Leaving my office after the headache subsided, I reeled my pheromones back in, and went to check on the kid, Oak. Grabbing the chart, I knocked and opened the door. Reid was still here, sitting with his brother while they discussed things. Oak wore a face of discomfort, but I didn’t know if that was because of the rut cycle, or his brother.

“Sorry for intruding. I wanted to check on you and make sure you were alright.” I said, flicking through the file at the last observation.

“I apologize for blasting you with my pheromones earlier.” Oak said.

“I’m far more used to it than you might expect.” I said, coming closer to check his vitals.

I heard him breathe in. “You smell like coffee.” He hummed. “Whatever kind of coffee it is, it smells great.” He laughed. Not trying to make this awkward, I replied.

“Ask your brother, Mr Clarke. He would know what coffee they serve here at the hospital.” I said. Stepping back. “I would like to set you up with an appointment with Doctor Connell or I for proper suppressants. That way, this doesn’t happen again. There is a difference in suppressants given to recessive and dominant Alphas.”

“He won’t need that.” Reid said, firmly.

“With all due respect, Mr Clarke. My patient is your brother, not you. He is an adult who can make his own choices about his body and the medication he puts in it.” I said, my aggravation peaking, and my pheromone trickling out. The scent of coffee heavily scenting the air.

“I would like to speak to you in your office, Doctor Woods.” Reid said.

“Reid. Enough.” Oak said, pulling a hand through his hair, looking annoyed.

“You will have to wait. I have another—--”

“I don’t wait for anyone, Doctor Woods. Now.” Reid said, and Oak went to do something, but Reid gave him a stern look, and he retracted his hand. Heading to my office, the window was still open when I opened the door, but the smell of my pheromone lingered from earlier.

“Please, have a seat.” I muttered, sitting in my chair, and Reid took the chair across the desk from me.

“My brother does not need an appointment here to get proper medication. He needs to listen and follow proper orders. At any point, he could have asked for proper suppression medication. He did not.” Reid said that Alpha behaviour finding holes in my wall of kindness and chipping away at it.

“Need I remind you, Mr Clarke, I am a doctor trained in pheromones and after today’s accident, I am offering—--”

“Do all you recessive Alpha’s not listen?” He said, his tone bitter, and his scent creeping into the room.

“Pardon?” I said. Not sure if I was actually hearing what he asked.

“I said, do all you recessive Alpha’s lack the ability to listen?”

That was the comment that broke the hold on my pheromones. Thick coffee scent flooded the room, and I could taste it. My pheromones. “You are disrespectful, ignorant, your behaviour is completely undesirable. Mr Clarke, frankly, I think you’re an asshole. Now get out of my office.”

Reid didn’t move.

Rather, he relaxed into the chair, and slowly his scent was taking over my space again. He was seeing how far he could push his pheromones to make me uncomfortable. Crossing my arms, I sighed. “If you’re done trying to intimidate me, Mr Clarke, I have people, including your brother, to look after.”

“What makes you think after the names you called me, you wouldn’t be fired?”

“Until you decide to fire me or not, I have work to do.” I said, standing up and leaving the office. I only had two hours left of my shift, maybe less if he actually fired me. After checking on all my patients, I went back to my office, and Reid was still in the same spot as before.

“Thought you didn’t wait for anyone?” I hummed.

“Close the door, Doctor Woods.”

Slamming the office door shut, I walked to my chair and sat down again.

“Was slamming the door necessary?” He asked.

“You asked me to close the door. You didn’t tell me how to close it.”

“I get the feeling you’re not fond of Alpha’s.”

“Correction. Dominant Alpha’s. It’s your stuck up and demanding behaviour I can’t stand.”

“Should I add stuck up and demanding to the list of other things you called me, Doctor Woods?”

“I could give you several other words to add to the list, too. Mr Clarke. If you would like?”

“You know I could fire you.”

“You could.”

“I won’t, however. I want to do what is best for the hospital and you’re useful to the medical community here.”

“Alright. I’ll still be offering your brother an appointment with our department, and if he goes or not, that’s up to him.” I said.

Standing up, I slipped my medical jacket off and hung it up. I went to check on Oak again. Mr Clarke followed behind me.

“Hello again, Oak. Just me, Doctor Woods.”

