― What shamelessness is this, Gabriel?
The shrill voice of Mr. Jones had startled Theodore. Before his eyes a deja vu was happening, proving to experience a similar situation to the one a year ago. He was in a bedroom with an alpha, kissing him and being picked up by his parents. Would the consequences be the same too?
Having that man stare at him furiously had caused nausea in the omega, who clung to his boyfriend's arm. What should he do at that moment? Apologize? Let Gabriel handle the situation? He had no idea what Mr. Jones would think of him on that first impression. Your behaviour made the gentleman peek his eyes at him, not looking very happy to see your son kissing with another boy.
― Who is this kid? ― growled the father, taking a deep breath inhaling that sweet smell, frowning immediately afterwards. ― An omega? You dare seduce my son under my roof?
― Dad, Theo didn't seduce me.
― I should have known when you started with that litany of sweet boy who was experiencing bullying. He had already put his claws into you. ― Approaching the couple, Mr Jones had grabbed the omega's wrist pulling him to his feet and pushed him towards the door. ― Get out of my house now!
Getting up from the bed as well, Gabriel had gone to his boyfriend to free him from the grip on his wrist. It took a great deal of strength for the alpha to force his father to release Theodore. As soon as he was free, the omega was embraced by Gabriel's mother, both protected by the alpha's back.
― Let him go! What do you think you're doing?
― I'm the one who asks! My son kissing another boy? An omega on top of that?
― He's my boyfriend, my soul mate!
― Soul mate? You're not even old enough to know what that means, Gabriel. Are you going through a rebellious phase right now?
― Darling, let's calm down a bit, the neighbours might hear this screaming and think they need to call the police. ― Asked the woman still hugging Theodore stroking his back.
― Quiet woman. And let that filthy fellow go now!
Mr. Jones had taken a step towards Theodore to get him away from his wife, but he had been pushed by his son who had prevented him from approaching. The cold look and the possessive aura that an alpha had when his omega was touched was present threatening his enemy. Even if the enemy in question was his own father. Gabriel had never let that side be seen by his progenitors, yet that situation as a whole was full of novelty.
An alpha would not only protect his omega, but also his son. It was part of the natural instinct, which made that class the strongest.
― You will not touch my omega. ― Growled Gabriel.
A slap to the face Gabriel had taken. Theodore stifled a scream, his eyes widening in horror at witnessing that kind of scene once again.
― I am your father. You dare threaten me?
Walking past Gabriel, Mr. Jones had managed to get close to Theodore holding him by the wrist and pushing him out of the room. The omega couldn't take his eyes off his boyfriend, who still looked surprised by the slap he had received.
― Gabriel! - called the blond in despair.
― Don't you dare say my son's name with that filthy mouth!
― Darling! Darling! Careful, please! ― Interceded the woman trying to stop Theodore from being pushed when they were near the stairs ― Be careful, he is pregnant!
Not only did Mr. Jones stare at the omega woman, but Theodore himself. Had she known? Had Gabriel told her then? For an instant he had felt the brown eyes of the alpha's father upon him, processing the information carefully.
But that didn't really matter at that moment, for in the same instant the man had let go of Theodore and rubbed his hands over his jeans as if wiping them clean of dirt. Gabriel had appeared at that moment, grabbing the omega's hand and pulling them down the stairs.
Unable to see the alpha's eyes, Theodore didn't know what to say. He only squeezed Gabriel's hand feeling his own trembling.
What could he do?
What should he do to help his alpha?
― Go home, Theo, ― Gabriel whispered, heading for the door ― as soon as I sort things out around here, I'll come see you.
― Wait, Gabriel. ― Whispered the omega stopping walking, having the alpha turn to look at him somewhat surprised ― Why try to settle things on your own?
― I don't want my father to hurt you.
Looking towards the stairs where Gabriel's parents were watching the two young men intently, Theodore sighed heavily.
― This is not the first time someone has been prejudiced against me because I am an omega. I got kicked out of Jake's house that time too, and I was a coward to hide with the excuse of waiting for Jake to come see me. ― Looking at Gabriel, Theodore smiled faintly. ― In the end I kept waiting even when he was gone.
The mere mention of that name had caused a wave of goose bumps in Gabriel, but he hadn't said a word. It was not an appropriate time to feel jealous.
― I just don't want to hurt you. You're pregnant, it's our baby boy.
― All the more reason to stay. We're in this together, aren't we?
― Where did I go wrong? ― Said Mr. Jones coming down the stairs slowly. ― My son, an alpha, being tamed by an omega? You got him pregnant? How could you?
Gabriel sighed looking away about to lose his patience. Theodore intertwined his fingers with the alpha's taking a deep breath, raising his shoulders as he turned to Gabriel's parents. Even though he was shaking and queasy, the omega was building up courage.
― What's wrong with being an omega? It's not like I've done anything bad.
― Theo... ― Interceded Gabriel, having the omega care little for the warning.
― You don't know me, you don't know my character and you already rate me as someone seductive. I never dared to go after Gabriel, even though I have such strong feelings for him inside me. At no time did I use my smell or any other artifice to force your son to stay with me. He came to me because he wanted to.
