Chapter Text
HARRY
“Look, I wasn’t thinking right,” Harry says.
“Er – that’s obvious,” Niall retorts.
Harry stops abruptly and because Niall’s been gripping his arm, marching him into the dining hall, he’s pulled to a halt. The Omega huffs and folds his arms. They’ve just left the library, where he found Harry and Louis in a rather compromising position. He’s not that happy about it – clearly.
“I was just gonna talk to him,” Harry explains, “honestly.” He pauses. “But he’s so-”
“I don’t want to hear it, Harry!” Niall exclaims, cutting him off. “You’re talking about knotting him – you’re eighteen for Christ’s sake!”
Harry takes a deep breath. “Because,” he says – and he has to try very hard not to growl it, “he’s mine.”
Niall looks like he doubts Harry’s sanity. Turning his back he leads them towards the table where Liam is eating his dinner. “What I saw, Harry…” he says, “…you’re coming on too strong.”
“You have no idea what his scent does to me-” Harry says defensively.
“And I don’t bloody care,” Niall snaps and Harry lets himself be pushed into a seat next to Liam. “You can’t finger him in the library.”
Liam chokes on a forkful of lasagne and Harry slides him a sheepish smile.
“Harry,” Niall groans.
“Oh come on, Nialler,” Harry sighs. “He was in detention…” A fond smile spreads across his face. “Little menace. I was just trying to spice it up.”
Liam laughs; Niall doesn’t. The other Alpha nudges him. “What was he supposed to do?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “Take Louis to the nurse?”
Niall shakes his head minutely.
Harry thumbs his lip, watching his friend play with his food half-heartedly. He starts to feel a little bad. Until, that is, Niall says, “Sometimes you loom.”
Harry blinks. “I loom?”
Liam sniggers. “I dunno, bro. You do kinda loom.”
“I loom.” Harry repeats. “I loom. What does that fucking mean?”
Niall rolls his eyes. “You just loom, man. You loom over him.”
“Yeah, like, kind of like this…” Liam leans toward Harry with a strangely intense, comical look on his face. He holds the pose for about a second; then he and Niall dissolve into laughter.
Harry scowls at his dinner and mutters to himself, “He fucking needed me… He still needs me.”
Niall’s smile fades. “Just…” he says resignedly, “…let him come to you.”
Harry makes a face. “That’s not how it works,” he says.
Niall stares at him. “Let him come to you,” he reiterates.
Harry shakes his head. “Yeah but-”
“Let. Him. Come. To. You,” Niall seethes and Harry stabs moodily at his food.
After the mess of he just made of things in the library that seems unlikely.
He’s wrong.
LOUIS
Up in the Omega dorms Louis is standing under the blast of a cold shower. Only when he’s shivering and his teeth are chattering does he turn it off. Hugging himself tightly, he looks down his body, heart sinking when he sees his prick still curves upwards from a nest of tiny, soft brown curls. He swallows and blinks back tears, wishing it would just go away. He’s heard that older boys have to wank every day. But he doesn’t want to touch himself. He only wants Harry to touch him, he thinks miserably. And just like that, twenty minutes in a freezing shower, and the fleetest thought of Harry makes him hot all over, steam rising from his burning skin. Climbing out, he gingerly pulls on a pair of pyjama bottoms and a tee-shirt. Then he spends ten minutes hiding in a wardrobe when Mrs Hodgehouse comes looking for him. He’s missed another appointment with the nurse but she’s mad if she thinks he’s gonna go back there after what happened last time. Even if he would kill for some suppressants right now.
Not long after he creeps out of the cupboard and into his bed he hears his friends returning from dinner. Not wanting them to see him cry, he pulls the duvet over his head and tells them to fuck off. A few moments later a small weight crawls onto his bed.
“Lou’eh?” Zayn whispers, tugging at the duvet. “Promise you’re just sick, yeah?”
Louis holds his quilt firmly. “Yeah,” he insists, but voice is thick with tears.
Someone snickers.
“Piss off,” Zayn snaps, “he just said he’s sick and you lot are making a racket.” The weight leaves Louis’ side. “Come on: let’s go down to the common room.” He reaches for Louis’ hand under the covers and squeezes it. “Hope you feel better, Lou.”
Louis sniffles quietly. Zayn’s so sweet with him he almost cheers up a bit. But as he listens to the Omegas leaving he hears another one of them shriek, “Maybe he’s pregnant!”
And the door slams shut as Louis bursts into tears.
Eventually he falls into a deep, fitful sleep. By the time he wakes up its pitch black and the dormitory is filled with the sound of sleeping boys.
