Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

” Knock, knock ~! “

A gentle singsong rang as a woman stepped inside her son’s bedroom. If one could call it that. She referred to it as her son’s own personal island of trash with how messy the young man’s room was. Clothes scattered about everywhere, days old glasses of water, or whatever soda he drank, sat on his desk along with an opened bag of Cheetos and an organizer which’s drawers were overflowing with bits and pieces of parts he had no idea where they belonged. Curtains were yanked apart, and a muffled groan could be heard underneath the pillow the young man had plopped over his head.

“Dwight, dear, we need to talk.”

Dwight peeked up through the small gap between his pillow and his mattress, squinting as midday light burnt his retinas and made him bury his face once more, hiding from the real world that barged into his room to remember him that it existed. Much to his chagrin.

“Your father and I took a decision...”

How could such simple words cause so much anguish so early in the morning? Well, noon. Mornoon. Yes, mornoon was now a word. Dwight inhaled deeply, squeezing his pillow even more over his head. If he couldn’t see her, then she would disappear. It was how it worked, right?

“Dwight, sweetie, could you please look at me? It’s… a little important…”

On this, he groaned, flopping about in his blankets, and kicking them about when he grew irritated upon discovering that they had wrapped themselves around his legs in his sleep. He always did move a lot in the middle of the night. His family had a couple of compromising pictures to prove that fact.

“Uhn…”

Dwight sat upright, smacking his hand blindly behind himself until it connected with his glasses which he then fumbled to put on. Groggily, he blinked away the fatigue that lingered behind his eyelids and scratched his chest over his pyjama top sleepily. Oh yeah, he fell asleep in that shirt. It was pink with a print of small, gray cats all over it. A gift from a long time ago that he never got rid of.

“Wha’izit?”

He slurred out as he stretched his arms high above his head before dropping them unceremoniously in his lap.

“Well… How should I say this? You’re twenty-five now and… we noticed that apart from your job, which we’re very glad you have, you know I’m proud of you, you’re not exactly taking part in the… outside world.”

Dwight sighed heavily, shoulders drooping as he already feared what was to come. It was true. He never dated anyone. He had crushes here and there like any little boy would throughout his younger years, but when he realized that he grew up to be this average, he kind of gave up on the prospect of dating. Despite being an Omega, he never attracted anyone. Most people considered his scent to be too sweet for their liking, and while he couldn’t smell it the way others did, he could understand their point of view. The last thing he wanted was to make others nauseous with his scent.

“Mom…”

He began to whine, and his mother was quick to shush him the moment he spoke.

“You know the MacMillans? They live right down the street. Yes, yes, THE MacMillans of the famous mining industry kind. Well, you won’t believe what I heard the other day.”

Dwight didn’t like the excitement in her tone. Not because he wasn’t happy that she was content to put her gossiping skills to good use, but rather because it never boded well for him.

“Archie MacMillan lost his wife recently, bless her soul, and he made an announcement. Apparently, his wife’s dying wish was to find her son, an Alpha, a suitable companion, which, unfortunately, she never got to see, poor thing… so, here’s the juicy part…”

Didn’t Archie MacMillan’s wife die over a year ago? It was fairly recent still, but Dwight had no idea where his mother was going with this and, by the way she wiggled about in his room with barely contained enthusiasm, it couldn’t be good.

“… He proposed a picnic in the park. A meet and greet for his son, Evan, to mingle with the singles in the area. And guess what, dear.”

Oh, as much as it pained him, he smiled at his mother’s eagerness, his head bobbing along with the pep in the tiny bounces she did.

“They are looking for Omegas only! You know how family business are, especially big businesses, they want an heir and, well, you know I’m simply dying to have grandchildren, one day. So… I agreed to the invitation on your behalf! Eeeee! Isn’t this exciting?!”

Her exclamation peaked with a light squeak and Dwight wondered if he had gone deaf from how high her pitch reached.

“Mom…”

Dwight attempted once more, but his mother’s radiant energy wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Do you have a shift at the pizzeria, today?”

He hung his head and shook it silently, knowing fairly well that it was a battle that he had lost the moment his mom entered his room.

“Good! The picnic is in an hour and a half!”

His mother announced proudly, making Dwight groan and drop backwards, his mattress bouncing him faintly about, its springs creaking as if to mock the suffering he felt at the mere thought of facing a social event of this magnitude.

“An hour and a half?”

He complained as he reached behind him to rummage onto his bedside table to take hold of his alarm clock and tug it into view. 12:32PM. Oh, it did make sense. Unfortunately.

“Well, you would’ve had more time if you didn’t go to bed at four in the morning, young man. Do you think we don’t hear you play your games all night? We’re right down the hall, you know? You only lived here for, oh, all your life. Surely, you do know that by now.”

“Sorry…”

Dwight grimaced as his mother scolded him about his nightly habits for the third time this month. What else was he supposed to do? It’s not like he could go out with a scent as strong and as sweet as his, people would think that he’s searching to cause a riot. His parents were old-fashioned and didn’t believe in suppressants, telling him over and over that it was poison for his body and that it would do terrible things to his fertility… which… wasn’t it the point? It was a debate that he never won and never will, so, he gave up on that too.

“What was I saying…? Oh yes! Your father approved as well. Who knows? Maybe you’ll catch his interest! You smell so sweet; how could he not eat you right up?”

His mother giggled as she kicked aside discarded pieces of clothes on the floor to open his closet.

“Now, now, now, what should we put you into on this fine day.”

“Mom, I can pick my own clothes…”

It was the Omega’s turn now to interrupt his mother who released the doors to his closet as if she had been burnt for merely touching them.

“Oh! Oh, you’re right, silly me. You’re a grown man. I’ll let you do your part.”

On this, she carefully stepped through the mined terrain of his bedroom floor and headed for the door, only to pause and face him.

“Go on, stop lazing about. Go take a shower and dress up! I’ll drive you there myself, so you won’t be late.”

At last, she wiggled her fingers goodbye and left, leaving Dwight feeling as if he could finally breathe again. He adored his mother, he really did, but whenever she entered this ‘I have to find my son a good husband’ mode, she was an unstoppable force of nature. With a loud sigh, he reluctantly stood and dragged his feet across the hall to shower properly and wash out his scent as much as it was humanly possible for him to do so. He wouldn’t live through the embarrassment of getting kicked out of another social event because his scent disturbed the attendees. Again. Hair and body thoroughly washed, he stepped out of the shower and picked up the clothes he haphazardly threw across the bathroom floor. A pair of pale blue washed out skinny jeans, plain white socks, an equally plain white t-shirt, but with a bright red collar and a dark gray hoodie which he zipped on midway. On the back of his hoodie was a broad print of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland in its heart tunic and blowing into its trumpet.

It was a picnic, right? He didn’t have to be fancy for a picnic…

…It turned out that he needed to be fancy for a picnic.

“I told you so.”

He could hear his mother mutter in the driver’s seat as Dwight visibly paled at how grandiose the venue was. Decorations, buffets, fake laughter, carpeted grass, cushioned couches and seats, Omegas that were as miserable as him about being dragged to the event. It had it all. His family wasn’t rich. It never had been poor per se, they always found a way to get by, but this was outrageous. He could already feel people judging them and they didn’t even step out of the car yet.

“That’s Evan, over there.”

His mother leaned over into his side to point directly towards a charming young man among the crowd with a dazzling smile. He sported a classy undercut, his hair slicked back in place. He wore a white dress shirt that had two of its buttons popped open at the top, dark green trousers with dark suspenders and brown laced, whole cut oxfords. Not that he paid any peculiar attention to the last detail or anything.

“Oh no, he’s hot.”

“I know, right? I knew you’d like him.”

“Mom, I look like trash.”

“I know, sweetie, I know.”

Dwight whipped his head towards his mother, mouth agape when she didn’t reassure him that he looked fine. At least, she did give him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, so that was nice.

“Well, we’re already here. We can’t turn back and no, before you ask, you can’t take the bus home either. We’re staying here and we’re going to own this picnic, you hear me?”

The Omega exhaled loudly, which earned him a slight nudge from his mother to encourage him to step out.

“Go on, now.”

His mother stepped out of the car, the driver’s door squeaking loudly as it opened and closed behind her. Once Dwight gathered his courage, he followed her, their old, rusting Nissan swaying as he stepped out and closed the door behind himself. Heads turned, expressions of disdain morphing into smiles and hushed conversations as they stepped onto the carpet laid out for the occasion. They were interrupted by an imposing man dressed in all black, holding out his hand before him as if he were expecting something from them.

“Invitations?”

The man demanded dryly and his mother, as efficient as ever, held up her finger and popped her purse open to find a dark green envelope with a golden lining. The bodyguard opened the envelope, nodded upon identifying the invitations as real and stepped aside.

“Enjoy your afternoon.”

His mother bowed her head in gratitude before beaming brightly in his direction.

“See? No need to worry about a thing. Just go enjoy yourself, alright? I, for my part, have some conversations to slip my name into.”

With a playful wink, she left his side and Dwight wanted to dig himself a hole and stay there for the remainder of the day. Why did he agree to come here again? Right, he didn’t, because he was aware of how horrible he was at small talk. He wanted to go home, pop himself a can of orange soda and play. Play what? He didn’t know, but anything would be better than this, at least. Dwight exhaled shakily as he glanced around nervously. Really, he did stick out from the rest like a sore thumb, didn’t he? He brought his hand to his lips to bite his nails. Where was a safe spot? The buffet? No, too obvious. Awkward people always hung around the buffet. It was a park, surely, he could find something. Surely.

So, why was it that he had made his way so far from the picnic’s emplacement that he was now sitting on a swing in an empty children’s playground? Right, because it was safest there. Nobody would talk about him behind his back and mock him for the way he dressed. If his mother scolded him for it, then, so be it. It’s not like he ever had a chance with someone like Evan, anyways. Tall, handsome, powerful, charming… nothing like him. Evan was the dream Alpha his mother had in mind for him. A prince for her little boy. As much as Dwight admired her ambition, he’d be lucky if an Alpha remotely looked his way to begin with.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, holding onto the chains of the swing as he swayed himself barely enough to let his sneakers draw circles into the sand underneath him, but he knew it was long enough to look pathetic. Dwight scoffed bitterly at the thought, shaking his head at how pitiful he sounded even to himself.

“Do you need help with that?”

Dwight threw his head backwards to look at the voice that dared disturb his pity party with only one attendee. His world now upside down, he squinted at the man that stood much closer to him than he had expected him to be. It took him a long minute before he realized just who it was that was bold enough to talk to him while he was brooding. When he did, however, he scrambled to his feet, kicking sand in his hurry, and making the swing bounce about chaotically between them.

“M-Mister MacMillan!”

Dwight squeaked; his voice trapped in his throat as he fumbled to straighten his clothes to at least have a semblance of decency. Evan chuckled warmly, holding out his hand to put a stop to the swing’s disorganized dance between them.

“That’s not how a swing works.”

Evan teased playfully with a broad smile upon his features and Dwight had to be dreaming. This was all a dream, right? The truth was that he somehow fell from the swing like an idiot and knocked his head on the wooden edge of the playground, heading for the nearest hospital, right? Right?

“W-What are you doing here?”

Dwight threw his gaze frantically at his surroundings, now thinking that it had to be a prank of some sort.

“What about the picnic?”

The young man before him shook his head and only in that moment did he realize that Evan had brought with him the matching jacket of his suit. It hung on his forearm, dangling neatly as Evan let go of the swing to pull out a small notebook from one of its pockets.

“It’s not my thing. When I saw you arrive, I was hoping I could talk to you, but when I was finally relieved of another pompous man trying to fork his daughter over at me, you were nowhere to be seen.”

Dwight was dumbfounded by what he was hearing. Him? He wanted to talk to him. About what? How inappropriate he was to wear something so casual at a private event? He had already beaten himself enough for it.

“I… How do I say this…? First of all, where are my manners? I’m Evan.”

The man switched the notebook to his other hand so that he could sneak his arm between the chains of the swing to present himself.

“Uhm… D-Dwight. Dwight Fairfield.”

Dwight hurried to take the offered hand, shaking it as firmly as his sweaty palm allowed him to before retrieving it as fast as it came.

“Fairfield. That’s a beautiful last name.”

The Omega’s cheeks warm up considerably at the rather specific compliment, smiling back sheepishly at the handsome Alpha before him. He couldn’t believe it. Evan MacMillan was actually talking to him. He was having a normal conversation… with a real person! A real Alpha and he wasn’t grossed out by his scent! Wait, his scent. Dwight brought up his sleeve to his nose and inhaled deeply, which Evan laughed softly at.

“Don’t worry about it. It was what allowed me to find you.”

Dwight lowered his gaze towards the sand of the playground, picking nervously at whatever remained of the nails he consistently assaulted in moments like these.

“It’s pretty sweet. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered someone with a scent like yours before.”

“I’ve been told it was insufferable and that it made people nauseous--”

“Then these people don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Evan’s traits softened as he made his way over to the second swing and seated himself into it, planting his feet firmly into the sand and flopping his jacket over his thigh. He held onto the small notebook, a frown knitting his brows as he pondered over his next words.

“I wanted to find you, because you… Actually, I was wondering if it’d be alright for me to draw a sketch of you. I know it’s a bit unusual… I don’t normally ask these sorts of things.”

Dwight was beyond taken aback. First, Evan MacMillan, heir to millions of dollars’ worth of a company, was talking to him. Second, he was the first person to ever deny how strong his scent was. Third, now this same man wanted to draw a sketch of him. What was this episode of Twilight Zone he had woken up into?

“I’d understand if you’d like to refuse.”

“N-No! No, I… I’d like to.”

The Alpha’s traits lit up, beaming brightly at the meek Omega before gesturing to the swing Dwight previously occupied and Dwight could’ve sworn he felt his heart flutter in his chest at how joyful Evan was. If it was all it took to make the man happy, then who was he to deny him such a simple request?

“Come. Have a seat.”

Chapter Text

“I didn’t expect you to like sketching.”

Dwight spun himself on the swing, tipping his head back to observe the magnificent braid of chains he had made above him by doing so. When his sneakers began slipping into the sand, unable to crank the swing any further, he rose his feet and spun the other way, the world revolving around him until a hand halted his dizzying twirl by taking hold of the now loose chain.

“Usually, people are still when they are being drawn.”

Evan joked lightly, a hint of laughter bubbling within the back of his throat at the other’s antics. The Omega scratched his cheek sheepishly, ragged, bitten nail dragging against sensitive skin and leaving a red, irritated trail in its wake.

“Sorry.”

“No sweat.”

The Alpha brushed off with a dazzling smile that would’ve had Dwight melt into a puddle if it weren’t for the fact of how tense he was of somewhat messing something up. It was a talent of his to make things uncomfortable. Not that he meant for it to be uncomfortable in the first place, it’s just that his ‘people skills’ weren’t exactly, uhm, defined.

“To answer you, I do love sketching. My father isn’t very fond of it. He thinks it’s a waste of time.”

The Alpha’s fast paced lines came to a stop as he turned himself in the swing to face Dwight and held out the small notebook in his hands wide open for the Omega to see.

“I usually draw animals… and stuff that catches my attention.”

Evan cleared his throat as he flipped through the pages of the small notebook, revealing some of the sketches concealed within it. Dwight admired his dedication. To pursue his love for drawing despite going against his father’s wishes. It took some guts that Dwight wasn’t sure he had. As the pages were slowly flipped one by one, he took note that most of these sketches were nature related: flowers, birds, bushes, ponds, Lilypads… rabbits. Lots and lots of rabbits. Some sketched in a cutesy fashion while others were more realistic. Truly, it was impressive given how little space he had in that notebook.

“I like the bunnies…”

Dwight stated with a soft smile on his lips as he used the tip of his sneaker to rock himself from side to side onto the swing.

“They’re my favorites to sketch.”

The Omega blinked at the faint, yet distinct tint of red that dusted Evan’s cheek as he brought his notebook back to him, returning to the page he was currently working on. One thing Dwight noticed was that Evan wasn’t lying; there were no humans in his notebook. He would be lying himself if he said that he wasn’t a bit proud about the fact that he was the first one to appear within those precious pages. He probably had other sketchbooks at home with plenty of human drawings in them, for all he was aware, but to know that he was the first in this notebook was enough for him.

“I, uhm, like your hoodie.”

Dwight heard and had to twist himself to remind himself what he was wearing. The White Rabbit of Alice in Wonderland. It made sense for him to like it in that context, then. Still, it didn’t prevent Dwight from feeling like a schoolboy being complimented by his crush… like a complete mess.

“M-My mom used to read me Alice all the time when I was little.”

Dwight felt the urge to explain, the piece of information lingering between them as he waited patiently for a response. Evan looked so focused on his drawing, adjusting, and turning the notebook about in his lap to correct the curves of his lines, that Dwight didn’t dare to be impatient. It was adorable. Well, as adorable as a man as tall and as impressive as him allowed himself to be, he supposed.

“She has good taste.”

The reply finally came, a flash of a smile directed at him as Evan’s gaze repeatedly flicked from his sketch to the source material beside him.

“My mom used to love Alice in Wonderland too…”

His voice trailed off, a shadow darkening his features and making Evan’s smile falter. Right, maybe it was inappropriate to bring something so personal when the Alpha lost his mother not that long ago.

“I-I’m sorry, I-I-I didn’t mean—”

“There you are!”

A deep, gravelly voice boomed behind them, causing both men to whip their heads towards the man that popped their comfortable bubble. Dwight caught Evan rapidly slamming his notebook close, dropping his pencil onto it before sliding his jacket over the evidence that he had been drawing.

“Dad!”

So, it was true, it was something that he needed to hide from his father. It saddened the Omega to see it with his own eyes. What was so wrong about drawing that Evan had to hide it from his father? The Alpha did tell him that his father didn’t approve, but… why? How could something so innocent be such an obstacle for him?

“We’ve been looking all over for you, Sport.”

The older man clasped a hand over his son’s shoulder, a warm chuckle escaping him as he then patted the young Alpha on his back.

“I thought I’d find you here. It smelled like an entire baking competition around here. Thought I’d have to shoo people away on my son’s special day.”

Evan smiled tightly at his father’s emphasis on certain words that made Dwight think that maybe this man wasn’t too keen about the scent he was giving off. He couldn’t blame him. Without suppressants, it was the equivalent of him dancing naked in front of him and Dwight was aware ot it, but with his parents’ absolute refusal that he tried any of them, there was little he could do on the matter.

“Dad, this is Dwight. Dwight Fairfield. Dwight, this is my father, Archie.”

The young Alpha presented him when it was clear that his father wouldn’t be taking the first step in introducing himself. Dwight held out his hand to greet the older man, but when he wasn’t met with the same friendliness, he was quick to drop it back in his lap.

“Ah. Fairfield, yes, hm. Your mother was rather… insistent on obtaining an invitation for the picnic.”

Dwight forced himself to smile despite the man’s obvious contempt for him and, apparently, his mother as well. To not like him was one thing, but to cast shade on his mother so blatantly made Dwight’s blood boil.

“She said that you’d make quite the impression on my son; that you have a job. An Omega with a job, why, I couldn’t believe it!”

“Dad…”

Evan warned through his teeth, his gaze hardening as much as Archie’s hold tightened upon him.

“Where was it that you worked? She sounded so proud; I simply couldn’t interrupt her. Pizzawho?”

“PizzaWhat, sir.”

Dwight remained polite, more than aware of the pression that was put upon him. Something meant to be unpleasant and ridicule him in front of Evan who didn’t appear very impressed by that form of display from his father.

“PizzaWhat, there it is!”

Archie exclaimed, smacking Evan once more forcefully across his back in what Dwight only assumed to be a way to tell him to get moving, but when the younger Alpha stood his ground and remained seated, the older Alpha’s façade briefly cracked.

“Well, isn’t that grand? Come now, Evan, we have guests to attend to.”

“Dwight is a guest.”

“Yes, and so are the cooks.”

Evan’s reply had Archie’s mask fracture itself, the fake smile plastered upon itself morphing into a detestable snarl that made Dwight pale considerably. He may ‘just be an Omega’, but he knew when he outdid his welcome.

“I-I think I have to go.”

Dwight murmured as he stood from the swing, avoiding the pointed stare of Evan’s father watching his every movement like a beast about to pounce on its prey.

“Dwight, wait—”

“Why, that’s right! Evan, you have a speech to do, remember?”

The Omega didn’t turn when the Alpha called after him, already walking away from the two men as fast as his legs allowed him to without giving the appearance that he was in any hurry. When he made sure that he was out of their line of sight, Dwight picked up the pace, his breathing stuttering as he fought back the humiliation that burnt the back of his eyes and made tears blur his vision. His brisk walk soon shifted to a light jog as he now frantically searched for his mother in the crowd of attendees.

“Mom?”

He called out like a lost child; lost in a sea of pastel colors and false appearances. What was his mother thinking, bringing them here? She should’ve known better than to do this. She should’ve…

“M-Mom?!”

Panic bubbled up and Dwight fought back against the hiccup that threatened to escape him as he pushed through the walls of murmurs and startled gasps. A light reverb resonating over the attendees revealed that a microphone had been installed by the buffet and conversations lowered themselves to simple whispering as questions arose.

“Over here, sweetie!”

Dwight’s head almost snapped at how fast it turned in the direction of his mother’s hushed voice, her usual bright smile fading into worry as he approached her, fidgeting with the cuffs of his sleeves.

“Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to this meet and greet! What a marvelous day it is for a picnic, wouldn’t you say?”

Archie’s voice carried over the crowd and Dwight could feel his lower lip wobble against his will.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? What happened?”

He heard his mother’s gentle tone, a delicate hand slowly rubbing his arm in a soothing motion. It was clear that her little Dwight was upset about something, but she couldn’t fathom what could possibly have happened in the time they were separated for him to return back to her in this predicament.

“M-M-Mom, it’s t-teatime.”

Dwight managed to babble through his sniffling, ignoring the way people near them threw nasty glares towards him for even daring to have some sort of real emotion at a social event of this caliber.

“What? Teatime? But, sweetheart, Evan is about to give his speech…”

“Mom!”

The Omega cut her off, his voice raspy and quivering from the knot that had formed in the back of his throat in his attempt to hold back the sobs that threatened to spill from him any minute, now.

“Okay, okay, it’s teatime.”

His mother breathed out calmly as she carefully grabbed his arm and guided him through the attendees.

“Excuse us. Pardon me…”

She hushed as she slipped through the pastel crowd with her son in tow.

“As everyone here are aware, today is a very special day. Today marks the sombre anniversary of my dear wife’s, Ellen, passing. One year. The longest year of my life.”

Dwight squeezed his eyes shut as he hiccupped, letting his mother walk him in the direction of where their car had been parked. Already, the microphone’s reach began to fade in the distance.

“For this day to be so bright and sunny, I like to believe that she is watching over this event. An event she would’ve prepared herself were Fate not so cruel to her. Today is not a day for grieving, however. Today is a day of celebration!”

The Omega grimaced as he heard the passenger’s door creak wide open and he was gently seated, his legs still dangling from the open side.

“Oh, sweetheart. Sweetie, look at me.”

His mother encouraged as she rummaged through the contents of her never-ending purse to retrieve a small Ziploc bag with neatly folded tissues inside. She swiftly drew one from the bag, wiping away the trails of tears that had formed upon her son’s cheeks.

“Shh, shh, it’s alright.”

She reassured as she crouched before him, rubbing his thighs as she witnessed firsthand her son’s broken heart.

“Today is a day that does not belong to me. That’s right. I am not the man of honor and I understand that you are all excited to meet him. My son, Evan, heir to the MacMillan Mines company, will be the one to take the stage, today.”

“Dwight, sweetie, deep breaths.”

