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Forehead Kisses

Summary:

Being an alpha didn't feel right. Now that he is an omega, Louis still doesn't feel right but he's doing his best.

Harry is the Mayor of Cran. Louis drops his iced coffee on him during a speech.

Notes:

Wow. It feels so weird writing something new. It's been a while but I'm doing it.

this was supposed to be a one shot, but you know me (It will have 2-3 parts MAX). I understand if it's hard to get into, I'm rusty (sorry!) but it should be a pretty cute story. Nothing too crazy. I'm really just using this to inspire myself.

I want to reiterate that my other works are not being forgotten. I am so grateful for everyone's patience.

Chapter Text

“I have had the worst luck today.” Louis dropped into the chair in front of his friend Libra. He let his heavy bag fall to the ground, turning in the wobbly chair to face him. “Tell me something good, anything.”

Libra slowly put his book down, dark hands closing it delicately. “I almost found out who murdered the nurse in my book.” He looked from Louis’ chest to the top of his head. “You don’t smell half as bad as you look.”

Louis groaned, dropping his head on his fist, “Libra, come on. Be nice to me.” Libra crossed a leg over the other. “Something nice, please?”

Libra sighed softly, “the alpha at the register gave me a free coffee.” He glanced at her, tilting his head, “I think she likes me.”

Louis looked behind him, biting his lip when he saw the tall alpha was looking back. “She’s pretty. -An alpha.” The omega looked back at his friend, “am I so ugly that people only hit on you?”

Libra did that blinking thing that made even Louis swoon. The petite omega shrugged softly, “I think you are very beautiful, Louis.”

Louis hummed, “why are you so soft spoken?”

“I get it from my father. Why are you not?”

Louis rolled his neck, “I was an alpha up until a few months ago. Still figuring out my biology.”

Libra smiled with a soft chuckle, “you were always an omega, Lou. You pretended to be an alpha.”

Louis ran a hand thru his unruly hair, “well my father didn’t help by feeding me suppressants my whole life without telling me.” He yawned, reaching down to dig into his book bag. “Tell me something else good.”

Libra leaned over the table, crossing his slim dark fingers together over his book. “How about you tell me why you’re having such bad luck today?” He scrunched up his nose, “I haven’t seen you in two days and it smells like you haven’t showered. I think your natural scent is very sweet, but you still need to shower, Lou. We’ve talked about this.”

Louis chewed his cheek, “you know the mayor?”

Libra frowned a little, “the mayor?” He sat up straight, “Everyone knows him. I mean, I don’t know him personally, but of course I know of him.”

“I didn’t either, until today.” Louis scratched his dirty hair, “I dropped my entire iced coffee on him, on national television.”

Libra’s frown dropped further, “you did -what?”

Louis smiled, pulling his laptop from his bag, “we can watch it together, I’m sure everyone has seen it by now.”

Libra sat up straight, shocked, “how did you get so close to him?”

“So,” Louis moved his laptop so Libra could see the screen as well. “You know how I dabble in photography?”

“Oh, Louis, no.”

“Yes, yes I did.” He pressed the video that was now plastered across all the news sites. “Watch.”

Libra’s perfect light hazel eyes grew with every moment as Louis tripped down the stairs. His large, iced coffee, flying out of his small hands coating their meticulous mayor in the sweet concoction. Libra gasped when the video quickly shot to Louis grabbing his bag and taking off in a sprint down the stairs.

Libra pushed his chair back, “you -this just happened? You ran in here?”

Louis closed the laptop, putting it back inside his bag. “I think I should just stick to journalism minus the photos. What do you think?”

Libra, stunned, nodded. “They -won’t they come looking for you?”

“Of course,” Louis waved his hand, “did you see what they were calling me? They think I’m an alpha.”

“Louis, the mayor -he is very important. He’s the mayor,” Libra whispered harshly. “He has written our laws. He is the Mayor!”

“Sh, Libra!” Louis looked around. “I think it’s best if I leave town.” Libra closed his eyes. “I’ve never left Cran but people say Acks is a beautiful city.”

“Yes, but you cannot just leave after you’ve covered our mayor in coffee, Louis.”

“Iced coffee.” Louis looked up quickly when the door opened. He breathed a sighed of relief when an older woman and child walked inside. “Elements. I asked for extra vanilla too.”

Libra groaned, “we have to leave.” He stood quickly, gathering his things. “Come on, Lou. We’ll call Niall.”

Louis lifted his bag off the floor, “Where are we going?”

“To my house -anywhere but here.” Libra tucked his book under his arm. “One second.”

Louis watched his friend run to the alpha behind the counter, leaning over it like he owned it. Louis sighed, walking towards the door. He opened it for a couple, adjusting his bag. When Libra approached him, he lifted his arms, “what were you doing?”

Libra huffed, “giving her my number. Let’s go.” He opened the door, stopping abruptly when an alpha held up a hand to his face. The omega blinked once, moving the hand aside, “it’s very rude to put a hand in someone’s face.”

The alpha smirked, “move.” He looked at Louis. “You are coming with me.”

“He doesn’t have to go anywhere.”

Louis put a hand on Libra’s shoulder, “Libra, it’s fine. It’s my lucky day.” He sighed, “I’m coming.”

The alpha stepped back, letting Libra and Louis walk outside.

“Fuck,” Louis looked around at the cars blocking the streets. He squeezed his bag, turning to his friend. “I’ll see you tomorrow -hopefully.”

Libra whined softly, kissing Louis’ cheek before he was walked away. “Call me…”

Louis smiled nervously, approaching the large car. He took a deep breath when one of the alphas opened the door for him. He climbed inside, swallowing, “let me start off by saying I had no idea he was the mayor.” Louis dug his nails into the leather seats when he looked around, the smell of vanilla and coffee hitting his nose.

In front of him sat the mayor, no longer in suit and tie but now in a soft green sweater and slacks.

Louis held up a finger, “I lied. You caught me. I knew you were the mayor.” He jerked when the car started moving. “Where are you taking me?”

“To Council.”

“Fuck.”

“My name is Harry.”

“I know your name,” Louis mumbled. He pouted, “Do I have a choice?”

“Does not everyone have a choice?”

“Oh boy,” Louis stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “A question with a question.”

Harry squinted at him, “they would like to ask you a few questions and so would I. If you are available?”

“Sure, I have nothing else to do today.”

“Good.”

“Okay so, sarcasm evades you.” Louis huffed, holding his bag tighter. “What happens to my car?”

“Pardon?”

“What happens to my car that’s parked illegally in front of the coffee shop?”

Harry crossed one leg over the other, “what do you think is going to happen to it?”

“Oh. So, you do question for question often. Great.” Louis rubbed his eye, “I guess it gets towed.”

Harry dipped his head slightly, “you know what I like about you so far?” Louis sat up straight, nerves eating at him again. “You are pretty smart for someone so clumsy.”

The omega swallowed thickly, sniffling, “I’m sorry.”

“Why were you there?”

“Where?”

Harry gave a ghost of a smile, “Now who is asking a question with a question?” Louis pressed his lips together. “Why were you behind me? Why were you even up on the podium?”

“I am a photographer.”

“I didn’t see a camera.”

“I was using my phone.”

“You use a phone for professional photography.”

“Ah,” Louis held up a finger. “I didn’t say professional.”

Harry squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Are you working with someone?”

“Wha -what?” Louis blinked, eyes growing. “Do -do you think I was trying to kill you?” His jaw dropped open, “With my iced coffee?”

“I want to make sure-”

“Do people try killing you often with iced coffee?” Harry didn’t speak. “I’m a fucking journalist and I drink overly sweet, iced coffee.” Louis threw his hands up, “I have two left feet and I tripped down the stairs trying to take a photo of you for my article. No one’s asking how it felt when my ribs hit the cement!”

“How’d it feel?”

Louis groaned loud, “awful. Thanks for asking.”

Harry crossed his arms, “what are you? An alpha or an omega?”

Louis sucked his teeth, “what do you think I am?”

The alpha licked his lips, “an omega pretending to be something he isn’t.”

“Oh? Have we traveled back to Royal days? Where I have to be a certain kind of something?”

“Listen-?”

“Louis.”

“Louis. I could have had you arrested, and I didn’t because I’d rather kill you if you were trying to kill me. Now that we’ve spoken, I can see that you had no intention to kill me nor harm me.”

“Yeah? How could you tell?”

“Because you are just a fucking journalist that drinks sweet, iced coffee, and you have two left feet.”

Louis glared at him, “overly sweet.”

“Of course.” Harry tapped on the partition behind him and the car came to a stop. “Thank you for your time, Louis.”

“Wait. Weren’t we going to Council?”

“Would you like to?”

Louis squinted when the door opened, revealing Libra still standing in front of the coffee shop. “You brought me back?”

“Would you like to go to Council with me?”

“N-no.”

“Then, have a nice day, Louis.”

Louis slid out of the car, careful of his step. He turned around, giving the mayor a frown. “Why?”

“Why not?” Harry winked, “have a nice day -omega.”

Louis blushed softly, dropping his chin to his chest. “Thank you.”

“There you go,” Harry praised. “There he is.”

Louis let his bag slump off his shoulder when the door closed. He watched the car drive away, turning to Libra when he stood next to him. “You stayed?”

“They told me to.”

“Who?”

“The alphas that were with him. They said you would be right back.”

Louis took a deep breath, “he’s really…”

“Mean?”

“Nice.”

Libra bristled, “Nice? He took you away.”

Louis nodded slowly, watching the other black cars clear the street. “I don’t know.” He tilted his head, soft blush on his cheeks, “I kind of liked him.”

-

Louis bit his lip, leaning closer to his laptop screen. “’Mayor, Harry Styles, drenched in coffee by unknown alpha male during speech regrading Elements Festival.’ -Shit.” The omega pushed two hands thru his hair, growling at himself. “Clumsy idiot.” He slammed his computer shut before re opening it to type ‘Harry Styles’ into the search bar of his internet browser.

“Harry Edward Styles. Mayor, blah, blah, blah.” Louis bit his nail, “Styles family head after father; Jacob Styles.” He sat up straight, tapping his fingers against the table. “Jacob Styles. Jacob Styles.” He quickly minimized his screen, going through his many files. “Jacob -ah.” Louis chewed nervously at his thumb, “shit.”

Louis jumped when he heard a knock at the door. He closed his laptop, rubbing his sore ribs when he stood. “Coming!” He looked through the peep hole, sighing before opening the door. “Hey Libra, hey Niall.”

Niall smiled with a short wave, “saw you on TV.”

Libra nudged the blonde, “be nice.” He walked inside when Louis moved. “I brought brownies.”

Louis internally groaned, hating how much he wanted sweets now that he was off suppressants. He scratched his arm, “thank you.”

Libra gave him a small smile, setting the plastic container on his coffee table.

Niall sat on his couch, “smells nice in here. Different.” The blonde omega sniffed the air, shivering with a smile. “Smells like an omega’s house.”

