by Grace, Aria
As we rattle down the road toward city hall, I flip through the emails on my phone and drink my breakfast shake. Jackie has already emailed me a copy of my itinerary for the day, so I give it a once over before we get to the office. I already know most of my schedule, but it looks like she’s slipped in a few more appointments where there were gaps.
Damn. Looks like I won’t have a free moment to myself all day, which is unfortunate. It can’t really be helped though. Your days tend to be full to bursting when you’re the mayor of a large city.
Regardless, I’ll still ask Jackie to track down Rubin from the bar. There’s always the chance an appointment will be canceled or a meeting will go more quickly than expected. Whatever happens, I know I’ve got to see him today.
Something in my gut tells me I’ll regret it if I don’t.
3
Rubin
Everything hurts way more today than it did yesterday.
I’m barely able to make it downstairs for breakfast without groaning like an eighty-year-old. Between the gauze on my cheek and the bruises blooming across my face, everyone in the dining room at Omega House can figure out what happened to me. A lot of them have been in similar situations themselves in the past but it’s never easy to see on someone else.
Several well-wishers ask me if I’m okay and offer to get me stuff, but I don’t like being the center of attention. It’s easier to just tell them I’m fine and don’t need anything than to admit the humiliating truth. As far as I can tell, nothing’s broken. Bruises and cuts heal with time, so there’s really no reason to fuss.
The only thing that’s really wrong is something no one can help me with. When I called my boss first thing this morning and told him I needed a few days off because I’m still recovering, he told me that if I don’t show up for work tonight, I’m fired. The asshole saw how I looked after the incident in the alley last night. He even let me go home early so I didn’t scare the customers. I actually started to think he had a heart. Apparently, I was wrong. He’s been looking for an excuse to fire me for a while now, and I think this will be it.
I saw the writing on the wall as soon as he mentioned his nephew moving to town and looking for work. I considered offering to job share so I could take a few more classes, but I couldn’t afford to lose any hours.
Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of employment protections in place for omegas. The ones that exist are barebones, at best. If I do get fired, there isn’t any way for me to protest my termination or request unemployment benefits.
It’ll just be over.
I swear under my breath as I lean across the table. With the way I feel right now, there’s no way I’ll be able to get to work let alone make it through an entire shift. Those fucking alphas took more from me than they realized.
As the morning wears on, the pain doesn’t subside. In fact, it only gets worse. Aspirin alone isn’t enough to cut through it, and every time I breathe, it feels like my ribs are being snapped in half. I’m forced to take small, shallow breaths that barely do anything to fill up my lungs just to keep from crying out in pain. Not only that, but I can’t move very fast or lift anything, so I’m left sitting on the sidelines as the rest of the residents go through the day’s chores and activities.
It’s nearly lunchtime before I finally give in and head to the clinic down the street. It’s close enough that I won’t have to drive, and best of all, they’re low cost and don’t require insurance. If they’re not busy, they’ll probably give me something decent for the pain. If they are busy, they might leave me sitting long enough that I can just sleep away the agony. Either way, I won’t be any worse off than I am right now.
After I tell a few people where I’m going so they don’t get worried, I grab my coat and slip outside.
The sky is overcast and gray when I get outside. I pull the hood of my jacket over my head and focus on putting one foot in front of the other as I start down the driveway toward the clinic. Each step feels like it’s jarring every bone in my body. Aches erupt from head to toe, but it’s not the first time I’ve ever been beaten up…and it probably won’t be the last.
This kind of pain is familiar to me. It’s part of life as an omega. Especially when you’re an omega without an alpha.
That thought makes me think of the mysterious stranger from last night. My heart and my cock both swell when I conjure the image of him in my mind. I never got a good look at his face, but I remember how he sounded. I could listen to his voice all day…even if he was an arrogant, self-important, jerk face.
I stop short and kneel down against a telephone pole to catch my breath. I’ve barely managed to go a full block. I’m only two more blocks from the clinic, but I might as well take my time getting there. I’ll probably have to sit in the waiting room for an hour or two once I arrive. They’re the only low-income clinic in the area and the demand for their services is high.
Something wet splashes against my cheek, and when I look up at the sky overhead, another drop splashes against my nose. Rain. With a groan, I drag myself to my feet to get back on my journey. Before I’m fully upright, the clouds open up, and I’m caught in a downpour.
I should’ve brought an umbrella. Hugging my jacket a little tighter around myself, I force my feet to take a few steps, even though I’m a little dizzy, light headed, and unsteady on my feet.
I’m only vaguely aware of the silver sedan that pulls up alongside the curb just ahead of me. I’m too busy focusing on the ground to really pay attention to the person that climbs out of the car. All I can do is silently pray it’s not someone who’s here to beat me up.
“Rubin?” A familiar voice draws my attention. It’s the man from last night.
For the first time, I finally get a good look at his face. What’s strange is that I recognize him, but I don’t know from where. And in the daylight, I can see just how gorgeous he is. With those strong features and that deep voice, I want to dive right into his arms.
