Four days in the clutches of a demon who didn't know the word rest. Even a reserve like Jake couldn't escape the gruelling training. And while the boys in their twenties were running and exercising, a masked man was making preparations for lunch.
By midday the alpha could no longer stand jumping up to practise his serve or having to run around the farm chasing the ball. Jake grabbed the towel that was lying on a chair and dried off his sweat, trying to see if his soul had left his body yet. Even in his shorts and T-shirt, he still felt like he was in an oven.
— You didn't even bring my bottle, Captain?
— I'm not your donkey, go and get it from the fridge — Matheus argued, kicking Jake in the arse.
— That's mean, you weren't like that.
Grumbling about the kick he'd received, Jake went round the back of the house, through the huge door and into the kitchen. The only person there was Nathaniel, who was chopping onions with concentration.
Approaching foot by foot, silently, the alpha stood behind the boy about to give him a little scare.
— I know it's you, Jake.
— What's that? H-How did you know? I came quietly...
Nathaniel lowered his mask and looked over his shoulder.
— Pheromones.
Taking a few steps back, the alpha raised his arm a little and sniffed himself, grimacing when he realised that he was actually releasing pheromones.
— Sorry, the inhibitor must be wearing off — Nathaniel didn't seem very interested in his excuse, as he went back to concentrating on his little task — Are you going to cook for us?
— Your coach gave Guilherme a shopping list that had to be followed to the letter. So don't expect much.
Of course, the demon was having fun taking all the treats away from the youngsters. Keeping fit wasn't the right excuse. If they ate too much rubbish, it would affect their training performance. Healthy and varied food was the coach's motto. The boys on the team must have a bag full of snacks and treats to sneak in, Jake would have to join them to survive.
Jake grimaced as he remembered when he made the trip in his first year on the team. As a cook, Santiago was an excellent coach.
— I was surprised to see that you were coming with us. I thought you only watched training because of Guilherme.
— That's true. But Santiago came to talk to me the other day, so he asked me to help keep an eye on you.
Going to the fridge to get his bottle of water, Jake leaned against the marble counter and took a long sip, quenching his thirst a little.
— But it's a bit strange that he should ask for your help.
— Either I'd come along or Guilherme wouldn't — replied the boy, throwing all the chopped onion into the pan, frying it along with the garlic and spreading the delicious aroma around the kitchen — And from what he said, the coach intends to put Guilherme on the court.
— What do you mean you have to come along? Is he a child by any chance?
Nathaniel gave the alpha a sharp look.
— Well, you saw in the restaurant what happens when he's alone.
Did he?
When Guilherme went to ask for help, it was Nathaniel who was in trouble.
But he wasn't going to argue with that.
Continuing to watch him, Jake was amazed at the way Nathaniel cut up small pieces of seasoned meat and put them in the pan to fry with the onion and garlic. The smell that rose from the pan made the alpha's belly growl like a pig with hunger. It got worse when the joker turned the meat, which seemed to be getting tastier by the minute.
Maybe if he could steal just a little piece...
— Ah, look at him fawning over the cook! — Matheus hugged Jake's shoulders and let out a low chuckle — I don't care if your plate is bigger than mine.
— I'm not a bottomless sack like you, so don't worry.
— Nath, are you wearing gloves when you cook?
Guilherme's question caught the attention of the two alphas.
That's right, he was wearing white latex gloves so he could cook.
— Your gloves will stink of onions.
— That's fine.
Why was he wearing gloves?
Nathaniel was always hiding. Although at the farm, he dispensed with wearing a hoodie while still wearing his sweatshirt. Even in shorts and trainers, he kept his body completely hidden from the waist up.
Jake understood that Nathaniel wore the mask because of the scar, but... What about his hands?
Maybe...
— Nobody here is going to judge you, and you know it.
Guilherme looked angry... but he was still a quivering puppy. Jake and Matheus remained silent, just waiting for Nathaniel's answer. However, he kept quiet and continued to prepare lunch, making a sauce for the meat.
Was the opinion of others weighing on his shoulders?
Matheus squeezed Jake's shoulder, and the two exchanged glances. That conversation between the two of them wasn't something that should be done in front of others. The atmosphere became tense between the four of them, leaving two completely uncomfortable alphas not knowing what to do.
— Hm... Guilherme, let's ask the guys to set up the hammock at the back. We'll come back when lunch is ready.
— But, Captain...
— Come on, come on!
Matheus pulled the beta by the arm out of the kitchen, and Jake intended to follow, but kept staring at Nathaniel's hands.
Why did it bother him?
It probably agonised him to see him all covered up in the infernal heat. Nathaniel could become ill if he continued like this.
Jake brazenly lowered the heat from the pans and took Nathaniel's hand. Rubbing his finger on the glove, he raised his clear eyes to the joker, waiting for him to respond. He could feel it on his fingertips that he was sweating, and of course he would be hot when he was still working on the cooker.
— What do you say we just take it off while you cook?
— No need, I'm fine.
Stubborn.
Unfortunately, Jake knew how to be even more stubborn than he was.
— There's only me here, and I've already seen your scar.
Nathaniel would continue to deny it, he knew that. He could tell just by the grimace on his face. That's why Jake released some more of his pheromones. Unlike usual, the pheromones the alpha released were more seductive than to calm someone down. A silent, imperceptible seduction that would make the other person give in to his request.
At first, Nathaniel didn't seem bothered. In fact, it was more like he didn't smell anything. However, Jake didn't give up and released a little more, giving a satisfied smile when Nathaniel shuddered and hesitated.
— Haa... Don't use your pheromones near food, Jake.
— So you know what answer to give me, don't you?
Grudgingly, Nathaniel pulled his hand away and removed his gloves. And just as Jake had imagined, they also had scars. Small and clear, several of them spread across the back of his hand, fingers and palm.
