Ash was thankful that it was the weekend. He wasn’t sure how to face Hazel after seeing her like that. He rolls around his bed like a lazy bum. LJ was at a family meeting, and Orpha was getting a tutor from his cousin’s friend. He could call Cathy and check up on how she was doing, but she hasn’t replied since his last text. LJ and Orpha haven’t heard from her since they went to high school as well.

He stares at his phone where his contact list stopped at Cathy’s name. He hasn’t heard from his friend for so long, he really missed her. He wondered how she was doing, and if she was alright. A knock at his door snaps him awake from his thoughts.

“Brother,” Addie called out, “We’re heading out to the grocery store, want to tag along?”

Ash gets up from his bed. There wasn’t anything else to do, so he might as well. He stretches out his arm with a yawn, “Sure…”

Ash gets ready to head out with his family for grocery shopping. As they arrived at the store, his mother and sisters were debating on what to make for dinner. While they look at meat, Ash walks over to the alcohol section. Tonight, his brother Cas was coming back from the military. They were going to have a long nice celebration for his return.

Ash scanned the alcohol section for a good while and until he found the brand that his brother usually drinks. He reaches out for the Royal Flower and takes it off the shelf. He meets back up with his family as they also finish up their end of shopping. They head out of the grocery store, ready to head back home. Paige and Anita went to the car first. It was a long walk to the car, so Ash and Addie stayed behind to wait for them to bring the car over.

Addie plates on her phone as Ash daydreams. Their thought process and peace was interrupted by a ruckus created nearby. Addie lifted up her head to see what was causing this ruckus and saw a young man around Ash’s age fly out of nowhere from a kick. A girl came out from where the boy was kicked out from. Her hair was in disarray and her clothing was distorted.

Ash’s eyes widened as he saw the girl. She was Emily. She wiped off the blood on her mouth and stepped on the man beneath her. Someone came up behind her and smacked her head with a steel pipe. Emily stumbles forward before doing a back kick right into that person’s stomach. Her head oozes out blood. Addie jolts from where she was sitting as she saw Emily covered in blood. She tugs on Ash’s sleeves, “B-brother… Shouldn’t you go help?”

He would like to go help, but because Addie was still young, she couldn’t smell what he was smelling. The strong pheromones at the alley were strong, so strong that he could smell it from where they were standing. He unknowingly covered his nose to prevent himself from going into heat. There was a strong Alpha smell swirling everywhere.

Emily’s eyes also looked very dangerous. It seems that the two she had beaten up were Alpha’s that were releasing their pheromones on her. He admired Emily for standing strong aghast the smell and was afraid of her at the same time. The smell was strong, how could she even with-stand it. A few more people came out of the alley and surrounded Emily. Addie’s eyes widen in worry, “B-brother! What do we do?!”

Ash quickly takes Addie’s phone and dial 911. He told them about the situation and was told that they were on their way. The police were going to arrive there within ten minutes. However, Emily wasn’t going to last that long. Ash needed to do something to distract those men that were surrounding her. Before he could come up with anything, Addie had taken her phone back and played a police siren track out loud.

The men who heard it snaps out from their raging hormones and snarls at Emily. They slowly retreated and left her. Addie and Ash gave out a sigh of relief. They look up and freak out again when they see Emily leaning against the wall breathing heavily like there was no tomorrow. Before they could rush over to her side, Ash made sure that the strong smell was gone first. When the smell was no longer lingering in the air, they finally went to aid Emily.

Her body was burning hot, and her condition wasn’t good. If Ash didn’t cover his nose, he too would have been infected and gone into heat. Soon, the police car and ambulance arrived. Anita and Paige also came back with the car as well.

“What happened?” Paige asked Addie.

Addie explained to her what happened while her sister and mother went to get the car. The EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) put Emily into a stretcher and into the ambulance. EMT asked someone who knew Emily to go with them. The only one that knew her was Ash. Paige told Ash to go and that she would explain what happened to their mother. Ash was worried about Emily, but he wasn’t sure if she would be glad to see him of all people by her side when she wakes up. He could call Hazel, but he didn’t know her number.

