 

“You drink coffee?” He asks and you shake your head. 

“Should have sugar bombs in the cupboard or left over pizza” he calls as he searches his cupboards. 

“Toast is fine” you whisper. 

“Sure, got butter, should be some jam in the fridge” he grabs the bread instead and searches the fridge. 

“Fraid we only got butter” he grimaces pulling it out. 

“It’s all good” you whisper. 

“How do you like your toast?” He asks and you tell him, he nods before putting two slices in. 

“I’ll go put shirt on while that’s on” he says you shake your head and he tilts his head before you flush and look away like you didn’t expect to do that. He smirks a little and heads upstairs. 

He heads back downstairs once he’s got a long sleeve shirt on, seeing you spreading butter on your toast quietly. He notices how quiet you move around the kitchen, you turn to wash the knife right away. 

“Hey, don’t worry about that, you enjoy your toast” he says. You frown in response and he sighs softly taking the knife from you and putting it in the dishwasher. 

“Done” he jokes softly. 

“We don’t have a dishwasher at home” you say. 

“Our sink is… broken” you add carefully. 

“Well dishwasher makes everything easy” he says watching you eat slowly. 

“The list… are you going shopping?” You ask pointing to the piece of paper he left on the table. 

“We. If you’re up to it, you’ll need clothes, toiletries that ain’t mine, maybe some blankets and food” he reply’s seeing you frown. 

“I don’t have any money” you say quietly. 

“It’s ok, I’ll pay” he brushes off. 

“But, I can’t pay you back, I don’t work” you whisper. 

“Don’t need to pay me back” he adds watching your frown grow deeper. You put your half eaten toast down and he watches you excuse yourself and head upstairs. 

“Wait darlin’-“ he frowns, but you’re gone, door closing so softly he barely hears it. 

You sit for a while on the floor. You slid off the bed, it felt too plush, too soft. You feel your washed hair, you don’t smell anymore. His hands were so soft and gentle massaging your scalp, you almost fell over from how your body sagged in relief. A sigh leaves your lips as you hug your knees. This room was so big, bigger than yours and it had everything a room should have, not just a sad piece of foam, a blanket and a broken set of drawers. What are you supposed to do now? Just stay here? Hope your father won’t come and find you? Hope the police don’t come?  You’re to stewed up in your thoughts to notice your professor knocking at the door gently till he speaks. You jolt a bit and look at him he’s holding two boxes of pizza. 

“Oh” you whisper and go to get up. 

“We can eat on the floor” he chuckles softly lying the pizza boxes in front of you before he gets on the floor with a small huff. He sits by you leaving a space between you to sit a pizza box. 

“Figured I get half and half, that way you got four choices” he says opening both boxes. The smell hits you instantly and your stomach grumbles embarrassingly. You flush while your professor nudges a box to you. You take a slice of your preferred flavour it’s warm and tastes amazing, you haven’t had pizza in ages. You make a small moan of happiness and see your professor grin a bit before he’s eating a slice too. 

You eat in comfortable silence till you go for another piece before hesitating. You swallow a bit and glance to Professor Howard who is looking at the wall lost in thought. 

“Cooper?” You whisper and he blinks eyes snapping to yours. 

“Yeah? sorry was miles away darlin’ “ he says. 

“How many can I eat?” You ask.

“However much you want. Just don’t make yourself sick” he jokes lightly and you just nod awkwardly before taking a second slice and eating it. You eat three slices till your stomachs hurting a bit. The alpha beside you eats in silent probably thinking away again. You push the box forward and toward him so he has better access and stretch your legs out and sigh. 

“Full?” He asks, you nod. For once you are full, no hunger cramping your stomach. He folds the boxes back and stacks them on top of each other after finishing his slice. You sit in silence for a bit before you hesitantly shuffle over. Professor Howard glances when you shuffle before he relaxes his head resting against the mattress because it’s that high off the ground. You’re scared of falling out of it if you laid on it. You sit next to him more closer, you feel a tug in your chest till you rest your head on his shoulder hesitantly. He doesn’t tense or shout, just lets you. You sigh and close your eyes sitting there in comfortable silence, no shouting, no smell of smoke or alcohol. You feel exhaustion take over, you feel your eyes grow heavy, the warmth of the body next to you enough for you to close your eyes. The faint smell of alpha filling your nose, it isn’t harsh and angry like your father, it’s almost content. 