Louis blushed, shrugging, “thank you?” He cleared his throat. “The newspapers keep calling me an alpha.”

“How would they even know?”

“The people who were around me couldn’t tell my smell.” Louis huffed, “so embarrassing.”

“Don’t worry, Lou.” Libra curled up beside Niall on the couch. Louis’ new couch that he bought because it was softer than his last one despite the last one also being brand new. “Everyone will forget all about it.”

For as long as he can remember he took two pills with every meal. It wasn’t something he questioned because he wasn’t allowed to question it. His father would put them in his hand, his mother would turn away, and Louis would take them with a shrug.

It wasn’t until just about four months ago that his father was arrested for smuggling illegal suppressants into Cran that Louis found out what he was taking. A twenty-five-year-old ‘alpha’ that still hadn’t experienced any type of showing. That showed no ‘alpha’ traits, but also no omega traits. No rut, no heat, no want to chase, no want to have a family. Everyone knew when you were an omega; not everyone knew when an alpha was an alpha, so Louis was able to get away with being an alpha his whole life.

He wasn’t angry at his father or angry at his mother. He was confused. Couldn’t understand why they didn’t just let him be what he was. Omegas held power now, omegas were respected. Omegas made great strides from Royal days and beyond because of impactful figures that created merger among the states at the time.

His father thought it would make his life easier. He didn’t want anyone to try and court his son.

It took only three free sessions of therapy provided by Omega Care for Louis to realize there was something very wrong with his father and that his mother was a terrible one. It took two more free sessions for him to stop visiting his father in jail and to leave his mother and move to Cran.

Louis was called an alpha for most of his life and now, at twenty-five, he was an omega, and it was very confusing. It took two months for him to get his first heat and it lasted two weeks, the longest heat in their current history.

Louis’ name was in medical journals.

Two weeks of crying and screaming and fighting. Two weeks at an Omega Care center. They were nice, so nice, and they didn’t judge Louis for how much he cried.

Now, a month later, with the help of medicine, he was regulated and happier. He felt normal for once. But there were a lot of urges he couldn’t understand.

He wanted soft things, he wanted blankets. He wanted warmth as much as he wanted cold. He wanted to hide sometimes. He wanted sweets and a lot of food at once, but sometimes wanted none. Louis wanted safety.

He wanted an alpha but had no idea how he would even find one.

He sometimes didn’t shower for days because the bad smell would cover what he was. Louis was scared to shower. Libra or Niall often helped him while he cried but once it was over, it felt so good. He felt right. But the process was terrible.

It scared him. The thought of someone liking him, trying to court him when he was the one trying to do the same a few months back.

It was how he met Libra. He found it odd that Louis wanted to court him but also only showed signs of wanting to be his friend. Louis found it odd how much he wanted to be Libra when he was supposed to be trying to court him. Niall came after Libra. He seemingly appeared out of thin air, but Louis thanked the Elements for him. Niall was even more patient than Libra. He often had to calm Libra down when Louis threw fits about showering and eating.

He was very lucky for being so unlucky.

Louis rushed for the brownies, sitting on the floor with the container in between his legs. “Do you know who Jacob Styles is?”

“The Mayor’s father?”

“No, the Clan leader.” Louis shoved the whole brownie in his mouth when Niall and Libra’s eyes shot open.

“What Clan leader?” Niall shook his head, “They are no more Packs or Clans.”

“There are no more Packs that we know of. But there are plenty of Clans, big ones. They never left despite people thinking they did. They run everything. Banks, government, military, hospitals, jails. And Harry Styles’ father leads them, and Harry Styles is second in command.”

“What does that mean? Why does it matter?”

“They are very powerful beings. Powerful and are capable of terrible things. They live like the wolves before us. Blood first, questions later.” Louis held the container close. “Remember when Harry became Mayor? The alpha running against him died, then his whole family got up and left. The next alpha to run against him disappeared. Harry has been our Mayor since he was twenty-two years old. We have never had a Mayor so young; it is unheard of. He has kept his title for the last eight years. No one ever questions how or why.”

Louis stuffed another brownie in his mouth. He whined softly, receiving tender looks from both omegas. He was touched starved in many different areas. Having sweets was one of them.

“Father and son and what’s worse is that I did an article on Jacob Styles three months ago that was taken down before anyone could even see it. I was also sent a very short, untraceable, well written letter saying that if I poked my nose into the Gala Clan’s business ever again, I would lose my sight.”

Libra covered his mouth, “what?”

“Why, though, has no one put two and two together,” Louis mumbled. He closed the brownies before he could eat them all. “I feel like I’m going to end up dead soon.”

“Don’t say that,” Niall rolled his eyes. “You are not going to die. You’re making yourself crazy, Lou.”

“I spilled my coffee on his son and the reelection is in a week. I spilled my coffee on him on the day he was making a speech about the Elements Festival. It looks like I sabotaged him and when Jacob sees who I am. He’s going to kill or blind me.”

“Louis,” Libra huffed. “I think you’re taking this too far. How is he even going to remember you?”

Niall nodded, “I agree with, Bria. You are thinking too deep into this.”

Louis crawled onto the couch, wedging his way between both omegas even when it hurt his ribs. “I don’t know.” Louis pressed his cheek against Niall’s shoulder. “I’ve been told I have a memorable face.”

-

Louis woke up groggily, whining among his very soft, very comfortable, sheets. He was showered, thanks to Niall and Libra fighting him to get in the shower. He cried hard enough that they didn’t make him wash his hair which helped.

He wiggled, arching his back with a pop before sitting up. Louis ribs were still hurting which meant he was going to have to go see a doctor. And even though every doctor since he ‘became’ an omega had been very nice, he didn’t want to be pricked and studied.

“So hot…” He threw off his blankets, standing up to turn the air down. Louis stopped in his hallway, slowly turning his head to the side.

“I’m excited to finally get a week vacation. I have been so tired.”

“Enjoy it.”

“I will. -Oh, you’re awake.”

Louis swallowed, “what are you doing in my home?”

The alpha smiled gently, kindly almost, “I’m taking a few things of importance.”

Louis ran at him, trying to take back his laptop. “No! That is mine!” He growled, tears flooding his eyes. He wasn’t used to the influx of emotions yet and they often made him cry whether he was angry, sad, or happy. “Please!”

“I think you need to go back to bed, omega. We were asked very nicely not to break any body parts.” The alpha turned him around, pushing Louis back towards his bedroom. “Go now.”

Louis turned around, hugging himself, sobbing. “That’s my stuff!” He cried harder, throwing his head back. “I’m calling the police!” He screamed when the alpha hoisted him up, taking him back to his room to lay him gently on the bed. He covered Louis’ crying face in blankets, only leaving his eyes and nose showing.

It was the closest thing he’d ever experienced to having an alpha.

“Sh, go back to sleep.” The alpha left, shutting the door quietly, leaving Louis to cry uncontrollably.

He took the blankets off again, trudging to his door. He threw it open just as his front door was closing. Louis whined, running down the hallway, tears in his eyes. He reached out for the elevator as it closed. “No!” Louis ran down the stairs, out of breath by the time he got downstairs.

He shivered when the elevator doors opened. “You -give me back my stuff!”

Unsurprisingly, the security guard wasn’t at his desk.

The alpha smiled at him again, “you are very cute.” He lifted Louis’ face. “Come.” He lifted the omega, carrying him kicking and screaming out of the front doors of his apartment building.

Once Louis was in the warm car, he wiped his eyes and watched as his apartment faded in the distance.

If he wasn’t going to get his things back. He could at least memorize the ride.

He could at least get a new article out of it if they didn’t kill him, and they were already helping him write it.

-

“You know,” The alpha was still smiling as they approached a house that was not the Mayor’s. “I’m not stupid. We don’t know each other, but I hope you would at least know that.”

Louis sucked his teeth, “what could you possibly mean?”

“My name is Zayn, and I am not stupid. You are about to receive a free story and I am about to get a raise.”

Louis hummed, “what could you possibly mean.”

Zayn grinned, opening the car door once they stopped. “I’ll get your door.”

Louis rolled his eyes, looking out the window. “Where am I?”

“We,” Zayn held out a hand for Louis to grab, “are at the Mayor’s home.”

Louis ignored the hand, pushing past Zayn. He frowned, “no it is not. He lives-”

“Do you think he lives at the Hall?” Zayn laughed, slamming the door shut.

Louis blushed, embarrassed, “I thought so.” He hugged himself when a breeze flew by. “Why did you take my laptop?” He jumped at the second alpha that exited the car. “Oh, I forgot there were two of you.”

“Liam. And, your laptop,” The second alpha wiggled it. “Is now property of our Mayor, Harry Styles.”

Louis grimaced, looking away, “why? Is it because of the coffee? I already spoke to him.” He walked to the building, bare feet ignoring the cold. “I’m getting my laptop back. This is a misunderstanding.”

“You will not be getting it back, and this is not a misunderstanding.”

Louis growled under his breath, “yes I will and yes, it is.” He walked faster, stopping at the double doors. “This is very old wood.”

“A smart omega then.” The second alpha smiled, handing over the laptop. “Here. You can find out yourself if you’re going to keep it.”

Louis hugged his computer, considered running, but instead walked inside after Zayn. He moaned softly at the warm house compared to the cold outside. “I-is he here?”

“Of course he is. It’s his house, isn’t it?”

Louis scoffed, small feet on the wood floor, “I wouldn’t know, would I?” He looked around the grand space, at the large statues running along the walls. Each a body holding an element in their hands. Louis ran to the Fire sculpture, reaching up on the tips of his toes to touch the red stone shaped into a flame. “Wow.”

“Come, omega.”

Louis threw a look over his shoulder, “will this take long?”

Zayn tilted his head, looking back at Liam. He smiled at Louis, “as long as you make it.”

Louis rolled his eyes, “then leave me alone.” He ran to the first statue, touching the blue water shaped stone. “So pretty.” He looked back at Zayn, “I like these.”

Zayn squinted at him, “I see.”

Louis squirmed a little, biting his lip while hugging his laptop. “Is there more you can show me?”

“So you can write a detailed article about our mayor’s home? So you can make money off of him?”

Louis frowned, “yes.”

Zayn smirked, “little thing, come. Now.”

Louis blushed, dipping his head with a swallow before following. He ran ahead when he felt uncomfortable by how close Zayn and Liam were walking behind him. He stared at the few paintings on the wall, humming as they approached outside doors.

Louis stopped, jumping when Liam reached in front to open the door. “Go.”

Louis stepped outside, whining when the cold hit him. He turned around, frowning deeply at the two alphas that stayed inside. “Hey…”

“Hello.”

Louis spun around, looking around the patio. He stepped back when he noticed the alpha in the hammock.

Harry sat up, bare feet on the floor, rocking back and forth. “Good evening.”

