Knox

Every fibre of my soul is screaming at me to make him mine.

Jax's face scrunches up slightly, his eyebrows coming together in evident confusion as we lock eyes with each other. His small, trembling hands make me want to wrap my arms around him, but I can't - I can't let him get hurt; I can't scare him away. 

He was mine from the moment I inhaled his scent. Sometimes a connection between two fated mates can take months to snap into place; whilst it may snap for one, it may not form for the other. This was the only reason I hadn't claimed him yet; the bond may be there for me, but it may never take shape for him. 

How can I make him stay by my side? How can I make him never want to leave me? Deep down, I know there is nothing that will keep him with me, but I hope that somehow he will, despite not even knowing who I am. 

"Why would you need to thank me?"

He's cute when confused.

"We can talk about it some other time!"

Our hands fall apart, and immediately I want to retake it, but I don't; Instead, I smile and take a step back. Rule number one is consent; no matter what, if he doesn't want it, it doesn't happen! 

I cannot become possessive. 

"I think we should discuss what's happening or look at what will happen next?"

He raises a brow, 

"What do you mean?"

Jax settles himself on the edge of the leather chair and places his hands in his lap; I watch Jax's every movement - had he realised that yet? I swallow and walk to my desk, where I sit. Leaning back, I cross my legs and gaze at him. Aiden shakes his head and settles in the seat opposite my desk; he thinks I'm being too dominating. Was I?

"My Brother is trying to say that you can't walk around A-District alone. This is a dangerous place, especially for Omegas. But, if you have an Alpha or a home, we can get you there safely."

I turn to my Brother and scowl; if he has an Alpha, I'll rip his face off. Aiden scowls and turns back to Jax, whose foot has begun tapping restlessly against the floor. 

"You need to tell us otherwise; we can't allow you to stay."

"I"

He sighs before placing his head in his hands. 

"I'm running from someone, and I can't go back - this is the only place I thought could keep me safe."

"You thought a district full of dominating; rich Alphas would keep you safe?"

I scowl at my Brother,

"Why can't you go back?"

What had caused an Omega like him to run away? His body tenses at the question, and I can scent the change in his hormones; he was afraid. Anger radiates through me, and I clench my fists - what had made him so scared?

"I just can't, so please - don't make me."

My heart lurches from my chest as he looks up at me, his eyes wide with fear and desperation. He was composed only moments ago, but his fear of whatever he was running from had caused him to change completely. I breathe and look to my Brother, who stands with a sigh and walks towards Jax. I need to take control of my emotions before they take over my pheremones and stink out the entire room. 

"We can't make you leave, but we need to find a solution that allows you to stay here safely. You can't walk around A-District without an Alpha, especially after today."

Jax nods, but his hands still tremble as if chilled to the bone. I stand from my seat and walk directly toward Jax. I kneel in front of him.

"I appreciate that you can't tell us who you are running from, but can you at least tell me how your heat came on?"

His cheeks flush as if remembering what had happened only moments ago. He nods and looks away from me with a frown. 

"Usually, my heat would be at the end of the months, so I thought I'd have enough time to get into the City and make some money for suppressants... So I went into the back alley and heard some men talking - I knew I could sell the information, so I stuck around; that's when I smelt the Rut Pheromones. You can probably guess the rest."

"You had no suppressants?"

I've always known about the poverty and lack of help for Omegas but knowing that my mate had no help or guidance churned my stomach. I feel Aiden's hand on my shoulder as he squeezes affectionately; he's scared I'm going to lose my shit in front of Jax - He's not too far from the truth. 

"The business I was in before I ran away wasn't the kind that allowed an Omega to keep their own money. I lived comfortably, and someone provided suppressants, but when I ran away, that stopped - I have no accounts in my name because I've never had my own money before."

I raise a brow. The job type that Jax describes is similar to that of a gang. Gang leaders gave only those with the sub-genre Alpha and Beta money of their own; omegas were merely pawns made to leach off the higher-ups; a ploy to make them cling to the organisation no matter what. I watch Jax glance out the window; how could someone like him have gotten caught in the underworld? What happened that caused him to run away?

"For a while, I've been trying to change Omegas rights; however, it's complicated as greedy corporations are stuck in the past. My company has been fighting this war for decades, and we are still to take a single step towards achieving it. Of course, we are currently working on both suppressants and birth control that will be given freely to all Omegas; however, thats currently in the trial phase, and as you could imagine, rival companies are fighting us at every step. They want to keep charging high drug prices that our society should give to all Omegas freely."

I stand and walk toward the window; my reflection shines back in the glass as I glance over the bustling City. Bright neon lights blink everywhere, and cars of futuristic design zoom up levitated roads that entwine between buildings, climbing as high as some skyscrapers. Everything was moving forward, everything but the rights for an Omega. 

These companies create weak drugs and sell them at ridiculous prices that they know an average Omega could never afford. They know that no matter what, the money will come because Omegas are desperate. Companies thrive on sub-gender species struggles; they thrive off something an Omega can't control. 

Behind me, I hear a sniffle and turn just as Jax rushes forward and falls to his knees in front of me. My mind reels with a thousand dirty thoughts, but I push them back as he bows his head to the floor. 

"I beg you not to send me back; I will do anything!"

I freeze, 

"Anything?"

Aiden shakes his head and sits himself back at my desk.

"Knox, think logically about this - don't make this about you."

I scowl.

"I have never once put myself first, and you know this. I was going to say that if Jax accepts, I will offer him my protection, even mark him temporarily if it would help - in exchange, I want the information he heard in the alleyway and for him to take part in the contraceptive and suppressant trial. If successful, he will be supplied for life and can stand by my side - maybe in time as my lover."

The mood in the air changes, and from where I stand, I can see Jax's body tense as he looks up at me from the floor. Was that too much? He likely had to feel this connection between us, even if the bond hadn't connected for him. The lights of my office suddenly flicker on as the sky of the City darkens. 

The view from my office was why I bought and refurbished this building; I wanted to see the bustling world from where I sat - I wanted a life other than endless boardrooms, meetings and computer screens. 

"I can give you the information."

I stare out at the luminous lights and smile sadly. No mention of becoming my lover. Did that mean he couldn't feel our bond? Would it ever appear for him?

"And the lover part?"

I push him for an answer, despite the discomfort on his face. I need to know that he feels something. 

"Knox cut it out - he's just had a traumatising experience!"

My Brother stands and lifts Jax from the ground; the sight makes my blood boil. I know he's only trying to protect Jax, but the urge to punch him was strong. Instead, I growl and storm to my desk, breathing hard as I place my hands on the wooden surface and breath. I can feel my Omegas eyes on me; even without looking up at him, he watches me despite my anger - hope blossoms in my stomach. Maybe thats sign was enough for me not to give up. I sit back in my chair, type in my password, and bring up my desktop screen.  

"Fine - Take him to my house; he can stay there. You can share the information with me tomorrow, and I'll get you logged into the trial."

"Are you sure - I don't want to be an inconvenience!"

How could he call himself an inconvenience? How could he think that he was a burden for me to carry? I stare at him, my expression stern. I would not allow him to get away from me. 

"The only inconvenience would be you not being at my side. Now Aiden, take him before I lose my temper!"

Aiden laughs and clasps a hand on Jax's shoulder. The manner is friendly but doesn't stop the warning growl from escaping me. I haven't been like this since I was young; I don't know how to control myself - especially when it comes to Jax. 

I watch them both leave and slowly sink into my chair - I need to learn how to control these emotions; I can't afford to hurt Jax or allow myself to give into my dominating instincts.