Hi peeps! So confinement 2.0 here. Not gonna lie, that with post partum has been messing with my mental health a little. Don't feel like doing much. But, hanging in there! I hope everybody is keeping safe and healthy! xoxo. (Probably full of mistakes ! My bad!)

Runt of the Litter

Chapter 6

The TV was on.

There was probably sound - but he couldn't tell. His fingernails were scratching at the fabric of his jeans, his blue eyes glaring forward, as part of his face was covered by his right hand. Every ten seconds or so, he would take the smallest of breaths. A quick inhale through the noise - nothing more. He was far from her. As a matter of fact, she hadn't left her room. He left her food by her door, but it was still there. Her scent was mostly trapped in there. He didn't know if it was her lack of control that was keeping her in the room, or the shame from previous events. Either way, she wasn't leaving, meaning most of her scent was trapped in her room. He could still smell it though - feel it. But the gist of it was trapped. Trapped. Yup. Trapped. Why couldn't he stopped with that word. It wasn't like she was trapped. She could get out. He was glad she wasn't leaving the room - but she could.

Kouga pinched the bridge of his nose, while his jaw clenched, the vein in his neck threatening to pop. He felt like a cub. It was a heat, nothing he hadn't been through before. Actually, this was better than usual since he wasn't affected by his own hormones - even if it sure as fuck felt like he was. He had never been around another were during their heat season. Maybe it was meant to throw him for a loop. Maybe she wasn't as good as controlling herself, which was letting her scent and her hormones run wild. That had to be it. Kouga threw his head backwards, hitting the couch as he closed his eyes, exhaling loudly through his nostrils, making them flare.

Maybe Misa could come over - talk to her. Plus, it would allow him to safely step out without leaving her alone. A walk would do him some good; clear his mind, get rid of her scent. Yup, he was going to call the old hag over. A female. That way he'd be sure she wouldn't be affected by this.

Meanwhile, Kagome was in her room, drenched in sweat. Her mouth was open while she panted as though she had ran a marathon except she hadn't left the floor. She was fighting against her own body. Fighting herself so that she wouldn't go out there, fighting herself so that she would stay grounded. The droplets of sweat sliding down her spine were enough to make her shiver and she banged her own head into the wooden door. Nope. She had turned herself into a fool enough times. Kouga was helping her and to say that she was grateful didn't even begin to cover it but - but she didn't know him. Why couldn't she stop herself from wanting to go to him? She dug her dull nails into the floor, mindlessly scratching it as her brain scrambled to focus on anything that wasn't him. It was a failure. The rage pent up inside of her was reaching such a high peak that tears were beginning to pool in her eyes.

Heat.

She was an animal. The human side of her was not in the driver side at all.

Her cheeks burned at the memory of him explaining to her what was happening. She dropped her chin to her chest, hiding her face even though she was alone in the room. He said this would last a few days - how was she supposed to survive a few days of this? She could smell him all the way from here. Not just that, he had helped her focus her hearing, her scent - but she couldn't do that anymore. She was pouring so much of her energy into not going to him, she couldn't keep herself focus. All the sounds were invading her head, all the scents were tickling her nostrils. It was almost as overwhelming as it had been that first morning. She didn't have enough control to do both at the same time. If she had to choose, it would be to keep herself away from him.

It wasn't like he was a bad man.

He was kind. He looked after her. He smiled at her. He was considerate. Her safety and well being was his priority.

Actually. She had never seen someone like that. She was used to being the carer. When she first met Inuyasha, he was broken. It took a lot of lashing out, a lot of pushing her away, but he eventually began to trust her. She could take it. She could take someone's else pain if it meant they would feel better. The situation had never been reversed… until now. He took a lot of heat, a lot of shit for taking her in. He went against his pack's wishes so that he could keep her safe. He gave up his time, his personal space, his own peace of mind to help her navigate through this new life. He was keeping her safe. For once, she was falling apart, and someone was there to catch her. It nearly terrified her. She had never let go, she had never let someone else put the pieces back together. She'd always break pieces of herself away, ensuring the well being of those she loved.

