Chapter 17

Night began to fall. As the household began to settle for the night, Zane held himself in his personal study. As the next head of family he was responsible for a majority of the family finances. Flipping through the pages of documents he had onto his concentration.

Just down the hall, and around the corner, Anna had met with one of Zeke's servants.

"He has been asking for him for days". Anna pleaded on Aaron's behalf.

"If he could just meet with Lord Zeke to give him the paper-"

"It's not a good time", the other maid hushed her voice.

"Lord Zeke is not..." She thought about the appropriate words to use.

"He is unwell at this time".

"Please ask him!" Anna whispered in a plea.

The other maid hesitated greatly.

"F..fine, give me a moment".

She tapped on the door to zeke's chambers and closed them behind her.

Anna waited out in the hall. This was the only way she knew how to help Aaron. She didn't want him to hurt more than he already was. If getting a letter out would make him happy then she would do anything she could to help.

The other maid returned outside the door.

"It seems Lord Zeke has...requested a visit from the Omega".

Anna began to smile but slowly her glee faded.

Looking at the other maids expression, she felt sick.

She stood outside of Aaron's room. Her hand slightly trembled as she knocked on the door. She had hoped Aaron would have been asleep or not there in general.

She heard his voice from the other side. She pushed the large door open.

"They are here to escort you to Lord Zeke. He has asked for you", Anna stepped to the side revealing Zeke's guards.

She carefully watched him as he left with the guards. She couldn't hide the look on her face. She and Aaron made eye contact in that moment before he slipped around the corner.

Standing at the door Anna felt a twinge of panic.

She thought back to the maid she had talked to.

She waited for Aaron's return. Outside his room she stood in the dark hall. The dim oil lamps lining the walls flickered. Waiting for him.

"This is taking too long", She muttered.

She had to do somthing. Anything.

-

It was getting late. Zane, leaning back in his chair, rubbed his temples with his fingers. He looked up at the ceiling.

"What's wrong with me?" He muttered.

He placed his hands on his theighs: letting out a sharp sigh. He squeezed them.

He thought back to a couple days ago when Aaron tried fighting him over the gifts he had given the Omega. Closing his eyes he re-imagioned Aaron sitting on his lap. The warmth of his body. His brown hair. His sapphire like eyes that shimmered in the light.

He let out a soft chuckle.

The way Aaron shoved away from him: was sort of cute.

The grin dissipated from his face.

"That was my fault: again".

He may have told Aaron that it was the Omega's pheromones that caused him to release his own.

However.

"I couldn't even smell his".

A knock came at his door.

Opening his eyes; Zane sat up straight in his chair.

"Yes?" He responded in a usual commanding tone.

"My Lord", one of his guards spoke on the other side. His voice a hint of urgency.

"Enter".

The guard had opened his door: standing right behind his large form was Anna.

Zane raised an eyebrow.

"I know you," he said.

"My lord, she has come with an urgent message for you". The guard stood at attention.

Zane waved his hand for the maid to enter.

"Pardon my intrusion sir", she gave a curtsey.

"Well? What is it?" Zane's tone came across as harsh.

"It's about Aaron." She looked him in the eye: a serious look boring into the Alpha.

Zane furrowed his brow: waiting.

"He was called to Alpha Zeke's room a while ago and hasn't returned".

Zane abruptly stood up from his chair.

Anna flinched.

He briskly walked by her without saying a word.

He threw his cloak on and left the room.

One of the guards escorted Anna put while the other followed behind the Alpha.

Zanes face slowly twisted in anger with each step he took. Rounding the corner he stopped in his tracks.

There he was: Aaron.

Aaron's guards had stepped aside for him.

His eyes followed to the Omega. He briskly walked over to him.

"What happened?" Zane's voice demanded. He was sure now as he was closer, there was an odd odor coming from Aaron, he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

He noticed the Omega made no move to talk. Though the expression of his face made Zane wary.

"Why did-"

Zane stopped himself.

"He didn't..." He thought.

Grabbing Aaron by the arm he dragged him down the long hall.

He opened the door to the Omega's chambers and practically threw him inside.

Zane shut the door and turned back to him.

"What happened?"

This time the Alpha's demeanor had gone from angry to concerned. His senses had been heightened by the smell on Aaron's body.

"Nothing happened!" Aaron angerly threw his hand up.

Zane's expression darkened.

Grabbing the Omega by the shirt he pulled him closer.

"Explain this smell!" He leaned in and took a whiff. These pheromones on him made him angry. They weren't friendly. Zane remembered smelling this type of pheromone once in his life. A submission technique used by Alphas on their prey. He looked at Aaron.

He let go of his shirt.

Zane waited to see what Aaron would do. Yell? Throw his fists? He waited for the usual response that would come out of the Omega.

"WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE?" The omega's outburst came.

Zane paused.

Aaron continued.

"You said it before right? You don't care what I do? So why now?"

Zane's mind whirled. He didn't understand why either. Why DID he care?

