One year ago

“A call came in—we’re up.”  A hand slapped the table I was sitting at and motioned for me to follow.

“Okay, I’m ready.”  I stood to my feet and started walking towards the ambulance in a hurry.

I was starting a ten-hour shift and I had slept most of the day, so I was still groggy when I climbed into the driver’s seat.  My coffee hadn’t kicked in yet, but it was starting to lift some of the fog in my head.  My partner, a Hispanic Beta named Manny, climbed into the passenger seat as I turned the key in the ignition.  Manny had been riding shotgun since I started my career as a paramedic in New Chicago and he knew me almost as well as I knew myself.  The instant I put my foot on the gas, he was pushing a cup of coffee into my hand and motioning for me to drink it.  I sipped the coffee and looked at the GPS.  The call wasn’t an emergency, so we had to wait in traffic instead of bolting through every red light on the way to our destination.  I kept the coffee pressed to my lips as I drove, feeling each gulp hit my stomach and bring me closer to the alertness I was used to.

“What’s the situation?”  I looked over at Manny.

“There’s an omega causing a disturbance outside the Ozone Experience bar.  He had a few drinks before they cut him off and they’re pretty sure he’s high.”  Manny sighed and shook his head.

“I really hope he’s not on Ice.”  I growled and looked back at the GPS.  “That shit is getting far too common in New Chicago.”

“It is one of the few things out there that can truly fuck up an alpha, so it won’t be going away anytime soon.”  Manny pointed when our next turn came up.

“I miss the days when people just got fucked up on LSD and wandered around seeing pink unicorns.”  I turned the ambulance and saw a crowd gathered around the Ozone Experience.

“If the blue track marks are any indication, he’s definitely on Ice.”  Manny shook his head when we got through the crowd.  “If you can distract him, I’ll hit him with a sedative.”

“He’s going to kill himself!”  One of the bystanders roared above the rumble of the crowd.  “You have to help him.”

“Does anyone know his name?”  I looked around the crowd.

“Lance.”  Someone at the edge of the crowd stepped forward as he spoke.  “I think he got a strong batch tonight because he’s usually not like this, even when he’s on Ice.”

“Right...”  I sighed and stepped towards the omega that was staring at the wall and breathing heavily.  “Lance, my name is Cody.  I’m here to help you.  That’s my partner, Manny.  He’s here to help as well.”

“I don’t need any help!”  Lance spun towards me with the tell-tale signs of Ice raging in his eyes.  “I’m fucking invincible!”

“No, you’re just high.”  I held out my hands and tried to calm him as Manny pulled a syringe from his pocket.

“You’re just jealous because I’m as strong as an alpha now!”  He took a step towards me and stood on his toes as he tried to flex his muscles.

“Lance, you need to calm down.”  I grabbed his arms and his right one came loose.  He swung wildly and slammed his fist into my jaw, sending my head to the side.  “Fuck!  Do it now, Manny!”

The drugs had made Lance as strong as a bull and he wasn’t going to stop swinging until he took me down—something that was evident when the next punch nearly knocked out a couple of teeth.  I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, feeling him twist with the fury of an uncaged animal.  Manny ran up behind him and jammed the needle into his arm.  Lance’s frenzy continued to accelerate for a couple of seconds, but then his sky-blue eyes grew calm.  I held him until he slumped in my arms and then picked him up so I could carry him to the ambulance.  There was a cheer from the crowd as I finally got him subdued. 

Manny hopped behind the steering wheel and I slammed the doors.  Lance’s breathing returned to normal after a couple of seconds and he looked like he was at peace as he lay on the stretcher.  I sat down next to him and started to massage my jaw.  My hand came away from my lips to reveal blood so I grabbed a napkin and wiped it away.  The young omega wouldn’t be out long.  Ice not only simulated an alpha’s strength, but it also provided the same constitution, which meant he would be waking up quicker than normal from a sedative.

“I’m going to strap him down.”  I shook my head with a sigh and tossed the napkin on the ground.  “I hate it, but he’ll be enraged when he wakes up.”

“We shouldn’t give him another sedative until we get to the hospital at least.”  Manny looked over his shoulder and nodded in confirmation with my plan.

I put the leather cuffs on Lance’s arms and feet.  They would hold him, but he would do everything in his power to fight his way out of them when he woke up.  I sat down next to his cot and waited for the inevitable.  When his eyes sprang open, I saw the tell-tale signs of Ice. 