It was indeed scary.

And it only made her want to go to him even more.

She shook her head, sweat drops splashing around her. She had to be strong. He was too nice; if she went to him, he would have to turn her down while protecting her feelings and she didn't want to put him in that situation. This was her way of thanking him for everything that he was doing; she would be strong enough to keep herself at bay. It was the only thing she could do. The only way she could feel somewhat useful.

She could do this.

-R-

"Ya know hun, it'll be a lot easier for me to open the door if ya ain't leaning against it."

The sound of Misa's voice made her jump of her skin and tumble forward. Wait. What?

"Don't worry, that idiot ain't here. Ya can open the door."

Kouga… left? But how could she still smell him so vividly? She should have heard him leave… then again, there were so many sounds in her head, could she truly tell them apart? Her knees were wobbly as she made it to her feet, threatening to give up with each step she took. She hadn't even reached for the handle yet that the door swung open, revealing Misa.

She shook her head. "You look like shit," she said as she entered without being given permission. She turned on the light Kagome had kept closed and inspected her further. "How you like 'em heats?"

"Please tell me this isn't a monthly thing."

Misa bursted out laughing. "No worries. I don't know about you dogs, but for us, it's once a year. It's a little easier to handle when you've been through them your whole life."

"Every year, you have to go through this?"

"Thank the lord, I don't have that problem anymore! It's not so bad. Most of the times, those who want to get together, those who don't stay on their own. It don't last so long."

It felt like an eternity. "I can't even get out of this room."

"Because ya too weak, or cause big shot alpha was out there?"

Her hands curled in front of her stomach, her chest caving in as her ears turned red. "That obvious?"

Misa dismissed her with a wave of the hand. "He's the alpha, sweetie. He drives all the females stupid. Beats me why though. He's a knucklehead."

She knew it was her attempt at humor to defuse the situation, but she couldn't even bring herself to laugh. "I- I don't wanna cause trouble."

"You're not making any trouble." She had never seen a heat this bad before. The poor girl looked like she had taken a shower; she was fighting it off. The logical side of her was telling her that bittens were different but, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something else was at play. "He's fine."

"I - don't - I don't wanna make it harder on him by forcing him to turn me down again and again. It's my fault I can't control it."

"Turn you down?" What was that emotion in her eyes? Pain. Hurt. She was hurt… by his rejection? Didn't look to her as though that dumb cub needed a break from dealing with the annoyance of her heat. Looked to her like he needed a break from holding himself back. Lot of females threw themselves at him - after all, he was the catch of the pack. She'd never seen him do more than a clench fist. Two years ago, during the peak of the mating season, Ayame had gone all out. Waiting for him naked, offering herself up to him, getting down on her knees - and he had thrown her out on her ass - her naked ass. The witnesses of the event had enjoyed telling the story to anyone who wanted to hear it.

And yet he couldn't shake off this little puppy? Strange.

"It's fine. I - I know I can be a burden. He said it would be a few days right. I'll- I'll be fine. I'll stay here - or - or maybe I should leave to give him some piece of mind."

"Leave? Are ya out of your mind child?"

"What?"

She chuckled. "If you leave, there's gonna be a lot of them males after you. Then won't have the same kind of honor as that idiot." An out of control female in heat? She'd be an easy picking. She might have a soft spot for Kouga, but under the right circumstances, she would cave in to someone else too.

Right. Except for the few times she had seen Ginta and Hakkaku, she was mostly with Kouga all the time. There was a whole hidden world out there that she wasn't familiar with and it came with a lot more dangers and traps that she had initially thought. She couldn't leave. She was stuck here until she felt like herself again - whatever that meant now. "Sorry - I-"

"You're desperate for something." Misa knew too well what that something was. She was about try and re-assure her when a foreign presence sent a flash down her spine. This wasn't good. Her eyes narrowed before she turned around, glaring at the doorway. Something about his scent wasn't right. "Boy what are you doing here?" These three idiots had grown up near her, driving her more nuts each year; she knew them well.

