He slipped on his gloves - the smooth worn leather squeaking as it dragged across the skin of his palm. While carefully straightening his shirt, he heard Tsukumo's voice echoing in his head. Combined in the distance, there was a faint sound of a school bell.

Your turn.

Emotionless silver eyes glimmered as he turned towards the sunlight. His nails scraped the edge of the broken window pane of his makeshift shelter as he launched himself out the window and into the city.

"See you tomorrow, students." Yuki hurriedly packed up his belongings as the bell rang. His hands strangely shook as he worked though he assumed it was stress. He was to greet the children when they came home from school and to help them with homework.

"Yuki-chan! Do you want to go to the mall with Tsukumo and I? We found this shop with really great sweets~" Yuki smiled, but politely declined, "Sorry, Touko-chan. I have plans."

"Aw...I better see you next time then!" She pouted. The blonde laughed, "Sure." Closing his bag, he said his goodbyes and exited the classroom.

With ten minutes left, he had two choices: go the safer route that would make him late or to head through the forest which was faster. With the children in mind, he decided to take the path through the trees as to not disappoint them.

"Why is it so hot?" He murmured as he narrowly dodged another tree branch. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he grew increasingly dizzy with every step. A strange warmth resonated from his stomach though he wore very thin layers.

Finally, on the outskirts of the forage near the orphanage, his legs collapsed from underneath him. Sharp rocks scraped his knees as he panted. The heat curling from his lower abdomen was painful now and was impossible to ignore.

His heightened senses picked up a few figures heading his way. Instinctively, he mumbled, "Alphas."

What are alphas? What did they have to do with him? He grew even more confused when one of them spoke.

"Looks like someone's in heat. Need some help?" A man was the first to approach him. His eyes were dark - pupils dilated. His words were friendly, but he gave off an aggressive aura.

Yuki rolled up into a ball and inwardly cried out for help through the excruciating pain. A name was on the tip of his tongue, but, simultaneously, he could not remember it.

The stranger reached out to grab his arm. A soft whimper escaped the blond's lips as fingers harshly clasped onto his elbow. However, as quickly as he felt them, they were gone.

Through his eyesight blurred with unshed tears, he saw a figure clad in black separating him and the aggressive 'alpha'.

"Leave now and you may live." Suddenly, Yuki was left alone with his savior. The pain faded to the background. He felt safe - a harsh contrast to the fear that he felt earlier even though he could feel that this person was an 'alpha'.

His vision blackened at the edges and he fought desperately to stay awake. He wanted to see this person's face.

"Sleep. You're safe now." His body completely relaxed and, despite his efforts, the deep rumbling of the 'alpha's' voice carried him off to a peaceful slumber.

"Thank you so much for helping him! We are in your debt, kind sir."

Luka found himself sitting across from a worker at the orphanage. After Yuki had passed out, he had carried the blond home. After dropping the presented omega off to his designated room, he was invited to tea though he did not have much of a choice in the matter.

"We did not know that he would have his first heat today. He probably was so scared since we didn't teach him on it yet. Thank goodness..." The woman, a beta, wrung her hands. He silently drunk the least of the tea and placed the porcelain on the platter.

"Would you like to stay until he woke up? I think he would like to thank you himself." She asked when he made of leave. He paused, "I have an appointment later today."

She pursed her lips, "Alright. I'll retrieve your jacket." He had used it as a blanket for Yuki.

"Don't bother. I'll retrieve it some other time." With that, he vanished as if he blended with the shadows.

Luka is so mysterious in this chapter. Oh well.

Hopefully, you guys like how the story is going so far because I definitely had a fun time writing it. Thank you for all the reviews so far. Every time I see that I received new feedback, my heart sings. Not really, but you get the point.

Happy early Memorial Day!