Chapter 6

Immediately upon Azrin’s entry, Lexus stopped abruptly and focused his eyes on the Brunette.  Azrin wanted to look away from the intensity of Lex’s gaze, and the alpha must have realized it. Whether it was due to his posture or a nervous tinge in his scent Azrin wasn’t sure, but a harsh crimson stare was no longer directed his way and was focused on the cool marble flooring.

“You’re back,”

“Of course, we’re back brat. What? Did you think I was going to run and hide him or something?” Marina taunted in reply from directly behind the omega, ruffling his hair once more as she walked past and up to her snarling offspring.

“It may have crossed my mind,” Lex finally admitted with a pout as he tilted his head away even as his eyes tracked up once again to meet Azrin’s. The omega was shocked, Lexus had been panicking.

“I suppose your concern isn’t without merit. Had he asked, I would have without question. That being said. As we are both here, and he walk through that door himself, it’s up to you to prove yourself kid,” She replied bluntly arching a brow as she glanced over at Azrin along with her son.

Lexus didn’t respond to her words verbally, but his face dawned a horribly soft expression. One Azrin had witnessed maybe twice before in their lifetime. A curt nod was his response as he straightened and slowly made his way over to the Brunette. Azrin couldn’t help but tense as he fought down the panicked urge to flee, to the safety of his nest at least. Wide anxious viridian clashed with narrowed calculating carmine.

“Hey hag, what did you tell him?”

“Not much, though I partially answered a few questions, and told him your father and my position on his status as a son of our family. You need to answer him, as his alpha Lexus,” she suggested. It had sounded carefree, but Azrin couldn’t be sure as he refused to break eye contact with his alpha.

“Alright I’ll talk to him. Your room or mine Nerd?” Azrin opened his mouth to answer but Marina beat him to it.

“Neither brat. It needs to be neutral territory. Neither of your scents are very strong yet, but you could still put each other on edge. It could be catastrophic,”

“Well, where the fuck am I supposed to do that? Your quarters would set me the fuck off. The caretaker spaces are just asking for Rin to have a fucking panic attack. What-,” Lex cut himself off, whirled around breaking eye contact, and swiftly marched over to the omega’s mother.

“Auntie? Can we use your room? I promise not to do anything… to uncouth,” Lex's attitude shifts were about to give Azrin whiplash. Irina herself seemed unperturbed by the alpha's behavior.

“Of course, Lexus, take all the time you need, ok?” She had brought her hands up to cup his cheeks. Instead of pulling away or begrudgingly allowing the contact. The male leaned down to make her reach easier and gave a definitive “Yes,” in response. Once she released him, he returned to full height, but contrary to his usual; he kept his shoulders low and his gaze just under Azrin’s own.

“Lead the way,” the alpha indicated with a hand for the omega to do just that. The Brunette waited until his alpha met his eyes before turning away and walking towards the corridor that led to his mother’s private room. The adults started talking, but Azrin couldn’t make out their words over the sound of Lex’s steps, and his pacing was beginning to unnerve him.

“You know, I would much rather you walk beside me Lex,” he wished he had said it with more confidence, but his nerves got the best of him once again causing his voice to crack.

“Don’t force it nerd. Get the answers you need, then decide what you want,” was the alpha’s reply. Azrin sighed but conceded none the less. Their jaunt was short, and upon entry Azrin bee lined for his mother’s large recliner.

Lexus was patient but seemed unnerved as he placed his back against the door and crossed his arms. He was giving the Brunette a wide birth and said omega wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Instead of commenting Azrin remained silent as he curled up in the cold worn leather, dragging the claiming fur from his shoulders and wrapping it around himself.

“What do you want to know?” Lexus sighed as a forlorn look adorned his handsome face.

“Everything,”

“Fuck nerd, start asking questions then. I’ll answer,”

“Honestly?” Azrin almost regretted asking.

“Yes,” Lex answered with a growl. His lips pulled up in a snarl, affronted by the fact that was even a question. The omega watched him wearily. He didn’t want to fight, but he wasn’t going to back down either.

“Since when?” it was simple enough, to the point Lexus clicked his tongue. He knew Azrin was baiting him, but for once he didn’t take it.

“I’ve always felt something for you, since we met as pups. I was just starting to understand it after my presentation. I acknowledged that I wanted you after my mom took me to the harem,” The alpha kept his eyes trained on Azrin’s as he spoke. The Brunette knew the instant his shock had registered as Lexus’s left eye twitched in response. The ash blonde didn’t need any prompting to elaborate.

