Chapter 9: Alden - Wrong Date, Right Mates

Last Year

The living room is dark when I return from the grocery store. Dishes clang rhythmically in the dishwasher. Our dishwasher is so loud, Ty and I usually watch TV in another room so we can hear.

Light glows from the kitchen where Tyler stands before the sink, shirtless in gray sweatpants with his back to me, smelling delicious. Niall is out of view, but his scent is stronger there than in my room.

The tightness in Tyler’s shoulders projects his irritation. Tyler is grumpy at baseline, but I know when my best friend hates someone, and he hates Niall, no matter how much he tries to act otherwise. His scent is stronger, spicy in a way that promises he’s teetering on the precipice of a rut he’s long overdue for.

Maybe that’s why he’s been even more of an asshole lately, reclusive and aloof.

“Need any help?” Niall asks from somewhere unseen.

“No,” Tyler barks.

I should stop watching like a voyeur, but I can’t. Tyler is out of his room, and I know he’ll disappear when he sees me. I miss him.

“But I’m lonely,” Niall whines playfully.

Tyler’s shoulders rise with a fortifying breath. “And I wish I were alone, but here we are.” He attacks a pot with a scrub brush, clanging the metal against the sink.

Niall sighs melodramatically in that bratty way he does when he wants something. “I’m very good at taking direction. Just tell me what to do.”

“Fine. Go help Alden with the groceries.”

Tyler raises his gaze to meet mine in the mirror made by the light on the window over the sink, like he knew I was there all along.

Maybe he did. He knows my scent better than anyone else, knows me so well sometimes it’s like he’s reading my thoughts.

“An omega never lifts a finger during their heat,” Niall says as I round the corner into the kitchen.

“You asked for a chore and I gave you one.” Ty pumps more soap onto the brush and scrubs the pot with more vigor. “And you aren’t in heat.”

“Not yet.” Niall trails his hand down the counter, grazing Tyler’s arm on the way to me.

My hackles raise, and my chest pinches.

“Hey, babe.” He pecks me on the cheek. “Did they have my brownies this time?”

“Yeah. I got them.”

“Yes,” he says with playfulness that usually charms me, but not today. I meet Tyler’s gaze, still reflected in the window.

“You’re the best.” Niall reaches into the paper bag in my arms and pulls the small box out. He takes a bite and hums. “You should buy stock in them.”

Tyler drops the pan in the sink with a loud bang.

Niall frowns at him.

“Sorry. It slipped,” Ty says without turning.

“Okay, Real Housewives is calling,” Niall says. “Come to bed when you’re done, babe?”

“I’ll be right there.”

Niall smiles at Tyler, who glares contemptuously in return, then heads into our room. I squeeze past Tyler in the narrow kitchen, and take my time unloading everything. Tense silence swells as I place Niall’s favorite ice cream bars into the freezer one by one, gathering my courage.

“I’m sorry about him,” I finally say. “Did he… Did anything happen?”

Tyler turns off the tap and dries his hands on a towel like he wants to strangle something. “No. You think I’d ever do that to you?”

“It’s not you I’m worried about.”

“You shouldn’t have to worry about your omega. You should worry about—” He scrubs his face with his hands. “Never mind.”

“I’ll talk to him. I don’t want him bothering you.”

He looks at me, really looks at me, like he sees all of me, like he misses me too. “I think I should move out.”

I slam the freezer door shut. “What?”

“Yeah. Things are getting serious with you two, anyway. I’m sure an engagement is on the horizon. Then marriage, then a baby. There’s no room for me.”

“A baby?” I scoff. “I don’t want you to move out.”

“Well, I don’t want to stay here with the way things are.”

A thought occurs to me. What if he’s found his own omega? He’s been so damn secretive. Jealousy curdles in my stomach, the same jealousy I had when I walked in. I don’t want to share Tyler with anyone.

“Are you dating someone?”

He exhales a bitter laugh. “No. But maybe I should. Maybe we need distance. Maybe that’s what I need.” He tosses the towel onto the counter and leaves. He pauses, hand on the door to his room. “Don’t invest in those brownies. You already have a lifetime supply of Grackle Juice. His taste is terrible.”

You have a lifetime supply. It used to be we.