Doctor Connell stepped back from taking vitals. “Sorry, I was just coming to do this.” I said. Aware of Mr Clarke hovering behind me, I stepped out of the way so that he could come into the room. Doctor Connell finished up the vitals, marked the chart, and looked at me, wiggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes, and Reid caught me doing it. A frown set on his face.

Taking the chart from Doctor Connell, I looked over it. “So it looks like they will discharge you tomorrow morning. I won’t be here, but Doctor Connell will. When you’re discharged, they will set you up with an appointment.”

I was looking forward to having the weekend off, unless something came up. Leaving Oak’s room, Reid stayed with him. I stopped at the desk and spoke. “Make sure when Oak Clarke leaves he is given my card, with my personal number, in case something happens again. Don’t let him refuse an appointment, either.”

“Got it. Have a good night, Doctor Woods.”

Heading to my office, I shut the window. Before I grabbed my coat and laptop bag. Putting my coat on, and my bag over my shoulder, I locked the office door and left the hospital. Digging out my keys, I opened my car and set my things into the passenger seat. Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I checked all my messages before calling my mother.

“Hello Sam, are we still on for dinner?”

“Of course, I’m just getting off of work now. I just have to head home and shower and change.”

“Ok, I’ll see you shortly then. Drive safe.”

“Thanks, Love you.”

She hung up the phone, and I started my car. The drive back to my apartment was mundane and boring. I was used to it. I did it nearly every day, twice a day. Pulling into the underground parking lot. I parked and grabbed my things. Tucking my phone back into my pocket and my bag over my shoulder, I locked my car and headed for the stairs. I made quick work of the five floors and headed down the hall.

I was lucky enough to get an apartment at the very end of the hall. It was quiet, and my bedroom wasn’t bumped up against another person’s. Setting my bag down, I kicked off my shoes and walked to the bedroom. Pulling off my clothing, the scent of coconuts floated up my nose, and I frowned. Damn that Alpha and his fucking scent.

Angrily walking to the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror. My short shaggy dark brown hair did little to hide my two different eyes, the green one from my mother, and the blue one from my father. There were subtle things about me that said I was an Alpha, like my pheromone, and slightly more aggressive behaviour. My height did me no favours in that department. Five foot ten inches was on the shorter side by Alpha averages. I blamed the damned dominant Alpha’s for that. I had yet to meet one that wasn’t six feet or taller. Running a hand through my hair, I sighed.

Turning on the shower, I stepped under the spray. Grunting when the cold water ran down me, before turning warmer.

I let out a sigh of relief as the warm water enveloped me. The steam from the shower rose, filling the bathroom with a misty haze. I closed my eyes, feeling the water wash away the grime, stress and Reid Clarke’s pheromones off me. The sound of the water hitting the tiled floor echoed in the small space, creating a soothing rhythm. I reached for the soap and lathered it over my body, enjoying the fresh lemon scent of the bubbles. As I rinsed off, I felt better. The scent of coconut and lime was gone, no longer lingering on my skin.

Shutting off the water, I stepped out and grabbed the towel off the back of the door, drying off quickly. Picking up my scrubs from before, I tossed them into the laundry bin, wrinkling my nose. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a sweater from the closet, pulling them on. I had no interest in getting dressed up. Not when I knew how this would end. I would spend the night in my childhood room, like I did every time. But at least I wouldn’t be the only one. My two brothers would get guilted into the same thing as me.

Making sure I had everything, I headed to my parents. The drive was only twenty minutes, but I wished it was longer. As happy as I was to see my family, there were three of us Alpha’s and we bumped heads.

My mother and my oldest brother, they were ones who kept things civil between us all. With my father and older brother both being dominant Alpha’s, they liked to have their way. Then there was me. I was just as bad, sometimes.

The difference was, my father, and my brothers were all bonded to someone. I was not. I had no urge to be either. The driveway was full of cars when I pulled in. All the lights were on, and I turned my car off and just sat in the driveway. Getting my shit together, I headed inside. My oldest brother, Bay, was at the entrance when I came inside.

“You come inside, huh? I was just coming out to get you.” He said, a smile on his face.

“Long day.” I complained. Taking my shoes off and sighing.

“I can tell. Your hair is still wet from your shower, and your control on your pheromones is all over the place.” He said, concern on his face.