5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Wayden

W ayden was freaking out.

His heart hammered hard and fast against his ribs as he stared at Blaine's back.

Fuck, why did I do that? He racked his brain, trying to find the damn answer, but all he could think about was how Blaine had made him angry. He'd been so pissed he couldn't think straight.

That was no fucking excuse. He shouldn't have done that. He should say something.

Explain. Apologise. Anything.

"Blaine," Wayden reached for him, but the omega sidestepped him and walked to his room. The door to the spare room slammed closed with a loud bang. The sound reverberated through Wayden, making him wince.

Wayden heard Blaine moving around in his room, doing what? Wayden didn't know. He moved towards Blaine's room and stopped when he heard him talking to someone. A few minutes later, his connector went off. Wayden turned away from Blaine's room and completed the connection.

"What's going on over there?" Matews asked. "I was talking to Blaine a few minutes ago. He said he wants to quit, and he wants me to send a hover pod to fetch him right now."

Fuck. Blaine had been talking to Matews that time.

"Matews, listen… I…"

"Before you say anything hold on a second." The connector went silent for a second and then Wayden heard Blaine's voice coming through the speakers from the room. Wayden turned to face the room. His inside tightened, and his lungs seized.

What the fuck was Matews doing?

"Matews, this is…."

"Yes, it is," the beta said. "You can't imagine how I feel about it. I didn't want to do this. But it has to be done because you two don't realise how much you need each other. And you're going to drive me crazy if I let you. So listen, this has to stop. The truth is… Wayden there are no applicants. I've reached out to your previous assistants, and they are all busy. You have two choices. You can either continue with Blaine as your assistant or I can return Xaine Covus' funding after I end this connection and you can come back here and start all over again."

"Blaine, you've been in our employment for less than a day. With your situation I doubt you'll be able to get a job anywhere else. I can contact the council of alphas and terminate your contract, or you can continue working with Professor Mephis. It's your choice. Let me know what you both decide."

The connector went silent. Matew's words hung in the air adding to the already tense situation.

Wayden pulled out a chair at the counter and sat down.

This was a mess. A mess Wayden didn't know how to fix.

Wayden wished he hadn't snapped. He knew the Blaine loved to provoke him for some reason. Blaine thrived on making him lose his cool. From the moment they'd met at the Covus house the omega seemed to have something against him.

They didn't even know each other.

Well, now it was kind of too late to think like that, because of what he'd done. Biting an omega was the most intimate act between an alpha and omega. Wayden had done something he'd never thought he'd do to any omega except his ex. Even Ambrose had had his conditions. Ambrose had wanted to wait for their bonding ceremony night. They were together, but Wayden never got to claim him.

In retrospect, he should have known their relationship would come to an end. It was bound to. Omegas wanted to be claimed, they craved it. Not that Wayden wanted to claim Blaine or anything.

Fuck, why was he even thinking of that? He should try to find a middle ground where they could coexist.

Yet here he was thinking about the stupid bite.

Wayden rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. Where was the fucking middle ground? He couldn't see it unless Blaine changed his character all together. Maybe then they could work together.

The door to the spare bedroom opened, and Blaine walked out. The omega hesitated for a beat before he walked to the counter. He dragged a chair out and then sat down. Wayden's eyes dropped to Blaine's neck. He couldn't fucking help himself. The red and angry bruise was like a beacon. As if on cue, the taste of Blaine's skin bloomed on Wayden's tongue. Wayden wrenched his eyes away.

It didn't look like he'd broken the skin, or this would have been a disaster. He'd heard of alphas accidentally claiming omegas and being forced to bond with said omega. The very thought left Wayden cold.

Why had he done that? This could have been a disaster. He could have claimed the omega.

Fuck no.

That would never be him. He'd sworn off omegas or any form of relationship. He was good alone. He had his work. He didn't need anything else.

"Blaine, listen… I…" Wayden said, but Blaine raised his hand.

"Okay," Blaine said.

Wayden frowned, staring at him. "What do you mean, okay?"

Blaine lifted his right hand to his neck but stopped himself. Wayden's eyes fell on the mark again.

Shit. Had it gotten redder? Probably not. He was fucking paranoid because he'd almost claimed an omega.

Shit.