“Night.” Louis pouted, keeping his laptop close to his body. “What do you want?”

Harry smiled softly, “leave the laptop and then you may go, sweetheart.”

A chill ran up Louis’ spine. He whined low, looking away, “it’s mine…”

“I know,” Harry sighed softly, “would you like it back?”

Louis swallowed hard, “I -I have it. Just don’t take it and you won’t have to give it back.”

“Well, I have to delete what is on it before I give it back.” Harry held up a finger, “it’s smarter if you don’t ask why.” He smiled again, voice low and soft just like in the car. “But, if you want, I can give it back once it’s all gone.”

Louis whined higher, distressed. His breaths came out heavy, tears building around his eyes. “I worked so hard on all of this.” He growled, “no. Fuck you! This is my work! You don’t just get to take it!” He rubbed his eyes with his arm. “You can’t! Tell your fucking dad to kill me and then I’ll stop writing about him and not a second sooner!” Louis seethed, “I bled these stories!”

Harry sighed, standing up from the hammock. “You are quite interesting, omega. A little confusing.” He stopped in front of Louis. “Give me the laptop, then we can speak.”

“No,” Louis growled. He bared his teeth, “no!”

“Okay.” Harry sat on one of the patio chairs, “come.”

Louis huffed, “fuck! Just let me go home! This is so stupid! Kill me, take the laptop and smash it or let me go home!”

Harry seemingly considered Louis for a moment. He stood again, stepping into Louis’ space. “Sit. Now.”

Louis stiffened, slowly finding a seat. He curled on himself, crying into his chest.  Harry followed, crossing his legs, “have you been abused?”

Louis sniffled, wiping away his boogers, “no.”

Harry nodded, “give me the laptop, please.” Louis groaned. The alpha leaned closer, “I will take care of it. I promise.”

Louis slowly, anxiously, gave away his computer. He crossed his arms firmly, glaring at the deck.

Harry set it beside him. “Explain to me why you walk and talk like an alpha but whine so softly, just like an omega.”

Louis whined high, hands crumpling together at the praise. He took a deep breath, “I don’t know.”

“No?”

Louis shivered, finally looking Harry in his green eyes. He shrugged, “I -I just-”

“Forget the laptop for a moment.” And Harry’s voice was so patient. So gentle. “Tell me why you confuse me. Why you confuse everyone it seems.” He smiled, “they call you an alpha. Even my father thought so, but you are not. You are an omega.”

Louis rubbed his bright red cheek, “I -I don’t know.”

“No, you know, but you don’t trust me.” Harry dug in his pocket pulling out a hair tie to pull his hair back. “How can I make you trust me?”

Louis stiffened once again. He shook his head quickly, “no. No, I am not having sex with you.”

Harry blinked, “pardon?”

“I don’t know what kind of omegas you let in here. Keep the laptop and I keep my dignity!”

Harry sighed, “I simply asked how I can build our trust, omega. Louis, correct?”

“Louis.” Louis turned his head away, wet cheeks cold from the wind.

“And how does one build your trust, Louis?”

“They don’t. They let me go home with my things!”

“You yell often.”

Louis turned to look at Harry, “often. When I am wakened in the night and when my property is stolen and when I am held against my will!”

Harry chewed his cheek, “confusing indeed. You must have quite a sad story, sweetheart.” Louis quickly looked away, flustered. “How about this.” Harry stood, sitting on the floor by Louis’ feet, surprising the omega. “Ask me something, and I will be honest. Then, I will ask you something.”

Louis was hesitant, rubbing his arms before bringing his feet up onto the chair cushion. “Is your father a Clan leader?”

“You know he is.”

“Is he or not?”

Harry nodded, “he is.”

“Why does he kill people? Why does he make them disappear?”

“No, beautiful, let’s wait.” Harry lifted a hand, “it is my turn, no?” Louis nodded submissively. “Good boy.” Harry sat up straight. “Were you abused?”

“No.”

“Okay. Your turn.”

“Um,” Louis rubbed his knee, “why does he hurt people?”

“To keep order.” Harry rubbed his shoulder, “Clans are known not to exist, but they are impossible to destroy. Packs can be broken but they only break into Clans. Our world is living blindly. To keep Cran above the rest, we follow the teachings of our formers.”

“But-”

“Be fair, darling.”

Louis whined, huffing hard into his cold hands. The pet names hit hard. He turned his whole body to the side, staring at the plants swaying in the wind. He bit hard at his chapped lips, “oh please…”

Harry breathed out, “tell me. Be honest with me as I was with you.”

Louis opened his dry mouth, keeping his eyes off Harry. “My father gave me suppressants my whole life. I was an alpha a few months ago but now I am not, and I don’t know how to be this.”

“And where is your father now?”

“Jail because of your father.”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No -I do not.”

Harry smiled, “how interesting. So you-”

“Ah.” Louis whispered, “my turn.” Harry smiled warmly, dipping his head. Louis sat up a little, “do -do you have an omega?”

Harry closed his eyes, humming low, “I do not now. I just broke up with my mate. We were not compatible.” The alpha rubbed his chin, “how was life as an alpha?”

“I thought it was okay. Something was always off but I was okay. But -but now, as an omega,” Louis looked at the alpha, “I hate being an omega.”

Then silence.

Louis cleared his throat, realizing he should speak. “Why do you want my laptop?”

“My father does not appreciate your articles. I’ve stopped him from removing you from existence.”

Louis’ eyes grew. “Goodness! What is his problem!”

“No, it is my turn.” Harry ignored Louis’ growl, “why do you smell so different from the last time I saw you?”

“I hate showering.”

“Hm.”

“Why is your father such an angry ass?”

Harry laughed, “him and I are quite similar, my mother says. He kind when he is not helping me take care of Cran.”

Louis scoffed, “tell him to leave me alone.”

“I will. Okay?” Harry continued once Louis nodded, “why do you hate showers?”

Louis rubbed the back of his neck, self-conscious, “because my smell -no one used to react to it and now people scent me.”

“And that is bad?”

“Yes,” Louis groaned. “I don’t know how omegas do it!”

“You are one.”

“Shut up!” Louis looked away, growling under his breath, “I was not one and now I am. It’s frustrating and scary and,” he bit his knuckle. “I don’t like feeling wanted sometimes.”

“You sound over stimulated. Have you seen a doctor?”

Louis nodded, “kind of. I went to Omega Care centers and they were great. They treat me well when I go.” He rubbed his arm, “I don’t really see a doctor until my heat arrives.”

“You should try seeing a doctor.” Harry’s eyes were gentle when he spoke, nonjudgmental. “The doctors in Cran are excellent. People come from all over to see them.”

Louis licked his lips, “yes, I know.”

“And omega services are free.”

“I know!” Louis growled, feeling a headache come on. “You cheated! You asked too many questions!”

Harry tilted his head, eyes lowering, “I did but you chose to answer them.” He looked up, thinking, “these outbursts are quite frequent and then they are followed by submission. I can see that and, if I wanted to, I could manipulate you. Do you know that? You need to take care of yourself not because you don’t want to shower but because you are so easily moldable right now. Someone can really do harm to you physically and, more importantly, psychologically.”

Louis’ eyes grew with every word. He touched his throat, feeling tears creeping up in his eyes. Tears of sadness and fear -of worry. He choked out a sob, “what?” He sniffled, “oh Elements.” He shook his head, “I don’t want that.”

“No one does. If you want to change your outcome, you need to seek help. You need very gentle care, and I don’t think you want to believe that. Because for your life you have not been an alpha, but you have lived your life like one, big difference.” Harry sat up perfectly straight like a statue, hands folded in his lap. He looked important -was important.

He sat on the floor to make Louis feel like he was in control.

He sat on the floor for Louis’ comfort and safety.

Louis was being manipulated by the softest hand.

Harry smiled slowly when Louis’ eyes ran over his posture. “Not all manipulation is with the intention of harm.”

Louis whined, quickly putting his nails against his teeth. “I -I am cold.”

Harry’s eyes fell again, back to their soft stance. “I will have them drive you back home, the laptop will stay.” He held up a hand when Louis whined, “you will have it back and I will only search for things on my father, nothing more. Your business is your own.”

Louis could feel a growl bubbling in his stomach, but Harry’s hand kept it at bay. “When will I get it back?”

“When would you like it back?”

“Today.”

“Then you will sleep over and you will have it today.” Harry stood, purposely scooting back so Louis didn’t feel cornered. “Come, I will show you to the guest room.”

“With you,” Louis bit his tongue, rubbing his eyes. “I want to sleep with you.”

Harry smiled, shaking his head, “no. You will sleep alone but I will make it nice for you.” He motioned Louis to follow, ignoring his high whines. “If you don’t follow, you will lose me.” He walked and as soon as Harry went through the doors, Louis ran after him.

He kept his hands close to his chest, breathing in as much warm air as possible. He jogged slightly to catch up to Harry, his laptop long forgotten outside.

Louis held onto the large staircase railing, climbing the steep steps carefully. The house was made for an alpha. It was made for large bodies and heavy steps.

He huffed when he got to the top, out of breath. He ran after Harry to the end of a dark hallway. “Is this -it?”

“Yes.” Harry opened the door, keeping his back to Louis so the omega could nose around the space comfortably.

The alpha opened the closet, pulling out blankets while Louis sniffed around the room. He opened the door to the bathroom, turning on the light to look around. He squatted near the bed, happy that it was a platform bed and low to the floor. He opened a few drawers, occasionally glancing at Harry fumbling with sheets.

Louis found himself scenting the room, something he rarely did.

He ran to the TV, playing with the remote buttons. His pupils dilated when the bright screen came on.

“Lower it down, please.” Louis quickly did, looking back at Harry. “Thank you.”

Louis turned around with a small smile, humming to himself for doing a good job. He stared at the waves crashing on screen. It was a documentary about their oceans. He dropped the remote, suddenly turning around.

“Are you making me a nest?”

Harry looked up from his work, “I am.”

“Wh-y?”

“Why not? Will it make you feel safer sleeping here?” Louis blinked, in shock. “Will it?”

“Yes…”

“Then.” Harry continued, looking back up when Louis didn’t look away. “Would you like to help me?”

“No.”

Harry smirked, “then, leave me to finish. Go clean your feet.”

“I -my feet.”

“Your feet.”

Louis turned on his heel back to the bathroom. He closed the door, going to the bathtub to turn on the water. He waited for it for get warm before stepping inside. Louis started crying when he reached down to clean in between his toes. He cried hard, rubbing his face until it hurt.

Louis didn’t notice when Harry came inside but he did notice the water stop. He grabbed onto the alpha’s shirt when Harry helped him step out of the tub. He cried while Harry dried his feet and cried harder when he touched a sensitive nerve on the bottom of his foot. Louis cried as they walked to the bed, screaming when he was laid down on the warm, soft, nest.

He rolled in the nest, rubbing his tears on it. He scented it, coughing up phlegm, “I like it.” He sniffled, “I like it so much.”

