23. MACON

MACON

Monday morning, I find myself sipping a French roast with Savin’s head in my lap, my poor Omega passed out from the stressful flare of his heat. He shifts and then groans before settling again like he’s been doing for the past hour. I fucked him back to sleep after Ellie left two days ago, Savin crying a mixture of our names as he stuffed his face into the shirt she left behind. And while this is the least amount of pain I’ve seen him in, he’s still hurting and it breaks my fucking heart.

Ellie messaged me after she got home, a simple ‘home’ and a ‘thank you’. The messages put a smile on my face knowing that she was amenable to the changes in this relationship and working through the awkwardness. One of which is cleaning my home. As much as I would love her scent in this space, I don’t want her to be our maid.

The sweet texts back and forth give me hope, including the call last night right before her set. Savin wanted to show up but I couldn’t see that going well.

I flip through the set of papers, reading the legal statements again to ensure that Ellie’s contract as Savin’s PA is ironclad. He found the contract before I could mention it to him, the Omega demanding that I call Ellie immediately to finalize it. A few kisses later, I got him to back off and give her until Monday when she’d return.

My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter as Savin gorges himself on a lasagna that the chef left for dinner. He freezes, stares at my screen, and then squeals before picking it up. “Ellie?” I grab my Omega by the arm and drag him over to my side before stealing my phone from him. He starts to whine but I put it on speaker so he doesn’t completely terrify her.

This is what I meant by his ever-changing moods. Sometimes he leans into those Omega instincts, the excited, happy-go-lucky Omega that wants nothing more than to please his mates. Other times, he’s stoic and his scent is muted. And still others, he’s in pain, trying to pretend he isn’t. “Ellie?” I ask, weathering the excitement in my voice.

“Yes, hi, Alpha.”

She’s taken to saying that over the phone. It’s only been a weekend but I fucking love the word falling from her lips. Savin looks at me, confused as to why she’s calling. I shrug. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”

“Nothing. I”m just… calling? That’s how this works, right?”

It hasn’t taken me long to figure out that Ellie isn’t as brazen and strong as she puts out. She’s fierce and beautiful, inside and out, but I’ve realized that she wants to lean. She just isn’t sure someone will catch her if she does. The few texts and calls we’ve shared over the past two days have given me an insight I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Like the fact that she enjoys sharing the little tidbits of her life with me. Things as simple as getting home safely, that she found a new coffee shop, that she thinks she’ll pass her exam. I’m sure she’s texted Savin a few times as well but it’s surprising how much she flourishes with just having someone to listen to her day.

“Yes, sweetheart. It does. Are you at work?”

“Just got here. I’ve got a new routine that we’ve been practicing that Tati and I are going to put out.” I can hear the smile in her voice and can imagine the way her face brightens.

“That’s wonderful, sweetheart. Did you eat?”

There’s a pause and then Ellie clears her throat. “I wasn’t hungry but Carleen packed me something.”

I’m a little worried on that front as she hasn’t been hungry for the past two days. Nerves or something else, I’m not sure. However, hearing that her sister sent her with food warms my heart. “Make sure to eat it. You need your strength.”

“Why? Plan on tiring me out?” She jokes.

A playful growl rumbles in my chest. “When you come back over? Definitely.”

Savin cuts in. “Or we go there. We can go watch Ellie.” His eyes light up at the idea as if he just realized what he said. With him just coming off the cusp of his heat, I am absolutely against the idea. He claps his hands together and grabs the phone. “Ellie, we’ll be there in-”

I chuckle, shaking my head, reading Ellie’s silence as shock. “Sweetheart, enjoy your set. I hope you blow them all out of the water. Savin and I will still be here,” I state firmly, glaring at Savin to stay put. He’s one second from running down the hall to get changed.

“I… you want to come watch me?”

This is what Ellie has been telling me for the past two days, that mixing her work and our relationship is awkward. Stepping into that club would further complicate this new thing between us. “One day, absolutely, and when we do, I will reserve you for the night in a private room just for the three of us. Let you dance for us to your heart’s content and then I’ll reward you with my knot as you make Savin scream our name. How’s that?”

Heavy breathing meets my words and I have to reach down to adjust myself knowing that Ellie’s cheeks are flushed, her pupils dilated, desire running through her expression. “You… I have to go.”

“Goodbye, sweetheart. See you tomorrow.”

Savin wasn’t too happy about staying at home until I gave him a choice between the beignets I brought home or fucking him into the mattress. Unsurprisingly, he chose both, although I ended up holding him under an ice-cold shower to lower his body heat. Maybe it’s selfish of me but I’m relieved that Ellie didn’t stay the weekend. We’ve just started this relationship and I want to ease her into life with Savin. I’ve told her what it’s like but she hasn’t truly seen it.

I fear that she might pick up and leave when she stumbles upon one of those moments.

No one else has stayed.

Why would she?

Even if she is our mate, Ellie doesn’t want to trust that connection.

I take another sip of my coffee and refocus my efforts on the contract I’ve drawn up. Just looking at the legal document, I realize how easily Savin could benefit from a helping hand. I can’t always be there and we don’t trust many other people to not stress him out. This contract will give Savin what he needs while still providing Ellie the anonymity she asked for.

