Brewing Attraction

Mateo walked in from the backroom. Someone was at the counter. He had just donned his apron. Hadn't even clocked in yet. Now, his manager was yelling about serving the customers.

The wolf walked up to the counter. Eyes down. An alpha behind the counter was always unsettling for anyone. He tried to make himself look as non-threatening as possible. He cleared his throat softly.

"Hello, welcome to Deja Brew, what can I get started for you today?" The alpha punched his number in to clock in. The register popped up the menu. His fingers hovered over the frappé button. Muscle memory. It was the most popular, and expensive, option.

"Um… could I get the mental infusion tea?" Mateo glanced up. He recognized the voice. Elijah. The little sheep omega. Immediately his eyes ran over the omega.

Elijah was short. His gray wool had been trimmed recently but it looked full and soft. Gods he smelled good. Like a sunny morning. Crisp. Clean. His golden eyes sparkled. He had a smile that made the alpha's heart flutter, but it quickly dissipated. Thankfully, Mateo had remembered his suppressants.

"Of course." The wolf feigned a smile. Proper customer service etiquette always.

"Thank you."

The sheep paid, the alpha went to start brewing. Elijah always ordered mental infusion tea. A blend of green tea and herbs to help study or concentrate. Deja Brew lured in a ton of college kids. Including Elijah.

The wolf watched over the machines as Elijah sat at a booth by himself. He sat out textbooks, a notebook and a pencil case. He started furiously writing.

Instead of calling out the omega's name and disturbing him, Mateo walked from behind the counter. Head down. Tail down. Ears in a non-threatening position. He carefully sat the paper cup down. Elijah didn't notice him.

This was the closest Mateo ever dared to be. The sheep's scent. His wool. His beautiful stormy clouds of softness covering his body. His neat horns that were adorned with some golden cuffs and small chains.

The alpha quickly backed away. Back to the backroom. His manager in his office. Mateo took a scent neutralizer inhaler from his pocket. He held it to his nose. Breathing deep until Elijah's scent was gone from his nostrils.

The afternoon went by quickly. From all of the college sweatshirts, hats and key-chains that he saw on all of the customers, Mateo wondered if it was midterms.

He hadn't went to college. Instead getting a trade skill diploma. Now, due to the economy, he couldn't get a job where he wanted. He didn't have a car. He could barely afford rent. Then, there was all of these college kids throwing around their parent's money. Spending eight dollars for a small whipped coffee.

He managed to become a paralegal to be rejected by every law office around. It seemed they could get their work done cheaper if they just brought on law students instead. Unpaid internships. He pushed aside his woes. He kept his head up. Trying his best to be positive. He got more tips that way.

By the time it was closing, it was nearing midnight. Finally big groups left. It was silent. He could hear the radio playing soft jazz covers of popular songs.

He had dismissed his coworkers as the "night manager". He rolled his eyes thinking about it. Where was the raise he was promised? He took the money out of the tip jar. It was nearly fifty bucks. That meant he could get some groceries to last, but he did need toilet paper and some other stuff. He sighed, pocketing the cash.

He went into focus mode. The faster he was done, the quicker he could get home. He loaded everything into the giant dishwasher. He took out trash. He was sweeping when he realized there was Elijah. All packed up, using his backpack as a pillow.

Mateo stood there confused. He thought the omega had left hours ago. Poor thing must've been exhausted of he could sleep through all the noise earlier. Elijah's soft breaths made Mateo's cheeks grow hot. What was it about this omega?

The right decision was to wake the omega. Shake Elijah awake. Mateo had a strong urge to bury his head into Elijah's neck. Breathe in that magnificent scent. Mark him. 'Make him yours' a deep predatory voice from his alpha urges called to him.

Instead, he kept getting closer and closer. Peering down at the omega. Watching him sleep. Gazing at Elijah's long eyelashes. His scent. The way he looked like an angel sleeping. Then, it all came crashing down with Elijah's scream.

The omega's eyes popped open. He sat up. Trying to scramble away. Mateo also screamed. Jumping back. He stuttered and stammered. Trying to explain himself. His tail between his legs. His ears pinned to his head.

"No! No! I wasn't! I wasn't going to hurt you! I just didn't want to wake you… you seemed like you needed it… I am sorry! So sorry!" The alpha held up his hands in surrender. He backed away a few more steps. Elijah was trembling. Grabbing his chest.

"You scared me… wow… no wonder I was having such weird dreams." Elijah's head turned from side to side checking out the empty space. "Oh… oops." His ears fluttered a bit. A mark of embarrassment from sheep. Mateo couldn't contain a smile. Elijah let out a soft chuckle.

"Yeah. We're closed." The wolf paused. He managed to not only say something impulsive, but also something he had never offered to an omega before. "It's really dark out tonight. It's a new moon. Would you like me to walk you home?"

When the word left his mouth, he felt himself shut down. What had he just said? Walk the omega home?! Was he insane? Like Elijah would allow something like that. He was listing off names to call himself in the mirror later. Idiot. Moron. Dumb ass.

"That would be really nice. I live in the Forrest Apartments. There's always a couple alphas that hangout there at night." Elijah looked nervous. His ears pinned back. He grabbed his backpack. Putting it on his back as he left the booth.

