(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 278: Uh oh, stinky

When Andrew stepped off of the elevator onto his floor, he could immediately tell something was a bit off.

It wasn’t something obvious, but there was...a change in the air. Something was...askew. What it was? He couldn’t tell, not until he arrived at the office. The girls, who were betas, were working away, unaware of the thick, cloying, almost disgusting scent that filled the air. Andrew couldn’t exactly get mad at them for not noticing it, but he was a little confused as to why people who worked around secondary sexes far more than he did hadn’t noticed that something was wrong.

He was even more confused when he entered into the office and saw that it was only Dr. Cox, Dr. Piper, and Richard in the room. All were working quietly at their desks until Andrew entered, none of them noticing the smell.

Dr. Cox and Dr. Piper greeted Andrew warmly, asking about how he was doing, and then slyly asking how Mr. Beckett was doing. Andrew knew his face was warm as he said that Maxwell was doing well, he seemed to be recovering from his rut better than Andrew thought he would. That had earned him a few chuckles from the two women, but Andrew couldn’t help but notice that Richard wasn’t participating at all.

In fact, Richard looked quite unwell. He had been feverish before, about two weeks ago, but he looked downright ill. He was sitting at his desk, his hair all over the place, his clothing haphazardly put on, and he was staring at the computer screen, but clearly not comprehending what he was looking at.

It took all humour out of his body as he realised that something was seriously wrong.

Especially as Andrew came to the horrifying realisation that the scent? The cloying, almost unpleasant scent? That was coming from Richard.

Andrew glanced at the girls, who were still in Andrew and Maxwell land, and hadn’t noticed how serious Richard’s condition was. Andrew, who was fresh off of his rut was nearly repulsed by his scent, but this was a serious situation. He knew that Richard lived alone, but the fact that no one else had noticed prior to Andrew being here? That was insane.

It wasn’t as if Richard didn’t meet with the other heads of departments, especially on the lower levels. There were things that Richard probably knew that even Andrew didn’t, and he didn’t care to know. Maxwell didn’t need to tell him about everything that was going on in the company, and he wasn’t going to force the issue.

Andrew was only thinking about these things because he was having a hard time understanding how no one else had noticed this change in him. How had no one else been able to tell that something was happening to Richard?

There was the fact that Richard might have noticed something, thinking he was ill, and had avoided those who would normally be able to tell. It was a very big possibility, since it was something Andrew would have done as well. Especially if he thought it was a cold or something similar.

However, Andrew remembered the way that the fever when he had manifested had practically hurt, and seeing that Richard hadn’t even noticed that Andrew had entered the office was something very alarming to him.

"Dr. Cox." Andrew said softly, interrupting the two women who were speaking about a project that they were working on, all of them were working on. Dr. Cox froze, noticing that Andrew hadn’t moved, and it was then that she realised something was wrong.

"What’s wrong, Dr. Nice?" Dr. Cox said, straightening herself immediately, going into professional mode. Andrew swallowed.

"Do you have Dr. Liu’s phone number?" He asked and she furrowed her brow.

"I do. Do you need to speak with her?" She asked carefully, and Andrew swallowed, nodding. He was doing everything he could not to alert them that something was wrong.

"Yes, I do. On that topic, can you, Dr. Piper, go make sure that no one, especially alphas, get out on our floor?" Dr. Piper, who was now confused and concerned, glanced around.

"Uh, sure? Is it something related to you, Dr. Nice?" She asked and Andrew just nodded. Richard wasn’t even aware what had happened, and while they were work colleagues and important ones, he wanted to try and salvage some of his image. Richard would like that.

Dr. Cox pulled up Dr. Liu’s number on her phone, glancing around the room, trying to find what Andrew had reacted to. She and Dr. Piper both glanced over Richard, and Andrew felt his heart ache at that.

"Dr. Cox, can you join Dr. Piper outside? I shouldn’t leave." Andrew told her and Dr. Cox seemed even more confused, but the two girls left. Andrew was a little surprised that they didn’t kick up more of a stink, but thinking about what kind of women they were, he was grateful.

Andrew let out a deep, anxiety-filled sigh before he pressed call on Dr. Cox’s phone.

"Hello Dr. Cox. What seems to be the problem?" Dr. Liu’s voice was pleasant over the line and Andrew’s grip tightened on the phone.

"Hello Dr. Liu. This is Dr. Nice. I have...a very serious situation going on in the alpha department." Andrew told her quietly. He could hear her straightening in her chair on the other side, the wheels rolling on the smooth wooden floors.

"Oh? What’s going on, Dr. Nice? Is everyone okay?" She asked, clearly concerned and Andrew let out a shaky breath.

"No. As I am sure you know, I’ve just come back from my rut cycle. Prior to that, Richard and I attended a dinner together before I left. About two weeks ago." Andrew said quietly.

"How is this pertinent to the current situation?" Dr. Liu asked, and Andrew let out a dry laugh.

"Please, let me just explain the full situation. It is important, I promise" Andrew said, waiting for a beat of silence for her to protest. When she didn’t, he continued. "Richard wasn’t feeling well during that dinner. Said he was coming down with something. Just a flu. Well, I don’t think it was just a flu." Andrew whispered.