Kagome leaned to the left, noticing Ginta standing there, one foot in, one foot out. His lips were parted, his nostrils flared, as he clutched the long, brown envelope in his hand. His eyes traveled from Kagome to Misa, back to Kagome again. "I- hm, the hm…" he popped his lips. He had knocked on the door, he remembered that much. He wasn't sure he waited for anyone to answer before he walked in. Actually, the only two occupants of the apartment were standing in front of him - clearly they hadn't opened the door for him. And yet there he was. He had walked in - without an invitation. "The monk gave me this. It's for Kouga." He took a step forward. "I was dropping it off."

"Ain't heard of knocking," she asked while taking a step forward. She knew that look; she had seen it enough on dumb young cubs.

"Yeah -I was - I was gonna, I thought - I thought he was here." Hadn't he knocked? It was a little fuzzy. Thinking was hard at the moment. His focus was elsewhere and he couldn't tunnel his thoughts enough to remember his actions from the car to where he stood. He didn't tear his eyes away from Kagome. Instead, he began to travel his glance from her face to her feet, back to her face. "Ya okay?" Her cheeks were red, her skin looked clammy and her lips were pressed together. She smelled good. There was a distress coming off of her, one that was calling out to him.

"She's fine. Leave it with me, I'll give it to that knucklehead." She might be older now, but her instincts remained sharp; she had to get him out of here. She didn't want anyone to be doing anything stupid or anything they would regret. It was as if these boys had never been around a female in heat. Or maybe they had never been around a female like her.

Ginta ventured further into the room, nearly shoving the enveloppe into Misa's chest. The entire time, his gaze remained as it had been; on Kagome. He was less than a centimetre away from her by the time he came to a halt. Her scent was strong enough that it was leaving a divine taste in his mouth, sweet enough to even make his mind buzz. The proximity of their bodies made him dizzy and he unconsciously licked his lips, watching as she tilted her head backwards to look up. The desperation in her eyes was enough to send a jolt of power going through him. He didn't think about twice; he reached out, cupping her cheek with his left hand and he watched as she leaned into the touch. He could feel it in his soul; she wanted to be touch, she wanted to be comforted. Her need was tugging at him, forcing him to soothe that urge.

"Ginta."

Her voice fell on deaf ears.

"Ya alright?" he asked again.

She nodded against his hand. His warm hand helped to soothe the desperation that was growing within her chest, and it helped filled the void but it wasn't it. It wasn't enough. It could lessen the need ripping her apart from the inside but she wasn't sure it would be enough to get rid of it completely. Tears came to her eyes and she wished he could help with the frustration she felt. Could he help? Could he make it better? Focus, Kagome. Focus. But she couldn't.

"Out."

That voice, he couldn't ignore it as easily. His whole body froze and for a mere second, he felt a battle raging inside; stay here with her or follow his alpha's orders. Never in his life had he ever even entertain the thought of disobeying Kouga - but this time, he almost considered it. It hurt as he retracted his hand, instantaneously missing the warmth of her skin and the spiciness of her scent. He wanted to touch her one more time. Feel the softness of her skin against his fingers. Kouga's presence behind him was overwhelming, crushing him under pressure, forcing him to buckle and step away. However, he did so by walking backwards, keeping his eyes on her. If he inhaled deeply enough he could taste her scent and it would send his head spinning again - but his alpha told him to leave.

"I said out."

Kouga glared at Ginta, following him with a deep gaze as he finally exited the room. But it wasn't enough. He needed to know that he was no longer in the apartment, no longer in the vicinity. There was a growl bubbling in his chest, a rage making his hands fist as he held back the urge to curl his top lip above where his fangs should be. He had been circling the area, hoping the cold air would calm his rattled nerves when he had caught a whiff of Ginta's scent. He had thought it innocent; he often dropped by unannounced until he had noticed the shift in it. He had followed it, letting his instincts guide him back to his own apartment. He had been calm, collected - until the mingling of their scents had hit him. Ginta never strayed, Ginta always listened. And yet, there he had been; touching Kagome. He hadn't been able to focus on how little sense it had made. No, his primary concern had been to keep him away from her.

