Theodore had not imagined that he would get in the same car as his father after the night they fought. But there he was sitting in the back of the truck, going to a country party to keep his future stepmother company.
The party would be a floor barbecue made on the grounds of the cooperative. When the truck parked and Theodore had gotten out of the car, he had already heard the songs playing in the sound of a car with the trunk open. The smell of beer welcomed him along with the smell of the meat being roasted mixed with the mixed pheromones of the classes.
― It seems that the people are already excited. ― Laugh Maggie when getting out of the car.
― They are already bending the mug ― Smile Bill without untying the eyes of comrades who laughed and played cards.
― And you intend to get on the wheel, don't you?
― I will try not to cross the line.
Maggie smiles with satisfaction. Bill soon out in front entering the party, being greeted with big cheers and screams of already drunken pawns and cowboys. Left behind, the bride held the omega's arm and pulled him to the party.
― We, civilized and well-behaved people considered chessy, will be close to the food. What do you think?
― Food is better than beer.
― That's right. You can only say the opposite when you are older.
The tables were arranged away from the drunken men's mess, but close to the buffet. Maggie had chosen a secluded table, which Theodore had mentally thanked for being vacant.
The party was full and many guests greeted Maggie with wide smiles. She had said his father was known, but Theodore thought her future stepmother would also be popular. Surely she wouldn't be alone even if her friends hadn't come to the party.
Maggie looked like Gabriel, imagined the blonde with a smile on his face. A person who got along with anyone, as if his charisma was a natural magnet. Someone who shines on their own and attracts people, making them feel good by their side.
And yet that young woman had chosen to invite Theodore to the party to keep her company.
He had been moved by her attitude.
― I hope you don't feel bad in crowded places. These cooperative parties always seem to be clogged.
― I've been in a few when I was little, but I was more concerned with running with the kids.
― So this is the first time you've been here since you were a child?
Theodore nodded, watching the party around him compare with his childhood memories. They weren't that different, but the passage of time was clear. The songs, the way people interacted and dressed. The nostalgia hugged the teenage boy again.
― Maggie! How are you, honey?
A woman with short, dark hair smiled like a porcelain doll. Which wasn't a compliment, since Theodore was terrified of those old dolls. They always had their bulging eyes that seemed to follow wherever they went, and the cast smile seemed to hide malice.
― Hello Tânia. It seems that we always run into these parties.
― Just like that to find you. ― The woman looked at the corner with her eyes wide and pointed to the blonde teenager. ― Who is it?
― Oh, that's my stepson. Theodore.
― Stepson? You mean... Bill's son?
― Of course. Who else would it be?
The woman gave a nervous smile facing Theodore. The boy arched his eyebrow, just nodding his head in a greeting.
― What a handsome boy. I think I only got to know him by photos, and even as a child...
Theodore had opened a thin smile, without having much desire to interact with the woman. But his smile soon crumbled with the woman's sighing comment.
― What a waste.
The boy had swallowed in dry blinking a few times without knowing if he would have listened correctly. Lifting his shoulders and chin, he had not allowed himself to show any sign of shaking. To anyone.
Unlike Maggie who had been perplexed.
― What did you say?
― Well, I'm going. I have to say hi to some friends. See you later, okay?
Quickly the woman ran to another table, where she blatantly whispered something to the group of women. Theodore followed the scene already imagining that his trip to that party was a mistake.
― Do not lower your head, Theodore. ― Whispered Maggie caressing the back of the future stepson in comfort. ― Never lower your head.
― I'm fine. In school it's like that too.
— At school? ― Maggie turned her head so fast that even the blonde was surprised. Leaning his arms on the table, Theodore opened a calm smile to his father's bride. ― It means that at school they also know that you...
— After that night I got in a fight with my dad, when I went to school, the guy I liked was worried about me. So he asked me to go to his house because he wanted to take care of my wounds. We ended up getting caught by his family, and then... The school found out.
― But how could the whole school know that? Weren't you at the boy's house?
― It's because of his family.
― What about his family?
― Do you know the Mckenzie? ― Maggie immediately nodded, and Theodore widened his smile ― He was one of their possible heirs.
Silent, Maggie remained staring at Theodore for a long time until her brown eyes flickered.
―Wait a minute... I think I just crashed the system. Are you serious? Is that why the Mckenzie withdrew all sponsorship from the cooperative?
It was Theodore's turn to be surprised, having the colour fading from his face.
― What do you mean? They... sponsored?
— They were one of the biggest investors here. We provided some harvest bags for their hotels. And then they suddenly stopped investing. When I asked your father what might have happened, he never gave me details.
Theodore's head had a few turns with that information. He never cared about his parents' jobs, since it was not in his interest. But he never imagined that his attitudes could hinder them like that.
He didn't want to blame himself, since he didn't know that at the time. However it was hard not to feel the knot form in his throat when imagining how much trouble that could have resulted in his father.
Looking around, he could still feel the looks of the groups of women at the table. Theodore wondered how much they knew of that story, and how much they would condemn him. Inevitably his eyes fell on the furthest group, near the barbecues, where his father played cards with other men.
― I'll get us something to eat, all right?
Without the courage to answer, he just nodded.
That party then became suddenly suffocating. Theodore had the impression that looks were directed over his back, like hammers that preached guilt on his conscience. For the whole year he had not visited his father, he had told himself that he had not made a mistake at any time.
There was nothing wrong with being born an omega.
There was nothing wrong with liking another boy.
There was no mistake in being honest with yourself and giving yourself body and soul to another boy.
Only now he was beating himself up.
