Erik had never had the desire to understand who stood at the top of the food chain of wealth or business in the cities that he lived in before. However, from the way that Dani was talking, it sounded like Liona's dad might be someone important in one of those circles. Or at least he might be well known for other reasons. But he didn't want to know. Not really. If he knew more about Liona's parents and actually met them as her fated mate, they might make a bigger deal about it than his own mom. Liona seemed to have respect for her parents and that was good, but he was honestly scared of what they would say and if they might try to prevent them from exploring this relationship.
As much as he never thought he'd be able to date someone, that was before that mind-blowing kiss that had awakened in him the realization that he had a fated mate, and she was already the girl of his dreams. He just needed to confirm that this wasn't some kind of crazy fluke or a coincidence of some kind. But to do that meant that he had to see Liona again. But it was now well past the normal time that she would show up with that sunny smile of hers and deliver him lunch. It was near the end of his shift when he started to waver about what that kiss might have meant to her versus what it had meant for him. Maybe she didn't want to see him anymore because she finally determined he was worthless to her.
As these depressing thoughts invaded his mind, he went through the motions of working, making orders and handing them out. When it came time for his shift to end, he was feeling anxious and scared that he had imagined that connection to Liona. However much he tried to tell himself that he hadn't made it all up, that nagging feeling of being inadequate for a girl like her was invading his mind. Finally, having made up his mind to sort this feeling out once and for all, Erik took a detour on his way to his next work shift at the fast-food restaurant. Liona's address was near both places, so it was easy to just take a longer route to his next job and stop by her place and see if she was home. All he wanted to do was see her and confirm that he wasn't crazy.
As Erik walked up the street of Liona's neighborhood, he felt even more out of place as he passed each of the old houses that were magnificent and imposing with their grand yards and fancy gardens. They all screamed wealth and opulence to his eye. Some, but not all, had tall stately fences surrounding the properties. Liona's house was one of those with a grand barrier between the sidewalk and the property. With tall black cast iron spires topped with scrollwork and ornamental spikes, it lent an intimidating air to the property. It was as if it was saying, intruders will be impaled, in the nicest possible way.
Getting to the gate he had entered before, to attend Liona's party, he saw that it was no longer manned by an intimidating security person, but it was closed to the street. Next to the gate was a small electronic keypad and speaker with a button he assumed would ring the house and alert someone inside the presence of a person at the gate. Taking a deep breath, Erik pushed the button and hoped for the best.
"Yes? Can I help you?" A slightly feminine, older sounding voice came through the speaker a minute later.
Erik pushed the button next to the one that had rung the house, that was labeled with 'talk', "Uh, is Liona at home?" Erik tried his best not to sound nervous. He had no idea who he was talking to, and he couldn't be certain that this wasn't Liona's mother.
"The Young Mistress is not seeing visitors at the moment, who may I inform her is asking?" The voice asked.
"My name is Erik Norman. I'm one of her friends. Could you tell her I'm here?"
"I'm sorry, but the Young Mistress is indisposed at the moment. I'll tell her that a friend stopped by, and she'll get back to you when she's able to see visitors." There was a click that Erik assumed the person he had spoken with had disconnected from the intercom.
Feeling discouraged, Erik turned away from the imposing residence and trudged his way to his next workplace. He felt a sting in his heart as he dwelled on the person who told him that Liona wasn't seeing anyone at the moment had relayed to him in that curt manner of speech. It hurt, and he took it as Liona didn't want to see him and not as she was unable to see him. With this depressing thought in mind, Erik arrived at his next workplace in a foul mood and his pheromones, unbeknownst to him, were sour. He was not feeling his best, and being depressed over not being able to even see Liona was eating at him from the inside out.
"Hey! What's with the sour pheromones?! I thought you were a beta! Man, you had all us fooled! So, mind telling us fellows what's got you in such a dither?" Georgie slung an arm over Erik's shoulder.
"Hello Georgie. No, I wasn't a beta, I've always been an alpha, I just hadn't presented yet…" Erik spoke almost monotonously. He couldn't gather the effort to really care at this point.
"Well! Alpha or not, mind telling me as your manager, what's got you in such a sour mood? I mean, sour really doesn't suit your herbal scent! It's rather off-putting, if I do say so myself! You might scare the customers away if you keep spreading that dreadfully depressing scent around. Dial it back or take a suppressant, please!" Georgie requested.
Erik tried to think of how to do as Georgie asked. Despite his mood, he needed this job and couldn't afford to be fired or sent home and lose any more wages. Despite Liona's promise to compensate him for attending her party, his bank account said otherwise. No transfers had been made since he established this one at a local credit union with what little money he had. The minty green aberrations at the edge of his vision, that he had slowly been growing used to, were more yellowish and kind of dingy green now. It no longer could be considered a mint color. It looked like the wilting greenish yellow of a leafy plant that needed watering.
"I don't really know how to dial back my pheromones yet…" Erik confessed, feeling horrible that he was probably going to be sent home now and unable to work.
"That's okay!" Georgie said before he turned and called over William. "Hey, Will! I need your advice for Erik! Will will get you set to rights in no time!" Georgie smiled before heading back to the office.
"Oh man! That's some serious sour you got there! Let's see here, I'm assuming that Georgie called me over since he's an omega, and I'm an alpha like you. So, what part of regulating your pheromones are you having trouble with?" Will asked.
"I can't even really tell I'm emitting any pheromones. That's the first problem. My mom wouldn't listen to me when I told her that, and she just lectured me until I somehow managed to stop putting out so much. I don't consciously remember how I did it, though…"
"Well, that poses only a slight problem. But I've never backed down from a problem without giving it my best shot! Okay, let's take a crack at it! What did you feel when your mom told you that your pheromones were under control? If you can remember that feeling, then maybe you can recreate it, even though you can't tell, Georgie and I can, so let's see what you can do." Will directed.
Erik tried his best to remember what his mom had said while he was trying to get his pheromones under control. Despite the turmoil he was feeling over Liona he took a deep breath as he imagined his mom's pissed off declaration that he get his pheromones under control. He struggled for a few minutes, but somehow, he must have done it, as Will slapped him on the back in a friendly manner.
"That's it! That's the feeling you need to remember to dial those pheromones back down to a reasonable level. Just do whatever you did just now whenever someone comments about them, and you'll have few troubles. Although I've never heard of someone who's presented and can't detect their own pheromones, let alone anyone else's, that doesn't mean it's impossible to control them!" Will declared.
"Thanks, Will. I'm sorry that I'm causing trouble in the restaurant. I'll try to remember to be calmer when I show up to work from now on." Erik said as he prepared for his shift to start.
"It's okay, Erik, we're here to help you, help yourself. You're an important member of our team and our friend, so if you're feeling down or having trouble and just wanting to talk, you can count on us to listen." Will stated.
Erik smiled as he clocked in, on the dot, for work. He was feeling better now that he had heard that. He had unexpectedly gained more friends ever since he had moved here and met Liona. Was all this good fortune her doing? He didn't know, but he was now determined with a renewed passion to find out.