— Meet his parents? Dude, you're not even dating, so what's the point?
Matheus was right, but Jake didn't think it was such a problem.
— They must be overprotective parents. I get the impression that Nathaniel has some kind of serious health problem.
The brunette alpha rolled his eyes as he continued to dry his dark hair. Although he had joked with his friend while chatting to the Joker on Orkut, now the matter seemed serious.
— Get real, Jake. You want to be with him for real, don't you?
— Hmm... I do — Jake crossed his arms and answered without a second thought — He may look all tough and mean with that face, but Nathaniel is actually quite shy.
— I thought you didn't want anything serious. After what happened with your ex, I thought you'd be single for the rest of your life.
Getting up from his chair, Jake went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Leaning against the counter, he wasn't surprised by his best friend's astonishment. I mean, Matheus had followed that whole phase closely, and had done his utmost to get him out of the shit.
Of course he would have been surprised to see Jake in love with someone else.
— To be honest, I'm scared — Jake confessed, staring into his glass of water — Nathaniel woke up as an omega and his cycle is all messed up because of me. I feel that he depends on me, and that makes me... Excited? Even so, I'm afraid he'll end up finding someone better than me.
— Well, we're alphas. It's in our instinct to want to protect an omega, especially if he's fragile.
An instinct that monopolises. An instinct that protects and cares for it just to ensure its possession. It made sense to imagine that what Jake felt was more related to his alpha instinct. After all, when Nathaniel told him about marking him, he was pleased rather than upset.
Even the thought that Nathaniel would be his ideal omega crossed his mind.
— But he rejected me. He made it very clear that it's temporary. So I can't help but feel anxious.
Grimacing, Matheus sat backwards in a chair, crossing his arms over the backrest.
— Jake, really mate, what if you end up liking him too much? If the Joker is putting a limit on the relationship, what are you going to do?
— Seduce him, of course.
— This isn't a joke, Jake.
— I'm not joking. Nathaniel and I have been together a few times, and at any moment something more could happen... I'm into him because of a fucking kiss, not because he's a good lay.
— Because you didn't go to bed, you don't think this falls under "one-night stand"?
— Exactly! — smiled Jake, leaning back from the counter — We talked, we kissed and that was it. And yet I always end up looking and looking for him. Doesn't that mean something?
— That you're so bored you're imagining things. Have sex with him and it'll go away soon.
Jake wagged his middle finger at Matheus, who ignored him.
— I'm serious, Matheus. I want Nathaniel for myself.
— And I'm telling you not to be so thirsty. If you've really been marked, then it's only natural that the Joker seems to be an oasis in the desert. Take it easy, I really don't want to see you like that again, Jake.
His friend's concern was valid. And Jake was grateful for it. At the same time, he wanted to do what he wanted.
Jake was into Nathaniel, that was a fact.
He wanted to stay with him, go out more often and become closer. Matheus might have been right about those feelings just being caused by the mark, but Jake also felt that if there was none of that, at some point he and Nathaniel would get involved.
He just felt that it would be something natural between them.
With Nathaniel's serious and mysterious manner, it was hard not to look in his direction and find him interesting. Jake wanted to unravel his secrets, peel away those layers that hid his true self. He wanted to reach him in a way that made that alpha an ambitious person.
Was he afraid of being abandoned again?
Yes.
Was he afraid that Nathaniel would realise he didn't like being with him as much?
Yes.
But he would try anyway.
The next day, already at college, Jake arrived an hour before classes started. Although he had the first class free, he didn't know Nathaniel's timetable. If he was lucky, they could use the first class to enjoy some alone time.
Just thinking about it made his hands sweat.
— Did you get the book for today's lesson? — One of Jake's classmates asked.
— I managed to get the last one!
— What book?
— Come on, Jake! The teacher said she was going to use this book in class today.
A shiver ran through the alpha's body.
— Holy shit! I didn't get it.
— It's a good thing I asked before class started. Go to the library to see if anyone's returned one for you.
Throwing his bag over his shoulder, Jake stood up in a huff.
— Thanks, I'm off then. See you in the class!
Rushing off, Jake prayed that he would find the book. He'd spent part of the night doing his work and had completely forgotten about the fucking book. The only reason he hadn't forgotten his head was because it was stuck to his neck.
The library was on the top floor of the building. Using the lift to get there faster, the alpha anxiously checked the time. If he was quick, he'd still have time to go and find his omega, just to say good morning and find out if everything was all right.
Haa... why couldn't he find them both in the same place? Both the book and Nathaniel? It would be so nice...
When the lift doors opened, Jake recognised the silhouette of a tall boy wearing a hoodie and cap. The masked man seemed to be talking to another shorter boy, who was smiling happily. From the lift door, Jake smelled pheromones all around Nathaniel.
What the fuck was that?
Those were alpha pheromones, but they weren't his.
With heavy steps, Jake walked in a straight line until he approached Nathaniel and jumped on his shoulders.
— Hey, Nath!
Surprised, Nathaniel looked over his shoulder.
— Jake? What are you doing here?
— I came to borrow a book, but then I saw you and decided to say hello — Peering at the boy in front of him, Jake analysed him from top to bottom — And this is?
— That's Julio, he helps out in the library.
Unfortunately, Jake never paid any attention to the staff who worked at the college. If he had, he might have known that the short man with the black hair and porcelain skin was a shameless alpha.