* * *

I woke up the next day with Tyler’s words still in my head, haunting me like a hangover.

Then Niall went into heat. I’ve spent the last three days fucking him, and I’m pretty sure my knot is going through the motions. My heart just isn’t in it. Fucking him feels like an obligation preventing me from working things out with Tyler.

I’m afraid I’ll knock on his door and find his things in boxes. I’m exhausted.

Niall squirms on the bed next to me, slow, shallow breaths deepening as he wakes. He grinds his pert ass on me before his eyes open, before I can even say good morning. He whimpers, kicking off our covers, then flounces onto his stomach, and presents.

I almost bite my nails. Almost. Instead, I press them against my lips until it hurts.

“Pay attention to me,” Niall whines. “You have an omega in heat, and you’re not touching me.”

“Sorry. I will. I…” I rest my hand on the curve of his lower back. “I think I’m getting sick.”

He assesses me over his shoulder. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I squeeze his hip.

“Good. I need you to knot me.”

Omegas in heat are needy, but they aren’t inherently selfish. Niall just cares a little more about himself than he cares about me. I know that. I was okay with that. But I’m not okay with that if I’m forfeiting Tyler.

Niall squirms, rearranging himself until my fingers slide into the groove of his crack. He smells delicious, like lilies and spring, and I focus on that as I massage his hole with his slick. I’m trying to get into it, but I feel detached from my body, preoccupied with worry while I force myself to prep him for another round.

The thing about being in a relationship is that taking care of your omega’s heat falls to you. I can’t call in sick. I have to satisfy him. I can’t just toss a toy at him and call it a day.

With a yawn, I straddle his legs and kiss between his shoulder blades. Then I slide a finger inside him.

“Mm.” He looks over his shoulder with heavy lids. “More.”

“Okay.” I add another finger.

“More,” he whines, too loud, loud enough to wake Tyler.

I hush him. “I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry.” Hopefully that sounded sexy instead of annoyed. I’m not sure. I add a third finger before I even scissor him open.

Niall hisses, then whimpers.

“Sorry.” I need to get my shit together before I hurt him.

“No. I like it,” he says on a long moan. “I love when you’re rough with me.”

I don’t, and he knows that. He’s had more than one rant about how he wishes I were more dominant. Like other alphas, he usually adds. I get it, but that’s not how I operate. It’s never been like that for me. My dominance mixes pleasure and praise. Not pain.

His scent is so strong, I can taste it in the air. But it’s too sweet, sickeningly so, like I just took a sip of coffee with too much creamer. My morning wood softens.

Shit. I fuck my fingers into him with no finesse or rhythm, buying myself time to give my cock a pep talk. When that doesn’t work, I try something I’ll regret later. I think about Tyler.

I’ve fantasized about him on and off over the years, but I try not to because I always feel ashamed and paranoid after I get off, like somehow he can tell. In those fantasies, I’m usually topping him.

My dick finally takes interest, so I run with the fantasy as I slowly sink into Niall, pretending he’s Tyler. It’s so fucked up, I know, but I can’t turn it off. I imagine how he’d feel inside, what it would be like to hold his firm, strong body, nothing like the petite omegas society tells us we’re supposed to fuck.

It takes only a few minutes for me to finish, and while Niall dozes with my knot inside him, my fantasy keeps rolling, and it’s Tyler I’m holding.

Once my knot softens, I dart out to the kitchen to restock on food and drinks. Tyler’s door opens. His hair’s all mussed, brown eyes troubled. His ocean scent is stronger, stormy almost, and I breathe him in like oxygen as he joins me in the kitchen.

He fills a glass with water. “You okay?”

His voice is rough with sleep. I’m the only one who gets to hear it. That sound belongs to me.

“Alden?”

I clear my throat. “Yeah, thanks.”

He takes a long swig of his water, gaze unwavering on me as he drinks, like it’s me he wants to taste, like he knows I just got off to him.

I track the bob of his Adam’s apple. “I can’t stop thinking about what you said.”

He sets the empty cup on the counter and waits. He looks at me, looks at me for so long, it’s like he’s removing each piece of my clothing and exposing me.

“I don’t want you to move out.”

“I don’t want to either,” he says.

“Then don’t.”

