For Gabriel, there was only one person who was deserving of all his anger and jealousy. A person he had never seen in his life, whose stories were enough to awaken his possessive side. He didn't want to be that way with Theodore, especially when he had discovered he was his soul mate. It was just that the desire to dominate was uncontrollable.
To show that he was the alpha over there.
He had seen that guy's photo on Orkut and the written statement that he had never left Theodore's profile. It seemed to be a graceful joke of two people who had always been intimate. And every time everything seemed to be going well someone would bring up that damn name.
Jake McKenzie.
Tall, platinum hair and light eyes. He had broad shoulders and it was clear to see his muscles even if he wore casual, baggy clothes. Gabriel feared that a physical fight would leave him on the ground in seconds, though the fellow was smiling sweetly as he disentangled himself from the car.
Gabriel had squeezed Theodore's hand pulling him back, as if to hide him behind his back. His brown eyes peered at the subject, who had finally noticed his presence seemingly not understanding the situation.
As the two teenagers didn't leave their seats, it was Jake who had approached with his hands in his pockets and an angelic smile on his face.
― I thought you'd be late for practice.
Theodore blinked in disbelief at the sight of the person standing in front of him. The heat surrounding his hand had awakened him from his daze, and immediately the omega huffed, trying to calm himself.
― Hm... Yes. What are you doing here?
― Waiting for you of course. ― Jake laughed, turning to Gabriel. ― And this is...?
Quickly Theodore looked at Gabriel, who at no point stopped staring at the platinum man with a cold stare. Even the omega had been startled to realize the coldness of those eyes and the slight wrinkle growing on his forehead. Even so, Theodore squeezed his arm trying to gain his attention.
― Gabriel. It's our lifter.
― Ah, I've heard about you. ― Smiled Jake, holding out his hand to Gabriel. ― Nice to meet you, I'm Jake Mckenzie.
The enemy was introducing himself with a summer aura around him. It was as if he didn't even consider Gabriel his enemy. Wearing his mask, the alpha opened his customary smile and shook the older man's hand in return.
― The pleasure is all mine. I've heard a lot about you since I joined the school and the team. I've been curious to meet you.
― You have, huh? It's probably all lies. ― Laughed Jake as he let go of the alpha's hand and turned back to look around the schoolyard. ― But nothing seems to have changed around here. It's kind of nostalgic.
― You said you were waiting for me. Is there something you need to talk to me about?
Jake turned to Theodore, nodding his head in agreement.
― Actually, yes. Would you mind having a cup of coffee with me? The conversation is going to be a bit long.
Theodore had glanced over at Gabriel and shook his hand. The alpha smiled slightly, pulling the omega back behind him.
― I'm sorry, but I already promised to take Theo home. It's getting late.
Jake had thrown Gabriel a sharp look, lasting only a few seconds before he let out a low laugh.
― I came with my room-mate's car, so I can drop him home safely.
Neither alpha wanted to give in, and neither wanted to prolong the argument. Gabriel turned to the omega awaiting his response, though confusion was stamped on him. He would probably be looking for a way out that wouldn't make them both uncomfortable, but Gabriel was already on that path.
Just knowing that fellow was in town was enough to make his blood boil.
Should he be a good partner who doesn't stay on top of his omega all the time? Or would he throw his rags up and prevent those two from meeting?
He wouldn't have to fear that if he'd bitten Theodore.
A light bulb had gone on in his head, even if against his liking. Turning to Theodore the alpha had kept his mask on.
― If you need to talk, then it's okay. I know when I'm not needed.
― Are you sure?
― I'll go to your place tonight, then. Leave the window open, that's all I ask.
Seeing the omega's reddened cheeks had been his consolation prize, and as if that wasn't enough, the alpha had even deposited a quick seal on Theodore's lips. All so that the unfortunate fellow could see, clearly, that that omega was his.
― All right then... I think I should go. ― Theodore stowed the bag on his shoulders going to Jake's side. ― There's a friend's coffee shop near the school, we can talk there.
― That's fine with me, little ant. ― Smiled the platinum alpha following the omega, but not before turning over his shoulder and casting a victorious smile at Gabriel. ― It was nice to meet you, Gabriel.
Watching Theodore leave with another guy had been torture to his heart. Especially knowing that the guy had been intimate enough with the blond to have seen the same beautiful things he had. Gabriel had never been a fan of competitiveness, but that damn guy was attractive enough to make Gabriel feel in danger.
