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Chapter 2

The cool breeze nipped at her calves as she walked outside and Alaya was glad her cardigan was protecting her shoulders. She breathed in the autumn air that still had the last scents of summer swirling through it with each gust of wind. It was as if the summer wasn't quite ready to be over yet, still fighting to stay alive just one moment more.

A few moments later, Alaya realised that she was still standing on the porch, not yet even reaching the steps. She chuckled to herself before she jogged down and headed towards the hospital. Jeremiah would not be impressed if she was late again.

As Alaya passed by the houses, she didn't get far before she felt something pull her from around her waist. Within seconds she was between two of the houses in a slight alleyway that she had barely noticed as she had headed towards work. Her back was hard pressed against the brick wall behind her, pushing her ponytail into the back of her head.

"Ow. Who do you think you are grabbing me like -" Alaya was cut off before she could even finish her sentence or see who had grabbed her so violently. Lips crashed into hers, hard, raw that knocked the air out of her. She struggled beneath them until her mind caught up with what was happening, instantly recognizing the lips that were laying claim to her.

Alaya relented for just a moment, her heart rejoicing that Alaris had come to his senses and remembered that they were made for each other. A little voice whispered that that clearly wasn't quite the case seeing as they were in an alley way out of sight. And that voice made her stronger, strong enough to shove him off and catch her breath.

"I'm sorry," he breathed, as out of breath as her it seemed. His eyes bore into hers, the flames of passion still burning brightly.

"Would you stop your apologies Alaris. They mean nothing to me," she replied, dusting off her cardigan and righting herself. She went to walk away from him but he grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her attempt.

"Alaya, wait," He pleaded and she turned back to look at him with a scowl. She couldn't ignore his beauty though as he stood in front of her. His choppy auburn hair swept across his face, styled effortlessly as usual. His green eyes pleaded at her to stay. His soft lips, still a little red from their kiss, turned down with sadness at the corners. But she couldn't let that get to her. She had to be stronger.

"Wait for what Alaris? Have you stopped being an arsehole? Do you want us to be together again? I'm done waiting!" she shouted. Alaya knew the answers to both those questions so there was no point in continuing this conversation. He missed her, she understood that. But he wouldn't be with her now. Not when she was to be an Omega. Alaya understood why he had made that choice. But he had made it. He had chosen to walk away from her when her entire future, a future they were meant to share had been ripped away from her. He had to deal with that just like she did.

"I wish you would try to understand. Just try. I love you. You know that right?" he continued, the sadness in his eyes making them glisten like dewdrops.

"Never picked you for someone that would break those they loved," she seethed, ripping her wrist free from him. She walked slowly away from him knowing he wouldn't follow her into the light. Well, she refused to be some dirty secret of his when she was still the same person he fell in love with. Just carried a different title now that was all.

As Alaya pushed open the door to the hospital, she glanced behind her, stomach dropping when she saw the empty street. She chastised herself for being weak and even checking.

"Glad you graced us with your presence Alaya," Jeremiah's voice shocked her back to what she was meant to be doing and she turned to smile her best smile in his direction.

"I intended to be on time," she explained as she headed towards him. His eyebrow raised as if he doubted that entirely, his face giving nothing else away. He looked the way he always did, tired. His brow furrowed, green eyes twinkling as he read the chart in his hand.

"Namby said we were busy," Alaya continued as she reached over the reception desk to grab a chart of her own. "We don't look busy," she continued, raising an eyebrow of her own at Jeremiah. He ignored her, still focusing on the chart in his hands. Alaya smiled at Kelly who was on reception this morning wondering if she could get a straight answer out of her instead.

"Are we busy Kelly? Or did Namby lie to me to get me out the house on time?"

"Ummmm. We aren't..." Kelly started until the slam of the clipboard Jeremiah was holding echoed around the small yellow room.

"Namby wouldn't have to embellish the truth if you were here when you're supposed to be," Jeremiah chided, the small smile on his face not giving his scolding enough conviction.

Alaya smiled over her shoulder at Kelly, "Yep, she lied to me. And she didn't even know I was going to late yet. They don't trust me Kelly. It hurts me to know they don't trust me," Alaya continued before grabbing with one hand a few of the wrapped fudges off the desk, holding tight to the chart with the other and walking past Jeremiah tutting.

"That chart is room 3," He called over his shoulder at her and she shook her head and chuckled lowly. It had the room number on the top of each sheet.

"See, you just don't trust me."

