Chapter Text
“Yeah.” Louis rubbed his arm after hugging Niall. “We’ll see you in a week.”
Libra stopped when Louis grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you stay?”
Niall grinned, “are you going to miss me that much?”
Louis laughed nervously, “yeah, I guess so.” He looked at Libra, eyes pleading. “Just a little longer.”
“Sure, Lou. I do have work tomorrow though.” Libra let his bag slide off his shoulder. “Get running, Niall. You’ll miss your flight.”
“I love you both so much.” Niall waved one last time before walking down the hall.
Louis closed the door softly, looking at Libra. “Bra… you -you are my friend, right?”
Libra frowned, “of course I am. Your best friend.”
“So,” Louis bit his lip, “you would tell me if -if you were trying to hurt me?”
Libra sighed softly. Louis understood the response. He sometimes expressed insecurity and needed reassurance. “Of course, Lou. But I would also never be trying to hurt you. Do you want to hurt me?”
“Libra, please. Be honest.”
Libra tilted his head, “where is this coming from? Just because Niall is leaving -he is coming back, darling-”
“Niall is with them.”
“With whom?”
Louis dragged Libra to his couch, sitting the omega down. He paced, “we thought my apartment was tapped. It is not. Niall is.”
“Niall?”
“Last night Zayn said he was going on a week’s vacation. Zayn, the alpha that took my laptop.” Libra’s eyes opened wide. “Yes.”
“You think Niall-” Libra growled, “that -how could he!”
Louis breathed a deep sigh of relief that his friend believed him. “I mean, he didn’t do anything, but he must have told them that I was still looking into Harry’s father. I just-” Louis pouted, sitting on his coffee table. “Niall came into our lives around the same time I published my first article about Harry’s father.”
Libra sucked his teeth, “he’s playing us.” The omega stood. “When he comes back, we’re killing him.”
“Libra.”
“No! How could he do that!” Libra seethed, “we made a small family and he’s just using us -you! No! I’m cutting his fucking stomach open. No children for him!”
Louis whined, dropping his chin to his chest. “Libra,” He shook his head. “If Niall were an alpha, he would mate and bond to both of us. I’ve met liars, so many. They don’t look at people the way he looks at us.” Libra folded his arms. “Niall loves us, but I don’t think he had a choice.”
“And so that should make it better?”
Louis chewed his cheek, shrugging. “Want to meet Harry?”
Libra cut his eyes, groaning, “Elements…”
-
“Louis and,” Harry smiled, “friend.”
Louis tried hiding behind Libra, nervous. His heart was beating fast. “Hello…”
“Hello.” Libra folded his arms, “we have questions.”
“And I have lunch in one hour but please, come in.” Harry opened his office door wider. “I am surprised Liam let you in.”
“I am very convincing,” Libra spat. He put an arm around Louis’ waist, helping the omega sit before he took a seat as well.
Harry sat behind his desk, staring at Louis who didn’t look back. “Louis. Will you pretend this morning didn’t happen, omega?”
Louis looked up then, a blush forming across his small nose. He shook his head, “hello Harry.”
Harry smiled tenderly, “hello again, Louis.” He looked at Libra, “may I have your name?”
“I’m sure you already have it!” Libra folded one leg over the other, “who sent Niall? What is going on and why are you trying to hurt my friend?”
“Pardon?”
Libra looked up in awe, “with the silence in this room, you could hear a butterfly’s wings flap. Are you trying to pretend you didn’t hear my question? Why are you trying to hurt my friend? Him! Louis! What do you want from him and why send Niall?”
Harry smiled and Libra bristled. “I see why you are friends. So similar.” Louis pouted; a spike of jealousy going up his spine. Harry looked at him and Louis realized then that he must have made a noise. The alpha winked at him, giving the smallest head shake.
Harry stood, fixing his coat. “I typically am not screamed at so please excuse me.” He sat at the front of his desk. “Ask me nicely. No. I don’t need nice, I just wish for respect, please.”
Libra took a deep breath, “My name is Libra. Do you know Niall?”
“Very well, yes.”
Louis sat up then, “why?” He could feel tears burning behind his eyes. “He’s with Zayn.”
“He is. I love Niall very much.”
“But,” Louis licked his trembling lips. “Niall is my friend.”
“So he cannot be mine?”
“Elements above, answer the fucking question!” Libra threw his hands up, “put two and two together. Fuck!”
Harry pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh. He turned to Louis, “Niall was hired to befriend you and find out information that you were going to put out about my father. He was not hired by me. I did not know who you were before the day we officially met. My father hired Niall to work for me. Niall did grow an attachment with not only Zayn but also you two. He was very emotional about keeping you as his friend, so I told him he only had to report to me if you spoke about it. He didn’t like having to go through your computer. I am sorry you found out like this but please know, Niall loves you both very much.”
Louis stood up, “I don’t want you using him anymore. He’s my friend.”
“Okay.”
“And -what?”
“Okay, omega. I do not need Niall, especially not when you come to my door yourself.” Harry smirked. “He is not my worker. I do not pay for him to be a snitch, my father does. Niall does many jobs for my father because that is his job. You both so happened to get in the way of this specific job.”
Louis swallowed, looking down at Libra who looked just as surprised. “And -I want,” the omega whined, hands going behind his back. “I want-”
“Slowly, sweetheart,” Harry mumbled. “It is difficult but take your time.”
Louis shivered, taking a deep breath when Libra held his hand. “I want the fur…”
“Hm?”