“You’re falling asleep sweetheart” you hear softly. You shake your head trying to deny it even as you yawn. 

“Can’t deny it” he jokes his cheek resting on your head. 

“You’ve had a hard day. Reckon you’ll sleep for a whole night and then some” his voice is soft and soothing lulling you more. 

“I’ll wake up for school” you say half asleep. 

“And I’ll put you right back to bed. You’re not going to school” he huffs teasingly. 

“What about you?” You ask. 

“Had a chat with the principal. The old man was understanding” he answers. 

“He really is old” you mumble and you listen and fell him chuckle. 

“He should be retired” Professor Howard jokes and you smile stifling a laugh. 

“Come on. You can’t sleep on the floor. Not anymore” he says and you reluctantly get up. You yawn and rub your eyes looking at the big bed. He stands too stretching and sighing. 

“I’m down the hall alright? I’ll leave my door open. You need anything tell me. Doesn’t matter what time” he says grabbing the pizza boxes and heading to leave. 

“Professor?” You call and he halts a bit. 

“Cooper” he corrects. 

“Right- Cooper” you whisper. 

“I… thank you” you say as he turns around. 

“You’re welcome darlin’ get some sleep alright?” He says and you nod watching him leave closing the door behind him. You take a small breath and look at the big bed. You lie in the big bed. The mattress is soft, the pillows nice and cold, the blankets smelling like washing liquid. You stare at the ceiling, listen to Professor- Cooper, shuffle down stairs before he’s going to his room. You listen closely till you figure he’s in bed. 

You glance at the clock. It’s midnight. You can’t sleep, usually you can, even with your exhaustion you don’t like this bed. Even if it’s comfortable and clean you feel too far away from Cooper. Maybe you could sleep on his floor? No that’s invasion of his space, alphas or anyone really hate when someone enters their space without permission. You got yelled and beaten one time for accidentally going in your father’s room, he threw a rage fit, said to never enter an alphas room without permission. You turn onto your side and whimper. The bruises on your ribs aching. You sigh and lie back on your back carefully. You grip the sheets tightly, why are you so desperate to be by your professors side? He’s just being nice, he’ll throw you out eventually. You can’t help the thoughts though, you want to nest, you’ve never been allowed to nest, you tried to when you had a rough heat. You got beaten and locked in the cold bathroom. You haven’t had a heat in a few years now, haven’t thought about it. Why is it coming up now? You rub your eyes pushing a little too harshly. You glance at the clock, it’s 1 am. He’ll be asleep. You’re getting twitchy, anxious, you need to be near him. You throw the covers off and get up your mind not really processing what’s happening. You stand in his doorway seeing Cooper lying on his back, small snores leaving his mouth. You freeze and realise what you’re doing, you open your mouth and close it, hands shaking. You turn your heel till you hear a sleepy call. 

“Darlin’? That you?” You freeze in the hallway as you hear the flick of a lamp being turn on. You turn and see Cooper sit up, he hasn’t got a shirt on. Your body freezes as you look at the hard plains of muscle, was he always so well built? He runs his hands down his face, blinking a bit while your eyes linger on his torso. 

“You need something?” He asks voice husky with sleep as you approach his doorway looking to him. 

“I-“ you stutter a bit taking a deep breath. 

“I can’t sleep” you whisper. 

“You want some tea or something?” He asks and you shake your head. 

“Can-“ you close your mouth, flushing hands clenching and shaking. 

“Would it-“ you shake your head frustrated looking at the floor, with yourself, with this situation. You should be in your room on the floor beaten not trying to crawl into the bed of your professor. You can hear your father’s cruel words in your head calling you a slut and fat pig. You grimace at his voice in your head. 

