TF 1

 

Krist

"You must be home before 12 P'Krist. Tomorrow is your 21st birthday and we do not know what will happen. What if-"

Krist smoothly cuts off his younger brother's nag. "Stop worrying N'Gun. I'll be home by 12. Sheesh! It's just 10 past 7 in the evening and you're nagging me like I just have seconds left to be home on time. Just watch over N'Bas and make sure that he passes through his heat with no problem."

He heard Gun sigh and smiled. This little brother of his is such a worrywart. If Bas wasn't in heat, Krist is sure that Gun would be next to him and nag at him in the flesh just to make sure that he's home on time since they are not sure if he'll have his heat as well. Yes, he hasn't had his heat yet despite being the eldest of the three at 20 (turning 21 in few hours) and they are not sure when he'll have it unlike Bas.

At 18, his younger brother Bas was the first of the three to experience 'heat'. It was expected since Bas is an offspring of an elf and his and Gun's adopted mother who was a Banshee. 18 is the turning point for young elves to reach adulthood which triggered Bas' hormones as an omega of his race to be haywire in search for a mate. The orphaned brothers were ready days before Bas' heat and when it happened, everything was set and Bas was not put in any risk of being raped or ravaged by roaming alphas of the different races living in the 4th State.

"I know that we are in a neutral territory and we are basically safe here. But Phi, an omega in heat walking along the streets at night is like a mouse teasing a group of stray cats to catch it! Why don't you just ask a day off from P'Oak?" Gun continues to persuade Krist.

"I can't. I'll be paid double tonight and I need the money for your upcoming enrollment. You and Bas are on your 1st year in college and I must have enough cash to pay for your tuition and allowance. I can't let Bas continue his part-time job as pastry chef because his heat is still unpredictable. You know that we're short in cash right now."

"If only we weren't omegas. . . "

Krist sighed.

"There's no use arguing about this now. Our situation will not change no matter how many times we discuss it. Good thing we were able to renovate the storage room into a safe room for omegas in heat. Let's just hope that my biological parents are either vampires, undead or sea creatures since they only get into heat when they meet their fated one." Krist cheerfully said.

After chatting for a little more, Krist was called by Toota, a band member, to prepare for tonight's set since they'll be starting in a bit.

"Hey! Will you be okay with being the guitarist for another set right after ours?" Toota asked Krist when the latter got up the stage and started checking his drums.

Krist smiles at Toota. They've been in the band for 2 years and his friend knows the situation he and his brothers have ever since their mom died last year. He is really grateful that he has a friend who has his back without asking for anything in return.

"Why are you smiling like that? Oy, I wouldn't like you even if you're the cutest guy I've ever seen. I want a manly man like Knott or a funny guy like Off. Not a cutie like you Ai'Krist." Toota joked with a matching shudder as if he was disgusted with the idea of being in a romantic relationship with Krist.

Krist just laughed at what Toota said. "Two sets is fine Ai'Toot. Five songs with drums and another five with an acoustic guitar is not hard especially for a seasoned musician like me." He boasted.

Toota sneered. "Sure. Be like that. We'll see if the 10 songs you planned to play stays ten. For all I know, you might end up playing more than fifteen!"

Instead of replying, Krist focused on reviewing his music notes. He's well aware of what Toota is trying to say. Since he started working in HardRaven Music Cafe, his usual set of 5 songs usually turn into 8. The customers beg for more and with the additional pay he gets, he couldn't say no. Since his band mates are used to it, they just laughingly leave the stage and allow him to monopolize the stage with various musical instruments. But he truly hopes that tonight is an exemption. After all, this is the first time he'll be playing two straight sets in his night shift.

When the band composed of Krist, Toota, Knott, Prem and Off started playing, all customers focused their attention on the stage. With Toota's seductive aura as an incubus, Knott's mascular built as a shapeshifter, Prem's mysterious gaze as an old vampire (he's 110 this year) and Off's careless and flirty smile, everyone is captivated. Krist didn't even notice that his hand movements captivated the audience as much as Off's singing voice. The first set was finished before 9pm and Krist was positive that he'll be home before 12.