― My son would never lower himself! An alpha is one who dominates. An alpha is stronger than any omega.
In determined steps Mr. Jones approached the two young men menacingly. He was willing to argue as long as he was able to expel that omega from his house. But before he could get too close, Gabriel stood in front of Theodore preventing that contact.
― Understand that he is my omega. And I won't let any other alpha touch him, even if it is you, father.
― It was a mistake for us to come here. We should have stayed in the capital and then you would never have got involved with these people.
There would be no end to that argument, Theodore imagined. Gabriel's father would probably intercede in their relationship, and he would be left without his boyfriend.
Theodore's greatest fear was about to happen once again.
He would be without the person he loves.
Alone.
Wait, not alone. Lowering his eyes to his own belly, Theodore reminded himself that soon his life would have someone else important to love. He was still in the process of accepting that pregnancy, trying to understand how he would be able to give that baby a life.
"To be the best father to that child," were Gabriel's own words. He had made decisions to follow that path. But what if Mr. Jones wouldn't allow it? Wouldn't let them stay together?
Was there no way to intercede? Something that would show his boyfriend's parents that it would be a waste of time to try to separate them?
Watching Gabriel's neck, Theodore moistened his lips. Was it okay to be selfish for once in his life? He had always respected other people's decisions, putting aside what he himself wanted. A good boy he was, perhaps foolish enough for remaining rooted to the spot watching what was important be lost thanks to his lack of initiative.
His soul mate would not be pushed away from him so easily.
― Why is it so hard to accept? Don't you care about my happiness?
― Do you think all this is love that will last a lifetime? Soon you will get tired of it, but you will be bound by a responsibility you are not even capable of handling. You are still a child, Gabriel!
― You see me as a child! But when it came to pushing me towards the Mckenzie daughter, I was a man, wasn't I?
― Measure your words!
Running his tongue through his teeth, Theodore had swallowed dryly. Hearing the mere mention of Sadie had been enough to push away any doubts he had. Gabriel's father treated him like dirt, but in return wanted his son to date Sadie?
Would he know what that girl had already done to him and his best friend, who was also an omega? Taking into consideration the way he acted in that discussion, Theodore wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Jones agreed with Sadie's conduct.
When he had looked at his boyfriend's father, Theodore had felt anger. Anger at knowing that he was willing to leave his own son in such an empty relationship with another omega, for whatever reason. Anger for treating him so rudely and being disgusted to touch him just because he was pregnant.
Abandon Gabriel?
No way!
Stepping closer to Gabriel and pulling the alpha's blouse away, Theodore looked directly at Mr. Jones.
― Forgive me, Gabriel.
By the time Mr. Jones had realised what was about to happen, it was too late. Theodore had sunk his teeth biting below the back of Gabriel's neck, having the alpha turn his head looking at him in surprise out of the corner of his eyes.
The desire to connect with that soulmate had surfaced like cherry blossoms at the height of spring. A pre-existing bond was becoming almost complete. Theodore felt in every muscle, in every part of his body a strangely pleasurable sensation arise. His heart raced inside his chest and his pupils dilated as the tip of his tongue was passed over the bite site.
― Theo?
Alpha and omega exchanged glances as Mr. Jones emerged and pushed Theodore out the door. Gabriel hadn't even been able to move, the bite had left him weak with dizziness to the point where he fell to his knees on the floor in a cold sweat.
Theodore was trying to pull himself free to get close to Gabriel, but Mr. Jones' strength seemed to have suddenly increased. The older alpha had pushed the omega away and harshly, having Theodore slam himself into the gate and tripped as he passed it falling in the middle of the street.
Raising his face as he had been thrown out of the house, he saw those fierce eyes once again being directed at him.
― Don't you ever come in my house again!
Mr. Jones had entered the house by locking the gate without looking back. Theodore kept throwing himself on the floor looking at that house still surprised by what had happened. Trying to get up he felt his back hurt and let out a low groan.
― Theo? Theodore! What had happened?
Turning around he recognised Jake getting out of the car and running towards him. The platinum alpha had held him by the arms about to help him up, but Theodore had let out a low groan making him careful about touching the omega.
― Are you okay? Are you hurt?
Taking a deep breath, Theodore had nodded in agreement.
― Help me up, please.
― Sure, sure.
Jake had held Theodore's waist, feeling the difference in the omega's body immediately glaring at him. He had commented nothing as he helped the boy to his feet.
― Thank you ― Despite Jake standing in front of him, Theodore looked up at the windows of the loft trying to find Gabriel, but not seeing a shadow of him. ― Holy shit!
― What's going on, Theo? Why were you in the street like that?
― Big trouble, Jake. Big trouble. ― Grimacing as he stretched from the pain in his back, the omega looked both ways down the street. ― I need to calm down first...
― I'll buy you a water while you tell me what happened. Is that alright?
Agreeing with his head, Theodore let the platinum alpha help him into the car. His head was running through so much confusing information that he hardly knew how to understand it.
But one thing was certain.
He would not give up on Gabriel.