Louis cleared his throat, “the little fur… I want it.”
Harry thought for a moment. “You can have it. I do have one for adults that you may have as well.”
Louis perked up. “I want both.”
Harry smiled, “then you may have both. I do not have fur here with me.”
The omega stepped forward, “I can -I can go to your house.”
“Did you memorize where I lived?” Louis nodded once. “Smart omega.” Harry stood up straight. “Tomorrow then.”
“He wants to go tonight,” Libra, almost forgotten, huffed. “Don’t torture him.”
“Not tonight. I am not busy, but you are in no mental state to come tonight.”
Louis stood straight; shoulders stiff. “I can come tonight.”
“That is wonderful, omega, but you will not be allowed in my home tonight. Standing up straight will do nothing for you.”
Louis growled, turning around. “We’re leaving. Let’s go, Libra.”
Libra stood, “Lou.” He crowded his friend, trying to grab Louis’ face. “Don’t cry.”
Harry stuck his hands in his pockets. “Louis. You may come tomorrow to my home for dinner and the fur.”
Louis rubbed his eyes, jaw tight. He sniffled, staring Harry down. He finally looked away, taking Libra’s hand. “Fine…”
“Okay.” Harry walked to the door, holding it open. “It was nice to meet you, Libra.”
“I honestly don’t know how I feel about you.” Libra pointed a sharp finger at him, “confusing!”
Louis stopped at the door, looking up at Harry. “I-”
“Don’t apologize.” Harry smiled, “I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
“My side still hurts. It’s bruised but I’m okay.”
“Okay, omega. Make sure you put ice on it.”
“Okay.”
“Good boy.” Louis’ breath sped up. “Anything else?”
Louis nodded, looking at Libra who waited patiently in the hallway. He then looked back at Harry, hands coming up to touch his forehead.
“Ah,” Harry chuckled. “Would you like a kiss there?” Louis nodded quickly, feet curling behind his shoes. “Of course.” The alpha leaned down, placing a soft kiss to Louis’ forehead. As soon as it came, it was gone. “There.”
Louis quickly touched his forehead, walking through the door.
“You both get home safe.” When Harry’s door closed, they started walking to the elevator.
“Okay fine,” Libra huffed, pressing the down button on the elevator aggressively. “He’s cute, he’s hot, and he’s patient and he might just be perfect for you, but I still want to bite his throat out.”
Louis sighed with a smile, leaning on the side of the elevator, shivering at the cold metal. “I think so too.”
Libra folded his arms as the doors closed, “I wonder what makes him mad.”
“Nothing.”
“Hmph.”
Louis smiled at his reflection on the reflective walls. “I told you he was amazing.”
Libra bit his cheek, “whatever.”
-
“Hello.” Louis held his laptop tight to his chest. “Hi.”
“Hello, Louis, again.” Liam smirked. “I will be honest. I didn’t expect you back here so soon.”
“Yeah well,” Louis swallowed. “I was invited.” He stood up straight, lifting his chin. “So you can’t kick me out.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Liam grinned, “defensive thing.”
Louis scoffed, his blush hiding because of the dim outdoor lighting. “Are you going to let me in, or should I freeze to death out here?”
Liam chuckled, “that choice is all yours.” He opened the door, “please.”
Louis let his shoulder’s slouch. He sighed as the warm home hit his skin. He hugged his laptop a little tighter, admiring the statues once again. He looked back at Liam. “Where is Harry?”
“Cooking.”
“Oh,” Louis tilted his head, smiling. “He cooks?”
“Can an alpha not cook?”
The omega quickly cut his eyes, “that is not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
“He’s rich! He has a fucking security! Why can’t he have a personal chef!”
“Well, good evening.” Louis’ whole body went ridged when Harry’s voice came from behind him. “So loud at such a quiet time of the day.”
Louis turned around dipping his head, “sorry. Your help sucks.”
Harry laughed, putting a large hand on Louis’ head, “does he?”
“I was only joking with him, Harry.”
“Shut up!” Louis growled. “Why is he here anyway? I thought we were having dinner.”
“He is my friend, and he is always allowed in my home.” Harry stepped back, holding out a hand towards Liam. “May you apologize to him?”
“For what?” Louis gagged, “I hate him.” He glared at Liam, “thief.”
“Then,” Harry walked to the front door, ignoring Louis’ high whines. “May you leave before I ask the ‘thief’ to escort you out?”
“I…” Louis sniffled, looking away. “Dinner…” he whispered. He looked behind him then back at Harry, “I -what about dinner?”
“I really don’t like loud things, Louis,” Harry spoke softly. “I don’t like yelling and I don’t think it’s nice for you to yell at someone you don’t know especially after I’ve told you he is my friend and kindly asked you to apologize.”
Louis’ bottom lip felt heavy. He bit down on it, hands shaking, “I’m so sorry.” He caught his laptop before he dropped it. “Sometimes,” he sobbed, looking at Liam. “I get so nervous it makes me angry and I am rude.” He sniffled, rubbing away falling tears. “I just want to have dinner.”
“With Harry, and you will,” Liam approached him, hand coming up to touch Louis’ head. He paused mid-touch when Harry cleared his throat. “Apologies.” He lifted Louis’ chin instead. “I am not upset at you. I hope you and Harry have a lovely dinner, omega. I am leaving.”