“Come here” you blink a bit at the command and look up seeing he has pulled his blankets back. Your legs move automatically, you walk into his room, his scent everywhere. You approach the bed and slowly climb into it. Cooper hums and places the blankets over you before getting comfortable again. You lie your head on his pillow, it smells like him. You try to subtly nuzzle your nose into the pillow to breathe him in. Your body relaxes, your anxiousness calms down. You sag and sigh eyes closing automatically. You hear the lamp being flicked off before he gets comfortable again. Darkness creeps up quickly and you fall asleep settled. 

You wake up warm for once. You nuzzle deeper into the warmth you’ve found, you feel breathing though and your eyes snap open. You freeze, you’re in a room you don’t recognise, with smells- you stop your thoughts. Professor Howard’s scent. This is his room, right. Your memory floods back in. Why can you feel breathing though? You try to move, you can’t. You feel anxiety creeping up till you realise Cooper is at your back, his arm is around your waist his hand under your jumper, his large warm hand on your stomach. He’s spooning you. Your body warms even more with the information, his breath is fanning the back of your neck, his whole body touching yours. It feels good. You look at the clock it’s 5:30 in the morning. Too early. You sigh eyes closing again you settle into his embrace again. Sleep doesn’t come, damn body won’t let you fall back asleep, usually you’d be up and heading to school. You hear a noise behind you and realise Cooper had groaned and mumbled something. 

“Cooper?” You whisper. He jolts and you realise he was talking in his sleep and feel bad for waking up. His hand and arm tightens around you, he pulls you closer like there’s a threat around. 

“Just me” you whisper.

“Shit” he mutters and you smile. His arm relaxes and his sigh hits the back of your head. He freezes again then and you know he realised what he’s doing. You freeze too not sure how he’s gonna act. 

“Please” you whisper. Why were you saying please? 

“Please what?” He asks his voice low against the back of your head. 

“Stay” the word falls out. 

“Darlin” he sighs. 

“Please” you beg body trembling. You hear him swear again till he tugs you impossibly closer and nuzzles into your neck. You whimper and tilt your head to bare more of your neck. His nose finds your neck, the scent glands there as he breathes you in. 

“Smell too damn good” he says. 

“Too good?” You say confused haven’t heard the before. 

“Mhm” he agrees. 

“I’m your Professor” he sighs his arm slacking. You panic, pressing his hand to your stomach so he keeps it there. 

“I know- but I-“ you stop. But what? But, you have confusing feelings? You feel like an omega around him? You feel safe? None of it mattered, not in the end when your father would get you back. You feel tears in your eyes, your body bracing, scent souring. It’s too confusing, all of it. It was easier with your father, just don’t do things that made him anger and avoid him, try to survive his beatings. 

“You gotta breathe” he whispers his hand sliding up to rest between your breasts on your chest. You take a deep shaky breath, your heart thumping against his hand. 

“It’s too much” you cry. 

“It’s gonna be for a while” he soothes, his hand sliding back to wrap around your waist. 

What the fuck is wrong with him? Taking you to his house, setting up a guest bedroom for you, touching you like that like he had a goddamn right. He’s pissed at himself, whatever stupid fucking thoughts are going on in his head are crowding his responsibility as a semi-decent human being an alpha to care for a abused omega and young woman, this isn’t anything but that, this is simple basic omega care 101. He should fucking know because he took a whole damn course on it while he was acting. So why the hell does this feel like a courting ritual in disguise? He’s never in his life had an omega react like to him as an alpha, not once, he’s always shown hints of alpha dominance or dominance in general, but majority of Hollywood didn’t react to it, he got waved off, typical alpha behaviour, even omega coworkers would never do that. Barb sure as hell didn’t, if anything she was the dominant one in the relationship, he was just happy to care for his wife, little girl and act, that’s all his life was, simple, fake. He sighs getting the queen bed set up, making sure you’ve got access to extra pillows and soft blankets, he doesn’t really own anything soft, Barb was always a silk or cotton kind of person. He needs to go buy some, or whatever type of material you like. He’ll need to get you clothes, toiletries, whatever foods you eat. Later, once you’re settled and not submitting to him. He tugs the sheet a little hard hearing it rip slightly, he grimaces and sighs hanging his head a moment. He pinches the bridge of nose before running a hand down his face. It was nothing, it was a simple omega mechanism, you’re in a state of distress that’s it, it wasn’t proper submitting. 

