Warning: Mentions of body dysmorphia, negative body image, bigotry, and death
"Excuse you." He snapped, Harriet turned around and saw the scene. "M'am that's his." She spoke up. "I want it!" The omega woman exclaimed, "There's plenty in the back that's my mate's." Harriet took a step toward the situation. Thomas was about to let go and just let her have the bolt when the woman exclaimed, "What does an alpha need nesting materials for?!"
Thomas dropped the bolts from his hands, they fell to the floor one by one with dull thuds, and the woman snatched what she wanted getting ready to run off but she froze staring at Thomas. He felt hot tears trickle down his face, it had been only a few days since someone had last referred to him as an alpha.
Why did it hurt so much?
"But I'm an omega." He spoke hearing his own deep voice ring out in the sudden silence of the store. He glanced around at the blurry world around him through his tears, they were near the checkouts. Everyone was staring... He couldn't see their expressions but the felt their stares. His eyes landed on Harriet's blurry form, "I... I shouldn't have come here..." He said softly, then he turned and walked briskly out of the door unable to stand it being stared at any longer.
He felt disgusting and gross, his own skin crawled as he rushed out of the store. He wanted to claw out his own throat to rid himself of his deep voice... He wanted to make himself small and petite... He wanted to look like an omega.
Harriet had tried so hard to coax him into that store, everything was going so well! He had almost bought nesting materials and they were going to have a good time working together on how to build a nest. But it was ruined... Everything was ruined... Thomas unable to find the car, found a spot to sit down away from the store and sobbed quietly on the ground.
The soft clicks of high heels approached and he felt a small form sit beside him quietly. Thomas had buried his face into his knees and glanced to see Harriet leaning against him. They made eye contact and Harriet squirmed her way into his arms. She sat sideways in his lap and embraced him quietly.
Slowly Thomas was soothed by the gentle touches of Harriet. She wiped away the tears on his face with her thumbs and placed gentle kisses on his forehead. She didn't scold or make any remarks for a long time. Finally, when Thomas's breathing was steady Harriet spoke, "I'm sorry." She apologized, Thomas flinched hearing her apologize. "I shouldn't have suggested we go into the store." She stroked his hair, "I... I wasn't trying to make you act like a proper omega... I was..." Harriet trailed off and took a breath.
"I just thought it could be something we could bond over." Harriet spoke softly, "I know." Thomas replied in a shaky tone. "Working on projects... We're good at that." Thomas mumbled, Harriet, nodded. "It seems no matter my intention you always end up humiliated... I'm so sorry Thomas." Harriet apologized. Thomas stared at her and felt a little funny, "I was actually worried about you being humiliated." He said with a slight chuckle in his voice, Harriet gawked hearing this. "Thomas, I would never..." She trailed off and stared at him, she opened her mouth and closed it before opening it again.
"It's hard isn't it?" She asked softly, "What?" Thomas asked clearing his throat, "Learning everything again." Harriet replied leaning against Thomas. "I should've stayed home, then I wouldn't have activated your heat," Harriet mumbled softly, Thomas perked up hearing this. "I..." He spoke and swallowed, "I wasn't happy." He spoke quietly in a whisper-like tone. "I... You..." Thomas struggled to get his words out. He wanted to say that he was glad that she did because they were together now but... At the same time this change... It was a lot.
Harriet cupped his face and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I understand." She said pulling away, Thomas let out a sigh of relief. Harriet almost always knew what he wanted to say. Harriet then spoke up after a moment, "Let's get up and head over to the bed store." She said trying to get up but Thomas held her in his lap. "Thomas?" Harriet asked, "I wanna hold you a little longer." Thomas mumbled, Harriet stared before nodding, she shifted closer and placed her head under his chin.
Thomas froze unsure of how he felt about this but... He didn't mind it. He held Harriet tightly for just a little while longer before they headed over to buy the new bed they came out for. After that was done Harriet suggested they stop somewhere and eat. Not wanting to deal with people they sat in the car and ate.
Both of them were silent in their own thoughts, Thomas found himself wondering what Harriet thought. Though he didn't have to wonder for long, Harriet's hand clasped his firmly. It was difficult to eat with just one hand. But Thomas didn't want to stop holding Harriet's hand in his.
It took an hour to set up the new bed once it showed up at the penthouse. Thomas and Harriet worked together on it though. It was a nice experience though Thomas couldn't help but think it would've been better had they gotten nesting material and learned how to build a nest together.
