Thessa handed Edwin a glass of a rather unpleasant looking liquid "Drink this." She said softly.
Edwin eyed the cup with suspicion.
"We saw you stuffing your face all day. Clarisse said if you don't drink it, she'll strap a hose down your throat."
He shuddered at the thought and downed the contents of the glass in a single gulp. It was just as disgusting as it looked. He had to find a toilet soon or he would make an unpleasant mess for Irene to clean up.
He quite liked her.
He had never seen anyone shut Clarisse up so elegantly before. He thought it was a laxative or something until he began to feel strangely uncomfortable. Then the feeling became familiar.
He couldn't believe they would do this...
No, perhaps, he knew all along that they would attempt to do something so vile and cruel. He had lost control of his body, he could barely string a full sentence together. His mind, clouded. He felt Thessa take a hold of his hand and lead him up the stairs and into a room.
"You both look alike so it shouldn't matter much but Ethan's no good…" she said as she stripped him of his clothing "…it would be great if you can try to trigger his rut and get a mark, but we don't have much hope for that. Alphas like these are often quite stingy with their marks, even if it's temporary." She rolled up his clothes and tucked his naked body into the bed "…but if you get pregnant, we can get more money. We're doing this for Ethan too." She tucked the rolled up clothes under her arm and hurried out.
Edwin's eyes burned, how many times would he have to live through this nightmare? None of their plans ever worked but why did they always keep pushing?
The pills. He forgot to take them…
He hated them.
He hated himself for not being able to run away.
He hated his siblings... Yes, he hated them. They abandoned him and didn't even turn back once to glance at him, but he never hated them enough to ruin their happiness. He didn't want to do this. He cried harder at this thought. His tears burned hotter at the thought that their plan might work. If he really did get pregnant…
He didn't deserve this.
Ethan didn't deserve this.
No one deserved this.
He wanted to move but his body wasn't responding.
He could only lay in bed and cry.
Alexei had always been an especially sensitive alpha. As long as a person could produce and secrete pheromones above a certain concentration, he could sense them. So, when two omegas were sneaking about his home he knew and when one of those omegas went into heat, he didn't even flinch. He ventured out of the study and followed after the growing scent of bergamot saturating the air.
Did they really put an omega in heat in a house with several alphas?
He walked into the bedroom and pulled away the covers to reveal a naked, curled up Edwin tucked in his bed, whimpering. Alexei grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out. He was curious to know how long Thessa was willing to stay hidden. He held the limp body over the railing, ready to drop him at any moment.
Thessa stumbled out of her hiding place behind the curtains and let out an ear-piercing screech that had Irene, Ethan and Clarisse running over. The three stared in horror at the Scene unfolding before their eyes.
"Sir!" Irene was by his side before they knew it.
Alexei ignored Irene and looked straight at Ethan "Why was he in our bed?".
"A-Alex..." Ethan was scared, he had never seen that look of pure hatred on his face before. He felt crippled by the gaze "...p-please let him g-go."
"You aren't answering my question. You said you will deal with it, so what is this thing doing in our bed?"
Edwin hoped the man would drop him, maybe he would hit his head hard enough and be done with it.
"Please hand him over to me, Sir."
Alexei paid mind to her now, he brought Edwin over the railing and tossed him to Irene. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief as he walked into the bedroom.
Alexei rummaged about in search of a 'thoughtful gift' he had received from his father. Jay had received such a gift too, if he remembered clearly. What was it Father said at the time "Sometimes pheromones just don't send the message, the feel of cold hard steel and the smell of gun powder adds a certain flavour to the situation." He found the box and sauntered to the gathering awaiting his presence.
Irene did a good job of keeping the perpetrators in place. Those that were hidden became visible. Edwin, now clothed, had been given a shot but was yet to regain consciousness. The ventilators had been opened and whole place had been aired out, there was not a whiff of pheromones to be smelled anywhere. Were Alexei not seething, he would have complimented Irene on her efficiency.
Ethan stood to the side, paralyzed by fear while Clarisse and Thessa were pinned to the floor.
Alexei made the descent calmly and took a seat. He cracked his neck as he flipped the box open "It's been a while since I needed to make use of this..." He said to no one in particular as he calmly fitted bullets into the wheel of the revolver "...I couldn't find the pistol. Irene, dig the others out when you clean the room. Remember to burn everything." He eyes travelled from Clarisse to Thessa and then settled on Ethan. The tapped the side of the chair with the nozzle "What are you doing over there?"