Once he’s done with the room he jogs back downstairs seeing you standing awkwardly by the kitchen island, glass in hand. He takes a moment, you’re holding yourself funny, probably from the pain and bruises. He clears his throat and makes himself known before going to his medicine cabinet. 

“I got some pain killers you can take, some uh, bruise cream to” he tugs out some pills and the tube of cream. 

“Pain killers?” You ask. 

“Yeah, generic over the counter” he slides the packet over. You eye them a bit hand tightening around the glass. 

“You don’t gotta take them. Just if you wanted, bruise cream will help though, makes your skin feel a little fuzzy and warm though” he places it on the table. You stare at the items and his chest tightens. 

“Uh, listen the school nurse gave me some things too” he tugs a paper bag out of his briefcase. 

“She said it’s got some scent blockers, suppressants, heating pads, deodorant too, he places the bag on the table too. You don’t touch though. Ok, he’s gotta be careful with what he does. 

“You hungry? I can order pizza or something, haven’t gone shopping yet” he opens the fridge and scans it grimacing, definitely need to go shopping. Alright you’re too quiet, he glances back you’ve put the glass down hands hesitantly going to the brown paper bag. 

“Can- can I have a shower?” You ask. 

“Yeah, course, bring your stuff I’ll show you to your room” he says and nods. He heads upstairs after you grab your things. You follow him slowly, probably hurting. He takes you to the guest room and you freeze in the doorway eyes wide. Shit. Did he not do a good job? Does it smell in here? 

“That-“ you take a shaky breath. 

“I’ll be fine on the floor, with a blanket or something” you whisper and his mind reels. 

“The floor?” He asks trying to keep his tone neutral. 

“Darlin’ you sleep on the floor at home?” He bites his cheek till he tastes blood. 

“I’ve got some foam, a blanket” you say like it’s normal. God he’s gonna punch someone, your father is a seriously fucked up piece of work. 

“You uh- you take a shower ok? Bathrooms through there, should be new toothbrush and shampoo and condition, body wash, a loofa” he opens the bathroom door hands shaking. 

“Do you have a timer?” You ask. 

“Timer?” He frowns. 

“For how long you want me to shower” you whisper fiddling with your shirt. 

“No, I don’t have a timer sweetheart, just take as long as you need” he says gently. You frown. 

“But I’ll waste water and money?” You say confused. 

“I’ve got lots of money ok? I’ve got lots of water too, just, get yourself nice and clean and warm ok?” He’s silently begging. You frown, nod and head inside. He sighs in relief once he hears the shower turn on. He collapses against the bed, his emotions are high, tears in his eyes, hands shaking as he runs them over his face. He takes a moment and sighs before he grabs the bruise cream and deodorant, he knocks on the door. 

“Yeah?” You call turning the water off. 

“I wasn’t- I wasn’t knocking for you to stop, I’ve got the bruise cream, I’m just gonna leave it on the counter ok?” He waits a beat before walking in and placing the cream on the counter. He hears your shivering though and frowns. 

“You cold? The switch here is the heater” he flicks it on. 

“No- the waters just cold” you answer and he frowns. It shouldn’t be this house is couple months old. 

“Something wrong with the plumbing? Here, I got a towel lemme check it” he grabs a towel turning, you’re already stepping out and he freezes. You’re dripping with water, covered in goosebumps, your torso is bruised, your legs are too, there’s a nasty one on your hip, your soft curves beaten. He swallows his mind going blank before he looks away and wraps you up. 

“Wait here a moment” he whispers. He tests the water, turns the warmth on, it works and he frowns. 