He could hear his mother attempt to cheer him up, feeling more than he was seeing his mother handing him a tissue which he put to good use right away. He blew his nose, holding back a sob in the best of his ability while his mother’s fingers slowly brushed through his hair. For as long as he could remember, they always used the word ‘teatime’ to signalize to the other that there was an emergency. He had memories of texting the word more than once to his mother whenever he had been bullied back at school. Whether it was because he had been stuffed in a locker, his books thrown into the mud or openly mocked for who he was and how nauseating his scent was, this word was used. It became their code and, even if time passed, it remained firmly integrated into the Fairfield Family’s dictionary.

“Alright, let’s go home.”

His mother murmured and Dwight could hear the sadness in her tone, wrenching his heart furthermore as it dawned upon him that he had once again ruined an outing for his mother.

“I-I’m s-s-sorry. I’m sorry…”

He repeated only to receive a kiss to his forehead for his apology.

“It’s not your fault, sweetheart…”

Another peck to his forehead and Dwight begrudgingly tucked himself safely into the car, slamming the door close while his mother hurried around the front of the car in the best of her ability given that she was wearing high heels for the occasion.

“Hmph, what a bunch of dressed up boars. You’re too good for them, anyways.”

His mother lifted her nose as she always did whenever people hurt her precious bundle of joy which did manage to bring a teary smile to Dwight’s lips. She may be small, but she packed a punch whenever her son was concerned. That protective side of hers only became greater the day the results of his test returned with the Omega symbol stamped all over the document.

“Without further ado, here he is! Evan, come on up! It’s your time to shine!”

Dwight kept to himself, looking down at the tissue he toyed with in his lap while his mother started the car, giving its dashboard a little pat of praise when it did roar to life. The low rumble of the car was a familiar sound. One that Dwight had associated with safety with time. The end of a passing evil. He was in his mother’s car, now. Nothing bad could reach him here. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to soothe his nerves.

“…Evan? Evan, it’s your turn. Evan?”

The general applause of the crowd died down as they pulled away from their parking spot and turned around the corner, both mother and son more than ready to return to the comfort of their home.

Chapter Text

“I’m telling you, guys, I haven’t been embarrassed like that in a long time.”

The keys of Dwight’s keyboard sung their incessant clicking as fingers danced over its letters. There was a slight sniffle, and three voices expressed their discontentment all at once.

“What an asshole.”

“Do I have t’take a plane t’bust some rich guy’s kneecaps? Ya know I bloody would.”

“And that Evan guy didn’t do anything?”

Dwight paused momentarily in his rapid clicking to take a gulp of the cream soda that sat on his desk. Tonight felt like a night for cream soda. It was sweet and he found comfort in the vanilla taste behind its bubbly goodness. Jake, David, and Adam, respectively, were friends that he had made over the years through Jake’s own web of friends. He, himself, only had Jake, who has been his best friend for as long as he could remember. They grew up in the same neighborhood. Unfortunately, his father was a businessman through and through, travelling for the betterment of the company, and so, it meant losing Jake in the process. Although, he could thank modern times for the beauty that was the internet. They could always chat face to face or play games just like this together.

“T-There’s really no need to start an angry mob. I don’t need pitchforks; I just need to stop being so sensitive all the time.”

“Fuckin’ hell, Dwight, watch the spells!”

The Omega startled as he swayed his character’s direction on the screen, sitting his glass of cream soda back down to aid his friends in their current conquest.

“It’s not that he didn’t do anything per se. I-I don’t know what I was expecting, really. I should be glad I didn’t get kicked out in the first place. You know how things usually are.”

“Right, but it’s not like it’s your fault…”

Adam, ever the voice of reason, chimed in on the conversation.

“What did the doctor say? You had that checkup recently, didn’t you?”

Dwight sighed heavily into his headset, flicking his mouse, and clicking frantically on the left button to guide his character along the path.

“Yeah, he said I should try a new brand of suppressants, but you know how my parents are. I reacted badly to them once when I was younger and now, they can’t enter this household ever again. It’s not a demon, for god’s sake.”

His comment sprung a collective chuckle in his headphones, bringing a fond smile to his saddened traits. They always knew how to cheer him up without even trying.

“Wait, guys, hold on.”

Dwight whispered into his microphone, covering it with his hand when he heard the door to his bedroom creak open behind him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder when his mother entered the room cautiously.

“Your dad and I are heading to bed. Do you need anything?”

She inquired as Dwight instinctively bowed his head and slipped off his headset for her to plant a kiss to the top of his head like she did every single night since he was a little boy. One was never too old for goodnight kisses.

“No, mom, I’m good, thanks. Again, I’m… sorry…”

“I’m the one that should apologize. I didn’t know Archie MacMillan could be so vile. Though, what would one expect out of a businessman with power? He got to the top somehow and it’s certainly not by baking muffins.”

She held onto the flaps of her fluffy, pink robe to maintain it closed as she bent over to kiss the top of his head once more.

“Good night, Mary!”

The trio on the other end shouted through the line, making Dwight wince and flinch away from the headset that now hung loose around his neck so he could talk to his mother properly. Mary laughed softly at the distant noise that screeched through her son’s headset, leaning in so she could reply. Dwight let go of the microphone, leaning to the side to let her speak.

“Don’t stay up too late, boys! You all have work in the morning!”

Laughter echoed in his headset and his mother gently squeezed Dwight’s shoulder in an affectionate gesture.

“And what about you?”

“I don’t work tomorrow.”

“Good, you had a big day, today. It’ll give you plenty of time to rest those puffy eyes of yours.”

Mary teased as she lightly pinched his cheek, making the Omega whine and rub the sting away once freed from her loving grasp.

“Good night, sweetie.”

“Good night, mom.”

On this, his mother left the room like a mouse, barely making a sound so to not disturb the small group of friends on the other end. With a soft sigh, Dwight flipped his headphones back onto his head.

“Sorry about that.”

Dwight murmured sheepishly into his microphone but was quickly shushed down on all ends.

“I miss her brownies. They were sooo good.”

He could hear Jake complain and Dwight’s features brightened. Really, what would he be doing without them? Sure, they couldn’t see one another in ‘real life’, but it didn’t mean that their friendship was any less real to him.

“Ha, I’m getting them freshly made tomorrow.”

Dwight prodded at Jake’s ‘misery’, revelling at the long and painful groan that resulted from it on the other end.

“Dwight, come on. Be a pal. Ship them over.”

“Nope, sorry. All mine!”

Laughter ensued and from that point on, his night was relatively calm, banter thrown, and good games were played all around. Some anger from David’s side, but nothing they weren’t used to and nothing that prevented them from poking fun at him for it. Yes, it was a peaceful night like any other night. It was as if nothing ever happened. Evil would be washed away with time and he would get back on his feet stronger for it, just like he always did.

“GAH!”

Dwight nearly jumped out of his skin when something huge flew through his opened window, startling all the occupants of the call he was on.

“Jesus fuck, Dwight, what the hell?!”

David was first to intervene on his friend’s scream and with reason. It’d be a miracle if he didn’t wake his parents up with it. Thankfully, his door was closed.

“Oh my god, ohmygod, ohmygod…”

Dwight mumbled over and over as the black mass that flew into his room cawed loudly, latching its claws around the wooden beam of his bed’s headboard.

“Dwight? Dwight, what is it?”

Adam inquired second; clear worry shown in the tone of his voice.

“Holy crap, there’s a crow in my room.”

“What?! Pictures! I need pictures, now!”

Jake rejoiced on the other end and Dwight found himself quivering at the amazing sight that unfolded before him. Wings fluttered, the crow hopping around to adjust its grasp to then bury its beak in its feathers to preen itself.

“It’s the middle o’the night where he is, genius.”

David deadpanned and Dwight shakily excused himself, slowly taking off his headset to hook it onto his desk chair’s arm before even considering getting up from his seat. The last thing he wanted was to frighten the crow and cause a panic. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as Dwight gulped and carefully slipped closer towards the bird, one step at a time.

“E-Easy, now. E-Easy…”

The Omega breathed out as the crow spread its wings, raising them high before hopping further along the headboard of his bed and away from him. As it did, however, something caught Dwight’s attention. Something that usually didn’t belong on a crow’s leg. It was a small piece of paper, rolled up neatly and tied around its leg with a bit of thread. No. No way, it couldn’t be. A message? It couldn’t possibly be for him, right?

Dwight lowered himself to the floor, crouching as he analyzed his angle of attack. How on earth was he supposed to catch a crow?! His hands hesitantly reached out, practically vibrating with nervousness as he reached for the message. The Omega startled when the crow cawed, but somehow succeeded to untie the thread and recuperate the piece of paper that tumbled down onto his pillow. Dwight eyed the crow cautiously, fingers prying away the message and into the safety of his own hands. Keeping an eye out for the bird, he meticulously unrolled the piece of paper, squinting into the darkness of his room to try and read what was written on it. When he couldn’t, he straightened up and went to stand by his window, holding the message up to the moonlight.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Dwight blinked in sheer confusion at the familiarity of the riddle, his gaze landing upon a form in the night. Of course, he had to do a double take, not believing what he was seeing with his own two eyes. Right there, on his parents’ front yard stood Evan MacMillan, hands buried deep in his pockets, one of which sheepishly rose to wave at him. He had to be imagining things. The MacMillan’s manor was at the end of their street, yes, but never in a million years would he have thought that Evan bloody MacMillan would get all the way here to throw a crow up to deliver a message to the second floor of his parents’ house. Certainly not after what happened earlier today.

And now, he had a much bigger issue than his feelings being hurt. He had a crow in his bedroom!

“O-Okay, okay… Calm down, Fairfield.”

Dwight encouraged himself as he discarded the piece of paper onto his desk to bend over and pick up one of the sweaters that carpeted this area of his room. With a deep breath, he dared to approach the crow and in a swift movement, wrapped it up in his sweater.

“Ah ha! Got you!”

He exclaimed, the crow cawing in distress, but there was no cause for alarm for Dwight’s grasp on the bird was firm enough so that it didn’t fly away in his parents’ house, but not nearly enough to harm it in any way.

“Okay, okay, okay…”

Dwight repeated under his breath like a mantra as feet pitter pattered down the hall and down the stairs, looking briefly over his shoulder to ensure that his parents didn’t wake in his frantic encounter of the Corvus kind. For all that was good in this world, he was going to hand over a crow to Evan MacMillan in pajamas! Pajamas with tiny bears on them! In the middle of the night! The absurdity of it all made Dwight ponder if he was actually making all of this up in his mind.

“Hold still!”

He hushed at the squirming crow that he now had to tuck under his arm so he could open the front door and hurry outside. Evan beamed brightly at the Omega that stormed out of his house to deliver his messenger back to him.

“Really? A crow?!”

Dwight whispered incredulously at the Alpha who welcomed the bundled-up crow into his arms.

“I have a cellphone, you know?”

The Omega pointed out, flattening the wrinkles of his pajama top now that the bird was out of his control.

“Yes, but it grabbed your attention, didn’t it?”

“Of course, it did! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

Dwight pressed the palm of hand in the middle of his chest, sighing shakily to compose himself. That was it. This man was going to make his acid reflux act up again. Evan merely smiled warmly at him, obviously proud of the little stunt he just pulled on him.

“What is this about? Don’t make me call the police on you, because I can, and I will.”

The Omega warned as he held out his finger at the Alpha who merely pressed a small peck to the top of the crow’s head before turning his back to Dwight and crouching in front what appeared to be a travelling cage for the bird. Wait, it wasn’t some sort of wild thing he just scooped up on the side of the road? That was his pet?! It did make more sense, but who on earth had a crow as their pet?!

“I… wanted to apologize for what happened, earlier.”

Evan carefully locked the cage and balled up the sweater in his hands to return it to its skeptical, but rightful owner.

“It wasn’t something I could do on the phone. I wanted to do this properly. In person.”

Dwight slowly grabbed the sweater from the Alpha’s grasp, his gaze unwavering from the man in front of him.

“Well, you’re here, now.”

The Omega murmured with a hint of hesitation in his voice. While Evan himself didn’t wrong him, his father did, and what told him that this wasn’t some elaborate prank? That the apple didn’t fall far from the tree?

“Right…”

Evan cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together as if he were collecting his thoughts. What could be so important that even the heir to a huge company was nervous about? He was just some Omega that lived in his parents’ house, earning below minimum wage because he was only a part-timer at PizzaWhat as a delivery boy. It wasn’t as if he could do much against his many, many millions and his golden reputation.

“Would you, uhm… like us to meet… some… time?”

The Alpha asked shyly, a great contrast from the dazzling, confidant man he had witnessed this afternoon.

“I don’t get it.”

Dwight answered bluntly, feeling like he was the dumbest Omega alive for not understanding something so simple. Weren’t they talking right now? Maybe he should be calling the cops, after all…

“I’m asking if you’d like to… go… out with me. Sometime.”

The Alpha puffed his chest to give himself the appearance that he had everything under control when it was clear to Dwight that he didn’t. Poor thing was almost trembling in his boots and only then did Dwight exhaled the tension from his body.

“If it’s for what happened at the picnic, it’s okay. Really, it is.”

Dwight pardoned him aloud to reassure the other who frowned as this didn’t seem to be the answer he was seeking for.

“No! No, it’s… I do deeply regret what happened, really, sincerely, I do, but this is unrelated to everything. I… I want to learn more about you, Dwight. I truly enjoyed our time together before my dad ruined everything, I… Please. Let me make it up to you. Far from the fanfares and the buffets and the cupcakes and…”

“…And the cooks?”

The Omega cut off the Alpha in his enumeration, a hint of bitterness lingering from the way Archie MacMillan treated him earlier that day, something Evan was quick to pick up on.

“And the cooks.”

The Alpha reassured firmly, putting emphasis on his words without his gaze ever wavering from Dwight’s eyes who scanned his features for any form of insincerity that could hide there.

“It would only be you and me. Hopefully on a date.”

It was as if all the air that were in Dwight’s lungs had been punched right out of him. A date? For the first time in his life, someone hoped to have a date with him. Him.

“What is going on out here?”

A voice rung from the opened front door and Dwight silently cursed himself for waking up his father so late at night.

“A-Ah, you must be Mister Fairfield...”

Evan attempted, squinting when the man disappeared momentarily only to reappear with an aluminum baseball bat a minute after and the Alpha paled at the sight.

“And you must be that haughty bastard that broke my son’s heart. Y’got balls to point your face on my front yard at two in the morning!”

The older Alpha threatened as he stormed out of the house, waving the bat in front of Evan’s face to weight his words, and put some distance between him and his son.

“D-Dad, stop! It’s fine! He came to apologize!”

“Like Hell, he did. People like him don’t give a damn about people like us.”

His father growled in Evan’s direction, his bat now lowered to his side, but still tense enough to make the young MacMillan believe that he could strike at any moment if the man’s son allowed him to.

“Actually, Mister Fairfield, I’m glad that you’re here. I wanted to ask you a small question.”

There was a long moment of silence and Dwight wondered just how long stopping breathing was considered too long, because he was simply incapable to do so at the present.

“Hmm… You have five seconds.”

His father grumbled, the Omega’s eyes going back and forth anxiously between the two Alphas.

“Very well. I know how this might sound, but… Please, I would greatly appreciate if you would grant me your blessing to court your son.”

Another silence crept in, the father huffing his irritation through his nostrils and making Dwight wonder if he really had the intention of using his bat now that the cat was out of the bag.

“…I’ll consider it. Now, get off my property before I call the cops on your ass.”

Evan pinched his lips tightly together to prevent himself from smiling at how he had now been threatened twice by two different Fairfields to have the police called on him.

“Right away. I’m sorry to have disturbed you. Have a good night.”

The young Alpha bowed his head in respect for the older man, picking up the crow’s cage as he stepped off the grass and onto the sidewalk. With a small wave, which Dwight returned sheepishly, Evan took his leave, mindful of the bird in his care.

“I like him.”

Dwight heard his father mumble beside him, snorting as he tried to contain his amusement.

“You can cross “Threatening my son’s first suitor with a baseball bat” off your bucket list, now.”

The Omega teased only to earn himself a light smack to the back of the head. His father chuckled nonetheless, resting the bat casually onto his shoulder while his arms wrapped warmly around his son’s shoulders as he guided them back inside.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been dying to do that.”

Chapter Text

“You’re a persistent one, aren’t you? I said I’d consider it.”

Of all the things he had planned to do today, chasing away his son’s only suitor was not a part of his list. Yet, as the young Alpha stood before him with that annoying twinkle in his eye, hair slicked back and dressed as if he was about to take his son to the goddamn prom, he figured that he just might have to make a spot on his list for it.

“Oh, leave him be, John. I’m the one that invited him over.”

A cushioned thump to the back of his head had John reluctantly let go of the firm grip he had on the doorknob so he could step aside and allow the young Alpha in. Another Alpha. On his territory. He never would’ve thought he’d see the day. Mary tipped her head back to greet their guest with a brilliant smile on her lips. She had her oven mitts tucked under her arm so she could shake hands with the Alpha that entered her home.

“Why, what a spiffing young man. Wouldn’t you say, John?”

The older Alpha grumbled as he made his way back to the kitchen where he had to extract himself from his seat previously to answer the door. Evan shared a look with Mary who waved off her mate with a brushing motion of her oven mitts.

“Oh, don’t mind him. He didn’t sleep much, last night. Something about a Casanova serenating at our son’s window, hm?”

Mary cocked a knowledgeable brow at Evan who brought a fist to his mouth to clear his throat and hopefully hide the warmth that crawled up his cheeks.

“Well, don’t worry, that’s not what I called you here for. By the by, thank you so very much for accepting my invitation. I’m aware that it was at the last minute… and that you surely have a very busy schedule.”

Evan shook his head, brushing off the undeserved praise with a curt sway of his hand.

“No need. It’s my pleasure to be here. I was surprised to receive a call, however—”

“Yeah, how did you get that guy’s phone number? That circle of yours again?”

The mother spared a concealed glare at her mate.

“A lady never reveals her secrets, John. But no, it wasn’t my friends, if you have to know.”

Mary giggled away the awkwardness that she believed had sneaked its way into their conversation, something she was quick to rectify by gesturing to the kitchen table her husband was seated at.

“Why don’t you have a seat, Evan? Would you like anything to drink? How about a snack?”

She proposed as Evan pulled himself a chair, its wooden legs screeching against the ceramic flooring before he seated himself.

“It does smell heavenly in here.”

Evan complimented as he fished out his cellphone from his trousers’ pocket to sit it face down at the corner of the table out of respect for his hosts.

“Why, thank you! You’re in luck. Dwight requested some brownies yesterday and I decided to make some to cheer him up. Although, that last part appears to be rather pointless now, doesn’t it? I’m so glad everything was clarified. In any case, would you like some?”

The Beta wandered about the kitchen, opening cabinets left and right as she gathered a small dessert plate, a spoon, and a knife to cut through the fresh batch of brownies.

“I’d love some, thank you.”

Evan offered a polite smile as the brownie square was placed before him, the spoon ringing as it clattered softly against the plate.

“Careful, now, it’s hot.”

Mary warned as she, herself, seated across from him so they could face one another. A comfortable, yet imposing silence installed itself, merely the ticking hand of the clock hung on the kitchen wall piercing through. It was pleasant, but as the Beta laced her fingers atop of the table, Evan acknowledged that there must be something more to the invitation than a nice, freshly baked square of brownie and a heartwarming smile. Something weighed on her mind, but Evan was polite enough to wait for her to bring it forward.

“Evan, dear, would you be so kind as to tell me what your intentions toward my son are?”

The inquiry had the older Alpha peek over his electronic tablet and directly at Evan who paused his spoonful of brownie midway to half-heartedly lower it back to his plate. He should’ve seen it coming. This kind of setting would make any potential suitor run for the hills, but Evan was used to stressful situations and, most importantly, he had nothing to hide.

“Courting. As I have mentioned to the Alpha of this house before, it would be my honor to have both of your blessings to court your son.”

There was a gentle inhale as Mary straightened up in her chair, flattening her hands upon the tabletop as she shared a brief look with her mate.

“W-Well, that is—”

“And what if we don’t?”

John’s words cut through the polite exchange bluntly, but Evan appeared unfazed by the interruption.

“With all due respect, sir, while it would be a relief to obtain your blessing, Dwight’s opinion on the matter is the only one of importance to me.”

The older Alpha scoffed, crossing his arms upon his chest as he leaned back into his seat to judge the young man’s words.

“Then what are you wasting your time for? We’re not the ones you’re trying to convince, now, are we?”

“Oh, John, stop it. You didn’t give a rat’s rounded bottom about what my parents wanted for me. You just took me on a date and ran.”

Evan’s eyes flicked subtly between the couple, opting to remain out of this peculiar part of the conversation as there appeared to be some form of underlying situation, one he should probably not be aware of.

“…What’s going on?”

The quiet voice that came from the top of the stairs had Evan stand as fast as the first melodious syllable sung past his ear. A small, barely noticeable ‘oh my’ reached his other ear, but he ignored it altogether. The Beta was surprised by the courtesy he was showing, but it wasn’t Evan’s intention to impress as it was to rather offer Dwight the biggest, most dazzling smile he could offer to the Omega. He would be lying if he said that he didn’t have the slightest flutter in his stomach at the mere sight of him. Even if he looked pale and exhausted, even if he was in his pajamas still at 1:45PM, even if he now stared at him like he had grown three heads, it didn’t matter. Evan was mesmerized by him.

“I… was invited by your mother.”

The Omega’s lips pursed with mild confusion, but slowly, one step at a time, he descended the stairs to join them and unknowingly interrupt the investigation his parents were putting Evan through.

“She makes wonderful brownies. They’re absolutely delicious.”

As Dwight finally stepped down from the last stair, he paused and gestured over to the woman in question.

“She’s right there. Help yourself out.”

There was a snort behind Evan which he could only assume came from John who was amused by his son’s sassiness, but it didn’t deter Evan who turned to Mary and faintly bowed his head to her to repeat his thanks.

“They’re absolutely delicious.”

“Why, thank you.”

The Beta remained polite, but there was a hint of laughter in her voice at the silliness of the scene.

“Mom, w-what is he doing here?”

The Omega pressed on and Evan’s smile faltered at how strained it sounded even to the ears of someone like him who didn’t know much about the household and whoever lived within its walls. That was something he aimed to change, hopefully.

“Well, I figured that it would be nice to have a little chitchat with Evan! No~?”

Mary explained cheerfully, but her enthusiasm wasn’t met by her son who spared an apologetic, tight smile at their guest.

“M-Mom, that’s--”

“Shush, Dwight. Come have a seat, will you?”

Dwight fiddled with the hem of his shirt, avoiding Evan’s seeking glances thrown in his direction. Embarrassment lingered in the air, weighing heavily on Evan’s conscience. It was one thing to be on his front yard, but another to intrude in Dwight’s safe space without his knowledge. Actually, he had been sort of counting on the fact that Dwight was made aware about his visit, but apparently, he hasn’t been privy to this information which now resulted in a sterile form of awkwardness that Evan didn’t wish for. Was this how Dwight felt like meeting his father? This poignant sensation that he did not belong? Evan inhaled deeply through his nostrils, slicking back his hair in barely contained nerves now that he realized how delicate the situation has become in a matter of seconds.

“How ‘bout somethin’ to eat, huh?”

“Thanks, dad.”

John unexpectedly came to the rescue as he pushed himself away from the table, maintaining Evan at the corner of his eye. It was now his turn to wander the kitchen, grabbing some eggs and bacon from the fridge. Rather simple, but with the faintest smile that Dwight gave, Evan figured he appreciated the gesture.

“Are you alright? I… I didn’t know that you--”

Evan couldn’t help but pry as worry began to settle in but kept his voice to a minimum so to not further raise John’s suspicions.

“I-It’s not your fault.”

The Omega reassured him, taking every single bit of restraint within Evan’s body to prevent himself from comforting him. He looked like he had just woken up, yet still wanted to do nothing more than return to the den he had emerged from. He was so vulnerable, almost as if he were regretting something, but what that thing was left Evan puzzled.

“Evan, may I have a word?”

Mary’s sweet and light chirp reluctantly peeled Evan away from Dwight. With a screech of her chair, she stepped away from the table and passed the stairs to stand by what appeared to be a small, guest bathroom. Evan followed her without any form of hesitation, but he had to admit that he was a tad bit nervous about being pulled to the side so abruptly.

