Chapter Text
The rain in Dortmund didn't feel like the rain back in Birmingham. It was colder, sharper, cutting through the heavy fabric of Jude’s jacket as he navigated his first few weeks in Germany. At just eighteen, everything felt overwhelming. He was completely alone. No family, no friends, just a quiet apartment and a language he was desperately trying to master. He was settling into the squad well enough on the pitch, his talent undeniable, but off it, the unspoken hierarchy weighed on him like lead. Jude was aware of his position as an Omega. In a sport dominated by towering Alphas who used their size and strength to command respect, Jude stood out. The first few days he had tried to interact with his teammates, some were nice, some were cold and some acknowledged his presence but kept their distance, unsure what the right way to interact with their barely legal omega teammate was, and one of those people happened to be Erling Håland.
He had spoken to Erling a few times, the twenty-year-old Norwegian striker who was already two years into his Dortmund tenure and practically a force of nature on the pitch. Erling was polite, quiet, and possessed a deeply grounded Alpha presence that never felt suffocating, but Jude had been too shy, too acutely aware of his own dynamic, to push for anything more than friendly nods and short hallway chats. Unfortunately, not all Alphas in the squad possessed Erling’s discipline. A couple of the fringe senior players, frustrated Alphas whose careers had stalled, bitter at being sidelined while a teenager took their starting spots, had taken a quiet, insidious disliking to Jude. To them, Jude was just a young, unbonded Omega who had no business walking into their club and holding his head high.
It happened late on a damp Tuesday afternoon. Training had wrapped up hours ago, and the facility was dead quiet. Jude had stayed behind in the gym to do extra recovery work, making him the absolute last person in the building. He pushed open the heavy wooden door to the main locker room, the air thick with the faint smell of polished leather and damp turf, intending to grab his bag and head home. He didn't even hear them step out from the shower area. Before Jude could react, two towering silhouettes blocked the exit. The air in the enclosed space turned thick and toxic, heavy with the aggressive, sour reek of dominant Alpha pheromones meant to intimidate and subdue. "Going somewhere, little Omega?" one of them sneered, his voice low and grating. Jude’s heart slammed against his ribs. His inner Omega instantly recognized the predatory threat, making his legs feel completely numb.
"Get out of my way," Jude demanded, trying to keep his voice steady, stepping forward with his head held high.
"Look at that," the second player chuckled, stepping closer and trapping Jude against the metal lockers. "So fierce on the pitch. But you're just a kid, aren't you? Thinking you run this place."
Before Jude could scream, a heavy hand slammed against his shoulder, shoving him violently back against the hard metal. A palm clamped firmly over his mouth, smothering his gasp. Jude fought back with everything he had, thrashing, kicking, his broad frame straining against their grip but the combination of their physical weight and the suffocating pressure of two aggressive Alpha commands pinned him down. Tears of pure terror spilled over Jude’s lashes, hot and blinding. He felt as one of them put their hands on his waist, a sharp tug at his shorts, the sickening sound of fabric stretching as one of them pulled his shorts halfway down his thighs, their hands rough and invasive against his skin. Jude squeezed his eyes shut, his entire body trembling violently as his scent, a usual delicate aroma of vanilla turning completely sour, thick with palpable fear and salty tears.
Out in the dimly lit corridor, Erling was walking briskly back toward the locker rooms. He had made it all the way to his car before realising he’d left his duffel bag and his apartment keys sitting on his bench. He had forgotten them at the gym where he had lingered behind trying to catch glimpses of a particular omega. If you asked Erling what he honestly thought about having an omega teammate, he would reply with his usual laid back Scandinavian candour,
“Don’t care, as long as they can kick a ball.”
