Chapter 26 Distrust
Tuesday, March 13th. Xander's bedroom, 9:45 p.m.
-What the fuck are you talking about?
Xander fervently wished for a huge hole to open up under his feet and be swallowed by the earth. Of course, he had lied to Alexei when he told him that Derek was his brother, but he was sure that if he hadn't, the Alpha would never have bothered to bring him here.
His intention was not to deceive him, much less degrade his position as the head of a powerful mafia, but he thought that this was his only chance to be able to see once again the person he considered his best friend and confidant and to be able to assure him that he was safe.
He knew that Alexei would be furious once he found out his lie, but he still did not feel ready to face it. Being the recipient of several times of the Alpha's fury, he knew it was not easy to deal with, much less calm down. He only hoped that his excuse would be enough to keep him and Derek alive.
-No, what the hell are you guys talking about? - Derek is demanding with both hands on his waist, standing protectively in front of Xander -. I don't know what the hell is going on here, but somebody better explain it to me quick.
-Calm down, kitten - Yaakov warns, raising a hand in his direction, while occupying a low, grave tone of voice, in evident threat -. You're in a place full of armed men, I advise you to stay calm if you don't want your ass to be filled with bullets.
In all those tense minutes, Xander could feel Alexei's gaze on his skin, he could smell in the air the rage his body was sending out and he was getting more and more agitated about it. He had to reassure him quickly or else the situation would get worse.
-And who the fuck are you to...
-That's enough, Derek - Xander commands him by raising the voice, standing in front of him -. Please, everyone just calm down for a second.
-The hell I will! - Alexei finally exploded, unable to contain himself any longer. Everyone in the room turned in astonishment at his direction, and Xander was forced to leave his neck exposed in submission -. Listen to me well, Xander - slowly approaching him, lowering the voice to a low and dangerous one, with a scowl and jaw pressing down -. You'd better start clearing up all this shit you're into and hope it's convincing enough for you and your... Friend, see another sunrise - stopping his pace as he stands right in front of the Omega.
Both were so close now that their breaths were mixing, Xander could see the tension in Alexei's muscles and the fury in his eyes. He was afraid... Very afraid, but he tried as hard as he could to cool down so he could find his voice.
-Speak up! - Alexei demanded with his commanding voice, which caused the little will he had left to bend.
-Magnus - his hands trembled and his voice came out in a pitiful whisper -. I'm so sorry I lied to you, I never meant to deceive you, I knew very well what the consequences were - he paused briefly, running his hand through the black locks -. But it was the only option I had, if I hadn't told you he was my brother, you would have killed him to get him out of your way. You would never have let me see him. Besides...
-And why on earth would I do that, Xander?! - the veins in his neck were bulging and he had the fists clenched tightly at his sides -. This isn't a bloody hotel, and you don't have the privilege to be making decisions on your own! I should kill you both!
Xander's ears were ringing, the volume in his BTE's was a little high and the Alpha's screams were heard three times louder than they usually are. He tried to diminish the importance, he wanted to focus on trying to calm Alexei down.
-I understand, Magnus - his eyes turning crystalline from the tears that were starting to come out, he tried to touch the Alpha to convey some calm, but his hands were slapped away -. But you must understand me as well, Derek is practically the only family I have. We don't share blood ties, he's not my brother... But I love him as such.
Having said that, thick and abundant tears began to slide down his cheeks, the body shaking with fear, and the sobbing made it difficult for him to breathe.
Derek, at what he said, could not help but feel a growing disappointment in his chest, Xander's words instead of cheering him up, caused him an unreachable sadness.
What he wouldn't give for the little Omega to see him with different eyes, to love him the way he wanted to be loved, to correspond to his feelings and to allow him to be his Alpha, his bonded partner. But despite the effect of his admission, he told himself he would not give up. He would find a way to conquer him.
Alexei, for his part, felt at a crossroads, the trust he had placed in Xander over the days, felt like it had gone down the drain. He never thought that he would be fooled, he told himself that he deserved it for being so stupid and careless.
He turned around, facing away from everyone, and stood in the corner of the room, arms folded across the chest. His anger instead of diminishing, increased with overwhelming force. Not for being deceived, not for the lie, not for now having someone potentially dangerous under the same roof, but for falling under Xander's charms again.
He was a fucking dominant Alpha, for Christ's sake. His biological father would laugh in his face if he knew he was being manipulated by a fucking Omega with beautiful eyes. Seeing him like that, in deep tears, hiccupped by the effort to breathe, embracing his own body as if he were cold, made a protective instinct and an indescribable love blossom. Which was illogical, he should be furious for what he did... For what he did to him.
He wanted to send it all to hell and give him what he deserved, lock him up in a dungeon to rot there for the rest of his days, and, knowing that shapeshifters aged much slower than humans, it would be a long fucking time. But he felt restrained, persuaded.
