Chapter Text
Eva Stratt thought that suppressants were the best thing that had ever been invented. From the time she had presented at fourteen until she had been able to get suppressants at eighteen, her once-a-quarter heats had been unbearable. Her parents however, did not want Eva to be on suppressants.
The day after her eighteenth birthday in April, she could be found at her endocrinologists office getting the prescription for her first set of pills. By the time she started at university in September, her hormones had leveled out to the point that if you didn't know any better, you would think she was a Beta. And that was just how she liked it.
Her heats had slowly dwindled down to where it was just once a year now and instead of the week long affair it had been at fourteen, now it was just three uncomfortable days. She would work from home on those days so that if she felt like it, she could take a break from work and spend some quality time with her collection of vibrators.
Ryland Grace presented at the age of fourteen as well. When his new Alpha hormones flooded his system in the middle of class one day, and his new cedar scent flooded his history class, it was only due to his upbringing that he was able to get to the nurses office without causing an incident. From the age of twelve his mother had made sure that there was a scent blocking mask in his backpack for 'just in case'. Ryland was able to get the mask out of his backpack when he realized he was presenting due to his first knot forming. By the time he got the mask over his nose and mouth, his history teacher already had a presentation pass ready to go.
Once in the nurses office, the nurse thanked him for not causing a scene. When his mother arrived to pick him up, the nurse thanked his mother for being so responsible.
"If only more parents were like you, and prepared their children, presentations would be a lot less disruptive."
"I do what I can. It isn't that difficult. My parents prepared me and while I didn't present at school, knowing what was going to happen helped me so much."
"Exactly! Well, Ryland is excused from classes for the rest of the week. He'll need to see an endocrinologist to make sure his new hormones have leveled off before returning."
"Thank you."
And so it went. Alphas only entered their ruts when they were sharing an Omega's heat. And that took hours in enclosed spaces with an Omega for that to happen.
When she had been selected by the United Nations to lead the Petrova Taskforce, Eva Stratt was shocked. Didn't they know she was an Omega? How the hell did they select her? Apparently it was because she was an Omega that was the deciding factor. They needed someone who would do anything to protect what they cared for. Eva Stratt cared for the people of the Earth, so she would do anything to protect them.
Okay then.
The others working on the Taskforce did not need to know that she was an Omega though. That little 'O' on her paperwork caused Eva so much trouble that she welcomed people thinking she was a Beta.
Walking into the classroom of Ryland Grace, she would later say, was both the worst and best decision of her life. The moment she entered the room and got a whiff of the warm cedar scent that permeated the classroom she stopped in her tracks.
"Can I help you? Did you get lost?" The man at the front of the room was speaking. Who was it? Oh, yes.
"Yes, I am Eva Stratt from the Petrova Taskforce. Doctor Ryland Grace?" The man stiffened before warily asking his follow up question.
"Possibly. Who wants to know?"
"Good. I wanted to speak to you about a paper you wrote…."
When the dust from his kidnapping had settled, Ryland Grace found himself the lead astrophage researcher on the Gansu. He also found himself Second in Command.
He had learned that he was Second in Command the same day that he learned that Eva Stratt was an Omega. He had received an email from her saying that he was needed in her office. Sighing, he cleaned up his station in the lab and headed off to her office.
"Dr. Grace, come in. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"You're kind of my boss, I have to." Ryland said rolling his eyes. Ms. Stratt was a pretty cool boss to have, but Ryland was going to be annoyed at being pulled from his work.
"Yes yes, sit down." Stratt pointed at a chair opposite hers. Ryland sat down and looked up at Stratt.
"Well, I'm here. What do you need?"
"I am letting you know that as my Second in Command, you will be taking over operational duties for me for the next four days." Ryland was stunned.
"Wait, what? I'm your second in command? When did that happen Ms. Stratt?"
"When you became the only person on my lead science team that I don't feel like throwing overboard at least once a day Dr. Grace." Ryland laughed a little at that, but stopped when he saw her face.
"So I'm second in command because you like me?"
"For lack of a better term, yes. You are the least annoying. You are also capable of keeping things running for me. I've seen how you can be relaxed in your lab, but you run the lab with minimal issues. I have not seen a single incident report come out from your lab since you took over three months ago."