Slick is dribbling out of his hole, oozing down the backs of his thighs. His heart starts to hammer. Sweat trickles down his neck, tears prickle in his eyes. He pushes his covers off and sits up dizzily. Feeling the cool air bathe his skin, Louis looks down to see that his dick is sticking out of his pants, leaking all over his tee-shirt. Panicked, he tugs his pyjamas up, only to feel them cling to his slick arse cheeks. He draws his hands back sharply, horrified. Harry’s doing this to him. He was dreaming about Harry. But thinking about Harry hits him with such a powerful wave of arousal he cries out with it. He doubles up, collapsing against the mattress as he feels slick literally gush out of his convulsing hole. He lies there, gasping, until it’s no longer twitching.
Louis wipes his tears on his pillow and pushes himself back up. He has to get out of here. He stumbles out of bed and starts staggering towards the door, out into the corridor, into the stairwell. His cock is throbbing and his head is spinning; the more he thinks of Harry – how he has to find Harry – the more his body responds. He falls down the last few stairs and struggles to his feet, trying not to sob. Even his nipples hurt by now. He pushes open the door to the common room, leaving a small, sweaty handprint on the door. He takes a few steps forward.
“Harry?”
HARRY
Harry’s head lolls on Niall’s shoulder as he drifts in and out of sleep. He’s only dimly aware of the TV blaring, the lights flickering behind his eyelids and the sound of Niall and Liam’s low laughter. He stirs restlessly, absently bringing a hand to rub his nose.
“Harry?”
Harry shakes himself awake abruptly, bolting upright and brushing his curls out of his eyes with both hands. Spinning on the couch he sees Louis standing a few feet behind him. His honey-brown hair is sticking up in all directions and his blue eyes are feverishly bright.
“Lou?” Harry says, his voice hoarse from sleep. “Lou, love, what is it? What’s wrong?” He stretches his arm over the back of the sofa, taking Louis’ hand and gently guiding him around it. He kicks the coffee table back and stands Louis in front of him. The tee-shirt he wears gapes over his collarbones and clings to the outline of his nipples and, Harry realises, mouth going dry, the head of his cock where it pokes out of his pyjama bottoms.
“It hurts,” Louis croaks, his small body racked by shivers; though Harry can see sweat glistening in the dip of his throat. “It hurts s-so mu-uch, H-Harry.” And behind Harry, Niall gags, covering his mouth and nose with both hands. A quick glance confirms that Liam is pinching nose. But Harry is breathing in the scent of Louis hungrily. “You in heat?” he murmurs as one hand slides over the curve of Louis’ arse. He pinches his pyjama bottoms between two long fingers and they stick to Louis’ skin with all his sweet-smelling slick.
The Omega jerks back, startled, and almost trips over the coffee table. When Harry tries to steady him he bursts into tears.
“Jesus,” Liam breathes, “Harry… Shit, I dunno. Maybe you should take him to the nurse, bro.”
Harry shakes his head, not taking his gaze off Louis. “He doesn’t need the nurse. He needs me.”
“Harry!” Liam exclaims, gaping. He sees Niall nod at him encouragingly and continues. “Come on, mate – look at him.”
Harry sighs defeatedly. His hands find Louis’ waist again and Louis lets himself be tugged forward to stand between Harry’s knees. A deep frown furrows Harry’s brow. “Do you wanna go to the nurse, Louis?” he asks hesitantly.
Louis shakes his head frantically. “I-I-” He throws Liam and Niall an embarrassed look, acknowledging them for the first time.
“You want me, yeah?” Harry murmurs, his voice so deep and raspy Louis can feel it in his bones.
Louis starts to nod. “Yeah, yeah-”
“Leave us,” Harry growls. “Now.”
Niall draws back, frightened by Harry’s sudden intensity, but Liam’s already leaping over the back of the couch and pulling Niall with him.
Harry threads his fingers through the hair at the back of Louis’ head, holding him still until he hears the door snap close behind the other boys. Then his eyes darken and he yanks Louis forward, taking his lips in a possessive kiss. Louis moans into his mouth, sagging in Harry’s grip like a kitten held by the scruff of his neck.
His hands tangle in Harry’s curls and he climbs into the Alpha’s lap, pushing his hard cock into Harry’s stomach.
Harry tugs his pyjama bottoms down over the plump cheeks of his arse. “Thought for a minute you weren’t gonna come to me,” he breathes, right into Louis’ mouth. His fingers slide through Louis’ slick, over his hot, little hole.
Louis catches his breath with a sharp shudder. He pulls away and shoves his tear-damp cheeks into Harry’s neck.
“So glad you did, love,” Harry murmurs into his ear. The tip of one finger nudges Louis’ rim. “I’m gonna make you feel better, yeah?”
Louis’ fist clenches in the back of Harry’s shirt. “Yeah,” he breathes. Then he moans and arches his body into Harry’s as one finger sinks into his heat. He relaxes slowly, panting against Harry’s throat as he adjusts to the intrusion. Then he whispers, “more…”
It’s so quiet Harry would think he’d imagined it if he hadn’t felt the words against his skin. Harry slides one finger out and pushes two back in.
Louis groans into the nape of Harry’s neck. His dick is digging into Harry’s abdomen and his grip on Harry’s curls is fierce. “More.”