It was wrong of him not to think that Jake's surname could cause problems for people dear to Theodore. So, was the fury your father had felt that night justified? Should Theodore think about apologizing?
Even with Maggie being his companion at dinner, Theodore wanted to run away for a moment. He had endured until the last moment, had eaten something together with the woman and had outlined the friendliest smile he could give her. And the moment he was left alone by the woman when she had spotted an acquaintance, Theodore took the opportunity to leave his table for the first time that night.
Avoided the crowd to breathe fresh air getting rid of the mixed smells. In the parking lot, near his father's truck, he leaned against car bodywork with his hands in the pocket of dark jeans allowing to get lost in thoughts.
So lost was he, that bad noticed the person who followed his every step since his arrival at the party.
Beto had already drunk a few bottles of beer and had not hidden his smile when saw the omega boy arrive. To his unhappiness, Maggie had stood guard around the boy almost all night until the two separated giving the chance Beto expected.
Immediately the pawn had abandoned his circle of friends heading to the parking lot, where in the darkness had found the blonde teenager alone. Slowly approaching until he stood in front of the boy, he raised his shoulders without being able to reduce the difference in size between them. Breathing deeply felt a subtle sweet smell be emanated, delicious and exciting.
― What are you doing here alone? It could be dangerous, you know?
Theodore had taken a deep breath, tilting his head slightly irritated at being followed.
― I want to be alone.
― Don't say that. We're having a party like this, full of good women... Oh, right. I forgot you don't like that stuff, do you?
Theodore had arched his eyebrow and disengaged from the car.
― What do you want with me? I don't like to beat around the bush.
― I'm not gonna hit on you, I'm a man of strength. Not a gazelle.
Theodore's fingers closed in his pants pocket. He had to look around trying to calm down, even if the person in front of him insisted on teasing him.
Weren't you blaming yourself for giving your father trouble earlier? Theodore struggled not to make the same mistake again.
But it was impossible.
― If you don't like me, then get out.
― I'm just wondering what it's like to be with other men. Could you not..
― No, I couldn't. Can you leave me alone now?
About to return to his table, Theodore had given his shoulder to Beto. He was stopped when the pawn held his wrist preventing his exit.
― Come on! If you do what I ask, I can help you with the boss.
― I don't need help with anything.
― I can help the boss earn his job back at the cooperative. I'm good at giving rewards, but I need to win too.
Theodore had not succeeded in pulling his wrist loose. Gazing at the figure of Beto perceived the malice transpiring in his eyes and ghastly smile.
― Stay away from me, I don't want anything from you.
― But I want to.
Beto had pulled Theodore's wrist hard by throwing him against the truck. Slamming his back into the door latch, the blond boy panted trying to recover from the pain he felt. However, Beto was unwilling to let him escape so easily, as he grabbed both his wrists with extreme force.
Battling trying to break free, despair grew along with fear being exhaled in their pheromones.
― Let me go!
― Be quiet, it ends faster!
The pawn's voice sounded frightening when whispered, the beer breath against the blond boy's face increased the panic. Beto's dry, rough lips touched Theodore's with savagery, plucking a forced kiss.
Theodore refused to open his mouth, and even though his lips were nibbled by the pawn, he did not yield. Irritated by the boy's resistance, Beto had bitten harder, feeling the taste of iron go through his lips.
Even in pain, Theodore had not allowed his lips to be invaded by the pawn.
Walking away angry, Beto held Theodore's chin trying to force him to open his mouth.
― Come on, kid. I want my reward now, hm?
Theodore shook his head sideways continuing his arduous battle to get rid of the pawn's touches. His wrists hurt when pressed by the big hand of the boy, his jaw also hurt with the grip of his fingers.
And as hard as it was, omega wouldn't budge.
Until Beto's patience ran out and his hand closed in fist to hit a punch in Theodore's jaw.
― Open...your...fucking...mouth!
With each punch Theodore uttered, the boy felt dizzy almost without strength to defend himself. All he could do was keep his mouth shut and his arms stretched out to increase the distance between the bodies. But his back already hurt from hitting the latch of the truck, and the punches went down to his ribs and belly.
Lucky for him, Beto had suddenly grotesquely released himself and a pair of comfortable arms hugged him protectively. Opening his eyes, Theodore turns the profile of Maggie looking scared to some other point as she squeezed her future stepson in her arms.
Following her gaze, Theodore was surprised by the animal figure that pointed the gun at the pawn's head. The same look he had when they fought in a stormy night, as if it were the very embodiment of anger.
Bill would put the barrel of the gun to his pawn's head and pull the trigger. His menacing presence typical of alphas mixed well with his grimace, frightening anyone.
― Boss, don't do that...
― One.
― He seduced me with that smell of his...
― Two.
― I know how to bring more money to the cooperative...
― Three.
― Boss!
One shot echoed and the sound of the music stopped immediately. The party guests gathered at the entrance of the parking lot with their eyes full of curiosity.
The pawn who had closed his eyes fearing the worst, opened slowly to see the barrel of the gun pointed down, near his foot where he had been given the only shot. Trembling, he raised his head to the tall, tanned alpha, who stared at him menacingly.
Bill had then thrown the car key to the bride, who thus unlocked had opened the back door firmly holding Theodore's elbow throwing him into the truck. Maggie made the turn to get into the driver's seat, not taking long to start the engine.
Opening the passenger door, before entering Bill had one last look at the pawn who faced him frightened.
― No use running away, we'll settle the score later.
By the time the car door was slammed, Maggie had already pulled out of the co-op.