He took the acoustic guitar sitting at the corner and started strumming it. The atmosphere created by the loud music earlier turned mellow with Krist and his drums at the center of it all. His band members shared a knowing look and slowly went down the stage except for Off who will still sing with Krist in this set of songs. The customers almost went wild when Krist and Off started singing.

"Are you having fun?" Off asked the audience before the 3rd song.

"Yes!" Almost all of the excited audience replied in unison

"This is the third song and it is dedicated to P'Oak. Hey owner, free drinks for me and the gang tonight!"

Oak who was sitting languidly at a table near the stage raised a hand signaling 'okay'.

The audience laughed. This is a usual scene in the cafe especially when Off is around. His playful demeanor coupled with his crazy antics keep the audience entertained. Thus, the two onstage continued their gig and were begged by those in the cafe to play some more.

After playing a total of 20 songs, Krist pleasantly bade his farewell to his friends and explained to them that he can't stay longer because of Bas' situation despite the insistence of P'Oak to stay and celebrate his 21st birthday. It was already 11:30. The cafe is a bit far from home and he usually takes his bike. Unfortunately tonight, he wouldn't be able to since the ride on his bike takes almost an hour. So, he called a cab that would be his ride home.

Everything was going as Krist planned and with the speed of his current ride, he'll be home before Gun's deadline. A couple or more blocks and he'll be home. Just as the taxi was about to make a U-turn, the vehicle suddenly stopped and despite the efforts of the driver, the older man wasn't able to fix his taxi and had to call for towing services.

The situation pushed Krist to pay for the ride and hastily went on his way home on foot. He has only 10 minutes before 12 and if he doesn't run at his full speed, he doubts if he'll be able to arrive on time. Krist almost sighed in relief when he got to their house's block. Just a few more houses and he'll be at their doorstep! Running excitedly, he wasn't able to notice some creeps following him until one of them pulled him and pushed him at the dumpster which caused him to fall to the ground. Before he can stand, he was kicked by one of his assailants.

Krist clutched his aching stomach that received a hard kick.

"What the-" He was about to let out a string of curses when he noticed that he was surrounded by 7 shifters.

What are alpha shape shifters doing here?

His unspoken question was answered when one of the men roughly grabbed him and started licking his neck that was exposed when he was thrown at the dumpster.

What the fuck!

Pure disgust filled Krist as he struggled hard to get free from the alpha's firm grip. Unfortunately for him, his unwillingness to cooperate was openly dismissed by the tall alpha holding him and the six others who were taking off his clothes at the moment. Krist was almost in tears when he smelled the pheromones of the alphas surrounding him. He needs to get away.

But how?! Shit! Not my pants!

With his shirt and jacket gone, only his lower clothes are left and Krist panicked when he felt multiple hands pulling his pants off his body. Begging the men to stop as well as angling his body away from the tall alpha who is still raping his neck, tears started to fall down from his eyes. If he came home earlier, he wouldn't be in this situation. He knows that he wouldn't be able to manipulate any of these men since they are far too gone with lust not to mention that they are alphas. Despite his strong ability to manipulate, such feat is simply impossible. Not to mention that he is slowly weakening due to fear and disgust.

"Damn! This omega smells so good! I've been licking his neck for awhile now and I can say that he'll be delicious! Why don't we hasten a bit and start shoving our dicks in him?"

Shivering in fear at what the tall alpha said, Krist started to shout for help. This caused the seven alphas to laugh and mock him.

"You shitheads! Get your hands off me!"

"So feisty. .. let's see how brave you are when being rammed by us boy." One of the alphas said before licking his right cheek.

Flinching in disgust, Krist glares at the man. There is no way in hell that he'll be raped by these guys!

"I am not your mate you fuckers! This is a neutral territory. If His Hignhess finds out that you gang raped an omega he'll definitely detach your heads from your body!"

"What His Highness doesn't know won't kill him. We'll just have to stash you somewhere he and his men wouldn't find. Who knows, the Big Boss might not be as omnipotent as they said he is."

