The elegant dining room of the Vaelis mansion was as pristine and intimidating as always. The long, polished table stretched out under the soft glow of a crystal chandelier, set with fine china and silverware so perfect that it looked untouched. Dorian sat in his usual spot, feeling the tension slowly building in the room as they waited for dinner to be served.
Across from him, Eryx sat at the head of the table, his icy blue eyes focused on the door leading to the kitchen, a small frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. The delay in dinner was noticeable—especially to someone like Eryx, who valued punctuality and order above almost everything else. Every few minutes, his fingers tapped impatiently on the table, though he didn't say a word.
Dorian could feel the weight of his father's unspoken disapproval, and beside him, Alex was doing his best to remain calm, though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he glanced at Dorian. They both knew the reason for the delay: the food fight they had indulged in earlier had undoubtedly thrown the kitchen staff off schedule, but neither of them dared to acknowledge it aloud.
From time to time, Alex would shoot Dorian a playful smirk, as if daring him to laugh, but Dorian kept his expression carefully neutral. They were both treading dangerous waters, especially with Eryx sitting right there.
The sound of heels clicking against the marble floors broke the tension, and Cassandra Vaelis entered the dining room with her usual air of elegance and authority. She was tall and statuesque, her dark brown hair streaked with silver pulled back into a sleek bun. Her eyes—dark amber and sharp as a blade—immediately swept over the room, assessing the situation in a single glance.
"Good evening," Cassandra said smoothly as she took her seat at the table, her tone polite but detached. She had barely settled into her chair before her eyes landed on Alex, who was sitting beside Dorian. There was no warmth in her gaze—only a calculating scrutiny that made Dorian's chest tighten with unease.
"Ah, you must be Alex," Cassandra said, her voice cool but not unfriendly. "Dorian mentioned you would be joining us tonight."
Alex smiled, unfazed by the sharpness of Cassandra's gaze. "Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Cassandra's eyes narrowed slightly, studying Alex with the same intensity that Eryx had used earlier. But Dorian knew better—his mother was far more difficult to impress than his father. While Eryx was a man of strategy and control, Cassandra was a master manipulator, always three steps ahead of everyone else. She could read people in an instant, and Dorian knew she would be watching Alex closely, waiting for any sign of weakness.
Dorian shifted in his seat, his curiosity piqued. How would Alex handle his mother's scrutiny? He had managed to impress Eryx—an almost impossible feat—but Cassandra was a different kind of challenge. Dorian knew that one wrong move could spell disaster.
For a moment, the table was silent as Cassandra continued to size Alex up, her eyes flicking over him like she was reading his entire life story in a matter of seconds. Dorian held his breath, waiting for whatever sharp remark or question his mother was undoubtedly preparing.
But Alex remained calm. In fact, he met Cassandra's gaze head-on, his smile easy and confident. "I've heard a lot about you, Mrs. Vaelis," He said smoothly, his tone respectful but not overly formal. "Dorian talks about how much he's learned from you."
Dorian blinked in surprise. That was... not the approach he had expected. Most people—especially those who knew Cassandra's reputation—were careful to avoid drawing attention to themselves, knowing that she would find any weakness to exploit. But Alex had chosen to engage directly, offering a compliment that felt both genuine and strategic.
Cassandra's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but her expression didn't change. "I'm glad to hear that," She said, her voice still cool. "Dorian is a very capable young man. I've done my best to ensure that."
Dorian, feeling the weight of his mother's words, shifted slightly in his seat. It was always like this—Cassandra's subtle reminders of the pressure that weighed on his shoulders, the expectations that never quite left him. But Alex, seemingly unaffected by the tension, simply nodded in agreement.
"I can see that," Alex replied, his smile never wavering. "He's one of the most driven people I've ever met. You've raised him well."
Dorian felt his cheeks flush slightly at the praise, though he wasn't sure if it was out of embarrassment or discomfort. It was rare for anyone to speak so openly in front of his parents—especially someone who had only just met them. But Alex seemed to have a knack for navigating these situations, somehow managing to strike the perfect balance between respect and confidence.
Cassandra tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes still studying Alex. "And what about you, Alex?" She asked, her tone taking on a slightly sharper edge. "What do you plan to do with your future? You strike me as someone with ambition."