"I… won't do it again. I promise to behave this time. If you still want me as your assistant, I'll work with you until the end of your research." Blaine extended his right hand towards him. Wayden stared at the hand confused. "I… I call a truce."

Wayden hadn't realized they were fighting. "A truce?"

"Do you want the definition?" Blaine asked his nostrils flaring. He seemed to catch himself and then looked down. "Sorry. This is the last time I disrespect you. I promise to mind my tongue." He bit out through clenched teeth. Blaine was clearly finding it hard to apologise. There wasn't a smidgen of sincerity in his words. The fucking omega was incorrigible. Wayden shook his head as he decided to cut Blaine some slack. The omega wasn't the only one who was in the wrong here.

Wayden took Blaine's hand and said, "truce."

"Good." Blaine snatched his hand away and walked out of the shuttle as if it were on fire, leaving Wayden there to wonder if they could work with each other.

Wayden doubted it. But he had no choice.

***

Blaine

Morning came too soon.

Blaine stared at the light streaming into his room and groaned. He flipped to his stomach and buried his face into his pillow. Did he have to get out of bed? He didn't want to. Embarrassment washed over him as memories from last night flashed through his mind. He didn't think he could face Professor Douche.

But he had to. He was the alpha's assistant, after all. They were stuck together for the foreseeable future and Blaine wasn't happy about it. He should be happy that he still had his job, but… Blaine's cheeks heated, and his body felt tingly, warm, horny – all the things he didn't want to feel. He'd goaded Professor Douche from the moment they'd met, pushed the alpha so he could watch him break, but he'd never imagined that he would turn the tables on him.

Blaine screamed into his pillow, arms and legs flying everywhere. After he'd exhausted himself, he flipped to his back just as there was a knock at the door.

"Blaine! Blaine… are you alright in there?" some omega called, knocking at the door.

What? Blaine jerked upright.

"I heard a scream. Is everything okay?" he said, sounding anxious.

"Yes. I'm fine," Blaine shouted. "I'm just getting ready. I slipped and I… I hurt my toe."

"Oh… okay," he said. "Let me know if you need help or anything."

I don't need help, Blaine grumbled as he got out of bed. He went to the washroom and quickly got cleaned up, dressed and ready to face the day. Done, he walked to the door, took a deep breath and walked out of his room, and soon regretted it when he saw Aidyn coming his way.

"You're finally awake," Aidyn said. "We've been waiting for you."

"You have? Why?"

Aidyn laughed, instead of answering him. He linked their arms and walked Blaine down the hallway, out of the omega wing to the main house. Blaine stared at the door leading to a large hall where there were tables with large platters of food. Blaine's stomach growled at the sight. He wanted to go in there.

"Aren't we going in there?" he asked, salivating.

"No. Luka heard that you're not staying with us for long, so he wanted to talk to Professor Mephis while we have breakfast. He's very interested in Professor Mephis' research."

Of course he is. Blaine started to roll his eyes but caught himself midway when he realised what he was doing.

Behave, Blaine told himself. It didn't matter how he felt about Professor Douche's research. He just needed to do his job, that's all. They made their way to another room. It was small and intimate, and Blaine was glad there were double doors that opened onto a porch that led into the garden. Blaine walked to the farthest chair from Professor Douche and the other douche alphas. He sat down and made sure he focused on the plate in front of him, which wasn't so hard to do since he was starving. He had barely eaten the night before. Between the crying cubs, sickeningly happy omegas and Wayden's sexy, intoxicating, enticing… everything that was sex bite, Blaine's stomach had rebelled at the sight of food. He'd wanted only an escape to a faraway place where he could be embarrassed in peace. And hopefully not have to face Professor Mephis… ever again.

If only Blaine didn't need this job. He'd asked Matews for a trade with another professor but apparently they all had their own personal assistants who'd worked with them for years. Wayden was the only one who struggled to find an assistant. No one wanted to work with him.

Blaine wondered why. It was probably because of his wild ideas. No one wanted to be part of that shit.

It was a sad day in Blaine's life to be stuck with Professor Douche. He couldn't even quit gracefully. Blaine glanced in Wayden's direction and almost dropped out of his chair when he found the alpha looking at him. Actually, he could feel a lot of eyes on him. Everyone was looking at it.

