The scent of bacon, freshly baked goods, and coffee wrapped around me as we walked into the small diner. Alex waved at the server that was behind the counter as he walked over to a table and took a seat across from someone that had their back to the door. I hesitated for a moment before I walked over to the table and took the empty seat beside Alex. I then looked up to see who was joining us for breakfast.
"Peter?" I was a little confused at the familiar face that was smiling at me from across the table.
"Hey short stuff." He replied with a grin. I grimaced at the nick name. He had started calling me that ever since middle school when he had a growth spurt and I sadly did not.
"I am not short." I grumbled as I eyed both men sitting at the table, both clearly over six feet tall to my five foot eight.
Peter was still chuckling when the server came over to fill coffee cups and take orders. I wrinkled my nose at the offer to fill the mug that sat in front of me. I shook my head and instead ordered a large orange juice.
"I still don't understand your aversion to coffee." Peter took a sip of the hot bean juice and sighed.
"Because it's vile, and it stunts your growth..." I trailed off as both men grinned while they sipped the disgusting concoction. "Well maybe not your weird height mutation." My cheeks burned as I gulped down the juice the moment it was set on the table which caused more laughter.
This was nice. It had been a long time since I actually felt like I belonged. We chatted about mundane things as we enjoyed our breakfast. The good feeling didn't last long though as I caught the scent of a couple of young alphas as they walked in the door and took a seat at the table behind us. I recognized them as I had gone to school with the both of them, and they were squad leaders for pack security that patrolled the territory boarders.
"I thought I smelled something sour and disappointing when we walked in. Turns out the little human prince has crawled back home." One of the alphas smirked as he sat at the table. My fists clenched in my lap as I heard them continue to talk about me like I was a filthy stray instead of the Alpha's son.
"Enough!" Alex growled as he eyed the two men that were technically subordinates of his even though they were alphas to his beta. He didn't yell, he didn't need to. Alex was a force all on his own and even though he was a beta his presence took up space as he turned to stare down to two boys.
"Beta Alex!" They said in unison as they stood and saluted him. "We didn't see you there." The shorter of the two stammered.
"Nothing gives you the right to demean the Prince." He growled as his eyes glowed amber. "Laps! Both of you!" Alex barked the order which caused the both of alphas to scramble towards the door and disappear down the street.
"You didn't have to do that." I whispered. "I should be used to it by now." I got to my feet, appetite lost as I headed to the door. Peter was up and out of his chair to follow me a moment later as Alex pain the bill.
They found me outside as I leaned against the black SUV. The cool air felt good as I gulped it in like I was starving. I didn't want these emotions to resurface while I was here. I had thought they were long buried and I had come to terms with the fact that the moon goddess would never grant me a wolf or a fated mate.
I smelled Peter before he placed a warm hand on my shoulder. His scent was light and minty, the scent of a beta. I turned and leaned my head against his broad chest, silent tears streaming down my face. I hated feeling so exposed, so helpless. "Why does the moon goddess hate me?" I whispered. A sob escaped my lips as I gave myself this moment of vulnerability as I was hidden from view by my one and only friend. Peter tensed at my comment then pushed me away so he could see my face.
"The moon goddess doesn't hate you Riley." Peter said gently as he wiped a tear from my face. "She just has other plans for you." I just shook my head and took a few steps back to put space between us as I finished wiping my face in hopes that it wouldn't stay red and blotchy for long.
Alex walked up to us a moment later. He was waiting patiently by the cafe to give us a private moment but time was wasting and I knew that I wasn't going to get out of the planned appointments because I had an emotional breakdown in the street.
"Alright get in you two." Alex climbed into the driver seat of the SUV and waited for Peter and I to get in and shut the door behind us. The original plan was to walk the few blocks to the tailor but Alex thought it would be better to give me more time to pull myself together and it was safer to take the car.
The fitting went as expected. I was measured and forced to try on different suits until they settled on a blue grey suit that matched my eyes with a black silk shirt and shiny new black dress shoes. I thought it was too much for something I was going to wear once but I wasn't the one paying for it so I just shrugged and went with the recommendations of the tailor and left them to do whatever alterations were needed. It would be dropped off at the pack house before the big event.
We had been at the tailors for longer than I had thought. It was just past noon and my physical with the doctor was looming. We grabbed sandwiches at a sub shop close to the clinic but I had no appetite and the sandwich was just pushed aside as we sat in those uncomfortable plastic chairs in the restaurant.
"You really should eat something." Alex commented as he looked down at the untouched food.
I shook my head. "I can't. It would not stay down for very long at this point. I will eat later."
Alex just nodded and placed the sandwich in a bag along with a few cookies and drinks for later. "Did you want one of us to accompany you to the clinic?" I thought about it for a moment then just shook my head. I knew they would watch and possibly wait in the waiting room after I had gone in to see the doctor just to make sure I actually went instead of running. I had thought about attempting to escape but I knew that I was not fast enough to outrun either beta that were with me.
As I suspected both Alex and Peter shadowed me until I disappeared through the door of the clinic. I knew they would be guarding the entrance as they waited for me to finish. The inside was just like any other clinic, clean with the smell of antiseptic. The waiting room had padded chairs, a table with old magazines, and generic art hanging on the plain white walls. There were a few people waiting when I checked in but because I was the prince they lead me to an exam room right away.
My palms were sweating as I sat and waited for the doctor in the exam room. I hated doctors as I never had a great experience with them, but this one was surprisingly nice and patient with me. His dark brown eyes were kind as he asked his questions and checked my vitals.
"Are you on suppressants Prince Riley?" He looked up from his tablet as he was making notes on it.
And here it was. The speech I always heard when I had to go get my prescription refilled. I just nodded. He knew I was on suppressants. Everyone that knew I was an omega would have figured it out the moment they couldn't scent me. "How long have you been taking them?"
I thought for a moment. "Since my first heat at sixteen." I shrugged.
"I'm sure you have heard this before but they aren't meant for such long term use." the doctor sighed and rubbed his face. "They can damage your body beyond repair Riley. The chemicals can burn through your scent glands and render you infertile." I was aware of this but it didn't keep me from using them because they helped to keep me safe.
"I am going to do some blood tests to make sure your hormone levels are normal. Your scent glands still look healthy but with the suppressants I can't tell if they are working properly." I just nodded and held out my arm. The doctor was gentle as he wiped the inside of my elbow with disinfectant and slid the needle in. He drew three vials of blood and labelled them for the lab, then pressed down on the wound with a cotton ball and taped it in place.
"You are all done for now Riley. I will call you with the results from your blood work later today."
"Thanks Doc." I got up and slipped out the door and down the hall to relative freedom.
Alex and Peter were both still where I left them. Neither one said anything or asked how it went. I was thankful for that even though I wouldn't know much until the clinic called.
The ride back to the pack house was a quiet one and the exhaustion from the day was starting to catch up with me. But before I could get out of the parked SUV Alex turned to me. "I have appointed Peter as your bodyguard while you are here Riley." His eyes were serious as he looked at me. "Peter? But he isn't part of security." Both he and Peter just shrugged. "He will be staying in the pack house for the time being just in case I am not around to protect you." He continued.
I just nodded. It would be nice to have someone I trusted and liked to keep me company while I was here. I didn't know why I would need protection inside the pack house. Even if my father and I didn't get along we were still family and he wouldn't let anything happen to me. If something did happen to me he wouldn't have someone to bargain with and marry off.
I sighed as I grabbed the bag with my uneaten lunch in it and slid out the door and up to my room. I needed some alone time to decompress and rest before the family would gather for dinner.