Louis nodded, stepping away from Liam, shuffling towards Harry. He looked up at the alpha, swallowing, “I apologized and he’s not mad.”
“Oh?” Harry smiled gently, “I heard.”
Louis nodded to himself, rubbing his red cheek once more. “I just wanted to tell you.”
Louis waited patiently while Harry said his goodbye’s. He followed the alpha to the large dining room, taking a seat at the end of the table.
Harry smiled, “taking my seat.”
Louis frowned, brows creasing, “how was I supposed to know?”
Harry shook his head, “sweet omega.” He set a plate in front of Louis, then one to the right of him. Harry sat, laying the cloth napkin across his lap. The alpha picked up his fork, “enjoy.”
Louis stared down at his plate of food, leaning down to smell it. “What is this?”
“Potatoes, cream of corn, and steak.”
Louis licked his lips, “looks kind of bad.”
Harry closed his eyes briefly, laughing. He bit his lip, nodding slowly, “does it?”
“Yeah.” Louis poked at the corn, “why is it wet?”
“It is cream of corn.”
“Creamy corn,” Louis shrugged. “I’ll try anything once.”
Harry cut into his steak, chuckling, “will you?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Louis lifted the cream of corn to his lips. “Pretty okay.” He swallowed, “it’s kind of sweet.”
“It is.”
“You can cook.”
“I can.”
“Who taught you?”
“My father.”
“Ugh,” Louis rolled his eyes. “Your dad sucks.”
“At times.” Harry watched Louis poke at his potatoes. “Would you like something else to eat?”
“No,” Louis shook his head. “My cravings are funny sometimes.”
“Because of the suppressants?”
“Yes.” Louis huffed, dropping his fork. He looked at Harry, shoulders falling, “do you like me?”
Harry coughed, choking around his steak. He wiped his mouth, licking his lips, “excuse me?”
“You are too healthy to have hearing problems.”
“Excuse me for being surprised.”
“It’s just a question.”
“I,” Harry thought for a moment. “You fascinate me. I don’t think I can say I like you romantically. I don’t know you.”
“Well,” Louis lifted his glass of water. “What do you want to know?”
Harry smirked, “what would make me like you?”
Louis bit his thumb, setting the glass down. “I write well. Like articles and stuff. I don’t write fiction.” Louis frowned, “I don’t cook but I know how. I smell sometimes because I don’t shower. My hair gets so tangled that its full of knots.” He put his chin on his hand, thinking, “I have outbursts of anger and sadness.” He puckered his lips in thought, “Sometimes I can’t even get out of bed because I want to nest for days. I spend a lot, I mean a lot, of money of soft cloth. I am in debt.” Louis sat up, “wow. I am so unlovable.”
Harry smiled, setting down his utensils to pick up his water. “I think you just gave me many reasons to like you.” He shook his head, “I think it makes it easier to love you, not make you unlovable.”
Louis pouted, “I didn’t take you for a liar.”
Harry laughed, “I’m serious.”
The omega shrugged, stuffing his mouth with corn. “I like you.”
Harry smirked, “I wouldn’t have known.”
“I’m pretty subtle.” Louis’ firm expression made Harry smile. “I don’t like people really -ever. I’m excited.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, because maybe you will like me back and then I won’t be so lonely.”
Harry’s eyes softened, “hm.” He looked down at his plate while Louis stuffed his mouth. “Is loneliness not a choice?”
“It wasn’t my choice to be lonely.” Louis rubbed his belly. “My parents made that choice for me.”
“But they are not here now. It is your choice.”
“Well, yeah. That’s why I’m here.” Louis looked at him with vulnerable eyes. “I’m here with you which means I’m not alone.”
“You know something.” Harry sat up, “you have to be the sweetest being I have ever met in my lifetime.”
Louis smiled, looking away. He giggled, neck and face going red, “that’s -that’s a lie.”
“No, really,” Harry shook his head. “You are so genuine because you don’t know how not to be. Honestly, it is so sweet.”
“Thanks…” Louis rubbed his arm, “Is there dessert?”
“Um, yes actually.” Harry sat up straighter, surprised by the question. “You haven’t finished.”
“I know, I will. I eat a lot -I just -I wanted to make sure there was.”
“And if there wasn’t?”
“I would maybe leave and come back with something from the store- maybe.”
Harry dropped his head, laugh erupting from his chest. “Wow. You are not unlovable, Louis. Not at all.”
“Tell that to other people.”
“I don’t have to, nor do I want to.”
Louis stuck his fork into his steak, biting it, “do you want me all to yourself?”
Harry watched the omega chew with full cheeks. He licked his lips, mumbling, “I think so.”
-
“I want to go to your bedroom.”
“No.” Harry opened a door that led to a library. “We will have dessert in here.”
“Where is it?”
“What?”
“The dessert.” Louis crawled into a large leather chair, rubbing his face against it. “Mm, everything smells like you.”
“It is my library.”
“Yes but,” Louis moaned softly, “it really smells like you.”
Harry dipped his head, “what a compliment.” He stepped back, “I’ll be right back.”
Louis took the time to walk around the room. He ran his slim fingers over the rows of books, squinting at words he couldn’t understand. He stopped on a red bind with gold letters. Louis opened the heavy book, flipping through the thin pages, breathing in the smell.
It was an old book.
“It’s an old book.” Harry set down a tray of assorted sweets that immediately caught Louis’ eye. “It’s a fairy tale book.”
“For a child?” Louis put the book back, going to hover over the tray.
