Chapter 3

Even his friends are surprised by how strong Kasen's scent on Grant is.

Grant barely makes it through his lectures, and then instantly leaves for home with the intention of scolding Kasen for making his day so hard.

Kasen isn't at the apartment when he arrives though, so Grant takes Kasen's pillow, cuddles into his hoodie and hugs the pillow tightly as he mindlessly scrolls through the channels.

"What's wrong?" Kasen asks as soon as he enters the living room, most probably alarmed by the distress in Grant's scent.

"Did someone hurt you?"

As soon as the alpha asks that question, he bends over Grant in search of any strange scents on Grant, scents that shouldn't be there and that Kasen will most probably "remember for later." Grant leans away from Kasen, simultaneously flattered and appeased by Kasen's concern and annoyed after reminding himself that he is distressed because of said alpha.

"I'm fine," Grant huffs with as much annoyance as he can.

"This is because of you anyway."

Kasen pulls away from Grant, incredulous look on his face.

"Because of me?"

"Yeah," Grant confirms and jabs Kasen's chest with one finger.

"Because of you.

You scented me so I wanted cuddles the whole day but could get them so I'm annoyed."

"You can get them now."

Grant reddens and his omega lets out a pleased whine.

"As if that would undo all the pain I had to endure because of you."

"Then you don't want any cuddles?"

Grant gapes, sitting up so he's close to Kasen's face.

"Of course, I do.

You caused this, so you have to take responsibility for it."

Kasen smirks, amusement written all over his cocky face of which Grant is unsure whether he wants to punch or kiss it away.

Maybe a little bit of both, the kissing more than the punching.

Upon Grant's urging, Kasen gets up to change out of his clothes and into his pyjamas, coming back to Grant to the couch.

Grant shamelessly cuddles into Kasen's side, nose against Kasen's neck, and inhales the alpha's scent deeply, discomfort disappearing in an instant.

He hums pleased, almost purring as the tension leaves his body, muscles relaxing and his guard that was up the whole day vanishing.

Here he can let go, safely cocooned in Kasen's scent and arms.

Kasen absentmindedly rubs up and down Grant's back, his nose buried in Grant's hair.

Grant has long since closed his eyes and given up on watching TV.

He hadn't wanted to do that anyway.

Falling asleep right there would be so easy, forgetting the pain at least for a while until his heat kicks in, but Kasen shakes Grant lightly not even fifteen minutes later.

"I need to go to bed.

I have an early class tomorrow," Kasen says.

Grant pouts but lets the alpha leave to brush his teeth.

It has been a long day for him and usually Kasen immediately goes to bed after a long day, especially when he has class the next day, but the cuddle session was too short.

It wasn't enough to make Grant feel satisfied for at least long enough until he could fall asleep.

Admittedly, no amount of cuddling could satisfy Grant in pre-heat but only fifteen minutes should be illegal.

"Go to sleep," Kasen advises as he brushes through Grant's hair while walking past him, sounding as serious as he can in his exhausted state.

Grant hums, too pouty to give a proper response.

As soon as Kasen closes the door to his room, Grant gets up too, not seeing the purpose in lounging on his couch anymore.

His bed is cold and empty as it can be without another body in it, and it makes Grant feel even more pathetic.

He still has Kasen's pillow, has cuddled it to his chest but it doesn't appease him.

He's uncomfortable in his own skin, overly sensitive and needy.

Chastising himself, Grant closes his eyes and tries to sleep.

And tries and tries and tries.

Ten minutes later, twenty, half an hour and Grant is just as wide awake as at the beginning.

He tosses and turns, changes positions, and even removes his blanket, not willing to let go of Kasen's pillow, the alpha's scent clinging to it the only thing keeping him sane.

He gives up after forty minutes and creeps over to Kasen's room with the alpha's pillow in his hands.

He opens the door and sticks his head in first, sneaking inside and closing the door as quietly as he can.

Hearing the alpha snore, Grant walks over and climbs in to Kasen's right, in the space between the alpha and the wall, using Kasen's pillow to rest his head on.

Kasen hums, most probably having noticed Grant's presence, and turns in his sleep, wrapping an arm over Grant's waist.

Grant tries to ignore that Kasen is only wearing boxer shorts as good as he can.

Which is not at all.

At least Grant is wearing a tank top, which is comforting and saddening alike.

"I couldn't sleep," Grant mumbles apologetically, fearing Kasen might throw him out but he only presses Grant closer and continues sleeping.

Back in the embrace of Kasen and his scent, Grant instantly quenches any desire and thought about being Kasen's mate and having his nose pressed against his mating bite, and closes his eyes.

Maybe Grant should have known that sleeping with Kasen isn't a good idea – generally too but especially when he's in pre-heat.

Sometimes he already dreams of Kasen, dreams in which Kasen touches him intimately, fucks him and mates him, dreams after which Grant has troubles looking at the alpha.

On other nights when Grant has a dirty dream, the universe is kind enough to him to make him not dream of Kasen.

Those nights he dreams of Kasen, follow days in which Grant spent time with Kasen and shared the same space with him - the closeness to Kasen triggering those dreams.

So Grant should have known that he would dream of Kasen if he slept next to Kasen, but the omega only had his sleep on his mind and thus it's too late for dream Grant, the omega laying underneath Kasen in the dream already.