Chapter 2 | What's that smell?

                                    

                                          
After an exhausting 5 hours on the bus and a last trip with a taxi, he finally arrived in the familiar neighbourhood. He had been in and out of sleep on the bus ride and it made him even more exhausted with his head hitting the bus window every time. He had looked in his selfie camera to see if it had not left a bruise on his head because he felt like he got a concussion every time it happened. The rest of the hours he tried to sit up not wanting another head banger from the window. Now they had finally arrived in front of his parents' house, he paid the taxi driver and took his stuff from the trunk and looked up. He saw the cosy white house standing tall between all the similar-styled houses around in the neighbourhood and so many memories flooded his brain. He didn't know he had missed it that much when a smile appeared on his face, and he saw an excited figure waving at him from the window of his family's house. His mom of course. He waved back and grinned while walking up the steps to the front door with his weekend back over his shoulder. His mom was there already holding the door open for him with a big smile on her face.
"Julian! You've grown so much!" She pulled him in a tight hug and Julian almost dropped his stuff with the sudden hug.
"I've missed you too. But really, I haven't grown that much." He answered and kissed her on the cheek and smiled down at her.
"Well, definitely always taller than me." She joked.
Julian looked around; everything still looked the same as always. Mom didn't like change and she had always disliked it when Julian left to go to college and live on his own.
"Where's dad?" He asked when he didn't see him around.
"He's in the kitchen making dinner. Your favourite this time!" She said exited. Julian laughed at his moms enthusiasm. It warmed his heart and walked with his mother into the kitchen to greet his dad. He was cooking dinner and was murmuring over the stove. As he looked up his eyes widened with glee, and he put his spoon down to pull Julian in a big hug.
"Son! You're back! Wait till your sister sees you." He laughed and pulled away to look Julian up and down.
"Yes, still so pretty, have you lost weight? Good thing I cooked a lot." He said with a sigh.
"Stop that dad" Julian said as his eyes darted away shyly. His dad would always say that when he visited. Of course, they knew he was an omega, and they were very proud of him. They had never shamed him for being an omega and embraced his second nature from the very beginning. It was just Julian that couldn't live with it. He wished to have the same mentality as them.
"I've been working a lot, maybe that's why I've lost some weight." He said as he put his bag near the door before sitting down at the dinner table not thinking much of his parents worry. His dad looked at him and shook his head.
"You don't need to work part-time boy, you get money from us monthly right, for your expenses?" He said with a question in his voice. Julian looked up and felt like he had been found out. He worked to be able to afford those scent-neutralizers. He couldn't say that as he laughed a little nervously and thought about what to say now.
"You know I also want to be able to pay for things myself. Not just your money" He said nonchalantly like he wasn't just telling a blatant lie. They didn't need to know he hid his second nature, and everyone had been thinking he was an alpha. They nodded and understood. "Well, it's your life, you should have more fun instead of working so much then. How's the love life going? Any good-looking alpha around who swooned you of your feet?" Dad asked jokingly and winked at him. Julian darted his eyes around and gulped. What was he supposed to say about that! He needed to get away from here because the questions were getting more and more personal.
"Okay, I'm going to my room to unpack, call me when dinner is ready!" He avoided the question and got up. He waved at them and grabbed his stuff before going up the stairs. He heard his dad chuckle and say something to his mom that he couldn't hear any more as he climbed the stairs and stood in front of his old bedroom door. As he opened it, he smiled. it was still the same as always. His bed was in the corner of the room next to his window. He always loved waking up with the chirping of the birds and the sunlight shining in. The old posters on the wall and the action figures he had collected and hadn't taken with him to college still stood tall on his dresser. The mirror with the crack on the left side from when he was so mad, he found out he was an omega also wasn't replaced yet. His parents didn't know why it was cracked though. He dumped his bag on the floor and jumped on his bed face first and sighed. He was happy to be home and just relax and be himself for a while. He had been pretending and acting too much the last years. He was exhausted from pretending to be that tough and stern alpha. He was way too soft to act like that all the time. His second nature was right. He was way more of a cuddly person and his personality was also way softer. He loved being taken care of, although he would never admit it. He wanted to feel arms wrap around him and lips kiss his neck softly. That's what his heart wanted but he hid that far away. He could also be the one giving all that affection, he could try at least.
He was deep in thought when the door of his room slammed open.
"Brother!!" A high-pitched screech came from the door opening. Julian sat up quickly with a yelp. His sister stood in the doorway with a huge smile plastered on her face and she leaped into the room and jumped on top of him.
"I've missed youuu!!!" She yelled in his ear and she held him in a tight hug. Julian groaned and tried to pry her off him. His rib case was being crushed with her arms and his lungs slowly lost all air.
"C-can't breathe." He gasped out.
"Oh sorry" She apologized and let him go but still sat on top of him. Julian looked up and smiled as his little sister was excited to see him. He was too, after all this time apart. "I've missed you too!" He said and laughed when he pushed her over onto the floor and sat up. "How's school, how's everything" She asked before sitting down next to him, slapping his shoulder.
"You know just normal, doing great in school and will be finished next year."
"Ahh... Will you come back home then? It's so lonely without you here." She pouted.
Julian hadn't thought of what he wanted to do after he finished college. Maybe find a job in the city or move back here to find a job here. He would see what the next few months would bring him. He still wasn't sure what he wanted that's why he also came back here, to maybe finds some answers and make a life plan.
Julian wrapped his arm around his sister and leaned his head on her shoulder.
"Hmm... I don't know yet, maybe I'll move back. But just for you then" He winked and grinned at her jokingly.
"You sap. Find a mate already!" She slapped him on the head and stood up to jump back on him to fight before they heard their mother calling them for dinner. Julian was relieved, his sister was petite but could fight him well! He jumped up and sneaked past her to run downstairs before she could catch up to him.
As they stumbled down the stairs, with them both trying to be the first, their mother stopped them before someone got seriously hurt.
"Come on, it's still the same after all these years! Next time you'll both get hospitalized if you keep this up! Sit down" She said with a stern look, they both knew she didn't mean it but still sat down obediently.
Dinner went by without a hitch and they talked about all the things they had missed out on from Julian and Julian from his family. He ate a ton of his favourite food, lasagne, and his father kept piling his plate up and constantly said he was too thin, and he should eat more. Julian happily ate it all though. He was glad to be back. 