Harry rubbed his face with a towel, gently wiping away his mucus and tears. He tossed the towel away, going to the closet one last time to pull out a small fur. “This is normally for a child.” He laid his across Louis’ face. “But I’m sure it will do.”

Fur wasn’t free anymore unless you killed a wolf for it. Fur was not only not free but extremely expensive. You could find fake fur, but it was never the same, Louis knew firsthand.

He quickly rubbed it across his face, stopping when Harry gently took his hand. “Softly, omega.” Louis purred and Harry smiled. “Sweet thing.” He stroked the fur across Louis’ red cheeks. “There he is.”

Louis whined softly, pleased -satisfied like he’d never been before. He arched his back, eyes so low that they barely saw. But he could see Harry, could see the way he looked Louis up and down. He followed his curves, down to his legs.

Louis felt wanted and he liked it for once.

The omega whined a little higher, turning over on his stomach. He pushed up, pushing his hips back, a perfect mating position. He turned his head to watch Harry, watching the alpha’s green eyes turn dark. Watching his green eyes find Louis’ blue ones.

The alpha ran a hand from the base of Louis’ spine to the back of his neck. “Needy.” He shook his head when the journalist shivered. “Poor omega.”

Louis keened, dropping his hips to the bed so Harry could continue rubbing up and down his spine.

“How do you feel?”

“Like an omega,” Louis gasped. He closed his eyes, “it feels so good.”

-

Louis awoke in a fright. His dreams shook him to the core, waking him in a panic. He looked around the dark room, only able to see light creeping through a fine crack in the curtain. He sat up, fur falling to his lap. He blinked a few times, recalling the night before.

He took one breath, then another, until he found himself hyperventilating. He held onto the fur, rolling out of the nest before jumping back inside.

Louis was overwhelmed and that happened sometimes, but he couldn’t call his friends. He didn’t have his phone. He –

“Ah!” Louis screamed at the top of his lungs, starting to cry. He screamed again, covering his mouth with the fur. “Ah!”

“Hey,” Harry opened the door, hair up in a pretty bun. He approached the bed quickly but carefully. He climbed into the nest, letting Louis press his face into his neck. “What happened?”

Louis was still yelling incoherently, growling, and crawling at the alpha’s skin. He wanted to feel bad, but he couldn’t. He aggressively threw the fur, crowding Harry’s space to sit in the alpha’s lap. Once Louis was seated, he squeezed Harry’s firm bicep and breathed into his scent gland, waiting to be soothed.

When he wasn’t, Louis squeezed harder, digging his nails into the alpha’s flesh. He heard a small sigh before a wonderful scent flooded his senses. He whined happily, keeping his face as close as possible.

It took some time for the ache in Louis’ throat to subside and his eyes to dry, but once the world came back to him, he stood with one of the blankets around his shoulders. He wiped his cheeks, rubbing his temple with the palm of his hand. “I hate crying.”

Harry pressed his lips together, confused but understanding. The alpha fixed his sleeping shirt, standing up from the crushed nest. “How are you feeling?”

Louis crossed his arms, avoiding eye contact. “Fine. Do I get my laptop back now? I have stuff to do.”

Harry smiled, biting his bottom lip, “do you want me to -you know?” Louis made a face. “Do you want me to pretend you weren’t screaming? Should you or I pretend that I didn’t scent you just now?”

Louis huffed, “can I have my laptop back or not?”

“Do you even remember last night? You wanted to mate.”

Louis cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I’m still figuring out this omega thing.”

“I think when you’re trying to figure something out, you probably shouldn’t pretend most of it never happened.”

“Give me my fucking stuff so I can leave.”

Harry huffed, rubbing his neck, “Elements.” He walked to the door, “follow me.”

“I want to use the bathroom.”

“Go ahead. It’s there, where I dried you off because you were crying too-”

“I think I get it, thanks.” Louis flared, going to the bathroom. “I’ll be downstairs.”

The anger Louis felt had to be unnatural. Fire sliced through every vein, replacing his boiling blood, leaving it flowing through the space between his organs. He could feel hot tears prickling the corners of his eyes and he had no idea how to make the anger go away.

Instead, Louis kicked the door, punched the walls until he couldn’t feel his knuckles.

When he first ‘became’ an omega, Louis’ anger was severe. Plaster covered many holes in his apartment that would have gotten him kicked out. Libra and Niall helped patch the walls, helped him patch the anger. Being around omegas calmed him while alphas often brought out a fight.

It only made him angrier that Harry’s walls did not breaks -that they stayed unharmed.

Louis dressed slowly, adrenaline and anger subsided enough. He huffed, laying on the cold bathroom floor. He lifted his hands to the bright ceiling, staring at his bloody knuckles. Knuckles he was very used to but hadn’t seen in some time.

“Elements.”

Louis eventually stood. After washing his hands well, he left the room with little resistance and jogged down the steps that seemed much larger last night. He put his hands behind his back while approaching Harry and Zayn. “I’m leaving. I need my computer.”

Harry turned around, sighing. “Before I give it to you should I go check on my bathroom?”

Louis sucked his teeth, shrugging, “depends on what your walls are made out of.”

“Solid wood.”

“Hmph.”

Harry shook his head, walking to a small table where his laptop sat. “Here.” He snatched it back just before Louis could grab it. “Would you like Zayn to look at your hands? He was nurse.”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

Louis took a deep breath, wounds in his veins reopening. “I said no. I think I said it very clearly.”

“Okay.” Harry handed the laptop back over, stepping back from Louis. “It was nice meeting you.”

“I wish could say the same.”

Harry smiled, “you could but you chose not to.” The alpha copied his stance, stepping a few inches in front of him. “Remember what I said last night.” His eyes softened, “you need to get this under control.”

Louis grit his teeth, “as much as I hate, fucking hate, being an omega. I think I’d rather be one than be so full of myself as an alpha.”

“Do you think me caring is me being full of myself?”

“Caring?” Louis growled, barring his teeth, “Caring! You don’t know me! You don’t care about me! I spilled iced coffee on you! That’s how we met! You don’t know me. I know more about you than you know about me. You don’t care about me, Harry. You will sleep tonight the same way you have every fucking night since you didn’t know me.” Louis growled louder, “stay out of my life and keep your dad out of my life if you care about me so much.”

Harry’s eyes left nothing for Louis to go by. The mayor kept his stance, no sign of anger or aggression coming from him. He tilted his head then smiled, “have a good day, Louis. On my part, and my part alone, it was a pleasure to meet you again.”

Louis could feel it. The whine scratching his esophagus. He stepped back, frowning, hugging his laptop. “It-” He shook his head. “I’m sorry…” Louis’ voice fell to a whisper. “You -you let me stay here… I’m so sorry. I-” His lip wobbled, “I’ve been a -horrible guest.”

“Do not go against your emotions, Louis.” Louis looked up at the alpha that now stood in front of him. “I sent people to break into your home and steal from you. You came here and I did not give back your things, instead I threatened to delete your hard work. I am not angry at you because your anger is not unwarranted. I am not here to gaslight you. You have done nothing wrong.”

Louis whimpered, shrinking as small as he could.

“I only ask that you look for help when controlling the frequency and fluctuation of your emotions because like I said last night, you are easily manipulated.”

Louis swallowed, blushing a little. He sniffled, rubbing stray tears away. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Harry stepped beside Zayn who watched with little to no judgement. “I have only deleted information about my father. Nothing else.”

Louis nodded, taking slow steps towards the door. “Can-” He shook his head, continuing to walk.

“Do you need something?” Harry spoke simply, “if you need something, you should ask for it.”

Louis whined, turning around, shaking. “I need a ride home…”

“Of course you do.” Harry approached him, putting a gentle hand on Louis’ shoulder. “I am proud of you for asking.”

Louis dropped into Harry’s chest, sobbing against the alpha. He cried shamelessly, wanting to throw his laptop.

Harry rubbed his back comfortingly, “I have you.” He lifted Louis’ face, pressing a warm kiss to the center of his forehead.

Louis’ whole body relaxed, fingers loosening enough that he almost dropped his laptop. “Let’s get you home, omega.”

-

“Oh Louis.” Libra rubbed Louis’ thigh. “I cannot believe that happened.”

“He’s perfect!”

Libra jumped at the sudden outburst. “Perfect? Harry?” He shook his head, thin braids loose against his shoulders. “Have I misunderstood this story?”

“He,” Louis wiped his nose with a napkin. “He was so nice to me. I am not used to it. -ugh! Stop crying! I’m not even sad!”

Libra frowned, “I am sorry, darling, but you have been very confusing the last two days. -More than usual.”

Louis laughed, coughing, “I know. I know.” He groaned, “I like him…”

“Please, Lou, make me understand.”

“He understands me, Libra. He handles me. He,” Louis looked outside the window, thoughtful. “He is such a good alpha.” He touched his forehead. “He gave me a kiss here…”

“Do not let this crazy alpha get into your head, Louis.” Libra bit the scrunchie on his wrist to pull his hair into a large bun of brown and black braids.

Louis hummed, “you are so pretty, Libra.”

Libra grinned, leaning forward to rub his nose against Louis’. “I think you are even more pretty.” He sniffed at the omega. “And, since I walked in, you smell amazing.”

Louis blushed, trying to hide his smile. “Thank you…”

“Aw!” Libra poked at Louis’ sides, making him laugh. “Sweet omega. So blush-y.”

Louis giggled, crowding himself to the corner of the couch. He smiled, smile slowly falling. “I want to see him again.”

“Go back? What is so special about someone who stole from you?”

“He understands me. He didn’t make me feel like I was wrong for feeling what I feel.” Louis sighed, “and he’s single.”

Libra bit his lip, “Louis. Do you think he is stalking you?”

Louis’ brows flew up, “what?”

“It was odd that we were just talking about it, his father, and then they are in your house.”

“Well,” Louis bit his knuckle. “I did spill coffee on him, maybe they-”

“Are listening?”

Louis looked around his home. “Can I stay with you?”

“Of course.” Libra squinted, looking around. “Where?”

Louis jumped when his door was knocked on. He ran to the door, opening it slowly, “hello? Oh. Niall. Hello!” He hugged his friend, “what a nice surprise. I thought you were going on vacation.”

“I am,” Niall cupped his cheek. “I just wanted to say hello.” He waved at Libra, “hey pretty.”

“Hi!” Libra opened his arms and Niall ran to him.

Louis watched with a soft smile, hugging himself. He loved his friends. They spent a lot of time together. Meeting Libra was a blessing from the Elements. Meeting Niall was the whole package. They loved him. They were all close.

“I’m going to miss you.” Libra kissed Niall’s cheek. “A week without you is going to feel like a year.”

“I promise I’ll be back soon.”

Louis smiled, smile slowly falling. “Week…” He swallowed, stomach knotting. He blinked, thinking back to the prior night when Zayn and Liam where in his house. “A vacation for a week…”

Niall looked at him, winking, “try not to miss me too much.”