The bite mark on his neck tingled. Blaine groaned internally, wishing he could disappear. He knew what the mark looked like. It was bluish purple with a tinge of red on his pale skin. Blaine had thought it was bad when he'd looked at it.

So, the mirror hadn't lied.

Blaine's hands itched to lift and cover the spot to stop everyone from staring. He knew they didn't mean any harm. They were curious. Last night, when he'd left the garden, he hadn't had a mark on his neck and now he had one… Blaine stared down at his plate, mortified.

"Can we eat?" Someone cleared their throat awkwardly. A chair was dragged next to Blaine. He looked up to see… what was his name again? Blaine couldn't remember because last night he'd kept calling them douche alphas. The alpha smiled as if he'd heard Blaine.

"What?" Blaine asked defensively. He squirmed in his chair, feeling self-conscious. Blaine gritted his teeth. He was never self-conscious. Not in front of an alpha, anyway.

"Your frown tells me you don't remember my name," the alpha said conspiratorially.

Should I? Blaine wanted to ask him. But he kept his mouth shut. He glanced Wayden's way and their eyes collided again.

Fuck.

Was he going to watch him all the time? It was unsettling and creepy. But Blaine knew why he did. I'm not going to misbehave! Blaine shouted in his mind. He looked back at the alpha next to him and smiled.

"I don't. And I think I'm allowed since we only met in your brother's office," Blaine leaned closer and imitated the alpha's conspiratory tone, "and once I walked out of that office no one spoke to me the whole night. So…" Blaine shrugged. The stab of hurt he'd felt last night ached all over again. He shoved the feeling away. He didn't need any alphas to talk to him.

"I'm sorry… It's kind of a thing here. We try to keep a healthy distance from our omegas unless they approach us first. You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to."

Bullshit, Blaine thought. But he kept a polite smile on his lips.

"I'm sorry we made you feel unwelcome last night. It wasn't our intention. We just try to be respectful about how omegas want to interact with us."

"I understand," Blaine said.

"I'm glad. I'm Caleb, by the way," he said, extending his hand for a shake. Blaine was about to shake the alpha's hand when Wayden appeared next to him. A gasped formed in Blaine's throat as the alpha leaned down to say something in his ear.

"We should set up," Wayden whispered, the sound of Wayden's voice reverberating through Blaine, making his insides tighten. Blaine turned to look at Wayden. He hadn't thought Wayden was that close. They were practically breathing the same air. And Wayden's scent…

Did Wayden's scent thicken?

Blaine could barely smell Caleb's scent. It was like Caleb wasn't there. It was only him and Wayden, staring at each other in the fucking eyes, and it was dreamy, warm and other things Blaine hated feeling… yet he couldn't stop his body from feeling them even though it shouldn't.

Blaine dug his nails into his thighs. The pain sliced through his skin igniting his body. Blaine wanted to resist the smouldering flames, but he couldn't. It felt weirdly good, and he liked it.

Stunned, Blaine sat there, not moving, his gaze focused on Wayden.

What was Professor Douche doing to him? Blaine asked himself.

"Blaine?"

"Yes." Blaine shook his head and got to his feet. He looked around him not sure what he was supposed to do.

"Here," Wayden said, pointing him to a large silver case. He walked to it and threw the lid open. "Do you know how to set up a recorder?"

"No," Blaine said. Wayden lifted the recorder out of the case and proceeded to show Blaine how to assemble it and set it up.

"It has intelligence software to zoom in and out, and follow motion and voice, but it glitches once there are more than two people in the frame. People tend to speak at the same time when they have conversations. I want you to adjust it and try to minimise the glitches."

"Okay," Blaine said.

"That would mean you'll have to eat while seated here," Wayden said indicating the spot next to the recorder. He lowered the review screen so Blaine could see while seated. "Press here and here to refocus the frame."

"Okay," Blaine said again, incapable of saying anything else.

"Go and get your food. I'll make sure it's focused and set on record," Wayden said. Blaine walked away without a backward glance, the need to get away from Professor Douche deep. He turned to the table and found a smiling Caleb with a plate in his hands.

"Thank you," Blaine said. Blaine smiled down at the food, touched that Caleb had thought of him.