“Yes. It is in Wolf language. It was my mother’s.”
“Is she alive?”
“She is. They divorced when I was young. She lives elsewhere.”
“I’m not trying to ignore your story, but can I have some?”
“Of course,” Harry laughed. “I brought it for you.”
Louis quickly fell to his knees in front of the wooden circle table. He reached for three small pastries at once, cradling them. Louis ate one then two, needing to chew longer before eating the third. He looked up at Harry with glossy eyes. “Are you going to have?”
“I was.”
“Then you should hurry.” Louis grabbed three more, scarfing them down just as fast.
Harry sat on the floor, crossing his legs at the ankle. “Will you eat everything before I can?”
“Yes.”
The alpha grinned, watching Louis gobble down more sweets. He reached out for one, pausing when the omega whined. Louis bit his lip, “I like that one.”
Harry tilted his head, grin pulling at his mouth. “I can tell. There is only one left.”
“Mhm.”
“And I cannot have it because you want it?”
“I think we should share it.”
“But you ate four of them.”
Louis nodded, undeterred. “Yes, I did.”
“And there is only one and I want it.”
“Yes.”
Harry smirked, “so shouldn’t I get it to myself?”
Louis considered it for a moment, “I think sharing it is fine.”
Harry laughed, giving it to Louis. “Eat.”
“Thank the Elements.” Louis chewed the small brownie, sitting back on his butt. He rubbed his belly, “I wish you had ice cream.”
“Who says I don’t?”
“Oh, can I have some?”
Harry squinted at him, thinking, “do you usually eat these many sweets?”
“Yes and no, but I don’t feel like you’re judging me either.”
“I am not.”
Louis rubbed his cheek, “I’m being greedy.”
“You are.” Harry smiled warmly, “but I think you were deprived for so long that being greedy isn’t so bad.” Louis blushed, looking away while grabbing another pastry. “You are a sweet being, Louis. Really.”
Louis nibbled at the cream puff before shoving it in his mouth. He chewed, nodding a little, then he shrugged. “I think we’ll work out just fine.”
“Pardon?”
“Dating. Your dad hates me, but I hate him too so,” Louis shrugged again. “We’ll be fine.”
“Louis,” Harry pressed his lips together. “You are assuming. We are not dating and there is no indication that we will date.”
Louis played with his nail, “you are interested in me. I know you are. I went to therapy, and I learned a lot. I know when someone is interested.”
“You interest me, yes.”
“I’m not loveable but I know how to love. Even when I get angry, I still know how to love.” Louis pulled his hand away before grabbing another pastry. “I was an alpha. I know how to court. I can court you.”
Harry shook his head no, “you were never an alpha, Louis. You never have been, and you never will be.” Louis swallowed. “You can do whatever you want.”
“Okay.” Louis looked around, “read me something.”
“You bounce from topic to topic really fast.”
Louis stood, wiping his pants, “and from emotion to emotion. Tell me which one you want to pick.”
Harry pointed without falter, “the green one, it’s small.”
Louis walked in that direction, “top?”
“Last shelf, at the beginning.”
“Green and small- here.” Louis held it up. “This?”
“Yes. Bring it, sweetheart.”
Louis practically ran over, dropping to the soft carpet. He held out the book with both hands, “what’s it about?”
“It’s about a frog.”
Louis made a face, sitting back on his heels, “a frog? I guess…”
Harry stared at the cover, “the life of a frog.”
“Can you read wolf language?”
“No.”
“What!” Louis threw his hands up, “why do you have so many books in that language then?”
“I like books.”
“That’s stupid.”
“And you are being mean.” Harry raised a brow, “you don’t have to be angry because they are not your books. You haven’t been collecting them for years. I have.”
Louis rubbed his neck, “sorry.”
“What’s it like being a journalist?” Harry touched the pages gently. “Why do you do it?”
“I like writing about facts. Fairy tales and fiction are boring.” Louis huffed, “my whole life was fiction. I want evidence and proof. I want to tell the truth. Speak honesty into our world.”
“Hm. I’ve read your work.” Louis blushed. “It’s good. You write well.”
“Your father doesn’t think so.”
“It doesn’t matter because he is not here, I am.” Harry closed the book. “This book is about a frog that tries to cross the street three times and on the third time he is hit by a car.” He gave Louis the book. “It’s funny.”
Louis gaped, looking down then back at Harry. “Funny? Wha -that’s the end? He’s hit by a car?”
“Yes.”
“But,” Louis frowned, “you said you couldn’t read wolf language.”
“It would be pretty silly if I couldn’t,” the alpha smirked. “Seeing as I have so many books in that language.”
Louis paused then smiled. He laughed, hugging the book, “Elements.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you really laugh. It is nice.” Harry picked up a sweet, eating it. “Why’d you bring your laptop?” Louis swallowed. “Are you going to write about me?”
“Yes.”
Harry grinned, “what will you say?”
“I’m scared that it’s going to turn into a love letter.”
“Write about me all you want. Just not about my father.”
“Will he kill me, really?”
“He won’t but someone will, really. And, if I am to interfere with my father’s choices, then I should probably do it for someone I am in love with, not just someone who interests me.”
Louis nodded, “I can try to make you fall in love with me.”
“No need. You already are.”
“Oh,” Louis couldn’t hide his smile. His bright scent clouded the room as he giggled. He ducked his chin to his chest, smiling small. “Told you.”