Satisfied with my work, I set it down, grimacing when my phone starts buzzing. I would love just one morning to spend with my Omega but when I see that it’s Jace, I’m not surprised. I answer the call and hold the phone up to my ear. “Yes?”

“Have you seen the cover of Famous Weekly?”

I frown. The only reason to read that trash is when one of my movies comes out and we’re still a week or two away from the first run-through of a script. Since this is a collaboration effort, my job is to help direct. Everything else has already been taken care of. “No. I don’t read celebrity gossip, Jace.”

“Well, you should. Have you not been getting calls or texts or anything?”

A laugh rumbles through my chest as I begin running my fingers through Savin’s hair. He immediately settles and I smile, relieved that he has some peace. “No, I don’t really do much with social media and I don’t pick up answers I don’t know.”

“Check your phone.”

It’s a command, one I could easily ignore but I’m curious. I pull the phone away from my ear and groan at the unread texts and calls from colleagues in the business, my mother, even Nathan. “Fucking hell. What happened?”

“Your mother happened! What is this about disowning her? They’ve even got pictures, Macon! We don’t need this kind of press for Savin.”

I’m still confused, carefully sliding off the couch and heading to the kitchen to start up my laptop on the counter. A few searches later I see pictures of our brunch littering the front page of the Famous Weekly’s internet version. In small letters to the right, I see the reason Jace is truly calling.

Exclusive, Mother Tells All.

My heart drops into my stomach as I scroll down to the page in question, the sinking feeling in my gut getting worse. My mother set up that entire meeting and exploited our privacy to stay relevant. Her words tell a very different story than what truly happened. She explains that she’s been locked out of the house by her son’s Omega and that Savin is drawing a wedge between us.

Having had the locks and the code changed this weekend, my mother wouldn’t be wrong that she was barred from entry but it has nothing to do with Savin and everything to do with the fact that my mother can’t respect boundaries. The problem is that this article paints Savin as the villain of the story. It takes the blame off of her and makes me seem like the victim, torn between an evil Omega and a mother who just wants to be part of my life.

“So?”

I grunt, forgetting that the man was still on the phone. “It’s all bullshit. Well, most of it. Jace, you know how toxic my mother is. I’ve told you that. She’s in everyone’s business but even more so, she despises Savin because he’s not the Omega she wants in my life. She wants the world to give Savin the boot but it couldn’t be farther from the truth—that he’s the issue.”

“And so that brunch was-”

“To let her know that I will be taking care of my own affairs from now on until she can respect my mate and husband. Were there a few emotions thrown around? Absolutely. But painting Savin as the villain is ridiculous, something that you should understand. He works for you. Tell me if my Omega could ever be so vile.” I huff out a breath, anger coursing through my veins. My mother hasn’t been in my good graces for a while but between this and that fucking Omega she sent here last week? I’m about ready to disown her completely.

“I figured but I needed to hear it. Both of you are going to have to make a statement. This shit is messy, Macon. I don’t like messy. When are you coming in?”

“Wasn’t planning on it. I’ve got the script to update and Savin needs the rest. We’ll be at the event tonight and I’ve got a new PA for him.”

“No shit? Excellent.”

“You’ll still go through me for a bit but if things go well, it’ll make it easier on the rest of us. When Savin wakes, I’ll have something written up and send it over.”

“Good. And call your fucking mother. If she ruins Savin’s brand, I’m coming after you.”

Jace rudely hangs up and I grip the edge of the kitchen counter, gritting my teeth together to keep from raging like I want to. My mother is out of line. I don’t understand her need to stay relevant, nor her need to tear Savin down and trample his brand and self-esteem.

“She hates me that much?” Savin appears beside me, scrolling through the article. His gaze narrows as he reads and then he giggles. The giggles turn into laughter until he’s leaning against me for support.

“Baby, what is so funny?” I almost don’t want to ask. The sound of his laughter is music to my ears, bringing a wide smile to my face. It’s been a while since I heard that melodious sound from his lips and as stupid as what he’s laughing at is, I can’t bring myself to stop him. Savin holds his stomach before turning to look up at me.

Tears glaze his eyes but for the first time in a while, they are from happiness and not pain. “Macon, did she really think she could villainize an Omega? Your mother is vicious but she’s not very smart. Omegas are sweet and cuddly and everything that Alphas aren’t. That article might paint me in a bad light but all I have to do is shed a few tears or whine about how she needs perfection and I can’t meet it. Let everyone see Savin, not the man who stole you away.”

“Savin, you’re saying to put your life out there for everyone to pick at. I don’t want to do that.”

Savin sighs, placing his hands on my chest. “Macon, everyone already knows I pulled back because of my health. If she wants to play this game, I’m more than happy to put the truth out there. I don’t want to be coddled or treated differently but I’m not standing down from your mother.”

“Don’t expect you to,” I purr, bending down to kiss him on the lips, loving the way he so easily melts. I slide a hand around the side of his neck, fingers tangling in his messy hair as the other winds around his back to pull him closer. He hums into the kiss only pulling back when six little beeps echo from the foyer and the door swings open to show off a surprised Ellie. “Ah, the party is here,” I joke.

The bright smile that spreads across the Beta’s face is priceless.