It took a long minute before one of his parents decided to answer.
"If you cannot stand against someone, stand beside them." Mr. Velison's eyes held so much pain that his son was taken aback. "Do ya think I didn't ask Mr. Aster about this? Years and years of patience, do ya think it didn't hurt me to watch my friend slowly descending into madness? He was real paranoid, Junior, and for good reasons. The higher you are up the food chain, the more people want to bring you down. He was lost in greed and wrath that he couldat see moral. We are Velisons, Junior. We're not meant to fight in wars. We're made ta adapt, and as long as we benefit, we don't gotta complain, because if we dare go against our masters, we lose our lives."
So, his family are also cowards who didn't dare to go against Mr. Aster.
Blue eyes screwed shut, and Liam took in a deep breath. No, he won't shout. He won't yell.
"I know what you're thinking, my dear." His mother's voice caught his attention once again. "If you're going to start a revolution, don't involve us nor your sister. Don't be rash either."
Start a revolution? A revolution sounds great. Bring back the guillotine and Liam will gladly chop some heads even if it costs his own.
Then, his mind supplied him with the thoughts of Mar. His best friend. The love of his life. Their heart beats syncing in the morning when they wake up together. His dream of seeing Mar growing older together with him.
A pale hand rested on his shoulder, and Liam looked at his mother who had gotten out of her seat, and she's now standing beside him.
"You're angry." She mumbled.
Liam just realized that his pheromones were on full blast, cedarwood clogging the surrounding air and pushing away any lovely floral scents from the garden. He quickly wrapped his hands around his neck to get rid of any sweat before rubbing his wrists together.
Shit, he's a fully grown adult alpha male, so he should be able to control his pheromones better than this.
Mrs. Velison is right on another thing. Liam shouldn't be rash. Everything he does has consequences, especially when he's this close to Mar. Mr. Aster didn't hesitate to kill a baby of his own flesh and blood, then why would he hesitate to kill his own son?
The platinum blond alpha stood up from his seat, and his parents gave him worried glances. Now that his pheromones are no longer infecting the entire gazebo, he could smell the comforting lavender from his mom and the fainting cedarwood from his dad.
It was at this moment when his mind was rebooted again. He can't be rash and simply starts a revolution. Liam is an alpha male who has something to lose. He has his family and Mar, and the degrees he works so hard for, and a dream he only shared with himself.
Also, it's kind of impossible for one person to start anything of note unless he directly takes out the Aster Patriarch, which is impossible given the current security and circumstances.
However, he isn't alone, is he? Mar is very much on the same path, and Rex? That fucker is useful. The twins are going away, but would they return if it means patricide?
"Lost in yer head again?" His father's voice brought him back to the garden.
The platinum blond alpha let out a sigh as he turned away from his parents. "Let's get back to breakfast. I didn't eat enough before I was kicked out of the table."
A hand was laid on his shoulder again, and Liam didn't have to turn around to know it's his mother. Her scent of lavender gave him more comfort even though her pheromones clearly said she's upset from their conversation.
"Alright, Junior." His father was the first to step out of the gazebo. "Let's go."
His mother's hand lingered on his shoulder for a while longer before she left to join his father. The platinum blond alpha let out a sigh, and soon his long strides easily caught him up to his parents, though he kept his distance two feet behind them at all times.
All eyes were on them as they made their way back to the mansion, and a familiar brunette man with bright green eyes gave them a bow in greeting.
"Dr. Velisons! And young master Liam!" Arkham voiced his concerns as soon as the trio were close enough to hear him. "Young master Liam, young master Mar was looking for you!"
The young alpha paused and immediately pulled his phone out of his pocket. There isn't any text from his best friend, so he took the butler's word for it.
"Where's Mar?" Liam asked back, and the butler's response was pointed at a specific hallway.
Ah. The piano room.
"Thanks." The platinum blond alpha gave Arkham a thumbs up. Then, his blue eyes moved to meet his parents'. "I'll join you in a few minutes."
Before they could protest, Liam broke into a sprint. It's not ideal when he's wearing dress pants and a button up shirt, but at least he managed to avoid his parents, his sister and her lover calling out for him, and a very pissed Madison shouting at a poor butler in the living room.
A familiar melody was playing, and slender fingers tapped each note like it meant the world to him. Liam didn't come in right away, instead he stood at the door waiting for his companion to finish the song.
Purple eyes were closed as lightly tanned skin basked in the sun coming from the large window. Mar's mind was clearly elsewhere, and Liam couldn't help but felt so much nostalgia. Something weighed down on his heart as he watched his best friend play.
Almost a decade ago, this was how they met.
A little boy with messy black hair trying to get away from everything by putting his heart into the piano. Another little boy was watching from the door, afraid that he would disturb the peace by coming inside even though he accepted a deal from the devil that resided in the mansion.
One summer turned into two. Soon, Mar abandoned the piano shortly after his mother died. Hollowed magenta eyes stared at him from under the morning sunlight coming through the window, and those same eyes are looking at him now.
The platinum blond alpha took a few careful step inside before he quickly crossed the room to reach his best friend. Blue eyes didn't break contact, and Liam smiled slightly as he sat down on the piano next to his companion.
Mar didn't wait to hook his slender fingers into the taller alpha's shirt collar. With an effortless pull, plum lips grazed over Liam's own lips.
Even though their kiss was brief, a sense of relief flooded the platinum blond alpha. It was an invitation to stay, and who is he to say no?
After all, William Junior is a Velison, and just like his ancestors before him, he's nothing but an adaptable servant.