Kai knew he hated Mondays, but this particular Monday was beating his ass.

Waking up late from playing the online game that he and his roommate, Kyle, were addicted to was a great start to the day. Not only did last night's gaming suck the last of his energy, but it caused a massive headache to begin to grow. Well, it was either from staring at his screen for 8 consecutive hours or the fact that his heat cycle was due to start any day now.

The joys of a permanently alone omega.

Kai was pulled from his depressing thoughts by Evie, his manager at the run-down diner in the more... sketchy side of town, shouting his name to get in the back and help with a spill. Apparently, their chef, a small omega who, on a windy day, could be knocked on his ass due to his extremely small stature, had managed to knock over the huge jar of tomato paste on the floor. It fell to Kai to clean it all up.

Sage, the smaller omega in question, began to profusely apologize as his huge blue eyes filled with tears. He tried to help clean up, but Kai gently shooed him away and began the tedious job of cleaning up the mess, knowing full well he'd never get the red stains out from his work shirt. One of the two work shirts he owns because money was tight and extra clothing was more of a luxury than a necessity. Washing machines exist, right?

The scent of the tomato paste burned Kai's nose as his sense of smell always increased this close to his heat, but he kept on lest Sage came to help. The omega's heart was in the right place, but cleaning wasn't his strong suit.

"Kai, when you're done, please go to the front. There are a couple of customers wanting to order." Evie popped her head around the corner, her hair disheveled and her face flushed from running around the diner.

"Sure thing, boss. I'll be out in a few."

Kai quickly finished up and made a note to do a final mop before he finished his shift. He knew if he left any sort of residue, the ants would be back with a vengeance after Evie had hired pest control for the tiny, little buggers a few weeks ago.

Entering the front part of the diner, Kai saw there were four customers at their respective tables, head bowed, looking over the diner's menu. Kai grabbed his apron and went to the first customers first. A young couple. And upon coming closer, Kai realized it was a mated omega and alpha couple.

The omega currently sat close to his mate as he looked over the menu while his alpha gave him a fond look now and then. Kai noticed that they weren't dressed for this side of the neighborhood, with pricier clothes and an expensive ring on the omegas dainty finger, signaling to others that he was taken. Must be passing through.

Kai pulled from his thoughts, cleared his throat, and asked them for their orders. His tone was as cheerful as he could muster at that current moment.

It's not that Kai was jealous, he truly wasn't. It could be his impending heat that made him long for something he could never have, but any amount of stern, mental talking could persuade his inner omega to give up the dream that an alpha out there might want him. And seeing this clearly in love couple didn't help the glum omega.

Shaking himself from his inner thoughts for what felt like the hundredth time this morning, he punched in the order on their extremely ancient machine. And if he smashed the keys a bit purposely hard, well, no one was paying attention.

Except Evie, the sneaky beta, had been watching from the doorway.

"What did Dorothy ever do to you? Treat her with respect, little omega."

Kai knew she was only teasing, but he felt a flush rise on his cheeks at the knowledge that his little temper tantrum was witnessed by his boss, no less. Of course, she didn't know the reason, but it didn't stop Kai from feeling embarrassed.

"I'm only joking. Go see the next customer. I'll handle Dorothy." Evie gently nudged his hip out of the way, her pheromones wafting out a calming, gentle scent that relaxed Kai's stiff shoulders.

"On it," Kai mumbled. He nudged her back gently, letting her know all is forgiven. Thankfully, Evie had a calendar of her omegas staff heat schedules, so she knew when to book them off for 3 days. In Kai's case, it was 5 days. She most probably knew he was extra sensitive due to his upcoming cycle. She was a good boss like that. Understanding, but still full of shit.

Kai took the next few customer's orders, two beta men who seemed to be hungover from a night out on the town if the offending scent of alcohol was anything to go by. They each ordered a greasy breakfast meal that ironically was called Consequences. Evie thought it was hilarious. And straight, black coffee. They mumbled their orders as to no doubt not increase their headaches with loud volumes.

Kai snickered as he passed the order on to Evie and made his way to the back where Sage had begun to fry up the eggs and bacon, the pleasant smell did nothing but make Kai nauseous. Ah, preheat sucked ass.

"I'm going to make two Bloody Marys. Do we have any vodka?" Kai stood far enough from the pan so the smell wasn't too strong.

"Of course. It's in the pantry, beneath the oil." Sage shot him a smile before going back to his task.

