I was left alone with the captain in the hallway. I couldn’t look at him. The pheromones… They were so strong… I was completely frozen, my body refusing to move.

I could almost feel hands on my body…

Why was this happening…?

“Can you talk to me?” Captain asked.

“I… I…”

“You’re all right,” he said so kindly it nearly broke me. “You’re safe. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“The pherom… Pheromones… They’re strong… really strong…”

I wanted to break down and die. The fear I was in was so horrifying. I couldn’t even run. I couldn’t defend myself. I was completely at his mercy.

“They’re opening the windows right now,” Captain said. “You’ll feel better soon.”

“Why is this happening…?” I breathed out.

“Can you tell me more about what’s going on with you and your omega?” he asked.

“Panic…” I whispered. “It’s panicking…”

“It’s all right. Take a deep breath for me, okay?” he said.

I tried. I really did, but the best I could do was shallow panting.

“Is it all right if I come a little closer?” he asked.

I nodded, but it was a big fucking mistake. When he did, the pheromones grew stronger.

“No! It’s you,” I whimpered. “It’s you… The pheromones on you…”

“Me?” he asked and fell silent.

My omega got in control of the body for a brief moment and forced us to take a few steps back into our room, where he couldn’t see us. Then we froze again, shivering.

Why was I breaking down…?

“Can you open your window, Riley?” Captain asked behind the corner.

I shook my head. He obviously couldn’t see that.

“Riley?”

“No…”

“You will feel better if you do.”

“I can’t…”

I was so tense my body was in pain… I couldn’t breathe. My omega was screaming at me.

I heard Captain moving, and I flinched, pressing my eyes shut and cowering in fear. He opened a door somewhere close by and stepped in. A moment later, the pheromones started fading little by little. I was able to open my eyes and even look up, but then the door was opened again. It was the door to the showers. But it wasn’t Captain who stepped out.

“Hi,” said Ryan when he peered into my room, completely wet and wearing only a towel around his waist. “Uhh, Captain asked me to open your window?”

I stared at him. I couldn’t smell his pheromones behind his shampoo.

“Is it all right if I do that?” he asked gently.

“I… Guess…”

“All right, I’ll just be quick…” he said, slowly making his way past me, staying as far away from me as he could, and opened the window. “Here. It’s open.”

And the fresh wind cleared my mind. Only moments later, I felt much better again. My omega stopped panicking.

“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling suddenly so fucking embarrassed…

“Anytime,” he said, and returned to the door. “I’ll just… Or do you need something else?”

“I’m fine… Thanks,” I muttered.

“Aight,” he said, and went back to finish his morning shower.

I let out a long sigh and went to sit down on the couch, right under the window. I rubbed my temples while me and my omega calmed down.

Why…? Why did that happen? Why was my omega so goddamn afraid of Captain all of a sudden? Everything was fine just a day ago!

I was left alone for five minutes, but then, Captain stepped out of the showers, his hair wet. He was wearing fresh clothes, straight from the laundry, but the T-shirt said Williams on it.

“You’re wearing someone else’s clothes?” I asked.

“I figured I better not smell like myself right now,” he said as he stood in the doorway. “You feeling better now?”

“Yeah, much better,” I said, carefully sniffing the air, but he smelled like shampoo, cologne, and laundry detergent. “I can’t detect your pheromones right now.”

“Good, good…” he muttered. “Although… I don’t think they were mine.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I hesitated, but nodded. I was completely fine now, so…

He stepped in, but stayed close to the door, as far away from me as possible. “You remember when I said I’ll work with you when you’re ready to let me, right?”

“I do…” I said slowly.

“I have a theory, but I don’t know if you’re ready to talk about it yet,” he continued tentatively. “We don’t have to go into details, but I believe this happens because of our pheromones, yes, but it is a bit more complicated than that.”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into details, but at the same time…

“I need to know why this is happening,” I said. “I’ve never reacted like this before.”

