Ivory's POV (from a little before Tyler arrives)

My whole body ached. I knew talking to the new alpha was a mistake. I knew Xavier would be mad but not this mad. I can taste the blood from my lip, and my ankle feels like it's been hit with a truck.

I wish I could do something. But I am not allowed, dad taught me exactly what an omega can and can't do. That one week in 8th grade made sure I would learn my place. He had barely been my stepdad for a month and I was already scared of him, but he had to make sure I never put a toe out of line.

I have every rule memorized to be sure I never break one. Ugh I can't get that stupid alpha out of my head. I am not allowed to have an alpha, I don't deserve it. But that doesn't mean I can't think about it.

My head fell down to rest on my arms. I'm so so tired. Maybe I'll get to sleep tonight, if dad doesn't have his friends over. They're disgusting alphas just like my stepdad. I shivered thinking about it, willing myself not to cry.

Unfortunately I was not so lucky. The tears came, trickling down my cheeks. The memories of those men and their dirty hands playing over and over in my mind. There disgusting scents clouding my senses.

I have learned to cry silently. It's another rule I have to be careful about. However I still didn't hear anything. All of a sudden I heard the footsteps, much closer than I thought. Looking up, I saw that it was Tyler.

I was simultaneously happy to see him and scared Xavier would find out. He didn't understand, he couldn't be here. I'm not allowed. I tried to tell him but he wouldn't listen.

He was actually coming closer. I tried to get away but he squatted in front of me. He started talking, I was expecting to be in trouble. I am always in trouble.

What? He... he wants to help? Tyler says he'll take me to the nurse. She'll call dad I know it, so I come up with a random excuse. Then he says something even worse. He'll take me home. I can barely imagine arriving in my driveway with another alpha. Dad would kill me.

Tyler seemed to take the hint, backing off the idea quickly. Telling me he "wasn't going to make me do anything I didn't want" Yah right, alphas are all the same.

"You... you can come home with me"

I knew the rules about eye contact but nothing like this had ever happened to me before. As I looked up at him our eyes finally met. I felt something strange, like a tingle traveling up my spine. Shivering, but still not able to break the eye contact I could feel a blush rising in my cheeks.

There he goes again, telling me he won't hurt me. I want to believe him so so bad. I can't even imagine having a kind gentle alpha like Tyler. My heart is telling me to go with him, to let him help me, but my mind says all alphas are cruel.

But still, what if he is nice? What if he won't hurt me? Can I really take that chance? He is still telling me I'll be safe with him. I want to go, I want someone to help me I can't keep living like this. Maybe it's worth the risk.

It doesn't matter anyway. There's no way I can walk on this ankle. It was stupid to think I would get a chance like this. I don't deserve it. I should tell him about my ankle though, maybe then he'll give up.

"I...I can't" Tyler's eyes widen when he sees my injury. He thinks this is bad? This is nothing. He paused for a moment, apparently thinking. Then continued, "My dad was a coach, he had to learn first aid. Maybe he can help?"

Tyler really cares that much? Unfortunately that still doesn't solve the problem. I still can't walk. He stepped closer, squatting in front of me again. It was then that I realized what he was going to do. He reminded me one last time he wasn't going to hurt me, maybe I believed him.

Tyler reached out. I braced myself, used to the rough dirty touch of the alphas my dad brought over. Instead I felt myself being lifted easily into his arms. He was being...gentle?

It had been a long time since I had experienced anything like this. Tyler was carrying me bridal style, as if I weighed no more than a feather. Surprisingly, I wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought I would be.

Eventually I realized he was staring at me. Once again a blush rose in my cheeks. Tyler shook himself out of it and started walking. He checked the hallway, something I was grateful for, and continued walking. Suddenly, I realized we were going to have to walk through the courtyard.

Thinking hard I remembered there was a door at the end of the hall. I used to use it to escape Xavier when I got the chance. I told him, doing my best not to stutter. If I were at home I would probably be punished, for stuttering AND speaking. Luckily Tyler doesn't seem to mind.

I realized how tense I was and tried to relax a little more. Tyler had an amazing scent, like sandalwood and musk but not to overpowering. I am used to alphas with heavy scents, like Xavier's citrus and my dad's piney smell. I like this though, it almost seems to calm me.

Tyler's chest was warm and he was being so gentle. I could feel another wave of tiredness breaking over me. Cuddling closer to the warmth I grabbed his soft shirt as my lids drooped. I feel safe here, it's been a long time since I've felt this way. I miss it.