The omega shivered, nodding slowly. “I’ll try.”

Zayn was also going on vacation for a week.

Louis covered his mouth, “I’m going to the bathroom.” He tried not to run.

Louis closed his bedroom door, snatching his laptop off his desk. He opened it, taking a deep breath, “fuck.” Louis pressed his nails to his teeth. “Fuck, fuck -” He held his breath, slamming his laptop shut. “Fuck me.”

Chapter 2

Summary:

Being an alpha didn't feel right. Now that he is an omega, Louis still doesn't feel right but he's doing his best.

Harry is the Mayor of Cran. Louis drops his iced coffee on him during a speech.

Chapter Text

“Yeah.” Louis rubbed his arm after hugging Niall. “We’ll see you in a week.”

Libra stopped when Louis grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Can you stay?”

Niall grinned, “are you going to miss me that much?”

Louis laughed nervously, “yeah, I guess so.” He looked at Libra, eyes pleading. “Just a little longer.”

“Sure, Lou. I do have work tomorrow though.” Libra let his bag slide off his shoulder. “Get running, Niall. You’ll miss your flight.”

“I love you both so much.” Niall waved one last time before walking down the hall.

Louis closed the door softly, looking at Libra. “Bra… you -you are my friend, right?”

Libra frowned, “of course I am. Your best friend.”

“So,” Louis bit his lip, “you would tell me if -if you were trying to hurt me?”

Libra sighed softly. Louis understood the response. He sometimes expressed insecurity and needed reassurance. “Of course, Lou. But I would also never be trying to hurt you. Do you want to hurt me?”

“Libra, please. Be honest.”

Libra tilted his head, “where is this coming from? Just because Niall is leaving -he is coming back, darling-”

“Niall is with them.”

“With whom?”

Louis dragged Libra to his couch, sitting the omega down. He paced, “we thought my apartment was tapped. It is not. Niall is.”

“Niall?”

“Last night Zayn said he was going on a week’s vacation. Zayn, the alpha that took my laptop.” Libra’s eyes opened wide. “Yes.”

“You think Niall-” Libra growled, “that -how could he!”

Louis breathed a deep sigh of relief that his friend believed him. “I mean, he didn’t do anything, but he must have told them that I was still looking into Harry’s father. I just-” Louis pouted, sitting on his coffee table. “Niall came into our lives around the same time I published my first article about Harry’s father.”

Libra sucked his teeth, “he’s playing us.” The omega stood. “When he comes back, we’re killing him.”

“Libra.”

“No! How could he do that!” Libra seethed, “we made a small family and he’s just using us -you! No! I’m cutting his fucking stomach open. No children for him!”

Louis whined, dropping his chin to his chest. “Libra,” He shook his head. “If Niall were an alpha, he would mate and bond to both of us. I’ve met liars, so many. They don’t look at people the way he looks at us.” Libra folded his arms. “Niall loves us, but I don’t think he had a choice.”

“And so that should make it better?”

Louis chewed his cheek, shrugging. “Want to meet Harry?”

Libra cut his eyes, groaning, “Elements…”

-

“Louis and,” Harry smiled, “friend.”

Louis tried hiding behind Libra, nervous. His heart was beating fast. “Hello…”

“Hello.” Libra folded his arms, “we have questions.”

“And I have lunch in one hour but please, come in.” Harry opened his office door wider. “I am surprised Liam let you in.”

“I am very convincing,” Libra spat. He put an arm around Louis’ waist, helping the omega sit before he took a seat as well.

Harry sat behind his desk, staring at Louis who didn’t look back. “Louis. Will you pretend this morning didn’t happen, omega?”

Louis looked up then, a blush forming across his small nose. He shook his head, “hello Harry.”

Harry smiled tenderly, “hello again, Louis.” He looked at Libra, “may I have your name?”

“I’m sure you already have it!” Libra folded one leg over the other, “who sent Niall? What is going on and why are you trying to hurt my friend?”

“Pardon?”

Libra looked up in awe, “with the silence in this room, you could hear a butterfly’s wings flap. Are you trying to pretend you didn’t hear my question? Why are you trying to hurt my friend? Him! Louis! What do you want from him and why send Niall?”

Harry smiled and Libra bristled. “I see why you are friends. So similar.” Louis pouted; a spike of jealousy going up his spine. Harry looked at him and Louis realized then that he must have made a noise. The alpha winked at him, giving the smallest head shake.

Harry stood, fixing his coat. “I typically am not screamed at so please excuse me.” He sat at the front of his desk. “Ask me nicely. No. I don’t need nice, I just wish for respect, please.”

Libra took a deep breath, “My name is Libra. Do you know Niall?”

“Very well, yes.”

Louis sat up then, “why?” He could feel tears burning behind his eyes. “He’s with Zayn.”

“He is. I love Niall very much.”

“But,” Louis licked his trembling lips. “Niall is my friend.”

“So he cannot be mine?”

“Elements above, answer the fucking question!” Libra threw his hands up, “put two and two together. Fuck!”

Harry pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh. He turned to Louis, “Niall was hired to befriend you and find out information that you were going to put out about my father. He was not hired by me. I did not know who you were before the day we officially met. My father hired Niall to work for me. Niall did grow an attachment with not only Zayn but also you two. He was very emotional about keeping you as his friend, so I told him he only had to report to me if you spoke about it. He didn’t like having to go through your computer. I am sorry you found out like this but please know, Niall loves you both very much.”

Louis stood up, “I don’t want you using him anymore. He’s my friend.”

“Okay.”

“And -what?”

“Okay, omega. I do not need Niall, especially not when you come to my door yourself.” Harry smirked. “He is not my worker. I do not pay for him to be a snitch, my father does. Niall does many jobs for my father because that is his job. You both so happened to get in the way of this specific job.”

Louis swallowed, looking down at Libra who looked just as surprised. “And -I want,” the omega whined, hands going behind his back. “I want-”

“Slowly, sweetheart,” Harry mumbled. “It is difficult but take your time.”

Louis shivered, taking a deep breath when Libra held his hand. “I want the fur…”

“Hm?”

Louis cleared his throat, “the little fur… I want it.”

Harry thought for a moment. “You can have it. I do have one for adults that you may have as well.”

Louis perked up. “I want both.”

Harry smiled, “then you may have both. I do not have fur here with me.”

The omega stepped forward, “I can -I can go to your house.”

“Did you memorize where I lived?” Louis nodded once. “Smart omega.” Harry stood up straight. “Tomorrow then.”

“He wants to go tonight,” Libra, almost forgotten, huffed. “Don’t torture him.”

“Not tonight. I am not busy, but you are in no mental state to come tonight.”

Louis stood straight; shoulders stiff. “I can come tonight.”

“That is wonderful, omega, but you will not be allowed in my home tonight. Standing up straight will do nothing for you.”

Louis growled, turning around. “We’re leaving. Let’s go, Libra.”

Libra stood, “Lou.” He crowded his friend, trying to grab Louis’ face. “Don’t cry.”

Harry stuck his hands in his pockets. “Louis. You may come tomorrow to my home for dinner and the fur.”

Louis rubbed his eyes, jaw tight. He sniffled, staring Harry down. He finally looked away, taking Libra’s hand. “Fine…”

“Okay.” Harry walked to the door, holding it open. “It was nice to meet you, Libra.”

“I honestly don’t know how I feel about you.” Libra pointed a sharp finger at him, “confusing!”

Louis stopped at the door, looking up at Harry. “I-”

“Don’t apologize.” Harry smiled, “I understand.”

“Thank you.”

“How are you feeling?”

“My side still hurts. It’s bruised but I’m okay.”

“Okay, omega. Make sure you put ice on it.”

“Okay.”

“Good boy.” Louis’ breath sped up. “Anything else?”

Louis nodded, looking at Libra who waited patiently in the hallway. He then looked back at Harry, hands coming up to touch his forehead.

“Ah,” Harry chuckled. “Would you like a kiss there?” Louis nodded quickly, feet curling behind his shoes. “Of course.” The alpha leaned down, placing a soft kiss to Louis’ forehead. As soon as it came, it was gone. “There.”

Louis quickly touched his forehead, walking through the door.

“You both get home safe.” When Harry’s door closed, they started walking to the elevator.

“Okay fine,” Libra huffed, pressing the down button on the elevator aggressively. “He’s cute, he’s hot, and he’s patient and he might just be perfect for you, but I still want to bite his throat out.”

Louis sighed with a smile, leaning on the side of the elevator, shivering at the cold metal. “I think so too.”

Libra folded his arms as the doors closed, “I wonder what makes him mad.”

“Nothing.”

“Hmph.”

Louis smiled at his reflection on the reflective walls. “I told you he was amazing.”

Libra bit his cheek, “whatever.”

-

“Hello.” Louis held his laptop tight to his chest. “Hi.”

“Hello, Louis, again.” Liam smirked. “I will be honest. I didn’t expect you back here so soon.”

“Yeah well,” Louis swallowed. “I was invited.” He stood up straight, lifting his chin. “So you can’t kick me out.”

“I wasn’t going to.” Liam grinned, “defensive thing.”

Louis scoffed, his blush hiding because of the dim outdoor lighting. “Are you going to let me in, or should I freeze to death out here?”

Liam chuckled, “that choice is all yours.” He opened the door, “please.”

Louis let his shoulder’s slouch. He sighed as the warm home hit his skin. He hugged his laptop a little tighter, admiring the statues once again. He looked back at Liam. “Where is Harry?”

“Cooking.”

“Oh,” Louis tilted his head, smiling. “He cooks?”

“Can an alpha not cook?”

The omega quickly cut his eyes, “that is not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?”

“He’s rich! He has a fucking security! Why can’t he have a personal chef!”

“Well, good evening.” Louis’ whole body went ridged when Harry’s voice came from behind him. “So loud at such a quiet time of the day.”

Louis turned around dipping his head, “sorry. Your help sucks.”

Harry laughed, putting a large hand on Louis’ head, “does he?”

“I was only joking with him, Harry.”

“Shut up!” Louis growled. “Why is he here anyway? I thought we were having dinner.”

“He is my friend, and he is always allowed in my home.” Harry stepped back, holding out a hand towards Liam. “May you apologize to him?”

“For what?” Louis gagged, “I hate him.” He glared at Liam, “thief.”

“Then,” Harry walked to the front door, ignoring Louis’ high whines. “May you leave before I ask the ‘thief’ to escort you out?”

“I…” Louis sniffled, looking away. “Dinner…” he whispered. He looked behind him then back at Harry, “I -what about dinner?”

“I really don’t like loud things, Louis,” Harry spoke softly. “I don’t like yelling and I don’t think it’s nice for you to yell at someone you don’t know especially after I’ve told you he is my friend and kindly asked you to apologize.”