«But what an idiot you are, Alexei. After all, you have fallen in love», he thought, and just admitting it, even to himself, made him feel miserable. He never thought this would happen and would have given all his fortune to avoid it, but the moon had already decided for both of them. Now all that remained was for little Omega to realize it.
-Magnus? - Yaakov asks with a hint of uncertainty, after a few minutes of deadly silence.
-Everybody out - the Alpha says quietly, almost in a whisper.
Xander has trouble deciphering Alexei's tone of voice, but he can see how his body has lost some of the rigidity it had minutes ago. He was just hoping that meant good news. Yaakov slowly approaches Alexei, speaking to him so quietly, just so he can hear.
-What do we do with this Derek guy?
-Take him to the basement until I decide what to do with him - his gaze lost in a distant spot.
His cousin nods slightly and orders the men to recapture Derek. The other guy, seeing that they wanted to detain him, started to grunt and protest and he was about to change when Xander stopped him.
-Stop it, Derek - the Omega says firmly, wiping the tears from his face, although they were quickly replaced by new ones -. Go with them, if you resist you will only make everything worse.
Derek looks at Xander in amazement, but when he sees the decision in his eyes, he resigns himself and chooses to listen. Soon the two henchmen under Yaakov's command hold him by the arms again and the four men leave, letting an Alpha in conflict and a frightened Omega in a tense silence.
-Magnus? - Xander asks in a whisper, trying to control the sobbing. He dares to take small steps in his direction -. Magnus? - calls again -. Talk to me, please.
Alexei comes out of his delusion and turns to face Xander. His cheeks are wet with tears, the eyelids are slightly swollen, and the neck and tip of his nose are flushed. «He shouldn't look so beautiful», he thought. Disheartened, resigned to his line of thought.
-I'm sorry, Magnus. Please forgive me - Xander tries, putting both hands on Alexei's still-crossed arms. He could feel the body tighten, but he didn't remove his touch -. I promise you, nothing like this will ever happen again. I'm deeply sorry, but you have to understand that I had to do everything in my power to stop you from killing him. I knew what the consequences were for having done so, but I still decided to take the risk. I needed to know that he was okay and I needed him to know that I was okay.
Alexei releases his arms from the strong grip and lets them fall to his sides, without removing Xander's hands, that slowly went up in a soft caress until they landed on his neck, shortening, even more, the distance between them. His still wet eyes were a deep dark blue and stared at the Alpha with a sad expression.
-Why? - His voice fading while speaking.
-I told you, he's practically the only family I have.
-Did you sleep with him? - the Alpha asked suddenly, penetrating him with a glance, while the voice hardened.
Xander was stunned by the question, the eyes wide open with the impression, but decides not to lie to him again, even though the answer may bring him even more trouble. Instead of talking, he nods his head slightly. Alexei takes a deep breath, before slowly releasing it, trying to calm down. «I knew it», he said anxiously to himself, as the two pairs of eyes remained connected.
As much as he wanted to leave, he forced himself to stay in the same position, with Xander's hands still on his neck.
-But it's been a long time since that happened, Magnus.
-And how in the world do you expect me to believe you now? - Grunting with the jaw tightly clenched -. You've lied to me, made me look like an idiot. You used me, Xander. How do you expect me to trust you now?
-I know what I did was wrong, but again, if I hadn't done it, you would have killed him. Or am I wrong? - No, of course, he wasn't wrong and the Alpha could at least admit it. But the pain he felt about it did not cease -. Magnus, please... - continued after a few seconds of no response -. Please, you have to believe me. I didn't mean to hurt you - tears were rolling down his cheeks again -. I'll do anything you want, ask me for anything and I'll give it to you.
Alexei felt as if all his willpower had been carried away by the wind. Slowly, very slowly, he brought both hands to Xander's cheeks, with the thumbs began to gently withdraw the tears. The Omega was a little surprised, but allowed it to happen, enjoying the caresses and settling into the touch of those big, strong hands.
The Alpha was delighted with the image, he doubted that Xander himself knew of the beauty he possessed, with a soft skin that provoked touching, with those beautiful eyes that felt trapped every time they landed on his, with such a captivating aroma. He seemed to be the best and most beautiful work of art ever made and destined for him alone... Or at least he would make sure that this was the case.
The Omega closed the eyes and began to purr gently as he continued to receive the delicate rubbing. The two bodies came even closer together, as if an invisible magnet were exerting its pulling force on them. Xander wrapped his hands around Alexei's waist, hugging him and stroking his back in a circular motion, letting himself be enveloped by the heat and the addictive, masculine smell of the forest that the Alpha was giving off.
Alexei watched him, as Xander allowed himself to relax and enjoy the contact, and brought that beautiful face closer to his own and could feel their warm breaths mixing, their noses rubbing together. Pleased with the sensations, he closed the eyes as well. He tried to gain control, to bring some clarity to his clouded mind, to get his body to react so he could get away, but it was too late.
Unable to resist any longer, he kissed him.