Page 8 of Nursing the Alpha

FLYNN

F ridays were starting to feel like my favorite day. Maybe it was the routine. Maybe it was the library. Or maybe it was the way I couldn’t stop thinking about Seth.

But today? Today I felt good.

The sun was still high when I stepped into the library, clutching my canvas tote full of finished books.

The sliding glass doors whooshed shut behind me, and I inhaled the familiar scent of paper, ink, and the faint pine-and-vanilla fragrance they pumped through the air vents.

It used to be musty in here, back when I worked the evening shift, and the heating always broke. But things had improved.

Or maybe I had.

I padded past the new arrivals and made a beeline for the returns desk, where Micah flashed me a smile from behind the counter.

“Flynn?” He blinked. “Is that you?”

“Hey.” I grinned, dropping the tote onto the counter.

“It’s good to see you back from your break.

” He’d gone on Omega Recovery Leave for a week before he gave birth to a bouncing baby girl.

I hadn’t seen him since, but he’d posted photos all over social media.

Not that we ever got to see her face. Just chubby arms and legs and a riot of red curls like her alpha daddy.

Micah leaned forward, narrow-shouldered and fresh-faced, a pair of horn-rimmed glasses sliding down his nose. He looked the same as ever—sweet, soft-spoken. He was probably reading a five-hundred-page hardback under the desk.

“Wow, you look—” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he gave me a slow once-over. “Glowing. What the hell? Last I saw you, you were half-asleep and as big as a whale from that surrogacy.”

I laughed. “I’m getting my figure back.”

He gestured at the bag. “Returns?”

“Yeah, and I’ve got holds to pick up too.”

Micah pulled the tote toward him and scanned the stack of books, raising an eyebrow at the titles. His Twin Tentacles, My Womb. Alien Hatchery Heat. Solar Knights of Omega Sector.

“You’re still reading this stuff, huh?”

I shrugged with zero shame. “The aliens treat omegas like treasure. What’s not to love? The smut is top tier, and an omega can hope.”

Micah snorted. “Like treasure? Don’t they usually forcibly breed the omegas with or without their consent?”

“The omegas like it. They just need a little time to realize it.”

Micah’s jaw dropped, and he shuddered. “Honestly, Flynn, I fear for you. Let’s hope you never get abducted because I have a feeling you’d not even put up a fight.”

“Depends. How hot is the alpha?”

“Hotness level does not make it okay!” The librarian gasped. “The answer is always no means no. ”

I grinned. “If it ever happens, I’ll tell you what I decided.”

He slowly shook his head. “Don’t bother. He could fuck you while strangling you to death, and you’d shoot your load anyway.” He scanned a few more, then leaned an elbow on the counter. “Alien smut aside, what have you been up to?”

“I’ve been… living,” I said, a little evasively. “Things changed. I got lucky.”

“Lucky how?”

“I found a job that pays well. Something a bit more flexible.” I took my receipt, which he handed over. “And I guess I’ve been taking better care of myself.”

To be fair, it wasn’t all on me. The couple I was providing breastmilk for insisted on me having a balanced diet to keep my milk supply coming in and at its best. Although I was grateful they allowed me a few cheats during the week. It’d been great. I even had more energy.

Micah narrowed his eyes. “Tell me the truth. You found yourself an alpha, didn’t you?”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re glowing, Flynn. Don’t lie to me.”

I bit my lip. Then smiled. “Not exactly. I mean… not like that.”

Micah leaned in, eyes dancing. “ But there is someone. ”

I checked my watch.

Shit.

“If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss my train.”

“Oh my god, you’re rushing off to him, aren’t you?”

I rolled my eyes, scooping my books into my bag. “We just talk. That’s all.”

On a train ride. Every Friday .

Micah folded his arms. “Mm-hmm. And that’s why your cheeks go pink every time I mention him?”

I didn’t answer. I waved and rushed toward the exit.

The train station was a ten-minute walk, but I half jogged it, heart picking up in pace like it always did on Fridays. It wasn’t technically a date. We didn’t call it anything. We just happened to be on the same train every Friday evening. For the past month.

Seth.

Big. Quiet. Steady-eyed Seth, who barely spoke more than a few sentences each time but still managed to make me feel heard.

He never flinched when I mentioned milk or if I had a stain on my shirt. He never made me feel gross when I shifted uncomfortably on the train, trying to hide a leak. For some reason, I had letdowns when I was around him. Like inhaling his pheromones triggered a reaction in me.

He didn’t push. Didn’t pry. He just sat there beside me, asking how my day was. Sometimes listening to me ramble about books, even if he didn’t say much in return.

It wasn’t love. I wasn’t delusional.

But it was something.

And whatever it was… I liked it.

As usual, the train was packed at this hour of the day. Not just crowded—packed. Elbow-to-elbow, no-standing-room, sweaty-even-in-fall packed. I exhaled, already bracing myself for another ride spent hunched over some stranger’s gym bag, when I saw him.

Seth.

Broad shoulders. Black coat. Eyes on me .

And he had a seat.

Our eyes met. He nodded once, a small gesture, then stood and stepped aside, motioning toward it.