He nodded slowly, then sighed and pulled the door almost closed after making sure no one was listening to us.

“My partner… He started his rutting season. I think it started right before you arrived,” he said. “And as you know, when in season, our pheromones are much, much stronger.”

“Right…” I breathed out. “But… It’s never affected me like this before.”

He nodded. “And that’s the part I’m not sure you want to talk about with me yet.”

I looked away. I really didn’t, but…

“Go on,” I said.

“Without knowing you, or what you’ve been through… I believe there was an alpha in season… Who assaulted you… Some alphas can be very violent during that time… Which could explain why you and your omega had such a strong reaction to my partner’s pheromones,” he spoke softly.

Stoll…

“Yesterday as well, when you sat down in the car with me, and you could smell the pheromones on me,” he added.

Gritting my teeth together, I looked away from him and said nothing. Of course this was happening because of Stoll…

“Was he ever caught?” Captain asked.

I still said nothing.

“Riley–”

“It’s fine,” I said angrily.

“It’s not fine,” he said.

“It’s fine!” I shouted and turned to glare at him.

He wasn’t taken aback at all. He only watched me with sadness in his eyes. He let out a breath, then nodded.

“All right. At least I can make sure you’re safe from now on,” he said gently. “And I’ll ask Nico to use something for his pheromones. I heard there’s this gel that blocks the pheromones, so I’ll go buy a few bottles. It’s spring, so the younger ones will be going into season soon.”

Now I felt so fucking terrible for yelling at him… He was just trying to help.

“Thanks,” I muttered. “And… Sorry… I didn’t mean to be disrespectful…”

“You’re all right,” he said, smiling. “Would you mind sharing a little touch with me?”

“A what?” I asked, frowning, and he reached his hand toward me, just like in the car yesterday, then stayed still.

“I’d normally ask for a hug, but you and I aren’t there yet,” he said with a smile. “It’s for bonding purposes.”

My omega was hesitant about it, but…honestly… I needed it. I got up from my seat and slowly made my way to him. I stared at his hand, needing a moment to find my courage. Captain stayed perfectly still and said nothing, giving me all the time I needed. I could now smell a hint of his own pheromones, and they didn’t scare us at all. So… He had to be right… About ruts…

Slowly, I touched the back of his hand. It calmed me. Standing in front of him, having him towering over me, didn’t scare me. It was like I never got scared of him in the first place.

“How did you get his pheromones all over you like that?” I asked without really thinking about what exactly I was asking.

And the second the question left my mouth, I figured out the answer.

“Oh,” I breathed out, looking up at him to see his reaction. “He’s your mate.”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anybody,” he said quietly. “I wouldn’t admit anything to you, but I’m making an exception because I want you to know you don’t have to be afraid of my partner. His alpha doesn’t desire omegas. Neither does mine.”

I nodded. I wanted to ask if he was sure about that, but I didn’t want to disrespect him or his relationship with his partner. If they were mates, there wasn’t much of a chance for either of them to want me, anyway.

“I won’t tell anyone,” I promised.

I mean, it had to be against the rules. He was our captain, after all. It was another reason for me to trust him. He was willing to risk his entire career just to ease my mind.

I wanted so badly to trust him… I desperately needed it…

“You know what…?” I muttered as I turned back to his hand.

“Hmm?”

“I could… I could use a hug…” I whispered.

“Is that so?” he asked softly, and I nodded. “All right…”

Carefully, he stepped closer. I could feel his eyes on me as he slowly put his hands around my shoulders and held me gently. I rested my head against his chest, feeling odd, but good. Even the omega in me was feeling better. I couldn’t remember the last time we were held like this… 

I was so tired… Tired of being afraid… Tired of being alone… With no one on my side… With no one to turn to… No one to help me…

“You’re all right,” he muttered so soothingly I wanted to cry. “Everything is fine now, I promise.”

…I may have cried a little.

[There is a new bonus chapter in Reid’s POV up on Patreon]