Louis’ bottom lip felt heavy. He bit down on it, hands shaking, “I’m so sorry.” He caught his laptop before he dropped it. “Sometimes,” he sobbed, looking at Liam. “I get so nervous it makes me angry and I am rude.” He sniffled, rubbing away falling tears. “I just want to have dinner.”

“With Harry, and you will,” Liam approached him, hand coming up to touch Louis’ head. He paused mid-touch when Harry cleared his throat. “Apologies.” He lifted Louis’ chin instead. “I am not upset at you. I hope you and Harry have a lovely dinner, omega. I am leaving.”

Louis nodded, stepping away from Liam, shuffling towards Harry. He looked up at the alpha, swallowing, “I apologized and he’s not mad.”

“Oh?” Harry smiled gently, “I heard.”

Louis nodded to himself, rubbing his red cheek once more. “I just wanted to tell you.”

Louis waited patiently while Harry said his goodbye’s. He followed the alpha to the large dining room, taking a seat at the end of the table.

Harry smiled, “taking my seat.”

Louis frowned, brows creasing, “how was I supposed to know?”

Harry shook his head, “sweet omega.” He set a plate in front of Louis, then one to the right of him. Harry sat, laying the cloth napkin across his lap. The alpha picked up his fork, “enjoy.”

Louis stared down at his plate of food, leaning down to smell it. “What is this?”

“Potatoes, cream of corn, and steak.”

Louis licked his lips, “looks kind of bad.”

Harry closed his eyes briefly, laughing. He bit his lip, nodding slowly, “does it?”

“Yeah.” Louis poked at the corn, “why is it wet?”

“It is cream of corn.”

“Creamy corn,” Louis shrugged. “I’ll try anything once.”

Harry cut into his steak, chuckling, “will you?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Louis lifted the cream of corn to his lips. “Pretty okay.” He swallowed, “it’s kind of sweet.”

“It is.”

“You can cook.”

“I can.”

“Who taught you?”

“My father.”

“Ugh,” Louis rolled his eyes. “Your dad sucks.”

“At times.” Harry watched Louis poke at his potatoes. “Would you like something else to eat?”

“No,” Louis shook his head. “My cravings are funny sometimes.”

“Because of the suppressants?”

“Yes.” Louis huffed, dropping his fork. He looked at Harry, shoulders falling, “do you like me?”

Harry coughed, choking around his steak. He wiped his mouth, licking his lips, “excuse me?”

“You are too healthy to have hearing problems.”

“Excuse me for being surprised.”

“It’s just a question.”

“I,” Harry thought for a moment. “You fascinate me. I don’t think I can say I like you romantically. I don’t know you.”

“Well,” Louis lifted his glass of water. “What do you want to know?”

Harry smirked, “what would make me like you?”

Louis bit his thumb, setting the glass down. “I write well. Like articles and stuff. I don’t write fiction.” Louis frowned, “I don’t cook but I know how. I smell sometimes because I don’t shower. My hair gets so tangled that its full of knots.” He put his chin on his hand, thinking, “I have outbursts of anger and sadness.” He puckered his lips in thought, “Sometimes I can’t even get out of bed because I want to nest for days. I spend a lot, I mean a lot, of money of soft cloth. I am in debt.” Louis sat up, “wow. I am so unlovable.”

Harry smiled, setting down his utensils to pick up his water. “I think you just gave me many reasons to like you.” He shook his head, “I think it makes it easier to love you, not make you unlovable.”

Louis pouted, “I didn’t take you for a liar.”

Harry laughed, “I’m serious.”

The omega shrugged, stuffing his mouth with corn. “I like you.”

Harry smirked, “I wouldn’t have known.”

“I’m pretty subtle.” Louis’ firm expression made Harry smile. “I don’t like people really -ever. I’m excited.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, because maybe you will like me back and then I won’t be so lonely.”

Harry’s eyes softened, “hm.” He looked down at his plate while Louis stuffed his mouth. “Is loneliness not a choice?”

“It wasn’t my choice to be lonely.” Louis rubbed his belly. “My parents made that choice for me.”

“But they are not here now. It is your choice.”

“Well, yeah. That’s why I’m here.” Louis looked at him with vulnerable eyes. “I’m here with you which means I’m not alone.”

“You know something.” Harry sat up, “you have to be the sweetest being I have ever met in my lifetime.”

Louis smiled, looking away. He giggled, neck and face going red, “that’s -that’s a lie.”

“No, really,” Harry shook his head. “You are so genuine because you don’t know how not to be. Honestly, it is so sweet.”

“Thanks…” Louis rubbed his arm, “Is there dessert?”

“Um, yes actually.” Harry sat up straighter, surprised by the question. “You haven’t finished.”

“I know, I will. I eat a lot -I just -I wanted to make sure there was.”

“And if there wasn’t?”

“I would maybe leave and come back with something from the store- maybe.”

Harry dropped his head, laugh erupting from his chest. “Wow. You are not unlovable, Louis. Not at all.”

“Tell that to other people.”

“I don’t have to, nor do I want to.”

Louis stuck his fork into his steak, biting it, “do you want me all to yourself?”

Harry watched the omega chew with full cheeks. He licked his lips, mumbling, “I think so.”

-

“I want to go to your bedroom.”

“No.” Harry opened a door that led to a library. “We will have dessert in here.”

“Where is it?”

“What?”

“The dessert.” Louis crawled into a large leather chair, rubbing his face against it. “Mm, everything smells like you.”

“It is my library.”

“Yes but,” Louis moaned softly, “it really smells like you.”

Harry dipped his head, “what a compliment.” He stepped back, “I’ll be right back.”

Louis took the time to walk around the room. He ran his slim fingers over the rows of books, squinting at words he couldn’t understand. He stopped on a red bind with gold letters. Louis opened the heavy book, flipping through the thin pages, breathing in the smell.

It was an old book.

“It’s an old book.” Harry set down a tray of assorted sweets that immediately caught Louis’ eye. “It’s a fairy tale book.”

“For a child?” Louis put the book back, going to hover over the tray.

“Yes. It is in Wolf language. It was my mother’s.”

“Is she alive?”

“She is. They divorced when I was young. She lives elsewhere.”

“I’m not trying to ignore your story, but can I have some?”

“Of course,” Harry laughed. “I brought it for you.”

Louis quickly fell to his knees in front of the wooden circle table. He reached for three small pastries at once, cradling them. Louis ate one then two, needing to chew longer before eating the third. He looked up at Harry with glossy eyes. “Are you going to have?”

“I was.”

“Then you should hurry.” Louis grabbed three more, scarfing them down just as fast.

Harry sat on the floor, crossing his legs at the ankle. “Will you eat everything before I can?”

“Yes.”

The alpha grinned, watching Louis gobble down more sweets. He reached out for one, pausing when the omega whined. Louis bit his lip, “I like that one.”

Harry tilted his head, grin pulling at his mouth. “I can tell. There is only one left.”

“Mhm.”

“And I cannot have it because you want it?”

“I think we should share it.”

“But you ate four of them.”

Louis nodded, undeterred. “Yes, I did.”

“And there is only one and I want it.”

“Yes.”

Harry smirked, “so shouldn’t I get it to myself?”

Louis considered it for a moment, “I think sharing it is fine.”

Harry laughed, giving it to Louis. “Eat.”

“Thank the Elements.” Louis chewed the small brownie, sitting back on his butt. He rubbed his belly, “I wish you had ice cream.”

“Who says I don’t?”

“Oh, can I have some?”

Harry squinted at him, thinking, “do you usually eat these many sweets?”

“Yes and no, but I don’t feel like you’re judging me either.”

“I am not.”

Louis rubbed his cheek, “I’m being greedy.”

“You are.” Harry smiled warmly, “but I think you were deprived for so long that being greedy isn’t so bad.” Louis blushed, looking away while grabbing another pastry. “You are a sweet being, Louis. Really.”

Louis nibbled at the cream puff before shoving it in his mouth. He chewed, nodding a little, then he shrugged. “I think we’ll work out just fine.”

“Pardon?”

“Dating. Your dad hates me, but I hate him too so,” Louis shrugged again. “We’ll be fine.”

“Louis,” Harry pressed his lips together. “You are assuming. We are not dating and there is no indication that we will date.”

Louis played with his nail, “you are interested in me. I know you are. I went to therapy, and I learned a lot. I know when someone is interested.”

“You interest me, yes.”

“I’m not loveable but I know how to love. Even when I get angry, I still know how to love.” Louis pulled his hand away before grabbing another pastry. “I was an alpha. I know how to court. I can court you.”

Harry shook his head no, “you were never an alpha, Louis. You never have been, and you never will be.” Louis swallowed. “You can do whatever you want.”

“Okay.” Louis looked around, “read me something.”

“You bounce from topic to topic really fast.”

Louis stood, wiping his pants, “and from emotion to emotion. Tell me which one you want to pick.”

Harry pointed without falter, “the green one, it’s small.”

Louis walked in that direction, “top?”

“Last shelf, at the beginning.”

“Green and small- here.” Louis held it up. “This?”

“Yes. Bring it, sweetheart.”

Louis practically ran over, dropping to the soft carpet. He held out the book with both hands, “what’s it about?”

“It’s about a frog.”

Louis made a face, sitting back on his heels, “a frog? I guess…”

Harry stared at the cover, “the life of a frog.”

“Can you read wolf language?”

“No.”

“What!” Louis threw his hands up, “why do you have so many books in that language then?”

“I like books.”

“That’s stupid.”

“And you are being mean.” Harry raised a brow, “you don’t have to be angry because they are not your books. You haven’t been collecting them for years. I have.”

Louis rubbed his neck, “sorry.”

“What’s it like being a journalist?” Harry touched the pages gently. “Why do you do it?”

“I like writing about facts. Fairy tales and fiction are boring.” Louis huffed, “my whole life was fiction. I want evidence and proof. I want to tell the truth. Speak honesty into our world.”

“Hm. I’ve read your work.” Louis blushed. “It’s good. You write well.”

“Your father doesn’t think so.”

“It doesn’t matter because he is not here, I am.” Harry closed the book. “This book is about a frog that tries to cross the street three times and on the third time he is hit by a car.” He gave Louis the book. “It’s funny.”

Louis gaped, looking down then back at Harry. “Funny? Wha -that’s the end? He’s hit by a car?”

“Yes.”

“But,” Louis frowned, “you said you couldn’t read wolf language.”

“It would be pretty silly if I couldn’t,” the alpha smirked. “Seeing as I have so many books in that language.”

Louis paused then smiled. He laughed, hugging the book, “Elements.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you really laugh. It is nice.” Harry picked up a sweet, eating it. “Why’d you bring your laptop?” Louis swallowed. “Are you going to write about me?”

“Yes.”

Harry grinned, “what will you say?”

“I’m scared that it’s going to turn into a love letter.”

“Write about me all you want. Just not about my father.”

“Will he kill me, really?”