Harry holds him tight and squeezes a third finger inside him. Louis clenches greedily around his fingers, trying to take them deeper. He releases a small frustrated sound when he can’t and pushes back onto Harry’s hand. “More!”
Harry blinks, taken-aback and Louis just starts to sob bitterly. His nails scrape down Harry’s neck.
Harry hisses. “Slow down, Lou,” he starts to say, all the while trying to pry him open as quickly as he can without hurting him.
But Louis is crying into his shoulder, his breath hitching frantically. “I need- need more…” he gasps.
“Lovie – I will. I’m – I’m gonna,” Harry stammers. God – he feels so out of his depth, like a pup mating his first Omega.
Louis pushes one fist into his chest. “Please,” he chokes out. “Harry, please…” He trails off as he feels a growl building up in Harry’s chest. He catches his breath and shudders, more slick seeping over Harry’s fingers.
And suddenly Louis’ flat on his stomach on the sofa, Harry’s weight bearing down on him, his hot cock throbbing against Louis’ arse.
“Want this, yeah?” Harry croons into his ear. “My thick cock inside you, yeah?” His Alpha instincts have gone into overdrive. He’s Louis’ Alpha, he’s gonna show him how well he can take care of him. The only one who can.
Louis’ cheeks grow hot at his words and he hides his face in the crook of his elbow. Harry marvels at the way he can be so shy whilst pushing his arse up so needily. Harry’s practically kneading his arse cheeks, rubbing his cock in Louis’ slick. “Such a pretty hole,” he pants, “On such a pretty boy.”
Louis preens deliciously at that, spreading his thighs wide on the sofa. One of Harry’s hands brushes Louis’ sweaty hair from his cheek, the other grips his dick and pushes it against Louis’ tightness. He watches in wonder as Louis’ body stretches to take him, swallowing inch after inch into his glistening hole.
Louis’ cry sounds like relief more than anything. His eyes are squeezed shut but his lashes are wet with tears; his fists are balled so tight his nails are digging into his palms. Holding himself still, Harry sees sweat drips from his torso onto Louis’ back. He can feel his curls sticking to his forehead. When he looks down he sees that his pubes are drenched with Louis’ slick – God – he’s so deep inside him. Even if Omegas are designed to accommodate for the size of an Alpha, Harry can’t believe Louis can take it. The thought that it’ll always be this way - because an Omega never grows after his first heat – makes him heart thump in his chest. Watching what little he can see of Louis’ face, he waits till the boy unscrews his eyes, flattens his palms on the sofa and wiggles impatiently. Only then does Harry start to draw out of him. A string of slimy, glistening slick hangs from the tip of his dick to the pretty mess of Louis’ arsehole.
Louis’ eyes snap open. “No,” he protests in the smallest voice, shoving his hips back. Harry just pulls him up, onto his hands and knees, and simultaneously slides his cock back into him.
This time Louis’ moan is wanton, pleasurable. His back curves obscenely, showing Harry just how tightly he’s stretched around Harry’s cock. His spine is sleek with sweat, his hips are soft under Harry’s palms but his waist is taut. Harry can’t stop touching him, his body’s so beautiful. He grips his hips to pull out of him again. It’s not slow this time. Harry shoves back inside him and Louis’ body seizes up, another cry ripped from his throat, his breath forced from his lungs. One of Harry’s hands slides down his arm and he slots their fingers together.
And alright – Harry admits it, he does loom. He starts to thrust into him properly, slow at first and then faster. His other hand grips Louis’ shoulder and he adds his grunts to the sound of his hips slapping against Louis’ arse, the splash of Louis’ slick and Louis’ breathy, tremulous moans.
Braced against the armrest, Louis feels like his arms are going to break under Harry’s thrusts. They don’t hold out much longer anyway and he ends up face down in the sofa, his cheek pressed to the sticky leather, his arse in the air. His and Harry’s clasped hands are right in front of him. He digs his forehead into the cushions and looks down. Through a blur of tears he can see his dick slapping against his belly, flinging drops of pre-come onto the couch. Harry’s got one foot braced on the floor, his school trousers around the tops of his thighs. He’s slamming himself into Louis, punching small noise from him with each thrust. And now that Louis looks he can see his stomach jolt with each thrust, he can see where Harry is inside him. His mouth opens in a silent scream. He-he-he’s going to explode!
A wave of panic threatens to overwhelm him before Louis realises he’s coming. He shoves his face into the cushions, smothering a blissed out scream.
“Oh fuck!” he hears Harry exclaim and he collapses on top of Louis, forcing them both to fall flat.
Harry’s hips judder as he buries himself in Louis’ arse, one thigh slung over Louis’ leg. Harry’s so deep inside him Louis feels like his hot come is filling up his belly. Sated and spent, all Louis can do is moan and grip Harry’s hand weakly.
Gripping him back, Harry grunts in time with the spurts of his come and the jerks of his hips: “Mine. Mine. Mine.”
