“What do you mean by I don’t have to come back?” Kaiden tries his best to raise his voice, to be angry, but the question comes out weak, pitiful.

“This is why I don’t like hiring omegas, always so stupid.” The club’s manager grumbles as he puffs a ring of smoke in the air, not at all caring for other people’s health.

Kaiden trembles, stuck on the spot, as he stares at the man who stripped him of his job. The manager, Lawson, is in his 40’s and it shows: pudgy stomach spilling over a too-tight belt and wrinkles brought by years of scowling. He’s dressed nicely, if that counts for anything, with a well-tailored suit and a watch on his wrist that Kaiden only saw in fashion magazines.

The Omega knows not to take things too personally, not when it’s this Beta who gave him the cushiest job he had so far, but when he thinks about his upcoming rent and the fridge that needs to be restocked, the tears come falling down despite his attempts at holding back.

He just wants to survive, why is it so hard?

“Hey, stop crying! You’re making me into the bad guy here.” Lawson puts out his cigarette on the ashtray before handing a box of tissues to the crying Omega. “You walked out of your shift last night, don’t tell me you didn’t see this coming?”

Kaiden wants to argue, say that he didn’t walk out on his own two feet, but knowing that it’ll be useless, he pleads instead, “I-I promise it won’t happen again. Please don’t fire me.”

Lawson sighs upon looking at Kaiden’s red-rimmed eyes. It hasn’t been that long since he was surprised to see the young Omega knocking on the club’s backdoor, asking if they have any job vacancy, but a man has to put food on his table too. “Listen, kid,” he says as he puts a hand over his beer belly. “It’s not like this is the first time. You call out all the time because of your heat, and then last night you leave your shift without notice. We can’t keep paying you for work you don’t do.”

Kaiden visibly shakes upon hearing that, lowering his head out of Lawson’s sight. From the way he’s biting his lips, Lawson can tell the kid is trying to stop from outright sobbing at his office.

“This is your pay for the rest of the month.” He hands the Omega a white envelope, the last packet he will give Kaiden. “Clear your locker and go home. Take a rest.”

Lawson is grateful when Kaiden says no more, opting to clutch the envelope like a lifeline and silently make his way to leave his office.

“Close the door,” he reminds his former employee. If the Omega stifled a sob just as the crack of light from outside vanishes, Lawson pretends not to notice.

--

Kaiden won’t miss this place. He can’t care for this job and he didn’t make any friends, not with all the side glances of disdain he receives whenever he made his way to the dressing room. He will, however, miss the peace of mind brought by not having to worry where his next paycheck will come from.

As he bundles the clothes he came in last night into a messy pile on his arms, he starts thinking if that convenience store around the corner is still looking for a part-timer. The pay is bound to be less than the nightclub offers, and he actually has to interact with people instead of staying safely within the security of the stage, but it’s still better than being on the streets.

When he closes the locker door for the last time, Kaiden knows he will gladly take whatever work is given to him, as long as it’s within his capabilities and it’s not illegal.

The nightclub looks different in the morning than it usually does at night. Taking his time to make way to the exit, it is only now that Kaiden notices the ripped wallpaper on one side and that one stool a hundred pounds away from breaking. He holds no fondness for this place but it did house him for close to a year, so he imprints every corner in his mind out of appreciation. He can’t forget the feeling of that cold, metal pole even if he wants to, anyway.

Kaiden pushes the exit door open and is greeted by the sunlight that’s way too bright for his day that has been going downhill since he left Lin Manor. He makes his way slowly towards the main street, the bundle of clothes still in his arms, kicking an imaginary pebble out of his way every now and then with a sigh.

He wants to go home, to cuddle in the heap he calls a nest, and spend the day crying his heart out, but he needs to keep moving if he doesn’t want to starve. The convenience store isn’t that far away anyway, and from the limited times he bought a ready-made breakfast after a particularly exhausting shift, the manager looks kind enough to give him the job despite his meager qualifications.

Head down, Kaiden doesn’t notice when a sleek, black car pulls up to the curb, stopping next to him. When he walks past, the door swinging open almost hits him. He stops in his tracks as he is suddenly hit with a familiar scent, unlocking snippets of memories from last night. Still, he’s unsure, everything is a blur.

He snaps his head towards the source and is greeted by a handsome man in an elegant suit. “Get in,” the man orders.

Although Kaiden doesn’t recognize this person, his body moves.

--

Kaiden thinks he’s doing a good job at being discreet, stealing glances at the person next to him every few minutes. He first thought that the man had black hair, but whenever sunlight passes through the window, the green tone can be seen on the man’s head. His eyes, too, become more visibly violet under the light. It reminds Kaiden of amethysts, purple quartz he once saw hanging on a rich madam’s neck.

“Seen enough?” The Alpha asks without looking at him, leaving Kaiden with cheeks almost as red as his eyes.

Kaiden averts his gaze, but not before taking another glance at the man’s straight nose, as he fumbles with an excuse for his rude behavior. Coming up with nothing, he asks instead, “Where are we going?”

“The hospital,” the man replies in a flat tone.

“The hospital?” Kaiden repeats, but when the man doesn’t reply, he asks, “Why?”

The Alpha doesn’t respond, and only then did Kaiden realize his ankle is still bandaged. It doesn’t hurt much, and if he shifts his weight properly, he forgets he even sprained it in the first place, so he believes there’s no need to go to the hospital for such a minor injury.

Kaiden fidgets in his seat, troubled on how to tell the Alpha not to bother, he just lost his job and he can’t afford to go to the hospital. Will he get offended if Kaiden refuses his goodwill? But they don’t even know each other? Why is he doing this?

“You don’t remember?” The Alpha suddenly asks.

The question surprises Kaiden out of his thoughts. “Remember what?”

“Last night,” the man replies, still not looking up from the tablet in his hands.

Like a lightbulb lighting up, Kaiden realizes why the scent of honey and ginger spice is so familiar to him. “You mean, you are—”

He doesn’t finish the rest of the sentence, not when the man beats him to it. “Damon Lin. Alpha. President of Lin Finance Group.”

Kaiden can’t make heads or tails, the man’s curt words don't match the warm impression he has of his savior. “N-nice to meet you,” he tries to make his presence smaller by curling in on himself, a little afraid of the man’s cold demeanor. “I’m Kaiden. Omega. U-unemployed.”

He wants to smack himself for saying the last part, it’s embarrassing enough that he stuttered, why did he have to mention his employment status too?

But when he sees a small smile appear on Damon’s face before quickly vanishing like it never appeared, Kaiden thinks he didn’t do too bad after all.