“Darlin’ the hot waters working just fine?” he says confused. You look to the ground still shivering and it clicks. 

“You weren’t allowed to use hot water?” He asks and you shake your head. Goddamn it wishes he had his rifle. 

“Are you upset with me? I’m sorry” you say instantly and he shakes his head. He walks over to you and rubs your arms trying to warm you up, he presses a kiss to your wet forehead and sighs. You keen, desperate for affection, for safety. 

“You’re gonna take a proper shower ok? I’m gonna wash your hair and take my time, you’re gonna relax and get warm” he says against your forehead. You just nod, melting into him, the submission showing again full swing making his alpha instincts rear. 

“Good girl” he praises softly and he hears you sigh. He makes sure the water is warm before taking your towel and making sure you go back in under warm water. He’s not focused on your body right now, he can’t be, right now he needs to take care of you, make sure you’re washed and warm. He pushes his sleeves up he doesn’t care if he gets wet. 

“You’ll get wet” you say frowning. 

“It’s just water Darlin” he says and grabs the shampoo. He’d join you, you’re not ready for that though, don’t need a naked alpha in your space. 

“Come ‘ere, face your back to me, tilt your head a bit” he orders gently. You listen quickly, tilt your head back, standing at the edge. He wants to shower you in praise, tell you you’re such a good omega, a good girl. He doesn’t. He just focuses on washing your hair, being gently, does he have a brush somewhere? Surely Janey’s got one in her room he’ll just clean it, if not he’ll go buy one.  He massages the shampoo in like he’s seen the hair dressers do at the salon, you’re almost falling over, body relaxing and sagging, he catches your scent, still in distress, but it’s relaxed, sweet and warm like apple pie. He bites his cheek again and focuses on the task at hand. 

“Rinse that out for me darling” he says and you do as he says closing your eyes and going back under the warm spray. He shouldn’t watch. He does. His eyes try to stay on your face, he’s surprised you’re not worried about modesty, or maybe your brain has shut that part down because it’s too much to worry about. You open your eyes and step away from the spray and he quickly busy’s himself with getting the conditioner. 

“Same again” he says softly. You listen and he lathers the conditioner in your hand, making sure to get the knots. 

“Let that sit, I’m gonna look for a hair brush real quick alright? You wash yourself I’ll be back” you nod and he steps back, he checks the cupboard first finding nothing. He huffs and leaves the guest bathroom heading to his bathroom instead. He’s muttering to myself as he searches his cupboards. He finds a comb, probably not ideal, but it’ll do. He checks Janey’s room, she always brings her hairbrush though, says it’s better than the one he bought. He’s not gonna argue with his little cowgirl. 

“It’s me” he walks in again, you’re washing the soap off and he’s thankful he was gone for that because he’s trying so damn hard to keep his goddamn traitor of a dick calm. 

“I only got a comb, I’ll buy ya a real brush soon” he says. 

“Buy me one?” You frown. 

“I ain’t got brushes darling I haven’t got a lot of hair. You’ll need a brush” he chuckles. He catches your face and his smile falters a bit. 

“We’ll talk after alright? My ex-wife’s hairdresser said it was easier to get knots out with conditioner in” he says flushing a bit. You just nod and turn around again. He sighs and begins detangling your hair trying to be as gentle as he can. 

“Alright. You can rinse that out, I’ll get you another towel” he mutters closing the glass door. He takes a small breath and grabs two fresh towels. He listens to the water shut off before you’re stepping out. He hands you the bigger towel and you thank him looking awkward. 

“Right, I’ll uh, wait in the room” he leaves awkwardly. He sits down heavily and sighs again. After a while you come back out, in your clothes again, towel drying your hair. He notices you’re not using the other towel he gave you and he sighs internally. 

“Sit” he pats the bed next to him. You sit by him, close, probably not even realising it. 

“I know this is all. Hectic and a little fucked up, right now though, right now the plan is for you to stay here, get better, I’m gonna buy you what you need, food, clothes, necessity’s, blankets if you need” he watches you frown and stop drying your hair. 