THE NEXT MORNING, HARRY AND LIAM
“Haz? Mate, wake up – time for school… Come on, you need this grade man.”
Harry shrugs Liam’s hand off his shoulder, groans sleepily and pulls Louis closer into his embrace.
Liam sighs. “He’ll be there when you get back, man,” he says imploringly.
“Ten m’r min’t’s...”
Liam rolls his eyes and gets to his feet, deciding to leave them be. He’s surprised when Harry actually does turn up for Geography, albeit twenty minutes late. In his moon-pale face the shadows under his eyes are purple as a bruise.
“S’rry, Miss Johnson,” he says, yawning. “I was…” He waves a hand lamely.
The teacher purses her lips but gestures that he can take his seat.
“Urgh!” A boy sneers, covering his nose as Harry passes him. “What the fuck is that smell?”
Beside Liam, Niall scoffs. “Like he didn’t stink up the school during his first heat,” he says, loud enough for half the class to hear.
Harry collapses into the chair on Liam’s other side as Miss Johnson resumes her lesson.
The boy sitting in front of them turns over his shoulder and takes a deep breath.
“Jesus, Styles, have you been showering in slick?” he jokes. “You know, you’re supposed to mark them not the other way around?”
Harry raises his head slowly, murder in his eyes.
The boy’s smile fades – he’s an Alpha from Saint Thomas’ house but not a dominant one. “I was just joking, mate,” he says quickly. “Honestly – it smells great, I swear.”
Harry’s chair crashes to the floor. “Pardon, pal,” he starts to say, watching the other boy leap out of his own seat in panic. Liam jumps up, preparing to intervene but Miss Johnson beats him to it.
“Get a hold of yourselves – both of you,” she snaps. “Boys.” She claps her hands and breaks the spell.
Harry’s pupils shrink back; his irises opening up like a blooming flower. He blinks and flushes, but he continues to stare at their classmate long after Miss Johnson resumes her lesson.
Towards the end Liam nudges him and whispers, “You look knackered, mate.”
Harry rakes a hand through his greasy fringe. “Yeah, well… It’s worth it,” he says, barely suppressing a broad grin. He glances at the teacher and leans closer, lowering his voice. “I reckon he could want to be mine, man.”
When they return to their room later, however, Louis isn’t there. Harry double checks the pile of bedclothes before tossing them back onto the bed and folding his arms. All his confidence vanishes. Niall was right, Harry came on too strong. Louis probably wants an Alpha who can – fucking - control himself. Harry knows all this; he knows he can be the Alpha for Louis – so why does he keep fucking it up?
Liam’s giving him a weird look. “He’s probably just getting lunch, mate.”
Harry just shrugs.
They find Louis with Zayn near the front of the lunch queue. Both he and Liam are a full head taller than all of Louis’ friends – even the Alphas, who won’t experience the sudden growth spurt that gives them their impressive stature until their first rut.
“Hi…” Harry says as an awed silence falls among the younger boys. To them, he’s this cool and charming, sexy, older boy. The teachers adore him; all the prettiest Omegas fawn over him; he’s got dozens of fit, popular friends. And to top it off he’s one of the most dominant Alphas in school. And he’s looking right at Louis.
Colour blooms in Louis’ already glowing cheeks. He pretends not to feel the weight of Harry’s gaze on him, shuffling his feet and toying with the sleeve of Zayn’s jumper. The dark-eyed just Omega glares at Harry reproachfully.
“Did you get my note…?” Harry asks Louis and oh, now Liam sees. Harry left Louis a note and now he’s been stood up. He has to hide a smirk.
Louis’ gaze flickers nervously up to Harry, then to his group of friends. Liam sees them nudge each other, whisper, sees their eyes widen as they realise Harry Styles was the one who knotted their friend. Actually, Harry is taking a bit of a risk here – speaking to the Omega all the rumours have been about: the teachers are probably on the lookout for the Alpha who took the virginity of a thirteen-year-old boy.
Clearly, Harry no longer cares, sighing as he runs his fingers through his curls. “I left it on the pillow?” he says, managing to sound both despondent and hopeful at once. “I was gonna order pizza for lunch?”
At the word pillow the group of boys smother sniggers.
Keeping his eyes down, Louis mutters, “That’s okay.”
Harry’s brow furrows. He’s not used Omegas laughing at him. But, then, none of these boys have had their first heat. Only Louis responds to him. A boy with a man’s desire. So Harry takes a step closer to him and tilts his head, smiling in a way that shows off his dimples.
Louis peers up at him shyly. [Visual] His hand falls away from Zayn’s sleeve and he takes a step closer too.
Zayn tries to tug him back, hissing: “Louis!” But Louis is completely enamoured.
“Maybe tonight then?” Harry says huskily, “Hey, love? Why don’t we watch a movie in bed-”
But he’s interrupted by shrieks of laughter as Louis’ friends dissolve into hysterics. Louis starts back, his whole face reddening. For once he almost looks fierce as he glares around. “Piss off!” he protests as two of the young Alphas poke him in the ribs.
