The next few days passed… peacefully. Felix almost forgot what having a quiet, calm life meant. The restaurant was still busy, and he was still constantly observed by Kade's henchmen - there were two of them, it seemed, and they watched Felix in twelve-hour shifts - but other than that… No one bothered Felix. Or gave him headaches with any 'mate' nonsense.
If only things could remain this way…
Minus Kade's henchmen, of course. Felix needed them gone in two or three months, or else Kade would learn about his pregnancy, even if he wasn't in Silverfall!
But for the time being, he got used to their presence. His bump wasn't visible yet, so they posed no threat.
So, he carried on with his life completely ignoring them.
But maybe… he got too comfortable. Lowered his guard a bit too much.
Or maybe it was simply an unavoidable consequence of going rogue.
Either way…
It all started when Felix was going back home from work. He had the morning shift that day, so he decided to get some groceries done on his way back. Even though it was only late afternoon, the streets were fairly empty - perhaps because it was the 2nd of January, so people were still recovering from their New Year parties. Felix walked down the quiet street, carrying shopping bags in both of his hands…
When all of a sudden, someone bumped into his shoulder.
It wasn't Felix's fault. The other man, walking from the other direction, swerved his way and crashed onto him. However, not wanting to risk the situation turning into an argument, Felix bowed his head, saying a polite, "I'm so sorry. Please excuse me," before carrying on his way…
That should have been the end of it.
But no. The stranger reached out, grabbing his shoulder and squeezing it tightly. "You smell so sweet…"
He reeked of alcohol. But underneath, there was also another scent, a much wilder one.
He was a wolf.
Uncomfortable, Felix tried to shrug the hand off his shoulder, but it only made the stranger tighten it more, so much so that Felix couldn't help but wince. "Could you please let me go?" he tried to ask politely… Even though he didn't have much hope that it could work.
And it sure didn't. The stranger chuckled, shifting closer to Felix, his stinky breath brushing past Felix's cheek. "Don't be like that… You're an Omega, right? Let's have some fun…" he whispered.
Felix was about to respond… But then, a whiff of a new smell, resembling basil, drifted to his nose, and he froze. 'Oh, Goddess, no.'
The man was an Alpha.
The new scent wouldn't be unpleasant… If it wasn't coming through this rough-looking rogue Alpha. Whom Felix had absolutely no desire to 'have fun' with. Now, it only made him nauseous… Even more so when his body betrayed him by softening ever so slightly, ready to submit.
So that's what Eden was warning him about?
It was still fine though. Felix was strong… And just a little bit of Alpha's pheromones wouldn't change that. He took a deep breath…
And elbowed the Alpha straight in his gut.
"Ouch!" the Alpha yelled. He bared his teeth, wanting to lounge at Felix…
But he stumbled to the side a moment later, holding his head, as he got smashed with a heavy grocery bag.
"You… You're fucked now!" Once he recovered enough so that he stopped seeing stars everywhere, he growled, and rushed to chase after Felix.
However, Felix was already far ahead. He had abandoned his shopping bags, and started running immediately after delivering the hit. With a heavy heart… But in the end, the safety of himself and the pup he was carrying was more important than a bit of wasted food.
In this unlucky situation, he was at least lucky that the Alpha was drunk. Very much so. Because thanks to that, his physical condition was compromised… And while he didn't lose track of Felix, he couldn't catch up either.
At least… for now. But if it went on for too long…
'Should I shift?' Felix wondered, running through the empty streets without a goal in mind, changing his direction at random. If he shifted, he'd be able to run faster… But his pursuer was also a werewolf, so he could shift as well! Besides, if the guard were to see him, then Felix's lie about being a hybrid would be discovered…
Wait, the guard?
Felix looked left and right, then sniffed the air, but he couldn't sense Kade's henchman anywhere. The blond one should be on shift now, if he remembered correctly… He must have taken a dinner break or something.
As he thought of it, Felix couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. If Kade ever learned of it…
He didn't have much time to think about the guard though, as he was way too busy worrying about himself! The rogue was still chasing after him, and Felix was starting to feel lightheaded, his vision blurring momentarily… At this point, even shifting wouldn't be of much help.
If it were under normal circumstances, Felix could take him on, drunk or not. Because while the man was an Alpha, he didn't seem particularly strong. Felix fought much stronger Alphas, back when he was still in the Moonhill Pack, and won. Even against Jared, his current score was three wins out of ten, and Jared was their LEADER. Some random rogue should get obliterated…
Except that Felix wasn't in his normal state. He was pregnant and exhausted…
In other words, unbearably weak.
His only hope was that the rogue would get bored and give up before Felix lost all of his strength, or that the guard would realize something was wrong, and come to his rescue. Otherwise…
Felix clenched his fists, his insides all twisting into tight knots.
He didn't even want to think about the 'otherwise'. He wanted to be independent, so he had to find a way to survive.
On his own.