Just as quickly as the thought enters my mind, my feet slip and I lean face first toward the ground. With my eyes squeezed shut, I brace for an impact that never comes.
A pair of strong arms curl around me and haul me upright. “I guess you never went to the hospital like I suggested last night.” The man sounds annoyed as he holds me upright, supporting my weight in his hands. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”
As soon as I’m steady, I try to protest his help because I don’t need it. I don’t need anyone’s help, especially if he’s just going to chastise me like I’m some child who needs his hand held. But the reality is I’m too weak to say any of that. All I can do is frown and try to pull away from him as he guides me toward his car. “I’m fine.”
Despite the anger and humiliation I’m feeling, I’m also happy to see him. My heart is doing somersaults and there’s a fluttering in my stomach. He’s holding me, touching me, and his general proximity cloaks me in a sense of warmth and safety.
He helps me into the back seat of his car and closes the door behind me. I’m a little surprised when I look up and see someone else sitting behind the wheel in the front seat. The door on the opposite side of the car opens and my savior slides in beside me.
“Get us to the hospital, Wells,” he says without even looking in the driver’s direction.
“Right away, sir,” the driver responds. and the car begins to move.
I blink several times, trying to take in my surroundings through the haze of pain that’s settled over me. This car is nice, some sort of luxury model. The windows are tinted, the seats feel warm like they’re heated, and everything about it oozes class and status.
My eyes dart toward my savior again. I could tell he was well off by the way he dressed, but this car is on another level of wealth entirely.
“Who are you?” I demand as I press a hand to my forehead and another wave of pain rushes over me.
“That’s not important right now.” He presses a fingertip to my neck as if taking my pulse, which is stra
nge but I don’t flinch away from the contact. “You need to relax. You’re clearly in a lot of pain.”
“No shit.” I grimace at the effort speaking requires, but I suddenly have a lot that needs to be said. “But that doesn’t mean I should ignore the fact that you’re stalking me. You’ve saved me twice now. and you’ve avoided telling me your name both times. I...I think I recognize you, but I don’t know for sure. If you want me to trust you, I deserve some answers.”
He doesn’t respond, merely watching me as if I’m crazy.
As I stare at him, I notice the clinic coming up fast on the left side of the road. We fly past it without slowing down. “Where are we going?” My frown deepens as I lean toward the front of the car. “The clinic is back there.”
“You heard what I said when we got in the car. We’re going to the hospital.” The stranger sits back in his seat and turns his attention forward. “Your companions at Omega House sent us to that clinic first. It’s overcrowded as shit. You’ll never get to see a doctor before they close their doors for the evening.”
“I can’t afford a hospital.” I take a deep breath and try to keep my voice steady. “I don’t have insurance, and after what happened last night, I don’t have a job anymore either.”
He looks at me with a frown. “What do you mean? You were attacked.”
“Yes, I was.” I fold my arms across my chest, somewhat smug that I’ve actually said something surprising to him. Apparently, rich boy here isn’t aware of what life is really like for single omegas. “But when I told my boss I was in too much pain to make it to work tonight, he said if I don’t show up and work my whole shift, then I’m fired.”
“He can’t do that. It’s illegal to fire someone for illness or injury.” My savior’s expression takes on a tinge of righteous fury. It’s actually adorable.
“He’ll technically be firing me because I’m late to work.” I shrug, resigned to my reality. “That’s not illegal.”
“You would only be late because of your injury. It’s a case even the most incompetent lawyer could win with their eyes closed.” He turns toward me and begins digging in his pocket. “I’ll call someone for you.”
I shake my head in disbelief and turn away to look out the window. He doesn’t know what it’s really like out here, and he’s not going to figure it out until he hears it straight from the horse’s mouth.
Less than two minutes later, after a heated conversation with whoever it was he called, the man hangs up the phone in defeat.
“Do you understand now?” I don’t even bother turning to look at him. “Those laws only apply to alphas and betas. If you’re a mated omega with the right money and the right family, you might be afforded some protections, but chances are, in those situations, you probably don’t need a job in the first place.”
“I’ve heard stuff but I didn’t realize...” The man sighs. “I thought things were getting better for omegas.”
“They are...a little.” I shift in my seat so I can see him better. “If you’ve got an alpha, then it’s not so bad, which is why so many omegas rush into relationships these days. But a lot of alphas out there are just assholes looking to take advantage of desperate omegas. So, you’re forced to decide between trying to trust a random alpha or living somewhere like Omega House where you have to take shitty jobs while hoping to find a path to a better life.”
“Is that what you’ve been doing?” His voice is soft as he looks right at me.
I’m stunned by the sudden and deeply personal question. “I don’t have to tell you anything about my life. You won’t even tell me your name, but you want my whole damned life story?”
With a sheepish grin, he shrugs and shifts his gaze out the window again. “I just like the way you talk to me.” He gives me a quick glance after a moment. “You don’t hold anything back. You treat me like I’m just a regular guy. Truthfully, I’m afraid if you know who I really am, that’ll all change. Everyone treats me differently when they find out.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’ve got a rather high opinion of yourself, that’s for sure. Your name, whoever you are, isn’t going to change the fact that you’re an arrogant jackass who’s completely naive to the ways of the world. It’s also not gonna change the fact that you saved my life. So I doubt my opinion of you will change much.”