Liam’s one step behind Harry when the huge, older Alpha swipes the smaller ones away from Louis.
“Woah, woah, woah!” Liam yells, catching Harry’s arm as the Alphas are knocked back into their group of friends. “Harry,” he hisses, “their kids – they’ve not even had their first rut-”
But Harry is already turning his back on Liam and crouching down to Louis’ eye level. “Louis?” he says, touching his arm.
Louis jerks away like he’s been burned. His eyes widen in panic and dart downwards.
The smell of honey fills Liam’s nostrils. “Jesus,” he mutters, taking a step back. Even when Louis isn’t in heat he’s so bloody responsive.
The young boys don’t realise what’s happened. But a pair of Alphas in the queue ahead raise their noses and sniff and at one of the tables closest an Omega drops his fork and loudly complains, “Oh for fucks sake. Who is that? I’m trying to eat here.”
Louis looks around in alarm. When he blinks Harry can see tears clinging to his eyelashes.
“Lou, love…” Harry begins but he’s interrupted by one of the year eights.
“Louis… are you crying?”
Louis shakes his head stubbornly. They’ve attracted the attention of half the dining hall.
Harry reaches out again and Louis breaks, shoving him away and tearing out of the room.
“Louis!” Harry yells, starting after him. But Liam hauls him back.
Zayn and a couple of the other young Omegas are already racing after him anyway.
The two young Alphas are trying to look as submissive as possible, but Liam hears one of them whisper. “Did you smell that?”
“Was that Louis?”
“Come on, bro,” Liam mutters and Harry allows himself to be pulled away.
They jump the queue, grab their food and join Niall at a table, who says, “lemme guess – Harry was being too intense again?”
“Oh just give it a rest, Niall,” Harry snaps.
Niall shuts up but angry tears well in his eyes. Liam sighs and wraps an arm around his narrow shoulders. He glares at Harry over the top of Niall’s blonde head.
“Shit,” Harry groans, “Niall – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”
Niall sniffles but nods.
Harry covers his face with his hands. “This is just so exhausting,” he groans. “One moment he’s so into it – the next day he doesn’t even want me to touch him…” He lowers his voice. “People are saying I… I-” He glances around and mouths, “raped him. And now he’s over his heat again he’s making me feel like I did.”
“No, Harry,” Niall protests. “He’s just – when he’s in heat – and when he’s not-”
Harry shakes his head. “And I thought he was beginning to like me-” He shakes his head even more violently and stands abruptly, pushing his plate back. “Never mind.”
Liam watches him go. “What a fucking nightmare,” he says, mouth full of his lunch. “I tell you, I hope Zayn never grows up.” His eyes widen as soon as the words leave his mouth.
Niall looks profoundly disturbed. “I don’t know if you wanna date him or adopt him sometimes.”
“No I didn’t,” Liam says quickly, “I meant. No.”
“Just chill with the Daddy stuff, Payno, you’re freaking me out.”
LOUIS
Louis finally slows down in the maths corridor. He hears feet pounding behind him and quickly wipes the tears from his cheeks. Then Zayn’s panting and saying breathlessly, “Why did you go to him, Louis? You should have gone to the nurse. We would have taken you.”
“I don’t know, Zayn,” Louis yells, spinning around. He thought all he wanted was for Harry to stroke his hair and cuddle him. But last night he wanted him to do things he doesn’t even know the words for. He’s so embarrassed by how – how slutty he was he can’t even look at Harry today. And what would Zayn and everybody say if they knew he let Harry do that to him on his hands and knees?
Before he can say anything else, however, Luke – one of his other Omega friends – blurts out, “Was it Harry Styles that raped you?”
Zayn glares at him and Jamie claps a hand to his mouth.
“What?” Louis gapes. “No! He didn’t-”
“Is he gonna protect you from the Alphas that did?” Luke continues hopefully.
Louis looks like he’s about to cry again and Zayn realises he hasn’t heard any of the rumours about himself.
“I wasn’t raped,” he protests, but now he sounds unsure. “Harry wou-wouldn’t do that. He just wants to take care of me…”
He might be heat-muddled but Louis’ got to be stupid if he thinks Harry Styles actually wants to be with him. “He’s an arsehole, Lou,” Zayn says quietly.
Louis’ hands curls into fists. “No he’s not!”
“He shotgunned you!” Zayn yells.
Louis blushes so deeply he flushes to the tips of his ears. “You don’t understand-!”
But before Louis can continue the door at the end of the corridor crashes open. The four young Omegas start and come together like frightened animals.
Two Alphas are stalking towards them. Louis recognises one of them as Harrison Blair – a big, burly Alpha who plays rugby – and the other one as Prabhat Rangarajan, Blair’s best mate. Their noses twitch and feral grins split across their faces. Then they’re upon them, circling the four boys, prowling around them and separating them off.