"Oh? What was it? Is that why you’ve called?" Andrew swallowed.

"I’m sorry I’m being so vague. I am just...this is a lot to take in right now." Andrew muttered. "Richard he...he’s manifested." Dr. Liu was out of her seat, and he could hear her opening her door. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"He’s what? What is he, Dr. Nice? And how are you so sure?" She asked and Andrew laughed.

"Politely, he’s stinking up the whole space, and didn’t even acknowledge that I’d come into the office. I’m pretty sensitive to smells on a good day because I’m recently manifested, but I could smell something was wrong as soon as I exited the elevators. I can’t be certain, but I’m pretty sure that he’s an omega." Dr. Liu swore.

"You need to get out of there. It’s not safe-"

"I normally would agree with you, but I’m actually finding Richard’s scent to be repulsive right now, Dr. Liu. I sent Dr. Cox and Dr. Piper away for Richard’s dignity, since I don’t think he was aware in the slightest. Strange, considering I explained what I felt like when I manifested late, but no one thinks it’s going to be them." Andrew said dryly and Dr. Liu sighed on the other end.

"Well, as long as you don’t touch him, or release your pheromones, I won’t scold you too harshly. Have you let anyone else know yet?" She asked and Andrew shook his head, swallowing as he continued to stare at Richard. He wasn’t moving, barely breathing as he stared at the screen. It was far different from how Maxwell had behaved when he was in heat.

Hell, he was pretty sure this was how Andrew had behaved when he had first manifested.

"No, I haven’t. I can call Max on my cell while remaining on the phone with you." Andrew told her and she gave a grunt.

"You do that. This is an emergency situation. I’ll call the team who usually helps extract omegas in heat from dangerous situations. Are you sure you aren’t reacting?" She asked and Andrew laughed.

"He’s practically my brother, Dr. Liu, but I appreciate your concern and worry. I swear, I’m closer to throwing up than pouncing on him." Andrew told her and she remained silent.

"Okay. Call Mr. Beckett and inform him of the situation. You can mute yourself, just keep me on the line. He could notice your pheromones at any moment." Andrew appreciated her caution, and quickly, Andrew was pulling up Maxwell’s number.

Maxwell answered on the second ring.

"Andy? Miss me already?" He joked, and Andrew wished he wasn’t about to ruin his day.

"Max, something urgent has happened. Do you remember how Richard wasn’t feeling well at dinner the other night?" Andrew asked.

’Yes. I do." Maxwell answered cautiously.

"Well, it wasn’t the flu. I think, I’m pretty sure that Richard has manifested. As an omega." Maxwell swore over the other line.

"Holy shit. Fuck. Is he alright?" He asked, and Andrew felt his heart twist at the raw concern in his voice. "Have you contacted anyone else?"

"I have Dr. Liu on Dr. Cox’s phone. She’s on her way. Calling the team that helps with heats. It’s bad. He’s unaware of anything and everyone, just sitting at his desk staring at the screen. He looks terrible. I’m so worried for him. I remember what this felt like and I just-" Andrew cut off. He couldn’t leave Richard alone.

"It’s okay, Andy. Dr. Liu is very competent and is good at her job. She’ll make sure that he’s treated well. This won’t be like the last time." Andrew was glad that Maxwell understood where Andrew’s concern was stemming from. This was his damn worst nightmare.

"Why an omega? I’m not complaining, I just don’t understand. Wouldn’t he be like his sister?" Andrew mused, panic slowly creeping into his voice.

"Who knows, Andy. We’ll figure it out. Are you in the room with him? Is he alone?" Andrew shook his head.

"No. I’m in the room with him. I couldn’t leave him alone. I don’t feel anything for his pheromones. Well, I want to throw up, and I feel ill, but not in the same way I did with her. He doesn’t smell like garbage. Just...hilariously, roses. Thick, cloying, overly sweet roses." Maxwell held silent for a moment, before he burst into laughter.

"Oh, if only his sister knew." Andrew let out a soft laugh.

"Yeah. Let’s save that revelation for later. I just..." Andrew unmuted Dr. Liu. "How far out are you?" He asked.

"We’re almost at the elevator with the team. Thankfully, we’re on the same floor. Does Mr. Beckett know?" She asked and Andrew nodded.

"He does. I have both of you on the line." Andrew told her and she let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness. I didn’t want to get in trouble for leaving his mate alone in a room with another omega, almost brother or not." Andrew felt his face warm at her relieved words. Andrew was Maxwell’s mate? That was how the other’s viewed him? It was cute, and Andrew felt his cheeks crease, even in this terrible situation.

"Max isn’t that shallow. He knows Richard well, and would forgive him if he had any strange behaviours." Andrew said and Maxwell growled.

"Don’t you dare tell him that. He still needs to be somewhat scared of me." Maxwell warned, and Dr. Liu was able to pick up on what was said, and let out a shocked bark of laughter.

"I apologise for laughing." She said almost immediately, and Andrew chuckled himself.

"It’s okay, Dr. Liu. I’m sure Richard will forgive us once all of this is over."