Chapter Text
Finishing up his wardrobe of choice, he secured his tie around his neck. He had to admit that it may be a bit narcissistic of him to dress up a little bit fancy each time he went out, but a part of Rhys felt like he had to in most aspects, given how he was raised. Dressing to impress was something he had been so used to doing in his every day work that it often blends in with his days off; and to be honest, had gotten him far with the ladies.
Although the lanky alpha couldn't deny the habit was a bad thing; if only for his self esteem. If he just so happened to find the right omega then he wouldn't complain because that would mean his job in cooperate actually amounted for something other than a hunched back and potential joint pain in the future. And lucky for him, the dress habit just so happened to land him a beautiful woman with a spicy temper, well, sort of.
Sasha wasn't exactly an omega. She was another alpha and had a temper to match it. And most days, managed to kick Rhys' butt when he went out of bounds- not that he minded. Turns out, His type was 'could kill him with a single look' and that's what he kept coming back for.
Three years, He had been in a relationship for three years with the woman of his dreams. Rhys could honestly say that he was the happiest man in the world, skipping with each step and his head constantly on cloud nine. Even though it was just a tad bit strange for two alphas to date, it did happen every so often, despite that alphas normally dated betas or omegas due to instincts and attraction.
They had met four years ago to be exact. She had been serving drinks to people in a diner when he had accidentally bumped into her, making her spill all the drinks on herself and the floor; That had not been the best impression he had wanted to make. The fact that she had figured out he worked for the Helios corporation by the suit and company logo "Hyperion" on his vest had made the whole situation worse for him.
Turns out she had hated the company with a passion and didn't hesitate to make her point clear, even when he had given her his number AND offered to pay for the cleaning of her clothes. He made it a point to bump into her every so often the days that followed JUST so he could talk to her. In the end, she reluctantly found it in her heart to accept his friendship. Not long after that, they ended up dating.
Inhaling deeply at the sight of his reflection as he smiled smugly, he could practically hear his roommate and his best friend, Vaughn, roll his eyes from the other side of the door as he knocked.
"Come on, Bro. You're going to be late if you don't hurry it up. Stop classing it up and get out there before she eats without you again." Rolled his eyes at Vaughn's comment, Rhys walked over to his closed bedroom door and opened it, seeing the amused yet annoyed look his buddy had on his face.
"Come on, bro, that was one time and she forgave me for it." Rhys argued, putting a hand to his chest with a face of mock hurt as if he had been shot. Although he had to admit that was a horrible day. He was only late by fifteen minutes but Sasha had gone and eaten before him and left. By the time he got there, he was greeted with a bill and a silent treatment by the other alpha for a week.
No amount of groveling could get her to talk to him until she had cooled down. And even then, he had to go through her sister to apologize. Only then, had she met back up with him and they had a talk- which she had admitted that she had gone overboard in how she treated him with how hard he works.
"Besides, it's not that far away this time. Just down the block AND I'm not working today." he chimed, passing Vaughn with a grin, grabbing his coat and keys from the table beside the door. Vaughn followed him to the door, crossing his arms and giving a weak nervous chuckle.
"If you say so, bro. Just make sure you don't lock yourself out. I have to work late again today." The smaller alpha stated, finishing his sentence while fixing his glasses midway. "I can't come back to let you in if you do."
"I know, I know." Rhys waved a nonchalant hand with a smile. "Your work is an hour drive away, I get it. Seriously-" Casually placing his hands on his friend's shoulder, he gives the most coy wink he could. "-You need to relax. Everything will be fine."
---
"What?" Staring wide-eyed at Sasha, Rhys couldn't help but drop his jaw in shock. Said woman, on the other hand, sat in the seat across from him, looking a little upset, however, not as much as Rhys obviously did at the moment.
"I'm breaking up with you Rhys. I can't do this anymore." She exclaims, looking away, her expression mixed between upset and sad. Honestly, Rhys wasn't expecting this when he had come to the restaurant for his and Sasha's date. But it looks like she did. How long she had been planning this, he hadn't a clue. There must have been signs, right? How could he miss them? Shaking his head to remove his stupor, his brows furrow as he leans on the table for support.
"W-what... Why?" Asking, his mouth fumbled for the words as his hands held tight to the table in an effort to figure out what he had done to make her upset. His eyes looked all over her face quickly, his echo being just a tad bit faster with it's movements than the other one. Sasha had shrugged, arms still crossed as she found the legs of a nearby table more interesting.
"It's not you Rhys. Not completely..." When she got no response from that, she glanced over at him and grunts. "Your scent Rhys. I can't take it anymore. For the past year it has done nothing but give me a headache and...."
Frowning, she stops there, looking at the floor as if full of guilt. "And I found someone else... A beta."