Louis feels one of them nose at his hair and spins around. He starts back abruptly when he comes face to face with Blair. His grin widens when Louis’ back hits a wall. Behind him Louis can see Zayn, Luke and Jamie being sniffed at by Prabhat.
“Hey, kitten,” Blair murmurs, tilting Louis’ head by his chin so his throat is bared. His nose grazes down Louis’ neck.
Louis shivers, completely petrified. “G-get off me,” he stammers.
Blair’s panting when he pulls back, his eyes dark. “Prab, it’s this one. God, that smell.”
Prabhat turns away from the other Omegas. His gaze rakes down Louis’ body and a delighted grin spreads across his lips.
Louis tries to edge along the wall, away from them, but Blair snatches both his wrists up easily.
“Get lost, kids,” Prabhat says.
Luke and Jamie don’t need telling twice. They turn their backs and flee down the corridor.
Zayn swallows, his eyes darting between Louis and the Alphas. “Let Louis go too.”
Prabhat turns back, surprised to see him still standing there. He scoffs. “Get out of here.”
“Not without Louis,” Zayn says.
“Seriously, kid-”
Zayn steps forward, that’s all he does, and Prabhat shoves him carelessly to the ground.
“Oi, don’t-!” Louis starts to shout before Blair’s hand covers his mouth, pushing his head back against the wall. He watches Zayn struggle to his feet with wide eyes. He really doesn’t want Zayn to leave him but he doesn’t want him to get hurt either.
“I’m – I’m gonna get Liam,” Zayn stammers.
“You’ll get Liam?” Prabhat mocks. “Liam Payne? Oh, we’re so scared. Please don’t get Liam Payne. That would make it – oh wait… two against one.” He throws his head back and laughs.
Blair snickers. His stance is casual, his grip deceivingly relaxed, but the hands over Louis’ mouth and wrapped around his wrists are bruising.
Zayn glowers at both the Alphas but with tears shining in his dark eyes it’s not exactly intimidating. He takes a step back. His threat must have meant something, however, because the moment he thinks Zayn’s going to run Prabhat lunges forward and grabs him by the hair. Zayn screams and Louis starts to struggles again, watching helplessly as Zayn’s dragged and thrown into the nearest classroom.
“Little bitch,” Blair hisses at him, crushing Louis into the wall. Louis grits his teeth and pushes back with all his might. Nothing happens. Breathless and frustrated and angry and scared, he glares up at Blair.
“Now, now,” Blair says. He’s possibly trying to sound soothing but to Louis it’s just taunting. “We just want to know who it is that smells so lovely,” Blair says.
Prabhat comes over. He doesn’t bother to bend down but towers over Louis, lifting a hand to brush Louis’ fringe from his eyes.
At the same time Blair cautiously releases his wrists and removes his hand from Louis’ mouth.
Louis immediately bats Prabhat’s hand away. The smell of them makes him want to choke.
“We tried to introduce ourselves the other day,” Prabhat says. “But Harry Styles wouldn’t let anyone see you.”
They wait to see if Louis’ going to say anything. He doesn’t. All they can hear is Zayn hammering at the classroom door. Without taking his eyes off Louis, Blair snarls, “why don’t you go tell that dry little bitch to shut up.”
Prabhat turns back to the classroom and Louis’ heart beats so hard he feels like he’s going to throw it up.
Blair smiles at him. “An Omega as pretty as you,” he says quietly, “should go to the strongest Alpha in school.” Louis’ skin crawls under Blair’s wandering gaze. “Bit unfair of Styles to keep you to himself and not give any of us the chance to… win your affections… Isn’t it?”
Louis starts to shake his head.
Blair’s expression hardens. “Well it is.”
“No,” Louis begins to say.
Blair’s palm smacks into the wall beside Louis’ head – who gives a startled yelp, flinching.
“If I tell you it’s unfair,” Blair growls at him, right in his ear so that his hot breath bathes Louis’ neck, “it means it’s unfair. Okay?”
Hateful tears fill Louis’ eyes. He tries to sound brave as he says, “piss off.”
For a moment, he actually thinks Blair is going to hit him. But then he laughs and leans back. Louis cracks his eyes open again, seeing that Prabhat’s returned to the corridor. There’s no sound coming from the classroom anymore.
“You know I heard something else,” Blair says, pulling Louis’ attention back to him. “I heard Styles popped his knot in you.” He pushes his fist into Louis’ belly, who gasps. He’s seen Alphas do this to Omegas before and never really known what it meant. But looking down at it now, and remembering the feel of Harry’s knot locked inside him, he thinks he has an idea. He glowers up at Blair but Blair just leers, admiring the size of his fist against Louis’ body. He might as well just say: I’m imagining myself inside you. It’s so horrid, so aggressive, tears fall from Louis’ eyes. “I hear Styles pumped you full of it,” Blair sneers at him. “Fucking smells like it… So… did he?”