"Thank you, Ms. Stratt. I do have a question though- it's not like you to take time off. Why do you need me to take over for four days?" Stratt stiffened at this before shaking her head and relaxing.
"My endocrinologist will not renew my suppressants if I do not have at least one heat in a twelve month period. I will be going ashore to a heat clinic in Germany for a few days."
"Wait, you're an Omega? I thought you were a Beta."
"Yes, you and the rest of the team. I try to not let others know I am an Omega. It is a top secret, need to know thing."
"Ah, yeah. that does make sense." Ryland ran his hand over his face. "So you need someone to cover for you for your heat leave. Why me though?"
"I've already told you Dr. Grace, you are the least annoying person on the leadership team. I value your opinion, and if you're running things here, I can trust there will still be a Petrova Taskforce for me to return to."
"I'm flattered Ms. Stratt."
"You are good to return to your Lab now Dr. Grace. I will be sending out an email tonight letting everyone know that I will be unavailable and that you will be in charge. I will be leaving first thing in the morning." Sighing, knowing there was no way out of it, Ryland stood up and started making his way to the door. Before he opened it though, he turned back to Stratt.
"Here, take this with you, it might help you." Ryland pulled off the forest green sweater that he had been wearing, folded it, and handed it over to Stratt. "My dad always said that having something of my mom's helped him when he had his heats." Stratt stood there just staring at him.
"Thank you, Dr. Grace. I do not think it will be needed though." She tried to hand the sweater back, but Ryland refused to take it.
"I have other sweaters I can wear Ms. Stratt. Do you have an Alpha who can give you something to scent for your heat?"
"No." Stratt stood in the middle of her office holding his sweater. "No, I don't." She admitted softly. "I guess it couldn't hurt anything." The smile she got from Ry- Dr. Grace at that was dazzling.
"I'll do my best to keep the ship afloat then Ms. Stratt. Let me know when you're ready when you get back and I can let you know what you missed." At that, Ryland turned and left out the door, closing it with a soft 'click'.
That night, in his stateroom, Ryland couldn't help but think that maybe he had overstepped just a little. It was so rude to assume that Stratt would want, or even need something to scent over her heat. Why had he given it to her? She had taken it though, maybe she felt more for him that she was letting on.
As he thought that, he felt his blood flowing south. Groaning, Ryland let his mind wander. What would happen if Eva- if he was going to do this right now, she was going to be Eva, felt more towards him than she was letting on. With another groan, Ryland palmed himself through his sweatpants. his cock was rapidly coming to life at the thoughts of Eva returning his feelings.
Pulling his sweatpants off, Ryland gave himself another squeeze through his boxers. There was a wet patch starting to form, and after one more squeeze to his cock, Ryland brought the boxers down as well. When his cock hit the cool air of the cabin, he let out a gasp before continuing.
As an Alpha, Ryland had nothing to be ashamed of. His cock stood proudly as he lazily stroked himself a few times. Pulling off his shirt, he laid in bed and let his imagination take over.
He imagined what it would be like if Eva granted him the privilege of spending her next heat with her. That would be wonderful. Ryland had thought she was attractive from the day she entered his classroom. Even as a Beta it would have been a privilege to spend time with her. But now that he knew she was an Omega? Yeah, he could see why she wanted to Beta-pass. The only reason he hadn't tried anything before giving her the sweater was because she was his boss.
Focus Ryland.
Being invited into Eva's nest to spend her heat. To be able to take care of her during it. To be able to lay her down in her nest and taste, what he hoped, was her sweet slick. Was Eva the type to want to bond? Ryland groaned again at that and squeezed his cock above the knot that was starting to form. The thought of being able to bond had been a dream that had been quietly left to fade.
But if Eva granted him permission to bite and bond her? With a shudder and a stroke upward Ryland came all over his stomach. After he came, he squeezed his knot at the base of his cock to help it go down faster. Eventually his knot did go down, and he went soft. Ryland was finally able to get up to clean himself up.
Well shit. You weren't supposed to have these kinds of thoughts about your boss. Was it truly a big deal though? As long as thoughts stayed in your head and didn't get said out loud, nothing would go wrong. He could be professional around Eva. He would be professional.
As he fell asleep though, the thoughts that Ryland had were decidedly not professional.