Once the bed was made and everything situated Harriet eyed it. "It looks good." She remarked with a nod, she glanced over at the old bed propped in the corner. "We should probably donate that." Harriet remarked, "I mean it's still a good bed. Someone could use that." She remarked, Thomas didn't say anything and sat on the edge of the bed feeling exhausted. Harriet turned around and looked at him concerned.
"Thomas?" She asked walking over and sitting next to him. Thomas took a deep breath and heaved a sigh. "I should've just let her take it, I shouldn't have made a scene. We could've had fun tonight figuring out how to do this together." He spoke still stuck on the situation from earlier. He was still embarrassed and hurt. He was still scared that Harriet would finally realize that he was just too much to deal with.
Harriet moved closer and pulled Thomas into her arms. "Thomas," She whispered softly, "That was your fabric. That woman..." Harriet spat the word woman, Thomas could tell she wanted to call her something else but didn't. Thomas then realized that Harriet was angry for him, though he could tell she was upset thinking of that woman. It made him happy to see that she was protective of him, sure he could take care of himself and he had a much more intimidating figure than Harriet... It felt nice to be cared about like that.
"That woman just wanted to start something," Harriet spoke after a moment, she pulled Thomas's face down to her level and caressed it. "Nothing is stopping us from ordering those materials." She spoke softly, "We can even order some cheaper ones just in case we don't like making nests." She added, Thomas smiled slightly she was still looking for a way to get what he wanted. "I'd rather not look at nesting supplies right now." He confessed honestly
"I understand." Harriet said caressing his face, "If you're ready later just tell me. You're allowed to change your mind." She said softly, Thomas stared at her and smiled. "I love you, Harriet." He said pulling her into his arms. "I love you too Thomas," Harriet replied with no hesitation.
That night Thomas cooked with Harriet's help, well Harriet helped chop vegetables, she wasn't lying about being bad at cooking. More than once Thomas had to stop Harriet from making huge blunders with the food. As she chopped carrots Thomas heard her sigh, "What's the matter?" He asked wondering where Harriet was going to go with such a dramatic sigh. "It seems the only use I have as an alpha to you is being good in bed," Harriet replied sounding completely serious.
Thomas who was adding seasoning into their soup almost dumped an entire bottle as he stared at her. "Thomas you're dumping it," Harriet remarked, he let out a cry of dismay and sat the seasoning down. "Harriet!" He exclaimed, "Please don't joke in a serious-sounding voice like that!" Thomas exclaimed, Harriet, chuckled pleased to get that sort of reaction from Thomas.
"I am good in bed aren't I?" She pressed, and Thomas felt his cheeks burn, "Yes." He grumbled in reply, he heard Harriet chuckle to herself once more. The soup was over seasoned and Thomas blamed Harriet for that. But the alpha ate without complaint seeming pleased that she had annoyed Thomas just a little bit.
In the evening after dinner, they relaxed near the fireplace. Harriet read a book sitting in Thomas's lap. She had the book propped against her knees as she used one hand to scratch Thomas's head and the other to turn the pages. Thomas closed his eyes enjoying this feeling, it was quiet save for the soft crackling of the fire.
Then they heard growling.
Harriet paused and Thomas opened his eyes, the growling stopped and he realized it came from him. Harriet looked at him and he stared at her unsure how to feel. "I wasn't..." He started to say afraid Harriet thought he was upset. "What a pretty purr," Harriet said softly, she sat the book to the side and turned to him completely. Was that a purr? Thomas couldn't help but wonder.
Harriet had been sitting sideways in his lap. But after setting the book down on a nearby end table she turned to her side and faced him. "Much better than that high-pitched nonsense." She remarked, Thomas smiled softly unsure of what to say but feeling happy. Harriet reached up using both of her hands once more to scratch Thomas's head. He closed his eyes softly and the sound of growling started again.
Throughout the night as Thomas purred, Harriet told him how pretty it was and how sweet of an omega he was. Often he heard Harriet call him 'her sweet omega' or 'her darling omega' anything she could think of to affirm Thomas's dynamic. He knew what she was doing, but it made him feel so happy.
In the morning Thomas was next to Harriet in bed, Harriet tucked close to Thomas as he had one arm around her and one leg resting on her. He stared at her sleeping form and smiled moving closer. He wanted to stay in bed all day just like this with her.
