Page 24 of Broken Alpha (Unwanted #1)

Luke

I pinched the bridge of my nose while my mother practically screeched in my ear.

My parents are very traditional. My mother was in charge of raising me and my sister, as was her place dictated by my father as her Alpha, with little to no power in the relationship.

She couldn’t make financial decisions, have her own bank account, or make long-term decisions for the household, such as servant employment or decor.

Everything had to be run by my father first. His word was absolute and never questioned.

He was the head of our household, and I hated that my mother ranked lower than I did.

I wasn’t a ‘mama’s boy’; I just felt she deserved better, and I generally gave in to her a lot simply to make her life easier and out of pity.

Over the past few years, my relationship with my parents had strained due to their refusal to accept my choices and their ability to turn every event into a matchmaking opportunity.

Normally, I would have a preplanned excuse as to why I couldn’t attend my fathers birthday parties, but with the sudden development of my relationship with Aidyn, it had slipped my mind.

By not showing up, I had unintentionally made things rather difficult for my mother, and there was no doubt in my mind that my father took his disappointment out on her and blamed her for her inability to keep her kids in line.

“I just don’t understand why you weren’t there.” She sighed finally, her voice in a more normal tone.

“I got sick, I’m sorry,” I lied. “I meant to call, but I barely had the energy to do anything.”

“Then you need to make it up to your father at Thanksgiving. We’re inviting the Richards over; their daughter is an Omega, and she’d be perfect for you. Good family.”

“A female. I’m into men, Mother, you know this.”

“I’m fully aware. However, finding a male Omega from a good family is like looking for a needle in Central Park after a blizzard.”

“And if I’ve met someone?” I inquire, my knuckles turning white as I grip the armrest of my chair.

A knock on my office door distracted me, and a wave of relief washed over me as Aidyn entered my office, his forest scent calming me instantly.

We didn’t have class together today, so he stopped by just to see me because he wanted to, and my Alpha preened under that knowledge.

He sought me out because he wanted me, and I breathed a sigh of relief just having him in my space.

A look of concern washed over his face the moment he could sense how tense I was.

I pushed back a little from my desk, switching the phone to my other ear, and smiled up at him as he came to me, crawling onto my lap without asking.

The chair protested under our combined weight, but I could finally breathe again when he touched me.

He nuzzled into my neck, releasing pheromones to help calm my agitation; a low rumbling started in his chest as he began to purr, smoothing away my anger so I could calmly respond to my mother.

“‘ Met someone ?’ Who? I don’t know of any prominent family with a male Omega available.”

“Jesus, Mother. It shouldn’t matter who his family is, this isn’t the 1700s. It should matter that I’m happy.”

“Luke Aaron Ellis! It does matter. You have a duty to the Ellis name and lineage. If he is not from a prominent family; fine, even your father has mistresses. Just close your eyes, pretend you’re knotting him, and do your duty.”

“Jesus fucking Christ. I would never do that to him. I want him by my side, not treated like some whore who must remain in the shadows and I can’t have a proper life with. He deserves better than that.”

“Watch your language!” my mother scolded, as if she hadn’t just told me to close my eyes to knot.

“If that’s all you have to say, Mother, I’m going to hang up now.” I could hear her voice still coming from the call as I clicked to hang up. I immediately set my phone to ‘do not disturb’ so I wouldn’t get any incoming calls from her.

I tilted my head onto Aidyn’s as his head rested on my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer and burying my face into his neck, breathing in his scent.

I don’t actually hate my parents; I just hated how they forced their ideals onto us, refusing to let us be our own people.

Even my sister was set up to marry someone of their choosing, though I didn’t get the impression that she was in love with the Omega they chose.

I’m sure Emily was sweet, but seeing as she rarely spoke and interacted with the family, I couldn’t say for sure.

I closed my eyes and let out a pleased sound when Aidyn began to run his fingers through my hair.

“So your mother thinks I’m a prostitute?” Aidyn asked, finally breaking the silence, a playful pout on his lips.