The pheromones were his. Not only had he enveloped Nathaniel with his pheromones, but he also exuded them without any shame.
How annoying.
— Are you a friend of Nathaniel's too? — The bloke smiled — Nice to meet you, I'm Julio.
Opening a friendly smile, Jake extended his hand to the boy.
— I'm Jake. If you're Nathaniel's friend, then you're my friend too.
— Oh, you said you came to get a book?
Releasing Nathaniel from his embrace, the alpha scratched the back of his head a little awkwardly.
— So, I'd forgotten that I needed to pick up the book, so I came to have a look since my first slot is free.
— I'd offer to help you look, but I have to go to class.
Ha, what a hint. But Jake knew how to play along.
— Nah, it's fine. You're not working, so you don't even have to worry about it.
— I've got the first free period too, so I'll help you out — Nathaniel offered, then turned to Julio and handed him a notebook — Use this to study, I managed to find my notebook from last year so it should have something to help you.
Julio took the notebook and cracked a smile so cheerful it barely fit on his face. Jake wanted to turn him inside out just so he wouldn't see that guy so happy.
— Thanks, Nathaniel! I'll buy you a drink later.
— No need to worry.
Before they agreed to leave, Jake grabbed the joker's hand. Covering him with his pheromones, he made sure that Julio knew that Nathaniel already had an alpha.
To his surprise, the short little bastard just let out a muffled laugh before saying goodbye. As if he didn't care about Jake's attitude.
What the fuck was that?
He didn't even care? And he laughed in Jake's face?
The alpha felt childish and humiliated.
— Do you know where you can look for the book? — Nathaniel asked without seeming to notice the little pheromone battle.
Sighing defeatedly, Jake pulled the omega into the library.
Usually he knew how to hold back. Jake wasn't the kind of person to create scandals and pick unnecessary fights. He preferred everything to be sorted out by talking it over and going his own way. However, his blood was hot.
Luckily for him, Nathaniel didn't react to Julio's pheromones. However, it was infuriating that some alpha could take advantage of his naivety. If Jake hadn't gone to the library, what would have happened?
Probably nothing. Nathaniel would be covered in Julio's pheromones until he met Jake. In a worst-case scenario, he'd react afterwards...
Argh, that wasn't good anyway!
In a corridor with little movement, the alpha managed to find a narrow space where they could hide. It was there that he cornered Nathaniel against a bookcase, staring at him seriously.
— Huh? What is it, Jake?
— You stink.
Arching an eyebrow, Nathaniel lowered his mask and pulled up his blouse to sniff it, followed by a grimace.
— That's...
— Haa... I told you to watch out for other alphas' pheromones.
— Are you saying that Julio is an alpha?
— Didn't you realise? — Jake asked suspiciously.
— It's not often that I smell pheromones. And also, if someone were very discreet, I wouldn't even notice, since I'm always wearing a mask.
— That's even more dangerous! — Complained the alpha, sighing defeatedly.
Why would he fight with Nathaniel?
If he didn't smell it, there was no point in arguing.
— I'll be more careful, as this could put me in a bad situation. Don't worry about it.
What did Jake expect? That he would care more about his feelings than his own well-being? Of course Nathaniel should put himself first, yet the alpha continued to feel frustrated.
Leaning his forehead on Nathaniel's shoulder, Jake tried to pull himself together.
One step at a time, if he couldn't make the joker reject him even more. If his aim was to understand his feelings and ensure that Nathaniel remained on his side, he couldn't show his horrible, jealous side.
People liked Jake when he was charismatic and kind.
But as expected, Nathaniel seemed to take off his good guy mask with ease. It made him so vulnerable...
— Jake? Are you all right?
Raising his head, the alpha faced the joker who seemed to be innocence itself.
— I'm going to cover you with my pheromones, so stay still.
— Okay.
Obedient. Jake wanted to test his obedience in other scenarios.
He was frustrated to see another alpha wanting to steal his omega. So it was okay that he was selfish and wanted to make Nathaniel forget he'd even met Julio?
Holding Nathaniel's chin tightly, the alpha kissed him intensely. The movement of his lips made clear his thirst and selfishness to steal that omega's air. And little by little he released his pheromones to cover Nathaniel.
In his hands Jake felt the omega's body react to his scent. Even his breathing became panting, making the kiss wetter and more intense, because Jake wanted him more and more.
He had to get rid of any memories Nathaniel had of Julio.
Every time the omega thought of the library, he had to remember what was happening between those shelves. The alpha would commit to memory that there was only room for one alpha.
And that alpha was Jake Mckenzie.
To do this, he would play with Nathaniel's sensibilities.
First, his fingers played with the hair near the nape of his neck. One caress and a wave of goosebumps would spread.
Secondly, he would squeeze his waist and glue him completely to his body. Both feeling each other, the other's heart beating fast in his chest. Then Jake would revel in the curves of his waist, squeezing him again and again to hear him sigh and gasp.
Thirdly, Jake would bite, suck and play with his mouth and tongue. He would leave his thin lips swollen and reddened in a way that not even Jake could bear. The mere sight of those swollen, moist lips would make the alpha himself drown in them all over again.
And in that game of seduction, Jake achieved the expected result.
When he pulled away to catch his breath, Nathaniel was vulnerable and in his arms.
— J-Jake...
Ah... He was going to go crazy.