"Even if His Highness will not spare his efforts himself, my brothers will look for me! They will definitely ask help from the Ruling Committee as well as from our friends from the different states. You better get your hands off me if you don't want to have any problems later on!"

Once again, the alphas laughed at his threat. One of them who was wearing a red shirt said, "If His Highness won't be able to find you, what are the chances that your brothers and your so called friends will be able to?"

This illicited another round of laughter from the alphas. Krist was beside himself in fear and grief. If only he can get free. . .

"It seems like you guys are having fun."

All the hair in Krist's body stood in attention. Unlike the alphas surrounding him, this alpha who just spoke is full of authority.

"Phi you don't need to rush like that! See? They are just low class shapeshifter alphas. They were not bad mouthing His Highness seriously."

Since he was surrounded by 7 alphas who were bigger than him, Krist couldn't see the faces of the new arrivals. He just hopes that they are kind enough to extend a helping hand towards him.

"Shut it, Fiat. We need to finish this as soon as we can or His Highness will win the bet. I already told you countless times to stop making bets against him. I swear to the gods in the heavens that man can see the future."

Krist one again struggled from the clutches of the tall alpha holding him and screamed, "Let Go!!"

He saw one of the alphas in front of him raised a fist to hit him. He reflexively closed his eyes and moved his head away in fear of being hit. When the expected impact did not occur, Krist opened an eye to take a peak. He was amazed by what he saw! Four of the alphas in front of him are on the ground holding their mouths with their tongues and legs detached from their body. The other three including the tall one holding him are stupefied!

"Aaarrrgghhh!"

"We were-"

The stillness of the night was disturbed by the horrible noises and pleas from the two alphas before their tongues as well as legs were detached by two unknown men who Krist believes to be the ones who just arrived. In a fast movement, the smaller of the two moved to the side. In the blink of an eye, the hand clutching Krist's body loosened followed by a gurgling sound and the sickening stench of blood.

Without wasting any second, the taller of the two approached Krist and covered him with his coat. "Wear this. My scent will mask yours."

Krist clutched the man's coat towards his body while assessing the appearances of his saviors. But because of the darkness in their current location he can't decipher much.

"Thank you for saving me. If you di-"

Krist dropped to his knees due to the intense heat spreading all throughout his body. With the burst of adrenaline gone, his heat is hitting him full force. No wonder those damned alphas followed him! As shapeshifters, they were surely able to smell the hint of his upcoming heat. Krist's consciousness is slowly disappearing. He can only think about the indescribable scorching heat in his veins and the possible ways he can do to extinguish the flame causing it.

"We need to move him Phi."

"Why is he acting strange? Omegas in heat usually mate with the first alpha that touches them. There were seven with him. Why didn't he pick one?"

"This is no time for you to analyze a victim Phi! He is in pain! Maybe his mate is somewhere. . .maybe we can br-"

"N'Fiat no Omega can stop themselves from being with their mate. Just look at you. You're with me all the time. It's the same thing with an alpha. If this guy has a mate, I highly doubt the possibility of his mate letting him go off alone at this time of day with his heat approaching."

"What should we do Phi?"

Krist can barely register the conversation between his saviors. The fire in his body is burning him alive. He just wants to be in a bathtub full of ice. Or maybe lay inside a gigantic freezer. He is in the middle of thinking about such things when a hand lifted his chin up. His unfocused gaze clashed with a pair of eyes filled with confusion and curiosity.

"Do you have a mate?"

Kristi shook his head. His throat is too dry for him to even produce a sound.

"I guess we have no choice but to bring him with us. I'm sure Wad will be able to give this guy some suppressants meant for his kind whatever that may be because I can assure you, N'Fiat, I've never seen a guy like him before."

Swimming between consciousness and unconsciousness, Krist felt his body being transported away. If only he can speak, he would've definitely asked the kind men to drop him at his house since it is just a few meters from them. With this thought in mind, Krist finally succumbed to the darkness engulfing him. He wasn't able to see the huge mansion the car he is riding with the two men went to. Nor was he able to see the face of the man dressed in black who carried him inside the mansion's huge doors.

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