20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Blaine

B laine frowned at the pod ahead of them.

Where the hell were they going?

He glanced at Wayden as they drifted along the busy airway to enter the town. Blaine's town. The familiar buildings came into view, causing Blaine's frown to deepen even more.

He was home.

How were they here? Blaine had never told Wayden where his home was. He'd hoped to come home to get his tea, but that had been before Wayden had given him the herbs and they… Blaine blushed. He looked down at his hands, not sure he wanted to be anywhere near his home when he was about to make the biggest decision of his life: accept Wayden as his alpha.

The reminder that he shouldn't was down this airway. Blaine followed the airway, tracing the route to his house in his mind. He could clearly see his small house and the lonely outer building a few paces away. Blaine bit into his bottom lip as his heart ached.

Wayden turned onto the residential airway that led to the oldest part of the town. The older houses there were beautiful.

Wayden drifted to the largest house at the end of the residential airway. He pulled onto the driveway and turned off the pod. The house looked ancient, like the ones Blaine had read about in his history data reader. Blaine held his breath as he stared at the gleaming black stones that made up the two-storey house. The craftsmanship alone was astounding. There were some modern changes here and there, but the house still retained its ancient and mystical aura that made Blaine long to go inside and uncover its secrets.

"Do you live here?" Blaine asked, intrigued.

"No," Wayden said tersely. Wayden closed his eyes for a second and then opened them, looking contrite. "I mean, I used to. This is my childhood home. My brother is the one who lives here."

Blaine stared at Wayden, and he saw the pain that the alpha was trying to hide. Blaine had noticed Wayden's mood change the closer they got to their destination. It was clear that there was something going on between Wayden and his brother. Blaine wondered what it was.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked, reaching for Wayden's hand. Blaine held it tight, trying his best to comfort Wayden. He wanted to do more, but the front door opened just then, and a prissy looking omega walked out to look at the shuttle with a sharp gaze that made Blaine wonder who the omega was. Wayden tensed next to Blaine.

"I thought Matews said Ckson was alone," Wayden commented, staring at the omega.

"Who is that?" Blaine asked, a strange feeling wrapping around him. Blaine didn't know what it was, but he didn't like the omega, even though he didn't know him.

"He's my ex," Wayden announced as he got out of the pod.

What? Blaine stared at Wayden as he walked towards the omega. For a second, Blaine didn't move as he processed what Wayden had just said. When it finally hit, Blaine scrambled out of the pod and was beside Wayden in seconds.

The ex's eyes widened as Blaine took Wayden's right hand, lacing their fingers together. Wayden gave him a questioning look, but Blaine ignored it. Blaine knew he was behaving weirdly, but he didn't care. Something deep inside him said this is where he needed to be, and he wasn't about to argue with it.

"I see you brought a guest," the ex said, his eyes drifting from Wayden to Blaine. He pinned Blaine with his condescending gaze. Blaine stepped forward to snatch him up, but Wayden held him back. "I guess I'll have to ask the maids to get the guest bedroom ready."

What? Blaine bit the inside of his mouth to keep from saying anything. This was Wayden's home. Blaine wasn't going to embarrass him or do anything Wayden didn't want. Blaine was thinking like a claimed omega, but he didn't care. Wayden was his alpha.

Blaine froze.

Had he just thought of Wayden as his alpha?

Blaine's heart beat so fast that he couldn't breathe. Blaine stared at Wayden as all kinds of emotions surged to overwhelm him.

"Stop, Ambrose. I'm not here for drama," Wayden snapped. "Where is Ckson?"

"He's in his room, resting," Ambrose said softly, all submissive and shit, as if Wayden was his alpha. Blaine wanted to kill the little shit. Wayden dragged Blaine to the door before he could.

"That ex of yours…" Blaine started. Wayden squeezed his hand just a bit. "Okay, sorry. I'll be silent."

"Thank you," Wayden said, giving Blaine's hand another squeeze. Blaine's stomach fluttered. He shook the feeling away, following Wayden to the front door. Blaine gasped as they got closer. There were carvings in the stones. Blaine moved closer to see what they were.

