Noah met her at the door. She was trying hard to smile at him, but he could see she was trembling all over.
– Nari… – he lifted her under the arms, – what the?! What the hell?!
– I'm fine… – the girl whispered, trying to straighten up from his hold, – really, I'm fine… let’s prepare something… I’ll be right...
– Nari, – he held her firmly, – what happened?
– I just... she... I never! That was my first... and she!.. I couldn’t do anything!.. – suddenly tears streamed down her cheeks, – I didn't want to!
Her sobs grew louder. She clung to his t-shirt so tightly it nearly ripped. She trembled, struggling to breathe through her cries. The room began to fill with the sharp scent of pink pepper, and Noah's vision blurred. Her call had spiraled out of control and was now engulfing his consciousness. It was the phenomenon that Alpha feared so much... the reason Omegas were isolated and kept in ghettos, far from others. Noah felt he would lose consciousness any moment. In response, he let out a growl. Mint and ozone mixed with Nari's scent almost instantly. The growl was meant to intimidate, dominate, compel obedience. But the girl reacted differently. Her sobs became quieter. The scent of pheromones began to dissipate. The call completely vanished. She sniffled one last time and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.
– It's okay, – he stroked her hair, – I won’t let anyone hurt you. Never.
An hour later, when Nari had calmed down, Noah brewed her some coffee.
– So, she sensed me, – he sighed heavily, – my carelessness put you in danger. I'm sorry, Nari.
– It's not your fault, – the girl shook her head, – she kept coming onto me.
– Still... I was around too long. I should have made sure my scent didn't linger on you...
– But I... like it... – Nari suddenly said.
– What?
– You smell like mint… – she said, looking away, – and a little… like air after rain.
– Really? – for a moment, Noah brightened, – I didn’t know.
– Near you… when I smell that scent, I feel safe.
He didn’t know where to look. Should he tell her her pheromones smelled sweet? Would it be appropriate to say he felt drawn to her from the very first day he caught her scent? Should he express that he couldn't get her out of his head?
– Do you... want to keep living here? – he asked, – just... have you ever thought about what kind of future you want for yourself?
– It's not so bad here, – the girl said thoughtfully, – if only I could just be here... with Dionna and Leo. To walk freely around the city, without sidelong glances, without disdainful snorts directed at me, it wouldn’t be so bad. To find a job I enjoy. To have the opportunity to do what I love. And to be near those I love... but, I'm an omega. The Arena awaits me at best. At worst – a farm...
– Come with me! – Noah suddenly blurted out.
– What?
– I will take you away from here. To Sigma! There we... you can become free! No Arena, no farm!
– Sorry… – Nari looked down, – I can't. I can’t leave them.
– Then I'll take you all.
– Noah… – the girl shook her head, – I won't be able to convince them.
– But you don’t want to stay here!
– I don’t want to. But… I can’t leave everything here just yet.
– Can I not persuade you? You can end up in the Arena!
– So be it. I'm sure we can make it to the seventh stage! Then we can leave without pursuers.
– Do you really believe that?
– If you don't believe in anything, you might as well die right away, – the girl smiled, – faith in a better future gives you the strength to move forward. Isn't that so?
– I don’t want you to get hurt.
– Noah, why are you trying so hard to protect me? Since our first meeting?
– It's hard to explain, – the guy looked away, – it’s just… when I first saw you there, in that alley, it was like you were calling me. I felt I had to intervene, to protect, not to let anyone else touch you. And then… every time I found myself nearby, I felt you. In my head, it was like... a call?..
Nari was silent. Noah only noticed that she was smiling at the corners of her lips. He simply sat down next to her and took her hand.
– I won’t press you for an answer. And I won’t drag you along with me by force. Just now… will you allow... me to hug you one more time? – he asked.
***
Noah woke up before dawn. The room was gray, the sky once again covered with heavy clouds. Next to him, holding the sleeve of his t-shirt with her fingers, Nari was sleeping. Quietly and carefully, so as not to wake her, he got up and headed to the bathroom. After washing with cold water, the young man looked at himself in the mirror. The bruises had faded, and there was not a trace of the scratches left. Serious wounds had not yet healed, but thanks to the fast regeneration of Alphas and Nari's treatment, he could already move freely and even protect himself if needed.
Dressed quickly, he leaned over Nari. She was sound asleep. The previous day had exhausted her. Alpha admired her face for a few moments. Her delicate skin, long fluffy lashes, plump lips. He longed to scoop her up and run away, to take her far from this gray place. To where she could live freely. Where a future awaited her that she would build for herself. Or just stay here. Close by. Simply wait for her every day, like a faithful dog. Even if she didn't want that herself, even if she didn’t feel the same. Just to see her sleepy face every morning, her delicate curls on the pillow, and her thin fingers clinging to him.
Overcome by impulse, he leaned down even further and barely touched her lips with his. And he left. Quietly, so she wouldn’t wake up.