Harry laughed loudly, throwing his head back. He uncrossed his ankles to recross them. “Ask me something.”
Louis didn’t falter, “have you killed someone?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“I was a part of a Clan before I became mayor. I was raised as a member of a Wolf Clan. It’s normal to kill whether for food or because you feel threatened. Never for fun.”
“Do you like killing?”
Harry’s brow went up high, “no.”
“No?”
“Do you?”
“I never have.” Louis put a hand on his chest, “I could though. I’d kill someone.”
“Let’s,” Harry interrupted. “Stop talking about killing. Ask me something else.”
“Do you think I’m cute?”
“Very, yes.”
Louis giggled, grinning wide. “Really?”
“Yes,” Harry smiled. “You’re beautiful.”
“Oh,” Louis pulled at his ear. “Do you want to have children?”
“Not particularly, no, but I don’t know.”
“I can’t imagine being pregnant, but I think I would have your children.”
“And you are so certain I would give you them?”
Louis licked his bottom lip, sitting up to reach over the table to grab another pastry. He looked at Harry through his long lashes, “I know you will.” Harry’s jaw tensed and Louis sat back.
“Do you do that on purpose?”
“To you, yes. I don’t know what I’m doing but I know when I do it, you smell better.” Louis pressed the sweet to his lips, mumbling against it. “If I was an alpha, I would still want you.”
Harry growled softly under his breath, rumble sounding like a rough purr. “Tempting thing.”
“Persuasive too.”
Harry sighed, closing his eyes. “I wouldn’t mate you, not now.”
“Why?” Louis frowned, “why not?”
“Because your emotions are too unpredictable. You would have to-”
“Fuck you.” Louis growled, standing. “Waste of my time.”
Harry lifted a hand, “see. Perfect example.” The alpha shook his head, “what do you expect? Do you think we are just going to be mates? Forget a friendship?”
Louis stood awkwardly, hovering over the table. He shrugged, “I don’t know.” He huffed, turning away, “I don’t know how this works. I don’t know -how to be what you want or what-”
“I have not once asked you for anything nor have I expected anything from you. I hardly know you.”
Louis folded his arms, walking towards a bookshelf. “Everyone has an expectation.”
“I am very sorry everyone in your life has had an expectation for you. I expect nothing and I ask for nothing, Louis.” Harry stood, groaning. “Look, you are lovely and sweet. You are a wonderful being, Louis, but you have no control over your emotions. You lash out and then revert. You cry and then become nervous and then angry. There is no consistency and that may be fine for you, but it is not for me.”
Louis turned around quickly, gritting his teeth so he wouldn’t scream. “So, what do you want from me?”
“I already told you.” Harry stuffed his hands in his pockets, “I don’t want anything.”
“So what the fuck am I doing? Elements! Why am I here! Why have me over for dinner!”
Harry smiled with a sigh, “because you are sweet.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Louis’ warm forehead. He left his lips there for a moment, letting the omega whine silently. Harry pulled away, bending a little to be at eye level with him. “I don’t think it’s fair if I confuse you and, unfortunately, kissing your forehead is confusing.” Louis nodded lazily. “So, I would love to be your friend in hopes of something more.”
Louis swallowed, touching his forehead. “I would like that…”
“But,” Harry’s brows creased, mouth tight. “You have to see someone.”
“Can’t you just fix me?” Louis threw his arms up. “If I get an alpha; you can tame me.”
“No,” Harry whispered, cupping Louis’ cheek. “That is wrong. I can’t tame you because you are not a wild animal. No one should think they can tame you. You are an omega. The strongest being in the world.” Harry smiled, “I am not here to dull your shine. I told you, you are the sweetest being I have ever met. No one can ‘fix’ you.” Louis frowned. “You are not broken. You are an experience that people have yet to experience. You are not broken.”
Louis’ bottom lip trembled, burning hot tears spewing from his eyes. He whined high, walking into Harry’s large arms. He rubbed his red, wet, face across the alpha’s pristine shirt. He sobbed, clutching the fabric with both hands.
The kiss Harry pressed to his hot forehead felt like ice.
-
“You are still writing an article about him?” Libra made a face, squinting at the screen over Louis’ shoulder. “You’re writing about having dinner with him.”
“Yes.” Louis’ slim fingers typed heavily against the keyboard. “I still need an article to publish.”
“‘Harry Styles is a warm alpha with a big heart. He allowed me to have dinner in his home despite the embarrassing display just a few days prior.’” Libra hummed, “don’t you think this may stir up some serious problems?”
“No. If he’s stupid enough to think I won’t write about him, then maybe I don’t actually like him. Anyway,” Louis leaned back against his chair to crack his back. “He asked if I was going to write about him and I said I was.”
“And he said that was okay?”
“So long as I didn’t write about his father, yes.”
“What a weird alpha.” Libra sat on the couch, crossing his legs. “What should we do about Niall?”
Louis stopped mid-type, turning around. “Nothing. We just go about our lives.”
Libra frowned, shaking his head. “Doesn’t sound like much of a plan.”
Louis stood up, feeling the distress coming off his friend. He sat beside Libra, pulling the omega’s foot into his lap. “We can confront him. Are you angry at him?”
“Kind of.” Libra huffed, “he lied to us.”
“And I write stories about people even if it might upset them.” Louis rubbed Libra’s leg, “and you were born into money, so you don’t have to work but you choose to even when it upsets your parents. We all have to do what we have to do.”
“So, we just pretend we don’t know.”
