When I woke up, Maelstrom was already gone. I assumed he got up to hit the gym first thing in the morning. It wouldn't be a weird thing for a strong alpha like him to do.

I was hungry, but I didn’t want to leave the room either. I was still scared of this campus. The thought made me tremble. It was pathetic really. I wanted to go to college to get a degree, but I was too chicken to actually leave my dorm! It was hilarious. How did I think I was going to be successful, knowing my lack of confidence?

It was going to be a long and hard semester, and this was excluding the fact I had an alpha roommate who said conflicting things. He was making me increasingly more aggravated with him. I hated that he said not to trust alphas, but he didn’t want to hurt me. How was I supposed to trust that he didn’t want to hurt me?

Sitting there thinking about Maelstrom brought me back to thinking about my classes. I could ask Maelstorm to show me around, but he was also a freshman, so I doubted he knew where anything would be. I was getting anxious at the realization I was getting nowhere quick. I needed to suck it up and just walk out of my dorm room, but the thought of leaving alone made me sick. I knew I needed to find my classes before the first day, or I’d be late to every last one of them, but I couldn’t find the strength to push myself out of the comfort of the room.

Asking Richard for help was an option, but I didn’t want to bother him or take him away from other students who may have more pressing issues. However, he would be familiar with the campus, and it would make finding the classes quick and easy. I had almost decided that this was what I was going to do, but I talked myself out of it. I already caused him too much trouble yesterday. I didn’t need to worry him with my shit again.

I sighed heavily into the room before starting my morning routine. I was expecting Maelstrom to be back by the time I was finished, but he was still nowhere to be seen. I was shocked at the realization that I was worried about him. I had no clue where he was or even how long he had been gone.

He was the closest thing I had to a friend, and I wasn’t ready to lose him yet. What if he got into a fight with another alpha? Alpha fights happen all the time after all. Was he seriously hurt? Thinking about it only added to my anxieties. It was probably nothing, but at the same time, my head wouldn't let me let it go.

I was too busy worrying about how to find my classes and the wellbeing of Maelstrom that I had forgotten that I was hungry until my stomach growled. I was going to have to leave this room if I was going to fix any of my problems.

I stood up and walked towards the door, but the closer I got the faster my heart raced until it pounded so fast that it hurt. I wasn’t able to reach towards the knob as the pain won, and I walked away. My heart would slow down, but my stomach would tighten. Why was I having such a hard time with such a simple action?

 I convinced myself to try one more time. I slowly crept towards the door as if it were some sleeping beast that would attack upon awakening. I could feel the contents of my stomach trying to rise as I grew closer to the door. My heart was moving so fast, and my breathing was rapid. I could feel myself about to pass out from the stress, but as I stood there, I heard a key enter the door knob. I quickly stepped away from the door so that it would not hit me when it opened.

With the door now open, I was looking directly at Maelstrom. I felt immense relief at the sight of him. Knowing that he was back made me feel less stressed. His presence gave me the comfort I needed to calm back down.

I watched as he crossed our room, placing a to go box on my desk and a second one on his. As he sat down, he finally spoke, “I grabbed you some breakfast. I didn’t really know what you would eat, so I just got you what I got myself.”

After the initial comfort I felt from his presence, a cold awkwardness started to sit in the room. I wasn’t sure how to thank him, nor if I trusted him enough to eat what he had brought me. After all, he told me not to trust Alphas. Even if there was nothing wrong with the food, why did he bring me some? Was he trying to baby me?

Maybe he was trying to convince me he was partner material. Bringing food to an omega is a common gesture performed by an alpha to show they are worthy of consideration as a lifelong mate. Did he realize that? Is that why he brought me food?

He was silent as I stared at the box on my desk, trying to reason with myself. There was no way he was trying to express his interest in me. I’m too pathetic for someone like him. But if it wasn’t a display of interest, what was it then? Did he poison the food? Was he trying to get a room to himself?

My heart was racing again. I wanted to know the reasons behind his action, but how do I ask? I could feel my body tremble as I worked myself up. The room felt cold and hot at the same time. There was a massive tingle unrelentingly traveling up and down my spine. I was about to enter flight mode, and I didn’t want that.