“Is he alright?”

Evan inquired once more in a murmur, which Mary brushed off with a faint smile.

“Oh, he just woke up, he’s fine.”

This wasn’t what he meant, but the Beta appeared completely oblivious to the slippery slope she had put him onto by being so careless of her son’s emotions.

“Should I leave? I… I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”

Evan whispered, but a delicate hand on his arm put his doubts at ease.

“No, no, dear, you can stay as long as you’d like. I’m sure you want to spend some time with my son.”

The Alpha slowly nodded along with her words, feeling small despite the Beta’s reassurance. The last thing he’d want is to impose himself, especially if Dwight was inconvenienced at the moment. He could always come back. He could always –

“Turn that frown upside-down, will you? I didn’t bring you all the way here to smack you with a ruler. I wanted to tell you that you… have my blessing.”

Mary informed as she gently cradled his larger hands in hers.

“You seem like a fine gentleman to me. John might make this a bit difficult on you, but with what happened at the picnic, you do understand why he might be a bit distant, don’t you?”

Evan’s traits saddened as the events of the picnic were brought up once more. He truly felt horrible about what happened, but the fact that this appeared to have stung Dwight more badly than he first believed made him feel worse.

“Dwight is our only son. Who is an Omega… in a world where most men like you spit on the likes of him. I think it’s normal for his father to be a bit protective, wouldn’t you agree?”

On this, she squeezed his hands and Evan nodded once more. There were no false pretenses here, she wanted to get her point across with a kind firmness that he hadn’t seen on her until now. It was certainly, again, a slippery slope. Not one that he, himself, caused, but had to deal with, nonetheless. With someone as influential as his father, he was often left behind to pick up the pieces. This was no different. Except, this time, he wouldn’t be doing it for his father’s own selfish needs. He’d do it because it was what felt right to him.

“Thank you.”

Evan breathed out as some weight of his guilt was relieved from his shoulders. If there was one thing he understood, it was that first impressions were everything. His father ruined that for him. Dwight’s mother’s gentle, yet forceful approach on the situation didn’t help either, but she did what she believed was right considering the overall predicament he had been shoved into. At least, he could commend that.

“You’re not your father, dear. I’m not holding what happened at the picnic against you.”

Mary announced as if she had read his mind, giving his hands a slight pat. Did he appear so troubled to her? He relied on himself to be rather excellent at keeping his emotions in check, but she put her finger directly onto his open wound as if he never had all that armor on to begin with.

“He’s fragile. He’s had a lot of wrong done to him before. I can only ask you to not do the same. If you are only here to comfort yourself about what happened, then you are free to leave--”

“N-No! No, never. I would never do that.”

Evan’s voice rose higher than he intended it to be, two different pairs of eyes now watching them all the way from the kitchen. Mary’s eyes widened by the sudden outburst, but her traits soon softened, giving the young man’s hands another light pat to soothe him.

“Then, you are welcome to stay.”

She reinforced her previous statement which had Evan release a quivering breath he wasn’t even aware he had been holding until now.

“Dwight… told me that you were quite the artist.”

Mary swiftly changed the subject, something Evan was more than grateful for. His cheeks burnt as his art was brought to the table, however. He preferred to remain discreet on the matter, especially since his father so strongly opposed to it, but within these walls, he felt… safe.

“May I?”

She requested and while Evan could’ve easily lied and told her that he didn’t have his notebook on him, he instead hurried to search in his pockets to retrieve the small notebook in question. He flipped through the pages until he stumbled upon the sketch he simply couldn’t put down. One he had grown very familiar with in the past twenty-four hours.

“U-Uhm… It’s only a sketch.”

Evan was quick to inform as he hesitantly handed the notebook over to the Beta. A soft gasp left the mother, fingers splayed upon her chest as she took in the details of the sketch. There was no denying it. It was most certainly her son that was so beautifully portrayed on that page.

“Oh, darling, what are you saying? It’s lovely.”

“I’m not happy with it.”

He replied with disappointment in his tone, which took the mother aback.

“What? How so?”

“It’s not as beautiful as he is. I don’t like it.”

Evan found himself explaining, tugging at the Beta’s heartstrings at how defeated the Alpha looked. Her brows knitted upwards, sympathetic to the burden he had imposed on himself.

“He really captivated you, hasn’t he?”

The Alpha’s throat clenched unpleasantly, unable to find the words to deny a claim that was nothing but the truth.

“I-It’s only been one day. I don’t understand, it never happened to me before. I-I don’t want to look like a creep. I don’t—”

The Beta shushed him, rubbing the young man’s arm when he began to ramble.

“Deep breaths, dear. You’re alright.”

Evan did as he was told, inhaling deeply, holding in his breath before releasing it into a trembling sigh to calm his nerves.

“… What if he doesn’t like me?”

“That’s not what I heard yesterday.”

The Alpha composed himself as hope tugged the corners of his lips upwards into a sheepish smile.

“…Really?”

“Have you shown this to him?”

Mary handed the notebook back to him, the Alpha shaking his head in the negative.

“Well, I think you should. He’d love it.”

Gently, she cupped the back of his arm, turning him towards the kitchen to nudge him forward like a mother encouraging her baby bird to take flight.

“Go on, now.”

She shooed off, deeming that she had done enough for the moment and entering the small bathroom to leave Evan to the panic that now reared its ugly head since his only anchor was gone.

“Alright…”

Evan breathed out, gathering the courage he usually projected to the media whenever microphones and cameras were shoved in his face. It was nowhere near the same thing. This was way more terrifying.

“Dwight?”

He inquired with a shyness he didn’t expect to have. From the mere steps it took to cross the small hallway back to the kitchen, he had deflated without any form of warning whatsoever. The Omega now had a mouthful of egg, cheeks stuffed with food, which gave off the cutest, most innocent aura he ever had the pleasure to witness. In a lifestyle of riches and deceit, seeing such sincerity in the simplest things brought a smile back to his lips and song back to his heart.

“I, uhm, wanted to show you something.”

Dwight’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline as the notebook hovered between them, awaiting to be passed. He swallowed, wiping his hands clean on a paper towel before taking the offered book. This time, he didn’t have to peruse through the pages as Evan already had it opened in the right spot. The reaction, albeit unexpected, was instantaneous. Tears welled up in Dwight’s eyes, lips quivering and while that alone was enough to make Evan second guess himself, it was the silence that was unbearable.

“I… I did say I don’t usually draw people. I’m sorry, I know it doesn’t look great—”

“I-It’s… It’s me.”

Evan was dumbfounded by the interruption, lips parted but no words dared to escape him. The sheer excitement sparking Dwight’s tired features to life was all that he needed and as the Omega scooted his chair closer to his father to point at the page, all tension that had previously nested within him flittered away when it was now John’s turn to be impressed.

“Huh.”

The older Alpha exhaled without much of another thought being voiced other than incredibility. Raw, gnawed on nails were brought to his neck, scratching the scruff that most likely needed to be tended to and rid himself of an itch that didn’t exist as he contemplated the drawing. Evan now knew where Dwight got the habit of biting his nails if the similarity between both men’s fingers’ state was of any confirmation.

“John, honey…”

A forced, hushed voice behind Evan had the young Alpha nearly jump out of his skin if it weren’t for the fact that he had to bring forth the impression that he had everything under control.

“Oh, right.”

John grumbled as he dropped the notebook unceremoniously onto the table, leaving his seat to follow his wife who ushered him upstairs.

“We’ll give you some privacy, hm? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, now.”

“Mom!”

Dwight’s appalled squeak had Mary hold back a giggle which she replaced with a blown kiss to her son.

“Lovely to meet you, Evan!”

“Uhm, likewise, Ma’am.”

Evan straightened up his vest, swallowing thickly as he stared blankly at the master bedroom’s door closing behind the couple. He could’ve sworn that he was hearing a flatline somewhere in the back of his mind, because it surely felt like his brain just died from the fact that he now had to fill in the silence with his own poor attempt at getting closer with an Omega he had the firm intention to court.

“I’m sorry about my mom.”

The Alpha’s head whipped around when it was Dwight’s seemingly bored voice that shattered his expectations. No, it wasn’t boredom. It was something else.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I-I’m… not much of a spectacle.”

Dwight chuckled awkwardly, something that Evan could see right through him given the fact that he did little to hide it from him in the first place. That’s what it was. It wasn’t boredom; it was apprehension.

“What if I don’t want to leave?”

Evan stated more dryly than he intended to, shoving his own nerves to the side to act like he could, at least, keep face in front of the self-conscious Omega.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, then--”

“Well, you’re right on one thing.”

The older man interrupted with a rush of a nasal exhale in a hint of annoyance; not because of Dwight’s self-deprecating attitude, but rather because he wondered just who in the world stuffed all of those doubts in his mind to make him so… frightened. Bright, doe eyes stared wide at him behind the thick lenses of his glasses, as if awaiting something utterly horrible and Evan would be lying if he said it didn’t sting.

“I planned to leave…”

Dwight held his breath.

“… and go out on a walk with you. It’s a beautiful day outside and I was… uhm… kind of hoping that your mother would have told you about it.”

And Dwight released it, his tongue peeking briefly to wet his lips before looking down at himself, picking at his pajamas. There it was. This tension. This dread. Something inexplicable to Evan who couldn’t possibly understand what he said wrong.

“I’m not exactly dressed for a walk.”

“I can wait—”

“It’s not, ah…”

Dwight grimaced in a way that told Evan everything that he needed to know. It’s not that he couldn’t, it was simply that, well, he didn’t want to. As much as the rejection shattered his heart into millions of pieces, there must be a reason behind it, right?

“Is it me?”

Evan inquired without much of a moment to filter it through his brain nor think about the repercussions. He didn’t have the right to ask. He couldn’t pry, they were barely acquaintances, but then again, he rarely had the experience of someone saying no to him other than from his father.

“W-What? No! I… Can’t you smell me?”

Dwight inquired in a form of bewilderment that had Evan taken aback.

“I like it—”

“Well, I happen to like not being called a whore just for walking on the sidewalk.”

The Omega was stern, anchored deep in the choice he had made. It left Evan blinking at the sudden change of behavior and made everything click in his head. Dwight was hyper aware of his scent and its impact on his surroundings. This world was already harsh enough on Omegas, he couldn’t imagine what it was like for a male Omega with Dwight’s “predicament”. He did have a slight idea with his father, but he didn’t believe, refused to believe, that it was so bad. Dwight’s scent was potent, yes, and beautifully so, if he might add, but what would he know of scents? And it wasn’t as if it was any of his business, anyways.

“S-Sorry, that… I didn’t mean—”

Evan put a stop to the Omega’s babbling by raising a hand in a silent gesture that he understood and that he didn’t have to excuse himself.

“No, you’re right, it was insensitive of me. I didn’t take your feelings into consideration and that’s on me.”

The Alpha expressed with a tight smile, uneasiness yanking them further apart and making him realize even more how little he truly comprehended Dwight. His mind drew a blank. His plans vanishing into the nothingness due to the Omega’s strong reaction, he came up with something that was rather unusual for him. He compromised.

Evan wandered about from the kitchen area to the living room, keeping Dwight in the corner of his eye while he rapidly scanned over the furniture surrounding the television. He didn’t want to appear like he was sniffing around someone else’s house, but this was important.

“W-What are you doing?”

Dwight inquired shyly, a great contrast between the “him” of a mere minute ago. Evan held up a finger as he rummaged through drawers only to beam when he found what he had been looking for. Squeezing his fingers through the tightly compacted arrangement of dvd casings, he fished one out that had Dwight’s features soften and the Omega pick at his fingernails sheepishly. The animated version of Alice in Wonderland.

“How about a movie instead?”

Chapter Text

The DVD had been inserted, a brownie had been regathered and long finished, the empty plate sitting on the coffee table along with Evan’s cellphone and a comfortable silence had installed itself as the movie played before them. Dwight had tucked himself as far away from the Alpha as he possibly could, cradled in the nook of the three-seat couch and sparing side glances towards Evan as if he would be jumped on at any second.

Evan kept to himself, however, legs crossed as he leaned against the arm of the couch to mirror the distance Dwight was putting between them. If this was more comfortable for him this way, then, he’d do whatever it took. Was this how he pictured this to go? No, it wasn’t. He had wanted to take a nice stroll in the park, maybe with this sweet Omega at his arm while they enjoyed a bit of nature and maybe sketch some birds here and there. They could’ve eaten a bite or two and plan a next date. Well, they got the “bite” part, he supposed. He had a brownie and Dwight had his breakfast.

Was this what he envisioned? No, not at all. His vision was romanticized with a sparkling pink filter, but this was reality; the Omega he wanted to court was afraid. Afraid of what? He wasn’t too sure. He wasn’t afraid of going outside because he was at the picnic. Something pointed him in the direction that maybe he was afraid of people or, perhaps, the perception that others had of him.

He knew that all too well.

Not in the same way, of course, but with the fame that came with the family business, he felt it through camera lenses and the death threats scribbled on the estate’s front gates. Evan always had to pick up his father’s messes, and so, his image almost mattered more than his father’s, at this point. People looked up to him, hoping that he would be the perfect heir, the perfect son, the perfect Alpha. It was beyond stressful. Dwight and he were on polar opposites, the Omega being terrified of people looking down on him while the Alpha was afraid of so many people looking up to him, but Evan understood, or tried to, in his own way.

“Hey…”

Evan murmured softly about halfway through the movie, earning himself a rise of Dwight’s head from where it once rested in the cup of his hand.

“Are we… alright?”

So much weighed on those three simple words, but all it earned him was a soft exhale through Dwight’s nostrils.

“We are. Don’t worry about it.”

Well, now he definitely worried about it. He wasn’t good with any of this. He was good with words when it came to reassure an angry mob, but this? It felt like everything he did was wrong. He should’ve left, he should’ve thought this through, he should’ve denied Mary’s invitation, he should’ve—

“Evan.”

The Alpha straightened up at his own name, giving the Omega his whole attention.

“Stop it. Whatever you’re thinking. Stop that.”

Evan’s lips parted, but not a single word was said for fear that he would dig himself furthermore into his own grave.

“I-I know what you’re doing. I, uhm, I do the same thing. Don’t beat yourself up for something that isn’t your fault.”

Dwight wet his lips as he dared to scoot closer to the Alpha, a cold, clammy hand resting atop of his. He was somewhat glad to see that he wasn’t the only one feeling like he was walking on eggshells here, at least. This was horrible, however. How did something that had the best of intentions end up in this awkward mess?

“I mean it, okay? We’re alright. I-I was just, uhm… I wasn’t expecting a surprise visit, that’s all.”

Evan simply nodded. He could’ve pointed out that he had expected Mary to relay the information to him, but what good would that do? It was best to sit that one out. He had done enough for one day. Plus, he liked to believe that he made his point across. He had the firm intention of courting Dwight, and now, the ball was in his court. From there on out, he would allow the Omega the chance to have his own input on the matter. Again, he didn’t want to be that forceful Alpha that wanted everything to go his way. Dwight had a say in this.

“… Can I pick what we’re going to do, next time?”

The Alpha’s eyes widened, turning his head towards Dwight only to realize how close they were to each other now that the Omega was on the seat next to his rather than on the opposite side of the couch. He would be lying if he said his heart didn’t flutter right here and then. There was a hint of a blush across Dwight’s cheeks and that alone faded any ounce of doubt that lingered on his mind. They had to move forward from everything, and they couldn’t do that if he was stuck on the one hurdle he encountered along the way.

To merely know that there would be a next time was a beautiful thing that tied his stomach in knots. A good form of stress that took its place as excitement and butterflies.

“Of course…”

Evan breathed out, his traits softening as the tension finally melted away. The awkwardness was finally gone, and Evan couldn’t be happier for it.

“I-I have to think about it, though.”

The Alpha cocked a brow, curiosity settling in; something that had the Omega’s blush darken furthermore.

“W-Well, uhm, I’ve never really… planned a date, before.”

Evan’s heart melted a little more for this one, sweet, sweet Omega. He was so adorable. Every Alpha Dwight met in his life must’ve been complete idiots to pass by someone like this, and yet, he was kind of glad that they were idiots, because it meant that they were here, right in this very instant.

“Alright. I think I can do that. I can wait a little.”

He flashed the Omega his award-winning smile and Dwight bumped his shoulder against his out of playfulness. There it was. This was the spark he had been searching for.

“I-Is next week alright with you?”

“Sure! Let me check.”

Evan slipped away from Dwight’s warmth for a brief second to lean over and pick up his cellphone to look through his schedule. It was jampacked with meetings and presentations and this and that and Evan’s heart dropped. Still, it wouldn’t deter him.

“I have a free spot.”

He pinched his lips as he erased an important meeting with his father from his schedule and pushed back the deadline of reports that were already late to be delivered. They could wait another 24 hours. They have been sitting on his desk for that long, after all, what was another day to that pile of papers?

“Friday? How does that sound?”

Evan proposed to which Dwight beamed brightly at him in return.

“That’s perfect! I have the day off that day.”

“It’s a date, then.”

The Alpha plopped back against the comfortable, plush cushion of the couch, rising his arm, and dropping it on the back of the seat. Throwing a silent question at Dwight, it didn’t take long for the Omega to snuggle up to him, rubbing his cheek against the Alpha’s shoulder. Evan bit back a wince, realizing that Dwight’s scent would be all over him and that he would have to explain it to his father, but right now, he didn’t care. It was only them and it was all that mattered.

As the movie came to its conclusion, Evan smiled softly to himself, his mind wandering back to Dwight no matter how much he tried not to. He couldn’t help but let his artistic vision run wild, craving now more than ever to sketch. Although, when a gentle inhale made itself known, he didn’t dare move from his spot. How long had he been asleep?

Evan hesitantly slid his arm from the back of the couch to curl it around Dwight’s shoulders… protectively. That word alone was a little frightening, he would admit. They haven’t known each other that long, and yet, he wanted nothing more than to protect him. Even more so when he appeared to be so at peace in his arms. There was a little bit of drool on his shirt, but that’s how one could tell that he was truly fine with his presence. At least, that’s what he liked to think, but at the same time, this was a tad worrisome. Did he not just wake up? He did look awfully pale now that he allowed himself to inspect him closely. Glasses askew from his nap, he noticed the darkness beneath his eyes and the slight shiver that coursed through him now and then.

Carefully, his free hand rose so that he could press the inside of his wrist against his forehead. It wasn’t much of an indicator, really, but he didn’t feel warm. His scent was powerful, but something felt off about it. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, though. A frown knitted his brows as he remembered the picnic, again, but not for the same reason, this time.

“You weren’t feeling well at the picnic either.”

He breathed out to himself, straightening up; swallowing thickly as long lashes fluttered followed by a light groan as the Omega sat up in his seat.

“Hng… What happened?”

Dwight murmured groggily, grimacing as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and adjusted his glasses.

“You were off to Wonderland.”

Evan replied sweetly only for the Omega’s ears, earning himself a faint tint of pink upon the other’s cheeks.

“God, I drooled all over you, I’m so sorry.”

The Alpha simply brushed off at the wet spot to signalize that it wasn’t that big of a deal, really. As he did so, his gaze unfortunately came across the time on his watch and his traits fell all at once. Back to reality.

“Listen, I… have to go. I’ll be late for something important if I don’t and, ah…”

His words trailed off at the disappointed look on Dwight’s features, his heart dropping at the sight.

“Hold on. Here.”

Evan pulled out a small pen from his pocket, ripping out a piece of paper from the pages of his travelling sketchbook to write down his phone number. He fanned the paper in his grasp to dry the ink before handing it over to the Omega who sheepishly took the small offering.

“It’s my personal number. Not my office. Not my home. Personal. If you need anything, if you just want to talk about your day, if you need to vent… Call me.”

Dwight’s lips parted as if to shed doubt on the gesture, but Evan didn’t allow him.

“I mean it, Dwight. I might not always be able to answer right away because I could be working, but even if you can’t reach me, I’ll call you back whenever I can, okay?”

The Omega nodded along, knowing fairly well that there was no debating on this, not that he truly wanted to, either. He didn’t know how much he could trust Evan yet, but it was reassuring, somehow, to be aware that he was willing to make time for him. With a heavy sigh through his nostrils, Evan leaned forward, taking the opportunity to press a kiss to the crown of Dwight’s head when he lowered it to study the phone number. The reaction was instant, wide eyes and a hand flying to the top of his head as the blush darkened and crept all the way up to the tip of his ears.

Evan chuckled lowly as he half-heartedly stood from his spot to gather his things, heading for the front door. With a quick glance in the mirror by the entrance, he patted away wrinkles on his clothes and looked back at the couch when Dwight rose from it to accompany him out.

“I’m really sorry I fell asleep. I didn’t mean to.”

Dwight tried once more as they stepped outside, Evan turning back to beam at him.

“I’m flattered that you did.”

The Alpha’s words made the Omega smile back. It was still a little hesitant, but this was a win in Evan’s book.

“Plus, it’ll only make me look forward to Friday even more.”

He added, slowly stepping backwards and away from the Omega’s front door. As much as it pained him to leave and cut it short, he had no choice in the matter.

“Please, give my thanks to Mary for her hospitality… and to your father for not taking out his baseball bat, this time. I truly appreciate it.”

Dwight rubbed the back of his neck out of embarrassment, huffing out a hint of laughter at the memory.

“I’ll see you soon then.”

On this, Evan waved his goodbyes, leaving the Omega his heart already yearned for behind.

“Dad? Dad, I’m here!”

Evan called from the front door of the manor as he untied his shoes and neatly set them aside. Silence greeted him at first, the emptiness of the estate leaving this sense of dread he was oh too familiar with.

“Dad?!”

He called out once more only to be answered with a loud groan of discontentment.

“Can it, will you?!”

Archie stepped out of the kitchen, glass of whiskey in hand, swishing the amber liquid about as he eyed his son’s appearance. Judging him.

“Where are the assistants?”

Evan cleared his throat, attempting a semblance of conversation with his father as to avoid any potential suspicions.

“Those dumb maids? Fired. Traitors, the lot of ‘em.”

That look in his eyes was a dangerous one. An agitated Archie MacMillan was not one he wanted to stay close to, and yet, here he was, pacing about like a starving bear in its cage, ready to pounce at any moment.

“…Again? We talked about this--!”

“They thought they could sneak behind my back. They thought they could outsmart me, but they didn’t. You can’t hunt the hunter.”

Archie grumbled under his breath as he walked over to the coffee table in the vast living room to pick up a thick dossier with what Evan could only assume to be full of compromising evidence about his father and the company as a whole. Evan’s lips pressed thin as he reached out, gesturing with a twitch of his fingers that he hands the dossier over, which he did, by walking over and shoving it flat against his chest.

“You’re the one that suggested them to me, son. You’re bringing those pests into our home and because of what? They can’t pay rent? Their children are sick? What kind of sorry ass sob story did you listen to this time? You call yourself an Alpha? Pathetic.”

Archie’s nostrils flared and Evan held back the wince as he breathed him in, inhaling the sweet scent of the Omega he had left back in the safety of his home. Instantly, he snarled, stepping away and taking a loud sip from his whiskey.

“Disgusting. You smell like that slut at the picnic.”

He turned his back on his son, scratching the tip of his nose with the pad of his thumb as if it would rid him of the stink glued to the younger Alpha.

“All these girls were clinging to you and you’re going for that? Fucking hell. If I knew you were that easy to please, I wouldn’t have arranged the damn thing to begin with. Do you know how much that cost to set up? All the phone calls and sweet talks I had to pull?”

Archie scoffed bitterly, sparing a glare at Evan who simply swallowed his own spite for the man before him. There was no winning an argument against the great Archie MacMillan. He learnt that the hard way over the years.

“You know how much I hate Omegas and you come home like you dunked yourself in the nearest sewage and called it a day.”