Louis doesn’t even know how to begin to answer or even if he could. After a moment Prabhat says, “Let’s just check if he has, man. I’m not touching an Omega who’s been knotted by another Alpha – that’s just not cool.”
Louis’ eyes shoot between them.
“Yeah,” Blair says, “let’s see shall we?”
“No, no – don’t!” Louis says as Blair’s hand closes around his arm, tugging him away from the wall. “NO! GET OFF ME.”
But his scream is drowned out by a much louder bellow from the end of the corridor.
“GET OFF HIM! NOW!”
He’s dropped so quickly he almost falls over. He hears footsteps behind him and then Harry’s hands are smoothing back his hair, cupping his cheeks, wiping away his tears. He searches Louis’ face and seems satisfied for the meantime. He releases him again, stepping past him. Overwhelmed, Louis can hear Harry’s voice only under the sound of his own shallow, rapid breathing.
“He’s mine, Blair. Do you understand? He’s mine. If either of you touch him again I’ll rip your fucking throats out.”
A long silence follows, punctuated only by the sound of Louis’ gasping.
He sees Prabhat pull at Blair’s arm. “Mate, come on… Harrison, leave it, mate. Come on.” He drags Blair away.
Harry waits until the door closes behind them before turning to Louis, so tall the Omega has to crane his head back to peer into his face. He’s starts striding back to him and Louis stumbles back despite himself. Harry’s hand darts out, catching his arm easily. He’s pulled into Harry’s chest, his head cradled into the crook of Harry’s neck.
“Are you okay?” Harry murmurs, his voice rumbling through Louis like a storm.
All Louis can do is stand there, nodding absently as an onset of shock starts to overwhelm him.
“Louis?” Harry whispers, his hand rubbing circles over Louis’ back, “Lou, are you with me, love?”
When Louis continues to nod Harry pulls him back. Louis’ chest heaves wildly. He stares through Harry: his expression frightened but his eyes blank.
With sudden determination, Harry takes the hem of Louis’ jumper and yanks it over his head. That at least gets a reaction out of him. Louis’ heart leaps when he thinks Harry’s going to have sex with him right here. But then Harry’s pulling his own jumper off and forcing it over Louis’ head, muttering apologies as he tugs Louis’ hair. He straightens it roughly, smoothing it over Louis’ hips, and takes Louis’ cheeks in his palms.
“Louis,” he says seriously. “I want you to wear this. Always.”
Louis nods. Harry’s presence is solid and comforting. He feels the numbness fade away, replaced by a feeling of comfort, safety. Tears well up in his eyes and he shoves his face into Harry’s chest.
Harry breathes a sigh of relief. He wraps his arms around Louis, tucks an arm under his bum and straightens up, lifting Louis off his feet easily. Louis locks his ankles behind Harry’s back and holds on tight to his neck. Harry listens to the sound of his breathing evening out. Eventually the afternoon bell rings and students start to file into the corridor.
Harry reluctantly lowers Louis back down. His jumper is endearingly big on the Omega: the sleeves droop past Louis’ fingertips and the hem falls over his bum. But Louis’ eyes are clear and blue, unglazed by tears or desire and a shy, happy little smile lights up his pretty face. Harry brushes away the tear tracks on his cheeks. “What’s your next lesson?” he asks softly.
“History,” Louis mumbles.
Harry straightens up, linking their fingers. “Alright, love, let me walk you there.”
After that afternoon everyone knows that Harry was the one who knotted the Omega. It’s enough to dispel the rumours that Louis was raped, thankfully. It does, though, inspire a flurry of new ones, including Harry’s personal favourite: If you even look at Harry Styles’ Omega he’ll rip your throat out.
It does mean, on the other hand, that Harry can’t even smile at Louis across the assembly hall without a teacher intervening. They might not be able to punish an Alpha for mating with an Omega but they can try their hardest to keep it from happening again.
Forgotten about, locked in a classroom cupboard for almost fifteen minutes, however, Zayn hates Harry even more.
A FEW DAYS LATER, ZAYN
“Louis, man, I’m not stupid – I can see you copyin’, you know…” Turning his head, Zayn catches Louis quickly avert his eyes from Zayn’s English homework.
“Well, actually I find that quite offensive, Zayn,” the other Omega says.
Zayn raises his eyebrows and looks pointedly at the blank pages of Louis’ homework book.
Louis pretends to ignore him but he’s got a sheepish smile tugging at his mouth.
“Which one is he?”
“The one on the left.”
Zayn glances up. Two Alphas from Cardinal Godfrey’s – another of the boarding houses – are pointing at Louis from where they’re stood near the door to the common room. Louis and Zayn are sat in their usual sofa in the back corner of the room. Every evening since Harry publically laid claim to Louis Alphas have been coming into their boarding house to get a look at him. Harry stands at the other end of the room, growling at any one who even tries to talk to “his Omega”. So Zayn was wrong about him. It doesn’t mean he’s any happier watching Harry rub his scent all over Louis in between classes. When Zayn looks over now he can see Harry leaning against the fridge, his eyes fixed on them. Beside him Niall Horan is loading beers into Liam’s arms.