Of course, as soon as that thought entered his mind, Thomas heard the beeping of his keypad and the shrill voice of his mother calling his name. "Thomas! Thomas!" Thomas groaned hearing his name, he saw Harriet's eyes open and she glanced at him. "My mother." He mouthed silently. Harriet then reached for Thomas's face pulling him down. She gave him a kiss just as the door to Thomas's bedroom opened.
His mother never really knew how to knock.
"Oh, sweet heavens!" The older omega woman cried, Harriet parted from the kiss and looked over at Thomas's mother. Thomas sat up and Harriet did the same moving into Thomas's arms still looking sleepy. The feeling of Harriet against him made Thomas feel more secure despite his overbearing mother being here.
"Mother." Thomas sighed, "You can't just come over whenever, I can and will change the code." Thomas threatened, and Cheryl, Thomas's mother gawked. "Thomas you need to leave that code as is! What if there's an emergency? You live alone!" Cheryl reasoned. "Actually I don't anymore," Thomas replied glancing down at Harriet. Cheryl stared at Harriet's half-asleep form, "Is this the one who ruined you?" Cheryl hissed as if Thomas being marked and mated was a bad thing.
"Miss I can assure you, my ruining of your son wasn't anything he didn't ask me for." Harriet yawned waking up. "I am, after all, a lady." Harriet chuckled reaching over to the nightstand and putting her glasses on. Once she did she looked between the two, "I see the family resemblance. You two have the same eyes." She observed, "Yeah I hear that a lot." Thomas replied.
Cheryl huffed, "If you're such a lady why are you dressed the way you are!?" She exclaimed, Harriet, looked over, "Probably because I'm in bed with my mate and his mother burst through the bedroom door without warning." Harriet replied, "Consider how lucky you are that you didn't have to see me ruining your son more." Harriet added smugly.
Cheryl's eyes widened upon hearing this, she clutched the pearls around her neck. "Thomas!" She snapped looking over at Thomas who yawned. "Harriet does like to wake up a certain way." Thomas remarked, "Didn't you want grandchildren?" he added looking over at his mother. "That's! You! I!" Cheryl sputtered and stuttered.
"Maybe she'll learn to knock or at least call. I'd like to show my affections in the living room sometime." Harriet mused, and Cheryl's face turned red, "I will be waiting in the living room! Please get dressed so we can have a proper discussion!" She cried rushing out of the room and slamming the door shut. Thomas waited until he felt his mother was far away from the bedroom and sighed.
"I wouldn't have been able to do that without you," Thomas mumbled burying his face into Harriet's hair. Harriet hugged him tightly, "It's fine, you can help me mess with my overbearing parents later." Harriet replied. "Oh, you have one too?" Thomas asked rolling over onto his back with Harriet on top of him. "I believe I used plural Thomas," Harriet replied straddling his waist as she looked down at him.
"Well, at least they're involved." Thomas looked off to the side, he hadn't heard much from his father about this other than him grunting 'I'll take care of it.' Maybe it was that man's way of supporting Thomas? He didn't know, his father wasn't much for words. Thomas's eyes then spotted the sight of Harriet's cleavage peeking from under her nightgown.
"Enjoying the view?" Harriet asked, "Maybe." Thomas looked away, Harriet laid down on top of him and kissed his cheek. "We can play later." She said softly in his ear, "After all mother dearest wants grandchildren." She teased, Thomas knew Harriet was joking but. "Can I even get pregnant?" He asked, Harriet, noticing the seriousness paused. "I..." Her expression changed from relaxed to concerned, "I'm not sure." She replied.
She slipped off of Thomas, "In all honesty, it's probably best not to." She remarked, "I'm not one to tell you what to do with your body. But I have concerns about your health. Omega male, no, pregnancies, in general, are dangerous." Harriet explained as her feet hit the floor and she walked over to the closet.
Thomas sat up listening to her, Harriet was in her logical state of mind now. Something Thomas hadn't seen in a few days. He had almost forgotten how calculating Harriet could be. "One in three omega men have complications during pregnancies," Harriet said opening the closet and staring at Thomas in the closet door mirror. "Our country doesn't exactly have the best aftercare either."She added.
Thomas frowned, "So you wouldn't even want just one?" The more he wanted to have a child with Harriet. Harriet picked out an outfit for herself and Thomas. She turned around and looked at him, "It's not exactly about what I want. It's about a conversation we need to have..."
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