Evan’s jaw clenched painfully tight as something disturbingly primal boiled within him. He had never wanted to grab the man’s head and shove it in one of his bear traps that he kept on the property more than he did now. To trash-talk him was one thing, to disgrace Dwight’s name, or any Omega’s name for that matter, was a whole other can of worms that Evan didn’t want to approach with a 10-foot stick for fear that he would become anything like him. He didn’t want his hatred for his father to consume him like his father’s own hatred did to him.

“Go wash yourself before I throw up.”

Archie brushed him off with the back of his hand, smirking at the sorry attempt his son did to conceal his anger.

“And come back after, we need to talk about the case.”

Chapter Text

[Breaking News on the MacMillan Mines accident that occurred on July 4^th of last year.]

The evening had been nice, for once. In the silence of his very own penthouse because Evan needed at least some sort of haven every now and then, he had only just cooled down from the encounter with his father. That was a couple of days ago. Still, it weighed heavily on his mind. No matter where he was. No matter when it was. Ever since that faithful day, he couldn’t escape it.

 The day darkness engulfed his heart and left nothing but a shell of bright smiles and appearances.

Evan glanced up from the electronic tablet in his lap from where he sat on a luxurious couch, nested among the cushions and legs propped up on the L shaped section of it. It was a rather simple, classic dark gray couch where his arm could comfortably rest on the back of it while his free arm reached out for the remote to raise the volume.

[After multiple investigations on the site of the accident, experts have determined that the mine collapse that have brought the unfortunate demise of 9 miners, 1 civilian and several life-threatening injuries to 13 workers was caused by the illegal detonation of dynamite on site.]

The Alpha’s gaze lowered to the thick dossier sitting on his coffee table, his teeth grinding together in annoyance despite his best attempt to remain calm and composed. Anger was his father’s thing, not his. Not his. Deep breaths.

[While it is still undetermined who could be behind this tragedy, it has been confirmed that the detonation was planned to happen at the same time as fireworks would be set off to cover the sound of explosions.]

He knew them. Each and every single victim of the “accident”, he had known and had made friends with throughout the years. It was no accident. A mere cover-up for his father’s bottomless greed was what it was.

[Furthermore, it was reported that the accident was proof of severe negligence on the safety and security of MacMillan Mines and many protest Archibald MacMillan’s lack of empathy towards the situation as well as the lack of compensation for the families of the deceased and those who were injured in the process.]

Nostrils flared as Evan’s foot twitched and bounced in restlessness as he stared blankly at the screen. His gut wrenched unpleasantly in apprehension as he did every time some form of new development on the case popped up in any sort of news sources.

[Let us all remember that Ellen MacMillan, wife to Archibald MacMillan, was found dead among the rubble as she died a hero, trying to warn the miners of the impending danger of the collapse.]

Anger took over. Despite everything, he couldn’t stop himself from surging forward to launch the remote control directly at the television, cracking the 65” flat screen with nothing more than brutal strength. The image flickered, bleeding from the impact. There was instant regret as Evan rapidly stood to take in the damage, but he was quick to notice that what was done was done. Eyelids fluttered close. Deep breaths.

“I’m so sorry, mom, I’m trying.”

He breathed out shakily as he rubbed at his mouth in a mix of grief and guilt. If only he had stood up to his father earlier. If only he had hired those spies that posed as assistants earlier. None of this would’ve happened. Maybe they could’ve been happy. Maybe she would still be here… A quivering hand passed through his undercut, slicking back the strands of hair that strayed from the rest in his outburst. His breath hitched, his nostrils flaring to maintain his composure, but the gentle ring of his doorbell took care of that for him instead.

“Coming!”

He exclaimed as he rapidly rubbed his eyes dry from the frustration that had built there in the form of tears before heading for the front door to swing it open perhaps a tad more forcefully than intended. As the door swung, with it came a powerful scent. One that most would consider sickeningly sweet but one that instantly melted away all of his worries.

“Pizza delivery for Evan… Liddell?”

The Omega looked up, the red cap with his name embroidered in white on it hiding most of his vision at first until now. Deep, brown eyes widened in shock, and it was perfectly understandable.

“I-I… uhm… I didn’t know that PizzaWhat delivered this far.”

Evan commented rather awkwardly as he absentmindedly scratched his cheek, avoiding the Omega’s gaze as it turned from surprised to a frown.

“Yeah, no, we usually don’t, but I guess my boss made an exception, this time.”

Gods, what did he look like? Some sort of stalker? How would he know that it would be Dwight doing the delivery, of all people? He just wanted to indulge himself to some junk food for once and, of course, it had to be him because it was just how well his day was going so far, anyways.

“Oh! Come on in! I’ll go grab my wallet.”

Evan stepped away from the door, hurrying to the master bedroom where he gathered his wallet and fumbled nervously through it.

“Uhm, what happened to your screen?”

A faint voice called with concern as Dwight inevitably noticed the broken television since the living room was merely a couple of steps away from the entrance.

“It’s, ah, it’s nothing. Too long to explain.”

There was a clear of his throat and Evan paused in his steps when he heard a faint chuckle from the front door.

“What is it?”

The Alpha questioned, swallowing thickly at what wandered about in the Omega’s mind.

“…If you wanted to see me before Friday, you could’ve told me.”

“I-I swear, I didn’t know…”

He was glad that Dwight teased about the whole situation, but dread pooled at the pit of his stomach nonetheless by how said situation painted him as. He wasn’t desperate. He wasn’t some kind of creep that kept watch on when his love interest was and wasn’t working. It was just…

“What a nice coincidence.”

Evan’s lips parted as Dwight’s words seemingly came right out of his own train of thoughts, the Alpha visibly relaxing upon hearing them with a reciprocated chuckle.

“Yeah, it’s almost weird, isn’t it?”

The Omega tipped his head from side to side, silently agreeing with the other’s words.

“Liddell, though?”

Dwight inquired with a curious squeak in his voice at the end, a melodious voice crack to Evan’s ears. Well, Dwight’s presence alone was enough to make his heart sing, he wasn’t sure if his ears were a good reference given his bias.

“It was my mother’s maiden name.”

Evan nodded along, gesturing for the Omega to place down the pizza on the kitchen island to his left. As he did, Evan’s gaze ventured upon Dwight’s uniform, taking in the snug cycling leggings, the now empty pizza carry bag hanging from his back, the high visibility vest all the way to the white gloves on his trembling hands. Wait. Trembling?

“Hold on, did you bicycle all the way here?”

It was only then that he noticed the pants along with Dwight’s breathing and the sweat beading heavily on his forehead.

“Yeah, they don’t let me have a company car because of… you know what. Why?”

Now that his hands were free, Dwight placed them upon his hips to catch his breath, the Alpha quickly noted how pale he was. Unbelievably so. As if all colors had drained from his being altogether. The darkness below his eyes was certainly undeniable and his scent was so strong that it was almost intolerable even for him now that they were in closer proximity. Something almost instinctual sounded the alarm in the back of his brain.

He looked like he was about to collapse at any moment.

“C-Can I have a glass of water, please?”

Evan froze in place, Dwight’s demand contradicting his instincts. One suggested that he’d have to step away from him while the other urged him to protect him. Red flags waved erratically, and the Alpha rushed to the Omega’s side instead when he began to sway ever so slightly where he stood.

“What are you doing?”

The Omega slurred and, seemingly oblivious to his own condition, struggled weakly in his mindful grasp, stumbling back as he did so. Fear flashed across his features as if the backward motion hadn’t been expected and before Evan could suggest for him to sit down, his knees gave out underneath the weight of his body, taking the Alpha along with him with a yelp.

“DWIGHT!”

Evan exclaimed as panic rushed through him, the fall taking him by surprise despite having foreseen it, but somewhat hoping that he had reacted in time enough so that he didn’t hit his head on the floor. He faintly shook him, knowing fairly well that it was of no use. Evan let go of the Omega, hurrying back to the couch to grab his cellphone and call for help.

“…He overheated… It’s a good thing you called. Some think it’s best to sleep it off, but that’s usually when it can become fatal…”

Dwight’s eyes cracked open to white, neon lights assaulting his vision and antiseptic burning his nostrils. Two silhouettes stood at the end of what appeared to be a hospital bed, one wearing a face mask while the other nodded and rubbed the back of his head, seemingly anxious about something.

“He’s… going to be okay, right?”

The Omega squeezed his eyes shut as an unpleasant shudder coursed through him, droplets of water rolling down his neck and that was when he registered the gentle hum of a fan casting a cooling breeze upon his body. A damp, cold towel rested upon his forehead while the rest of his body had been sprayed in a mist of water to aid in the cooling process. What on Earth happened? His head throbbed and his heart hammered in his ears, his vision swimming enough to make his head lull from side to side in his attempt to remain awake enough to take in his surroundings.

“Yes, yes, he’ll be fine. Do you know what overheating is?”

“Ah, uhm, not really, no.”

The voices were hushed as if to not disturb him, but Dwight could somewhat hear them through the daze that veiled his senses.

“It’s quite similar to what one would expect from a heat stroke during Summer, but this is usually due to a great disbalance in an Omega’s hormones. It’s more common in male Omegas where the body tries to go into heat, but can never quite achieve that trigger, keeping it constantly on the edge. If it happens once in awhile, it’s not that alarming as it is most of the time temporary and the heat is eventually triggered normally, but in mister Fairfield’s case, it never was and, in turn, progressively built up and worsened over time, inevitably causing what happened. One of the main symptoms that sets overheating apart from a regular heat stroke is an excessively sweet odor as the body, again, desperately tries to trigger the heat but is simply unable to. Are you related to mister Fairfield?”

“I, uhm, I’m a friend.”

There was a pensive hum, Dwight squinting through barely open lids as to not alert the two silhouettes of his waking and to listen in on a conversation he was most likely not supposed to be a part of.

“We have attempted to inform mister Fairfield many times that, perhaps, suppressants and birth control would help his condition, but he seems rather hesitant. If you could, as someone who is not part of his family, maybe press the matter before things get out of hand, I would appreciate it. He has been my patient for many years and, well, it may not sound very professional, but I worry for him. Overheating can become increasingly dangerous if left untreated.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I have to go for now, but don’t be afraid to ring the alarm if something is wrong, alright?”

“Thanks for everything, doctor.”

“Have a good day, mister MacMillan.”

As footsteps faded, Dwight inhaled deeply, shifting in his bed as if to finally signal that he was awake, causing the remaining silhouette to approach his side and rest a comforting hand upon his shoulder.

“Good morning, Alice.”

“…Good morning?”

Dwight croaked, frowning at how strained his own voice was. He weakly propped himself up, trying to ignore the fact that the towel on his forehead plopped unceremoniously in his lap and that he was dripping with water as he sat up. He heaved a long, shivering sigh as he squinted at the man by his side. Even without his glasses on, he could see the relief on Evan’s features and the way that he reached for the small trashcan by his bed to hold it for him.

“What?”

The Omega cleared his throat and to this, the Alpha lowered the can once more with a hint of a blush to his cheeks.

“Oh, you’re okay, good. You’ve… kind of been sick a couple of times last night.”

“I… don’t remember.”

“Yeah, you were pretty out of it. You even said I looked hot in green.”

Dwight’s eyes widened in horror, his heart skipping a beat in his chest at the words reaching his ears. Oh gods, it was a joke, right?

“You tried to kiss me right after you were done with the bin too. It was interesting.”

Evan’s chuckle was lighthearted, but Dwight wanted nothing more than to be swallowed whole by his surprisingly soft hospital bed. He rubbed his eyes with a groan of pure embarrassment as his brain wracked itself in some hope to remember, alas, he only had Evan’s word. He was drawing a complete blank.

“I think it was sweet, really. Don’t worry about it. Your doctor said it was normal. Something about your heat trying to come through. I didn’t understand the whole gist of it, but apparently, it didn’t work…”

Dwight heaved another sigh, through his nostrils this time, as exhaustion settled in from simply hearing all that transpired the night before. From him passing out in Evan’s penthouse (he still couldn’t believe that Evan MacMillan had a fricking penthouse. Good lord.) to apparently throwing up on him the first time he woke up to babbling about how happy he’d be to be his husband. Overheating was worse than being drunk and as if to confirm the Alpha’s words, there was an oblong ring of a rinsed off vomit stain that had dried off on Evan’s lap. Dwight wondered if running out of the room and never coming back was an option.

“Wait, you were here all night?”

“I was worried about you. I didn’t know what was going on and, well, I was…”

Evan’s words trailed off, but he didn’t have to finish his sentence for Dwight to understand what he meant. He had been scared. Afraid to lose him? Afraid to have someone die in his “there’s no way Dwight could ever afford that in his entire lifetime of hard work” penthouse, maybe? The latter seemed rather out of place considering that he highly doubted that it was how Evan acted. The former was wishful thinking. Perhaps it was the overheating talking.

“Sorry…”

“It’s not your fault. What matters is that you’re alright.”

Dwight rubbed his forehead, feeling a hint of a worsening headache pointing its ugly face. He couldn’t tell if it was from the overheating, the glaring neon lights, the fact that he didn’t have his glasses on or a combination of all of these. Either way, it was definitely not welcomed, right now.

“But… why? What about your work? You’re not even my mate. What are you still doing here?”

The questions seemingly struck Evan with invisible blows and Dwight winced at the thought that he may have been a bit rough considering that the Alpha stayed despite being thrown up on and relentlessly flirted with by an ill Omega.

“Simple. I care about you.”

He didn’t know why, but hearing those words were more than enough to wash him over with relief. Tension left his body and Evan cautiously reached out for the damp towel in his lap to lift it and drape it over the back of his neck.

“…Thank you.”

Dwight finally croaked out, feeling utterly miserable in the Alpha’s presence. It had been so long since he last had to come to the hospital for overheating. Years, in fact. He learnt to deal with it on his own at home, even if having to deal with it in the first place was dangerous.

“I don’t know what to do.”

He added and took Evan’s stunned silence as a signal for him to continue.

“When I was younger, I tried suppressants and reacted badly to them. I almost died. I’ve been trying to keep money on the side to, uhm, try again, but I can’t bring myself to do it. What if I react the same way as before? What if my body can’t take it because of how tired I am? Given my salary, I can barely afford them as well in the long term and I just…”

Dwight’s tongue swept over dried lips, swallowing around the closing sensation burning his throat.

“All I’m thinking about is how I’m going to afford this room. What am I going to tell my boss? Do I even still have my job?”

A broad, calloused hand sat calmly upon his naked back, slowly rubbing soothing circles against his clammy skin.

“Don’t worry about the hospital bill.”

The Omega’s lips quivered as he bit back a nervous sob with the next inhale. Clearly, it was something that had been eating at him for a long time and it greatly saddened Evan to see him in this state. It didn’t matter what the doctors recommended if the patients couldn’t afford it. He understood the doctor’s worries, but his heart pained for Dwight more.

“I-I don’t want to die because I’m a stupid Omega t-that can’t d-d-do anything with his life.”

Dwight’s words caught in hiccups in his weak attempt to keep his feelings in check. Evan knew everything there were to know about keeping appearances and Dwight was, well, trying his best. Then again, he wished he didn’t have to do it in his presence.

“You’re not going to die, alright?”

Evan stated in a stern, anchoring tone that had Dwight look at him with these beautiful doe eyes of his, almost as if pleading him to find a solution for him. The poor soul was completely lost. Right here and then, his decision was already made.

“…If you’ll let me… I want to pay for your medication.”

Dwight’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief, his words sounding too good to be true, surely. Had this Omega never received any form of kindness from an Alpha before? Or anyone other than his family and friends, for that matter, for him to react this way? It shattered his heart just a little bit more at the mere possibility of it.

“D-Don’t say that. Y-You don’t mean it, r-right?”

The Omega’s words were small, a frightened child scared of being mocked coming to the surface as tears blurred the deep brown of his eyes.

“Whatever it takes. I’ll take care of it. I… Oh!”

Out of all things, the last one he expected was to have an armful of Omega. Arms thrown around him in the biggest embrace he had ever received in his entire life. A flurry of “Thank yous” was breathed by his ear. Despite the awkward angle Dwight took to simply hug him while remaining in his bed, Evan returned it, ignoring the fact that his clothes were now wet from the droplets of cooling water that once beaded on the Omega’s skin. The Alpha’s nose buried itself in the crook of the Omega’s neck, breathing him in. His scent was even stronger there. As intoxicating and overbearing as it would be for most, it had the opposite effect on him, bringing his own inner turmoil to a complete still. Tidal waves that returned to their dormant state. Only his mother’s gentle nature was once able to bring him peace. Ever since her early departure, he never thought that feeling could ever be possibly achieved again, and yet, here it was, stomping down on the blaze of his anger, his hatred that he had for his father. At least, just for a moment.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Evan breathed back with a certainty he wouldn’t have been bold enough to utter until now. He didn’t believe in soulmates. He didn’t believe in destiny. He didn’t believe in the fairytales his mother once told him as a child, but with Dwight right here, in his arms, he wondered if maybe, just maybe, it could be possible to believe again.

Chapter Text

“Mom?”

The last few days at the hospital had been an arduous waiting game. With a period of overheating, one couldn’t be too sure of what would happen or when. His temperature had spiked and dropped more times than he could count, leaving him so lightheaded at times that he hadn’t dared going anywhere without someone to help him. How humiliating it had been to rely on Evan in such a fashion. Evan, who remained by his side the entire time. Evan, who patiently wiped his forehead and cleaned his mouth whenever his body betrayed him. He had spent most of his stay at the hospital either covered in a mist, in nothing but his boxers or blanketed from head to toe and there had been no middle ground. And Evan had seen it all. Fell asleep in the most uncomfortable chair known to man every night and woke up with a smile every morning, asking him how he felt or if he needed anything, as if sacrificing his own well being had been nothing to him. Evan had been exceptionally good to him…

… and never asked anything in return.

“…Dad?”

One thing that he had found that had been missing him this entire time, however, was his parents. Neither his father nor his mother had come to visit him during his stay. Dwight remembered being vaguely told that there had been a stomach flu outbreak at the hospital, but Evan stayed by his bedside, barely leaving to eat something because he had been afraid Dwight would have another premium rollercoaster ride offered so generously by his own body while he was away. They didn’t visit him once. Sure, he was beyond disappointed, but then again, if there had been an outbreak, he was certain that it had to have been the reason behind it.

“Hello?”

Dwight stepped further into the house, frowning when he was greeted by silence. A heavy footfall sounded behind him as the Alpha that had accompanied him through it all entered the house after him, closing the door as he did so.

“They’re probably off to do some shopping or something…”

Evan reasoned, to which Dwight solemnly nodded along to. He could be right, but it didn’t prevent his disappointment from increasing tenfold. Hadn’t he called them to tell them that today would be the day he returned from the hospital? They weren’t… avoiding him, were they? No. No, that would be absurd.

Just as he was bitterly embracing the silence and cold welcome of his household, he felt something buzz in his pocket and fished out his cellphone, his entire being brightening at the caller’s name shown on the screen. He picked up instantly.

“Hi mom!”

“Good morning, my little pumpkin~!”

Evan’s head rose as he heard the sheer delight in the Omega’s voice, how beautifully he smiled upon the mere sound of his mother’s voice. His heart melted just a little more for the sweet, sweet Omega.

“Are you back from the “hospital” yet?”

There was a teasing tone on the other end that Evan could barely catch, but something about it seemed off and by the way Dwight’s smile faltered, he noticed it too.

“W-What? Mom, I really was at the hospital.”

“Oh, sure, you were! It’s all over the news! An unknown Omega has swooned in Evan MacMillan’s penthouse~ Well, we know who that is, don’t we?”

A dreamy sigh could be heard, and Evan’s traits darkened as he pulled out his own cellphone, dropping Dwight’s bag on the floor in the process to look up the local news. As he stumbled upon the first article he could find, he faced the screen towards Dwight who had to do a double take at what he was seeing, horror dawning upon him.

[Breaking News! Mysterious Omega collapsed at MacMillan’s Penthouse! Could it be the end of this eligible bachelor’s celibacy? Or is it a tactic to get their hands on the MacMillan Mines’ precious millions?]

Dwight paled considerably at the first line of the article. What were the media painting him as? Some sort of actor? A gold digger?!

“Mom! I really was at the hospital! I could have died!”

He pressed on the matter, but his own mother was too lost in her fantasies to listen.

“Oh my! That good? Is this what the young ones call it, these days? Oh! Oh! Don’t say anything else! We’re going to be home soon. Tell me every detail when we get there, alright? Love you, sweetheart~!”

“Mom? Mom!”

The phone cut off, leaving Dwight utterly defeated as he turned off his cellphone, his nostrils widening out of silent frustration. A sight that made Evan shiver. He was calm. Too calm about all of this.

“I didn’t know, I swear.”

Evan approached, but Dwight shook his head with a long, exhausted sigh. How could it have been Evan’s fault? He had been at his bedside the entire time and cellphones were prohibited in the hospital. Of course, he couldn’t have caught on, nor could he have rectified the media.

“I’m calling and giving them a piece of my mind.”

“Don’t.”

Dwight hovered his hand over the man’s phone to stop him from reacting impulsively and possibly regret it in the near future.

“They’re going to use it against you. They’ll think you’re protecting me…”

They’ll think I mean more to you than I actually do, he withheld himself from adding. Once the media made up their mind about something, it was already too late. At least, they didn’t know who he was… yet. This was the red hot, sparkling new gossip of their little city, who could possibly pass that opportunity up? They were probably frantically searching for his identity at this very moment. There was no stopping it. They both were aware of that, unfortunately. Once again, Evan was being a perfect gentleman, trying to defend his honor, but there was nothing that could be done.

“I mean, they’re not wrong. You paid for my stay at the hospital…”

Dwight commented with a heavy heart and Evan saw red.

“Don’t you dare! I decided to pay for it, you didn’t implant any ideas inside my head! I did it on my own because I wanted to, you hear me?”

The Omega lowered his head as the Alpha stepped before him, imposing his presence as if he acted like a protective shield between him and the rest of the world. Even if said world was within the confine of his own home.

“I’m sorry, I just… I don’t know what to think, right now.”

“You’re not the one who should be sorry. It’s them. They clearly have no idea what they’re talking about. They don’t know you.”

“…Do you?”

Evan’s lips parted in shock, hurt flashing over his face in various ways. How was it that Dwight could say so little, and yet, hurt him so? Had he done something wrong?

“You’re Dwight Fairfield, part-time pizza delivery man for PizzaWhat. You adore Alice in Wonderland as much as I do. You’re a hard-working individual that wants to become independent, but you’re held back, because you lacked the medication you needed until now. You’re one of the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes upon and there is nothing more than I wish for than to become yours, one day.”

The Omega blinked rapidly at the influx of information rapidly thrown at him, a small, gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips and Evan’s heartstrings. It was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“…What about me?”

“…What do you mean?”

Evan shook his head in confusion, a rather awkward silence settling between them. The shorter brunet delicately placed a hand over the Alpha’s heart, causing his breath to hitch in the back of his throat.

“You’re Evan MacMillan, heir to MacMillan Mines, your father’s company. You like Alice in Wonderland as much as I do and won’t stop bringing it up because it’s the only thing you can hang onto that we have in common. You have intruded upon my privacy because you believed my mother’s words over considering my own feelings. You’re looking passed my illness, you paid for my medication and my hospital treatments. You stayed by my side the entire time and never complained about it. I look at you, but I can’t see you. You smile so bright, but you’re always elsewhere. When I’m with you, I’m with this image of you, because, for some reason, you think you have to show off to impress me. Like I’m nothing more than another journalist you must dazzle. To me, right now, you’re nothing more than a handsome, generous stranger with pretty words and a kind heart, doing his best to not show his real self.”

The Alpha was stunned, frozen in place by what poured from the Omega’s mouth. This was what he had hoped to avoid from the very beginning. He wanted to be proper, he wanted to be the perfect gentleman for the Omega that had smitten him, but distanced himself in the process, ending up acting like he always did with the public. At worst, he had been a nice stranger. At best, he had only acted as if he had been Dwight’s bodyguard. There was no escaping this. The truth. Nothing but the truth. Pure, simple… and gut wrenching. Nobody ever dared to speak to him in such a way but staring into Dwight’s eyes only reflected his mistakes back at him. And he perceived a spark of something else within. Something he had been too blind to see from the start. A tempest. Passions and frustrations. Raw desires that pierced through the window of his soul.

