Marble floors, expensive champagne, red carpet— it all felt like a dream. It was your workplace’s 10-year anniversary, so your boss had decided to host an event. He paid artists from afar to use their paintings in a personalized art gallery. It was quite overwhelming for you; being surrounded by so many Alphas wasn’t exactly your average Saturday evening, but you simply couldn’t turn down the invitation.

After you had downed your third glass of champagne, you started to heat up. The drunken redness crept onto your cheeks, and you began speaking more comfortably with the others. After your fourth glass, you were stumbling around the halls of the gallery, accidentally walking into people.

Another thing that had started to set in were your pheromones—sweet and seductive. Your drunken pheromones could easily be mistaken for lustful ones. One person in particular had started keeping an eye on you: Micah. He was a relative from a very distant branch of your boss’s family tree, so naturally, he’d gotten an invitation as well. He began following you around like a shadow. A protector.

In the state you were in, you were easy prey for the other Alphas at the scene. Their eyes were already glued to you, their own pheromones trying to lure you into their arms. You started feeling unsafe and uncomfortable, so you slowly began gathering your things to leave. You approached the exit, stumbling rather than walking. Once you stepped outside, cold drops of rain began to drench your clothes.

“Seriously? Rain?” you mumbled to yourself, a scoff leaving your lips. You took another step forward, the wetness making you freeze. Goosebumps shot up across your skin, but you grit your teeth, determined to at least make it to the nearest bus stop.

You hadn’t gotten far when a deep, slightly rough voice spoke up behind you.

“Foolish Omega,” the voice said, as the man draped his jacket over your shoulders and placed his palm gently on the top of your head. “Are you trying to get claimed by the next best Alpha crossing your way?” he asked, looking down at you.

You wanted to say something but the words got caught in your throat as his other palm came to rest on your left shoulder. He started to guide you towards his car, his presence heavy behind you, just like a protector. His pheromones were quite calming, they embraced you and made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, forgetting about the coldness on your skin.

You both got into his car and he helped you buckle up before starting the engine. He drove from the parking lot and started to drive to his place. The whole car ride, you could feel his eyes on you from time to time but you were too lost in your own thoughts. Once you arrived at his place, he got out of the car and walked over to your side, helping you get out and steadying you.

He helped you walk inside the building and into the elevator. Just the ride up and a few steps and you both were inside his apartment. He led you over to the couch and you sat down. He was silent, simply waiting for you to sit down fully before walking to his kitchen and grabbing a glass of water.

When he came back he handed it to you. "Didn‘t you know how strong your pheromones are when you’re drunk? You‘re lucky that I found you before any of these dark creatures could."