"Are you ready?" The omega said with a smile. Mateo's heart fluttered.

"One second." The alpha quickly walked to the backroom. He threw his apron in the dirty laundry.

He grabbed his own beat up canvas messenger bag. He shoved some expired sandwiches and salads into his bag. Even some pastries. He couldn't bring himself to throw any food away. Thankfully the owner didn't check cameras or the dumpster. Plus, now he would have food for the next couple of days he wasn't working.

He paused making sure everything was done before he left. He didn't sweep, but he hated the morning manager. They could sweep.

Mateo emerged from the backroom. The sheep was waiting patiently by the door. Texting furiously. Elijah made a grimace.

"Ugh… why can't alphas just be normal?" He muttered under his breath. Mateo grimaced. The omega wasn't wrong. There were so many alphas that still used the excuse that they couldn't help their urges.

Clearing his throat, Mateo approached Elijah slowly. He pulled the keys out of his pocket. He ushered the sheep out. He locked up Deja Brew.

"So… Which way?" Elijah pointed up the street past the quad.

"It's past the Preston Dormitory." The alpha nodded. He followed Elijah obediently.

He stayed an arm's length away. He made sure to stay two steps back, but kept his eyes trained on everything around him. Any small noise was noticed. His ears kept twitching. His tail swayed to make sure nothing followed.

"So… this embarrassing, I can't remember your name." The omega glanced over his shoulder at Mateo. The alpha almost tripped over his own feet. This omega.

"Mateo."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Elijah."

"Nice to meet you too." The omega slowed. He walked in time with the alpha.

"So… do you go to school around here?"

"Oh… no. I just work over there."

"Do you like working there?" The alpha didn't mean to scoff. The reaction was only truth. He didn't like it. But it was walking distance to his apartment, he could get free food and coffee to last him days if needed and he would get tips.

"It's fine." He lied. He glanced down at the omega's backpack when they stopped at the street crossing. "What are you studying?"

"I'm pre-law. I'm about to take the LSAT. I'm super nervous."

"Oh… I could help you study. I have a paralegal degree." The wolf's eyes bugged out. Why would he admit that?! Why would he offer to help him?! What in the hells was wrong with him?!

"That would be awesome! None of my friends are into law." The sheep laughed. A little bleating noise that went to straight to the alpha's heart. Making it flutter. Then, Mateo felt the heat in his thighs. His lower stomach. "That makes me feel better. Not so anxious. It helps when someone quizzes me."

"Just come by the coffee shop on Thursday nights. It's always dead from like… 7 pm to midnight." Mateo's mind was screaming at him to shut up. This was never going to happen.

"That works perfectly. Today is Monday…" Elijah pulled out his phone, grimaced at a message, then pulled up his calendar. "Would this Thursday be too soon? My test is next Wednesday."

"That's fine. I work from 3 until closing." The omega stopped as did Mateo. They were only about 15 feet from the apartment building. Sure enough there were three alphas hanging out on the stoop.

"Perfect! Thank you! Here put your number in." The omega shoved his phone into Mateo's claws. He yipped like a pup, trying not to drop the phone. He managed to catch the device, but not any dignity. The sheep giggle bleated behind his hands. Mateo cursed under his breath while h typed into Elijah's phone.

When the omega got his phone back, he immediately texted Mateo a little emoji of a cat waving. The alpha couldn't help but smile.

"There's a few alphas up there. Stay close." He whispered shoving his phone back in his pocket.

As they approached, an alpha, a fox, walked up to Mateo. They spoke Portuguese. The alphas were talking to each other while Elijah stared. His eyes darting back and forth.

"Is this one yours?" The fox smirked, eyeing Elijah like a piece of meat.

"Yeah. Now back off." Mateo took a step forward with a growl. Elijah whimpered, he hid behind Mateo.

"Woah… Easy. Didn't know." The other alpha backed away. Another one of the alphas, a wolf this time approached.

"Mateo?"

"Pablo?" The two high five. Gave each other a hug.

"Listen, didn't know you hung out here. We'll go." The three alphas in the group whispered amongst themselves. They waved, even saying some polite goodbyes before they left.

"That was… Impressive. Not even the police had luck getting them to leave."

"Don't worry about them. Just… next time don't fall asleep in the coffee house." The omega's ears twitched again. Elijah stammered.

"I couldn't help it. I had midterms on top of taking this damn LSAT! Ugh… I don't mean to yell at you. I'm frustrated." The omega huffed. "Sorry…"

"I understand. Go. Get inside. Get some real sleep." Elijah smiled wide. A beautiful grin.

"Thank you so much, Mateo." The alpha felt that fluttering again. This time he felt himself getting hard. He moved his bag to cover his crotch. Thank the gods that the omega had turned away to go up the steps. Mateo watched silently until Elijah was inside the building.

Once Elijah was inside his apartment, he texted Mateo to let him know. Mateo was already up the block. He was walking towards his house. Well, room inside a duplex, but at least it was something.

Mateo couldn't sleep that night. He got to not only TALK to Elijah, the omega now knew his name. Had his number. Texted him. Made plans to come see him. He felt like he was walking on air.