Chapter 21 Frustrated
Monday, March 5th. Alexei's office, 8:00 a.m.
After leaving as if Lucifer himself was chasing him to steal his soul, needing to put as much distance as possible between him and Xander the night before, Alexei desisted from going hunting for Yaakov and simply went to sleep, grateful that his cousin did not insist on following him.
It was doubtful that he could turn off his brain enough to navigate happily into the world of dreams, but at least he tried. The images of what had happened kept coming back to his mind again and again and again, like a movie on an endless loop, frustrating any struggle to rest and causing him a persistent erection that made him wonder if it would be permanent and if from now on he would have to walk like a fucking penguin.
Everything about Xander cried out for his touch, for his attention. Every time he saw his curvaceous, appealing and seductive body, a switch would be activated on him, giving birth to the desire to run his tongue across the entire length of his skin and engrave himself into his being. It was irrational and excessive, there were no words to describe the powerful attraction he felt for the Omega and the worst thing was that his wolf was as excited as him, ordering his rational part to take over Xander and stamp his mark on him.
All that set of emotions only made a boiling irritation settle in the Alpha, he was not used to feeling out of control. Everything he did, said,, or felt was carefully calculated and anticipated under any circumstances. But this, whatever it was, totally unsettled him.
He never let his wolf dominate him because he knew that his rational side would take a back seat and the reckless decisions he made could get him into a derailing amount of trouble that he would rather avoid. But being around Xander... Controlling himself was a daunting task and it bothered him that he didn't have the sense and skill to avoid falling under the influence of his tempting figure.
And there he was, sitting in that big office, with a cigarette between his fingers and a persistent headache, the result of not being able to fall asleep even for a tiny moment in the night. When he got out of bed an hour ago, a shower of water so cold that it practically froze his balls were at the top of his morning list and he still felt his body hot. Although at least he managed to reduce a little the erection that refused to leave him.
Everything was quiet at The Mansion, which was not specifically a good thing. He typed on the keyboard of his laptop to check the security cameras, a thing he rarely did because the man was always busy, focused on accounting or managing the merchandise and cash himself, refusing to hire someone to do it. He was hesitant to trust a person enough to permit such important work.
On the screens he checked Fred out in the arsenal, testing what he imagined was Adrik's customized rifle, shooting at a paper target. He stood firm, holding the gun at shoulder height and wearing clear glasses to protect his eyes. That made him proud, his little brother knew how to defend himself properly.
Changing the focus now reflects the image of the gym used for henchmen training. Approximately thirty men were being commanded by Nikon, who was efficient at giving instructions that the others were quick to carry out. There was also Adrik, jogging on one of the treadmills, that surprised him pleasantly. He didn't expect someone as lazy as he would exercise, especially in the mornings, since he spent most of the night awake.
Nobody knew why. Despite several requests for an explanation, they never received a response from him.
In the kitchen, there was a cheerful Lev next to the chef, Mrs. Ewa. She was a nice old lady who chatted away endlessly, a small but clever Rabbit Alpha, quite skilled in her profession. She always helped Lev learn new recipes and together they created delicious dishes.
At the Control Room, Reiji remained, carefully supervising the monitors and entering a series of codes into the computer that Alexei could not understand. He imagined that he was working on improving the security system as he had been instructed days before.
Clicking on the touchpad, finally he focused on the piece that Xander had been assigned to work on. It was completely dark, even though the camera was infrared, the lighting on the monitors obscured the view a little, but he could still see him. Sitting in the chair, his shoes were on the side of the desk, his left foot was under his right thigh, while his cat was curled up in the space between his legs.
He was wearing a larger sweater again but this one was black, the sleeves almost hiding his hands. Like Reiji, he was studying the recordings, but in his case it was one of those he managed to find about the ambush they suffered on the day of the embarkation.
He looked absorbed in his work, with the other naked foot on the floor, he rocked the chair parsimoniously from side to side. Occasionally he would remove his hand from the mouse to stroke the cat's head, without taking his eyes off the monitors. Alexei stared at it for long minutes, lost in the picture, motionless and stunned.
His chest went up and down harmoniously. Strangely he felt relaxed, he forgot about his problems, his worries, his concerns... He only observed how that little Omega, who managed to excite him so much and unsettle him with the captivating beauty of those blue irises, today had the opposite result, like the sun and the moon, which was... Disconcerting. They weren't even in the same room, what the fuck?
But a peace that he had never experienced before was so warm and strange to him at the same time, like a new color that he had never discovered before. He closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the tide of serenity and placidity when insistent knocks at the door startled him.
He settled down quickly on the seat and it was not until that moment that he noticed that the cigar had been completely consumed between his fingers, dying out when it reached the yellow filter. He already knew who that was because of the so-called characteristic and his suspicions were confirmed when his cousin entered without waiting for the welcome, as usual.
At a rapid pace and with an obvious expression of annoyance, he sat down in the chair in front of him.
-Can you tell me where the hell you were yesterday? - he leans over and places his open palm with a loud bang on the desk -. Do you have any idea how worried I was, you inconsiderate bastard?
-Keep your voice down, Yaakov - Alexei grunts, holding the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. The headache was coming back, and he felt like his brain was being hammered -. My head is killing me.
-Well, fuck you! - yells even more pissed off -. I called you a good number of times and sent you over a dozen messages, damn it! - points at him with accusation -. I hope that headache of yours kills you, because otherwise, I will!
Alexei loses his patience and strikes the desk with a supernatural force with his fist, watching Yaakov with a glare full of fury, which he normally uses when he wants to intimidate their enemies.