“It’s him or me,” he says. “Choose me.”

Wait. Does he… Does that mean? Does he get jealous too? Does he ever wonder what we would feel like wrapped around each other like I do?

“Alden?” Niall calls, high-pitched and anxious.

“Fucking Christ,” Ty mutters.

“I’m here,” I call. “I’ll be right back.” I pile snacks and drinks on a tray, and turn to Ty. “I’m sorry.”

“Go,” Ty says flatly, like he doesn’t believe me. “He needs you.”

“Ty…” I don’t have the courage to say what I want to. But what if I need you?

* * *

Niall’s heat faded overnight. Tyler left for work by the time I woke. After breakfast, I sat Niall down on the couch and told him our relationship is over.

If I have to choose between Niall and Tyler, I will always choose Tyler, even if the only relationship he wants is platonic. I think I’ve been choosing Tyler this whole time. That’s why I never invited Niall to move in or took things further.

Maybe I just haven’t found my mate yet. Maybe when I do, choosing my omega over Tyler will be automatic too. Or maybe we’re codependent as hell. I don’t know.

Deciding to break up with Niall was simple. Easy. Automatic. Breaking up with him has been anything but.

We’ve talked all day, had dozens of arguments, most started by him. He’s tried every tool in his arsenal. Sex and flattery first, apologies and bargaining, then slammed doors and thrown plates, something I thought people only did in movies. He even ripped down his nest in a fury.

Tyler came home a few hours ago, but he hasn’t left his room. Just having his scent here makes it easier for me, even if it’s locked behind a door.

“Niall,” I try again as he paces up and down the length of my room. “It’s late. Let me take you home. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“I won’t. I can’t leave you. Alden, I’m sorry. It was harmless flirting, hormones messing with my head. His scent got to me.” His eyebrows dart inward, tears welling.

This is an argument I’ve already heard. I was empathetic the first two times, but that didn’t work. I force all emotion from my voice.

“If you don’t leave, I’m going to have to call the cops. I really don’t want to do that.”

“The cops?” He bursts into tears. When I remain unmoved, he says, “I don’t think that will work. I’m practically a tenant by now.”

“You’re not.” I obtained legal advice when he didn’t leave by lunch. Since I never officially invited him to move in, and paid for him to keep his apartment, I should be covered.

He stops in front of his bedside drawer and rummages through it. “Look.” He plants a cell phone bill on the bed with his name and my address on it.

I massage my temples and sit on the edge of the bed, trying to be less imposing. “And then what?” I say with kindness. “Even if you had a case to stay, what do you hope to accomplish? Making me miserable? Punishing me? I’m not going to change my mind.”

Every argument has pushed me further away from any chance of trying to work things out with him.

“This is such bullshit. I can’t believe you’re dumping me for your friend.” He raises his voice, projecting it like he wants Tyler to hear.

“I’m not.” I totally did, but I never admitted to that. “We’re not dating. We’re just friends.”

“I guess I get it,” Niall says, even louder. “I’ve seen his morning wood. I’m sure riding his cock is worth more than our relationship.”

I don’t react. I’m a gray rock, unmoving, unaffected. I won’t take the bait.

“It’s just a little pathetic,” he continues. “What kind of alpha is more obsessed with his friend than his omega? No wonder you couldn’t keep up with my heats.”

On the outside, I’m a rock. On the inside, I’m second-guessing everything he’s ever said about our sex life.

Tyler knocks on the door. “Hey, Alden?”

Humiliation dumps ice into my bloodstream. How much of that did he hear?

“Yeah?” I clear my throat because I sound as pathetic as I feel. I walk to the door, sidestepping Niall, who dons a knowing smirk.

Tyler opens the door before I get there. His scent reaches me first, the same ocean scent, but with an edge. Spicy, like a flash of ozone when lightning strikes. He’s in rut, or about to be. He scans me quickly, then focuses on Niall. “It’s time to go.”

Niall laughs. “Are you serious, Alden? If Tyler’s going to fight your battles for you, can he fuck me for you too?”

Ouch. He’s suggested this before, asked if we could invite Tyler as a third, just to help me keep up during his heat.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Tyler says, then turns on his heel, and leaves. But not for long. He stomps back seconds later with a trash bag in his hands.