“How about you let me deal with it?” Libra raised a brow. “Please.”
“Fine, fine.” The omega sat up, “So what happened after dessert?”
Louis stood off the couch, going back to his computer. “I went on my laptop and wrote down some of our conversations, so I didn’t forget them.”
“And he knew you were writing them down?”
“He did, yes.”
“Goodness.” Libra folded his arms. “Also, Louis.” Louis groaned, hands typing a little harder at the keys. “I think it’s time for a shower.”
“I’m working right now.”
“Louis,” Libra warned.
Louis turned in his chair, “Libra.”
“Catch an attitude with your soon-to-be and not with me, okay?”
Louis ran a hand across his face, “Libra, I’m working!”
“You smell.”
“I don’t smell, I just showered.”
“You were out all day sweating and now you stink. You need to shower.”
“I’ll change my clothes!”
“You were supposed to change them after sweating in them!”
Louis growled, “no.”
“Now Louis.” Libra walked away, going to the bathroom to start the shower.
Louis seethed, typing faster, angry when he kept misspelling words. “I’m not showering right now!”
“You are!”
Louis pushed away from the desk, standing up to kick his couch. He growled to the kitchen, grabbing a cup from the cabinet. He stared at the green plastic cup, breathing hard. “I don’t want a fucking shower!” When Libra didn’t respond, Louis became angrier. He started pulling out all his plastic cups, throwing them on the floor. He screamed, throwing the last of his glass plates on the floor, breaking them. He kicked the dishwasher, walking around the glass with his green cup.
He was met with a disappointed Libra waiting by the bathroom door. “Oh, Louis.”
Louis threw his cup at Libra’s feet. “I said no!”
Libra sighed, “such a fight all the time.” The omega frowned then, biting his lip. “Please, Louis.”
Louis knew what Libra was doing because Niall wasn’t there, they both couldn’t grab him, so Libra was using the next best thing. Libra would pretend to be sad, pretend to cry so Louis felt bad, and it always worked.
“You broke all your plates, Louis. The sound was scary. Please stop.”
Louis frowned, tears expelling from his eyes. He walked up to Libra, removing his clothes as he walked. He picked up the cup, grabbing Libra’s hand so they could go to the bathroom.
He stared at the water hitting the bathtub for a long time. “I want a bath.”
“We have to first rinse you off.”
It took twenty minutes before Louis stepped inside, another twenty before he wet his hair. He held onto his cup, refusing to give it up when Libra asked for it. Eventually, he did, folding his arms in favor of holding it. Libra poured water over his head, covering his eyes.
“When’s the last time you brushed your hair?”
Libra had to wash his hair twice and condition it three times.
“I don’t know.”
Libra sighed, tugging at a few knots. “You’re going to hate this. It makes it worse when you don’t try to do it yourself.”
Louis scoffed, keeping his arms tightly crossed. “I don’t care.”
“Don’t be rude. You’re just going to feel bad about it later.” Libra sighed, kissing the top of his head. “You smell wonderful. It’s time to wash your body.”
Louis felt tears prickling at the edges of his eyes. He gritted his teeth, “leave me alone.”
Libra groaned, standing up, “here we go.”
-
“Louis.” Harry frowned, coming down the stairs, tying his robe. “What’s going on?”
Louis couldn’t even imagine what he looked like. Crying, in nothing but a matching pajama set that barely covered his thighs. His arms were folded, hair blown to the side by the cold night air. He sniffled, a deep frown on his face. “My friend hates me.”
Harry pressed his lips together, looking behind Louis at Liam. “Uh -pardon?”
Louis walked into Harry’s arms, crying, “my friend hates me because I screamed at him for helping me shower and I feel so bad and I needed a hug but he said I was being too mean and left and now I’m alone again and I can’t stop crying so I walked here and I’m so sad!”
Harry cupped the back of his head, “Okay.” He took Louis’ hand, walking them to the library. He sat Louis in the big leather chair, sitting at the omega’s feet. He took off Louis’ bedroom slippers, staring at the torn bottoms before setting them aside. Harry took one small foot into his hands, massaging the under part.
“What else happened?”
Louis moaned, shivering because it tickled but felt so good on his sore feet. Harry’s firm thumbs dug circles into the heels of his feet. He arched his back, melting into the leather. “He -he said he would see me tomorrow but what if he never comes back?”
“That omega seems to love you very much.” Harry went to the other foot, “what is so scary about bathing?”
“I told you before!” Harry moved his hands away and Louis’ eyes shot open. He frowned, whining, “no.”
“Let me be very clear,” Harry’s voice didn’t wavier, didn’t break calm, but his eyes showed aggravation. “It is two in the morning. You are tired, I am tired. You walked here in slippers; I did not expect to be woken up two hours after I’d fallen asleep. You came to my home for me to comfort you. You walked here in the middle of the night, where someone could have hurt you. I allowed you in my home, Liam allowed you in my home. The next time you yell at me, raise your voice, or disrespect the space I am giving you; I will leave you outside and go back to sleep.” Louis’ mouth closed; eyes wide. “I respect you; you respect me. Am I clear?”
“Yes.”
“I suggest you think before you speak from now on.”
“Yes.”
“I asked you a question. I know you have given me an answer before. I don’t care. I am asking you again.”