“He won’t but someone will, really. And, if I am to interfere with my father’s choices, then I should probably do it for someone I am in love with, not just someone who interests me.”

Louis nodded, “I can try to make you fall in love with me.”

“No need. You already are.”

“Oh,” Louis couldn’t hide his smile. His bright scent clouded the room as he giggled. He ducked his chin to his chest, smiling small. “Told you.”

Harry laughed loudly, throwing his head back. He uncrossed his ankles to recross them. “Ask me something.”

Louis didn’t falter, “have you killed someone?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“I was a part of a Clan before I became mayor. I was raised as a member of a Wolf Clan. It’s normal to kill whether for food or because you feel threatened. Never for fun.”

“Do you like killing?”

Harry’s brow went up high, “no.”

“No?”

“Do you?”

“I never have.” Louis put a hand on his chest, “I could though. I’d kill someone.”

“Let’s,” Harry interrupted. “Stop talking about killing. Ask me something else.”

“Do you think I’m cute?”

“Very, yes.”

Louis giggled, grinning wide. “Really?”

“Yes,” Harry smiled. “You’re beautiful.”

“Oh,” Louis pulled at his ear. “Do you want to have children?”

“Not particularly, no, but I don’t know.”

“I can’t imagine being pregnant, but I think I would have your children.”

“And you are so certain I would give you them?”

Louis licked his bottom lip, sitting up to reach over the table to grab another pastry. He looked at Harry through his long lashes, “I know you will.” Harry’s jaw tensed and Louis sat back.

“Do you do that on purpose?”

“To you, yes. I don’t know what I’m doing but I know when I do it, you smell better.” Louis pressed the sweet to his lips, mumbling against it. “If I was an alpha, I would still want you.”

Harry growled softly under his breath, rumble sounding like a rough purr. “Tempting thing.”

“Persuasive too.”

Harry sighed, closing his eyes. “I wouldn’t mate you, not now.”

“Why?” Louis frowned, “why not?”

“Because your emotions are too unpredictable. You would have to-”

“Fuck you.” Louis growled, standing. “Waste of my time.”

Harry lifted a hand, “see. Perfect example.” The alpha shook his head, “what do you expect? Do you think we are just going to be mates? Forget a friendship?”

Louis stood awkwardly, hovering over the table. He shrugged, “I don’t know.” He huffed, turning away, “I don’t know how this works. I don’t know -how to be what you want or what-”

“I have not once asked you for anything nor have I expected anything from you. I hardly know you.”

Louis folded his arms, walking towards a bookshelf. “Everyone has an expectation.”

“I am very sorry everyone in your life has had an expectation for you. I expect nothing and I ask for nothing, Louis.” Harry stood, groaning. “Look, you are lovely and sweet. You are a wonderful being, Louis, but you have no control over your emotions. You lash out and then revert. You cry and then become nervous and then angry. There is no consistency and that may be fine for you, but it is not for me.”

Louis turned around quickly, gritting his teeth so he wouldn’t scream. “So, what do you want from me?”

“I already told you.” Harry stuffed his hands in his pockets, “I don’t want anything.”

“So what the fuck am I doing? Elements! Why am I here! Why have me over for dinner!”

Harry smiled with a sigh, “because you are sweet.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Louis’ warm forehead. He left his lips there for a moment, letting the omega whine silently. Harry pulled away, bending a little to be at eye level with him. “I don’t think it’s fair if I confuse you and, unfortunately, kissing your forehead is confusing.” Louis nodded lazily. “So, I would love to be your friend in hopes of something more.”

Louis swallowed, touching his forehead. “I would like that…”

“But,” Harry’s brows creased, mouth tight. “You have to see someone.”

“Can’t you just fix me?” Louis threw his arms up. “If I get an alpha; you can tame me.”

“No,” Harry whispered, cupping Louis’ cheek. “That is wrong. I can’t tame you because you are not a wild animal. No one should think they can tame you. You are an omega. The strongest being in the world.” Harry smiled, “I am not here to dull your shine. I told you, you are the sweetest being I have ever met. No one can ‘fix’ you.” Louis frowned. “You are not broken. You are an experience that people have yet to experience. You are not broken.”

Louis’ bottom lip trembled, burning hot tears spewing from his eyes. He whined high, walking into Harry’s large arms. He rubbed his red, wet, face across the alpha’s pristine shirt. He sobbed, clutching the fabric with both hands.

The kiss Harry pressed to his hot forehead felt like ice.

-

“You are still writing an article about him?” Libra made a face, squinting at the screen over Louis’ shoulder. “You’re writing about having dinner with him.”

“Yes.” Louis’ slim fingers typed heavily against the keyboard. “I still need an article to publish.”

“‘Harry Styles is a warm alpha with a big heart. He allowed me to have dinner in his home despite the embarrassing display just a few days prior.’” Libra hummed, “don’t you think this may stir up some serious problems?”

“No. If he’s stupid enough to think I won’t write about him, then maybe I don’t actually like him. Anyway,” Louis leaned back against his chair to crack his back. “He asked if I was going to write about him and I said I was.”

“And he said that was okay?”

“So long as I didn’t write about his father, yes.”

“What a weird alpha.” Libra sat on the couch, crossing his legs. “What should we do about Niall?”

Louis stopped mid-type, turning around. “Nothing. We just go about our lives.”

Libra frowned, shaking his head. “Doesn’t sound like much of a plan.”

Louis stood up, feeling the distress coming off his friend. He sat beside Libra, pulling the omega’s foot into his lap. “We can confront him. Are you angry at him?”

“Kind of.” Libra huffed, “he lied to us.”

“And I write stories about people even if it might upset them.” Louis rubbed Libra’s leg, “and you were born into money, so you don’t have to work but you choose to even when it upsets your parents. We all have to do what we have to do.”

“So, we just pretend we don’t know.”

“How about you let me deal with it?” Libra raised a brow. “Please.”

“Fine, fine.” The omega sat up, “So what happened after dessert?”

Louis stood off the couch, going back to his computer. “I went on my laptop and wrote down some of our conversations, so I didn’t forget them.”

“And he knew you were writing them down?”

“He did, yes.”

“Goodness.” Libra folded his arms. “Also, Louis.” Louis groaned, hands typing a little harder at the keys. “I think it’s time for a shower.”

“I’m working right now.”

“Louis,” Libra warned.

Louis turned in his chair, “Libra.”

“Catch an attitude with your soon-to-be and not with me, okay?”

Louis ran a hand across his face, “Libra, I’m working!”

“You smell.”

“I don’t smell, I just showered.”

“You were out all day sweating and now you stink. You need to shower.”

“I’ll change my clothes!”

“You were supposed to change them after sweating in them!”

Louis growled, “no.”

“Now Louis.” Libra walked away, going to the bathroom to start the shower.

Louis seethed, typing faster, angry when he kept misspelling words. “I’m not showering right now!”

“You are!”

Louis pushed away from the desk, standing up to kick his couch. He growled to the kitchen, grabbing a cup from the cabinet. He stared at the green plastic cup, breathing hard. “I don’t want a fucking shower!” When Libra didn’t respond, Louis became angrier. He started pulling out all his plastic cups, throwing them on the floor. He screamed, throwing the last of his glass plates on the floor, breaking them. He kicked the dishwasher, walking around the glass with his green cup.

He was met with a disappointed Libra waiting by the bathroom door. “Oh, Louis.”

Louis threw his cup at Libra’s feet. “I said no!”

Libra sighed, “such a fight all the time.” The omega frowned then, biting his lip. “Please, Louis.”

Louis knew what Libra was doing because Niall wasn’t there, they both couldn’t grab him, so Libra was using the next best thing. Libra would pretend to be sad, pretend to cry so Louis felt bad, and it always worked.

“You broke all your plates, Louis. The sound was scary. Please stop.”

Louis frowned, tears expelling from his eyes. He walked up to Libra, removing his clothes as he walked. He picked up the cup, grabbing Libra’s hand so they could go to the bathroom.

He stared at the water hitting the bathtub for a long time. “I want a bath.”

“We have to first rinse you off.”

It took twenty minutes before Louis stepped inside, another twenty before he wet his hair. He held onto his cup, refusing to give it up when Libra asked for it. Eventually, he did, folding his arms in favor of holding it. Libra poured water over his head, covering his eyes.

“When’s the last time you brushed your hair?”

Libra had to wash his hair twice and condition it three times.

“I don’t know.”

Libra sighed, tugging at a few knots. “You’re going to hate this. It makes it worse when you don’t try to do it yourself.”

Louis scoffed, keeping his arms tightly crossed. “I don’t care.”

“Don’t be rude. You’re just going to feel bad about it later.” Libra sighed, kissing the top of his head. “You smell wonderful. It’s time to wash your body.”

Louis felt tears prickling at the edges of his eyes. He gritted his teeth, “leave me alone.”

Libra groaned, standing up, “here we go.”

-

“Louis.” Harry frowned, coming down the stairs, tying his robe. “What’s going on?”

Louis couldn’t even imagine what he looked like. Crying, in nothing but a matching pajama set that barely covered his thighs. His arms were folded, hair blown to the side by the cold night air. He sniffled, a deep frown on his face. “My friend hates me.”

Harry pressed his lips together, looking behind Louis at Liam. “Uh -pardon?”

Louis walked into Harry’s arms, crying, “my friend hates me because I screamed at him for helping me shower and I feel so bad and I needed a hug but he said I was being too mean and left and now I’m alone again and I can’t stop crying so I walked here and I’m so sad!”

Harry cupped the back of his head, “Okay.” He took Louis’ hand, walking them to the library. He sat Louis in the big leather chair, sitting at the omega’s feet. He took off Louis’ bedroom slippers, staring at the torn bottoms before setting them aside. Harry took one small foot into his hands, massaging the under part.

“What else happened?”

Louis moaned, shivering because it tickled but felt so good on his sore feet. Harry’s firm thumbs dug circles into the heels of his feet. He arched his back, melting into the leather. “He -he said he would see me tomorrow but what if he never comes back?”

“That omega seems to love you very much.” Harry went to the other foot, “what is so scary about bathing?”

“I told you before!” Harry moved his hands away and Louis’ eyes shot open. He frowned, whining, “no.”

“Let me be very clear,” Harry’s voice didn’t wavier, didn’t break calm, but his eyes showed aggravation. “It is two in the morning. You are tired, I am tired. You walked here in slippers; I did not expect to be woken up two hours after I’d fallen asleep. You came to my home for me to comfort you. You walked here in the middle of the night, where someone could have hurt you. I allowed you in my home, Liam allowed you in my home. The next time you yell at me, raise your voice, or disrespect the space I am giving you; I will leave you outside and go back to sleep.” Louis’ mouth closed; eyes wide. “I respect you; you respect me. Am I clear?”

“Yes.”

“I suggest you think before you speak from now on.”

“Yes.”

“I asked you a question. I know you have given me an answer before. I don’t care. I am asking you again.”