Ice got its name because it made the blood vessels in the eye flare and turn blue.  It had become a popular club drug for omegas because of the energy boost it gave, along with a fury that simulated an alpha in a rut.  It was also popular with Alphas that were long past their mating days because it gave them the invigoration of youth.  The dangers were obvious, but a lot of people didn’t care.  They chased the high like it was the only thing that mattered.  Lance finally woke up and the last few miles to the hospital were difficult as he tried to get free.  I did my best to hold him down so he wouldn’t hurt himself.  I was thankful when we got to the hospital and some of the nurses took over.  They could keep him sedated in a safe environment until it wore off.  After that, they would be able to determine if he needed rehab to beat the addiction.

***

“THIS IS THE OMEGA RESCUE Shelter.”  I brought the ambulance to a stop and looked over at Lance who was sitting in the passenger seat.

“It’s a good place.”  Manny leaned between the two seats and patted Lance on the shoulder.  “You’ll love it here.”

“Thank you so much for bringing me here.”  Lance sighed and looked out the window.  “I don’t deserve your kindness after what I did.”

“You were lucky.”  I smiled and nodded.  “You aren’t hooked on Ice, so you just need a support system.  This place will give you that.”  I opened the door and stepped down onto the pavement.

Manny and I walked Lance to the front door and opened it.  I was glad he had decided to let us help him.  There were a number of omegas we picked up that didn’t want help.  They were perfectly happy sleeping it off and chasing the next high as soon as they were out of the hospital.  The Omega Rescue Shelter provided a safe haven for a number of lost souls just like Lance.  Some of them were on drugs, some of them were running from abusive relationships, and some of them had just been born into families that wanted an alpha child instead of an omega.  The omega that ran the shelter was a saint and I had more respect for him than I did for most alphas I knew.  He did everything he could to help lost souls like Lance.  I had already confirmed he had space, so it was just a matter of getting Lance to accept the wonderful gift William could offer.

“You must be Lance.”  The gorgeous omega with sandy blond hair and emerald eyes walked into the lobby and greeted us with a wave.

“Yes.”  Lance nodded.  “Cody said you might have room for me.”

“I do.”  William looked to me and smiled before putting his arm around Lance.  “Come with me—I’ll show you to your room.”

I watched as the two of them walked towards the common room of the Omega Rescue Shelter.  Manny and I followed behind them, but gave them space so they could get to know each other.  As happy as I was that Lance would have a place to stay, my eyes were focused on William.  The way he cared for others in need was mesmerizing.  He had the same kind heart that people claimed I had, but I felt like William was more important to the world than I was.  Any paramedic could usher omegas into the shelter, but it was William that took care of them.  I was so attracted to William that it hurt sometimes, but my heart wasn’t big enough for an amazing omega like him.  In another life, I would have moved heaven and earth to have him in my arms, but my time had passed.  I was a strong, confident alpha that understood my place in the hierarchy of the world, but I was also strong enough to understand I didn’t deserve William.  There was too many scars on my heart for it to beat with the love William deserved.

“So, how many times are we going to come here before you finally ask him out?”  Manny folded his arms and stared at William.

“I’m not going to ask him out.”  I shook my head back and forth. 

“I don’t understand you.”  Manny sighed.  “We’ve been partners for years and I’ve never seen you look at another omega the way you look at William.”

“It’s complicated.”  I sighed and shrugged.  “Let’s go.”

***

Present day

“SO, ABOUT THAT DRINK.”  I walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

“Of course.”  William fumbled as he grabbed a second glass and poured some whiskey for me.  “I’m really glad you came.  Lance considers you the big brother he never had.  You’re his savior.”

“Savior?”  I scoffed and shook my head as I lifted the glass to my lips.  “You’re his savior.  I just brought him here so you could work your magic.”

“I wish it was magic.”  William sipped his whiskey.  “I just hope he’s able to make it on his own now that he’s recovered.”

“He will.”  I nodded and smiled.  “You’ve given him a second chance and I don’t think he’ll waste it this time.”

“You can come by tomorrow and help us get him settled into his new apartment if you want.”  William looked at me with hopefulness resonating in his emerald green eyes.

“Maybe.”  I finished my whiskey and put the glass on the table.  “I have to work, but I’ll come by when I’m done with my shift.”