"Finally. A real smile. You're gorgeous when you smile for real. You should do that more," Caleb said. He leaned close to Blaine and whispered, "I put in some extra meat for you."

Blaine watched Caleb turn back to the table, leaving him to stand there, a little flustered by his kind gesture. Caleb fucking disarmed him. Everyone was messing with his equilibrium today. Blaine reached for an empty chair, but stopped when Wayden took it instead.

"Go. I'll move it," Wayden said, then proceeded to carry the chair to where the recorder was.

What was wrong with everyone? Why were they being so nice to him? Blaine had never met considerate alphas in his entire life; well, except Xaine Covus, but he was nice to him because of Holi. It felt strange to be on the receiving end of such kindness.

Blaine walked to the chair and sat down. He quickly ate so that he could focus on the screen. The conversation at the table was moving fast and he could see the recorder glitching a few times and it was hard to adjust it when he had a plate in his hands.

"There's no separation within our pack. At first glance, you might think that. But we've come to realise that omegas want their space, their lives and identity. They want to be on their own, be individuals but within a community because they can't live without us, as much as we can't live without them. Our omegas have come up with their own rules of engagement. And we don't interfere with that," Luka said, frowning a little. "I don't know if I'm making any sense."

Aidyn placed a hand on Luka's arm lovingly. The omega had been sitting quietly next to him for the past ten minutes. All meek and depressing. He was even asking for permission to speak.

That could never be me, Blaine thought with a shake of his head.

He might not be able to speak his mind now because he needed this fucking job, but that didn't mean he would allow anyone to oppress him. The way Luka treated Aidyn was sickening, and Blaine couldn't even say anything about it.

It sickened him to his stomach to watch.

"We have a say in everything that happens within the pack. Unlike out there where alphas are doing the thinking for everyone. The pecking order of a pack should be alpha, beta and omega. All these designations must have a representative within the power circle. And there are no betas or omegas within the council of alphas. That's why everything is going wrong because they can't take care of everyone's needs when they don't have those needs themselves. It is hard to understand something that doesn't happen to you."

Blaine stared at Aidyn, surprised that what he said kind of made sense. They needed other designations to have a say. But that would never happen. For a hundred years the council of alphas had been making decisions for everyone and Blaine couldn't see that changing any time soon. Alphas were bullies who wanted to control everything. And if that thing wasn't useful anymore, they discarded it or put it in a damn cage, like all omegas out there, Blaine thought bitterly, rage boiling inside him.

But maybe they didn't need alphas. Omegas could have alphas of their own. Aidyn was proof that an omega could lead other omegas.

"An omega can be an alpha," Blaine blurted out. He gasped when he realised what he'd just said. He cringed when everyone stared at him.

Shit. His big mouth was going to get him into trouble again.

"What do you mean?" Caleb asked.

"No, it's nothing," Blaine said, his eyes drifting to Professor Douche. He quickly looked away when he met the alpha's eyes.

"It was definitely something," Caleb said with a smile. "Tell us. I want to hear more."

Blaine's eyes drifted to Professor Douche again, as if he was waiting for the alpha to give him permission to speak. He couldn't fucking believe this. What was wrong with him? He'd sworn he would never do that… ever. But he still waited like a docile little omega. Wayden gave the slightest nod. A weird sensation went through Blaine, causing the hairs on his arms to rise. Blaine rubbed his arms uncomfortable.

Fuck. Why did he feel like this?

You're submitting to an alpha for the first time in your life. It would probably feel weird, Blaine thought staring down at the screen. After you're done with this job, you won't have to do it again. Blaine hoped the institution had beta professors. He would rather work for them than an alpha.

"Blaine…" Caleb prompted.

"Uhhh…. yes." Blaine cleared his throat and tried to choose the right words. "I was saying that Aidyn could be seen as the alpha for the omegas. I noticed last night that no one spoke to them unless he's there to supervise somehow." It had been weird as fuck to watch, but there could be something there, especially because omegas were not given a voice.

"I'm not their alpha," Aidyn blushed, staring at his hands, looking all small next to Luka.

Blaine almost rolled his eyes at the sight. He couldn't help it. It was this type of behaviour that made the alphas and betas walk all over them. Aidyn had power within the pack, but he wasn't embracing it because omegas were expected to submit, obey and grovel at their alpha's feet.