Dorian held his breath, knowing that this was the real test. Cassandra was probing now, testing Alex's resolve and ambition. She had no tolerance for people without a clear sense of purpose, and Dorian knew that whatever Alex said next would determine her opinion of him.
Alex didn't miss a beat. "I'm still figuring it out," He admitted, his tone thoughtful but confident. "But I know I want to build something meaningful—something that lasts. My parents' company is successful, but I want to take what I've learned and create something of my own. Something that will make a difference."
Cassandra's gaze didn't waver, but Dorian could see the faintest hint of approval in her eyes. Alex had answered honestly, but he had also shown ambition—a trait that Cassandra respected more than anything else.
"You're young," Cassandra said finally, her tone neutral. "There's plenty of time to decide your path."
Alex nodded, his smile still in place. "That's what I'm hoping."
The conversation paused for a moment, and Dorian glanced between his mother and Alex, still unsure of how this interaction would play out. But just as the tension seemed to ease, a member of the kitchen staff entered the dining room, looking slightly flustered as they approached Eryx.
"Apologies for the delay," The staff member said, bowing slightly. "Dinner will be ready shortly."
Eryx's eyes narrowed slightly, though he didn't say anything. Instead, he glanced at Dorian and Alex, his expression unreadable.
Dorian and Alex exchanged a quick, guilty look, both of them knowing full well why dinner was delayed. Alex, of course, was the first to break the tension, giving Dorian a playful nudge under the table. Dorian shot him a look of disbelief, still amazed that Alex could be so relaxed in the middle of all this.
"We're probably having dinner late because of, uh... kitchen complications," Alex whispered to Dorian with a mischievous grin.
Dorian rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile that tugged at his lips. Whatever happened next, at least he knew Alex had his back—food fights and all.
_
Dinner, as always in the Vaelis household, was a formal affair. The table was set with an elaborate spread, though the earlier delay had been handled with quiet professionalism by the kitchen staff. Dorian sat across from his parents, Eryx and Cassandra, feeling the weight of their presence as the evening stretched on. Both of them, having silently approved of Alex earlier, had kept the conversation mostly focused on work, the upcoming fundraiser, and other matters of importance to the Vaelis family.
Alex, for his part, had navigated the meal with surprising ease, answering questions from Eryx and Cassandra while maintaining his usual casual charm. It was almost impressive, Dorian thought, how effortlessly Alex fit into the room—a room that normally felt suffocating and tense for anyone who wasn't part of the Vaelis world.
As dinner finally came to an end, Dorian and Alex both exchanged subtle glances, and after the last course was cleared, Dorian cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, Father, Mother," Dorian said, his tone respectful but distant. "We'll be heading to my room now."
Eryx nodded slightly, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Very well."
Cassandra's sharp amber eyes flicked between them, her gaze lingering on Alex for a moment longer before she gave a small nod of approval. "Enjoy the rest of your evening," She said coolly.
With that, Dorian and Alex left the dining room, the tension of the formal dinner melting away as they climbed the stairs to Dorian's room. The further they got from his parents, the more Dorian felt the tightness in his chest ease, though there was still a lingering sense of unease he couldn't quite shake.
When they finally reached Dorian's room, Alex didn't hesitate to make himself comfortable. As soon as the door was closed, he kicked off his shoes and flopped down onto Dorian's bed, stretching out as if he owned the place.
"Seriously?" Dorian muttered, giving Alex a disapproving look as he crossed his arms. "That's my bed."
Alex grinned, completely unfazed. "What? I'm testing it out. This thing is probably the comfiest bed I've ever seen."
Dorian rolled his eyes, though there was no real heat behind it. He moved to sit on one of the nearby chairs, watching as Alex sprawled out on his bed like he didn't have a care in the world. For a moment, the room was filled with a comfortable silence, the tension of the formal dinner slipping away entirely.
But as they settled into the quiet, Dorian found his mind wandering. He had spent so much time in the last few days thinking about Rhys, about his parents, and about all the complicated feelings he was trying to sort through. But Alex, despite his easygoing demeanor, remained somewhat of a mystery. There was more to him than the confident Beta who had shown up in his life with a grin and a carefree attitude.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Dorian leaned back in his chair, his gaze focused on Alex. "So," Dorian began, his tone more casual than before, "What's your deal?"
Alex turned his head slightly, one eyebrow raised. "My deal?"