The diner didn't serve alcohol, but Sage had been creating meals for a while now and began to experiment when he found a pasta recipe that incorporated vodka in it. It hadn't been such a success. Turns out their customers preferred to drink their vodka and not eat it.

Kai tried to not let the scent of the frying going on behind him, distract him from making the tried and tested hangover cure. The grumpy omega was trying to do a good deed, as he knew during his heat he was a right old bitch. Atonement and all that.

Two drinks done, Kai walked out to the front and hid a giggle at the sight of the two grown men with their heads nearly on the table. Both of them looked up dazedly as he placed the two glasses in front of them. When the one realized what it was, he looked at it like it might as well be his salvation, the key to the Heavens. The other soon caught on and they both began to down the drinks.

"Dude, you are a lifesaver. I was contemplating smashing my brains out with the salt and pepper grinder." The one said with a sheepish look at Kai. The other mumbled the same sentiments while gazing at the red slush with an adoring look on his face.

Kai giggled and told the two gentlemen that their order should be done soon and that the Bloody Marys are on the house. The small omega passed on the same message to the couple near the back before going to check on how the food was coming on. Sage said it would only be 10 more minutes for all the meals to be ready.

Kai internally sighed. It was going to be a long day.

By the time 6 pm hit and his shift had ended, Kai was beyond tired. His limbs were shaking with exhaustion. He began to sweat as he made his way to the bus stop down the road as he felt the familiar feeling of heat start at his navel and began to spread. Kai groaned as it seemed his heat was most likely going to kick in full force tonight. He took his cell out and fired a quick message onto Evie, who gave a thumbs up and a heart and one to Kyle, letting the other omega know to order food and get the nesting materials out of the dryer.

He sluggishly forced his legs to walk up to the fourth floor of their shitty apartment building and open the door to his shared 1-and-a-half-bedroom apartment. Kyle was currently setting the nesting materials on his nightstand along with bottles of sports drinks that kept up his energy as best as they could.

"Hey, love." Kyle came forward and pecked Kai on the cheek. He was a big man for an omega, standing at 5'11 but was one of the sweetest creatures on Earth. He was the best best friend anyone could ask for.

Said best friend who currently was guiding Kai to the shower and helping him get undressed and turning on the shower to Kai's favorite temperature. The fevered omega began the tiring job of lathering his body with scentless body wash he kept for his heats as well as his unruly hair.

Kyle, the angel he was, put his PJs on the bathroom counter and left the door slightly ajar so Kai could still see him in the apartment. He was sort of needy when he was in heat.

The omega got out of the shower, wrapped the fluffy towel around his body, and dried the excess water off his flushed skin. He slowly put on his PJs, the material soft so as to not irritate his already sensitive skin. He brushed his teeth and made his way to his bed, which was calling his name seductively.

Kyle was already sitting cross-legged on his twin-sized bed on his phone, probably scrolling aimlessly through the job notice boards online. Kyle had lost his job last month due to an egotistical alpha and had been frantically searching for a new one since. Kai had told him not to stress, and if Kai had to dip into his savings to keep them afloat, he would. It wasn't much, but it would tide them over for at least 2 months, give or take.

Kai laid his body on the bed and plonked his feet on Kyle's lap, who immediately began to massage the souls of his feet.

Kai began to purr in contentment. Kyle shot him a smile before going back to his phone.

They had this routine for who knows how long. It was never anything romantic, just support during a very difficult and vulnerable time.

Hours passed by and Kai went in and out of sleep.

That's when the heat fever increased and caused him to release soft whimpers. It felt more intense than before as his body called out for an alpha that would never come.

In between the bouts of consciousness, Kai heard multiple voices. And didn't think much of it. It could be Kyle watching reruns of their favorite sitcoms. Hands were running soothingly over his flushed skin and soft whispers were near his ear. But then unfamiliar scents began to come closer. It smelt like two beta women. They were speaking in hushed tones to Kyle. The omega sounded close to tears and Kai desperately wanted to reach out and comfort his best friend but he could barely get his eyelids to open.

And then he smelt it. It smelt like heaven. It caused his inner omega to roll on its belly and whine, urging the scent of what could only be pure alpha to come closer. Kai felt his body act on its own accord and began to whine out loud, his hands trying to reach in the direction of the scent.

Hands were suddenly on his body which caused him to purr loudly. The only person Kai had ever purred for was Kyle, and these hands definitely belonged to an alpha. Said alpha was crooning in his ear, a calming rumble could be heard in his chest.

Kai's inner omega calmed with the scent practically oozing from the alpha.

Safe. Alpha. Mate.

Wait.

Mate?