He let his hands slid from his face and rested his chin on one of them as he considered. Unless he could get him out of here. He doubted the human actually wanted to be here. He could make a deal with him. He felt a flutter in his chest and he was immediately on his feet. If only he couldn’t smell the Alpha’s pheromones, this would all be a lot easier. He pulled on a simple shirt and made sure his hair was tamed and proper. 

His dad had been a senator when the virus had hit so he had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was used to the expensive clothes, the proper grooming and the sheer opulence of everything. Now, however, his Dad was the Head of the North American territory and now, more than ever, his appearance meant everything. He would bring honor to the family by breeding with an Alpha. The chances of him producing an Infected Alpha were astronomically high and it was something that his Dad constantly pounded into his head since the day he had turned him. And it felt too intimate and made him feel vulnerable to reveal the disheveled part of himself. 

He was only just finishing up when he heard a murmur of voices from the other room. He felt a shock of panic and he was out of the bathroom immediately. Standing in the doorway was Rin and having clearly just opened the door, was August talking to him. He was across the room, his scent lashing out with anger. He pushed August behind him as he grabbed the door, giving the Father a heated glare. 

“Ah! Merrik!” The male greeted. While his smile was genuine, he knew those glittering eyes didn’t bring peace. “August was kind enough to open the door when you so rudely hung up on me.”

Merrik’s face burned and his shoulders shook with embarrassment and  anger. “Do you have a different reason for being here?” He asked him.

Rin didn’t answer right away. Instead, he seemed to be inspecting the entire situation before him. His eyes settled on Merrik’s once more. “Awfully protective of him already for not wanting an Alpha.”

Surprise shot through him when he realized he was standing protectively in front of August, his scent a warning to the other in the doorway. He knew what Rin was. There was a reason he was the Prophet. And he couldn’t let him get too close to the human. He began to close the door but Rin put his hand flat on the door, keeping it open as he bent down to be level with the Omega. 

“If you don’t want him, Merrik, there are plenty of other Omegas who can use him until he’s nothing more than a shell of who he used to be.” He straightened back up, “I’ll see the both of you at Church. Have a good evening.” His eyes traveled over August once more before the Priest turned and walked away.

Merrik slammed the door closed, breathing heavily. His heart was racing and he felt…what did he feel? 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see any harm in answering the door!”

He was tempted to turn and warn him again about getting in his way but he couldn’t…bring himself to do so. He could see the red marks on his neck where he had grabbed him, the collar a little snug just below that. His hair was mused, and his clothes rumpled. The shit the human had gone through in the last twelve hours was worse than anything he was dealing with. Hunger burned at his stomach, a result of his over-used emotions. He needed to go. 

He turned his back on him again, hating the way his whole body was pulled towards him. “Just…get some rest. Humans still need to sleep. I’ll make sure food is brought to you. Don’t leave this room. Others don’t have the control I do.” 

It took all he had to leave the room. Thankfully, Rin had unlocked the door, allowing him to leave. He turned now and re-locked it to make sure August stayed inside. He felt the pulsing through his veins, the usual headache coming on as his hunger demanded he go back into the room and drain the human dry. And for a moment, his hand paused on the lock, considering it but then he was able to tear himself away and head towards the storage room.