"Sweetie, Taylor started presenting last night and got into her first rut. It's not exactly safe." She explained.

Cameron froze, "Taylor's an alpha?" He asked, he supposed that wasn't surprising after all she was very tall. "Yeah, takes after her big sisters," Jenny said with a smile. "Well, I'm not an omega so it should be fine right?" Cameron really wanted to see Taylor now. If what they learned in health class was true, then she was in a lot of pain. It worried him. "We don't know that yet baby. You haven't presented." Jenny explained, Cameron was confused by this but let it slide. "Besides, it doesn't really matter, it's dangerous for anyone to be up there that isn't in the family." Jenny explained, "So I'm sorry sweetheart but, movie night is going to have to take a rain check." She apologized.

Cameron sighed and nodded, "Okay." He said understandingly, Jenny smiled and told him to have a good night before slowly closing the door. Cameron walked off the porch and racked his brain. He didn't believe Jenny when she said Taylor was dangerous because of some rut. Taylor would never hurt him. Cameron knew that for sure. She was always worried about him getting hurt rather than hurting him. As he walked past Taylor's window heading back to his house, he spotted the large oak tree that stood in between their houses. Over the years it had gotten even bigger and basically was a bridge between the two houses. A little bit after Cameron moved in, he found out that Taylor's room had been the room across from him on the other side of the oak tree.

He had found that out when Taylor showed up outside of his window at night one time... Cameron paused and then smiled. Taylor's mom might not let him go check on Taylor. But he could always check on her using the tree. Getting an idea, he ran back to his house and began putting together a small care package. He wouldn't go in. But he could at least give Taylor this. After all, he did this all the time when she was sick. Going through a rut was no different than that. Getting a new bag ready. Cameron opened his window and easily climbed out on a thick branch under his window. It surprised him how stable it was.

He had gotten used to climbing thanks to Taylor over the years and easily made his way over to Taylor's window. Finding a comfortable seat on the branch in front of Taylor's window he knocked on the glass before checking the care package. He got Taylor's favorite snacks from his house, and he even put in a large sweater that even Taylor could wear. It was Taylor's after all, but Cameron had stolen it. It didn't smell like her anymore and mostly smelt like him. So, Cameron thought that Taylor would like to have something that smelt like him. After all, he always wanted something that smelt like Taylor when he didn't feel good.

Cameron tapped on the window again when Taylor didn't answer quick enough. There were so many noises and then the window slowly opened. "Angel?" Taylor's rough voice asked opening the window wider. "Hey!" Cameron smiled hearing one of the pet names Taylor called him. He looked at Taylor looked pale and sweaty. She really did look like she was sick. "I heard you weren't feeling good." Cameron told her; Taylor sighed "Yeah." She replied, her voice sounded like when she would get sick and cough a lot. It was very rough and strained.

"You shouldn't be here," Taylor told him after a moment, Cameron tilted his head in confusion. "I'm presenting as an alpha Camie. I could hurt you." Taylor warned, Cameron, laughed at this. "You'd never hurt me." He said confidently, "I'm an alpha." Taylor replied, "You're also Taylor." Cameron retorted, "You've never hurt me." Cameron kicked his legs a bit enjoying the feeling of them hanging off the branch. Taylor was quiet and buried her face into her arms on the windowsill. Cameron then held out the bag. "Here's a care package." He said with a smile. "I got all your favorite snacks and I have a sweater that smells like me in there!" Cameron said, Taylor carefully took the package out of his hands and instantly pulled out the sweater. "No wonder it smells like you. It's mine." She couldn't help but remark. Cameron grinned ear to ear at this.

"Yeah, I'm going to want it back when it smells like you again!" Cameron said earning a dirty look from Taylor. "I swear half my closet is over at your house." She joked before sighing. She slipped the sweater on and sighed in relief. "Thanks. I was cold." She told him; Cameron nodded. "I remembered that alphas tend to get cold sometimes during ruts. So, make sure you stay warm." Cameron said reaching over and flicking Taylor's forehead lightly. Just as he pulled his hand away Taylor caught it and the two of them sat there for a moment. Taylor's pupils had pinned for a moment. The grip wasn't tight, and she didn't try to pull him inside as Cameron had half expected. Instead within a moment, her eyes went to normal, and she looked at their hands. "Sorry." She apologized letting go. "It's okay," Cameron said with a smile.