“Come on, before Styles kills us,” one of the Alphas from Cardinal’s says and they leave.
Louis relaxes noticeably. He feels like Harry’s property – something pretty that other Alphas can admire. It’s not that Louis doesn’t like it –he’s embarrassed by how much he does like it. Harry treats him like he’s delicate but that’s how Louis feels most of the time. Harry’s so big Louis can’t actually help that he’s scared of him. Plus, Harry gets him so flustered he’s been on the verge of tears for a week. He doesn’t know what you’re supposed to say to a boy that you’ve done it with. If he opens his mouth his usual shit will pour out and Harry will probably just think he’s childish. He doesn’t even know why Harry likes him. When he says this to Zayn, however, his friend just gives him a look, making it pretty obvious what he thinks.
A few minutes later Zayn notices Louis trying to peek at his homework again. “C’mon, Louis! Stop it will, ya!” he exclaims.
“Can’t I have a look?” Louis whines, leaning over Zayn’s shoulder.
Zayn shrugs him off. “I spent all weekend writin’ mine-”
“But please, Zayn,” Louis begs and when Zayn glances at him he sees his chin is starting to wobble.
“It’s a poem Lou’eh, you can’t copy a poem,” Zayn explains, wrapping an arm around Louis’ shoulders.
“Yeah but I’m useless at this stuff,” Louis mumbles. He wipes his eyes with the sleeve of his jumper. “Besides – I think I’m getting sick-”
Zayn has to stop himself from snorting. Yeah, he thinks, ‘sick’. At this point Zayn’s not really sure Louis ever left his last heat.
“-This is just so unfair!” Louis huffs.
Across the room, two Omegas smother giggles, pointing at him. Whilst all the Alphas think Louis’ adorable; Omegas have started making fun of him. Slouching further in his seat, Louis throws away his homework book and folds his arms petulantly. Moments later Harry is dropping to his knees beside the sofa and husking at him, “Hiiiii, Loubear, just checking that you’re alright…?”
Louis keeps his arms tightly folded. “Yeah…?”
“You sure?” Harry presses.
“Yes,” Louis insists, balling up the too-long sleeves of his (Harry’s) jumper. He’s worn it for the last four days straight and now he has an eye on the lavender one Harry’s wearing at the moment. http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/f3axp6-l-610x610-sweater-harry-styles-purple-sweater-purple-menswear-one-direction-pastel-blouse-harry-styles-sweater-pastel-purple-cardigan-pullover.jpg
Liam drops onto the armrest beside Zayn. He nudges him, jerks his thumb at Harry and mouths, “Loubear?” Then pulls a face.
Zayn starts to smile and Liam’s brown eyes crinkle up.
Harry’s running his hand up and down Louis’ thigh. “I saved you one of the cupcakes I made for the bake sale tomorrow,” he’s saying. He offers Louis what look like a mound of icing.
Zayn can practically feel Louis blushing as he takes it in both his hands.
“You’re making me look bad, Haz,” Liam jokes. He nudges Zayn’s shoulder again. “Wanna try my beer, babe?” He holds it out.
Zayn stares up at him. “… I’m thirteen?”
Liam shrugs. “Yeah, but you’re with me, swee’heart – I’ll look after you.” Zayn blushes. (He can see scrapes on Liam’s knuckles from a rugby brawl that got out of control and conveniently ended up with Liam punching Prabhat Rangarajan.)
Before Zayn can reply, however, Harry speaks again and his attention is drawn back to the pair. “Lou, do you promise me you don’t need me right now?”
Louis nods his head stubbornly but they’re all thinking the same thing: he’s in denial.
Harry hesitates. In the gentlest way possible he says: “It’s just that I can smell you, love…”
Louis flushes. “I just told you I’m fine,” he snaps.
Harry blinks; both he and Liam look a little stunned.
“Okay…” Harry says patiently. He leans forward and squeezes Louis’ thigh. “Well, we don’t have to wait until you’re in heat…” He trails off as Louis’ expression transforms into something nothing short of horrified. Clearly the idea of having sex with Harry when he doesn’t explicitly need it is in equal parts terrifying and repulsive. He pushes Harry’s hand off his knee, grabs his book bag and storms towards the door.
Harry lets him go, watching his cupcake roll onto the floor. His expression could fairly be described as tortured. He rises to his feet, making Zayn feel terribly small in the sofa below him.
“You worry too much, mate,” Liam says easily, leaning forward to clap Harry’s side. “Come on, let’s go outside.”
Harry shakes his head. “I’m done, mate. I’m heading upstairs.”
Liam watches him go, nudges Zayn again and lets out a low whistle. “Mental – both of them, eh?” He pushes to his feet and holds out his hand, “You’ll come with me, won’t you babe?”