With a heavy groan, Julian plopped down on his bed, wiping his hair after a much-needed shower. His stomach was stuffed and his eyes droopy from all the carbs, he wanted nothing more than to sleep now. He dried his hair and was about to lay down on his bed but before he could his phone rang. He sighed, who could this be this late but picked up.
"Julian, you're back!" James grinned on the other end of the line. He was Julian's childhood friend; they grew up together in this little town.
"James! Haven't heard from you in a long time." Julian said with a smile, hearing his familiar voice.
"Yeah sorry, was really busy with work."
James worked at his father's shop here in town, he never really wanted to study so this was the best way for him. And he loved it. He was going to take over his father's business later as an alpha so why waste away those college years when you could learn from the best, he had said. 
"Let's catch up tomorrow and play some soccer with the other boys. They talked about you last time about wanting to see you again, so let's play."
"Okay, sounds good. Afternoon?
"Yeah, I can ask Dad if I can get off earlier."
"Okay, see you tomorrow! Goodnight." Julian said, and after James also wished him a goodnight he hung up. He dropped his phone next to his pillow and connected it to the charger he had pulled out of his backpack. He dropped back down and pulled the covers over him before falling into a deep sleep soon after, exhausted from the long journey home.

The next day he woke up early to go for a walk. He had always enjoyed nature and here in town, it was easier to just go out and walk into the woods a few miles behind their house. He pulled on his sweatpants and a hoody before leaving the house and chewing on an apple. He sniffed in the fresh air and walked for a while enjoying the rising sun and the chirping of the birds. He was in his own world as he walked for an hour and saw a person approaching with a super cute dog. It was a tall but strained man with brown hair slicked back. The owner seemed to be looking like some kind of elite because he was wearing a suit, and too handsome to be here... Weird, who let their dog out in a suit? He just shrugged, not his problem with how people liked to dress. He greeted the alpha and squatted down to pet the dog. The dog barked and wiggled at him before sniffing his hand and leaning into Julian's touch.
"He seems to like you. Not that usual." The man said as he saw the dog enjoying Julian's caresses.
"Haha, well both a first, I like dogs, but dogs don't seem to always like me too." He smiled up at the man and got back up.
"Sorry, I'm a bit rude. My name is Julian." He reached out his hand for the man to take and greeted him.
"I'm Mason." The man said and greeted him with a smile and shook his hand.
"You live around here?" Mason said and squinted his eyes.
"Ah! Well, my parents live here, I'm back home for the holidays." Julian said with a smile. He had never seen this man here before too, but he hadn't been home for a long time so maybe he had moved here in the meantime.
"You live around here too?" He asked out of curiosity. "Yes, we moved here 6 months ago."
"Ah okay, well nice meeting you. A-And the cute dog!" He said before looking at his watch. He saw that it was almost 9 am and they had agreed to eat breakfast together with the family, so he had to hurry.
"I'll be leaving now, see you around." 
"Yes, see you around..." Mason said and waved him goodbye, he watched the boy scurry off and he stood there for a second. What a weird encounter and what was that smell?