And now he had.

"I think you need to follow your own order," Misa said, remaining to the side. She might have tried to block Ginta, but she wasn't stupid enough to do the same with Kouga. These boys weren't thinking straight and she hadn't lived such a long life by acting stupid and irrationally.

Her voice was there, in the back of his head, but he didn't listen to it. "Did he touch you?"

Kagome shook her head. It felt worse now. When Ginta had touched her cheek, it had been easier to breathe for a second, but now? Now she was suffocating. Kouga was mad. Kouga was mad and it made her anxiety shoot up. The alpha was mad. She was wringing her hands while bouncing off of her left foot, avoiding his glance as she knew it would make it worse. She didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes, the anger that shone in his blue orbs. It was her fault. Tears spilled on her cheeks while she became unable to control the wobbling of her bottom lip. She wanted to run but she didn't know where to go; she was trapped.

Then it came, like a salvation; his fingers on her chin. "I'm not mad at you," he said as he forced her head backwards. "I was worried about you."

"I- Sorry."

He shook his head. "You didn't do anything."

Now that he was this close to her, all he could smell was the scent Ginta left behind; he didn't like it.

"Kouga."

Misa. Again.

He flicked his tongue against the back of his teeth; she was right. He fucking hated it, but she was right. "Go shower." It wasn't a suggesting, it wasn't a proposition. It was an order. "You'll feel better. I'll be here when you get out."

Pathetic; that was how she felt. She didn't want to leave his side. She didn't want to leave this man's side despite how little she knew about him. But she had to - he was right; it was best. She could maybe manage to salvage a little bit of her pride if she walked away now. She felt weak, too weak to pull away from his hold. Thankfully, he released his grip on her, allowing her to walk away. She ducked her head forward, her chest heavy as she exited the room.

"Something's up," he finally said. "That's not Ginta."

"He's not the only one acting weird."

"I'm fine." He kept himself in control.

"Sit down dummy, we gotta talk."

He should lecture her but he didn't; instead he listened and he sat on the bed. It was almost a bad idea. He instantly became surrounded by her scent, his nostrils assaulted by the vivid spiciness that had been clinging to her skin for the past couple of days. Fuck.

"I think I know what's up." She had an incline, nothing concrete. She had hoped he would have seen the signs too but he hadn't. She had tried to dismiss it, trying to tell herself she was reading into it but - after this little display?

"Other than her heat?"

"Think about it knucklehead. She's even affecting you? Physical changes? Betas out of control? She listens to you a little too well?"

"What are you saying old hag? I'm not in the mood for guessing games."

"Omega. She's an omega."

She - fuck. "She can't be."

"Why not?"

"There has - "

"Last one in our pack was before my time."

If anyone else came to this conclusion, he would dismiss them but - Misa? She wouldn't bring it up if she wasn't sure. "Fuck."

"It would explain why the both of you have been dummies. Why she really wants to please you -"

"I didn't take advantage of her."

"Didn't say you did. You are awfully protective of her though - make sense."

Of course it made sense; he was the fucking alpha. They used to be the partner of choice. An alpha female was a handful and the uterus were hostile environments; it was hard for a baby to grow there. Most of the time it took them years and years before they had a pregnancy and even longer to have a live birth. Even if they did end up with a babe, they weren't maternal. Beta females were easier to handle, they listened better and they were a little bit more fertile. Omegas? Omegas were made to get impregnated, to carry cubs and care for them. It was a win-win, a fertile mate, one who would raise cubs, cubs that would outlive childhood. A devoted mate, a devoted mother. They offered their alpha no resistance, mostly compliance. It had led to a lot of abuse over the centuries. Alphas weren't mating them; they were keeping them like obedient little bitches whom they would breed. They'd put them at the bottom of the ladder; good for bearing and raising children. Over time they became rarer and rarer…until they were no longer a common sight - but they remained sought after.