— Happy?
Act naturally.
Don't show any signs of discomfort or worry. Don't even dare question it. Don't make any sudden movements that could scare Nathaniel into hiding again.
Opening a friendly smile, Jake winked at the boy.
— That's it.
Soon afterwards, the team's assistant appeared in the kitchen to help Nathaniel. Dishes and cutlery at the ready, the whistle blew outside finalising the training session, and it wasn't long before the players entered the kitchen hungry.
The house was noisy as they served themselves. In the end, everyone sat down and Nathaniel was the last to serve himself. Jake immediately realised that there wasn't much space at the table for him to join in, so he got up to grab a chair from outside and put it at the end of the table.
Pulling out his plate, the alpha positioned himself at the end of the table, leaving the place next to Guilherme vacant for Nathaniel to sit down. That way they could all eat together.
Yay!
However, Jake had forgotten one small detail.
The first time Rapoxia ate with Nathaniel, the boys were partying and getting drunk, paying no attention to the joker. This time everyone was sober and fearful of him, following his every move in a state of high alert. When Nathaniel removed his mask, everyone was surprised by the hideous scar.
— What the fuck is that?
— Holy shit!
— What is it? — Guilherme asked, following his team-mates' gazes and widening his eyes when he saw the boy without his mask — Nath, are you okay with this?
— I know it's uncomfortable, but...
He was going to say the same thing.
Jake remembered those words well when they went for coffee.
Did Nathaniel repeat that phrase every time he ate in public? Always apologising for taking off his mask and ensuring that he wouldn't disturb anyone once he'd finished his meal.
For some reason, this irritated the alpha.
Before Nathaniel had finished speaking, the hybrids at the table shuddered at the heavy air and the intense smell that spread across the table. Even the trainer and assistant were paralysed and unable to move properly. A strong, woody aroma that would overpower even the strongest hybrid instinct.
— Rapoxia is a team that respects each other, isn't it? Or did the coach not teach you this basic lesson?
Sweat dripped down the boys' faces.
It was the first time they had seen an alpha use his dominant presence to threaten. No one at the table could move, as they felt that the slightest movement would result in their early deaths. Even though they knew Jake wouldn't be able to do anything to them, the fear was instinctive.
— Of course... we know that, right? — Matheus laughed, reaching out to touch his friend's shoulder — So, just relax so we can eat in peace, okay?
Jake dismissed his presence and went back to eating as if nothing had happened, despite his team-mates almost falling off their chairs when they got rid of that dreadful feeling.
— Ha, that slob... What I said about using your presence on others, Mckenzie!
Jake shrugged at the coach's shout. He'd use it again if he had to.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Nathaniel was still eating as if he hadn't felt a thing. Neither the others' reaction to his scar nor the alpha's presence.
Matheus and Ricardo endeavoured to ease the tense atmosphere. And it was only when Jake proved to be as calm and playful as ever that everyone relaxed and returned to a lively mood. The mess spread when the coach and assistant finished lunch and went outside to finish setting up the improvised court.
From then on, the boys chatted about college until a topic came up.
— But hey, Guilherme, you're getting famous at school too.
— What's that? Me? Why?
— Because of the joker.
Guilherme looked at Nathaniel in a corner, then back at the others, shrugging his shoulders, not knowing what this was about.
— There's a rumour that you're gay.
Jake stuffed his fork into his mouth, keeping his attention on the conversation. If anyone was prejudiced... He'd be ready to intervene.
— And what does this have to do with Nath?
— It's because you're always together, so people say you're a couple.
Guilherme, who was taking a sip of his soft drink, choked and started coughing. Nathaniel held out a piece of paper napkin, receiving a thank you from the beta who was cleaning himself up.
— What? What is this nonsense? Wait... — The beta turned to the joker — Did you know this kind of rumour was going around?
— People don't make a point of hiding it when they're around me.
— And why didn't you tell me?
— Why not? What would you do?
The answer, full of indifference, surprised Jake and Guilherme. In fact, everyone at the table was surprised. Did Nathaniel really not care about the rumours? It was uncomfortable just to hear.
Guilherme sighed heavily and slapped himself on the forehead. Then he turned to his colleagues.
— This is the most ridiculous rumour I've ever heard. Please avoid spreading it, and make it clear to other people that it's not about that.
Matheus leaned his elbow on the table, making himself present.
— And what would the truth be, then? Like, Jake and I live together and that's not why we're stuck up each other's arses.
— Because your arse stinks — muttered the alpha jokingly, earning a middle finger from his friend.
— Nath is my eldest brother!
— What?
The surprise was even greater when it was Jake's turn to choke on his soft drink. Coughing, the alpha struggled to catch his breath. Well, he also thought that the two of them were a couple, and even felt guilty in case they had any disagreements.
There were several times when Jake apologised to Nathaniel, asking him if he had caused any misunderstandings with Guilherme. If the boy already knew about the rumours circulating, then he knew very well what Jake was talking about.
Ah... He wanted to crawl into a hole.
— You don't look alike, and you don't even have the same surname, do you? — Matheus continued — On your registration form, your surname was Mantovani. And the coach called the joker Callegari.
— We have different fathers, we're half-brothers. Frankly, what a ridiculous rumour...
— So, the fact that the Joker came on the trip...
Nathaniel cast a sharp glance at the Rapoxia boys. The alpha's presence was dispensable for the Joker, who without his mask was able to make all those boys pale and pouty.
— It means that if you step out of line, I'll finish you off.
Nathaniel looked like a real villain. Thanks to his frightening appearance, his menace put everyone in their place, establishing his position in Rapoxia. Whether it was rioting in his parents' house or messing with his beta brother...
Nathaniel was someone who shouldn't be provoked.