Julian hurried home and was just in time for breakfast as he slipped in his seat. His sister had just woken up and yawned as she ate her breakfast. His parents chatted away and Julian could only think about the strange man with the dog. Good thing the man hadn't mentioned his scent because he forgot to put on his scent neutralizers this morning. He didn't mind much here because his family was used to his cinnamon apple scent. And his heat was nowhere near so most alphas wouldn't be able to smell it.
"Mom? Have there been new people moving in town the last months?" Julian asked as they were seated around the table, enjoying their breakfast.
"Not that I know of, but people come and go here. What about it?"
"No nothing, just thinking." Julian mumbled and found it strange. So, the man wasn't known here. But he said he lived around here. He shrugged and let it go, he helped his dad clean out the garage after breakfast and when lunchtime hit Mom made them sandwiches and Julian left right after to meet up with his childhood friends.
He took his old bike out of the garage and sprinted away. The court was only 5 minutes away and when he arrived, he could already see some familiar faces. His face lit up as he approached them after he had locked his bike.
"Heeyy!!!" They yelled in unison as Julian gave them a hug and greeted him.
"Hello to you too. It's been awhile" Julian smiled and approached James. James was a work of art himself. his skin was tanned from work and eyes perfect hazel. Hair curly and dark on top of his head and just an overall jock type.
"Well, you left us, we meet up here every week to play, have to become just as good as you" James joked and slapped Julian's back.
"Okay if you practiced so hard, let's play then! Show me if you've improved" Julian said with a glint in his eyes as he grabbed the ball and walked to the middle of the field.
They made teams and started the game. Julian had missed this as he was passing the ball around. In college, he didn't have time to play and most people he knew didn't play soccer either. It was good to be back. 
They played around for some time, and they all played well but just as Julian was about to score the winning goal, he smelled it. His whole body stiffened. This scent. So, enticing and so good. It smelled like sandalwood. He completely forgot about the game and his mind drifted off. He had never really smelled other people and this made him confused. If he smelled other alphas, it was never this strong. How was he able to smell something now? And who was it?
He passed the ball and looked around. He didn't register his friends calling his name as he was sniffing the air and trying to find out who this amazing smell belonged too. He felt his heart flutter and beat faster in his chest. He had never felt something like this, and it made him scared. His Omega yipped inside of him, also something he had never registered before. How was this possible?
He had never been connecting with his omega side and now it came out as if it was the first time he had presented. He had tried to hide the voices away but now it was purring in his head as they smelled the air. He felt his ears turn red and his knees weaken as he tried to follow the scent. His omega had taken over and wanted nothing more than to follow it and wrap himself inside that person's arms.
Person! Julian came back to his senses when he registered what he had just done! He let his omega out! This can't be happening!

"Are you okay?" James touched Julian's shoulder and that startled Julian. He turned around as his friends looked at him in concern.
"Ah... Yeah. It's nothing. Felt a little dizzy that's it." He chuckled and lied. He smiled and swallowed down the weird feeling. He could feel his omega yipping and jumping inside him, happy with the smell. What could that mean? He had never experienced something like this, and he had never learned about omegas as he hadn't planned on being one. He shook his head. He could deal with this later.
"Come on let's play. You still haven't won from me" He said jokingly and kicked the ball away.

They were sweating and breathing hard after playing a few more rounds and they called it quits.
"You know what we should do!" James said excitedly, they were sitting against the fence, cooling down. "We should go out tonight to the bar to celebrate Julian's return!"
Everyone cheered and Julian thought why not? It's been a while since he let loose, so he agreed, and they decided to meet up tonight at the local bar. A few drinks would surely help calm his nerves and the unsettling feeling inside him. He needed to calm his omega down or things could get worse.