"Hi, I am Alaya and I'll be your doctor for today. What seems to be the problem?" She asked, pushing open the door into room 3 whilst looking down at the chart as well as trying to unwrap the fudge with one hand. Multi tasking at its finest.

"I punched a glass window. And one of the pieces are embedded pretty deep."

The deep, gruff voice hit her ears before her eyes saw the owner. But she knew the owner regardless.

Luther.

Alaya felt the air change as their gaze connected, his amber eyes burning into her as if he hoped she would burst into flames just from the fury behind his gaze.

"No!" he shouted, pulling his hand back towards his wide chest. He cradled it there like a child, as if he was protecting it from her.

"Oh come on Luther, just let me have a look at it. Two minutes and it will be out. Then you can avoid me for the rest of the day like usual," she berated, annoyed at his childish behaviour. They had been friends before this, grown up together. And now every time he looked at her it was like he actually wanted her dead.

"I said no!" he roared as he jumped off the exam table in an attempt to get away from her. She felt the power behind his command and that angered her more, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. She should of backed away and obeyed him but since when did she ever do what she should.

"Stop being so childish Luther. It will get infected if the wound heals with it inside. And then it's going to hurt a hell of a lot more when I have to reopen the wound. Just give me your hand," she demanded and for a split second it looked as if he was going to comply. His eyes seemed to glaze over a little and his arm started to reach out from where he held it against his chest. But as he closed his eyes, shaking his head a little as if he was at war with himself, he stilled. Alaya used that moment of calm to edge closer and grasped his injured hand to take a look.

As she took hold of it his eyes shot open, the glaze no longer there, only the strong amber with fury behind it.

"What? How did you?" he spat, his eyes like daggers as he stepped towards her, pushing her into the exam table causing her to fall on top of it.

"How did I do what? I was just looking at your hand Luther. Get. Off. Me!" she yelled as his body towered over her, both his hands now pinning hers to her sides.

"You fought my command. Then gave one of your own. How. Did. You. Do. That?" he spat out, his finger nails biting into her arms. She fought underneath him even though she knew she was a hell of a lot weaker than him.

"You're crazy Luther. I gave no command, an Omega can't even give commands. Don't blame me if you're a shit Alpha," she retorted, still thrashing against his hold.

"Tell me now," he growled, his black hair falling in front of his eyes making him look all the more menacing.

"I already told you. You're just a shit Alpha. That's not my fault. Now get off me," Alaya yelled, getting more and more pissed off as he held her.

"You bitch," he spat, releasing his hold on one arm to allow his fist free. She felt the air move as his fist came towards her, ready to connect with her face.

"Stop!" she screamed, her face screwed up to the side as she awaited impact. But nothing came. No weight of his punch, no searing pain as his fist connected with her face. Alaya turned slowly, opening her eyes wondering what was going on. Luther was still towering over her, eyes still a death glare, but his whole being seemed frozen. It held a slight tremble though as if he was fighting to free himself from invisible chains. Alaya tried to get out from under him, prying his other hand off and getting off the exam table to the corner of the room. He remained frozen as she made her escape, not moving a muscle as she desperately tried to get as far away from him as she could.

Alaya righted herself when she was firmly in the corner, feeling braver now there was space between them. She eyed him suspiciously, curious as to what was going on. Why was he still frozen like that?

"Luther? Luther what is the matter with you?" she asked and edged a little closer when he still made no movement apart from the tremble that seemed to shake not only his fist but his entire body.

"Luther. Luther come on stop being a dick and move," Alaya felt an odd sensation as she said the words but shook it off, opening the door to show Luther exactly where he should be moving to. She didn't have time for all this macho, Alpha crap this morning. If he wanted his hand to get infected and fall off well then serves him right. She wasn't going to chase him. She didn't chase anyone.

"Alaya? Everything alright?" Jeremiah's concerned voice greeted her as the door fully opened. Alaya turned back towards Luther to see his crouched form bent over the exam table as if he had been punched in the gut.

"Yeah everything is fine Jeremiah. Luther needs his hand looking at," she explained, pointing to the chart that had at some point clattered to the floor. Jeremiah looked at her in confusion but she didn't offer him anything else, stepping around him and stealing the chart he held in his hands.

"You can see to him right?" she shouted over her shoulder as she went straight into exam room one. Alaya didn't have time to even contemplate what had happened in that room. And even if she did she wouldn't. Omegas can't give commands. And she was an Omega.

Wasn't she?