Ethan wanted to run away.
He was frightened, extremely so.
Not just him, everyone was.
The air in the house had never been so… heavy. It was difficult to breathe. Ethan was visibly struggling to fill his lungs. He couldn't understand what was happening and that made him even more afraid.
"Baby, did you play any part in this?" he asked softly.
Ethan felt every hair on his body stand, the man's voice was as soft as ever, but it was laced with venom. Ethan did not recognize this person.
"Ethan?"
He shuddered again "N-no, I-I d-" he broke down, unable to complete his answer. Why would Alexei even ask him that? He wiped away his tears with the back of his hands as he choked back a sob.
"Of course. You would never do such thing." His voice grew even softer "Come over here."
He struggled to place one foot in front of the other repeatedly until he was next to Alexei, who impatiently pulled him onto his legs. Alexei held his trembling frame firmly in place, patting his back soothingly with his free hand "It's okay, just take it easy. One breath at a time, you'll get used to it."
Except for Irene, a few other staff and Edwin, who was still unconscious, the rest were also not doing so good. Someone had even dropped to the floor. Thessa was practically twitching uncontrollably, Clarisse was drenched in sweat, she had no idea how it came to this.
"Are you scared?"
Ethan stiffened when he felt the other's breath against his skin "Y-yes..."
"Of me?"
Ethan grew even more rigid.
"Will you run?"
Ethan shook his head.
"Good" he kissed away a tear from Ethan's cheek, satisfied with his answer "What should we do, Ethan? Something disgusting crawled into our bed."
"A-alex p-p…lease..."
"You said you could deal with it." He slipped the gun into his hands "So deal with it. Hm? You probably don't know how to use this…" he said, gently but firmly guiding Ethan's hands around the grip and aimed it at Edwin "…I'll teach you." He dropped another kiss on his temple.
Ethan could not stop trembling.
He tried to take his hands off the weapon, but Alexei wouldn't let him. The cold steel burned his quivering hands. His terror intensified, his vision blurred as he pressed his lips together as sobs escaped his lips. Where Edwin lay, he saw himself. Whenever he tried to look away, Alexei would pinch his chin and redirect his gaze.
He was being made to aim a gun at someone that looked just like him.
He was overcome by helplessness.
"Baby, why are you crying so much?"
"If-if one d-day…" he gasped and swallowed and heaved but his taut chest did not relax. Even though it hurt so much to speak, he had to ask "Alexwillyoutreatmethiswaytoo?".
He did it. The words he desperately wanted to speak were out.
It took a minute for the words to register in his mind, but Ethan wasn't done.
"W-whenimakeyou…" his frame collapsed, weakened and unable to keep his body upright.
He loosened his grip on the other's hands "Shh, breathe." he tossed the gun to whoever was close enough to catch it. "Ethan…" he rubbed his back, trying to soothe him.
Ethan leaned away from his touch as he took a deep breath, burying his nails into his palms as he clenched his fists tightly. One breath and then another, until he was sure he could speak "When I make you angry, will you do this to me too?"
Alexei was horrified "No, no… How can you ask that?"
Ethan looked up at him with wet eyes "He looks j-j..just like m-me, Alex. He is my twin."
"No, he doesn't. You two look nothing alike."
Ethan threw himself at him, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck. He was weeping quietly into the crook of his neck, waves of tremor overtook him with each sob.
He slid a hand under his knees to pick him up. "Don't cry, okay? This is my bad. I am so sorry." He continued to coax him softly, occasionally dropping a kiss atop his head as he walked into another room that had been prepared. He laid Ethan gently on the bed but the other refused to loosened his hold "Baby, you need to loosen your grip."
Ethan shook his head, clinging tighter.
"Ethan..."
"D-don't… don't hate m-m…me. You c-can't hate me."
"I won't."
His quiet sobs had reduced to occasional sniffles. He loosened his grip and slowly withdrew his hand "Alex, my b-brother..."
Alexei stiffened, he actually had no intention of letting any of the three go free. He didn't care how the situation came to be, but the end was the same. An omega in heat was put in his bed to lure him, he could never forgive that.
He pulled away from Ethan.
"...p-please let m-my b-brother go. It's not his fault. P-please." Ethan followed his retreating body and clung to his arm as he pleaded, about to shed tears again "Edwin didn't want this"
"Don't beg."
"...Alex-"
"You don't have to beg. I won't do anything to him."
"Really?"