Louis swallowed, “I don’t like bathing because it uncovers my scent. I am not used to the attention from others. I don’t know how to control my scenting because you are normally taught as a child, and I was not. I’m scared someone is going to hurt me. My parents also,” Louis frowned, swallowing again. “Didn’t let me shower a lot. I was only allowed to bathe twice a week and it was a sponge bath that my mother would give me. They were afraid my scent would show even with suppressants.”
“From now on, I expect the whole truth. Not just half of it. Yes? I tell you the whole truth.”
“Yes.”
“Does Libra know this about your parents?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t like talking about them. They were good to me, a little. I don’t want them to be seen as worse even if they were.”
“You need someone to open your eyes.” Harry sat back on the floor and Louis wanted to thank him for not standing over him. “I did research after meeting you. Your parents were terrible, Louis.”
Louis felt hot bubbles in his stomach that he pushed down.
“You may feel angry, please, but they were. My father didn’t just put them in jail because of the illegal suppressants. Your father was hurting you. It was clear that he wanted you to belong to him. The fact that it makes you angry tells me that he succeeded in brainwashing you. Your mother did nothing because she was submissive.” Harry leaned forward, “your mother did nothing to help you and your father manipulated you and her into doing what he wanted. You did not deserve that.”
Louis bit his tongue hard. “I know they were bad people. I don’t need a reminder.”
“No, clearly you do.” Harry shook his head, “don’t defend people who hurt you. The only person you should be defending is you. You need to apologize to yourself and not to them.” Harry licked his lips, “you are like this because of them. Your emotions, your needs, your fears, your anxiety, the fact that you can’t even bathe, that you fill your body with sweets. That is them, not you.”
Louis let the tears drip off his chin, lips trembling hard.
“Stop making excuses for the people that hurt you. Acknowledge that they hurt you. Use the pain to be better.” Harry tilted his head, “if all they gave you were sponge baths then you should only be taking sponge baths. Everyday. Then work your way up. You need to seek help. That is not a weakness. It will be the hardest thing in the world for you, it could never be seen as weakness.”
Louis nodded slowly.
“And you like me?”
“I do. A lot…”
“Okay. I am a very clean person. I want the same for my mate. I do not want a dirty mate, Louis. Would you?”
“No.”
“Then, bathing is not an option.”
“Yes.”
Harry sighed, exhaustion finally showing on his face. “Talk to me.”
“I’m so sorry.” Louis rubbed his nose, “You’re right but -but-”
“But you don’t believe me, and I don’t want you to. I want it to hit you. I am giving you the right advice at the wrong time. Even if it is the right advice, if you aren’t ready to hear it, you will not do anything about it. I do not think you will suddenly change after years of mistreatment.”
Louis crawled off the couch, into Harry’s lap. He cried and sobbed. He pressed his face as close as he could, clutching desperately at Harry’s robe. He untied the robe quickly, crying into the alpha’s bare chest. Louis then pulled at his own shirt and Harry helped him.
The alpha gently undid each small pearl button. He slid it off Louis’ back, taking a deep breath of the omega’s skin.
Louis, pleased, closed his eyes before drifting off to sleep.
-
Louis woke up alone and terrified. He looked around the library, touching the fur beside him. It was black fur, pitch black, and it smelled just like Harry. His throat hurt and his eyes felt swollen. He grabbed his pajama shirt slowly, noticing the rest of the blankets surrounding him.
Harry made him another nest.
The omega whined, thinking back to the night prior. He shut his eyes tight, growling into his shirt.
“Good morning.”
Louis jumped, eyes dilating when Liam entered the room. He shivered, “Harry?”
“He is showering upstairs. He asked me to bring you something to eat.” The alpha held up a plate of food. “May I?”
Louis wanted to growl. He shook his head, crying instead, “No.” He looked down at his naked torso. “I have no clothes on.”
Liam frowned, “okay.” He placed the plate just outside the nest. “Here. I will bring some water.”
“Can you take me home?”
Liam tilted his head, eyes soft. “Of course I can.”
“Right now?”
The alpha pressed his lips together, “you wouldn’t like to wait for Harry?”
Louis wiped his face, “I just -I feel overwhelmed.”
Liam stepped closer, kneeling outside the nest. “It’s awful, being overwhelmed. I am very sorry.” Louis pressed his shirt to his mouth, crying. “You know,” Liam smiled, “when my mother was pregnant with my brother, she often had different bouts of emotions. She often expressed she felt overwhelmed.” He lifted the plate, “food also helped. Especially pancakes.”
Louis looked at the plate of pancakes and eggs. He took it carefully, looking up at Liam nervously. The alpha preened, “good omega.”
Louis sighed softly, taking the fork Liam held out for him.
“Good morning, Louis, and Liam.”
Liam stood, smiling at his friend. “Louis has decided to eat.”
The alpha nodded, “good.” Harry scented the room and Liam dipped his head with a small smile.
“I will go now.” He looked at Louis stuffing his mouth. “Enjoy, Louis.”
Harry was wearing a button-down, not buttoned yet, and black pants with bare feet. He looked down at Louis and, for once, Louis wanted to see the alpha above him. Louis stopped eating, putting the plate to the side. He whined, crawling forward, kneeling in front of Harry.
The alpha purred, putting a hand in Louis’ hair, “beautiful.” He squatted, pressing a warm kiss to Louis’ forehead. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Louis breathed. He bit his lip, “I was overwhelmed, and Liam told me his mom used to get like that. He said pancakes help.”
Harry smirked, “did they?”
“Yes.” Louis licked his sticky lips, “a lot.”