Dorian shrugged, though his voice held a hint of genuine interest. "You've been pretty open about everything today, but you haven't really talked about yourself much. What's your life like?"
For a moment, Alex was silent, his easy grin fading slightly as he seemed to consider the question. Then, with a small sigh, he sat up, propping himself up on his elbows as he glanced at Dorian.
"It's not that interesting," Alex said with a shrug. "My family's just... normal, I guess."
Dorian frowned slightly. "Normal?"
Alex leaned back against the headboard, his expression growing a little more serious than usual. "Well, normal-ish. We've had our ups and downs. My parents' company almost went bankrupt a few years ago. It was a mess. We survived, but barely. It's why I help out with the business whenever I can."
Dorian blinked, taken aback. He hadn't expected that. Despite the ease with which Alex carried himself, it was clear that his life hadn't been as smooth as it seemed on the surface.
"Bankruptcy?" Dorian echoed, his voice softening. "That must've been hard."
Alex nodded, his gaze distant for a moment. "Yeah. It was rough. We used most of our savings to keep the company afloat, but we managed to pull through." He hesitated, his voice quieting slightly. "That wasn't the hardest part, though."
Dorian tilted his head slightly, sensing the shift in Alex's mood. "What do you mean?"
For a brief moment, Alex's usual carefree demeanor faltered, and something more solemn crossed his face. "I, uh... I lost my sister recently," He said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "She was my best friend."
Dorian's chest tightened at the confession. He had seen Alex in so many different lights—confident, playful, even mischievous—but this vulnerability was new. It was clear that Alex wasn't used to talking about this part of his life, and for a moment, Dorian didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry," Dorian said softly, his voice filled with genuine sympathy.
Alex nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's fine. I don't really talk about it much. She was older than me, and we were close. But, you know, life goes on."
There was a heavy silence in the room after Alex spoke, the weight of his words settling over them both. For a moment, Dorian just sat there, unsure of how to respond. He wasn't used to this—he wasn't used to people being vulnerable with him, especially not someone like Alex, who always seemed so put together.
"I didn't know," Dorian said quietly, feeling the weight of Alex's loss more acutely now. "That must've been really hard for you."
Alex gave a small, sad smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. It was. But I've learned to deal with it. My parents... well, they buried themselves in work after it happened, so I kind of had to figure things out on my own."
Dorian felt a pang of understanding at those words. He, too, knew what it was like to grow up under the weight of family expectations, to feel like you had to figure everything out alone. In that moment, something shifted between them—something deeper than the playful banter they had shared earlier.
For the first time since they had met, Dorian saw Alex not just as the confident, carefree Beta who had waltzed into his life, but as someone who had been through his own struggles, who carried his own burdens.
"Thanks for telling me," Dorian said, his voice soft but sincere. "I... didn't expect that."
Alex chuckled softly, though there was no real humor in it. "Yeah, well. I don't usually talk about it. But you seem like someone who gets it."
Dorian nodded, his chest tight with understanding. He did get it—more than he cared to admit.
For the first time in a long while, Dorian felt a sense of connection that went beyond the superficial. In Alex, he saw a reflection of himself—someone who was trying to navigate the weight of family, loss, and the expectations placed upon them.
The room had settled into a quiet calm after Alex's unexpected vulnerability. For a while, neither of them spoke, and Dorian was grateful for the comfortable silence. It was rare to find moments like these in his life—moments where he didn't have to constantly be thinking about how to act, what to say, or how to meet the endless expectations placed upon him.
But, true to form, Alex wasn't one to stay serious for too long. After a few moments, he suddenly sat up straighter, his usual mischievous grin returning to his face as if he had just remembered something important.
"Oh, right!" Alex said, snapping his fingers as if something had just clicked in his mind. "I almost forgot—there's a reason I'm here. We're supposed to be figuring out how you're going to woo Rhys."
Dorian blinked, the abrupt change in topic catching him off guard. He had almost forgotten about the whole reason Alex was staying over in the first place. His thoughts had been so wrapped up in the day's events, the dinner with his parents, and Alex's own revelations that Rhys had briefly taken a backseat in his mind.
"Right..." Dorian muttered, a little sheepishly. "I... guess we are."
Alex grinned, moving to sit cross-legged on the bed, clearly eager to dive back into his role as Dorian's unofficial 'love advisor.' "So, let's get down to it. Why do you like Rhys? What's the deal with him? Because, from where I'm sitting, he's not exactly easy to read."
