Chapter Text
Fuck! I sure put my foot in, asking him if he works out.
He comes from a pretty old-school pack so of course he’s brainwashed to think that every omega must look like the omegas in the magazines.
I could smell him become more anxious as soon as I asked about his muscles.
I wanted it to be a compliment, damn it. I’m just stupid sometimes.
His anxiety spikes before he quickly apologizes for not looking like a ‘proper’ omega. I mean, what the fuck? That’s really getting me down.
I force myself to remain calm and neutral.
‘Now what makes you say that?’, I manage to ask.
He’s stuttering through his answer, finally getting out that he doesn’t look normal and he’s sorry that I have to put up with him and I feel my heart clench painfully. Poor thing. Doesn’t he realize that he’s perfect like he is?
The worst part is, I know where his thinking comes from. Most alphas would have thrown a fit when presented with a red-haired omega that’s not half-starved.
Idiots! Like they must look half-dead so you can take care of them. He let me take care of him just fine today.
It feels even better when I know that he’d be perfectly capable by himself!
I don’t think reassuring him right now would help anything. Then I have an idea.
I stand up and extend my hand to him. ‘Come with me, please.’
It smells like his anxiety goes up the roof but he stands up and takes my hand.
He’s looking down and I hate how defeated he looks. What does he think I’m planning?
I purposely don’t reassure him right now. He has to learn that he can trust me. That I won’t hurt him or do anything that’s bad for him.
So he has to endure his anxiety to learn this properly, as sorry as I am about that.
We are both naked but it’s warm in the house, even though I left the door to the garden open. It is summer after all. I lead him into the guest room.
There’s an old wardrobe in there with a full-length mirror. I position him in front of it and stand beside him, wrapping my arms around him and looking over his shoulder at his naked mirror image.
He looks incredibly startled and I’m torn between pity and amusement.
‘What do you see?’, I whisper into his ear.
He turns his head to me, then looks back into the mirror. I make my hands roam above his upper body and he leans a little into me.
He clears his throat, then- ‘An abomination.’, he says, quietly but very forcefully and I have to stop moving for a moment to process this.
I kiss his neck and he relaxes somewhat.
‘Why is that?’, I ask and I hope I sound neutral.
I’m angry at society, his pack, other alphas, my grandmother, that this perfect human thinks that way about himself.
But it would be counterproductive to let him feel my anger.
He sighs and it almost seems a little impatient. I’m proud that he’s trusting me enough to not wear a pleasant mask all the time by now.
‘I’m too tall, too built, too – ginger.’, he lists as if it was a very stupid question I asked.
I hum against his neck. ‘You’re not that tall.’, I say and stand up straight so now I can look over his head. His mouth twitches a bit.
‘And the rest is just BS, in my opinion.’ That shocked him, I can see his eyes go wide. I kiss the back of his head.
‘That makes you unique, you know. All the other omegas are basically replaceable, looks-wise. You’re not. You’re really special.’
He seems to consider this, which is more than I hoped for.
I thought he would flat-out refuse to be consoled about his looks. But of course he could just be too polite for that.
He checks his mirror image out discreetly, then suddenly looks into my eyes.
‘What- what do you see, then?’, he asks timidly and I have to smile because that’s just adorable.
I kiss his cheek and lean forward to whisper into his ear.
‘I see beauty. I see the most gorgeous guy ever.’, his breath hitches, but he’s not convinced.
I move a little and speak normally again.
‘And I see a grown man and not some kind of child-like doll. It’s bad enough being attracted to males in this society. At least I’m not some kind of pedophile.’, I tell him.
He turns around at that and looks up to me with wide eyes. ‘Many alphas-‘
I scoff and interrupt him. ’Yeah, many alphas are perverts, my dear. They are violent. They are overly jealous. They are criminals. You want those alphas?’
It comes out more bitter than intended and I can’t resent him for bringing a bit of distance between us.
He shakes his head. ‘No, no! I’m glad that you’re my alpha. I’m – I’m really glad.’
He looks utterly confused and close to tears and I feel sorry for playing with his feelings, even if it was unintentional.
I open my arms and he moves into my hug obediently, snuggling against me while I nose against his throat and rub his back.
‘Look,’, I say, after we’ve both calmed down. ‘I’m not like the others and you like it. Why should you be like the others?’
He tenses shortly and I can feel his frown against my neck. ‘I- I haven’t thought about it that way.’
He turns back around and looks at us in the mirror, then suddenly puts his hand up to let it glide through my hair.
‘I’ve never seen an alpha with long hair before.’, he tells me.
‘I can cut it if you want me to.’ I immediately reply. He turns around.
‘No.’, he says strongly. Then he swallows and looks down.
‘No, Marco. I didn’t mean it that way. I like it. But- thanks for offering. It means a lot.’
I kiss his forehead. ‘I think I’d do everything for you, sweety.’ I tell him.
I cringe inwardly. It’s way too soon to say stuff like that. But he seems content with it and not overwhelmed. Fortune favours fools!
We go back to our bedroom hand in hand. He vanishes into the bathroom for a couple of minutes and then slips into bed right next to me, immediately moving closer and putting his head on my shoulder.
I wrap my arm around him and play with his gorgeous hair.
‘I’m glad you’re here.’, I say. ‘I didn’t want to start a family- I feel way too young. But I’m glad that we reacted to each other and our fathers were able to arrange something.’
He hums approvingly against my shoulder. Suddenly his scent shifts a bit. He’s afraid of something. This time, he looks at me and talks before I can inquire about it.
‘Won’t your grandmother be mad about me?’
Oh. Yes. That wasn’t pleasant for him at all. And my father also isn’t the nicest of men. Especially not to omegas.
I’m honoured that he’s giving me a chance instead of being biased.
I shrug and try to act nonchalantly to take the fear away.
‘She’s always mad. I don’t want you to care what she says. Or what my father says. They are nothing to you. They aren’t important. The only opinion that’s important for you is my opinion. And the only person that’s important for me is you. Do you understand?’
He relaxes against me and sniffs my neck. ‘Yes, alpha.’, he whispers.
Those word go straight to my dick, but I can smell how tired he is.
‘Good night.’, I say and kiss his forehead.
He yawns. ‘Good night.’
After I while I listen to his even breathing before I also drift into dreamland.