Chapter 10

Noah

I need space.

Tonight has been too much. I still feel out of it, and I feel gross. What I want is to take a long, warm shower and sleep for a hundred years. I don’t bother turning the light on in my room and head straight for the bathroom. When my feet touch the cool tile, I turn the light on and come face-to-face with the proof of what I’d been through tonight. There are bruises not only on the side of my face but also wrapped around the sides of my neck. A few scratches are scattered in different areas and dirt. Basically, I look like a mess.

I slowly try to remove my shirt, but a whimper escapes through my clenched teeth. The movement hurts like crazy, but I push through it and eventually get my clothes off. I turn the water as warm as possible before stepping into the shower. Pain erupts as the hot water hits my injuries, but I don’t cry out. If the guys hear me, they’ll come running and see how badly I’m hurt. Ezra will do something stupid and go after the guys who hurt me, and then we’d be in more trouble. We can’t tell anyone what happened today.

At least I work at home, so I don’t have to worry about anyone seeing me. There is no way I’ll be leaving this house for a while.

Once I’m done showering, I wrap a towel around myself and head into my room. I turn the light on and look through my closet for something to wear. A hint of a slightly familiar scent comes from the bathroom. I follow it and I know it’s coming from my shirt. The alpha. It smells like her. The urge to pull it back on is so strong, but it’s filthy. Her scent starts to bleed out into the bathroom, and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. A shiver runs down my spine, and my body starts to immediately react.

The urge to be near her, to feel her against my bare skin…

A loud knock startles me out of my trance. I run to the closet, as best I can, and quickly pull on a hoodie and sweat pants. I pulled the hood over my head to hide the bruises on my neck and open the door.

Rowan is standing in front of me with a weak attempt at a reassuring smile. The smile falters when he sees me, well, my injuries.

“What’s up?” I ask to get his attention.

He blinks and focuses his eyes on mine. “I have the number of that Alpha saved in my phone, and I was wondering if you wanted it so you could call and thank her for tonight.”

I wanted to scoff at him. He makes me sound ungrateful, but this was my chance. If I could just talk to her…

“Uh, yeah, sure. Just text it to me.” I don’t offer for him to come inside.

“Sure. Do you need anything? Do you want to eat something?”

I shake my head. “I just want to sleep.”

He nods. “Of course. Get some rest, and I’ll check up on you in the morning.”

“Thanks. Good night.”

He gives me another half smile. “Good night.”

I close the door and run over to my discarded pants. My phone vibrates when I pull it out, and I open the text from Rowan, and there it was. I smiled a little at the name he gave to her.

“Little Alpha”

I guess it suits her. She’s a tiny thing, even compared to me.

Once I save her name, I pull up a new message and add her name. My fingers hover over the screen. What am I supposed to say to her? Will she think it’s weird that I’m texting her? I decide that I don’t care and type out a quick message.

Me: Hi. This is Noah. I hope it’s okay, I’m texting you.

No reply comes for several minutes. Minutes that feel like hours. I slide under the plush blanket on my bed and sigh at how soft and nice my bed feels. Then my phone dings, and I shoot up and scramble for my phone. I can’t help the smile that breaks out over her face.

Little Alpha: Hey. I guess your friend saved my number

I cringe and quickly reply.

Me: I’m sorry, is that weird?

Little Alpha: It’s ok. After tonight, it’s the least weird thing that has happened. How are you feeling?

Me: I guess so. I look pretty bad, but I’ll live.

Little Alpha: It might look bad tomorrow, but you’re right, it’ll heal. Until then, you’ll look like a serious bad ass

Me: Except I didn’t do anything

Little Alpha: You survived. That’s not nothing.

Warmth fills me at her words. She isn’t telling me off for getting in trouble, and that means a lot to me. Too often Omegas are made to feel like it’s their fault when an Alpha loses control.

Me: I just wanted to say thank you for helping me. Not many people would have done that.

Little Alpha: Yeah, well, those people are dicks. What were you doing out there all alone anyway?

Me: We heard some bad news today and I just wanted to walk and think. I didn’t realize how far I’d walked.

Little Alpha: You have to be careful. I might not be there next time to save you.

Guilt hits me hard.

Me: I know. I don’t think I’ll be leaving the house for a long time.

Little Alpha: Well, that’s no way to live. You can’t let fear keep you from living your life. That’s giving those assholes power over you that they don’t deserve. Just have one of your friends go with you. They might not be Alphas, but they’re big enough to protect you.

Me: I will. Although they couldn’t have done what you did tonight. That was very impressive!

Little Alpha: LOL, yeah, well I lost my temper a little. I don’t usually do that, but they caught me at a bad time.

Me: I’m glad they did

Little Alpha: It sure came in handy

I don’t know what to say. Other than the guys, I didn’t interact with many people, so I’m a bit awkward. Should I tell her that I want to see her again? That her scent is driving me crazy? Should I beg her to rub herself all over me so I’ll smell like her? Probably not. I don’t get a chance to embarrass myself, though, because she messages me again.

Little Alpha: Look, I don’t usually do this, but I want to check up on you myself. Just to be sure you’re ok.

Happiness lights up my whole body.

Me: Sure! I’d like that.

Little Alpha: Good. Should I come to your house? I'm sure you don’t want to come to the bar.

Me: Sure, I’ll send you my address.

Little Alpha: Okay! How’s tomorrow? The bar doesn’t open until later.

Me: Sure! The others will be gone.

Little Alpha: Then it’s a date

Me: Ok! Thank you!