Alex's p.o.v
"Girl, what took you so long? Noah."
She got out and hugged Lucas and Toby. Is she at peace with the relationship? No. But she's trying to be more open to this world and she's trying to be a better friend. Her action of getting out of the car sprung up a simple question she was not yet ready to get into, right now.
"Alex what is this?"
Shit. She literary forgot she had the bag in her hand that Toby's wolf would recognize, if he ever used it. She faked a smile dropping the bag in the front seat, as the alphas took the bags. She looks down at the fairly frozen ice cream which she handed to Toby.
"I don't know if you like ice cream, but I've eaten so much I fear I might get sick."
Without answering she jumped in the car trying to come up with a story, it's unfortunate she knows that Toby is not one to easily drop things.
"Thank you. Do you have a spoon? Oh, and you didn't answer my question."
She handed him a disposal spoon. Her avoiding answering the questions is now raising attention inside the car. She forced a smile pointing at the bag...
"Oh, this? Yeah. It's green tea..."
Oh no. This little secret has the ability to change everything in her life and she's not ready yet, for whatever change. She's not ready for the truth. She's not ready to leave Noah, she just found him.Although she is completely grateful for Mrs Zheng's help and confidentiality, suppressants in this economy are mighty expensive. She cannot afford to buy the drugs and keep a roof over her head at the same time.
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Back story…
She'd received a message hours ago from her manipulative mother. The kind that makes your skin crawl, that turns your stomach without even opening it. Apparently, her mother had convinced her so-called "mate" to send man to Moon, to basically stalk her until she comes "home" for a visit. Home? What a joke. That house wasn't home it was a prison, and Parker, her living, breathing, trauma-induced nightmare, still haunted its halls. Hell no. That wasn't happening. The way she saw it, there were two options:
Return to that house and relive the trauma that nearly destroyed her. Get a job. Leave Moon and live elsewhere, where she live can live without fear of being kidnapped.
JOB!!! Definitely going with a job. But it will take a while till she can afford to live in a secure apartment. Wait she has her fated, no. she's running out of suppressants, and she could feel the shift in her body. She used a good portion of her payment from damages she blackmailed her stepfather to pay for suppressants, tuition for extra modules, rent and necessities. heat was coming. The herbal suppressants gifted by Mrs. Zheng are going to help
.
"What does she mean by that?"
Toby looked at Lucas, brows scrunched in confusion. Lucas shrugged. Alex, feeling their curiosity creeping a little too close, quickly pulled the bag out of sight. She was absolutely lying but what choice did she have? They probably know she's lying but they don't call her out.
"Mrs. Zheng got me some green tea," she said, trying to sound casual. "It's got healing properties. Pain relief, anxiety... you know, made by the pack's homeopaths."
She fumbled slightly but recovered quickly.
"Y-you know how stressful school can be. Noah, you should drive. Eyes on the road. I'm just... stressed. I've got a lot to do before the new year starts."
Noah didn't respond right away, but the side-eye he gave her spoke volumes. He didn't buy it, not completely but thankfully, he didn't push. Lucas, sensing the tension, redirected Toby's attention before he could press further. She gave Lucas a silent look of gratitude.
She has strong feelings for Noah. But this isn't about him. This is not about love, or romance, or fated mates. This was about survival. The suppressants were the only thing that gave her a sense of control, the only thing that let her breathe when she first came to Moon. The natural herbs dulled her biological instincts just enough so she could think clearly. When she looks at Noah, she knows that she is choosing him not some hormone-induced illusion. For omegas, pheromones were overpowering. A single look from the wrong alpha during a heat could send thoughts spiralling out of control. But not with the suppressants. With them, she's grounded.
Silence filled the car. Thick, unspoken, comfortable silence. Eventually, the others started chatting about something or another, but she stayed in her thoughts, riding the waves of emotion and strategy like a warrior prepping for another day on the battlefield. After more than three hours of driving, they pulled up to a hotel. The sky was a deep indigo, the air cool. They had maybe nine hours to rest before their flight tomorrow. She stepped out of the car, stomach twisting not from nerves this time, but from the kind of exhaustion that settles in your bones when you've been holding yourself together for far too long. at least, for now.
.
They stepped into the beautiful, luxurious hotel room they'd be sharing for the night. She made a beeline for the bathroom, eager to shower away the long day. When she emerged, wrapped in a soft towel, she found Noah brooding on the couch, muscles tense, eyes lost in thought. Without a word, she handed him a towel. He took it, brushed his fingers against hers, and disappeared into the bathroom. Minutes later, he returned hair dripping, chest glistening with water, and those eyes fixed on her like she was his entire world.
"Axx… are you keeping something from me?"
Her mind, distracted by the vision before her wet hair, muscles, broad, perfect lips, sharp jaw, and the silent joy hidden under that towel took a moment to process his words. She shook herself out of it, focusing on her fated. She knew Noah's love language was communication. Among other things. And she wasn't ready for everything, not yet.
"Yes. A lot," she admitted softly. "But I don't want to get into it. Noah… I l-love you. I've never said that to anyone before. I love you."