"These are your tattoos," he exclaimed.

"Yeah. All the alphas in our family have them," Wayden said as they walked into the house.

"You mean the pack," someone said darkly. Blaine turned towards the voice and almost screamed. That was… Ckson Mephis. As in like the former Alpha King Ckson Mephis. Blaine turned to Wayden, waiting for him to explain because, what the fuck. Why hadn't Wayden told him that his brother was Ckson Mephis?

Ckson Mephis looked as foreboding as Blaine remembered. Even though Blaine had only seen the alpha on the viewer, he still remembered how impressive he'd been, how much larger than life he'd looked. And it would seem as if nothing had changed. If anything, Ckson looked more impressive and formidable. Blaine didn't know whether it was because he was meeting Ckson Mephis in person, or if the alpha's presence was just that overwhelming. Blaine knew that aggressive alphas were a bit too much, but Ckson Mephis was on another level. He looked and felt like Xaine Covus, only Ckson Mephis was bigger and looked a bit unhinged. And the black symbols scrawled around his thick arms, long messy hair and scruffy beard didn't help. They only served to make him look like a wild animal, ready to strike.

"We're not living in a pack, Ckson. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Wayden said.

"You don't live here. I don't know what you're talking about."

"I can see your fall didn't damage your charming personality," Wayden murmured. "Shouldn't you be in bed, resting or something?"

"I don't need rest. I'm fine. You didn't have to come." Ckson limped down the stairs to stop in front of them. His dark eyes drifted to Blaine. They were so much like Wayden's, but without the warmth and laughing lines. Blaine tried his best to stand his ground, but he couldn't. The alpha was intimidating, which was saying a lot because Blaine didn't get intimidated very easily.

"Tone it down, will you?" Wayden said, pulling Blaine close.

"Fine. You never let me have any fun," Ckson said with a laugh. "Are you going to introduce me so I can welcome your guest?"

Wayden clenched and unclenched his jaw. For a second there, Blaine thought Wayden was going to challenge his brother back. But he didn't. Wayden took a deep breath and let it out. "This is Blaine, my assistant."

"An omega assistant. That's a first. I thought you didn't hire omegas," Ambrose said from behind them. Blaine turned to the omega. He'd forgotten the omega was even there.

"I can see you're alright, Ckson. I'll leave now," Wayden said to his brother, ignoring Ambrose's comment.

"No. Please don't go. I haven't seen you in months," Ckson said.

Wayden looked over his shoulder at Ambrose and then shook his head. "I don't think I can stay here. I'm sure you two have things to do."

What?

Blaine looked at Ambrose too. Wayden wasn't saying what he thought he was saying, right? No wonder Wayden didn't like coming home. It was because his ex was here with his brother. Anger burned through Blaine, and he wanted to hurt something. Preferably Ambrose. He was the one who'd hurt his alpha.

Blaine's stomach did a funny little dance. He'd claimed Wayden as his alpha again. Maybe deep down he'd already decided that he was his alpha, Blaine was just… too scared to admit it. What was wrong with him? Wayden was perfect for him… he was more than perfect. He was amazing.

"I don't want to fight, please. Let's have dinner together before you leave, at least. You're still my family," Ckson said sounding so sad that it broke Blaine's heart.

"Just stay," Blaine whispered to Wayden. "He looks so sad."

"He can hear you. He's an aggressive alpha, remember?" Wayden whispered back, before he turned to his brother. "I guess dinner won't hurt."

"Good," Ckson said. "I'll go and ask the cook to prepare enough food for everyone before you change your mind."

Ckson limped down the hallway, leaving them with Ambrose.

"I guess you're staying. I'd better get the guest bedroom ready," the little shit said, and then sauntered upstairs as if he owned the place. Blaine didn't even know he was moving until Wayden caught him.

"How can you stand him?" Blaine growled out.

"You look cute when you're jealous."

"Stop. I'm serious. How can you stand him?"

"I don't. I don't live here, remember?" Wayden said. "Now come here. Stop being jealous. There's nothing to be jealous about." Wayden pulled Blaine into his arms and hugged him tight. "Thank you for coming with me."

