Chapter Text
Oh Jesus Christ," Louis mumbled to himself, slapping a hand over his nose as the scent of lust and alpha pheromones wafted into the hallway. He could hear the low murmur of voices from behind the dressing room door, followed by the unmistakable sounds of his bandmates getting dressed. Harry's rich baritone, Zayn's gruff tones, and Niall's gentle laughter all mixed in a pattern of post-coital contentment.
"You can open your eyes now," Liam's voice was low and amused, the arousal still thick in his words.
Louis took a deep breath and dropped his hand, his eyes adjusting to the brightness of the hallway. He turned to face Niall, who looked like he had just rolled out of bed, but somehow managed to be adorable even when rumpled. "You're such a mess," he teased, trying to ignore the way his heart ached.
Niall stuck his tongue out playfully. "You love it."
"Yeah, sure," Louis mumbled, trying to shrug Niall off. He didn't miss the flash of hurt in the omega's eyes, but he couldn't help the bitterness that coated his words. The pack had been avoiding him more and more, always leaving him out of their plans and making excuses for their behavior. It stung, but he knew he was the one who was different. He was the beta who didn't fit in their alpha/omega world.
As they approached the restaurant, the smell of grilled chicken filled the air, making Louis' stomach rumble. He hadn't eaten much today, trying to keep his weight down for the camera, but the thought of food made him feel sick. He forced a smile as they entered Nandos, the bright lights and loud chatter of the place assaulting his senses.
"I'll just nip to the loo," he said casually, hoping nobody would question him. The others nodded, already distracted by the menu. Harry shot him a concerned look, but Zayn and Niall were too busy ingrossed in each other.
In the bathroom, Louis leaned against the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He looked tired, his eyes a little red from holding back tears.
"Just get it together," he murmured to himself, taking a deep breath and fixing his hair. He couldn't let them see how much it hurt. He knew they had their reasons, but it didn't make the rejection any easier to handle.
When he finally emerged from the bathroom, the others were already seated at their booth, plates cleared and conversation flowing as if he'd never been gone. Harry looked up, a question in his eyes, but Liam and Zayn were too engrossed in their conversation to even glance his way.
Paul, their ever-efficient “manager”, strode over to their table, his shoes clicking against the tiles. "You lot ready to head out?"
Liam looked up from his phone. "Interview, yeah, got it," he said with a nod.
"Let's go," Harry announced, already standing and pulling Niall up by the hand.
The four of them made their way outside to the waiting car, the cool evening air a stark contrast to the warm, crowded restaurant. Louis followed, his steps feeling heavier than usual. He slid into the back seat, feeling the leather stick to his skin slightly from his earlier sweat. Niall cuddled up to Harry in the front, and Zayn took the spot beside him, leaving Liam to sit next to him. He rolled down the window a crack, hoping the fresh air would help clear his head.
The drive was filled with the low hum of the engine and the occasional burst of laughter from the front. Harry threw glances back at him every now and then, but the conversation remained mostly between the three alphas. Louis felt like a ghost. He stared out the window, watching the city lights blur into streaks as they drove through the night. It was a familiar sight, one he'd seen countless times, but tonight it felt alien, like he was on the outside looking in.
As the car pulled up to the TV studio, the paparazzi swarmed like a pack of hungry hyenas, flashbulbs popping and questions flying. Niall's hand reached back and grabbed his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. It was a small gesture, but it was the first sign of affection he'd received from them in what felt like forever.
"Remember, smiles on," Paul reminded them as they piled out of the car.
Louis nodded, plastering on the best smile he could muster. He felt like a doll being propped up for a show, a mere accessory to the alphas' performance. The paparazzi's flashes blinded him, but he managed to make it to the studio's doors without tripping.
Once inside, the chaos of the outside world was replaced with the cool, sterile air of the TV studio. The smell of hairspray and makeup filled his nose as they were led to their dressing room. He took a seat at the far end of the couch, watching Harry, Niall, and Zayn fuss over their outfits. Liam was on the phone, his expression unreadable.