Still in shock, Rhys could only clench his jaw tightly and keep the tight leash on the primal growl he had in his throat. The longer this went on, the stronger his instincts got and the harder it was for him to keep them in check. It was bad enough that he had monstrous strength with his metal arm without keeping himself from harming someone with it during times like these.
"So you're leaving me because of something I can't control. And you cheated on top of that." He spits out, almost venomously. As he stared into her eyes when she rounded back to him with a heated gaze of her own. "And a beta at that. What's his name?"
Clutching the table cloth, he could almost hear the fabric tearing between his metal fingers. He wished they had ripped the cloth; At least then it would give him something to focus his aggression on. But these were built for when alphas got angry. Harder to tear.
Sasha only looked at his face, sighing in defeat as she held the most bland expression on her face. "August. And I didn't cheat on you, although I get how it seems given the circumstances. You're just finding out about this now- no, emotions are not involved. I just.... click better with him."
"August!?" Jumping to his feet, Rhys' eyes grew as he stared down at the woman in front of him with shock and horror.
"GANG August?! Drug lord August?! The guy who you said you would never date in a million years August?!" This time he couldn't hide his hurt from his face and voice. It only took a moment for her to nod.
"Why him?" Rhys hated how defeated he sounded at that moment, staring down at the other alpha from the opposite side of the table in distress. "Did I do something?"
Never had he seen her lips tighten like they had just then.
"Look Rhys. I'm not going to sugar coat it. You knew this wouldn't work between us. Alphas can't be a thing. It's like two Badass Skags. Our scent isn't compatible and neither are we. You're always late and always forget the dates we make; Half the time, you're lost in your own little world..... I can't do it with you any more." She sighs before rubbing her head and stands. "I love you Rhys. But I can't stay with you... You'll find someone better..."
As she steps up to him, Rhys slumps in his seat, looking forward with the most beaten expression. It was true that even to him their scents weren't mixing well but he figured they could deal with it. Apparently Sasha thought differently.
"And he's not in a gang or a drug lord." She sniffed irritably. "He's.......a biker." The short pause in the middle of the sentence told him that she wasn't being completely truthful; that she was hiding something,
"Anyway, I have to go. He's waiting for me....." Turning away from him, she left quietly, leaving the other alpha there to himself. Putting his head in his hands, Rhys was quick to order a drink from a nearby waitress, Not able to stop the buzzing thoughts in his head. He was still wrapping his head around what just happened when the alcohol came.
---
"She what? Rhys, are you sure?" Vaughn questioned, listening to his echo com he got from Rhys. "I-I mean, of course you're sure but...."
He sighs with a frown, looking at the ceiling from his cubical. "It doesn't sound like her... and are you drunk?" During his lunch, Vaughn had noticed he had gotten a call during his work and called his bro back when he got on his hour lunch.
"Yes...." Rhys exclaimed from the other end of the echo, scrambling through the cabinets after finishing his bottle of White Russian. The drink at the restaurant was weak and quick to finish, not even leaving him with a small buzz. After he had paid for it, Rhys had ran all the way home when it had started to rain halfway there. Sure he had thought about going to a bar but this felt to personal for a bar but with his goal in mind, it wouldn't have been an option that he was comfortable with. Plus, he hadn't wanted to taint the place with this memory.
He wanted to get drunk and he wanted to drink at home without anyone watching him, or trying to take him home with them. Now after three bottles of scotch, he had searched through the alcohol cabinet with determination, sniffing as he babbled what happened to Vaughn in his drunken state. And yet, once all was said and done on top of not finding anymore booze to drown his emotions, Rhys stood out from the lower shelving and rubbed his tears away with his real arm a he chokes out a sob, slurring.
"I-I don't know what to do bro. I mean-" He wobbles for a bit and uses the island counter to keep himself upright. "I-I-I was g-gonna propose to her today, man. And just.. Now I'm home and single."
Rhys waves his arm as he speaks, looking around the apartment as he wobbles. "Now I'm wet because I might have pissed myself and.. and... rain.. and.... Oh god, Bro" Then he breaks down crying, using his robotic hand to wipe his tears away this time. "I don't know what to do."
There was silence from Vaughn's ends, almost as if he was thinking before he exhaled softly. "Okay bro. I can tell you what to do. Are you standing?" Rhy's lets a soft "Mmm-hmm." With a soft noise in his upset state mixed in, wiping his face again.
"Alright bro. You have to walk in your room for me." Vaughn hears shuffling and a door opening.
"You there, bro?" There was another "Mmm-hmmm..." and the small alpha couldn't help but smile sadly.
"Alright. Now go to your bed and lay down." More shuffling from Rhys' side. "And cover yourself with the blankets. Try to sleep, bro. I will be home in a couple hours."
the third "Mmm-hmm." Was enough to convince Vaughn that Rhys had started falling asleep.