Alexei caressed his cheeks "I told you, I'll give you anything, as long as you ask." He plucked Ethan's fingers off his arm and brought them to his lips "You should rest."
"Don't leave..." Ethan whispered.
Alexei acquiesced, throwing off his slippers and climbing into bed to lay beside him, leaving the mess behind for Irene to clean up.
"A patent would bring unnecessary attention." Alexei furrowed his brows, tapping his pen on the page. He had received Yul's report on replicating pheromones. It's not that it had never been attempted, there were many attempts, so many that there were even laws detailing just how far one could go with pheromone synthesis and replication as well as, what products synthetic pheromones could be used for.
"If we don't do something and just release it into the market, they can and will get their hands on it. Then that would be a real problem " Jason reasoned.
He tossed the pen aside "Come on..."
"You can limit the use to the Glasshouse."
"My profits..." Alexei whined "...if we hide it there, we can't make a lot of money."
Jason chuckled "I've arranged a meeting with Yul and her team."
"When?"
Jason flashed a knowing smile "I picked a good date, don't worry."
Alexei nodded and glanced at the report again "But shouldn't we be worried that one of our top researchers is obsessed with our father. If she cures him, will she stop working?"
Jason snorted "Did you see the request where she asked for Iris's gland?"
"Yea, that's crazy. I've been fantasizing about destroying that thing for years, now I can't?"
Jason shrugged "Guess you can't."
Alexei scanned the paper again "You were a subject?"
"Yea... I don't understand how you can do that shit repeatedly." He rubbed the back of his neck at the memory "It hurt like hell."
"How did you even end up there?"
"Rosalein had a little issue."
Alexei turned to the next page "EH~ Little Rosie needed you, so you abandoned your work and ran off. It must be nice to be you, huh? To think your lover goes into heat the moment you step into the room, I'm so~ so jealous."
Jason regarded him with a raised brow "Are you? You want Ethan to-"
"Shut your mouth. I've told you not to think about him like that."
He held up his hands in surrender "I heard about your own little issue."
He glanced up briefly "Is that so? And what do you think?"
"Told you to get a lawyer ready."
Alexei sighed as he gave up on the documents "I may have gone overboard." Ethan had become a little distant lately. It was obvious that the poor fellow was always having great difficulty approaching him. It was a little unfamiliar. "Jay, what kind of scent do you think he'd have?"
He was speechless. Absolutely speechless. And a little disgusted "Fucking pervert." He mumbled under his breath "You said I shouldn't think about him like that."
"I think it's a pretty objective question."
"Is it? Then, you should ask him." He eyed him, disdainfully.
"Don't look at me like that. I know you have Lein's pheromones, you shitty psycho." He tossed the pen on to the table carelessly "Fucking hypocrite. What did you do to him that he goes into heat when you step into the room..." He leaned across the table "...teach me. Please."
He rolled his eyes "Fucking idiot."
"But the wild flower likes you so much, I want my baby to like me like that intensely."
"I'm leaving now."
"Hey! Come on, don't be chintzy, tell me."
"It's not that he likes me that much…" he rubbed his temples "…it's just cause of the drugs."
Ethan inched closer, stealing glances at Alexei to see if he would wake up. When he confirmed the other's eyes remained closed, he snuggled closer until he was just a breath away from him. He sniffed once, twice but except for the man's usual smell there was nothing. He inched his nose closer to his neck to get another whiff.
He loved Alexei's smell, even if it wasn't his pheromones or maybe it was, whatever the case was, he loved it. He rubbed the tip of his nose against his neck, burying his face deeper.
"If you want to mark me you have to do it while I am awake or it would be nonconsensual." Alexei said with a small laugh "Are you not avoiding me anymore?"
Ethan wasn't surprised to find that the other man was awake. He crawled onto his body and straddled him "You were upset with me."
"That's not possible." He sat up, hands trailing up his legs to settle on his waist "But let's say I were, is your plan to win me over with your body? Are you going to seduce me?" Alexei seemed to really like the idea because his eyes lit up in anticipation.
Ethan returned his hungry gaze, slowly reaching for the buttons of Alexei's nightshirt. He didn't know the first thing about seduction, but he knew what Alexei liked so he did that instead. He traced the lines of his body with his fingers, from his face down to his shoulders, kissing wherever they touched. He felt the man's body rumble when he laughed.
"Are you really trying to seduce me?"
Ethan became timid and tried to crawl away, but Alexei pulled him back.