The ambulance was in a hurry to leave, so Ash had no choice but to go. Ash enters the ambulance reluctantly. As the ambulance left, Anita came out of the car wondering where her son went. Paige explained to her what occurred.

…

On their way to the hospital, Ash was thinking about how he was going to get in contact with Hazel. He was deep in his thoughts until they arrived at the hospital. He remembered that out of all his friends, Orpha was the closest to them and was in the same class as them. The EMT pulls into the emergency room, and carries Emily out of the ambulance. Ash followed behind until he was stopped by the emergency door where only staff could only enter. As he waited to hear the results, he called Orpha to get Hazel’s number.

“Sorry dude,” said Orpha, “Even I don’t have her number.”

Ash gave out a disappointing sigh, “It’s okay. Thanks for letting me know.”

“But I do have her email,” said Orpha, “I’m not sure if she’ll read it though.”

“It’s better than nothing,” beggars can’t be choosers.

If he could somehow let her know, then it would make Emily feel a lot better than being stuck with someone that she wasn’t on good terms with. As Ash waits for the doctor to come out of the ER (Emergency Room) he ponders to himself as though he was self-reflecting. Just why did he come with her when he wasn’t even close with her? He could have just told them that there was someone else. His thoughts were cut short when the doctor came out. Ash quickly got up.

“Are you a relative of Miss Emily?” he asked.

“Ah… No,” said Ash, “I’m… a classmate.”

“Hmm... “ the doctor looks around but it seems that none of her family members were here, “Do you know if they will be here soon?”

“Ah… No…” Ash suddenly had an apologetic feeling guting him.

The doctor gave out a sigh, “I see… Well then, Mister...”

“Ash.”

“Mister Ash,” said the doctor, “Until her family arrives, please stay with her.”

“Oh, okay,” said Ash.

“Are you an Omega or Beta?”

Was he asking me this question so that she would be safe? I mean, I’m not an Alpha so she’ll be fine.

“Omega.”

The doctor gave a small nod, “She has been sedated and her pheromones have died down. Nothing should happen with you there.”

“Okay.”

The doctor looks at Ash again before allowing him into the room. Since he was someone that she was familiar with, it should help her calm down when she wakes up. Was what the doctor was thinking, which was the complete opposite. However, she did need to see a familiar face. Ash went in and sat down. He decided to stay there until Hazel arrived.

Hours passed, and Emily finally regained consciousness when it was late in the afternoon. Ash was nodding off with nothing to do. Emily slowly leans up from the bed and places her back against the wall. She looked to the side and saw Ash. She recalls someone helping her when was surrounded but she couldn’t get a clear picture of their face. That person turned out to be Ash.

She gave out a sigh. A sharp pain pangs into her head that was caused by the steel pipe. Emily felt her forehead and felt the bandages. She didn’t expect to get caught by Ash of all people in one of her fights. She also didn’t expect to see him waiting on her like this. Not when they weren’t on the best term.

“Good, you’re awake,” a voice spoke out from the side.

Ash was awake from his light nape. Emily blinks at him for a bit before clicking her tongue at him. He narrowed his eyes at her as he too felt the same. It’s not like he wanted to help her, and stay here. He just couldn’t help it. Emily understood that too, that's what annoyed her. It was in his nature to help people, but she didn’t want his help.

“Don’t worry, Hazel should be here soon,” said Ash, “Orpha sent her a message through her email.”

Her eyes lightly relax from hearing Hazel’s name. Even Ash saw that. He crosses his arm, “I don’t get it.”

“What?”

“What makes you hate me so much?” he asked.

“I don’t hate you,” said Emily, “I just don’t like you.”

“May I ask why?”

“..I just don’t,” her words were final.

Just what was I expecting?

Silence filled the room. It was awkward because of what Emily said even though Ash saved her. The silence was cut short when Emily suddenly said something that Ash was not expecting.

“Thank you…” said Emily.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, you don’t like…” Ash turns and looks at her, “...What?!”

Emily looks straight at him, “Thank you.”

He was baffled by her gratitude and could only nod back at her. Silence fell in again.

To Be Continue