“This isn’t a fairytale. I’m not a damsel in distress… and you don’t have to be a prince. I don’t need a prince.”

His voice was soft, a whisper in the atmosphere of Evan’s high horse. The hand that once was on his chest rose to cup his cheek, rough from the lack of shaving care due to his lengthy stay at the hospital.

“I look at you, and I can feel it. The thing mentioned so often in books and that everyone dreams about. This ribbon that ties us together. If it wasn’t for you, I could be dead, by now. If it wasn’t for you, I would still be in my room, wondering when the outside world would barge in and eat me whole. All of these coincidental meetings have to mean something, but I look at you, and I’m scared.”

Evan’s eyes fluttered close, his larger hand covering Dwight as he leant into the other’s almost tender touch. Almost. Not quite. There was something holding him back, something that made him hesitate, but with Dwight’s words, it wasn’t very difficult to understand what that thing was. It was him.

“I’m scared of falling in love with a man, an Alpha, who doesn’t wish to reveal himself to the world. To me, the person he so wants to court. I have seen it, though. A glimpse of it, maybe, back at the hospital.”

This stirs Evan’s attention, emerald greens searching for kindness upon every centimeter of the map of Dwight’s features.

“For a moment, you opened up. You were… you. You took care of me when nobody asked you to. You did so much and saw me at my worst, but you still held my hand, rubbed my back, and encouraged me. Hell, I threw up on you and you just called me beautiful.”

Dwight trailed off with a chuckle. It was clear to Evan that there was something there. Something blossoming right before his eyes, but too shy to peek through.

“That’s because you are…”

He dared to breathe back, earning himself a hint of a blush, but he was aware that this conversation wasn’t over yet.

“I also saw it back at the penthouse. You’re angry. You have emotions. Real emotions.”

The Omega’s scent was strong, a sickly-sweet smell that clung to his skin, reminding Evan rather harshly that he shouldn’t have to do this. He was only given his leave from the hospital, and he was the one giving him a pep talk. How he wished the roles would be reversed, but it seemed to have been something that has weighed on his mind for some time, now.

“I don’t have to look further than your sketchbook.”

Evan’s lips parted but soon pressed thin as his mind ran a hundred miles an hour trying to complete the other’s train of thought. What did he mean by that? Did he not like him sketching? Did he not like the portrait he drew of him? He would be more than willing to destroy it if it made him uncomfortable. What if—

“Your emotions are in there, you’re carrying them with you, but whenever someone wants to take a peek at it, you’re afraid of showing it.”

Evan never had seen it that way, but he was beginning to understand what he meant. His feelings. His self-doubt. His insecurities. They were all mirrored in his sketchbook. Whenever he drew, it was to soothe away those negative emotions and for others to see those sketches made him, well, vulnerable. Whenever he revealed what his father judged him so harshly upon, he opened himself to critique, further judgement… to others. It was what he did with not only Dwight, but his family as well. He opened up, if only for a brief moment.

Hesitantly, he reached within the pocket of his jacket to retrieve his small, travel-sized sketchbook, holding onto it dearly enough that his knuckles whitened.

“…You can have it.”

The Alpha murmured as he held it between them, but the Omega simply shook his head in response.

“I appreciate it, but it’s not what I meant.”

Evan insisted, carefully taking the hand that rested upon him to gently secure the sketchbook in Dwight’s possession. It was now the Omega’s turn to become silent, seemingly taken aback not only by the gesture, but by what it represented.

“There’s not enough space in that book to express all the feelings I have for you.”

A light tap of his finger against the hard cover of the sketchbook brought Dwight back to him, a soft smile sketching itself upon his features.

“You’re holding me in your hands. I trust you won’t ever let me fall.”

The Omega rapidly shook his head once more, hugging the sketchbook against his chest as if to ensure no harm would come to it.

“Those feelings… I wouldn’t exactly call it Love because that’s not possible. You’re right. I’m not a prince and this isn’t a fairytale. So, I would call it…”

There was a pause and a slight tilt of Evan’s head to the side as he considered his words.

“… A meeting of Fate, perhaps.”

“Maybe, yeah…”

An embarrassed clear of throat made itself known as well as the way Dwight’s blush not only deepened but bloomed all the way to the very tip of his ears.

“I really need a shower. Badly.”

The shorter brunet cut through his own shyness, finally shifting about to gather his bag on the floor and passed the Alpha only to pause midway up the staircase to look back.

“U-Uhm… I’ll only be a minute. You could stay if you want. Maybe eat something a little bit better than hospital food?”

Evan politely rose a hand and kindly declined the offer.

“Your parents are coming home soon and after everything, I think I should give you some time alone. I’ve been around an awful lot, recently, and ah… I wouldn’t want to impose myself more than I did—”

“You don’t bother me, Evan…”

The Omega cut off as he lazily swung his bag over his shoulder with a huff.

“Actually… I don’t think you can bother me.”

“Still, that’s kind of you, but you need some rest. And, well, you know where to reach me, if ever.”

He held up his cellphone, sharing a hint of sweet laughter with the other as he looked up at him. His heart fluttered in his chest, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Not that it mattered. Dwight was safe and sound, and that was more than enough for him.

“Goodnight, Evan. Thank you again so much for everything.”

“Goodnight, Dwight.”

On this, he nodded once in acknowledgement before leaving the premises, closing the door behind him as he did so, plunging the house into silence and the Omega’s heart into a familiar loneliness.

Chapter Text

“I’m telling you, guys, I haven’t been embarrassed like that in a long time.”

A collective laughter could be heard on the call, making Dwight fish inside a bag of cheese puffs to munch on. He wasn’t pouting. He could swear that he wasn’t, but as he intentionally missed a man-rat on the screen to shoot at the back of his friends’ heads, one could assume otherwise.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ah, nothin’, just sounds a lil’ familiar, doesn’t it? Oi! Don’t think I didn’t see tha’ friendly fire!”

“Glad to see that my misery is making others happy…”

Dwight could almost hear the eyeroll he could imagine on David’s face as the words left his mouth. It didn’t prevent him from being teased a tad more on the subject, however.

“So, what? You threw up on the guy’s lap and asked him to marry you! I’ve seen worse from drunk people.”

“Yes, Jake, but not many would have stayed around for that. He did more than was necessary, really. I think he was a perfect gentleman.”

Adam intercepted and somewhat reassured Dwight. The overheating had faded into this familiar discomfort he had grown accustomed to with time, leaving him beyond tired and only a bit nauseous. Given the circumstances, he liked to think he had the right to be a bit grumpy and he was glad to see that Adam was reigning the conversation back on track rather than fueling the teasing.

“Yeah, but he paid the room and the meds? Somethin’s weird ‘bout tha’. The guy wants somethin’, I could bet my savings on tha’ one.”

“What if he was just doing it out of the goodness of his heart?”

Powerful, boisterous laughter could be heard on the scrapper’s end, making his mic peak, and cut out in between fits of laughter.

“Alright, alright! I get it!”

Adam was audibly offended by the genuine, albeit a bit sad, laughter, huffing in discontentment when it didn’t die down until at least a good minute later.

“Bloody hell! Warn a lad before sayin’ stuff like that, yeah? Fuckin’ hell…”

Dwight could only imagine David patting his own chest to calm himself down from the light thumping that could be caught by his microphone. He could feel his cheeks warm at the thought. He would be lying if he said he didn’t have had a tad of a crush on David at one point, but well, the fact that this particular someone lived on the other side of the world had been enough to stomp his hopes away. Plus, it seemed like the more he learnt about him, the more he realized that he truly saw him more as a friend than anything else, really. Sure, he cursed like a sailor, but he was honest and loyal and, that, Dwight could appreciate. He could always count on David to have a real opinion; the truth about how he felt about certain things. For the better or the worse. It was brutal, straightforward, and more than welcomed when most would prefer tiptoeing around to prevent feelings from being hurt.

All in all, David was a good guy. A little rough around the edges, but fundamentally good.

“You know, before that, I was supposed to plan a date for us, but uhm… that happened instead.”

Playful prods and teasing nudges came to a halt then, silence weighing heavily despite them playing like nothing happened.

“…I never planned a date before.”

There was the sound of someone munching on snacks and another sipping on a bottle of something. He couldn’t see it, but he could bet on a beer. Still nothing.

“I wanted to go to the aquarium. He loves nature so much, I thought he’d maybe… like sketching the fish…”

Silence. He truly was royalty when it came to making things awkward, huh? There was a clear of throat and Adam’s soothing voice pierced through the veil of his anguish.

“I think that’s a lovely idea. I’m proud of you for thinking outside the box.”

“…What do you mean? It’s just the aquarium…”

“Well, you’ve always been scared of going out in closed spaces because of “you know what”.”

Adam, unfortunately, wasn’t wrong. The last time he went to the grocery store with his mother, he had a panic attack believing everyone were staring at him. He hasn’t gone there again ever since. He hadn’t realized what it meant for him. He only thought about what Evan would like.

“It’s a step in the right direction! I hardly think Evan is remotely angry at you for what happened. There will be another opportunity. Trust me.”

“And with all the money he invested in you, I doubt he’s going to want to let you go anytime soon.”

“Jake! That’s awful!”

“What? I’m just saying--!”

Bickering ensued. Bickering that soon muddled and faded in the back of Dwight’s mind as his gaze landed onto a peculiar object, caught from the corner of his eye. A rather small object that has been buried under desk clutter in a record time. Lips pinched firmly together as he slipped his fingers underneath papers and empty snack packets to retrieve a sketchbook. Not his own, of course, or rather, it had become his own only recently.

He cautiously flipped through its pages; an eyebrow cocked when some of them had a folded sheet of paper towel pressed between them. Charcoal. He recognized the bunnies from the time Evan showed them to him on their very first encounter at the playground. There was a page with its corner missing from where Evan had ripped it to give him his phone number. For Evan to tear such an important piece of one of his most prized items simply to write his phone number when he most likely had company cards on his person was as if he offered a shred of himself to him. Even then, Evan opened up to him and he never noticed.

This phone number that was now lost somewhere in the disaster that was his desk. How could he have been his usual self about something so precious was beyond him.

It’s been at least a week since they last spoke, perhaps more because he was always awful at keeping track of the time. Especially when most of his days rinsed and repeated themselves. Get up at noon, eat, sometimes shower, play games, eat, play more games, go to bed, and maybe get to work in the morning. It was as if every day blended into one gigantic day. So, who knew, really, just how long it has been?

Dwight realized there and then as he flipped pages and fell upon the sketch of himself that maybe he had been waiting on Evan to come to him. He always came to him. He showed up on his front yard at two in the morning, barged into his home to eat brownies and watch Alice in Wonderland with him when he felt low, stayed by his side at the hospital and made sure that he safely returned home. Evan was the outside world, screaming at him that he was alive, and here he was, sitting in his pajamas all day, feeling sorry for himself, hoping that Evan would bring a beautiful sense of chaos in his monotone life. He remembered his words, how much he pressed onto the fact that he didn’t need a prince to rescue him, and yet, here he was, waiting for a crow to fly into his room with a message tied to its foot.

The Omega slowly spun himself in his chair and looked. For once in his life, he thoroughly looked at the state of his room. Clothes scattered in piles. Even now, he saw himself sniffing which clothes smelled the freshest in the morning, or rather, when he woke up, from these piles as he tried to pick what to wear for the day. He saw himself discarding wrappers and stuffing things in every nook and cranny of his room so that he didn’t have to see them without actually cleaning after himself. He recalled his mother squeaking in horror at the way he lived in his own little haven and his father sternly telling him to pick up after himself or he would do something about it.

Whether he liked it or not, the contrast was there. Glancing down at the sketchbook, there was a great difference in how everything was neatly sketched and measured so that not a single space on the pages would go to waste. It was clean. Ordered. Even with a sketching tool as messy as charcoal and pencil, the pages had barely been allowed to grey themselves.

Who was he to give lessons to an Alpha that has his life so… together when all he had was the result of his own self-wallowing?

“U-Uhm… Guys? Guys!”

The bickering came to a pause momentarily as Dwight returned to his screen to abruptly quit the quest he had been a part of until now.

“What’er you doin’? Did the game crash again?”

“N-No! Uhm, I… I think I have enough gaming for tonight. There’s something I need to take care of.”

“Ugh, we’re gonna get stuck with a rando, now. ‘t better be important.”

David grumbled on the other end to which Dwight smiled thinly at. Peeking over his shoulder, something struck him. An urge to, perhaps, perceive himself in a different light, for once.

“Actually, it’s been urgent for a long time.”

There was an aggravated sigh on the other end, but the Omega couldn’t care less. It may be three in the morning, but damn it, he was going to do something with himself. Was it the best time for it? No, definitely not, but it was an emergency. One that he had put off for way too long. Taking care of himself. Evan’s phone number didn’t deserve getting lost into the abyss that was his room. Evan didn’t deserve being treated like his chores; waiting for them to be magically resolved on their own. Evan wasn’t a chore.

“Good night, everyone. I’ll see you guys soon, okay?”

“Good night!”

The trio of voices echoed, some more enthusiastic than a certain other, but he decided not to linger on it, disconnecting from the call and turning off his computer to tackle the task at hand. And what a challenge it was. He stood, hooked his headset to the arm of his chair like he always did and assessed the situation.

“We might be here awhile.”

He breathed out to himself, his traits saddening at how daunting he allowed such a simple chore to become.

Evan tossed and turned in his king-sized bed, huffing in irritation when no position seemed to lull him back into Morpheus’ soothing embrace. Arms spread out, a leg dangling over the edge of his mattress and covers bundled up around the other, he stared at his stilled ceiling fan. He never had been peculiarly enthused about large beds. They mocked him. This one came along with the rest of the penthouse’s already furnished landscape, and he never brought himself to replace it. He never had the time nor the energy to remotely think about something so trivial in the first place. The primary goal of the penthouse was to be a refuge from his father’s whims and greed. The rest was merely complementary.

Every night, however, he found himself paying the price of such a vast environment. Emptiness. Nothingness. Echoes of faint electronic hums in the distance.

“Good night.”

He caught himself saying aloud despite already being in bed for more than four hours, he noticed as he glanced at his phone for the nth time that night. How pathetic. Eyes squeezed shut at the inevitable lack of response. After all, there was no one here. No warmth. Nothing but regrets. Although, his words did cause the only other living being to stir, making the corner of his lips twitch upwards as he pried himself from his covers to stand and approach the majestic cage sitting in the corner of the room.

“Hey, Tweedledee.”

Evan whispered as he lowered himself to the crow’s level, earning light clicks from his beak. The bird hopped along one of his many perches to get closer to the bars and peek his beak through.

“You want out? Come here.”

On this, he lifted the latch on the cage’s gate and slipped his forearm within, which the bird gladly hopped onto, cooing as he was brought out. Tweedledee’s head cocked to one side, then the other before dipping downwards. A request that Evan indulged to by lightly scratching the top of his head.

“Right here? Yeah…”

Evan chuckled when the bird cawed and flew away from his reach, accroaching himself to a bar that Evan had had installed by the sole, grand window of the master bedroom to allow him a better view of the outside world.

He never had been quite comfortable keeping a bird in a cage when he could be out there, living with others like him, free of all human worries. Tweedledee was not his to begin with. He was once his mother’s bird along with a fellow friend of the corvid kind, Tweedledum, who, unfortunately, passed away a couple of years ago. He had attempted to release him on multiple occasions, but he always flew right back to him. Then again, his mother had named and cared for the pair ever since she found their eggs, abandoned in a destroyed nest that had unceremoniously flopped down from its branches. It had been a miracle that she had been able to tend to them and even make them hatch, because only the gods knew how long they had been there on their own. And so, he supposed it was never really in his heart to let Tweedledee go and, maybe, in some way, Tweedledee felt it too.

With a long sigh and a heavy heart, the Alpha plopped back onto his side of the bed, returning to his previous activity of staring at the ceiling, pondering about whether he should still pursuit going back to sleep or not. His left hand wandered aimlessly upon the cold spot next to him. Fingers itched and curled, clenching onto his bed’s mockery as lips pinched firmly together. It was no use. His alarm would soon ring for him to wake up. His efforts would be meaningless. In an inhale, Evan sat up once more, rubbing a hand over his tired features.

Bare feet dragged themselves out of the master bedroom, green eyes roaming upon the expanse of the penthouse. The sun had yet to reveal its first morning glow, leaving the living area in a suffocating darkness. How could he own such a landscape, and yet, feel so trapped all at once?

Broad, calloused fingertips caressed the nearby wall as he gave himself a push towards the spiraling staircase that led to a secondary area. A mostly empty balcony surrounded by half-walled glass panels that gave a view of the cold, distant safety the penthouse provided below. Slowly, he reached for a floor lamp that soon illuminated a small portion of the balcony where a plush stool resided alongside a wooden easel and various art supplies strewn about. A protective sheet covered the artwork beneath. Evan slipped on a single fingered glove to cover his palm and fifth digit then carefully pushed the sheet out of the way to reveal a broad easel pad. Onto it was a delicately sketched figure; a young man, sleeping peacefully in a meadow, small flowers encircling his body as if they could shelter him from harm. Evan’s gaze lingered upon the young man’s traits fondly as he reached for his charcoal and applied himself in such a way that he could add a fallen pair of glasses onto the grass by his head. For a moment, he was lost in a world of his own, despair fading if only briefly.

Next to his bed, a forgotten phone vibrates, its screen lighting up with a number he wished he had known.

Chapter Text

Evan sat at his desk like he would every day. As vice-president of Macmillan Mines, such was his duty. Rapports, complaints, death and suing threats alike all passed through him. They were first filtered, most of them shredded by others before him, and still, they piled up. Day after day, ever since the accident, it was all that it was, papers upon letters upon papers that twisted and pained Evan’s heart. It turned out that ever since that fateful day, he had become more of a lawyer and press pleaser covering his father’s rear than ever before. The company was slowly sinking under the weight of it all, but Archie Macmillan, almighty as he is, was blinded by contracts and riches, partnering with those who had the same vision as he did and shooting down anyone who thought differently. Sometimes, a faint whisper in the back of his mind wondered if the latter was literal or not. If the information he had gathered with time through the “maids” he hired about the accident was right, he was horrified to think that it might be the case. An unpleasant shudder coursed along his spine. He couldn’t let his mind wander. He would be entering an even more dangerous path than the one he already took.

The Alpha glanced down at his agenda, which he had left open to his right. He had to do a double take at what he witnessed written upon its pages. There was no coherence to the placement of the words. They didn’t follow the template of lines and were scribbled in an unruly fashion, each letter passed over multiple times. There was no doubt that this was his handwriting, but there was a certain clumsiness to it that made him rather uneasy. It looked… angry. Incomplete sentences that still made sense, but one word in peculiar repeated itself here and there upon both pages.

Dwight.

He dreadfully picked one of the pages to flip it back and forth between this week and the next, revealing in some spots letters that had been carved into the next page due to how much force he used to write some of them. It was a telltale sign, staring at him as if it was flashing a bright red, neon warning. One that he ignored as he slammed close his agenda and discarded it rapidly within the confines of his desk drawer.

He leaned back into his leather cushioned office chair with a heavy sigh. Broad, calloused hands clasped themselves together nervously as he pondered upon what he just saw. It couldn’t be. It was too soon. It was too fast.

He didn’t want to lose himself. Not now.

Leaning further back, he squeezed his eyes shut, nostrils wide as he inhaled and passed quivering hands through slicked back hair. Calm. Composed. This would keep the Beast at bay for a little longer. Tilting his head back onto the headrest, he swallowed thickly and breathed deeply to soothe his already frayed nerves. Lashes fluttered as he finally dared to open his eyes only for him to squint when something caught his attention. Alarms blared inside his head when he noticed the loop of what appeared to be a thin, black wire peeking from the flush mount of his office’s ceiling lamp.

“You’re kidding me…”

Evan breathed out in sheer disbelief as he scrambled to his feet and tugged onto his desk with a grunt to pull it underneath the fixture. He climbed onto his desk without a care in the world for the small tower of paperwork that toppled over and scattered upon the floor.

“Sir? Is everything alright? …Sir?”

A gentle mannered Beta lightly knocked upon his door, gasping in shock as he caught sight of his superior smacking recklessly at his ceiling light. A low growl resonated within Evan’s chest as he shoved out the glass panel that shielded the lightbulb within, causing it to fall unceremoniously upon the carpeted flooring of his office, shattering into large pieces. The Beta startled with a yelp, alerting Evan of his presence. The Alpha whipped his head in his direction, glaring at the young man he recognized to be his personal assistant.

“Did you know about this?”

“W-What? K-Know about what?”

“DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?!”

Evan yelled at the poor soul that had dared to check up on him at the worst time imaginable. He yanked the wire free, ripping it along with the tape that maintained it in place as he dropped from his desk to confront the trembling Beta firsthand. The assistant covered his nose and mouth with his hand as the imposing man towered over him, waving the wire in front of his eyes. Sweet, amber eyes that watered at the abrupt aggressivity he was met with. The Alpha took him in, inspecting every inch of his being. A suit too big for his stature, tousled, short brown hair, fingernails gnawed raw and a slightly hunched posture from the fear of confrontation.

“I-I don’t know anything! I don’t even know what this is! P-Please, sir, you’re scaring me!”

The Alpha’s vicious snarl slowly vanished as realization settled in. Damien. The personal assistant he had hired himself five years ago and had been nothing but good to him. In this instant, however, his heart tore with guilt as faint sniffles reached his ears. He looked so much like Dwight; it was enough for the creature screeching its fury within to momentarily quiet down. He didn’t deserve this. It wasn’t his fault.

“I…I’m sorry. I…”

Evan shook his head as he took a minute to breathe and focus his thoughts. He looked down at the wire in his hand, frowning at what this could mean. The article. Right here and then, it all clicked into place. That night when Dwight was at the penthouse, how could anyone acquire information about what happened? There had been nobody in the hallway to spy on them. No paparazzi glaring at them with a camera. Not even a passerby. They had been entirely alone.

So, how did this come to light?

“I think… my father is spying on me. He bugged my office and…”

He most likely bugged every single inch of his residence as well. The idea alone made his blood boil, but unfortunately, it made too much sense. The Beta wiped his nose with a handkerchief, blinking away the tears blurring his vision as he took in his superior’s defeated appearance.

“He was already two steps ahead of me.”

Evan breathed out with a strain in his voice. A fatigue so immense that the word itself wasn’t enough to describe it.

“…Sir? T-This might not be the best moment, b-but, ah, mister MacMillan has returned from his business trip not too long ago. P-Perhaps, it would be best to talk to him and--?”

“…Business trip?”

The Beta froze. It didn’t take much for him to grasp onto the fact that, maybe, he might have committed a grave mistake.

“A-Ah! Yes! Yes! To London, sir! Something about a rather important contact and potential partnership with the company. H-He, ahem, He seemed quite excited about it.”

No response. Damien held his breath when nothingness reflected upon the vice-president’s traits. He remained silent, frightened of what he had just revealed could imply for the Alpha before him.

“…Thank you, Dwight.”

“O-Of course, sir.”

The assistant didn’t dare to correct him, figuring that he had done more than enough missteps for the day and that he should return to the comfort of his desk as fast as he possibly could. And so, he did, scurrying off to his position, typing away at his computer as if to ignore the ticking bomb that was now entering the elevator to reach the very top of the building.

The elevator dinged its arrival, the heavy, metallic doors parting to reveal the figure of his father, standing by tall, impressive windows that offered a marvelous view to the town and the street below, where employees and families of those hurt by the mining accident a year ago marched to-and-fro, manifesting their anger. And with reason. There was a low, gravelly chuckle, his father seemingly mocking the incredible rage emanating from Evan in silent, yet deadly waves. A sphere of ice chimed within the contents of Archibald’s whiskey glass as it was swayed about before the older Alpha sipped from it, hissing at the satisfaction of the sting the rich alcohol provided.