but Jude was different, he knew the moment he saw him enter the first day, his golden tanned skin, big doe eyes and soft curls. At the gym he had tried to speak to Jude when they were alone, but at the thought of possibly interrupting his training, he had decided otherwise. He would come to regret that decision as he made his way to the gym, he hit the threshold of the hallway and that’s when it hit him, Erling froze. His sharp, senses flared to life instantly. For weeks, Erling had quietly kept his distance, but he hadn't been blind. He had noticed the soft, sweet vanilla scent that trailed behind the new English recruit. It was a scent Erling hadn't been able to get out of his head since the day Jude shook his hand delicate, warm, and entirely captivating. But right now, the air in the corridor was tainted. The sweet vanilla had vanished, replaced by the sharp, terrifying reek of a distressed Omega in agony, smothered beneath the foul, aggressive stench of two familiar Alpha scents. Something inside Erling’s chest dropped. The world went dead silent, narrow and focused. The blue in his eyes vanished as his pupils fully dilated, his dark Alpha instincts flooding his veins with pure, lethal adrenaline. Erling kicked the locker room door open so hard the heavy wood slammed violently against the concrete wall, echoing like a gunshot. He stepped into the room, his towering frame blocking the doorway.
When Erling saw the scene before him, Jude pinned against the cold metal lockers, his face covered in fresh tears, his shorts pulled halfway down while two senior players held him down, Erling’s eyes went dark. Without a second thought he launched himself forward like a rabid animal. Erling slammed into the first Alpha with terrifying, bone-crushing force. The sheer momentum tore the man completely off Jude, sending him crashing into a row of wooden benches that splintered under his weight. Before the second player could even process what was happening, Erling’s giant hand clamped around his throat, shoving him back into the wall so hard the metal lockers dented.
"You’re fucking dead." Erling snarled, his deep voice carrying a terrifying, growl that vibrated throughout the room. The player gasped for air, his eyes wide with absolute, primal horror as he stared into Erling’s pitch-black, furious glare. Erling threw a punch against his face, you could hear the bones cracking under his fist, and as he was about to throw another that’s when he smelt it, the sweet vanilla scent had grown even sour with fear, he faltered just a second and threw down the alpha onto the floor like trash, his heavy breathing filling the quiet locker room as the two senior players scrambled to their feet, one almost half conscious being dragged by the other, terrified, backing out of the room without uttering a single word.
The heavy door swung shut behind them, leaving only the sound of rain tapping against the high windows. Erling’s chest was heaving, his own fists bleeding and clenched so tight his skin was pale, his dark Alpha scent still radiating violently in defense. But as a soft, broken hiccup sounded from the corner, Erling’s terrifying posture dissolved instantly. He turned slowly. Jude was curled in on himself against the lockers, sliding down until he hit the floor. His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he tried to pull his shorts back up, his shoulders wracked with silent, violent sobs. His vanilla scent was still frail, sour, and utterly shattered. Erling’s heart broke into a thousand pieces. He completely suppressed his aggressive Alpha pheromones, forcing himself to go quiet, warm, and harmless. He dropped to his knees, making himself small, keeping a careful distance so he wouldn't startle the terrified teenager. "Jude..." Erling’s voice broke, soft and thick with deep distress. "Jude, look at me. They're gone. It's just me. It's Erling." Jude lifted his tear-stained face, his dark eyes wide, dilated, and filled with residual panic. His gaze met Erling’s, the giant striker who had just laid his entire career and reputation on the line to save him. Seeing the gentle, worried softness in Erling’s eyes, Jude’s defenses completely crumbled. He didn't hesitate. Jude lunged forward, throwing his arms around Erling’s neck, burying his face into the warm nook of Erling’s collarbone as he sobbed hysterically. Erling let out a shaky breath, wrapping his massive arms securely around Jude’s small, trembling frame, pulling him flush against his chest. He brought a hand up to cradle the back of Jude’s head, pressing his chin against Jude’s hair, pouring a soothing, warm, cedar-and-rain scent over him to wash away the scent of the other alphas. "I've got you, min skatt," Erling whispered softly, rocking Jude gently on the cold locker room floor as Jude held onto him like a lifeline. "I'm right here. I’m not going anywhere."