Chuckling lightly, I bent down to kiss him before answering with a sigh.

“The Ellis family is a very prestigious family. We’re among the elites in big houses.

We hold balls for all the major events and holidays, and the Christmas and New Year's parties are invite-only, and everyone wants an invite. It’s a life I grew up in and one I don’t care for.

I’m the black sheep, so to speak. They want me to stop dragging my feet, settle down, marry a good Omega, and continue the line.

My mother has tried to set me up with every Omega she deems worthy, regardless of gender or my sexual preference, and I have refused everyone. ”

“And I’m not worthy.”

My eyes flashed open as a wave of anger seared through me. Aidyn didn’t sound upset or offended, just indifferent, as if he knew his place. But his thoughts were wrong. His place was beside me, and I would fight for that right, regardless of what my mother said.

“You listen to me, little fawn. Yes, you are. She doesn’t get to decide that for me.

She suggests that I keep you as a lover but have a marriage and produce offspring with another to keep up appearances and what she deems to be ‘my duty.’ But fuck that.

That isn’t the life I want, nor is it the life I want for you. ”

He said nothing, lost to his thoughts as he brushed through my hair, his fingers snagging occasionally on a tangle.

I leaned into his touch, tilting my head against the back of the chair.

I found I was perfectly content, enjoying the feel of him on my lap, pressed against my side.

I knew we would have to use the descenter when we left the classroom, but it was like my office had become our own little world.

Everything beyond that office door could wait while we hid from it all and enjoyed each other's presence.

“When do you have to leave for your class?” I asked quietly, my eyes still closed.

“Soon,” he responded. “Is it wrong that I want to skip?”

I couldn’t help but smile at that, squeezing his thigh as I finally opened my eyes to see him watching me.

“What kind of teacher would I be if I let a student skip their classes?”

“The kind that sleeps with his student and would take advantage of the extra time.”

I chuckled and shook my head. He’s right.

I would love to bend him over this desk and bury my cock in his eager hole, claiming him again.

God, the weekend couldn’t come soon enough.

This reminded me of our conversation the night before.

He had made a decision, but I had to wait for him to bring it up on his own.

“I didn’t get a chance to talk to Erik,” Aidyn said as if he could read my thoughts.

“He had left by the time I woke up this morning, and he left my text on read, which bodes well for the conversation we’re going to have tonight.

It’s my turn to make dinner, so I’ll make a favorite dish as a peace offering.

I was feeling anxious, so I came to find you; I’m sorry if I’m intruding. ”

“You could never intrude, little fawn. I wanted to see you but had no excuse to.”

“I want to stop fighting, you know. I don’t know if what you said about fated mates is real, but I’m done fighting whatever this is.

My Omega wants to give in to you, and that scares me.

What if, by doing so, I rush things or make you uncomfortable?

What if I’m too needy and become borderline obsessive? What if I lose who I am?”

“Baby,” I sat up straighter in my chair, moving him effortlessly as I readjusted.

Enveloping him in my scent and pheromones, I soothed the panic he was clearly experiencing.

“You and I are fighting the same battles. My first and last thoughts of the day are of you. I seek you out when I enter spaces you frequent; I check my phone constantly, thinking it vibrates with a new message from you. You consume my very being in ways no one else ever has. You’re my mate, and I won’t believe differently.

I’m only uncomfortable when we’re apart.

You could never be too needy because your desires are the air I breathe.

You could never be obsessive because I already worship the ground you walk on.

You can never lose who you are because your Omega is part of you.

His desires and wants are yours; you must let yourself have them.

You are my biggest weakness and greatest strength, and it is my duty to cherish and love you. And it will be a blessing to do so.”

Aidyn blinked at me; his cheeks tinted a soft pink as he processed my words, reading between the lines. “You love me.”

He presented the statement like it was also a question, cautious of my response. I don’t know when I actually realized I had fallen in love with him, though I suspect it was around our bookstore date. Smiling down at him, I opted for the truth.

“From the moment you walked into my classroom.”