Her voice trembled as she met his gaze.
"Please, just trust my words and my heart. There are stories, parts of me, that are just mine. They have nothing to do with how I feel about you."
Noah's expression softened.
"I know. I just wanted to say… whenever you're ready, I'll be here. I'm here to lend you a thousand ears. And a thousand shirts if you need them."
She smiled, tears prickling behind her eyes.
"You're my fated. You're stuck listening to my burdens for as long as we're together."
She playfully punched his shoulder and pulled him into a hug. They both laughed, a shared warmth filling the room. For a moment, things felt normal again. Like they were finding their way back to the start where everything between them was still magic and possibility.
"Well, this is a nice bed..." she said, eyeing it mischievously. "It'd look better with you in it."
Noah walked toward her, slow and sure, and began kissing her neck, nibbling at the sensitive spots behind her ear that always made her shudder in pleasure.
"Ah… Noah. Please."
"My turn," he whispered. "I believe in us. In this love. That's why I got you this…"
He pulled something from his bag. Her eyes widened.
"No way. You found it!"
It was her old art book the one she'd used when she first met Lucas and Leo. The one she'd sketched Noah in, annoyed yet captivated.
"Thank you! I thought I lost this!"
Emotions surged. She peppered his face with pecks until she caught his lips in a full kiss, passionate and grateful. She sucked on his neck, leaving a fresh mark among the fading ones. A silent claim. Mine. Confidence bloomed in her as she brushed her fingers over Noah's muscles every line, every curve. He really is art. Too perfect. Too warm. Too good to be true. And yet, here he is hers.
She grabbed a handful of condoms from the drawer. Even in her longing, her need, she was grounded. She refused to let one night of passion define her future. Love didn't mean losing sight of responsibility. She feared ending up alone, raising children not born of choice but impulse. She wouldn't do that to herself or them. Her hands trembled slightly as she fumbled with Noah's pants. When she looked up, she was faced with a massive tent, and her confidence wavered.
What was she even doing? Noah's body is ridiculous. Even toned. The perfect amount of hair. Sculpted like a statue carved by some lustful, overachieving god. And the best part? Every time she touched him, he groaned. Soft, deep, affected. Fascinating. He was just as undone by her as she was by him. Noah's hand gently guided hers, helping her roll the condom down. Patient. Kind. Letting her take the lead. Still, the nerves crept in. Anxiety tagging along behind her lust. Finally, Noah took control, sensing her uncertainty.
"You did great," he murmured.
Just those words so simple, so reassuring ignited her courage. She climbed onto his lap, balancing on her knees as he scooted back, aligning her arousal with his hardness. She kissed him deeply. And then she let go of doubt, of fear. She let her heart, and her body take over. And together, they created something raw, tender, and real.
.
.
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Noah's p.o.v
She still lay on top of him, content and warm against his chest. But then that scent kissed his nose again subtle, floral, sweet, laced with a heat that made his wolf sit up and take notice. It almost drove him feral all over again. The same scent that had driven him mad earlier, made him lose control, made him claim her harder, deeper, over and over. Shit.
That's why she insists on condoms. That's why she freaked out when they did it without one before. Delicious. Addictive. His little mate is an omega. He lay there in stunned silence, heart pounding in his chest. Her scent hadn't completely changed it had shifted, subtly but to his starved, craving wolf, it was a massive shift. His entire being hummed with excitement. His wolf was already celebrating.
[Fate gave me an omega.]
He planted a kiss on her forehead and held her tighter. Something was happening he could feel it. Her instincts were waking, and when she was at the height of passion, her pheromones had burst through every barrier, flooding the room. The scent of sex and omega clung to the air like a drug. Fuck. She started to heat up in his arms her temperature rising against his skin. His first reaction was panic. Is this her heat? No… it couldn't be. If it were a full heat, his body wouldn't be panicking it'd be devouring. But something was shifting.
"Axx?" He whispered, cautious.
"Mmmm?" she mumbled, her voice thick with exhaustion.
She was definitely drained but still coherent. He didn't want to alarm her, but he couldn't ignore it either. It was still early just past five. She needed rest. He just needed to know.
"Are you okay?"
"Mhmm. Can we wait a while before we leave?"
Hell no. Not with that scent hanging in the air like a temptation sent straight from the moon goddess herself. He hesitated… then chose honesty.
"Lovely, I don't know how else to ask this, so I'm just going to be direct... Are you an omega?"
She stiffened. He felt the war within her before he even saw her reaction. Her entire body jerked upright, awakened more by fear than his words. Anxiety. He hated that she was afraid. All he wanted was to pull her close and whisper that she was safe, loved, cherished.
"Honey, it's okay. Just wrap your arms around me. I want you close… or at least under me, writhing in pleasure."
He meant it as a tease to lighten the air, but it missed. She was clearly not reassured. She shot out of bed and bolted for the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
"Babe," he called softly, approaching the door. "I swear it's normal. Toby's scent used to be around me all the time, I just li-"
Shit. The door flew open.