Louis swallowed, “I don’t like bathing because it uncovers my scent. I am not used to the attention from others. I don’t know how to control my scenting because you are normally taught as a child, and I was not. I’m scared someone is going to hurt me. My parents also,” Louis frowned, swallowing again. “Didn’t let me shower a lot. I was only allowed to bathe twice a week and it was a sponge bath that my mother would give me. They were afraid my scent would show even with suppressants.”

“From now on, I expect the whole truth. Not just half of it. Yes? I tell you the whole truth.”

“Yes.”

“Does Libra know this about your parents?”

“Not really.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t like talking about them. They were good to me, a little. I don’t want them to be seen as worse even if they were.”

“You need someone to open your eyes.” Harry sat back on the floor and Louis wanted to thank him for not standing over him. “I did research after meeting you. Your parents were terrible, Louis.”

Louis felt hot bubbles in his stomach that he pushed down.

“You may feel angry, please, but they were. My father didn’t just put them in jail because of the illegal suppressants. Your father was hurting you. It was clear that he wanted you to belong to him. The fact that it makes you angry tells me that he succeeded in brainwashing you. Your mother did nothing because she was submissive.” Harry leaned forward, “your mother did nothing to help you and your father manipulated you and her into doing what he wanted. You did not deserve that.”

Louis bit his tongue hard. “I know they were bad people. I don’t need a reminder.”

“No, clearly you do.” Harry shook his head, “don’t defend people who hurt you. The only person you should be defending is you. You need to apologize to yourself and not to them.” Harry licked his lips, “you are like this because of them. Your emotions, your needs, your fears, your anxiety, the fact that you can’t even bathe, that you fill your body with sweets. That is them, not you.”

Louis let the tears drip off his chin, lips trembling hard.

“Stop making excuses for the people that hurt you. Acknowledge that they hurt you. Use the pain to be better.” Harry tilted his head, “if all they gave you were sponge baths then you should only be taking sponge baths. Everyday. Then work your way up. You need to seek help. That is not a weakness. It will be the hardest thing in the world for you, it could never be seen as weakness.”

Louis nodded slowly.

“And you like me?”

“I do. A lot…”

“Okay. I am a very clean person. I want the same for my mate. I do not want a dirty mate, Louis. Would you?”

“No.”

“Then, bathing is not an option.”

“Yes.”

Harry sighed, exhaustion finally showing on his face. “Talk to me.”

“I’m so sorry.” Louis rubbed his nose, “You’re right but -but-”

“But you don’t believe me, and I don’t want you to. I want it to hit you. I am giving you the right advice at the wrong time. Even if it is the right advice, if you aren’t ready to hear it, you will not do anything about it. I do not think you will suddenly change after years of mistreatment.”

Louis crawled off the couch, into Harry’s lap. He cried and sobbed. He pressed his face as close as he could, clutching desperately at Harry’s robe. He untied the robe quickly, crying into the alpha’s bare chest. Louis then pulled at his own shirt and Harry helped him.

The alpha gently undid each small pearl button. He slid it off Louis’ back, taking a deep breath of the omega’s skin.     

Louis, pleased, closed his eyes before drifting off to sleep.

-

Louis woke up alone and terrified. He looked around the library, touching the fur beside him. It was black fur, pitch black, and it smelled just like Harry. His throat hurt and his eyes felt swollen. He grabbed his pajama shirt slowly, noticing the rest of the blankets surrounding him.

Harry made him another nest.

The omega whined, thinking back to the night prior. He shut his eyes tight, growling into his shirt.

“Good morning.”

Louis jumped, eyes dilating when Liam entered the room. He shivered, “Harry?”

“He is showering upstairs. He asked me to bring you something to eat.” The alpha held up a plate of food. “May I?”

Louis wanted to growl. He shook his head, crying instead, “No.” He looked down at his naked torso. “I have no clothes on.”

Liam frowned, “okay.” He placed the plate just outside the nest. “Here. I will bring some water.”

“Can you take me home?”

Liam tilted his head, eyes soft. “Of course I can.”

“Right now?”

The alpha pressed his lips together, “you wouldn’t like to wait for Harry?”

Louis wiped his face, “I just -I feel overwhelmed.”

Liam stepped closer, kneeling outside the nest. “It’s awful, being overwhelmed. I am very sorry.” Louis pressed his shirt to his mouth, crying. “You know,” Liam smiled, “when my mother was pregnant with my brother, she often had different bouts of emotions. She often expressed she felt overwhelmed.” He lifted the plate, “food also helped. Especially pancakes.”

Louis looked at the plate of pancakes and eggs. He took it carefully, looking up at Liam nervously. The alpha preened, “good omega.”

Louis sighed softly, taking the fork Liam held out for him.

“Good morning, Louis, and Liam.”

Liam stood, smiling at his friend. “Louis has decided to eat.”

The alpha nodded, “good.” Harry scented the room and Liam dipped his head with a small smile.

“I will go now.” He looked at Louis stuffing his mouth. “Enjoy, Louis.”

Harry was wearing a button-down, not buttoned yet, and black pants with bare feet. He looked down at Louis and, for once, Louis wanted to see the alpha above him. Louis stopped eating, putting the plate to the side. He whined, crawling forward, kneeling in front of Harry.

The alpha purred, putting a hand in Louis’ hair, “beautiful.” He squatted, pressing a warm kiss to Louis’ forehead. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Louis breathed. He bit his lip, “I was overwhelmed, and Liam told me his mom used to get like that. He said pancakes help.”

Harry smirked, “did they?”

“Yes.” Louis licked his sticky lips, “a lot.”

Harry gave another kiss on his forehead. “You smell incredible. I am very happy you showered yesterday even if it was difficult.”

Louis swallowed, enjoying the praise. He pulled back then, blinking, “you’re manipulating me -in a healthy way -again.” Harry’s smile was small. Louis looked down at his thighs. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Whatever soap you use is very nice, and neutral. I like that it brings out your smell.”

Louis was already thinking about when he left that he would buy more because Libra had used so much of it yesterday.

“Thank you.”

Harry stroked Louis’ cheek, “how are you feeling?”

“Sick.”

Harry nodded, “okay. How else?”

Louis thought for a moment, “I feel -I feel like I don’t hate being an omega right now.”

Harry smiled wide, “that’s wonderful.”

Louis blushed, eyes going big. “I think I feel empowered.”

Harry’s smile grew impossibly wider, “that’s so good, Louis. I’m so proud of you.”

Louis’ heartbeat sped up. He shoved his face into the opening of Harry’s shirt, breathing in deep.

Louis took one breath, two, and one more before throwing up.

-

“Hi, Bria.” Louis bit his top lip, “I wanted to-”

Libra huffed, opening his door wider. “Louis, come in.”

Louis did, looking around. He loved Libra’s home and loved how decorated it was. It smelled like candles all the time and it was clean. Louis’ apartment looked like a teenage alpha lived in it even with the new furniture.

“I’m not mad at you, Louis -well, I am because you weren’t answering your phone and you weren’t home.”

“I went to Harry’s.”

“When?” Libra crossed his arms, “how?”

“I walked there in the middle of the night.” Louis lifted a hand before Libra could yell. “I know, I know.” He sighed, “I know.”

“Did you get there?”

“I did. He is -I’m going to marry him.” Libra blinked quickly. “I will. I will marry him, and I want him to be in my life forever.” Louis rubbed his face. “I think I found the best alpha in the world, for anyone. But I found him first.”

Libra sat on the couch, “sit.”

Louis did, laying his head on the back of the couch. He closed his eyes, “my parents only let me take sponge baths twice a week. I never was allowed to eat sweets. I didn’t even know what sweets were and I was never given them, so I never wanted to try them. I was homeschooled; I had no friends. I was spoiled with attention by my parents, but I never had toys to play with, fur, or anything soft. They stripped away anything that could have triggered my omega.”

Libra sat up, brows tightly together, “Louis…”

“I want to be able to say that they hurt me and not defend them.” He took a deep breath, turning to his friend. “Can,” He bit his cheek. “Can -can you help me shower today? At my house?”

Libra’s lips parted, “Of course I can.” He leaned forward, pulling his friend into a hug, “of course I can.”

-

“Hi Niall.”

Niall’s eyes were low, he smiled slightly. “I’m not going to walk into your house just to lie.”

Louis shrugged, “we both know, Bria knows too.”

“I know.”

“Sorry if it ruined your vacation.”

“It didn’t, I was just told.” Niall folded his arms, “how are you feeling?”

“Good.”

“You smell amazing.”

Louis chuckled, “thanks. Come in.” He let Niall inside, going to the couch. Louis sat, looking up at his friend. “I missed you.”

Niall bit his cheek, “I missed you too, Louis.” He folded his arms, “do you hate me?”

Louis huffed, rolling his eyes, “I don’t, not at all.” He scratched the back of his neck, “I’m going to write about you. Write how my best friend was friends with Harry Styles.” Niall nodded slowly. “How I have been hanging out with Harry.”

Niall pressed his lips together, “maybe you shouldn’t.”

“Like I told Libra, he’s stupid if he thinks I won’t.” Louis sighed, “I’m going to write about my experience.”

“You are going to get involved in things you don’t want to be a part of, Louis.” Niall sat, “his father won’t like it.”

“I don’t care. I’m not writing about his father.”

The blonde bit his bottom lip, “you aren’t worried?”

“About?”

“About people pestering you about knowing him. Becoming the center of attention?”

Louis looked at his laptop, open and full of writing. “I didn’t think about that.”

Niall sighed, “Harry is a private alpha. His father even more so. That alpha will kill you, uncaring if you mean anything to Harry.”

Louis made a face, “what is with his father?” The omega growled, “why is he so callus?”

“He is a Clan leader, Louis, he has to be. Some wolves believe the way things were done before were better than now. They change with the times but will never lose their heritage.” Niall shrugged, “that family, although kind, are quite brutal. They are protective. Private.” Louis listened intently and Niall groaned. “I feel like you’re just taking mental notes to write later.”

“I am.”

“Louis,” Niall shook his head, “you really are not afraid of dying.”

Louis slid off the couch, sitting on the floor beside his laptop. “To get the truth, not at all.” He opened a new window, writing. “It doesn’t mean I’m publishing it.” He paused, looking over his shoulder, “I’m curious. Where does Harry’s father even live?”

“In the large homes in th -Louis!” Niall stood, “no.”

Louis smiled, “large homes in the forest? The small town there?”

“Louis. You can’t go there. They won’t let you in.”

Louis grinned, “I have my ways.” He closed his laptop, “You know, during the year of Arizella, when the King chose a Queen after a long dry spell?” He stood, “he fell ill in the forest and a Pack took him in.”

Niall cut his eyes, “because he was pure.”

“Yes, but he has seen me with his son. He won’t leave me outside.”

“Yes, he will.”

Louis smirked, “I know he won’t.”