“I’m sorry Alden, but this is bullshit.” He pushes past me into the room. “I’m done watching him treat you like this.” He whips the trash bag open, then disappears inside the bathroom. I follow. Without preamble, Tyler sweeps all of the toiletries on the counter into the bag with an avalanche of bottles, perfume, and face creams.

“Some of those are mine,” I say.

“You can buy more.”

Niall’s reflection appears behind me in the mirror over the sink, mouth open in a scandalized O, manicured eyebrows twisted in shock. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you pack.” He strides past Niall to the walk-in closet, then starts pulling out clothing at random, correctly identifying Niall’s clothes on scent alone. Anything that doesn’t smell like me.

Niall is as stunned as I am, and he doesn’t have a chance against the command of an alpha in rut, so he just stands there supervising.

“And for the record,” Tyler says, charging back into the bedroom. “I’ve known Alden through every relationship he’s ever had, and he’s never left an omega wanting. Maybe the problem is you.”

Niall flinches.

“Tyler…” I warn.

He wrenches out the drawer from the bedside table on Niall’s side, and empties the contents into the bag. “You lost a goddamn catch.” He unplugs Niall’s phone and drops it into the bag, then holds the charger out to me. “Is this yours?”

“He can have it,” I say.

“No.” He drops it onto the bed. Trust Tyler to take pettiness to the level of a cell phone charger.

Tyler stalks out of the room with Niall and me on his heels, then he swings the front door open. Fog hovers over the street, blurring the glow of windows and streetlights. A car idles at the curb. How long ago did he decide he was going to evict Niall?

Niall and I are silent for a beat. The ocean murmurs. A car passes on PCH.

“Alden, I’m sorry,” Niall says, genuine contrition in his tone.

“Me too. I’m going to miss you.”

He sniffs and nudges the tip of his nose with the back of his hand, then nods. “Can I hug you?”

“Of course.” I hold him against me and rub his back, taking one last whiff of the lily scent I’ve loved for over a year. He smiles, shy and vulnerable, so much like when we first met.

Tyler opens the car door and tosses Niall’s trash bag of belongings inside. Then he stomps back up toward us.

“Time to go, Niall. Do not come back unless you are invited. Alden will Venmo you…” He looks at me expectantly.

“A few months’ rent to help you get back on your feet.”

“Alden will Venmo you one month’s rent,” Tyler tells Niall.

I roll my eyes. I’ll send Niall three. I’ve been helping with his rent to avoid asking him to move in. Hopefully that’ll buy him time to get a roommate or something.

“Thank you,” Niall says to me, nose pink.

“If you come back, I’ll call the police,” Tyler says. “Say goodbye, Alden.”

“Bye, Niall. I hope you find happiness.”

Niall looks like he wants to say a lot of things, most of them about Tyler being an asshole, but Tyler stomps right back down the steps and yanks the car door open again.

“Niall,” he calls, overly loud in the misty twilight. “I am happy to escort you to the car if you can’t find your way to it.”

Niall huffs a growl and leaves. Tyler slams the door shut behind him in a very fuck off and die sort of way. Then he taps the hood of the car, and it drives away. Tyler looks up at me sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck, but only for a fleeting second before he races up the steps and pulls me into a tight hug, burying his face in my neck.

Goosebumps light across my skin. His scent caresses my senses, and his chest is so warm and firm against mine. My stomach hurts, and my heart aches, but there’s a new lightness in my chest. A heaviness has lifted, one I didn’t even realize I’d been holding onto.

He releases me and scans my face, his motives a mystery behind his troubled gaze. He looks at my mouth. I look at his. Then a switch flips. We snap together like magnets, lips crashing against each other, and it’s so much better than the first kiss we had back when we were kids, and every kiss in my fantasies since.

His lips leave mine, but only so he can kiss the line of my jaw and nuzzle his nose against my scent gland. Fuck. It feels like another erogenous zone. His tongue ventures out, tasting me, then his teeth graze my skin.

I freeze. So does he.

Horror dashes his features. “Oh my god. I’m sorry.” He staggers back, wiping me from his lips like I’m contagious. “You just smelled so good, but I’m going into rut. Biology got the better of me.”