I slowly backed up into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I was silently crying as I faced the door desperately trying to figure this out. What if it was just an innocent action, and I was looking too much into it? I was making a fool out of myself.

While in this state, I became hyper aware of my surroundings. I could hear when Maelstrom put down his fork, and stood up. The floor squeaked as he approached the door. The door which would do little to keep him out if he truly wanted to get in. 

There was a deep breath before he spoke, “are you okay?”

Was I okay? That was like asking if I was an alpha. No, I wasn’t okay.

The floor squeaked again as he shifted his weight from one leg to another. “Could you tell me what’s wrong?”

I could, but I wasn’t going to. There was a giant frog in my throat, and speaking would only be drowned by its croak.

He walked away from the door, causing it to groan at his movements. He didn’t walk away for long before returning to the bathroom door. I could hear his heart beating as if it were trying to escape his chest.

What had him worked up? What was he planning? My crotch grew warm as I heard liquid hitting the floor. This wasn’t good. He could smell it. I knew he could smell it. To add insult to injury, my body decided to empty the rest of its contents into the back of my underwear. This was embarrassing, but somehow my fear had more control over me.

Maelstrom sighed as my body began to relax. My heart was slowing down. The tingle in my spine was going away. Everything suddenly seemed so peaceful. I wasn’t sure why I had been so scared. There was nothing threatening me.

I sat down becoming uncomfortably aware of the state that I had just left. I needed to shower and hide my shame. I stood back up and prepared for a shower.

I took my time with the shower, allowing warm water to cascade over my skin. It was soothing and added to the peace I was already feeling. I knew why I felt so calm, but I was too calm to be mad about it.

Honestly, it was the best thing Maelstrom could have done for me. Even though I had told him not to use pheromones on me unless it was a life or death situation, this would be an exception.

With his scent filling my body, I dried myself and exited the bathroom. He was still slowly munching on his breakfast as he glanced at me. He blushed as he turned to look away from me.

Thanks to his pheromones, I was unable to feel embarrassed about being exposed to him. I was too comfortable to bother wrapping the towel around my waist, giving him a full view of everything I had to offer.

Newly clothed, I sat down at my desk and began eating the breakfast Maelstrom had brought me. As I sat there, I felt Maelstrom slowly retracting his pheromones. My cheeks were red as I became self reliant again.

Maelstrom risked a glance at me before speaking. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to use my pheromones, but I panicked.”

“It’s okay. I needed it.” I ate as I focused on my breathing.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“For now.”

“What happened? What were you scared of?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to explain the war that happened in my own head. I wasn’t even sure that I had the right words to even begin explaining. “Why did you bring me food?” I softly questioned, hoping that he wouldn’t hear me. That was wishful thinking though.

“I was already out, and I was hungry. There was no point in me coming to the room to collect you before going to the cafeteria.”

“What if I had already gone out and gotten breakfast while you were gone?”

He laughed at me, “that’s a good one. Who are you leaving the building with?”

“Hey, it’s not funny! Who says I can’t leave on my own?”

“Because that’s so going to happen with your chicken ass.” he snorted as he ate.

It was hard to tell if he was being mean or if he was being playful in some sick way. I didn’t find it overly offensive, but I also didn’t feel close enough to him for him to comment on my fearfulness. I didn’t particularly want to continue that conversation, so I didn’t say anything back in return.

He must have felt like he did something wrong because after I was silent for a few minutes he said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset.”

“But you went silent again.”

“I just didn’t want to speak back.”

“Oh okay.” he said meekly as he continued to eat.

We were quiet again as we continued to eat our breakfast. A small part of me wanted to keep talking to him, but I also didn’t know what to say to him. We were far from being friends, and I didn’t have the social skills required to make a good effort.

Instead of saying anything, I ate my breakfast, stealing glances of Maelstrom. He sat with a slight slouch which was a sign of submission on his part. His head hung lower than his shoulders as he shoveled food into his mouth. To my surprise, Maelstrom used both his hands to feed himself. While one forkful was going into his mouth, the other fork was scooping up more food. It was honestly pretty impressive.