Harry gave another kiss on his forehead. “You smell incredible. I am very happy you showered yesterday even if it was difficult.”
Louis swallowed, enjoying the praise. He pulled back then, blinking, “you’re manipulating me -in a healthy way -again.” Harry’s smile was small. Louis looked down at his thighs. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Whatever soap you use is very nice, and neutral. I like that it brings out your smell.”
Louis was already thinking about when he left that he would buy more because Libra had used so much of it yesterday.
“Thank you.”
Harry stroked Louis’ cheek, “how are you feeling?”
“Sick.”
Harry nodded, “okay. How else?”
Louis thought for a moment, “I feel -I feel like I don’t hate being an omega right now.”
Harry smiled wide, “that’s wonderful.”
Louis blushed, eyes going big. “I think I feel empowered.”
Harry’s smile grew impossibly wider, “that’s so good, Louis. I’m so proud of you.”
Louis’ heartbeat sped up. He shoved his face into the opening of Harry’s shirt, breathing in deep.
Louis took one breath, two, and one more before throwing up.
-
“Hi, Bria.” Louis bit his top lip, “I wanted to-”
Libra huffed, opening his door wider. “Louis, come in.”
Louis did, looking around. He loved Libra’s home and loved how decorated it was. It smelled like candles all the time and it was clean. Louis’ apartment looked like a teenage alpha lived in it even with the new furniture.
“I’m not mad at you, Louis -well, I am because you weren’t answering your phone and you weren’t home.”
“I went to Harry’s.”
“When?” Libra crossed his arms, “how?”
“I walked there in the middle of the night.” Louis lifted a hand before Libra could yell. “I know, I know.” He sighed, “I know.”
“Did you get there?”
“I did. He is -I’m going to marry him.” Libra blinked quickly. “I will. I will marry him, and I want him to be in my life forever.” Louis rubbed his face. “I think I found the best alpha in the world, for anyone. But I found him first.”
Libra sat on the couch, “sit.”
Louis did, laying his head on the back of the couch. He closed his eyes, “my parents only let me take sponge baths twice a week. I never was allowed to eat sweets. I didn’t even know what sweets were and I was never given them, so I never wanted to try them. I was homeschooled; I had no friends. I was spoiled with attention by my parents, but I never had toys to play with, fur, or anything soft. They stripped away anything that could have triggered my omega.”
Libra sat up, brows tightly together, “Louis…”
“I want to be able to say that they hurt me and not defend them.” He took a deep breath, turning to his friend. “Can,” He bit his cheek. “Can -can you help me shower today? At my house?”
Libra’s lips parted, “Of course I can.” He leaned forward, pulling his friend into a hug, “of course I can.”
-
“Hi Niall.”
Niall’s eyes were low, he smiled slightly. “I’m not going to walk into your house just to lie.”
Louis shrugged, “we both know, Bria knows too.”
“I know.”
“Sorry if it ruined your vacation.”
“It didn’t, I was just told.” Niall folded his arms, “how are you feeling?”
“Good.”
“You smell amazing.”
Louis chuckled, “thanks. Come in.” He let Niall inside, going to the couch. Louis sat, looking up at his friend. “I missed you.”
Niall bit his cheek, “I missed you too, Louis.” He folded his arms, “do you hate me?”
Louis huffed, rolling his eyes, “I don’t, not at all.” He scratched the back of his neck, “I’m going to write about you. Write how my best friend was friends with Harry Styles.” Niall nodded slowly. “How I have been hanging out with Harry.”
Niall pressed his lips together, “maybe you shouldn’t.”
“Like I told Libra, he’s stupid if he thinks I won’t.” Louis sighed, “I’m going to write about my experience.”
“You are going to get involved in things you don’t want to be a part of, Louis.” Niall sat, “his father won’t like it.”
“I don’t care. I’m not writing about his father.”
The blonde bit his bottom lip, “you aren’t worried?”
“About?”
“About people pestering you about knowing him. Becoming the center of attention?”
Louis looked at his laptop, open and full of writing. “I didn’t think about that.”
Niall sighed, “Harry is a private alpha. His father even more so. That alpha will kill you, uncaring if you mean anything to Harry.”
Louis made a face, “what is with his father?” The omega growled, “why is he so callus?”
“He is a Clan leader, Louis, he has to be. Some wolves believe the way things were done before were better than now. They change with the times but will never lose their heritage.” Niall shrugged, “that family, although kind, are quite brutal. They are protective. Private.” Louis listened intently and Niall groaned. “I feel like you’re just taking mental notes to write later.”
“I am.”
“Louis,” Niall shook his head, “you really are not afraid of dying.”
Louis slid off the couch, sitting on the floor beside his laptop. “To get the truth, not at all.” He opened a new window, writing. “It doesn’t mean I’m publishing it.” He paused, looking over his shoulder, “I’m curious. Where does Harry’s father even live?”
“In the large homes in th -Louis!” Niall stood, “no.”
Louis smiled, “large homes in the forest? The small town there?”
“Louis. You can’t go there. They won’t let you in.”
Louis grinned, “I have my ways.” He closed his laptop, “You know, during the year of Arizella, when the King chose a Queen after a long dry spell?” He stood, “he fell ill in the forest and a Pack took him in.”
Niall cut his eyes, “because he was pure.”
“Yes, but he has seen me with his son. He won’t leave me outside.”
“Yes, he will.”
Louis smirked, “I know he won’t.”