“I know you’re thinking bout your daddy and school and all that, for today and tonight just don’t, just eat and get some rest and tomorrow we’ll talk more and sought it out and make a better plan” he looks to you. 

“That sound ok?” He asks. You process for a bit and he gives you time till you nod. 

“Alright. I’m gonna order pizza, any favourites?” He asks and you shake your head, probably never even had pizza he realises. He lifts his arm, ready to hug you again before he stops himself, stands and heads downstairs to order over the phone while he spirals internally. 

You stare at the cardigan. It’s soft brown material. You run it through your fingers before you burry your face in it. You breathe it in, smelling his scent on it. You choke back a noise, hugging the material tightly. You can’t really process what’s happening, your mind is too numb and fractured to do anything. You see the school door open and look seeing Professor Howard walking quickly, your backpack on his back, your hoodie and his bag in hand. You keen and open the car door without thought. 

“Hey, you don’t need to get up” Professor Howard shakes his head stopping you before you can stand. He places your backpack and hoodie by your feet and chucks his bag into the back before crouching. 

“Listen. I know you’re confused ok, right now your body is in distress, your mind is slowly shutting down all the intense functions so it can focus on healing, I’m gonna take you to my place ok? I’m gonna get you fed and hydrated, you can have a shower or bath, I’m gonna set up a room for you too ok?” His eyes stay on yours as you listen to his words and process. 

“My dad he-” you whimper 

“He won’t, alright, I’ll make sure of it ok?” He holds his hand out and you take hesitantly. 

“You’re safe with me” he soothes and you let it settle over you like a balm before he stands up. His hand slips from yours and he closes the door softly before climbing into the drivers seat. He makes sure your seatbelt is on before he starts the car and pulls out the parking lot. The hum of engine brings you a sense of calm, you stare at his hands before reaching over hesitantly. 

“You want the fan on? Heater?” He asks and you hesitate before shaking your head. 

“Music?” He glances confused. 

“Your hand?” you whisper asking.

“My hand?” He frowns. 

“Oh, course sweetheart, sorry” he lets you hold his hand in your lap, you feel the warmth, the calloused skin, why was he apologising? Alphas don’t apologise. He does it a lot though. He pulls up to a fancy house that doesn’t have neighbours right next door. There’s a whole house space between them. His house is double stories, blue and white paint. It’s fancy. 

“I should warn you I’ve got a dog” he says suddenly. 

“A dog?” You ask. 

“Yeah, he’s a boarder collie. Names Roosevelt, he’s a little excitable when you first meet him. I can put him out the back if you need” he says. 

“No, he’s your dog. It’s his house too” you whisper. Your grandma had a dog once, you remember it when you were little. 

“Alright. If he gets too much, just say, he doesn’t mind spending time outside” Professor Howard assures. You just nod numbly. 

You grab your backpack and Hoodie and climb out the car on tired feet. 

“You ok to walk?” Professor Howard asks standing in front of you with a worried look. You just nod again. 

“Alright. Watch your step here ok?” He leads you to the front door and unlocks it. You hear a bark and jolt before you see a bundle of white, grey and black fur. His dog wags his tail, well actually his backside is wagging. 

“Yeah I know boy, I’m home early it’s real exciting” Professor Howard huffs softly before kneeling down and petting the dog gently. Roosevelt soaks up the attention, you watch how gentle he is with the animal as Roosevelt licks him. 

“Yeah love you too buddy. I brought someone ok, you gotta be on your best behaviour” he whispers and gives the dog another pat before standing up. Roosevelt looks at you his folded ears perking up, his tongue lolled out. 

“Go on, bed Roosevelt, let the lady in” Professor Howard huffs at his dog who barks, but listens. 

“Come in” he adds and you follow him inside. His house is fresh and clean, it smells faintly of him, nicely decorated, a few movie posters around. You look around the nice house, it’s so different from your old run down place that smells of cigarettes and alcohol. 