-Shut. The. Fuck. Up - roars with his commanding voice, emphasizing every word.
Yaakov swallows hard and just nods slowly, successfully intimidated. Of all the subordinates and members of The Gang, Alexei has always given his cousin more freedom, granting him breaks when he requested them and allowing him to talk casually to him without honorifics or anything else. But there was a limit to everything, and Yaakov knew it.
Yet there were moments, like this one, when he had to be reminded.
-Now, you will tell me what the heck you wanted - before getting the answer, he warns him: -. Without raising your voice, calmly and without scandal, Yaakov. I'm not in the best fucking mood today.
«That's no surprise», thought his cousin, but he didn't dare make fun of him after that welcoming.
-It's the Alpha I mentioned earlier, the one who's looking for Xander - he says in a low tone now, just loud enough to be heard, as he lies in the chair -. He's causing more and more trouble. Yesterday he beat a guy so badly in a bar that he almost killed him, all because he refused to give him information, which he certainly didn't have, about his whereabouts. Did you talk to him yesterday?
-No.
Yaakov is surprised by the refusal, especially since he offers no more to justify himself. Yesterday the last message he received from the Alpha was when he told him he was going to talk to Xander.
-Why not? - Frowning.
-I forgot - Alexei couldn't think of a better excuse at the time, plus he didn't want to give him an unexamined explanation why his cousin would end up inquiring endlessly... He knew him very well, he was not going to remain without wanting to know more.
-You forgot? How? - he shrieked in surprise, which he immediately regretted because of the sharp stare Alexei gave him in warning -. I'm sorry, I'm sorry - he raised his palms in the air, in a gesture of apology -. It's just that this is the first time in years that I've heard you utter those words. You have to admit, you never miss a thing, Magnus. What were you doing that you forgot?
«Fucking Xander's mouth», he thought. Although he wouldn't say that. What he had with the Omega, whatever it was, and if it ever happened again, it had to remain a secret. In the eyes of others, they were to remain a boss/employee, nothing more.
-I was distracted by some reports Reiji sent me - he answered after considering it -. I concentrated so much that I forgot. Do you have any idea if this Alpha has managed to get anything on Xander's location? - by changing the subject quickly, to avoid his cousin continuing the interrogation.
-I doubt it - When we brought Xander in we did it in total secrecy, no one saw us - paused for a few seconds -. We need to talk to him, Magnus. Find out if he knows who he might be.
Alexei nods, gets up from the seat, and puts on his suit jacket. They both leave the office to go back where Xander was working on the recordings. An uncomfortable anxiety settled on his chest, his pulse rising with every step he took in anticipation of meeting the Omega again.
He tried very hard not to remember what happened between them, the last thing he wanted was to carry another painful erection when he was supposed to be focusing on a more important issue for the time being. When they finally arrived, Alexei took a deep breath before entering the darkened room.
Xander turned and his eyes closed immediately as he received the light from the corridor. He had to blink several times to get used to it. Yaakov pressed the switch to turn on the lamp.
-I'm sorry, Xander - apologizes with a smile -. But we need to talk - Xander watches them with curiosity, swinging with his right foot and stroking the cat's ears, which is still asleep between his legs. He nods to indicate that they have his interest -. Do you have any family, relatives or friends who might be looking for you?- Putting his hands in the trouser pockets, the two men with their eyes connected on him without hesitation.
-Why? - Xander mumbles, frowning. Alexei, at the sound of his voice, felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
-Answer the fucking question - Alexei demands in exasperation.
-I have a brother.
-A brother? - Yaakov exclaims in surprise -. Wow, I thought you didn't have anyone - he immediately regretted having said that as he saw Xander lower his gaze for a moment, but quickly looked at him again to hide it.
-He's the only family I have - reveals, smiling sadly. Then he turns to Alexei -. Is he looking for me?
-Yes, he's been asking about your whereabouts for days. Yaakov tells me there's no way he can know you're here. However, I prefer to save myself the trouble - his face remains neutral, making it difficult for the Omega to know where he was going with his manifestation.
-Will you kill him? - he questions in alarm, afraid that something might happen to Derek. He would never forgive himself if he got hurt because of him.
-I don't know. Should I? - Alexei shrugs.
-No! - Xander responds panicked, causing Cooky to stir in his lap in disgust -. Please... Just let me see him, I'll talk to him.
-No, it's too risky - Alexei was strangely suspicious of his reaction to the suggestion that something would happen to his brother. It couldn't be jealousy.
It would be completely ridiculous. «This is a relative, not an ex-boyfriend or some shit like that», he told himself in the war going on in his subconscious.
-Please - Xander whispers with his begging eyes, his voice trembled as he implored, as if he were going to cry at any moment -. Let me see him. I'll calm him down and convince him to avoid causing you any more trouble - pauses for a moment, giving him a chance to consider it -. Please, Magnus.
Alexei remains silent for a few minutes, so long that he feels the uncertainty growing in Xander due to the hasty rise and fall in his chest.
Fuck, the tiny problem was quickly becoming a huge inconvenience. Every time he saw him, he felt like the Omega was breaking down his defenses without putting a damn drop of effort into it. Not even Fred, who was his brother, had such power in him.
And he lasted a long time trying. He wanted to win over Xander. To his great consternation, he needed his trust, and he felt the urge desperately. Alexei didn't wish to harm him. «Goddamn it, what's happening to me?», he thought to himself, before addressing Yaakov.
-Take care of it.
And without further ado, he left the place to head for his bedroom.