He wasn't a fan of those practices. There was more to them. They were healers, carers, they had devotion and love. It extended beyond the cubs they bore. They cherished and protected the little cubs of others and the members of the packs. They were furiously loyal and loving. They weren't meant to be abuse by their alpha. He was glad they hadn't seen on in such a long time; less trouble.

As if she wasn't trouble enough by buying a dog…

"You can't tell them."

Misa scoffed. "Take me for an idiot?" She shook her head. "Ayame would have a field day with her. She wouldn't be safe."

"Good."

"She's not that safe from you either."

His eyes narrowed. "I ain't like that."

"I know. But she's affecting you."

"I was caught off guard." He had never smelled one before - the stories were true.

"Are ya gonna tell her?"

"Are you?"

"Not my place."

Unfortunately, he didn't have the same out. "Not yet. She's dealing with enough right now. She doesn't need this. And she doesn't need to be asking people about this."

"You'll have to tell her eventually."

"I will. Not yet."

"You know best."

That poor girl's life was about to get even more complicated.

One thing was certain; thank god that ice king hadn't found her first…

-R-

"Kouga…"

Once his eyes snapped open in the darkness, he wondered for a brief moment why his instincts hadn't kicked in. How someone had gotten into his room without him ever even realizing it. Despite the blackness that had swallowed his room, he could see clearly as he stared to his left, looking right into Kagome's eyes. She was kneeling beside him, on the empty side of the bed, her hair forming a curtain around her face. Her hand was on his bare bicep, a gesture she had probably initiated to shake him awake; it had worked. There was a panic present in her eyes but he couldn't figure out why. He was certain she hadn't heard his conversation with Misa because she hadn't brought it up. Granted their interaction after her shower had been brief, but still. Avoiding her had been in his best interest; he'd be able to think a little clearer once her heat wore off.

It should be soon.

It had to be right?

"Kagome? What's wrong?"

Nothing and everything? She had fought herself, she really had. Every single step she took in his direction had been a struggle. This was not her. She didn't do this; she felt pathetic. He'd be avoiding her, pushing her away and there was this part of her - a part buried deep inside - that was begging for some kind of attention. Why did he want to stay away from her? It shouldn't matter - it didn't. She was Kagome. He was someone she just met. Why did it matter to her if he wanted to stay away from her? Didn't she want to go back to her own life? The one she had before she ever met him? Her brain, her heart and her core were all in a disagreement and she couldn't figure out what she wanted. She couldn't even figure out who she was. The constant doubting, the pressure, the fear, the doubts. All of it had happened so fast… without warning…

'You're avoiding me."

He had chalked up some of her behavior to the fact that she was a newbie. Then, he had blamed it on the heat. Now that a new truth had been offered to him, he wondered how he hadn't seen it before. "I'm not." He was a little bit. Tomorrow night, her heat would have eased up and it would be easier to talk to her, to take care of her.

It was easy to see that she didn't believe him. Her tiny fingers remained on his biceps, as though she feared he would run away the second she would pull away. He wouldn't. He had to do this carefully. He put his hand on hers, hoping the gesture would be enough to take away some of her anxiety. "Kagome, I'm not avoiding you. I'm sorry if I made you feel this way."

Idiot. That was the one word ringing in her head over and over again. "I'm a mess," she finally admitted. "I don't - I don't wanna do any of the things I've been doing." She sought out his touch, she went into his bedroom uninvited like a bitch in heat… and now she was in his bed. "I'm not me. This isn't me."

He felt like a fucking asshole. If he could explain it to her, it would be easier but now was not the best time. He would come clean, he would tell her. It wasn't something he could keep from her and he didn't want her to find out on her own. He also really didn't want her to be explained what an Omega was… well the wrong way. As soon as everything calmed down, he would help her through this. He would also make it clear to her that it didn't matter that she was an omega and he was an alpha. He wasn't about to abuse this bond and he wasn't going to claim her like an object. It didn't change anything. She was her own person and she was free to make her own decisions. He became her alpha because he found her. She wasn't his. He wasn't going to make her his. Obviously this whole thought process was going to be a lot easier once she didn't smell so fucking good.

"I know. It's a lot and a lot of it probably feels like it ain't even coming from you. I promise, it'll get better."