Behave, Blaine told himself, choking his words back.

It wasn't his business what Aidyn chose to do. Blaine just wished he didn't have to bear witness to the foolishness.

"In a way he is," Luka said taking his omega's hand. Aidyn smiled up at his alpha adoringly. "Without my mate, I wouldn't have a pack." The alpha leaned over and kissed Aidyn on the lips.

Arggg. Blaine's stomach roiled at the sight, which was odd because he'd lived with Holi and Xaine for a whole week. Those two took PDAs to another level. Maybe it was because he liked Holi and Xaine together. Xaine was a good alpha. He protected his own.

The interview went on for a few more minutes, and they were done. Blaine packed up the recorder and made sure it was safely stored in its case. He walked down the porch, disappearing into the garden, not waiting for anyone to say anything. He needed a moment away from everything. A moment to breathe and scream – silently of course because someone would hear him and he couldn't very well explain why he was screaming.

Blaine slammed a fist against his chest to dislodge the tightness he felt there. The whole place was suffocating. How long were they supposed to stay there again? Blaine didn't know because he hadn't asked.

Dammit. He was regretting a lot of things.

It will end soon, he told himself as he walked around the garden, breathing sweet, scented air. He heard footsteps behind him and quickened his steps. He wasn't ready to talk to anyone yet. Blaine rushed away blindly, walking down a path that led… nowhere. A pond of sorts blocked his way. Blaine came to a stop and wheeled around to face whoever had come after him.

Blaine groaned when he saw Aidyn.

"Are you okay?" Aidyn asked as he got closer.

"I'm fine," Blaine said.

Aidyn gave him an assessing look.

What are you staring at? Blaine wanted to ask him, but he said nothing even though it was so hard for him to stay quiet. He never usually had to censor himself. It was exhausting.

"Here," Aidyn said handing him something. Blaine frowned. "It's for your neck."

Blaine's cheeks heated.

"It's ointment. I thought you might need it. It looks a bit…" Aidyn's eyes dropped to the mark on Blaine's neck. Blaine resisted the urge to cover it. Mortification washed over him, turning his cheeks warm. Memories from the moment Wayden's teeth sank into his skin flooded Blaine's mind, turning his embarrassment into something else. Blaine bit the inside of his mouth as a pulsating ache started in his hole. Blaine cringed.

"Thanks." Blaine snatched the small tube of ointment out of Aidyn's hand and walked away.

"Blaine?"

"What now?" Blaine asked irritably.

"You're such an irritable little thing." Aidyn laughed. "I've never met an omega like you. You fascinate me. Do you want to be friends?"

"No," Blaine said.

"Oh, don't be like that. We could be great friends. And I could help you with your alpha."

What? Did he say he could help him with Professor Douche? Blaine opened his mouth to set him straight, but Aidyn beat him to it. "You're going to push him away if you're not careful. Alphas don't like an overly aggressive omega. Use your aggression in other areas of your life. The bedroom perhaps," Aidyn said.

This time Blaine couldn't hold back the groan. "He's not my alpha. How many times do I have to tell you?" Blaine said. "Now I'm annoyed."

Aidyn laughed. "I know. But you want him to be your alpha. So, take my advice."

"I don't want him to be anything," Blaine said his voice going so high that it echoed all around them.

Shit.

Aidyn laughed harder.

Fucking hell. He should have stayed home.

Home where?

Blaine didn't fucking have a home. He couldn't fucking quit this job, not unless he wanted to go back to Holi and Xaine to beg them to help him… again. Blaine cringed at the thought. Xaine was probably tired of him.

"Bye, Aidyn," Blaine said, speeding away towards the house. He made his way to his room, heading straight for the bed. Blaine lay down and tried his best not to think about what Aidyn had said. But he couldn't stop thinking, even though he had his talent for compartmentalising.

Where was it now?

Fuck.

Blaine picked up a pillow and shoved it in his face when Aidyn's words rushed through his mind. He didn't want Professor Douche… he didn't. He fucking didn't!

Who would want that stupid alpha?

Every omega alive, a small voice that sound too much like Holi's said.

Shut up! Blaine growled silently.