"Louis," paul's voice snapped him out of his daze. "interview room now please"
He nodded, standing up and following his manager down the hallway, his heart racing. He knew what was coming, the same questions they've been asked a hundred times. "How's the band dynamic?" "Are you all still close?" "What's next for one direction?" "Are you dating anyone"?
He could almost recite their answers by heart, the ones that were approved by management, of course. As they entered the interview room, he saw the set was already lit up, the cameras pointed at the couch where they'd sit. The interviewer, a smarmy-looking man with a forced smile, waved at them. "Alright, lads, let's get started!"
Paul hovered in the background, his eyes never leaving them. Louis took his seat between Harry and Niall, feeling the warmth of their bodies against his, but the comfort was gone. It was all for show now.
The interviewer launched into the usual questions, and they gave the usual answers. Louis felt like their little puppet, his words rehearsed and empty. His mind wandered, thinking about the early days of the band when they were all just teenagers thrown together by the one and only “Simon Cowell”. They'd been a ragtag group of five, all with their own quirks and ambitions, but over time, the alphas and Niall had found their place while he remained stuck in the shadows.
"So, Louis," the interviewer said, turning his attention to him, "what's it like to be the only beta in the band?"
Louis felt his cheeks heat up, the question hitting a little too close to home. "It's great," he said, forcing a smile. "No one's bossing me around,I have my own thoughts and feelings and it's better not being controlled or tied down to someone."
Niall looked away, his eyes misting over, and Harry's grip on his hand tightened. Liam's expression darkened, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. For a moment, it looked like he was about to leap over the couch and throttle me.
But then the interview was over, and they were all herded out of the room like cattle, back into the safety of their blacked-out car. The door slammed shut, muffling the cacophony of the paparazzi outside. The tension in the air was thick, almost palpable. Niall's hand slipped out of Harry's grasp, and the car was suddenly too small, too suffocating for the emotions that had been bottled up during the past 2 years.
"What was that?" Harry's voice was low, dangerous.
Louis swallowed hard, his eyes darting to Niall. "It's just how it is," he murmured.
"Is it?" Harry challenged, his eyes piercing.
The silence in the car was suffocating, the air thick . Niall looked down at his hands, twisting them in his lap. Zayn cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Guys, maybe we should just—"
But Harry cut him off. "No. We're going to talk about this." He turned to face Louis, his eyes searching. "So alphas may be a bit bossy but niall knows it's to protect him you just don't understand and you never will?"
The words stung, but Louis had heard them before. He knew he was different, had known since the day he'd been given those pills. "I just don't get why you alphas think you have the right to just do whatever you want" he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Niall spoke up, his voice small and sad. "It's not like that, Lou,they care about me is all."
"Care about you or control you?" Louis retorted, his voice cracking slightly.
Niall's head snapped up, his eyes wide and hurt. "That's not fair!"
But before anybody could say anything else, the car stopped, and with a sudden burst of energy, Louis wrenched open the door and bolted out of the car, leaving the cool evening air to rush in and replace the stifling tension. He didn't bother to look back as he sprinted towards their tour bus, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound of the door slamming echoed in his ears, drowning out the calls from his bandmates.
Once inside the bus, he collapsed onto his bed, the soft mattress enveloping him in a much-needed cwtch. He could feel his eyes burn with unshed tears, his chest tight with pain. Why couldn't they just let him be? It was like they were there for him for all the wrong reasons.
But as the silence of the bus settled around him, he heard the footsteps approaching his curtain. His heart skipped a beat, expecting one of them to rip it open,. But the seconds ticked by and nobody came.
Finally, the weight of the silence became too much. He peeked out from his hiding spot, his eyes scanning the dimly lit bus. The curtains of the pack area were drawn, and he could hear their muffled voices.
He took a deep breath and pulled the curtain closed behind him with a sigh, the fabric brushed against his skin.
Turning over, Louis buried his face in his pillow. He didn’t bother to change his clothes,he was too tired to move. He stared at the wall, the pictures of the band turning into patterns, faces blending into one,and eventually everything went black.