“I don’t get many visitors” the alpha says making you blink as he puts dishes in the sink grimacing. 

“It’s ok” you say before there’s a presence at your feet. You jolt in surprise having not heard the dog. 

“Roosevelt!” Professor Howard huffs. 

“He’s fine! He just startled me is all” you put your backpack down and he Roosevelt quickly sniffs it intently. You kneel down hand out before you stop. 

“Can I?” You ask. 

“Yeah darling” Professor Howard answers softly. You pet Roosevelt, who turns to you, his whole butt wiggling in excitement. You smile, you feel a sense of calm as you pet his soft fur and he turns this way and that showing you his excited wiggle. 

“You’re real cute” you whisper and he barks making you jolt before you realise he was agreeing with you. 

“Alright boy, she gets it, you can wiggle all ya want later” Professor Howard urges him back to bed while you stand back up. 

“You want to eat first? Glass of water?” Your professor moves back to the kitchen and grabs a cup before pouring water into it. You stare at the clear clean glass for a moment, hands shaking as you stand by the kitchen island. Why was he being so nice? Was he going to hurt you later? Was this all some sort of trick? You take a sip of water in shaky hands and feel a sob in the back of your throat. 

“Shit, here sweetheart” he takes the cup from you gently, you realise you’re shaking bad again, eyes glassy. 

“Come here” he whispers opening his arms. You press yourself to him without thinking, his arms wrapping around your shoulders as he sighs gently. One hand rests on your head while the other is in your shoulder. 

“Darling, how long has it been like this with your daddy?” He whispers. 

“Four years” you sob. 

“My mum left him and me for another man in another suburb” you explain. 

“He blames me. Says it’s my fault, it is” you cry. He hushes you gently running his fingers through your hair. 

“Ain’t your fault sweetheart, you were just a teen, still a kid, whatever your mama did wasn’t your fault. What ever your daddy did to you isn’t either you hear me?” He soothes. 

“Nobody in their right mind treats their own flesh and blood like that ever. Especially an omega child” he holds you a little tighter as you nuzzle into his neck. 

“You breathe me in sweetheart, you take whatever you need from me” he mumbles softly, encouraging. You feel yourself keen, try to get impossibly closer, your arms gripping the back of his shirt. You need this, your omega needs this, a safe alpha. You get lost for a while before you realise how you’re acting to your professor. Only family and mates should be acting like this. 

“I’m sorry” you pull back and he frowns. 

“What for?” He asks. 

“Nuzzling. Acting like an omega” you whisper. 

“I’m not family or your- mate, you’re my professor” you add, more to yourself really as you shake your head. 

“I shouldn’t even be here-“ you turn before you’re grabbed. You tense up look back at your professor as he steps closer. 

“Listen to me” he whispers. He says your name when you don’t and your eyes flick to meet his. 

“You never have to apologise for being an omega around me, you hear?” He says, you open your mouth, but he cuts you off. 

“No buts, no nothing. You need an alpha, a safe alpha, your body is in distress and you’re gonna be for a while till you heal not just physically, but mentally, you need a safe place to heal as well. You’re gonna stay here, you’re gonna be safe with me, you’re gonna do whatever your omega needs you to do to heal, I meant it. Whatever you need me for you take it” his words shatter your defences, shatter everything, but there’s a small voice nagging in the back of your mind. You shake your look at the ground and take a shaky breath. 

“No” his voice is firm but low, his hand cups your chin and forces you to look up. You gasp, lips parted, something in you listens, something in you basks at the gentle order. Your professor blinks, studies you for a moment his eyes flicking down briefly. His thumb brushes over your chin, your jaw then your lower lip, you feel yourself melt, feel yourself cling to this gentle dominance.  He swallows, his eyes darting away, you catch his scent, a little more musky before he lets you go and the moment is broken. You blink, take a shaky breath while Professor Howard runs a hand through his hair. 

“I’ll uh- set up the guess room. Have some more water, I’ll order you some food or cook after I’m done” he walks off quickly up the stairs and you take a moment wondering what just happened.