"Go ahead, don't stop. I'm really looking forward to this."
"Alex..." He pulled on the edge of his shirt "...I want to see my brother."
Alexei's excitement fizzled out. He clicked his tongue "Is that why you-" he let out a purposefully slow exhale to reign in his annoyance. "You don't have to go this far for that." He gently slid Ethan off him "Dawson will take you to see him tomorrow." He got off the bed.
"A…alex…"
"I have something I need to take care of, you should sleep early." He said without looking back as he walked straight out the door.
He was so disappointed.
Dawson did come to pick him up the next day, just as Alexei had said but the man in question was nowhere to be seen, when he asked, Dawson only said Alexei was busy. Ethan was disheartened, he had never heard that Alexei was too busy before.
Guess there's a first time for everything.
Edwin was currently admitted in the hospital, or maybe being held hostage, who could tell, it's not like he was interested in going anywhere in the first place… but he did get some fluids, he was treated cordially, went through a series of examinations that seemed like they would never end and most importantly, he got to eat whatever he asked for.
Honestly, he was fine. He was happy and it was obvious. He jumped at Ethan when he entered the room "This is so awesome!"
Ethan returned his hug helplessly "I'm glad you're doing fine."
"You have no idea." He scrambled back to the couch where he had been sitting just moments before munching a packet of chips and watching TV.
Ethan followed behind and took a seat "What will you do now?"
"I don't know. Your man gave me a lot of money."
Ethan blinked in confusion "He did?"
Edwin nodded excitedly "Didn't you ask him to? Someone came here, had me signed some papers and gave me this." He dug out a piece of paper from his pocket. He kept it close at all times because he still couldn't believe it.
Ethan read it, it truly was a lot of money "What are you going to do with it?"
"I'll go look for Edith and maybe go to school like you did." He announced proudly. He clapped his hands gleefully "I also got a medical card." He ran to the bedside drawer a pulled out the card to present it proudly "Do you have one too?" he dismissed the question before an answer was given, chattering on about the doctors and nurses and the box of drugs he had been given "I think it's too much but the nice lady that runs your house said they are mostly supplements."
Ethan nodded in agreement "Irene is really nice."
He dropped down heavily in the chair "Anytime I remember what she did to Clarisse, I just can't help laughing."
It felt ridiculous that the women who made them feel so inadequate could be so easily dismissed.
Ethan smiled and soon both were laughing uncontrollably.
"Edwin…" Ethan reached out to grab his hand "…are you really okay?"
He stared back at him with bright eyes "Yes, completely." He shrugged "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Do you want to talk to someone?"
He cocked his head to the side "Really, I'm fine. Some of the tests are scary. Like…" he pointed a finger at his neck "…the one where they put a camera down your throat. I don't think I want to do that."
"I'll talk to Irene. If you don't want to do anything, just tell her."
He felt reinvigorated "Okay!"
"If you like, I can accompany you."
"Your man would let you do that? I thought he gave me the money so I could scram."
"It's… it's not like that." He shrugged helplessly.
"He doesn't hate me?"
Ethan pressed his lips into a thin line "He won't do anything to you. I'm sure he won't." it was more for himself than it was for Edwin's benefit.
Soon they were immersed in a world of their own talking about anything and everything they could think of.
"Ethan..." Edwin started when Ethan prepared to leave "...thank you. Really."
He smiled at him in reply.
Every day until Edwin's eventual discharge and departure, Ethan made sure to accompany him whenever he could.
The last thing Alexei expected when he returned home that day was for Ethan to come lunging at him with so much force that he almost fell over, especially with how their recent days had been. "Damn..." He steadied himself and the person who hung onto him like a koala onto tree "...you're like a little torpedo."
Ethan locked his legs around his waist "I didn't think you would be back today." He said with a pout.
"And now you've decided to entwine yourself around me, so I don't leave?"
"Yes."
Alexei chuckled as he bound up the stairs with Ethan still clinging to him "And what has put you in such a good mood?"
"I'm just happy you came home, you kept saying you were busy and coming back late. I barely got to see you."
Alexei patted his butt "You can rest easy, I'm here now." They got to the bedroom, but Ethan still didn't let go "I can't do anything if you cling to me like this."
"Are you still upset with me?"
"I told you that's not possible."
"You said you were too busy."
"I really was. Let me go now…" he patted him again "…I need to freshen up. Come on."
"I'll go with you."
Alexei hummed "If you want something just ask, you don't have to do this."
"I want to shower with you."
