Slowly…Slowly…Erin’s heart rate began to steady, and he breathed Remy’s musky aroma, clinging to his wool overcoat.

“Where’s Annalee?” Erin whispered against his chest, not bold enough to meet Remy's gaze.

“The bellman is watching the door.”

“You left her alone?”

“I called the house phone to let her know I was on my way out to find you.” Erin opened his mouth to scold Remy, but he didn’t give him the chance. He raised Erin's head in his hands and asked, “are you okay?” His voice was gentle, but firm. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.” Erin shook his head, turning to face Paul. The man had bunched a shirt one of the onlookers gave him against his nose, trying to control the nosebleed.

“All right. All right.” Erin finally looked up when he heard a whistle reverberate in the dingy tunnel. “Break it up.” Two officers dressed in black dispersed the crowd. One of the officers went to go assist Paul, while the other approached Remy.

“What happened here?” he asked without pomp or politeness.

“I’m not really sure,” Remy replied, strengthening his hold on Erin in the presence of unfamiliar Alphas. “I came and he was already like that.”

“It wuz him!” Paul pointed to Erin. “He’s the one who did it!”

All eyes, including Remy’s, turned on the tiny Omega. He swallowed and flushed crimson, still holding tight to Remy’s coat flaps.

“Is this true, son?” the officer asked. “Did you do this?”

“I did.” Erin nodded shyly. “But it was because he grabbed me," Erin squeaked out. "I warned him, but he wouldn’t let me go!”

“Did he ask you to release him, Sir?”

“Yes…” Paul admitted after a tense pause. “But I wasn’t doin’ any harm to im’!”

“That’s not for you to decide,” the officer replied, removing the handcuffs from his belt.

“You his Alpha?” the other asked Remy.

“No,” Erin answered before Remy could speak. “As I’ve told Mr. Paul /several times I don’t have an Alpha.”

“Right.” The officer nodded, eyeing the protective arm Remy had around his waist. Erin squirmed, but didn’t pull away from the embrace. Not when he could feel the stares of the passengers drilling into him.

The cops took their time interrogating Paul, Erin, and the witnesses. In the end, it was clear that Paul was the one to instigate the attack, and that Erin was just defending himself.

“Well, Mr. Holloway. We got statements from everyone willing to give one. With your testimony, there’s enough evidence to bring him in if you want to come down to the station to press charges.”

“Yes,” Remy answered decisively.

“No,” Erin replied simultaneously. Erin frowned at Remy and shook his head. “I don’t want to press charges.”

“I’ll uhh…let you two talk it over.” The officer went to join his partner, assisting him restraining Paul in the cuffs, and reading him his rights.

“Erin.” Remy tensed his jaw, clearly trying to temper his tone as he spoke. “If you don’t press charges, this guy walks free.”

“I understand, Remy, but he apologized, and I’m perfectly fine. It's clear he's had too much to drink. There’s no need to send him to jail.”

“I’d say harassing people is a perfect reason to send someone to jail!” Remy protested. “Creeps like this don’t understand mercy. If you don’t give them consequences for their actions, they’ll do it again.”

“His consequence is a battered nose and ego. He said he was sorry, and that’s enough for me.” Remy pressed his lips together. In truth, he could override Erin’s decision if he wanted to. Because Erin lived with Remy he was technically under Remy’s care, and in the eyes of the law, Remy’s responsibility. As foolish as it sounded, Omegas still had a long way to go where autonomy was concerned.

“Please, Remy?” Erin reached out and grasped his hand. “I’m tired, and I just want to go home.” Those words were what did it. Remy stared down at where their hands connected. A more devious Omega would have noticed the whisper of Remy's breath hitching, or the way his thumb gilded gently up Erin's slender wrist.

But Erin, did not.

Instead, he smiled sweetly and begged with the saddest puppy eyes he could manage.

“Fine,” Remy relented, letting out a huff.

“What’s the verdict?” the officer asked.

“Thank you for your help officers, but I’ve decided not to press charges.”

“All right. But we’re still bringing him in to write it up. The cities cracking down on this kind of aggression from Alpha’s. Especially where unbonded Omega’s are concerned.”

Remy gave them both an approving nod before he turned to leave. Erin was about to fix his bag over his chest, when Remy plucked the duffel from his hands and slung it over his shoulder. He was a sight; in his plaid pajamas, house slippers, overcoat, and zebra skin bag. "Erin.” He reached out his hand for Erin to take hold of. “Let’s go home.”