“I’m sorry, but you have to let go.”

The company nurse tried to take the little Omega that was still nestled in Magnolia’s arms again. She lost count of how many times the nurse had tried. She stopped counting after the third time. In her mind, she knew that she had to let go, that she had to put him down and let him stay inside the infirmary so that he could take his medicine. The moment that the nurse approached them, when her polished nails so much as almost touched the Omega, she found herself taking a step back. Barring her canines, clutching the Omega tighter. He was heavy, but now, that was almost forgotten.

The nurse assessed the situation again, her eyes going from Magnolia to the Omega. The nurse raised her arms up in defense, something that she had appreciated. She did not know why she just could not let go. It was an effort to even continue carrying him since he was not at all light. And plus, she was wearing heels. It was not every day you see a woman carrying a man in six-inch stilettos, and yet here she was. Clutching him tighter, she tucks him closer to her chest, glaring at the nurse when she tried approaching again.

“Miss Franzen,” The nurse starts, arms still up. “I’m an Omega. Trust me, I won’t take him away from you.”

Somehow, that did ease Magnolia’s anxiety. Whatever it was that was making her anxious in the first place. She looks down on the little Omega in her arms, the Omega who was being suspiciously quiet the whole time. The man was staring at her, a twinkle in his eyes that made her stomach flutter. Feeling her mouth twitch as she slowly felt her eyebrows furrowing together. Just what was she doing? She did not know the man at all. He just smelled divine, like she could sleep for weeks with just his scent alone. Like he could live on it. That was all. She barely even knew his name. All she knows is that this little Omega had been following her for a few weeks now. He does not even work in the company. At least, that is what she knew.

With her eyebrows furrowed, she did not even bother hiding the general confusion that was on her face. She was known as someone who rarely made a scene. She always lied low, especially when everyone, including her own self, assumed she was an Omega. Like she just realized the position she was in, she looks around. Not at all surprised that there was a small crowd murmuring around the infirmary. That was the first time that she was noticed, and she did not appreciate it one bit. Being noticed meant attention, something that she was annoyed by. She already had unwanted attention when she was recently classified as an Alpha, she already had unwanted attention when she was instantly promoted and given her own office, and now she is getting unwanted attention because some part of her would not allow the nurse to take the Omega from her arms.

“I can walk,” He says, making her flinch. “It’s good now, Magnolia.”

Did she ever tell him her name? She could not even remember.

Blinking in more confusion, she slowly puts him down, making sure he does not stumble. She did not notice it at first since he was crouched down when she picked him up, but now that they were both standing, she instantly noticed how much of an Omega he looked. Chestnut, short hair clumsily hangs over a surprisingly chiseled, warm face. Was it just the scent that was making her see things? Magnolia swore that the man’s brown eyes glittered and was set gracefully within their sockets. And just by the base of his mouth, a small mole that made him even look daintier. And adding the fact that she towered over him by a few inches, she could already tell that he was nothing but trouble.

Omegas are dangerous. Omegas are dangerous. He is terribly dangerous.

Repeating the mantra that Felix had told her, she takes a step back ignoring the way that the crowd seemed to part like the red sea when she did. The Omega fumbles with his tie, looking up at her again with his doe eyes. Opening and closing his mouth like a fish, he scratches his cheeks. His lips were plump and pink, something that irked her even more, for some unknown reason. Magnolia narrowed her eyes at the sight, making sure her face was devoid of any emotion that would give whatever it was that she was thinking, away. Because the things that were running inside her mind, would make everyone within hearing distance, lock her up.

“Uhm,” The Omega started, looking down on his shoes. “My name’s Levi.”

Magnolia shrugs, “I didn’t ask.”

Blushing, Levi tugs on his sleeves, making Magnolia zero in on them. Like she had assumed, the suit was humongous on him. The sleeves were eating his hands, almost making him look like he was a tiny little thing. She could not help the glare that was directed at that stupid little suit that was eating Levi up. If anything, it made him look more delicious. A thought that she had instantly erased from her mind that moment that it had settled into the crevices of her pheromone induced brain.

The nurse finally makes herself known, stepping between her and the Omega. The simple action should not have made her angry, but it did. A growl rumbled on her throat and she was just about to place the palm of her hand on Levi’s neck to drag him back on her side - where he belonged.

When the nurse all but slapped her hand away. “Miss Franzen, I apologize for slapping your hand, but you would thank me for this. This is simply all pheromones. Now, if you have no intention of marking him or making him yours, I suggest you return to work. He is on his heat cycle and that is making you think differently. This is also an Omega-Safe zone, I am bound by my duty to make sure that nothing happens to them. Consent is something that we always take into consideration. I hope you understand.”

The nurse then pushes Levi towards the entrance of the infirmary. She understood what the nurse had said, and she knew that if she could just walk away from his intoxicating scent, all would return to normal and she would go back to being her usual self. Right now, though, when she was in the danger zone, she could not help the hurt that quickly passes by her heart, tearing on it, making her widen her eyes in surprise. As if she was physically pushed, she takes a step back. Nodding stiffly, she bites the inside of her cheek and starts turning around to walk away.

A small hand grabs her forearm, stopping her. “Thank you, for bringing me here.”

Even his voice was making goosebumps appear on her arm. Glaring at the hand that held her on her place, she all but wanted to burn it right then and there. All she wanted in life was to live as simple as she could. To live without making that much of an effort. To live a life where she did not have to think about things that would stress her out. Everything that had been thrown out the window ever since she decided to help this little Omega that smelled delicious. Lifting her face, she meets his stare and as much as she could, glares. He flinches.

She did not care. “I would appreciate it if you don’t tempt others anymore. What you did was a dangerous game. If it wasn’t for my self-control, things would not have turned as great as it did. Do me a favor and stay away from me. Like what the nurse had said, it’s all just pheromones. If it were up to me, I would not have helped you at all.”

“I’m sorry,” His face falls, and that irked her more.

Just now, she wanted nothing more but to kneel and ask for forgiveness. Anything just to get that frown off his beautiful face.

She was, she noted, officially losing it. She had to get away from him quickly. Puffing her chest, she scoffs, crossing her arms against her chest. Averting her gaze, she glares at the bystanders who were busy watching the scene unfold like a live-action drama. Almost immediately, they all flinch and start moving away. Levi notices, and his face falls more. “I didn’t know I put you in such a position. I never wanted to be a burden.”

There it was again, a squeeze in her heart.

She frowns, confusion flashing on her face. Why was this affecting her so? Why was the frown on his face making her frown as well? Whatever the answer was, she really was not in the mood to make an effort to decipher. The nurse taps the man on the shoulder, making Magnolia zoom on their contact again, a glare on her face. By this time, the nurse does not even try to raise her arms in defense. When Levi only stood there, gazing up at her with that frown on his face, the nurse sighed. Without another word, she pulls him inside, closing the door behind them.

And that made the scent disappear.

Which in turn, made Magnolia blink rapidly, her heart hammering against her chest. With her lips in a straight line, she places her hand by her chest, feeling her heart that was rapidly beating. She could feel warmth by her neck, on her cheeks, and on the tips of her ears. It was all just pheromones, that much she knew. Yet she also knew another thing, something that only popped in her head when his scent was no longer fogging her mind.

She had encountered other Omegas going into heat before. Especially then when she all but thought she was just another Omega. And yet, here, at her place of work, she lost all sense of decorum and control and even caused a scene. Just for Levi.

“Huh,” She thought out loud, tapping a finger on her chin. “Well, whatever. It’s probably not important.”