He wished he could scream, but some omega would hear him because they were everywhere. Blaine couldn't speak his mind when he wanted to. He couldn't scream his head off when he wanted to. He was in a fucking detention centre.

Blaine closed his eyes, and when he opened them again it was already nighttime.

Blaine winced, feeling unrested and sore in weird places. At least his neck had stopped throbbing. Blaine touched it gingerly and almost moaned at the remnants of pleasure still lingering there.

His body flamed. Blaine's hand slid down his neck to his collarbone, fingers dancing over his shirt. He shivered, wanting them under the material. His cock hardened and his hole pulsed. Fuck… he wanted… his body was on fire. He reached down to cup his cock through his pants.

Blaine dropped his hand when he realised what he was doing.

He stared down at his tented pants. This was crazy. Was he going into heat or something?

That couldn't be right.

He couldn't go into heat. He drank his herb tea religiously. Blaine got up from the bed and ran to the washroom. He stared at himself in the mirror, looking for signs of whether he was going into heat or not. He hadn't allowed himself to go into heat for a long time, but he still remembered how his skin glowed, his lips got extremely red, and his scent changed too. Blaine sniffed his armpit.

Nope, there was no sweet scent there. His skin and lips looked normal.

He wasn't going into heat then. Maybe he should increase the dosage of his tea, just in case. He usually drank the tea twice a week. He'd increase it to three times a week, starting now.

Decision made, Blaine went to fetch his herbs from the shuttle. The lights were on in the shuttle when he approached. Professor Douche was probably inside. Blaine hesitated at the door. He wasn't ready to be alone with the alpha yet.

I'll drink it later, Blaine thought. He returned to the house and went in search of food. He wasn't going to be stupid like last night and go to bed hungry. If he was going to stay in the crazy pack, he would rather do it on a full stomach. He was going to need his brain at full capacity for the coming days, so he wouldn't say or do anything stupid.

As long as he kept his mouth shut, he was going to be fine.

The next two days went by in a blur of boring interviews, long hours of just observing people going about their daily life, recording, listening, taking notes, participating in tasks, writing reports and reviewing some of the documentation that was kept within the pack.

Blaine had thought being Professor Douche's assistant would be easy… he was wrong. The alpha was a slave driver. It was not surprising his former assistants didn't want to work with him again.

Wayden demanded perfection. He made Blaine do things over and over until they were to his satisfaction.

By the time they were leaving, Blaine was exhausted and so very glad they were on their way. Now, he could get some rest for a little while, until they reached their next destination.

If only they could leave already, Blaine thought as he watched the alphas and a few omegas gathered outside to say their goodbyes. Blaine's eyes drifted to Wayden next to the shuttle, talking to Luka and his brothers.

"For someone who doesn't want him, you sure look at him a lot," Aidyn said.

"Do you have nothing to do with your time besides look at what other people are doing?" Blaine asked, wrenching his eyes off Professor Douche. "I guess that's kind of your job. You look after everyone."

Aidyn nodded. "That's what omegas do. We take care of everyone."

Blaine cringed.

"Even you. You just haven't met the right person to bring that side of you out yet. You will though," Aidyn said giving him a quick hug. "Come back here anytime."

Blaine stood still and allowed Aidyn to embrace him, even though he wanted to shove him away. "I don't know… I…"

"You didn't like our food or something," Aidyn said laughing.

"I couldn't even eat with all the crying cubs. Haven't you guys heard of contraceptive chips?"

"We have. We're a small pack and we want to grow. Everyone seems to agree," Aidyn looked around him. "Omegas are happier when they have cubs, anyway."

"Eww… don't say that to me," Blaine said, walking to the shuttle. He'd had enough. "I'm ready to go," he announced to the alphas unnecessarily as he got into the shuttle. Blaine sat in the passenger seat and waited for Professor Douche.

Wayden gave him a lethal look before he turned to Luka to say something and then got into the shuttle. A few minutes later, they were drifting away.

Bye, weird pack, Blaine thought, staring at Aidyn and the alpha brothers. Blaine might have not liked it, but they seemed to be a close family. And that's what counted at the end of the day - family. Something a lot of omegas didn't have out there.

Wayden and Blaine drifted in silence through the town heading south. This time Blaine swore he was going to keep his mouth shut all the way to wherever they were going.

Even if it killed him.