"I didn't hurt or scare you, did I?" Taylor asked, Cameron, laughed, "No," he replied shaking his head. Taylor sighed in relief. "Okay. Well. I think I should get some rest." Taylor said going to shut her window. "Night beautiful." She said in her usual way. She seemed tired so Cameron nodded. "Goodnight Taylor." He said, with that the window shut and the blinds closed. Cameron slowly made his way back over to his window happy he was able to make Taylor feel a little better.

The rest of the weekend was quiet. Cameron heard muffled noises coming from Taylor's window that he swore sounded like his name. But he didn't go check instead opting to study for a test on Monday. As he sat there studying, Cameron felt hot again. He had felt this way since Saturday night. It seemed to get worse. Reaching over he turned on his desk fan trying to cool down. But it didn't seem to help. Setting his pencil down he sighed and glared at how bright the lights were in his room. Taking a few deep breaths, he felt his stomach churn.

His eyes landed on his closet thinking about how cool and quiet it was in there. Without thinking too much about it he grabbed some blankets and clothes and began to create a nest inside the small closet. He didn't know how he was doing this; he knew what it was. But no one had taught him how to do this. He smiled at the result seeing a mixture of his blankets with Taylor's clothes tied in. Grabbing one of her jackets he had he put it on and zipped it all the way up. Despite being hot he wanted to wear the jacket. Grabbing the well-loved stuffed animal from his bed he hugged the toy monkey before grabbing a book and a flashlight. Once he was satisfied with his supplies he headed to his closet and curled up. Not noticing the low rumbling sound that came from him as he cuddled into the nest.

The smell of Cotton candy flooded his room, Cameron even noticed the smell. But he didn't care, after all, Taylor said she liked that smell. Cameron squirmed when he thought of Taylor. Burying his nose into the jacket he sighed, he wanted her here right now. Maybe she would know what was going on. At least he'd feel a little better. Then suddenly, a lurch of pain hit Cameron and he let out a scream. Sure, he was dying he couldn't help but sob. He was scared... He wanted Taylor. He heard the door to his bedroom open and then the closet door. His dad stood there worried. "Cameron?" He asked with wide eyes. Cameron didn't pay attention to his dad calling in his mom. He curled up and whimpered. He barely heard the words 'he's in heat' from his mom and it hit him suddenly.

He was an omega.

Cameron had been sure he'd always present as a beta or alpha because that's what all the men in his family had presented as. At least according to his dad. But as Cameron thought about it there was no denying he was an omega. Especially if his health class was to be believed. Whimpering and whining he was only able to calm down when his mom gave him some pain medication and he fell asleep. The next day was much of the same. Cameron's door was locked from the outside to prevent him from trying to run outside to look for an alpha. When his father installed the lock, he heard him exclaiming about Cameron was much too young for that.

Cameron sighed and laid his head on the floor of the closet trying to cool off. He then heard downstairs a familiar voice. It was a bit muffled, but he knew who it was. "Hey, Emily is Cameron, okay?" It was Taylor's voice, she always just called him Cameron around his parents. "He didn't go to school today." He then heard his mom explain what was going on. "Whoa, really? I hope he feels better." He heard Taylor's voice. Then he heard stomping and his father's voice. "You just presented as an alpha right?!" His father's voice was anxious and protective.

"Yeah." Taylor replied, "Stay away from my son!" His father shouted, "Louis!" He heard his mom exclaimed. "Emily all alphas at this age only want one thing!" His father was getting hysterical, Cameron perked up at this. Of course, he understood what that meant but... If all alphas wanted that and Taylor was an alpha. Did that mean that Taylor would want him? A soft trilling noise came from Cameron. "Taylor." He whined rubbing his face against the floor. He wanted to reach through the floor to get her so badly. Cameron then heard the door slam, and his parents have words for each other.

His mom scolded his father for being rude to Taylor. She told him how Taylor was a good girl and was always nice to Cameron. But his father wouldn't hear it and went off on a rant about how young omegas are attacked in the city all the time by alphas. He then started rambling about sending Cameron off to an all-omega school. Cameron rolled his eyes knowing that wasn't going to happen and slowly lifted himself off the floor climbing back into the next. "Taylor." He mumbled wrapping her jacket tighter around himself.

