The situation was the same as always, the wind still blowing hard and a bit cold, my breath turning into fog in the air.
"Piyo, don't be naughty, okay? Big bro gotta work first." I put Piyo at the cashier with my friend.
"Okay… big bro," he said.
My head felt kinda heavy since morning and my body temperature was a bit high too.
"Don't tell me this is already my heat phase… ugh… annoying." I muttered.
Arranging stuff, restocking—that's what I did.
"Bro…" said the kid next to me.
"Yeah, what's up? Need help with something?"
"I want that." He pointed to the top shelf where the cereals were.
"Wait, I'll grab it for you." I went to that rack, but since it was tall, I had to tiptoe to reach it.
"Ugh… come on… why's this so hard?"
I kept trying to grab it. My height's only 165, and reaching the top was still difficult. Usually, when restocking I used a ladder or chair, but I forced myself to grab the cereal without it.
"...ugh… damn, it's tough," I sighed, already tired.
Bruk!!
The shelf's bolts were already loose, and the whole thing looked like it was gonna fall. I quickly pushed the kid out of the way so he wouldn't get crushed.
Unfortunately, I became the victim instead. The shelf collapsed on me, cereals scattered everywhere, and I was left lying on the floor with my leg trapped.
"Argh!!!... Help!" I screamed in pain. The kid cried in fear and ran away.
Other workers rushed over to help.
The fallen shelf was heavy, needed two people to lift it back up.
They helped me stand, but my leg was already swollen and bruised, so I limped when walking. It hurt like hell, but I tried to hold it in front of Piyo so he wouldn't worry.
"Hiks… big bro… hiks… don't die… hiks…" he cried so dramatically.
"Eh, Piyo, don't say that. Big bro's fine, just fell down a bit… Don't cry anymore, okay?" I hugged him to calm him down.
"Finn, I think you should see a doctor and rest… your leg's swollen," my friend at the cashier said.
"Nah, it's fine. I'll compress it later, it'll go down," I replied, trying to convince them I was okay, even though the pain and throbbing were killing me.
"If you don't work, how are we supposed to eat?" I muttered under my breath.
.....
I went back to arranging the items with my injured leg, starting from the bottom shelves so nothing else got damaged.
"Why's my body getting hotter…?" I muttered, breathing a little heavier.
My pheromones started leaking out, just a little, but I could feel it. Looked like my heat was coming.
By the afternoon, I put on thick clothes and a scarf so my pheromones wouldn't spread into the air.
"Let's go home…" I opened my arms to carry Piyo.
"You sure you can go home or should I take you?" my friend asked again.
"It's fine. I still wanna buy kitchen supplies on the way so I can cook tonight."
"Be careful, okay? Walk slowly, the road's slippery, and you're carrying your little brother while your leg's like that," they said again, worried.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll keep Piyo safe, don't worry."
"Alright then, I'll go first. Bye…" I carried Piyo and left the store.
On the way, Piyo just looked left and right quietly. He was always like this, kinda silent because he never really got to go out and play in the park like normal kids. Especially with him about to enter kindergarten soon, I had to work even harder so he could get the things he deserved.
"So, what do you want big bro to cook for you later, Piyo?"
"Umh… fried chicken!!" he said in that cute voice.
Even though it's a bit pricey, I'd still give in to him because he rarely gets to eat something nice.
"Alright, if Piyo wants that, big bro will buy it and cook it deliciously for you."
"Yeyyy… big bro's the best!"
We went into the supermarket, straight to the meat section. I picked chicken, some spices, and vegetables.
My head was pounding harder and my breath was heavy.
"Come on, heat, don't come now…" I muttered.
As I headed to the veggie section, I saw some people there. I walked slowly, keeping some distance so they wouldn't smell my pheromones.
But when I was choosing, a big guy suddenly brushed against me, standing way too close. I tried to move away, but he came closer.
"Not smart for an omega in heat to be out here around a crowd," he said, trapping me with his hands on both sides from behind.
"Back off, I'm just shopping. Don't cause me trouble."
His move caught people's attention, and others came closer. That bastard even spread his pheromones on me.
"Ugh… get off me…" I said weakly, trying to push him away, but others already noticed and were getting tempted too.
"An omega with such a pretty face and intoxicating pheromones—how could I let this one go?" he said, stroking my cheek.
"Back off, or I'll scream… Hel—" Before I could shout, he covered my mouth and dragged me out the supermarket's back door.
Piyo, still asleep in my arms, got snatched away.
"Don't!!" I bit his hand, making him let go of my mouth.
"Argh, damn it!!" he cursed, slapping me hard across the face, leaving me dizzier than ever.
They put Piyo on an empty table nearby.
The three of them cornered me. What the hell were they planning to do…?
They tied up my hands and gagged my mouth. Desperation hit me, and my body grew weaker from their pheromones.
"Look at this omega, so damn tempting when he's like this." One of them tried unbuttoning my shirt. I could only fight back weakly…
With tears in my eyes, I just prayed someone would come save me.
They groped me, treating me like a toy, while I cried and begged them to let me go.
"I can't hold it anymore… I'm putting it in…" He unzipped his pants.
Panic hit me, I struggled wildly.
"Help!!!... someone…" I screamed in my head.
He pulled his thing out.
"Come on, baby, I'll make you feel good…"
He tried pulling down my pants. I couldn't fight much, my hands and legs restrained.
I shut my eyes, crying, feeling like I'd have to give up.
....
"Why isn't there any movement..?" I thought.
I opened my eyes. All three guys were already on the ground. A bunch of men in black suits and sunglasses were handling them.
Among them, I saw a familiar figure with long hair, wearing the same suit but standing out more.
He rushed to me, panicked. I kept my head down, too ashamed of my condition.
"Sorry, I'm late…" His deep, possessive voice came out. I looked up—it was Veyra.
Tears burst out even more seeing him. For the second time, he saved me, but the most humiliating part was he saw me like this.
He untied me completely. I just cried and kept my head low. He wrapped me in his big coat so my body wouldn't be exposed after what just happened.
He wiped my tears and supported me since my legs were totally weak.
"Don't cry. I'm here now…"
He hugged me tight, like I was the most precious thing to him.
"Where's your little brother?"
Weakly, I pointed at the table. Piyo was still sleeping. He wanted to let me go to grab Piyo, but I couldn't even stand properly.
"Your leg's bruised… did they do this to you?" His tone protective, worried.
I just lowered my head and cried more. His arms slid under me, lifting me in a bridal carry. I instantly clung to his neck, not resisting, just embarrassed, avoiding his face.
"I'll make sure you're safe, so don't be scared." I only nodded, burying my face in his chest. His men carried my little brother.
"For now, you're coming with me… I need to make sure you're okay." I weakly nodded again.
He carried me to his car, his handsome face showing nothing but firmness and determination. It was embarrassing, but being near him made me feel safe.
He gently placed me inside the car, Piyo softly carried in by his men.
"You… where are you taking me…" I asked weakly.
"To my place," he said, stroking my head to calm me.
This night felt so cursed and painful. But somehow, I felt lucky… because I got to meet someone who seemed like fate for the first time.
Exhausted, I leaned on his shoulder and dozed off without realizing. He didn't get mad—he just held me closer.
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