“Took you long enough.”

Slowly, he turned to face his son, a sickening grin stretching into a smile that did nothing but churn Evan’s stomach.

“London, huh?”

“What are you, my parole officer? Give me a break.”

The older Alpha scoffed as his eyes roamed upon his son’s body, cocking a brow at the way his fists clenched until his knuckles burned white. Slowly, he brought his glass to his lips, his gaze piercing through the younger Alpha. Undisturbed, he took another sip from its contents, not giving his son so much as a flinch when the wire wheezed by his ear to clink against the window behind him.

“You missed.”

Archibald muttered, revelling in the fury firing his son’s eyes.

“YOU’RE SPYING ON ME?!”

Evan roared from across the room, fuming at the nonchalance his wrath brought.

“It runs in the family, what can I say?”

The younger Alpha stilled, staring at his father, no, his progenitor, in utter incredulity. There was never anything remotely similar to love in his progenitor’s heart. Not for him. Not even for his mother. He had known beforehand, but he was now witnessing it with his own eyes. All that Archibald MacMillan did was for his own wellbeing. His personal gain towered above the rest. No matter what he accomplished, no matter the suffering he had put himself through to satisfy him throughout the many years of his life. It was all meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

“What are you doing here, anyways? Other than stinking up my office with that disgusting stench of yours?”

Evan blinked; lips parted to respond but was cut short by his progenitor’s twisted sneer.

“You’re fired, Liddell. Did nobody tell you that?”

The disdain and contempt in the man’s tone when pronouncing his mother’s maiden name as if it was nothing but a nauseating spell reeling in the back of his throat made Evan see red. Instinct fogged his brain. Protect. Defend his mother’s name. Shelter his Omega from the pestilent claws that his progenitor closed around him. Without any further thought or fear of consequences, Evan crossed the room, unaware of the elevator signaling its presence with a ding as he clambered awkwardly onto his procreator’s desk, papers and clutter clattering on the floor, to lunge at him. However, his efforts were proven futile, for the second his hand reached for the older man, an unknown strength hauled him back, grabbing onto him from the back of his collar to slam him on the ground. Air knocked out of his lungs as he collided with the floor, Evan coughed, struggling to catch his breath.

“Take note that this Alpha is in rut and has assaulted me.”

He could hear Archibald’s voice dully echo through the veil of his rage, his heart pounding wildly in his ears as Evan rose only to be knocked down again. This time, with a swift kick to his stomach and a man in a black suit sitting heavily on his chest to prevent him from defending himself. Legs thrashed fruitlessly, and soon, his arms and legs were pinned down as two other members of security ensured that he was completely stapled to the floor, incapacitated. Fingers arched and curled in a feral manner as Evan’s body twisted and flailed beneath the force keeping him still. The young Alpha bellowed his anger when the man sitting onto him pulled out a mask that was once fastened to his belt. The one thing any Alpha dreaded more than anything. It was a pale mask, white and pristine on the outside, but within was a mouth guard attached to the mask, a strap for the chin and filters that would impose themselves into nostrils to prevent any scent from passing through. In other words:

His own father was muzzling him.

It was a treatment reserved for the most violent of Alphas. One that was given to the vilest of criminals and one that has been forbidden to be used by the public for years due to its cruelty. And yet, here he was, clenching his teeth and shifting his head in any way possible to avoid the unavoidable. The instant he threw his head back to scream for help, the goon thrusted the mouth guard past his lips and began to install the mask on his person. His voice muffled, his chin was strapped and despite his best efforts, the filters were shoved into his nose and the mask was secured, tightened so that he couldn’t squirm it off.

“Did you really think I would let you be the heir of this company?”

Through the murk of his mind and the panic taking hold of his being, Evan could hear softened footfalls as his procreator slowly walked around his office and stopped by his side, holding his glass of whiskey in one hand while slowly twirling the wire between his other thumb and forefinger.

“I bought the building you live in. I bought your penthouse. You’ll find your bank account frozen in the morning.”

The older Alpha bent to one knee, leaning in to ensure that he was within his son’s now tunneled line of sight and smiled down at him, nodding along at his own words.

“I will make sure that you don’t work anywhere ever again. Make sure that everyone you love hates your sorry excuse for a human being. I’ll make you crawl like a worm and when you’ll beg for me to end your pathetic misery, I’ll watch you burn. I’ll watch you rot on the streets… and I’ll enjoy every last second of it.”

Archibald growled menacingly, a dangerous light flickering in his eyes as he held out the wire in his son’s vision, above his head before pressing it firmly into his hand for him to take.

“You want to be a Liddell so bad? Be my guest. Join her, for all I care. I built this company with nothing but sweat and blood. I took my father’s company and made it what it is today. I am a hunter. You can’t outsmart me. You can’t hunt me down.”

Evan’s breathing picked up, his eyes wide beneath the mask at the familiarity of his words. The horror he felt was nothing compared to the gut-wrenching feeling of failure. He failed this company’s employees, his friends. He failed his mission of dethroning his progenitor. He failed his mother. He failed everyone. Tears of pure frustration blinded him, regaining energy to thrash beneath the men holding him down. His dulled screams reverberated within the vast office as he was dragged to his feet, arms maintained behind him as a security guard handcuffed him while another secured the mask further by installing locks on all three of its straps. The older Alpha laughed as he observed Evan being dragged into the elevator, waving him goodbye.

“You can’t say I didn’t give you anything, you piece of shit.”

The young Alpha growled lowly as the doors closed right before his nose. All that he had done for his father. Everything he wanted to achieve in the name of justice. He had everything he needed to take down his father. Have him arrested. And now, it was all gone. In a matter of minutes, his work dissipated into the abyss of his regrets.

Chapter Text

Dwight paced restlessly within the confines of his room; his eyes locked upon the screen of his mobile phone. Fingers drooped; half curled from where they rested onto his chin as the next victim of his anguish was chewed on. His poor nails hadn’t received this type of treatment in a long while, and yet, despite the nail polish supposed to deter him from such behavior, he couldn’t stop himself.

“Hey hey hey…”

His father’s chastising tone made the nervous brunet raise his head, spitting out the bits of nails in his mouth into his trashcan as the older man huffed heavily and plopped down the laundry basket he had been carrying under his arm onto his son’s bed.

“What’s all this, huh? I thought you were working on that bad habit of yours.”

Dwight pinched his lips firmly together, his gaze flicking between his phone and to John’s austere, yet patient demeanor. He had his arms crossed onto his chest, frowning as he waited for an explanation.

“Well?”

“I-It’s, ah… I-I don’t know h-how to… I have a bad feeling, dad.”

“Alright, come ‘ere.”

John gestured to his son’s bed with his head, taking a seat. He shoved the laundry basket closer to the head of the bed so that Dwight can join him.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

His voice was gruff but comforting. It made Dwight smile faintly when it brought back the memory of his father using that same voice when he was a child afraid of monsters in his closet.

“S-So, uhm… Evan gave me his number a-awhile back a-and, uhm…”

Dwight sat beside his father, staring at his phone as a closed fist rose to press itself within the center of his chest, rubbing that very spot in the hopes to soothe his nerves.

“Yeah? Did you give yours?”

“Ah, uhm, no, no, I didn’t. I-I…”

He inhaled deeply, gathering his thoughts before continuing.

“I called him, actually. A… handful of times, now, I won’t lie.”

“Uh huh…?”

“It’s just that I took some time before calling him and he promised that whenever I called, that he’d answer and that his number was his private number a-and that even if he missed my call that he’d call me back, but the thing is that he hasn’t done that so I’m wondering if he’s angry at me or if I did something wrong? What if I called him too many times and now, he won’t have anything to do with me? What if he hates me, now? I don’t know what to do. Should I call him to tell him I’m sorry? I-I’ve never done this before!”

The Omega eventually babbled out clumsily, spilling forth the source of his anxiety in a rapid cascade of words. John blinked at the onslaught, scratching along the line of his jaw as he pondered his options.

“Aaaahh… I ain’t good with that kinda stuff. Want me to get your mom?”

“…Dad, please. Did… Did I mess this up?”

The pleading gaze and slight croak in his son’s voice melted the older man’s hardened heart as he couldn’t bear seeing him in such a state. It was something that Dwight missed entirely during his high school years, preferring remaining at home to play video games in his room rather than trying to connect with others. Not that he never attempted to, per se, but he was awkward in certain, if not most, social situations and considering his scent being a huge source of this awkwardness, Mary and he never really pressed on the matter. It would seem that the stresses related to crushes had caught up to them. Not that it was a bad thing, but John would admit that he was lacking some experience on the subject.

He did know one thing, however, when it came to love.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but what if… Evan… lied to you? Is that possible?”

“He wouldn’t!”

Dwight straightened up, suddenly gaining confidence in himself as he stood up for a man who wasn’t present. It made John chuckle lightly, raising his hands in sign that he meant no harm. The last thing he wanted was to upset his son, but he felt like this was a necessary conversation to have.

“I’m not saying that he is, but what makes you trust that he isn’t? Do you… know him well?”

“…Not really.”

Dwight breathed out as his shoulders slumped in defeat. It was the reasonable thing to ask. It didn’t mean that he liked it, but his father was right, to some degree. The Omega even brought it up himself upon his return from the hospital. He just wanted to believe him so much. He wondered for an instant if it had to do with this odd pull he felt within the depths of his chest. This feeling anchored so profound that even he couldn’t identify it.

“Ya know, Evan seems like a good kid, but there’s something… off… about him.”

John sniffed, wincing at his poor choice of words, which Dwight picked up on.

“What do you mean?”

“He looks like… how do I put this… The kid looks like he’s hiding something, Dwighty, is all I’m sayin’.”

On this, Dwight flopped back onto his bed with a long sigh, his phone tumbling somewhere to his right as his gaze wandered pensively along his ceiling. He understood what he meant too well. It was the very same thing that held him back from fully admitting that maybe, just maybe, he had a slight weakness for Evan.

“Yeah, he has money. Yeah, he has good looks. I’m just worried, ya know? You’re my son. I don’t want your heart to be broken by some Alpha that’s too stubborn to see all the good things in front of him.”

He leaned back onto his hand, turning his head to look down upon his son with a kind smile.

“Plus, it ain’t all glitter and rainbows to date an Alpha.”

Dwight cocked a brow, silently questioning that peculiar statement considering that his father, himself, was an Alpha.

“Yeah, yeah, I include myself too. When I first started dating your mom all these years ago, it wasn’t easy. Your mom was a Beta, and my family was dead set on me finding my “one true love” through an Omega. They said that every Alpha has their Omega. Their one and only. Your right shoe to your left shoe. You catch my drift.”

Slowly, Dwight propped himself onto his elbows, staring intently at his father, remaining silent as to not disturb him. They never talked about these things. He never knew how his father and mother met.

“Anyways, I ain’t gonna bother you with the details, but when I saw your mom… Mary, she was… everything. She was… the beacon that guided me through the fog. That spark that lit a fire to keep me warm. She was as if the Gods themselves had plucked a ray of sunlight and placed it on Earth just for me. It was love at first sight. Well, for me, it was. Not so much for your mom. Ooooh no. Your mom hated my guts.”

John laughed softly to himself, shaking his head as fond memories flooded him.

“I was an Alpha, so when I declared that I wanted to be with her, that I liked her, she didn’t believe me. She thought I’d dump her as soon as I found that “special Omega”, but even now, thinking about it hurts. I don’t think I’d ever be able to do something like that. See, the thing about Alphas is… there is a lot of expectations when it comes to… a lot of stuff, to be honest. We don’t talk about these things, but they’re there. Where am I going with this?”

John scratched the back of his head, releasing a deep, nasal sigh as a darkness traversed his features.

“Yeah, well, anyways, we have something called ruts. Kinda like Omegas when they’re in heat, but much, much worse. We become stupid, to put it plainly. Unmated Alphas can be dangerous. Once bonded, it’s fine. Just the regular horniness and whatnot. Getting a lil’ territorial and more protective here and there, but nothing too big. Unmated Alphas? It depends on the person, of course, but it’s always unpredictable. A gentle soul would be acting like a bonded Alpha, no matter what, but sometimes, it can become ugly real fast. We call it “the Beast”. That primal part of us that wants to come out and play, except it’s a little too rough when it does.

Everything becomes a threat. Everything irritates you. Anything could come between you and the one you like, and even if you don’t have someone you like, there’s always that pretty partner that makes you feel the same way. It’s like… a switch… and it could drive any Alpha mad. Loneliness. Anger. Rejection. Frustrations. Grief. All those nasty emotions, you feel them tenfold and, sometimes, in extreme cases, it can make an Alpha… well… violent.

Your mom rejected me, at first. I don’t blame her, it hurt like hell, but I respected her decision.”

A deep frown knitted itself upon Dwight’s forehead as he feared where his father was headed with his story.

“My Alpha, though? Not so much. I had to prove myself to her. I had to show her that I was the best of the best. That nobody else compared to good ol’, dumbass me. Ya know what I did?”

Dwight shook his head, raising his hand to gnaw upon his fingernails, only for it to be gently swatted away by his father with a stern glare before continuing.

“Well, I wanted to impress her, so, of course, my Alpha thought it was a good idea to show her that I could help provide to her needs and all that nonsense. I went up to her front porch, rang her doorbell. She answered… and screamed. Screamed in horror because I brought her a “present”. A rabbit. A dead rabbit. In a primal minding, it makes sense, yeah? “Look! I brought food! I killed this to feed us!” Buncha macho bullshit, if you ask me, but it's not like I had something to say about it.

Mind you, I’d never lift a finger against whoever, I’d never hurt anyone. Ever. It’s just not me. ‘Course, got the cops called on my sorry ass because that’s one of the sane things to do in this situation, if not the only one, really. Dwighty, I can still remember it. How it felt. How I stood there, in front of her, showing off my hunting skills like I deserved a damn prize for it, but you know what felt worse?

It was that it wasn’t me. It was like I was watching someone else do these things through my own eyes. It’s like being there, and not at the same time.

The thing though, is that, well, it wasn’t exactly considered normal behavior, back then. It would be something an Alpha would do to impress an Omega. Not a Beta. And so, your mom was a bright cookie, still is, she drove all the way down to the police station, sat in front of the cell I was rotting in, and you know what she did? She pulled out a book from her bag and read to me.”

Thunk.

Screee.

The Alpha reached inside the laundry basket to retrieve a piece of garment Dwight was quite familiar with. His hoodie with the design of the white rabbit of Alice in Wonderland on its back. John rubbed the pad of his thumbs carefully onto its fabric.

“Alice…”

Dwight breathed out with a saddened smile, his father nodding along.

“The thing is that she tried something a lot of people didn’t know back then... or didn’t dare to do. There’s only one thing, one person, who can soothe a pained Alpha. Only one. And that’s the person who you’re meant to be with.

Mind you, it didn’t stop people from doing all sorts of crazy things to calm an Alpha in rut. Tranquilizers were used most of the time and we had these… masks. These white masks. Thank the Gods, there was a law passed against these masks and they were removed from the market for good, but holy crap, Dwight. These things… You couldn’t talk. You couldn’t eat. You couldn’t see properly. You couldn’t breathe properly. Some people died wearing these things.

But your mom didn’t believe in any of that. Bless her soul. In that cell, she saw me at my lowest, but it didn’t stop her. She read to me, and that voice. It was as if it was the only thing I could hear clearly. It was… music. For the first time, I was at peace during a rut… or in general, really. Whenever she was done reading, she’d sit on the floor in front of me and she’d hold my hand. I’d be laying down on the floor, being a sweaty, growling mess, but she’d hold my hand through the bars and… wait for as long as she could.”

Thunk.

Screee.

John cleared his throat when he heard emotion in his own voice. Dwight had to admit that he was a tad confused as to where his father was going with his train of thought. The story pulled at his heartstrings, but they rarely had talks like these and Dwight understood that clumsiness too well. He was never the best at expressing himself as well, so he waited patiently, giving his father the time he needed.

“W-What I mean to say is that it’s not easy, dating an Alpha. We’re rough around the edges, pushed to become these great, successful people like we’re some sort of super humans when we’re not. That constant stress to impress others. To be the best at everything. It gets to you. Takes its toll on you. People would tell you otherwise. Hell, even Alphas would make sure that nobody knows they can be vulnerable too, but… everyone can see it. During our ruts, that’s when everything that’s been bottled in comes out and… it's not always pretty.”

Thunk.

Screee.

The older man raked his fingertips through his short, tousled hair, quivering with nervousness.

“We’re all messes, Dwighty. We’re all just a mess wanting nothing more than to find another mess to get us, to be vulnerable with… to complete us. You’re like your mom. You’re a beautiful soul and I hope Evan will see that. No matter who your “one and only” turns out to be, I know you’ll be that same light for that lucky person just like your mom was for me.”

Thunk.

Screee.

Suddenly, Dwight hugged his father from the side, startling John at first, then visibly relaxing as he ruffled his son’s hair.

“Thanks, dad.”

“Yeah, sorry I “old man rambled” for a second, there. Don’t know if it’s of much help, but I did warn you I wasn’t good at this.”

The Omega laughed softly as he retreated from his father, taking hold of his quivering hand to give a light pat on the back of it.

“It was perfect.”

Thunk.

Screee.

“Okay, what the hell is that sound?”

John interrupted as he stood and pushed a curtain aside to peek out the window. He grumbled something Dwight couldn’t quite catch under his breath. Promptly, a blood-curdling scream echoing from downstairs caused both men to lose all color from their faces.

“Mary? MARY?!”

John called out to his wife, rushing out of his son’s bedroom only to return seconds later.

“Call 9-1-1.”

“W-What? But mom, she’s--!”

“NOW, DWIGHT!”

His father’s shout scared the Omega to fumble with his phone, calling the police as fast as his shaking hands allowed him to as John disappeared from sight, stomping down the stairs.

“HEY! GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

He could hear the older man’s powerful voice boom from downstairs, slightly muffled, but enough to make Dwight’s heart hammer in his ears.

“Come on. Come on.”

Dwight whispered, hurrying off his bed to head to his window when signs of conflict reached his ears. His eyes widened in horror as he witnessed his father shoving away a tall, imposing man with the taper of his baseball bat on the front lawn. The man wore a gruesome looking mask, but every single instinct in his body wailed. It didn’t feel right. This wasn’t some stranger. It was…

“Oh my god…”

The brunet breathed out, cancelling his call, chucking his phone on his mattress as he ran out his room, grasped onto the stairs’ handrail’s post to spin himself and sprint down the stairs.

“Dad! DAD! STOP!”

He never experienced anything like this before. This pure rush of adrenaline. This primal fear devouring the pit of his stomach.

Don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him.

He rushed past his frightened mother, shrieking at him to come back inside, almost tripping over what appeared to be a travelling bird cage. Within, an impressive crow cawed in distress, making its cage tumble and sway as it flapped its wings to free itself.

He didn’t hear her. He couldn’t hear the bird.

It was as if the world shut itself down, muted to his tunneled senses. Evan. This was Evan. Behind the etched, once pristine, yet terrifying white mask was Evan. It was scratched all over, clawed upon most likely in a desperate urge to take it off. The hints of blood upon it as well as Evan’s bloodied fingertips certainly didn’t go unnoticed to Dwight. It didn’t take much for him to connect the dots.

“DAD, STOP! IT’S EVAN!”

Dwight screamed at the top of his lungs as he inserted himself between the two Alphas, holding out his hands for his father to cease his shoving. Thankfully, he highly doubted his father would’ve actually hit the other Alpha with the bat, but he didn’t wish for this to escalate any further. Even less given Evan’s distraught appearance.

“…Oh my god, you’re right.”

John muttered as realization dawned upon him. Behind his son stood an Alpha filled with dread and despair. Even as they spoke, he was groaning pitifully, squeezing his fingers beneath the mask to fruitlessly yank at it to tear it off, but to no avail. Whoever was twisted enough to put this on him ensured there was no possibility whatsoever for him to take it off by himself.

“Holy shit, who did this to you?”

Dwight panted heavily, catching his breath as he turned his back to his father, ignoring him for now as Evan quickly took priority.

“Evan. Evan, stop. Stop, you’re hurting yourself.”

He hushed as his hands delicately cradled the man’s head to steady him and tilt it upwards so that the small holes the mask had for eyes lined up with him. Dwight’s heart sank as he discerned the distinct sound of wheezing as Evan huffed through his mask, struggling to breathe.

“Evan?”

Dwight murmured, worry lacing his voice as the young Alpha growled, tugging at his mask stubbornly until the Omega took both hands in his and squeezed firmly in the hopes to anchor him. Heavy, laboured breathing and the distant sounds of the outside world were all that could be taken in as an overall silence weighed among the small family.

“It’s me. You’re going to be okay.”

The Omega stilled as the Alpha before him slipped his hands out of his so that he could wrap his arms tightly around his waist, his head dropping face first onto his shoulder. Dwight winced at the dull pain that came with the mask awkwardly bumping into him, but in all honestly, this was the least of his worries.

“Okay… Okay… That’s it.”

Dwight consoled him as he loosely returned his embrace, cupping the back of his head reassuringly, but also to feel the restraints of the mask. He glanced over Evan in order to snap his father out of his shock.

“Dad, it’s too tight.”

“Probably did that to himself trying to take it off. Poor guy.”

The baseball bat was long discarded onto the lawn as John carefully approached them, holding up his hands when the younger Alpha growled in warning, fingers digging and pulling at Dwight’s shirt as he pressed him against his chest protectively.

“Look. No weapons. It’s entirely my bad for not noticing it was you, but you have to let me take a peek at this so we can rid you of that piece of garbage, alright?”

There was a grunt of discontentment as Evan buried the mask in the crook of Dwight’s neck, making the Omega in his arms gasp softly as he was pressed ever closer to him. The man radiated heat and a pleasant, yet powerful, earthy scent filled his nostrils. Eyes fluttered close as he basked in the mind spinning sensations that invaded his very being. Safe. Warmth. Love. Like a ray of sunlight plucked from the Heavens, just like his father said. He thought it had been an exaggeration of the moment, but no, he was right. There was no better way to describe it.

“Son of a—Mary, the sick bastard locked it. Straps look pretty thick too.”

He could hear his father grumble in the distance followed by his mother’s soft, outraged gasp at this new piece of information. Footsteps in the grass stirred Dwight from the comfort of his trance.

“Come on, son. Let’s get you inside. We’ll take care of you.”

John clasped a firm, yet compassionate hand upon the younger Alpha’s shoulder. Half-heartedly, Dwight pried himself from the sliver of home he found within Evan as his father guided the other inside. The Omega shook his head, breathing in some fresh air to clear his mind and as he followed, he caught his mother’s hushed voice.

“John…”

“Oh my god.”

She pointed at the source of earlier’s odd sound. The door was etched in deep scratches that mirrored those found on Evan’s mask. He scrapped his face against the door not only to get their attention, but in one last effort to rip his mask off.

“I hate these fucking things.”

John muttered and with reason. Dwight would voluntarily chop that horrid mask and set it on fire himself if he could. Mary ushered everyone inside, grabbing the crow’s cage and mindfully closing the door behind herself in one, swift movement.

“Evan, sweetheart. Grab yourself a seat. I’ll be with you in a second, okay?”

She walked in line of Evan’s restrained vision, holding up the cage to show him that she had it with her before bringing it over to the kitchen table, setting it in the middle. With this, she walked to the closet below the staircase, retrieving a plush, folded towel that she placed neatly in front of a seat before disappearing again.

“Evan?”

Dwight gently took his hand, guiding a reluctant Alpha to sit at the table. As he plopped down, the Omega pulled himself a seat so he could be by his side.

“Alrighty then!”

His mother chirped as she returned with a pair of fabric shears, causing Evan to tense considerably next to him. His breathing picked up and Dwight laid a comforting hand upon his knee.