As the two of them got into the car and left the front of the school, Gabriel had finally undone his cavalier grin and closed his hands into fists. He was even shaking with anger.
Why would he have smiled like that, as if he was ignoring the clear warnings that Theodore was his now? What kind of person would Jake be? Everyone painted him as someone nice, a role model, but Gabriel couldn't see anything nice about that guy.
Walking over to the nearest tree, Gabriel had started punching the trunk taking out his anger regardless of the pain he felt in his knuckles. He could only imagine that burly fellow in the place of the trunk, feeling the need to punch him more and more.
― Hey, hey, you're hurting yourself, stop it Biel!
Milles appeared at the alpha's side holding his wrist tightly. Still Gabriel stared at that tree hatefully. He growled at it as all his body heat turned into incessant flames.
Milles' grip on his wrists were the only forces capable of stopping that alpha from continuing his vengeance on a mere tree. Carefully Milles had turned his friend to face him, swallowing dryly at seeing how scary he looked when jealous.
― Man, take a deep breath. What will Theodore think if he sees these bruises?
― That he's a liar. ― Nicolas said with his mocking smile, stopping in front of Gabriel. ― I love it when I'm right about someone's rottenness.
― Fuck you ― growled Gabriel.
― Should I call Theo and ask him to come back here just to calm down his jealous boyfriend? Oh, wait, you guys aren't dating.
― Nicolas shut up. ― snapped the blond alpha, getting a roll of the eyes from the shorter one. ― Look, I already told Jake that Theodore is with you. And my cousin isn't short for trying to do anything, so you can trust him.
Gabriel turned his eyes to Miles, arching an eyebrow along with a weak smile on his face.
― So you knew he was in town.
― He's at my house, of course I knew.
Forcing Milles to let go of his wrists, Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair, taking a deep breath. He needed to calm down, of course. He had chosen to swallow his jealousy so that Theodore wouldn't feel suffocated or else start an unnecessary argument.
― Thank God I have a good friend who warns me about these things.
― Warns you about what? Look, you know the guy you're jealous of because he's better than you? So, he's back in town! But don't freak out, okay? ― replied Nicolas sarcastically, crossing his arms.
― What if he still likes Theodore? ― Gabriel said to Nicolas. ― I know Theodore likes me, but that doesn't mean I'm comfortable with every guy who gets close to him. I mean...
― That's what relationships are all about, man. Trust. ― Milles squeezed his friend's shoulder and tried to comfort him. ― You came out to the whole school, you've been together for weeks. Just because an ex showed up doesn't mean you should freak out.
― And do you two trust each other?
― No way.― answered the couple in unison.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, again stroking his forehead.
― It's good that you can serve as an example of what not to do in a relationship.
― Oh, my hand is itching. I want to beat the shit out of this asshole. ― Nicolas complained again before advancing on Gabriel holding his shirt collar. ― Listen here, little prince, my best friend is not a slut who jumps from bed to bed. So you'd better swallow your damn jealousy and start trusting him, or I'll make sure you wake up with a mouth full of ants.
It had taken an overwhelming force coming from Milles to release Nicolas from Gabriel.
The alpha knew very well that the other was right. He was being inconsistent with several of his positions on relationships. The issue was that this was his first time. First time he had been in a relationship with another guy. First time that he felt a strong connection together with the insane desire of having him for himself. First time he felt threatened by another alpha...
How should he control all that?
How would he be able to control that infernal ardour that ran inside his veins? It was simply impossible! Where was the cursed manual of life, that could teach him to deal with situations like that? When he just didn't want to be that kind of person.
― Talk to him, okay? ― Milles advised after he managed to push Nicolas away from the other alpha. ― But also listen to what Theodore has to say. You may be each other's soul mate, but that doesn't mean that everything will be flowers. You'll have to work hard if you want it to be.
Being alone at school, Gabriel sighed sitting down on the floor.
Jake is amazing.
Jake plays well.
Jake this and that.
Always haunted by someone whose face he had never seen in person. And now that he had appeared in front of him, it was impossible to feel safe.
Not only was Gabriel's human side possessive, but his alpha instinct wanted to fight for an omega. Swallowing his revolting feelings, Gabriel had chosen to head for his home.
There was no way he would let Theodore see him like that.