"I don't - I don't-"

"You don't wanna need me."

Her glance shifted away from his face. "I - I'm really thankful for everything…"

"But you're a human. You're not used to needing someone like this. It's okay, I'm not mad. I understand." This was another thing he needed to express while speaking with her; his emotions. The line was thin and he didn't want to confuse her for no reason. He couldn't even begin to understand how she felt, being pulled apart in two directions. He had always been what he was. He didn't have to accept a new reality or feel himself becoming a new person. She did. And to top it all off, she had the 'bad' luck of being an Omega. The changes were going to be more present, more vivid - there would be no escaping this transformation.

Whatever voice had been screaming inside of her was now calmer. Would it always be like this? Would she ever be able to stand on her own again? Yes. He told her right? It was an adjustment, a temporary period. Eventually, it would wear off and she would get better control of herself and what she was feeling. Yes, she had to focus on the fact that it would get better. If this freaking heat could go away, it would help. She felt out of control, like a child throwing a tantrum. She relaxed the fingers she had wrapped around his biceps, retracting her hand in shame. She had touched him again. She didn't remember Inuyasha ever being this touchy. Was it a wolf thing? Wait. She wasn't a wolf. She was a dog… right? This was more confusing by the second…

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'll be fine… soon hopefully."

"Tomorrow or the day after. Should be done by then." Kouga sat up properly, the blue sheet falling to his waist as he observed her face. She had dark circles under her eyes and they were deepening with each passing day. "You need to rest."

"I can't - I can't sleep."

She was too restless - from the heat. "Stay here." The words slipped him out and even he knew how much of a mistake it was. There was her heat, her status as an Omega - him being her alpha. All the perfect ingredients for a perfect disaster. But he knew himself, he knew better. He wouldn't do anything. It wasn't like that. He wasn't a mindless monster with a need for a quick fuck. He had promised to take care of her, to protect her and it was what he was going to do. He wasn't going to mate her because she was an Omega and he wasn't going to make her follow a lifestyle she knew nothing of - they were werewolves, but there was a humanity to them as well. Things were different now. He'd mate the right one. Not one his instincts were screaming at him.

"I-" She popped her lips. "Is that a good idea?"

He chuckled. "Probably not."

At least they were on the same page.

"Don't worry, I'll stick to my side of the bed. But - the proximity might help you get some rest." It would do the exact opposite to him, but he wasn't about to share that tidbit with her. He needed to take care of her. He had his share of sleepless nights in the past. He could deal with one more. Plus, he would feel more at ease knowing she was right there. It seemed that an Omega could give his pack a run for its money. He would have to find a way to not only work around her heat but theirs as well. He needed to keep her away from the pack during such sensitive times. He might share with her the truth of her status but he wasn't ready to share it with the rest of the pack. Some of them kept an old mentality. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her, especially not over old mentalities.

She should probably say no, but honestly? She was exhausted. The thought of sleeping a couple of hours in a row sounded like heaven to her. She allowed herself to collapse at his side, feeling the soft sheets beneath her. She could slide under, but that felt like taking a step into dangerous territories. Closeness but with some distance. It was the for the best. She ignored the tingles in her fingers, the warmth of his nearby body - it was calling out to her. But she would remain where she was. Away from him. She pushed aside the fact that her own heart was thundering in her chest - a sound she had no doubt he could hear and she forced her eyes to stay shut.

Sleep, that was what she had to do.

From his half sitting position, he could see that she had closed the door behind her when she had entered. If only it were open. He could get up and open it, help dissipate some of the scent, but he chose not to move. Although her heart was beating rapidly, her breathing rate was steading - he didn't want to risk disturbing her. He didn't want to risk moving. And if he was being honest with himself? He wasn't completely sure he wanted to risk walking back to his bed with her laying on it, completely defenceless. Despite the temptation in the air, staying put as he was - it was his best option. He slid down slightly, though keeping somewhat of an upwards position and he closed his own eyes.

It was for one night right?

It was fine.

Everything would be fine.

-R-