I approached him. I knew by now not to argue with him.

A bulky alpha in a business suit slid into the seat with a self-satisfied huff.

Seth turned his head slightly.

“That wasn’t for you. Get lost.”

That voice—low, rough, edged with steel. A shiver ran down my spine.

The other alpha looked up. Blanched.

“I didn’t know it was?—”

“Move,” Seth said.

The man stood. Fast.

He didn’t make eye contact as he melted into the crowd, and I stared up at Seth, stunned.

He’d always been… calm. Quiet. He had the kind of presence that didn’t demand attention but commanded it anyway. But now, with a few words, he’d reminded me what kind of alpha he had the potential to be.

And something deep inside me responded. My nipples tingled, and I groaned. I wasn’t so out of touch with my body that I didn’t realize I was attracted to him.

Seth gestured again.

“Sit.”

Heat flushed my face as I sank into the seat. Seth stood directly in front of me, holding on to the rail. He was so tall his coat brushed my knees. His thighs bracketed my field of vision. And?—

Not again.

His crotch was right in front of my face.

If I didn’t know better, I would think he deliberately put us in this situation .

That part of his anatomy seemed to be as huge as the rest of him. Was he aroused? I smelled him even among the hundreds of unwashed bodies on the train. A sweet, smoky scent wafted from his body, immediately capturing my senses. My breath hitched. Distraction. I needed a distraction.

My chest ached.

Milk gathered, the familiar tingle grew deep in my ducts. The sway of the train didn’t help.

A soft groan escaped my throat before I could help it.

“You okay?” Seth looked down at me.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m just—yeah. Full.”

His eyes darkened a fraction, but his expression didn’t change.

“Rough day?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Not really. I mean, work’s been good. Weird but good.”

He nodded slowly, like it didn’t surprise him. “Do you at least enjoy it?”

“I’m not sure being treated like a cow is meant to be enjoyed,” I said with a laugh. “It’s not what I thought I’d end up doing, but it’s a means to an end.”

“Would your employer say you’re good at it?”

My employer? I still had no idea who I worked for. The housekeeper always let me in. I went to my little room, pumped for at least an hour, ate, replenished, and pumped again. Sometimes I took a nap before heading home.

“I guess. They pay me a lot, and they seem pleased with my supply over the past couple of weeks because I’ve had no complaints.

” I smiled, a little sheepish. “I used to be a librarian. Now I get paid to leak all over expensive robes. I always feel guilty that I leave them soaked and they have to take care of my laundry. ”

Seth chuckled. The sound was low and short but real. “I have a feeling they don’t mind.”

“I don’t know much about you,” I said softly.

His gaze sharpened. “Have dinner with me tonight. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

I blinked, sucked in a deep breath. We’d been low-key flirting for a month now, but the invitation dropped so casually took me by surprise. “Dinner?”

“Unless you’re busy.”

My heart stuttered.

This—whatever this was—had been easy. These quiet Friday evenings. These half conversations and half smiles and not having to explain why I shifted uncomfortably every time my chest started to drip. Seth didn’t flinch. He didn’t turn away in disgust. He didn’t make it weird.

What if we broke it?

What if we went on a real date and it ruined the gentle space between us?

But also, what if we didn’t?

What if this was it? My one shot at being wanted by someone who didn’t see my body as defective or embarrassing?

I looked up at him. Really looked.

I didn’t think he’d care about the stretch marks. Or the little pouch of softness I’d never quite lost after the surrogacy. Or the fact that my shirts were always slightly damp.

I nodded shyly. “Okay. Yeah. Dinner sounds fun.”

A slow smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “Good.”

“Just…” I scratched my neck. “I’ll need to swing by work first. Express before I go home and change.”

His brows lifted slightly. “You want me to pick you up after? ”

“I can meet you,” I said quickly. “Don’t want to make it a thing.”

He didn’t press. Just nodded. “I’ll send you the location.”

We exchanged numbers for the first time. He tapped the info into his phone, then glanced down at me one last time as the train slowed.

“This is our stop,” I murmured.

He held his hand out to take my bag so I could easily stand. He didn’t give it back to me until we were standing on the platform together. Seth stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, not saying anything. His eyes were on my chest.

I glanced down. A damn spot was forming.

I wore pads, but as usual, I’d soaked through them.

“Shit, not again. I swear I have more letdowns when I’m around you.

” Luckily, I had my hoodie tied around my waist. I untied it and shrugged it on, looking up at Seth.

“You know, this might happen tonight on our date.”

He shrugged. “That’s fine. It doesn’t bother me.”

“It doesn’t?”

“Nope. You smell like honeyed milk.”

My mouth fell open, and I stared at him. As if he caught up on what he’d said, he took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I know some alphas can be assholes about omegas lactating, even to their mates.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I’m surprised by you, that’s all. You’re a really sweet man, Seth.”

On impulse, I bridged the gap between us, went up on my tippy toes, and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

“Not unless I see you first.”

Walking away from him that evening didn’t make me feel sad, as I usually was on other Fridays. All because I would get to see him again. His words stayed in my ear as I continued walking. “You smell like honeyed milk.”

Oh fuck, I was leaking all over myself.