“It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.”

“Could you put your head down, sweetheart? We’ll cut this dreadful mask off.”

Hesitantly, Evan did as he was told, lowering his head until his face was cradled by the plush towel. The angle was uncomfortable, worsening the wheeze in his breathing, but it would only be temporary.

“John, dear, could you…?”

Mary gestured towards Evan with her head and John sprung into action, holding Evan’s head still so that there wouldn’t be any disastrous accidents during the procedure.

“Deep breaths, son. It’ll be over soon.”

The young Alpha’s shoulders rose and fell rapidly as panic settled in when Mary positioned herself behind him, leaning in to ready herself to cut.

“Don’t move.”

With this, she first cut through the thinnest strap which was also the one restraining his chin up to force his mouth close. A sharp gasp from Evan as he took his first real gulp of air in literal hours tore Dwight’s heart apart. The upper part of the mouth guard was still lodged onto his upper row of teeth, but at least, he could breathe through his mouth, now.

“You’re doing amazing, Alpha.”

A broad hand blindly searched for his, squeezing tightly and for the first time, Dwight saw Evan in his rawest form. It was unpleasant. It made his stomach twist in anguish to see him in such distress, but this was Evan. No flourish. No appearances.

“Dwighty? You alright?”

His father’s voice rose the Omega’s head only for him to notice that his vision had blurred with tears. Perhaps he was more affected by this than he first presumed.

“Inhale. There we go…”

Dwight followed his father’s guidance, mimicking his breathing, inhaling deeply through his nostrils, and releasing it all passed his lips. He returned Evan’s squeeze, hearing his mother hiss faintly, retreating the scissors when the young Alpha started to grow impatient.

“John!”

She squeaked, keeping her voice low so to not panic furthermore the already frantic Alpha. John apologized under his breath, strengthening his hold onto Evan who growled in response.

“Easy, son. Almost done.”

 With a displeased sigh and a glare thrown at her husband, Mary carefully approached her scissors to the straps, grimacing in sympathy when she noticed a slight cut to the young man’s skin. All because of this one moment of inattention. It was nothing bad, but it was enough to make her feel dreadful for hurting him. Even if it was an accident. Thick, resistant straps were painfully slowly cut through. One could see her struggle with the appalling nature of the task, a wince twisting her features as she wiggled her scissors when they got lodged into the strap.

“Oh fiddlesticks…”

She muttered under her breath as she reopened them and attempted a new angle. There was a worried look upon John’s features, something he would never admit himself, but that Dwight caught for a brief moment. He wondered if his father had grown fond of the younger man, after all, but that was for another time.

“…Mary?”

“Oh shush, John.”

His father pinched his lips closed and an exacting silence installed itself until a long sigh of relief could be heard as the middle strap finally cut loose.

“That should do it. No need to cut the third one.”

She informed as she sat down her scissors and shifted behind Evan’s seat.

“I’m going to slip my fingers in there and we’ll take those filters right out, alright? Then we can take this thing off you, okay sweetie? Here we go.”

Mary’s fingers mindfully parted the mask from the Alpha’s face to make some space for her to work. Evan stilled completely as her slender fingers hooked onto the bridge that connected the mask to the filters plugged in his nostrils and began to wiggle it downwards in her best efforts to not hurt him in the process.

A deep, pained groan escaped Evan as he was finally freed of the filters, the mask pushed downwards to relieve him of the upper row of the mouth guard and, at long last, the mask slid right off him.

“Oh dear. Oh dear…”

Mary murmured as she took in his bloodied nose and hurried to grab tissues for him. John stepped away for a minute, tension melting from his body now that it was all over.

“Jesus Christ.”

He plopped down into a seat, taking hold of the damnable object before chucking it down the hallway with a clatter loud enough to startle Mary and Dwight. They would throw it away later.

“Here you go, darling.”

Evan’s head drooped, most likely lightheaded from the roller coaster of emotions and the sudden rush of oxygen now that he could breathe properly. Tissues were kindly held to his nose and Evan shakily took over, pinching nose and tissues together.

As horrifying as the experience was, questions appeared in Dwight’s mind. Most of them revolved as to how this came to happen in the first place, but something even more alarming came to mind. Why did he come here to have it removed? Would he not have gone to family, his own father, first?

“Evan, who did this to you?”

Mary reiterated the earlier question and the silence she received screamed a thousand words. With a deep inhale, Dwight’s eyes closed in realization. He came to them because he didn’t have anyone else to go to. He couldn’t go to his father because…

“Is it…? No, it can’t be, can it? O-Oh, Evan… That’s awful. I…I have no words.”

“Who does this to their own child? Twisted fucker, always hated him.”

“John, not now.”

Dwight could see that something was… off with Evan. Now that the mask was removed, all signs of agitation, or anything, for that matter, had disappeared altogether. He had become entirely silent. Too calm for his liking.

“…Evan?”

Dwight breathed out, tuning out his parents’ disagreements towards the treatment of the young Alpha to focus on Evan himself. If he had this mask on, didn’t it mean that he was in a rut? And if he remembered his father’s words, wouldn’t it mean that he’d be all over the place? He did notice the change in Evan’s scent. Stronger, more important and imposing. It was heavy on the senses, and yet, he was the complete opposite of what his father described. Frighteningly so.

“…John, we can’t just kick him out of our house after all of this! We have a guest room; he could stay until this is over.”

He caught his mother’s hushed voice, his father shaking his head reluctantly at her words, as if refusing the proposition wounded him.

“In case you’re forgetting, we have an unmated Omega living under our roof. We can’t let him stay. What if he—”

“Hogwash! Look at him!”

Dwight tore his eyes away only to jump in his seat when he was met with Evan’s intense gaze piercing right through him. It was unwavering. The Omega swallowed thickly, paling at the unsettling lack of blinking as he seemingly stared deep within his very being. His hold upon his hand tightened enough to make him wince. Now that the filters were taken out, just how much of his scent could he catch? How powerful was it for this Alpha when his own scent, at its very base, could be overwhelming to some?

Just how much of Evan was currently with them in this instant? How much of the Alpha was he witnessing?

…And how much control did he have over it?

Chapter Text

“GAH!”

Dwight yelped when he opened his bedroom door to stumble face to face with a wall of muscles. In the last twenty-four hours, he had learnt that his father was definitely not lying when he said that Alphas in rut became more protective towards the person they coveted. Wherever he went, Evan was always close behind, watching his every movement. He found that Evan was also incredibly silent during that time, but his body did the talking for him. He was very antsy and would interfere with everything Dwight undertook. It was clear to the Omega that he was merely nervous that he would get hurt by doing whatever it was that he was doing, but it felt so strange. It was almost as if he had gained a bodyguard in less than forty-eight hours. Although, he supposed it made sense. Back at the hospital, Evan had been incredibly attentive to his every need and would be by his side in seconds if anything went slightly amiss, and so, if everything was amplified while in a rut, then it was in character for him to be this way.

However, while he was flattered to be said person, waking up to find someone standing mere centimetres away from his bedroom door, waiting there for only the gods knew how long just to give him this heart attack was not something that he was looking forward to.

He had barely rubbed the sands of sleep from his eyes, he looked like a mess, his hair in a terrible bedhead and his pale blue, striped pyjamas bunched up, wrinkled, and even drooping off his shoulder. His mouth was pasty and tasted foul from acid reflux, and so, no, he did not feel like he was the most exquisite sight right now.

“Good morning?”

Dwight attempted as he rested a hand over his chest to calm his hammering heart. It may be almost one in the afternoon, but it was too early for this. It would always be too early for this, no matter the time of the day.

Silence.

If anything, Evan’s breathing merely picked up at his words.

“Evan? I need to go to the bathroom.”

The young Alpha pondered on the request before stepping aside to allow Dwight to cross the hallway to the bathroom and, of course, he was right on his heels. It reminded Dwight of a lost puppy, hands clenching and loosening by his sides as if he wanted to reach out to him but withheld himself from doing so. It was adorable, in its own way, seeing such a gentle giant out of a man he had been terrified to even think about talking to not that long ago.

What he didn’t expect was that he would follow him into the bathroom as well. He wasn’t giving him a single inch to move, and Dwight had to inhale deeply when he stopped in the tracks of his morning routine, which caused Evan to bump into him. Alright, maybe he needed to set some boundaries.

“Alpha?”

Evan perked up at the title, looking at him expectantly.

“C-Could you wait outside? I really admire what you’re doing, but I think I can pee and take a shower without having a major accident.”

The Alpha brightened up at first at the other’s praise, but it soon faded when he was asked to leave. Dwight felt a twinge of regret seeing his reaction, but this was a reasonable request, wasn’t it? It’s not like they were mated, and yet, all of this attention to every detail almost made it seem like he was acting like it. He wasn’t too sure how he felt about that one yet.

“…Please?”

Evan huffed through his nostrils, which, thankfully, had only been scratched upon the removal of the mask’s filters. He had bled at first, but now, it all appeared to be back to normal and it didn’t occur again. Still, Dwight made a mental note to keep an eye on it, just in case.

With a long moment of consideration, the Alpha finally gave him some privacy and Dwight released a breath he wasn’t aware he had been holding until now. He didn’t close the door on his way out and Dwight decided that, perhaps, to ease his mind, he should leave it ajar. Considering the circumstances, Dwight would have to admit that he was rather surprised by Evan’s behaviour. He had heard so many horror stories about Alphas in rut, and most recently, his father’s version, but Evan was nothing like what he had been told. He was overly protective, yes, but it wasn’t like he was aggressive, violent, or humping his leg. He had spent the last twenty-four hours under the same roof as an unmated Omega to whom he had expressed his desire of courting, and he had been nothing but a perfect gentleman.

Well, he would be lying if he said he didn’t notice some obvious “discomfort” in Evan’s lower regions whenever he was in his presence, but he never acted upon it, seemingly happy with merely watching over him instead. His father did mention gentle souls acted like mated Alphas during their ruts and he wondered if Evan might be one of them. The thought made him smile fondly.

Quickly undressing himself, Dwight stepped into the shower, adjusting the taps to his preferred temperature before tipping his head back under the soothing jet of water. Its warmth trickled down his body, embracing each curve and every inch of softness. While it was true that delivering pizzas on his bicycle helped to keep him in shape somewhat, he still had love handles that he had never truly been able to get rid of. He was usually fine with this, he never had any issues with his body, and he was comfortable as he was, but knowing there was an Alpha within the vicinity that had his eyes set on him every single minute of the day made him feel a tad self-conscious. To be scrutinized under such intensity would do that to anyone, he supposed.

With a sigh and a shake of his head to rid himself of his doubt, he began to shampoo his hair, scrubbing roughly against his scalp. He couldn’t understand what Evan found so interesting in him. He was so painfully… average. At least, he believed he was compared to the extravagance of Evan’s life. The son of a powerful, millionaire CEO wanted to court him because he stood out at a picnic dedicated to him by wearing something inappropriate for such an event? It had been only a hoodie. It was just…

“Alice…”

Dwight whispered to himself, remembering just how many times Evan had brought up this story in different ways during their time together. The sketches of rabbits in his sketchbook, the references… so many references.

How did it all tie together with him, of all people? He wasn’t the only person in this world that liked Alice in Wonderland. Trying to comprehend the meaning of it all gave him a hint of a headache. That and the fact that he hadn’t eaten anything yet. His mind wandered, distracting him enough to make him forget that he had already shampooed his hair and was doing so a second time.

“Dang it.”

He muttered when soap rolled down his temple and aimed for his eye, causing him to hiss and blindly search about for his washcloth at the burn. In his distraction, his foot slipped due to the excess shampoo that had accumulated at the bottom of the tub he was standing in, making him lose his balance and fall. The plastic squeaked as his shoulder connected with the slanted, curved end of the tub, his head whipping and, thankfully, barely missing the tiled wall of the shower. A pained shout escaped his lips before he could realize the consequences of his most ungraceful fall. He could hear footfalls rushing towards the bathroom and Dwight paled considerably when the door was shoved open before he could even scramble back to his feet.

“DON’T COME IN! DON’T! I’M FINE!”

Dwight called out despite the Alpha already being in the room, yanking the shower curtain aside. He, too, had grown quite pale as both stared at one another in horror at what just transpired. For Dwight, it was out of sheer embarrassment, but for Evan, the Omega could clearly see the distress upon his features. He thought he failed him. Dwight attempted to cover his dignity as much as he could, but it was too late. Broad hands wandered hurriedly upon his naked body, searching for any sign of potential wounds, cradling his head while Dwight twisted himself to press his groin against the side of the tub to hide himself as much as he could.

“Stop… Stop it! I’m fine!”

A wet smack could be heard as Dwight swatted the prying hands away. Water pitter-pattered upon his body still and the Omega squeezed his eyes close. How humiliating.

“D-Don’t look!”

He held onto his shoulder, wincing as he began to sit up in the tub, grasping onto the edge to pull himself upright. It was a rather late thing to ask, considering he was pretty sure he had already seen all of him in his naked glory, but he couldn’t bear to see the look in his eyes at the scene he was offering. Evan had the decency to pull his gaze away out of respect for him, avoiding him altogether as he knelt by the tub to turn off the tabs.

“Ow…”

Dwight grimaced as the plastic of the tub squealed at the contact of naked, drying skin against its material. The fall had knocked the wind out of his lungs, and he found himself trying to catch his breath, but the anxiety of being exposed so openly, of being so vulnerable in front of Evan, made it a rather complicated endeavor. He felt like such an idiot, sitting in a puddle of soapy water while the Alpha waited patiently by his side.

It was then that a comforting touch of Evan’s forehead pressed against the side of his head stirred him from his own horrified perception. A featherlight caress along his arm rose goosebumps in its wake. A silent question with an equally silent answer. Evan cupped his hand over the one that held his arm close to his body, kindly moving it aside so he could take in the large bruise beginning to bloom there. Lips pinched firmly together, Evan placed his other hand underneath his arm to raise it and test its movements. Dwight hissed but understood what he was doing. Thankfully, nothing appeared to be broken or out of place. His pride most likely took most of the blunt of this fall, but it didn’t mean that it hadn’t been a scary experience.

With a nasal huff, Evan straightened up only to…

“W-What a-are you doing?”

The Omega’s voice croaked as Evan stepped into the tub, fully clothed, and squeezed his tall, broad frame as much as he could behind him.

“You’re going to get yourself wet! I can get out by myself!”

The sight was kind of absurd. The tub could barely fit his smaller figure when he was fully laying down in it, so for him to try and fit as well, long legs awkwardly propped on either side of him with his clothed toes curling against the opposite side of the tub because they were pushing against it made Dwight chuckle faintly.

It was all very uncomfortable. Literally and figuratively. Yet not a single peep was made on Dwight’s part when strong arms wrapped around his stomach and pulled him flush against the Alpha’s front. Evan leaned forward, somewhat forcing Dwight to move along with him due to how cramped they were and plugged the tub before switching the tabs so that water would pour directly into the tub instead of the shower head.

“…What are you doing?”

Dwight asked once again as the bath slowly filled. It was clear that Evan didn’t mind being drenched for the sake of the Omega’s comfort. Once the bath was full, Evan shifted carefully to turn off the tabs then sat back against the slanted end of the tub, encouraging Dwight to rest against him. The Omega was hesitant at first, cradling his own naked body protectively as he eyed the Alpha behind him.

“Fine…”

He murmured, giving in to the quiet demand as he laid back, Evan adjusting him so that his head was pillowed against his shoulder. Amber hues wandered upon the bathroom ceiling as a tense silence wafted into the atmosphere. Slowly, Evan unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt’s sleeves, rolling them upwards before rubbing the inside of his wrists together. To do so, he had to wrap his arms around the Omega, who cocked his brow at the gesture. Before he could ask, they were pressed on either side of his neck, circling the very point of contact and almost immediately, Dwight began to relax against him.

He was scenting him, but it was more than a mere scent. It was reassurance. That he was here for him. He smelled like… the woods. Of morning dew upon freshly awakened leaves. It was pure. Clear. Evergreen trees that pierced through the thickness of his own, sickly-sweet scent. He hadn’t noticed it until now because it had been so discreet next to his own, all-consuming scent. He couldn’t help but bask in the mind clearing freshness of it. Eyelids grew heavy as the rest of his body progressively grew limp in the other’s arms.

What was happening to him?

It was as if all tension, all strength, had been sapped entirely from his body. He was sluggish, malleable under his touch. He had never experienced something of the sort before and it was a little frightening. His heartbeat sped within his chest, pounding wildly as the Alpha carefully grabbed his hand and brought it upwards to press his lips delicately on the inside of his wrist before bringing it to his cheek for him to rub against.

Did he poison him? Well, that was an extreme conclusion to jump to, but he had seen it in a movie before! Maybe something was slipped in the tub, reacted with the… plastic… and… Alright, he quickly recognized the utter absurdity of it all, but… how? Almost as if sensing his panic, Evan plopped his chin atop of his shoulder, crooking his neck uncomfortably downwards to do so. Their difference in size was truly notable in this position and, wait, what was that sound? A subtle frown knitted Dwight’s brows as he heard a rumble. A profound echo that created a faint vibration against his back.

He was purring. Dwight always believed that it was only Omegas that could achieve such a feat, but apparently, he had been misled. It almost resembled a growl, and he wondered if it was due to inexperience. Had he ever had opportunities to purr? Was he ever granted the right to do so? A saddening thing to think about. Slowly, calloused fingertips brushed along the short, tousled hair, rubbing together as if noticing that there were still considerable amounts of shampoo in it. And so, he was gently guided forward, head lowered as the Alpha scooped water from the tub to wash away the residue, scrubbing meticulously his scalp before repeating the gesture until his hair was thoroughly rinsed.

It was almost as if they were dancing in a very cramped space, Evan shifting his arms, moving his body with such grace that it felt like he was in a trance. This weight on his being, the light-headedness of his mind, lifted by the other’s scent. There was intimacy in his touch, caresses that had Dwight gasp and melt further within the shelter of his arms. Never had he been treated with such respect. Worshipped with each droplet of water that was showered upon him. He barely noted the featherlight press of lips upon his bruising shoulder until it was taken away from him. He felt frail, wounded, and still, Evan cared for him like he was the most precious artefact. His tenderness, however, halted upon reaching his waist, retreating to stretch out and swiftly pull a towel from a nearby rack. He understood, and he was beyond grateful for it, but his heart yearned in ways he didn’t think possible until now. His anxiety screamed one thing, his reason whispered, forgotten long ago, and his heart sang another. It was all so confusing. A turmoil of emotions that he no longer held the reins of. The towel was tucked either side of his hips and it was the very instant delicate fingertips touched skin that Dwight snapped out of whatever pink filtered fog he had been brought into, racing out of the tub in a wild splash.

“Alright! I’m good to go!”

He exclaimed, clearing his throat when his voice peaked. In his hurry, his foot slipped on the bathroom tiles but swiftly caught himself by stepping back onto the mat by the tub. He didn’t wish to repeat another accident so soon after the one he just had. Wide eyes stared back at him; lips parted in a silent inquiry that Dwight pried himself away from just in time to avoid the sheer hurt that appeared there. Holding onto the wet, heavy towel to preserve his intimacy, Dwight rushed out of the room without so much as a word, leaving the Alpha to pry himself out of the tub on his own.

“Oh my god. Oh my god…”

The Omega breathed out as he hopped out of the hallway and into his bedroom, away from potentially curious gazes. He didn’t even know if his parents were home and, oh lord, did they hear him fall? Did they hear any of this?! As he slammed his bedroom door close, he wanted to screech out all his frustrations, but decided to convince himself that he was better than that. Somehow.

Slorp. Thuck. Slorp. Thuck.

Sluggish footfalls could be heard, muffled, right on the other side of his very door. The unpleasant sound of water-loaded socks slapping ungracefully against the floor. Dwight stepped away, taking in the puddle that began to gather under his door, spreading into his room. A shadow stood still, and Dwight shuddered. Whether it was from the cold air prancing upon his skin or the discomfort that accompanied the sight, he couldn’t tell. He inhaled, apprehending the inevitable, but when neither the knob nor the shadow moved, it was as if all had frozen in time. Why didn’t he simply walk in? There was no lock on his door and nothing in its way that would block him if ever he intended to open it. He didn’t know how much time had passed, gaping at his door in a mix of incredulousness and, perhaps, a hint of fear, but eventually, the shadow moved and the sound of drenched socks slurping along the floor reached his ears, alerting him that Evan was now descending the stairs, most likely headed for the guest room his parents had so graciously allowed him to stay in.

Dwight relieved a trembling sigh, eyes fluttering close upon the realization that he was finally alone.

Alone with his thoughts.

That’s what he had always been. He had gotten used to it. Resigned himself to it.

Solitude.

He had been convinced that he would die on his own, maybe with one or two cats by his side. Never in a million years would he had ever anticipated someone, a single person, to disturb his lonely raft at sea in such a fashion. He had friends to chat with online and his parents had been with him through thick and thin, but throughout the years, he had isolated himself. Right here. In this very room. Those four walls were the only thing he knew. The only place he recognized as safe. No matter how many times he had daydreamed about having a house, an outstanding job that would make his parents proud, a family of his own; whenever he was confronted by the mere idea of his routine being shaken, he returned to where he first began.

He wanted nothing more than to leave these four walls, but he was terrified of the unknown. This isolation was all that he ever knew. His entire life was summarized within the confines of this space he called his safe haven.

His scent.

Even with the medication that Evan so generously paid for, it was all he could think about. If he left his house, someone would notice. Someone would comment on it. Someone could attack him. It never happened, but what if someone did?

What if? What if?

Tears burned the back of his eyes as he plopped unceremoniously onto his bedroom floor, sitting in his own puddle of his self-brought misery. He had mentioned wanting to go to the aquarium before and Adam had been right, it had been the first time in a very long while since he last even squeaked a simple desire of going outside… voluntarily. That idea alone was alarming. His job as a delivery boy for PizzaWhat had somewhat helped him step outside of his comfort zone, but it wasn’t necessarily the same. That was out of obligation. To make it seem as if he wasn’t as useless as he actually felt.

But how long did he have? How long could he push Evan away before he left him for good? How long before he would truly be on his own again, back to the welcoming embrace of the nothingness he had created for himself?

He had never experienced such peace before. In Evan’s arms, it was as if all his darkest thoughts had faded away, and that was what made him panic. He had never felt this way before, and he feared the yearning in his heart. He feared shattering the cycle. He was so scared of letting anyone perceive him as what he truly was. Who he truly was.

“I’m such a pathetic mess.”

He breathed out his inner voice as he bundled his own body in such a way that his thighs pressed upon his chest, his forehead resting upon the flat of his knees while his hands cradled the back of his neck. It was so distant now, the featherlight caress of Evan’s lips upon his shoulder, his healing touch upon his body. Upon his broken soul.

Did he even deserve it?

This love. This affection.

He was nothing. He had nothing to offer.

Why him? Why?

What did he do in this current life and the previous that Fate decided to torture him this way? Sobbing to himself while curled up like the naked insect he was?

Through the veil of his tears, something caught his attention in the corner of his eyes. In the small puddle left behind by Evan, golden petals slipped underneath his door. One by one, they floated in as if each petal were a small boat sent to sea to reach his rickety raft. They came to a halt upon reaching the land of his dry floor, gathering as if to form a garden just for him. In fact, he recognized those petals from the flowers in his mother’s flowerbed, which told him that his parents definitely weren’t home, or else, Evan would’ve lost his head right here and then before he even had the idea of doing something like this.

Resting his cheek upon his knee, a watery smile formed upon his tired features, witnessing, and taking in the kind gesture. It would be a nightmare to mop later, but for once, he didn’t want to care about something so trivial. Bare toes curled as he locked eyes with the outside world knocking on his door, pondering what he should do. Hesitantly, he bloomed from his curling position and stood before the only wall that separated him from what he feared. From the unknown.

