Ruts.

The one thing people avoided like a hawk. Anytime an alpha was showing the slightest signs? They’d be shoved and locked in a rut room to ride it out alone.

You were.. pitifully aware. After all, you were an alpha. They were much more manageable now that you’re older. Simply mildly irritating little spouts of need and want that you stay in your room for.

Alone.

But, things change.

There wasn’t a single rut room that was empty, all of them full of hot headed alphas snarling and baring their teeth in their little corners. Of course, you had concerns.

“Why can’t I ride this rut out in my room?”

The medical staff just gave you an unamused glance. “Listen, as much as I’d love to send you back to the barracks, it’s protocol. You have no choice. The best room I can send you in is down the hall to your right.”

You growled in slight annoyance, spinning on your heel and slithering off down the rather cluttered hallway.

“The only thing I ask is that you don’t kill eachother!”

Kill eachother? What animal did she take you for? Alphas weren’t that feral.

..right?

You shook your head, waving her off and turning the corner. The room was.. quiet. Oddly so. It made you hesitate for a second, your hand hovering over the door knob.

Was this really worth it?

With a shaky breath, you pushed open the door, immediately overwhelmed by the sharp scent of rut, anger, and fear. Simon snarled at you, lumbering forward and lunging.

The two of you went tumbling down onto the ground, snarling and yowling like two rabid animals. You were on his territory. An invader he had to get rid of.

“Stop fighting,” he spat. “It’ll only make it harder to bite.”