Cameron wasn't afraid of Taylor ever attacking him like his father was. He knew Taylor, she was always so kind and gentle with him. Anytime he was upset or scared she would take care of him. Cameron laid there wanting more than anything for her to be right here with him. Just lying next to him just like they did when they were younger and playing. She could play her video games and he could read his book. That would make all of this so much less scary.

Suddenly Cameron heard a tap on his window, thinking a branch rubbed against it he ignored it at first. But then the tap happened again. Cameron slowly stood up and walked over to his window to see a silhouette sitting on a branch in front of it. His eyes widened and he let out trill. Lifting the window open quickly he smiled. "Taylor!" He exclaimed happily. Taylor sat on the branch with a tote bag in hand. She grinned at him in her usual way. She looked much better now that she wasn't in rut. "Hey doll face." She greeted, Cameron grinned ear to ear hearing her call him by her pet names for him again.

"I thought you could use a care package." She said holding out the bag to Cameron. "It's got snacks and drinks and that sweater you gave me last week." She told him, "It smells like me now, so I'm going to want it back when smells like you again." She teased, Cameron laughed grabbing both the package and Taylor's wrist. Taylor's eyes widened and before she could stop him. Cameron pulled her in with surprising ease. Taylor stumbled a bit and Cameron shut the window locking it.

"Camie?" Taylor asked looking at him as Cameron stood in front of the window blocking the way out. "I'm so happy you came to visit Taylor." Cameron breathed giving her one of his picture-perfect smiles. He could smell Taylor much better than he ever could before. She smelt even better than what he remembered. "I was just dropping off the bag. I don't think it's a good idea to visit." Taylor tried to explain but Cameron ignored her and jumped into her arms hugging her. Taylor stumbled back and landed on her butt with Cameron in her lap hugging her. 

"Geeze angel you feel like you're burning alive," Taylor remarked. "You feeling, okay?" She asked concerned as she touched his forehead. Cameron leaned into her touch and sighed. "I feel better now that Taylor's here." He mumbled clinging to her. He rubbed his cheek onto hers with a happy sigh. "I was really scared and wanted you." He whined softly, he watched as Taylor's face turned red hearing this. "I feel better now. I know I'm safe now." He purred; Taylor instinctively rubbed his back as she always did when Cameron felt bad. "I'm an alpha it's not exactly safe for me to be in here." Taylor mumbled softly, "You're Taylor. You won't hurt me." Cameron retorted looking at her with complete trust. Taylor gave him a nervous smile but sighed. "Just for a little bit." She relented caving into whatever Cameron wanted. Cameron let out a soft cheer and hugged Taylor tightly before getting up.

"Come on I want to show you something." He said standing up and grabbing Taylor's hand. Taylor's face turned pink, and she could only manage to mumble out "Okay." Cameron led her to the closet, and he motioned dramatically to the nest. "Look!" He said excitedly, "I built us a nest!" Taylor froze and the shade of pink grew darker on her face. "Do... Don't only people who are dating or married share nests?" She stuttered out. Cameron smiled at her but said nothing. He dragged her into the closet and shut the door Taylor sat the bag down and sat down into the next with Cameron right beside her. Cameron dug into the bag that Taylor bought and swapped the jacket out for the sweater.

Quickly putting it on, Cameron purred loudly at how much it smelt like Taylor. It smelt like her more than what stuff usually did. Quickly cuddling up against her. Cameron sighed feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He purred lowly rubbing his wrists along Taylor's arms. He wanted her to smell just like him. "Camie you're purring," Taylor mumbled sounding sleepy. Cameron cuddled closer to her, and he felt her arms wrap around him. Before the two of them even realized it, they had fallen asleep. Cameron woke up sometime later to a closet that smelt like lemons. It seemed that in her sleep, Taylor had scented the nest and Cameron. He caressed her face lying next to her and Taylor's eyes slowly opened. Her pupils were dilated, and she looked relaxed.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the door of the closet slammed open. Cameron let out a cry of surprise and clung to Taylor, Taylor sat up and pulled Cameron further back into the closet away from the doorway. Standing there looking furious was Cameron's father Louis.

"You." He spat glaring at Taylor, "What did you do with my son!" He shouted grabbing Taylor and pulling her out of the closet.  "Taylor!" Cameron cried