Slowly, the door creaked open just enough for him to peek outside, his gaze lowering itself upon the Alpha kneeling before him, flower stems in one hand, golden petals in the other. Emerald met amber as both men talked in silence through the small space of the door left ajar between them. A shield that Dwight desperately clung to. The Omega ended their conversation by lowering his eyes. A broad hand flattened itself against the door, inching it further open. A faint thud was heard as Dwight’s forehead rested upon his wooden shield, fear taking hold of him once more. His breath quickened, recognizing that he was further exposing himself by opening his door to him. His vulnerability would pierce through. He would see him as he was. Neither moved, but Dwight could still sense that Evan’s hand remained pressed against the door, waiting calmly to be allowed in.

The door inched further open, Dwight pulling tentatively onto the knob to aid the Alpha in his quest until nothing remained but the distance between them. Calloused hands cradled his face protectively, rough thumbs drying away the pain that rolled down his cheeks. For the first time, Evan took in the room behind Dwight. Clothes remained scattered upon the floor, piling up in corners, tucked away under furniture. There appeared to have been an attempt to clean up the mess, some of which was haphazardly folded, but never put in their proper drawers. It was as if he had picked up the clothes only to put them in the exact same spot afterwards. Dwight lowered his head in shame and words left Evan’s lips at last since he had been accepted within their home.

“You were nesting on your own this entire time…”

His voice was hushed as if to not startle the meek Omega before him who slowly spun on himself to take in the state of his room under a new light. Fabric spread out along the floor, lumped together whenever a wall presented itself. Piles that he never brought himself to undo no matter how many times he had been scolded to do so. Even in his foible attempt to clean himself up on his own accord, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It didn’t feel right. It never did. He believed it to be nothing more than pure laziness, given how often his parents repeated it to him. A hand shakily rose to his lips as shock settled in. With one glance, Evan understood him in ways even he never did.

The reason why this room was his safe haven was not because of the room itself, but rather what it represented. Years of loneliness and solitude made him spread out what was once a single pile of clothes on the floor into a whole nest to make him feel like he belonged. Melancholy weighed heavily upon him. That was why he never truly was comfortable whenever his parents barged into his room. They were trespassing his nest’s boundaries. It had grown too large with time and consumed his room.

Fresh tears quietly trailed down Dwight’s cheeks as strong arms carefully wrapped themselves around his stomach from behind. A faint gasp escaped him as cold, wet clothes glued against his naked body, broad fingers hooking into the edge of the towel that now hung low on his hips, gravity dragging it down. Neither were at their best. Both had seen one another at their lowest, and yet, as Dwight turned to face Evan once more, there was nothing but fondness in his eyes. A softness he had never perceived before now.

The Alpha lowered his head, carefully resting his forehead against his own as timid, slender fingers wandered upwards, fiddling with the buttons of his shirt. Not a single sound was made. Nothing had to be said as wet clothes fell with a muffled thud on the floor until all that remained was his own towel. Fingertips danced upon the skin displayed before him. He could mention how well built the other man was, chiseled as if the Gods themselves had put a blessing onto his body, but he was more captivated by the fact that he was touching another being. Fingers jerked away, startled when a muscle accidentally twitched beneath his tentative touch. Gazes locked as Evan affectionately bumped his nose against his. A mere breath away from a kiss that never was. The Alpha shifted closer to him, his hands holding tightly onto the towel wrapped loosely around the Omega’s hips as his head drooped lower so that he could bury his nose in the crook of the other’s neck.

“I love you.”

Words were murmured. Neither were aware of who pronounced them, and in that moment, it didn’t matter as both basked in their meaning. The Omega’s arms snuck between them to wrap themselves loosely around the Alpha’s neck, leaning into him until he was no longer carrying his own weight, putting all his trust in Evan’s strength to hold them together.

Hands lowered, abandoning the towel in order to cup the back of the Omega’s thighs as he was lifted briefly from the ground and delicately lowered onto his own bed. The Alpha crawled above him, gently grasping onto the towel that now barely covered his privacy and slowly pulled it away, revealing his entirety before being discarded on the ground. He didn’t believe it to be possible, but there was no sexual intent behind either of their touch. Only a shared breathlessness that left them both mesmerized by one another.

Dwight’s hands hesitantly rose from his sides to cherish the one above him, fingertips discovering the lines and edges of his traits. His lack of glasses caused him to squint slightly up at him as he slowly lowered himself by his side. The single bed made it difficult, but soon, they were within one another’s embrace, merely holding onto each other. Lips were pressed tenderly upon the Omega’s forehead, tickling their way down his temple to kiss away the reminder of tears that once were.

A soft purr echoed from the depths of the Omega’s chest. A lighthearted song to which the Alpha responded to with a deeper song of his own. One that made Dwight smile at last, melting further into Evan’s loving embrace.

It didn’t have to be much more than this. For once, Dwight didn’t have to think about the worst-case scenario. He would breathe in Evan’s scent and be transported elsewhere. A place where all his worries would dissipate in the back of his mind. Two beings who suffered on their own that now found comfort into one another’s presence, healing together as they were.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

Dwight stirred awake to a plush mattress and warmth pressed firmly against his back. He maintained his eyes closed, just a little while longer, only for him to hiss when a dull pain reminded him of its existence by throbbing in his shoulder. Eyes fluttered open with great difficulty as his hand grabbed below the bruise that bloomed onto his arm. The form behind him shifted and it was then that Dwight noted that a well-defined arm slung protectively over his stomach, pulling him closer as it perceived his movements. Supple, yet dried lips ghosted tenderly over the source of his pain as if it would magically cure all evil that ailed him.

His vision was hazy, veiled with an indescribable film and, for a moment, he thought it had been because his glasses were nowhere to be found or that he had overslept. Why did he fall back asleep right after waking up at one in the afternoon? And why was he still tired? It was as if he could sleep for a whole week.

The shape shifted ever so slightly to bury its face deep within the crook of his neck, breathing him in, and it certainly did not help in his current predicament.

A shudder coursed through his heavy limbs, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to move as teeth grazed against his skin. The temptation to bite down was a strong one, it would seem, for when the silhouette behind him retreated, a vexed groan made itself known and teeth were soon replaced by the person’s forehead, the hold tightening around him. A broad hand wandered upon his overly warm skin, as if to explore him until it reached the hand that shielded his bruise. It remained there, the hand engulfing his own to reassure him with its presence.

Reluctantly, Dwight sluggishly parted from the enticement of the person’s hold to undertake the arduous task of pushing himself on all fours. It was rather unsettling how it appeared all of his strength had diminished considerably, as if it had been sapped altogether from his very being. Yet, he found it within himself to reach out for the alarm clock on his nightstand, fumbling about and awkwardly tugging it close so his swaying vision could lock onto the glaring numbers. They had to be wrong. They couldn’t be saying that it was 8pm already. That would mean that he had fallen asleep at 1am, woke up at 1pm, which already made for a hefty twelve hours of sleep, then took a shower, slipped, and went right back to sleep for another six and a half hours?

He wasn’t getting sick, was he?

It was then that the form next to him kindly took the alarm clock from his grasp and sat it back in its rightful spot. He didn’t want to fight it. Somewhere anchored in his exhausted bones, he had faith in it. He could feel his breathing picking up and, suddenly, his senses awakened to a sharp, earthy scent that reminded him of northern woods. Whatever of strength remained within faded and powerful arms cradled him, guiding him so that he could lay in bed, onto his back.

“…Alpha?”

The word breathed past his lips before he could remotely think of its repercussions. The blurred shape that entered his line of sight carefully lowered towards him, lips pressing a loving kiss to his temple. To merely be here, in a welcoming embrace, it was as if he was being cherished, as if he were nothing more than the most precious artifact on this Earth and beyond. It was a sentiment that had his heart skip a beat in his chest, and yet, one that he couldn’t fully comprehend. He didn’t understand why he was so vulnerable in the form’s presence, and it took him quite some time to acknowledge that this was not any Alpha that had climbed its way into his bed.

It was Evan.

And that, in and of itself, was a conflicting thing to think about. Why did it take him so long to notice who it was when the answer was so beautifully obvious?

“Alpha?”

His voice croaked lightly, as if seeking for the one that was merely inches away from him, and as he was soon sheltered by the man above him, arms lazily raised to flop unceremoniously onto his back to draw him closer. The silence that lingered in the space between them reminded him that the Alpha in question was in a period of rut and would most likely not respond to him, but as he was cocooned by his impressive stature, muscled arms snaking between the soft surface of his bed to wrap around his torso and pull him back into his embrace, he didn’t wish to be anywhere else in this world. Evan bumped his nose affectionately against the side of his head, and Dwight smiled fondly at the quiet inquiry. He couldn’t find it in himself to refuse him. He clung onto his back and gently rubbed his cheek against his until a low rumble reverberated. It was heartwarming to see just how little it took to make the Alpha happy. He wondered, truly wondered, if he was the first to ever hear such a delightful melody. He couldn’t ask. He couldn’t speak. Somewhere within him, there was a sentiment of pride in knowing he was the cause of such a captivating sound. In fact, all of his instincts were begging him to go back to sleep.

Safe. Dwight was safe right here. His Alpha would watch over him. He knew he would.

Rough, calloused fingertips brushed back a strand of hair glued upon his forehead, making him question if it was due to him washing his hair earlier, which wouldn’t make sense as his hair would have long since dried on their own by now, or the fact that sweat slowly began to bead upon his skin. He leaned into the simplest of touch, longing for his affection. Legs hesitantly fell open, allowing the Alpha ever closer to him until their bodies were flushed against one another. He was so incredibly warm, feverishly so, and yet, as he shivered beneath the one that shielded him from the outside world, he yearned for more. Something Evan appeared to recognize as he did his best to envelop him, going so far as to reach for blankets that had bundled at the end of the bed in their sleep. He brought them over their naked beings, ensuring that they were tucked below the Omega to create a cozy, intimate bubble that would not only shelter them, but also maintain the temperature within high. In any other circumstances, it would be insufferably hot, but instead, a tentative purr made itself known. It was barely audible compared to Evan’s own, but when it reached the Alpha’s ears, he was rewarded with a tender nuzzle behind his ear, as if to encourage him. Fingers danced across the map of his skin. The gesture was careful, inquisitory, and Dwight melted underneath him, whimpering when a fingertip faintly prodded at his entrance, but something must not have been satisfactory, because shortly after, he retrieved his hand, returning to cuddle with the Omega.

Just like this, Dwight struggled to keep his eyes open. He burrowed his face in the Alpha’s neck, seeking for the origin of the clear scent that sparked such a wonderful feeling within. He didn’t know what it was, nor if he could quite put his finger on it yet, but it was there, and it was more than enough to lull him back to sleep in Evan’s comforting embrace.

“I knew it was dangerous to keep him here!”

“John Fairfield, I forbid you from entering this room!”

Dwight whined softly as he woke to a blinding sun and hushed, agitated voices outside of his room. The Alpha atop of him drifted closer in his sleep and the Omega pried his arms out of the sweltering bubble. With the sunlight adding further warmth to their cocoon, it was almost suffocating, even with primal urges pushing him to seek for more.

“Mary, we have an unmated Omega and an Alpha in rut in there! Do you have any idea what could happen?!”

“Oh, don’t talk to me with that tone, good sir, I am certainly not naïve!”

“We should’ve kicked him out when we had the chance.”

“With nowhere else to go? What if he got hurt?”

As if sensing the distress in the Omega, Evan slowly awoke, sleepily nuzzling his cheek to comfort him, but it was then that he, too, heard the voices beyond the door, and a low growl resounded within his chest at a sign of a potential threat.

“You have to believe in the ways of nature, John. You know how this works better than anyone in this house. If it doesn’t click, they will know.”

“Screw this, I’m going in.”

“John, no! What if they’re nesting?”

“Under my roof? They better not!”

A loud series of knocks banged upon the wooden door, their only defense against the realm beyond their haven, startling the Omega with a yelp when it trembled with the older Alpha’s fury, which caused a soft, outraged, muffled gasp on the other side.

“Stop this! You’re scaring him!”

“What are we supposed to do, then?!”

“Trust him.”

Dwight’s frightened gaze flicked over at the Alpha above him, noting how tense he was, as if he were ready to pounce at any given second if it were to come to guard the Omega. The loud noises ceased, but Evan remained alert, staring intently at the door.

“…Trust him? Of course, I trust him. It’s the other one I don’t trust!”

“He’s not a little boy anymore, John. Believe in him. He’s stronger than he looks.”

Silence. It was an interminable silence before the floor creaked underneath the intruders’ weight as they left at long last. Evan finally began to relax and regained his post, tucking in the blankets once more when he noticed that they had loosened in their sleep. Ever attentive, he kindly guided Dwight’s arms back into their shelter, much to the Omega’s dismay. Despite his purring the night before, he didn’t understand why being so unbearably warm was so important and he couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped him as a finger curiously flittered over his entrance. It teased, gently pressing in until it gave way, his finger gliding in with ease. Weakened thighs quivered as Dwight panted softly, a dark blush tinting his cheeks all the way to the tip of his ears. This was what Evan had been doing.

He wanted to trigger his heat.

By showering him with nothing but pure love and affection, by marking him with his scent, by tending to his needs and assuring that he remained in a soothing environment, it all aligned perfectly with this concealed desire to bond. This invisible ribbon that tied them to one another, that inadvertently always pulled them towards each other and brought them into all of these odd coincidences. The one that had been there since they first met. The very same that brought them together in their times of need. Their fears, their struggles, their doubts, that dreadful mask. It was as if it all came crashing down upon him at once and tears welled in Dwight’s eyes. A faint sob could be heard, and panic rose instantly in the Alpha that stopped altogether, yanking away the covers without so much as a second thought. He examined him thoroughly, terrified that he could have harmed the Omega in any possible way.

“I’m so stupid.”

Dwight whispered; his voice trapped behind the emotions that formed in the back of his throat. He couldn’t believe that he was crying. Again. But Evan always had this mystical aura about him. One that could unravel him with a simple look. One that perceived him for who he was. One that would never pass judgement. One that reassured that he would always be here to catch him no matter how high he fell.

He pressed the ball of his palms firmly against his eyes as if it would aid to stop the flow of tears. Evan said that he aspired to court him, and even in his rut, he held true to his words. The picnic. The sketch. The crow. The smiles. Alice. The phone number. The way he dressed. The smiles. The hospital. The sketchbook sitting on his desk. The smiles.

So many smiles.

Despite what he had been through, despite all of the hurdles, despite everything, he never complained. Evan always stayed by his side because…

He had been smitten since the very start.

They had shared laughters, they had shared their worst moments, they could simply be before one another, and yet, Dwight had been so scared to admit that each of these instants were real, that each of his smiles had made his heart sing in ways it had never done before, that Evan simply made him hope to live beyond the confines of his room, one day. He had been so frightened that it would all be taken from him that he gave Evan intentions that he never had, that he preferred to believe that it had been nothing but a big joke, because that way, he wouldn’t be hurt if it happened. But it was only now that he truly realized that none of these things would ever occur because Evan wanted them to become something more.

The Alpha could have bitten him at any moment, he could have claimed him, taken him in the most brutal manner, but he didn’t. Even in an instant such as a rut, even when the Beast reared its ugly head, he had been patient with him. He had watched over him in his everyday tasks and would guarantee that no harm would ever come to him, but that all changed drastically when he slipped. Now, he simply appeared to be as frightened as he was. In its purest form, to fail his duty as protector was to fail his duty as an Alpha and he wanted to make sure that they would be compatible; that he could still be a suitable choice to the Omega as a potential mate when the time would come. And for that to occur, he was attempting to begin a heat that didn’t even need to happen.

If only he knew. If only he was aware that ever since he barged into his life, he hadn’t so much dared to look away from the brilliance of his presence. If only he knew just how important he truly had become to him. Then again, how could he know when all that Dwight has ever reflected at him was uncertainty and dread? When would he ever allow himself to be happy? Maybe this was the sign he had been waiting for all along. Perhaps it was his turn to soothe the turmoil that assailed the Alpha, for once.

Large hands cradled his face and as Dwight finally locked his gaze with deeply concerned emeralds, his vision blurred with tears that rolled down his temples. Even without being able to fully see, he could sense the sheer worry behind Evan’s actions. The Alpha above him waited patiently, as he always would, the pad of his thumbs wiping away the trails of tears and it was then that Dwight hesitantly smiled up at him, leaning into the solace of his touch.

“I-I’m fine. I just…”

He took a long moment to gather his thoughts, but words simply lacked him. He didn’t know what to say and, well, maybe it didn’t have to be as complicated as he made it all to be. Maybe all he needed to do was to repeat words that were shared before.

“I just love you so much.”

Relief washed over the paled features of the Alpha as he dipped his head to pepper him with kisses. The Omega chuckled softly, relishing under the quiet devotion hidden behind each and every kiss. Perhaps this was why Evan was so silent during his rut. Not because he didn’t wish to speak, but rather because words were not needed. As he rested his forehead against his, Dwight realized that he didn’t have to. It was as if they had a language of their own. Evan merely wanted someone to listen, to comprehend that language he had created just for them.

“I love you.”

Dwight repeated once more as if the lack of uncertainty in his words were surreal even to his own ears. For the very first time, he felt he could truly rid himself of his fears and as lips finally found his, he ignored the way his heart rang in alarm, he would forget the awkward sloppiness that yielded from nothing more than a lack of experience. Well, almost. Evan parted from him, blinking down at him in mild incomprehension and as Dwight pinched his lips firmly together and drifted his eyes away to cover his embarrassment, something clicked, as if a lightbulb sparked to life on Evan’s features. The Alpha hooked a finger underneath his chin, tilting it for a better angle as he leaned down once more to simply peck his lips. A much gentler kiss that allowed the other to adjust beneath him.

There were no comments on Dwight’s lack of finesse, rather offering him silent advice as the kiss was slowly deepened and as teeth faintly clashed, Dwight covered his mouth to muffle the sheepish laughter that bubbled within. Being with Evan was such a liberating experience. Even as he made mistakes, he wasn’t ashamed of them. He wasn’t ashamed of being inexperienced; of being himself. And with the sheer adoration behind Evan’s eyes, he figured that perhaps he would have all the time in the world to learn.

A hand slowly found him, rugged fingers nudging his free hand open so that his more delicate fingers became intertwined with his. He rarely noticed their physical differences, but as Evan’s hand practically englobed his own, he suddenly felt quite small compared to him. His fingers were rough, calloused, they had seen hard work and even harsher days while his was soft under the touch, malleable to a certain degree and a tad pudgy around their base. One could easily believe that these details would be the other way around, considering their upbringings, but perhaps there was more to the story of Evan’s hands than he was first led to believe. The hand that once covered his mouth shyly trailed upon a scar that he never noticed before. To see him bare, exposed to him in a vulnerability that he didn’t discern until now both fascinated and torn Dwight’s heart.

Evan’s skin had its own map of scars, each of them adding a shroud of mystery to the Alpha above him. A stutter in Evan’s breathing pattern made Dwight’s hand jerk away, as if it had lingered too long above a flickering flame, but instead, the Alpha laid onto his side next to him, shifting the blankets aside so that he could guide his fingertips to new scars. To his brow, the expanse of his chest, in the sculpted lines of his arms and even his thighs.

“…Evan?”

Dwight breathed out as each new discovery further upset the Omega. It was then that he perceived it. Behind the smiles, his emerald gaze held such great sorrow. In his rut, there were no walls to obstruct emotions and as the Alpha lifted Dwight’s hand so that it would rest upon his cheek, nostrils flared as puffs of air escaped him. Eyelids grew heavy and rough fingers twitched ever so slightly as they held onto Dwight’s hand to maintain it in place and the Omega’s heart sank upon realizing that, to the contrary of what his father told him, this was no Beast, but rather, a wounded creature that wished to be loved in return.

“I’m…”

He wanted to apologize for whatever may have caused him such harm. He wanted to apologize for the grueling trials life had hurled at him. He wanted to apologize for not noticing sooner that there was more to him than what Dwight skimmed on the surface. It was never about riches. It was never about a lawn being greener on the other side. It was never about good appearances.

It was never about Alice.

He remembered that fateful day, the light breeze upon his face as they both swayed on the swings at the playground. He could still see him, back hunched as he sketched so meticulously in his travelling sketchbook. He could hear his words as if they were displayed right before him.

 My mom used to love Alice in Wonderland too…

It was about regaining what was once lost. To reach out to others in ways that he had never done before. To learn how to become more than what his father had made of him. To become vulnerable again. Whenever Alice would be mentioned, it wouldn’t be because of the story itself, but rather what it represented for him.

Love.

How is a raven like a writing desk?

Family.

You were off to Wonderland.

Home.

Good morning, Alice.

He wouldn’t bring up Alice in Wonderland because they both liked the story; it had been much deeper than that and there was a grief that he could never understand. All he could ponder on was how could it be that he had been so blind to it all?

“…When I used to read fairy tales…”

Had he truly been so selfish, so self-centered, so focused on his self-pity that he had willingly ignored what Evan’s heart yearned for from the very start?

“…I fancied that kind of thing never happened…”

There was so much he could apologize for, but at the familiarity of the words, he could feel the slight upward tug of a smile beneath his hand.

“…and now here I am in the middle of one.”

It was then that emerald hues warily peeked up at him and Dwight held his seeking gaze. There was something far grander than relief that cleansed Evan’s very being. It was a calmness that he had never seen before. He could apologize all he wanted, but this wasn’t what Evan had been looking for.

“I’m here.”

Dwight breathed out at last, and those simple words made the Alpha’s breath hitch and pick up as if to prevent himself from shedding tears before him. His hold tightened around the Omega’s delicate hand until his own trembled in barely concealed emotion. It was enough to make Dwight grimace in pain, but it was nothing compared to all that had been bottled for so long.

“I’m here…”

He repeated in a whisper as Evan buried his face into his pillow, breathing in the sweet scent that lingered there to appease the turbulent oceans within. The Omega laid beside him, his free hand carefully reaching out to tread through the wild hair that were usually slicked back into a perfect undercut. A kiss pressed to his forehead brought the Alpha back from the darkness that threatened to swallow him. He stared reverently over at him, a quiet question on his lips and, at first, it was one that Dwight didn’t understand, but as he instinctively tilted his head into the pillow, baring his neck to the Alpha before him, he felt like he already knew the answer.

Carefully, Evan pressed himself to him, the grasp upon the Omega’s hand loosening as he found peace in the scent of his mate. The tip of his nose tickled Dwight’s skin until he halted at a specific patch, where neck and shoulder met, that he slowly began to lap at. The sensation of tongue against his heated skin made him shiver pleasantly. It was one that was so foreign to Dwight, but as he heard suckling noises and the surrounding skin numbed under the mindful ministrations, excitement stirred within. A part of him preened at what would be. His usually overbearing reason faded into bliss at the promise that warmed the base of his neck. For a brief moment, it stopped, causing the Omega to whine pitifully until teeth sank into his neck, breaking his skin and pain seared into his flesh. A scream surged from his being and the Alpha was quick to react, arms flying around him to secure his mate and prevent him from hurting himself in the process of the creation of their bond. Gods, it burned. As blood trickled from the bite and dripped onto the pillow, a fire lit within him, one that assured him that he finally belonged. The Alpha’s, his Alpha, jaws were firmly locked in place and once he was satisfied of the imprint he had left upon him, he licked at the wound in apology, helping to stop blood from beading from the mark. The Omega whimpered, his hand itching to cover the pulsing bite mark, but as he was lavished with comforting laps and fingers wrapped around his wrist, silently asking him to remain still, he attempted to relax, allowing the Alpha to care for him.

It was as if time itself had become sluggishly slow, almost frozen altogether as he willed to calm his rapid breathing to steady itself. It seemed so unreal how easy it had been to offer himself to Evan and somewhere, in the back of his mind, a voice would flail about, come up with all sorts of scenarios of how this could eventually backfire, but he didn’t want to listen. He had enough of listening to it, he had enough to have his life in shambles all because he had listened to this voice for too long.

If something did ever happen, then he would deal with it in due course and that, on its own, would be a whole new adventure for Dwight to conquer.