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to. I just thought…" Blaine held him tighter. He felt guilty for making him stay. The fucking house was full of toxic douches. Ckson Mephis was the worst. And to think Ckson was Blaine's favourite Alpha King. Now, Blaine wanted to kick his overgrown ass. But he was going to hold off on that because Ckson was a bit intimidating.

"No, it's fine. I can stand my brother and Ambrose for one night," Wayden said, taking Blaine's hand. They walked down the hallway. "Let me give you a tour of this museum."

"How can you say that? This house is beautiful and mystical. I can literally feel the history oozing out of the walls," Blaine said excitedly, just to take Wayden's mind off everything that was going on.

They walked deeper into the house. Just as Blaine had hoped, the house was a treasure trove of ancient artifacts. Blaine stared at them in awe. "Now I see where your passion for history and archaeology comes from. You were surrounded by it."

"And I had to hear about it every day," Wayden said with a wistful smile. It was clear he missed his home, yet he couldn't come back to it. Blaine's heart ached for Wayden. What the hell was Ckson thinking? Blaine was really going to kick him. Aggressive alpha or not.

"How old is the house?" Blaine asked, trying to change the subject.

"It's more than fifty years old," Wayden said. "The old pack used to live in the area. This house was built where the pack house used to be. Our great granddad couldn't let go of pack life, so he built this house. It's a symbol of what our pack used to be."

"Is that why you got the symbols on the walls tattooed on your arms? To show that you are part of the pack."

"Yeah, but only the Mephis alphas have them. It's old fashioned and stuff, but it's part of our tradition. I hate to admit it but, even though we're not exactly a pack, we are in a weird way."

"So that makes Ckson your alpha?"

Wayden groaned loudly. "Please don't let him hear you say that. I'll never hear the end of it."

Blaine laughed at him.

"Don't laugh. My brother is crazy."

"He is," Blaine said.

They walked around the house, exploring some more until it was time for dinner.

Blaine sat at the table, wishing he was somewhere else. If he'd thought the day he met Wayden was awkward, he was wrong. Nothing could beat sitting across from Wayden's ex and his new lover, who happened to be Wayden's brother. To make matters worse, Ambrose kept trying to get Wayden to talk about some stupid trip they had taken in the shuttle when they were together. Blaine wanted to launch himself over the table and scratch Ambrose's perfect face. To some extent, Blaine understood why the brothers were taken with Ambrose. Ambrose was gorgeous. And he knew it too. He kept smiling up at Wayden sweetly, even though Ckson was right there.

Get your omega before I do, Blaine wanted to shout at Ckson. But the alpha sat there as if nothing was happening.

What was going on here?

"Do you remember how hot it got in the shuttle. We spent the whole trip naked. It was nice," Ambrose laughed delicately.

Oh fuck, that was it. Blaine shot to his feet and was about to launch himself over the table when Wayden caught his arm. Blaine sat back down.

"You hated it the whole time," Wayden said. "Why are you bringing it up now?"

"I didn't hate it. I was…"

"Thank you for dinner, Master Mephis. I'm a little tired from travelling. I'll go and rest," Blaine bit out. He got to his feet. Ambrose did the same. Where the fuck was he going?

"I'll show you to your room."

"Don't bother. I'm fine in the shuttle," Blaine said and walked out of the house before he did something he would regret. What made him angrier was the fact that Wayden had stopped him every time Blaine wanted to give Ambrose a piece of his mind.

Why was Wayden saving that evil, two-timing omega's feelings? Wayden should be hating Ambrose, not being nice to him.

What was even going on in the damn family? And why was he getting worked up over some ex who had no place in Wayden's life? Wayden was in love with him. He was devoted to him. Blaine shouldn't care what that little shit did.

But Blaine fucking cared. He didn't want any omega smiling at Wayden, ex or no ex.

Wayden is mine, Blaine silently screamed. He stopped moving as the single thought echoed in his mind over and over.

"He's mine," Blaine said. He placed his hand over his pounding heart. "He's mine. He's mine."

"What?"

Wayden?