“The hag took me after hearing me tell you, you weren’t even worthy of my bite. I won’t go into detail and I’m fairly certain you have a good fucking idea of what I witnessed. Honestly, as disturbing as it was, I thought he was enjoying it. It wasn’t until the hag had me meet and groom him after, that I realized it was just an act he had to put on to survive,” Lexus’s face scrunched as he spoke. Azrin had no intention of telling him their experiences with the whore house were vastly different, not tonight.

“She not so gently informed me that I was damning you to a fate worse than his by claiming you weren’t worthy of an alpha’s bite. I could smell the dissatisfaction in her scent, and as hard as that was, it wasn’t anywhere near the crushing amount of shame I felt as we left. I was so fucking mad. Ha! I remember screaming at her about what the fuck was I supposed to do, since she decided to adopt you. The hag walloped me upside the head and asked me what the hell I was on about. Truth is, I thought her adopting you meant you were off limits to me,” the alpha rolled his eyes, presumably at his adolescent self.

“What?” Azrin failed to keep the incredulity of the situation out of his tone. Even more shocking was how Lexus’s eyes darkened as he barked out a humorless laugh.

“I know, I was so fucking dumb,” the alpha sighed.

“If-if you wanted me then-, why would you treat-”

“I’m going to stop you right there. I want you Azrin, there is nothing past tense about it. I am not going to lie to you, my behavior and actions were fucking atrocious back then. I was just so fucking pissed that I couldn’t have you; so, I tried to make sure no one else wanted you either. Fucked logic, I know. If I could go back in time and fucking punch myself in the face, I would,” Lexus’s shoulders sagged, and for the first time since they started, the young alpha broke eye contact. What little scent the ruby-eyed male had, started to sour and without realizing, Azrin moved. He found himself reaching out to place a hand on a strained balled fist.

“Lex, it’s fine,” He gently squeezed the others hand as he unconsciously began producing calming pheromones, his dynamic wanting to comfort and soothe.

“You and I both know that’s a load of bullshit,”

“Maybe, but it’s in the past. I forgave you years ago, you know that” Azrin shrugged even as Lexus leveled him with a glower. Eventually The alpha seemed to relent as he unclenched his fist and gingerly held the Brunette’s hand. “Why am I just finding out how you feel about me now?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“That question has more than one answer. Do you want all of them?”

“Yes,”

“Ok then,” Lexus blew a harsh breath through his nose dreading this entire conversation.   

 “The first one we’ve already addressed. The second was after my epiphany. I didn’t deserve you, and I didn’t need to make your life any harder than I already had by throwing my fucking feelings in your face. I had decided at the time to support you in the hope a female alpha, hell even a male alpha would pick you. Anyone who did, would treat you better than I had. However, witnessing what you went through every time, I couldn’t just give you up,” The alpha had begun to snarl his face twisting up as his anger increased. Whether at himself, or the situation Azrin wasn’t sure.

   “So, I decided to really implement the courting practices my mother always had me do with you anyways. I made sure to groom you before every event, let you rant and hiss at me when you were frustrated, and even give you gifts on occasion. The last reason was the council. Once those fuckers realized you had no idea, I wanted you for my own, they made sure to add the stipulation that I couldn’t tell you before my claiming ceremony, to their list of fucking ‘requirements’. Fucking deadbeats actually thought they could sway me fucking idio-. What the hell are you laughing about nerd?” Lexus snarled at him, but it wasn’t without a feral smile on his face. For that Azrin was thankful.

“Deadbeats? Really Lex? That is not what that means you goober,” Azrin was still huffing in between words and his abdominal muscles were beginning to cramp.   

“If the shoe fits,”

“Pft, and I’m the nerd. Ok Lex, whatever you say,” The omega smiled up at the blonde, earning himself a playful growl as Lexus began to rub his thumb across the back of his hand.

“At least you’ve got that right.  All joking aside, I really was trying, but I also realized just how much I had fucked you up. You couldn’t see anything I did as more than forced interactions, or a guilty conscience for my past behavior; and because I’m, well me, it would piss me off to no end and I’d fucking take it out on you like a dumbass. Anything else?” Lex’s scent had somewhat leveled out. Unfortunately, it was the Brunette’s turn to muck things up with his scent. It was pretty obvious he was doing a good job as Lex’s face scrunched up and concern bled into his eyes.

“I- I just- um. I don’t- I,” His anxiety was getting the best of him, and the silks covering his skin were starting to feel suffocating. He hadn’t even realized he was starting to hyperventilate when he was hoisted into the alpha’s arms.

It only took Lexus a few meaningful strides to place them both into his mother’s weathered recliner. The alpha promptly wrapped Azrin in the previously discarded claiming fur and then coiled his arms around the distressed omega in a secure hold. Lex tucked the brunet’s head down under his chin and against his clavicle before starting a gentle croon.