Dorian hesitated, feeling a sudden wave of uncertainty wash over him. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about why he was drawn to Rhys—he had, many times—but saying it out loud, especially to someone like Alex, made him feel strangely exposed.
"I don't know," Dorian said quietly at first, his eyes drifting to the floor as he tried to gather his thoughts. "It's... complicated."
Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with that answer. "Complicated how?"
Dorian sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's not just one thing. I mean, it's hard to explain, but Rhys is... different. When I'm around him, I don't feel like I have to be this perfect version of myself all the time. He doesn't care about all the stuff that my parents or everyone else seems to care about."
Alex nodded slowly, his playful demeanor softening as he listened. "So he makes you feel... more like yourself?"
Dorian frowned, thinking about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I guess that's it. I don't feel like I have to prove anything when I'm with him. He's just... real. He doesn't expect me to be this 'ideal Alpha' that my parents have been trying to mold me into."
Alex tilted his head, considering this. "And that's what you like about him? That he lets you be yourself?"
Dorian hesitated again, his thoughts swirling. It wasn't just that. There was more to it—something deeper, something that made his heart race every time he thought about Rhys. But it was hard to put into words, especially with all the conflicting feelings inside him.
"I don't know," Dorian admitted after a beat, his voice quieter now. "It's not just that. There's something about him... something I can't explain. He challenges me. He doesn't let me hide behind the walls I've built, and... I don't know. I've never met anyone like him before."
Alex smirked, clearly pleased with the direction the conversation was heading. "So, he shakes you up a little, huh?"
Dorian let out a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah. You could say that."
Alex leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with interest. "And that's what scares you, right?"
Dorian blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What?"
"Rhys shakes you up," Alex repeated, his tone thoughtful but knowing. "You're not used to that. You've been living in this perfect little world where everything's controlled, where you have to be the perfect son, the perfect Alpha, the perfect... whatever. But Rhys doesn't fit into that world, does he?"
Dorian swallowed hard, Alex's words hitting uncomfortably close to home. He had spent so much of his life trying to maintain control—over his emotions, over his image, over everything. And yet, whenever Rhys was around, that control seemed to slip away, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable in ways he wasn't sure how to handle.
"I guess," Dorian said slowly, his voice almost a whisper. "It's hard to be around him sometimes. He makes me question things. Makes me wonder if I even want this life my parents have set out for me."
Alex watched him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a small, knowing smile, he said, "You don't have to answer that question right now, you know. But the fact that you're even asking it? That's a big deal, Dorian."
Dorian frowned, his mind swirling with all the thoughts and emotions he had been trying to suppress. Rhys had changed everything. He had come into Dorian's life like a whirlwind, shaking up all the carefully laid plans and expectations that had been placed on him since birth. And now, Dorian wasn't sure what to do with all the feelings that were threatening to break through.
"But that doesn't change the fact that Rhys is a wildcard," Dorian said after a moment, his tone tinged with frustration. "He's unpredictable. And I don't even know if he... if he feels the same way."
Alex shrugged, leaning back against the headboard with a thoughtful look on his face. "Well, that's the tricky part, isn't it? Figuring out if you're on the same page. But you'll never know unless you take the chance."
Dorian let out a long breath, feeling the weight of that truth settle over him. Rhys was the one thing in his life that didn't fit neatly into the plans that had been made for him. But the thought of letting go of that control, of pursuing something real and unpredictable, was terrifying.
"Yeah," Dorian muttered, more to himself than to Alex. "But it's not that simple."
Alex smirked, clearly unconvinced by Dorian's hesitation. "No, it's not. But it's worth it, right?"
Dorian didn't respond immediately, his mind still caught in the tangled web of his feelings for Rhys and the expectations of his family. But deep down, he knew Alex was right. Rhys had shaken up his life in a way that no one else had—and despite the fear and uncertainty, a part of him wanted to see where that would lead.
After a long pause, Dorian finally nodded, his voice quiet but resolute. "Yeah. It is."
Alex grinned, satisfied with the answer. "Good. Now, we just have to figure out how to make it happen."
Dorian raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. "What do you have in mind?"
Alex winked, clearly already plotting something. "Don't worry. I've got a few ideas."