His eyes go wide when I call him an arrogant jackass but he doesn’t immediately respond. In fact, it’s not until we’re pulling into the parking lot of the hospital that he wets his lips with his tongue and finally gives me my answer. “My name is Marius Lang. I’m the mayor of this city.”
4
Marius
The look in Rubin’s eyes is one of disbelief. My cheeks flush beneath his stare as I rub my hands through my hair in embarrassment. Thankfully, Wells pulls up to the hospital doors before Rubin can say anything else.
Without waiting for Wells to get the door, I quickly make my escape, sucking in deep breaths of cold, clear air while I try to clear my head of the rampant thoughts running through it. Before I do something dumb, I run inside and locate a wheelchair. I don’t know why I’m so nervous about this whole situation. Rubin is a citizen of my city, and I’m just doing my part to make sure he’s taken care of. It’s what any responsible mayor would do.
When I return to the car, Wells is helping to support Rubin as he climbs unsteadily from the back seat. A tiny flare of jealousy shoots through me when I see them together. Not that I really have anything to worry about. Wells is an omega, and he’s already in a committed relationship with Hanson. The two of them have been together for nearly ten years, so I have no concerns about him even casting an inappropriate glance at Rubin.
Still, I immediately wish I were the one Rubin was leaning on for support.
As soon as that thought enters my head, I reject it. There’s no logical reason for me to think something like that. Wells is doing a fine job all by himself. And feeling Rubin’s body pressed against mine, holding him in my arms, would cause an unwelcome stirring within me. Those are nothing more than errant fantasies triggered by a lack of sleep and an overworked body.
The problem is I’m not used to being single, and my mind, body, and soul are all craving companionship.
Pushing the wheelchair close to Rubin, I hold it steady as he collapses into it.
Rubin casts a grateful nod to Wells before I push the chair toward the hospital doors. As we enter the emergency room lobby, I hear Rubin draw in a sharp breath. “I can’t pay for any of this.” Rubin has a white-knuckled grip on the chair handles as he looks around in awe at his surroundings. “This…is too nice.”
The saddest part of his reaction is that this hospital isn’t particularly fancy. The really high-end one is on the opposite side of town near all the gated communities. This is just a standard community hospital. It’s clean, well lit, and not overcrowded, all of which are completely opposite of the small clinic near Omega House. The conditions I witnessed when I stopped in there earlier left much to be desired. And another project for me to add to my list of services to fix in this city during my term.
“Don’t worry about it.” I lean close to his ear as I speak while resting a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m not some charity case, Mr. Mayor.” He folds his arms in frustration but he’s not protesting very hard. He might not like accepting help, but right now, he’s in no condition to reject it.
We quickly run him through the admittance process, and when the subject of insurance comes up, I explain that I’ll be covering Rubin’s expenses personally, and they should send the bill to my office. The triage nurses seem a little surprised, but they don’t say anything directly, especially when Rubin doesn’t bother protesting.
We sit together in the waiting room until Rubin’s wheeled back to be seen by a doctor. As much as I want to follow him, I know that’s crossing a line I shouldn’t cross. Instead, I leave instructions for a nurse to contact me immediately with any developments. The
nurses are reluctant to comply at first, patient privacy and all that, but after asking Rubin to consent to sharing his medical information with me, they accept my information and promise to be in touch.
As soon as I’m certain he’s in good hands, I force myself to walk toward the front doors of the hospital, leaving Rubin behind. Every step is more difficult than the last. I feel like a bungee cord has been hooked between Rubin and me. The farther I get from him, the tighter the cord is drawn. Either I give in and let myself be pulled back to him, or the cord will snap.
I don’t know why that thought scares me, but it does. With an awkward glance around the waiting room, I swallow hard and consider my options. I can head back to the office and attempt to salvage my day. Or I can stay and wait here. There are plenty of empty chairs, so I could sit in the corner and remain out of the way.
I’ve already missed several important meetings today, so there isn’t much I need to rush back to the office for. Jackie informed everyone I was supposed to meet with that an important personal matter had come up for the rest of the day. They know I’ll catch up with them when my issue is resolved. So far, she’s managed to smooth any ruffled feathers, but she’ll only be able to keep that up for so long before people start getting pissed and asking for details of my emergency.
Even though I have the freedom to play hooky on occasion, there is just too much to do in this city for me to take unexpected vacation days. As the mayor of this city, I have a responsibility to the citizens, and I can’t just ignore that because I’ve got a funny feeling in my gut.
Knowing what I need to do, I clench my teeth and charge forward with purposeful steps. As I reach the front door to the hospital, the intensity of the pull increases until I’m almost dizzy. My heart feels as if it’s being crushed in a vise. I really don’t want to leave, and every muscle in my body seems engaged in keeping me here. Something deep inside me is determined to stay as close to Rubin as I possibly can.