"Oh…." He glanced down at him "…Okay?"
Ethan pulled him in for a kiss.
"Hold… hold on. Ba…baby." He tried but Ethan was persistent.
They were both breathing heavily when Ethan finally let go.
"WOW~ So intense…" Alexei chuckled "…what next?"
He dropped his legs to the floor, one after the other "I…I'll strip you."
"Heh? Oh my~ I'm getting shy." He took a step back, with his arms outstretched wide "Go head then, strip away."
Ethan bashfully stepped up to the challenge, stopping when at the third button of his shirt when he couldn't bare it anymore "D-don't look at me like that."
"I shouldn't? Should I close my eyes? But it's no fun if I can't see you."
Ethan started to rethink this whole thing, if he had just stay still, Alexei would have been the one to make the move.
"Giving up so soon?"
He bit down on the inside of his cheeks as he shook his head. He continued until both shirt and tie were gone.
"Look at that, did you read a book?" he asked just as the other reach for his belt.
He froze.
Alexei couldn't hold back his laugh "What did you read? Not a book?" he leaned forward and whispered "Then is it from that site? Your favourite site?" Ethan's reaction told him everything he needed to know. He wiggled his brows "So perverted. Such a minx."
Ethan glared at him. This person was just… he took a deep breath, after all, this was exactly the kind of person Alexei was. He reached for his pants.
Alexei watched silently, fully intending to cooperate… in his own way, which was until Ethan dropped to his knees. He stiffened for a brief second, not long enough for the other to notice, but it did happen. "Shouldn't you take off your clothes too?"
"Oh…"
Alexei laughed and dragged him to his feet "You should study more."
"Wait…" he grabbed his arm before the other person could leave.
Alexei watched his panic unfold with an amused glint "Bathroom… didn't you say you wanted to join me?"
"…y-yes."
"Baby, clothes..."
"R-right." He undressed and ran after Alexei.
It was a rather long shower, between Ethan's timidity and Alexei's relentless teasing, it was bound to be so.
They clung to each other exploring every line, every curve, every corner of their bodies with both hands and mouth like it was their first time together. They tumbled into bed. Alexei pulled back when he heard the other whimper. He chuckled.
Ethan grabbed his neck, pulling him back.
He laughed again "I'm not running away." He watched Ethan's chest rise and fall, staring back at him, eyes glazed with desire and full of expectations. His head was filled with nothing but the man in his arms. He slid a finger into him and then another and another, each action spurred on by Ethan's gasps and moans, the warmth that welcomed him and almost consumed him.
Ethan shivered, his body softened wanting more of his touch. He cooed the other man's name endlessly, every gasp entreating Alexei to partake in more of the pleasures his body had to offer.
Alexei grew greedy, wanting something more. He wanted to bury himself deep in this person and never let go.
His desires became clearer.
He wanted to be one with him. He spread Ethan's legs wider and pressed himself against him.
Ethan recoiled, not in rejection but sheer surprise that Alexei was willing to go this far.
"Do... Do you not want to?" Alexei asked, feeling a little unsure.
In reply, Ethan took hold of his member and pushed himself down, ready to accept him at any moment, as long as Alexei was willing.
He went in, slowly. With every inch forward, he felt enthralled.
This was much more than the fantasies both had held about this moment. The air stalled for a moment, both grew tense when Alexei pushed the rest of his length in, remaining still. They stared at each other for a silent moment before breaking into a bout of relieved laughter.
Their worst fear did not come true.
Alexei lowered his head for a kiss. He pulled back, ready to move, chuckling when Ethan locked his legs around his waist "I can't move if you trap me like this."
"…d-don't …stop." He whined, unwilling to let him go.
"Heh~ you like it that much?" he pressed his lips to Ethan's temple "I knew I would have to work extra hard to keep a nympho like you." He reached behind to retrieve one deviant leg "Don't worry, I'm right here baby."
He began to thrust… slowly, carefully and eventually, passionately.
When it was over, Alexei collapsed into Ethan's exhausted body. Ethan could feel the man smiling. He couldn't stop himself from smiling, either. It really happened, they had sex. He wanted to squeal in pure delight.
"Are you hurt?"
He was.
His whole body hurt, his heart was pounding furiously against his chest, he could barely catch his breath, and he thought his hips would split in half "…no." he said with a heavy breath.
They stared at each other, chests rising and falling in rhythm.
"That was…" he pressed a kiss to Ethan's temple "…you're so fucking amazing."