To his shock Aaron fell to his knees.

Zane looked down at Aaron's figure.

He looked small. Weak. Vulnerable.

He didn't like the look of this Omega in Front of him. The strong willed person he enjoyed teasing, to his expense, unraveling themselves in front of him.

He crouched down to Aaron's level.

Reaching out slowly, taking his thumb and index finger, he lifted the Omega's head to look at him.

Feeling a slight stab in his heart: a tear fell from Aaron's eyes: the small droplet landing on Zane's hand.

He released his chin.

Zane's eyes widened.

Aaron spoke in a low tone: defeated.

"If you're going to yell just yell, if you're going to subdue me then just get it over with." He sounded tired.

Zane, still at a loss for words, shifted onto his knees in front of Aaron.

All the anger he had dissipated.

Soft noises came from Aaron: not able to resist crying.

Zane thought a moment. He thought back to when Aaron was in physical pain the night of his heat. The Alpha thought of his own pheromones and how they had calmed him down.

"He's not in heat. So we won't...." his mind trailed off.

He slowly released his scent for the Omega. He watched carefully. He didn't want to pour out too much. He noticed a small swaying motion as Aaron leaned forward: falling into Zane's chest.

Instinctively: Zane caught Aaron by his biceps.

Steadying him he gently let the Omega lean against him.

"I guess even in this state you really are a typical Omega." Zane thought.

He smiled.

"You're not so bad though." He mumbled against his hair.

He carefully turned Aaron to look at his face.

"Were my pheromones too much for him?"

His peaceful expression made his heart skip a beat.

Zane's gaze scanned down Aaron's body. He lifted him into is arms. Almost as if he weighed nothing.

He laid Aaron, on his back, onto the bed. He moved to stand but couldn't.

The Omega lay gripping Zane's clothes as tightly as he could.

"Don't...leave me..." He mumbled.

"Are you dreaming?" Zane asked.

Aaron didn't respond.

Letting out a long sigh he moved into the bed with him.

Taking one arm and propping it under the Omega's head and the other placed gently on his waist.

"Better?" He asked.

Again there was no response. Instead he felt the Omega shift his body closer to his.

Zane just watched. His heart was beating quickly. He gripped the brunette tighter. Protectively.

His eyes narrowed.

"What happened? What did Zeke do to you?" He asked out loud. In some sense hoping he would get an answer.

His hand moved unconciously. Rubbing up and down Aaron's back as if to soothe a child.

He felt a slight tremble.

His hand stopped.

He progressively became irritated. Not at Aaron.

Zane eventually closed his own eyes. Aaron still had a grip on him and he wasn't about to go anywhere. He decided to wait things out.

It was around early morning when Zane woke up. He shifted his head and looked down. Aaron was sound asleep.

Zane slowly, as to not wake him up, removed his arm from under the Omega's head. Moving to sit up.

Aaron's expression shifted from peaceful to uncomfortable.

Zane thought a moment and grabbed his cloak. He placed it over Aaron: watching as the Omega grabbed a hold of the clothing. His expression softened.

Zane's as well.

"You're like a kid."

He ran his hand through Aaron's hair before departing from the room.

Outside Anna and the other servants were still waiting. Some had fallen asleep leaning against the wall.

Zane opened the door.

He stood tall. His dark expression plastered on his face.

All of the servants were startled. All climbing to their feet for their young Lord.

"Which one is Aaron's maid?" He asked the mixed group.

Anna stepped forward.

"Me sir".

Zanes eyes locked on her.

"Why was He summoned to Zeke's room?"

The maid hesitated.

"I'm not sure sir. Alpha Zeke had rejected him for three days about the letter and-"

She quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

Zanes eyes widened.

"WHAT letter?" He growled.

Anna was terrified to speak. Her hands trembled.

"Alpha Zane". One of the guards diverted his attention away from Anna.

Zane gave a displeasing look.

"I overheard some of the staff. It seems that Alpha Zeke is in the middle of his rut".

Zanes eyes narrowed.

"Where is he now?"

The guard gulped.

"He should still be in his chambers."

Zane didn't hesitate. He turned as he swiftly walked to Zeke's room.

A murderous look stretched on his face.

He wasted no time swinging the doors, of his brothers room, open. He stood in the doorway scanning the room.

"What...?"

Zane heard the irritated voice of Zeke. He saw his brother laying on the middle of his bed.

Zane walked over to him: looking down: his hands were clenched into tight fists.

"I'm in no mood Zane, Fuck off". Zeke waved his hand at him.

Zane didn't budge.

"Get up". He hissed.

Zeke looked at him.

"Don't give me that look", He growled back.

Zane stood his ground.

"Get ...UP" Zane said more slowly and heavily.

He watched as Zeke rose up from his bed. He reached out and grabbed Zane by the shirt.

"If you don't leave...." He started to threaten his older brother.

"I wouldn't try it", Zane warned back.

The two looked at one another: fully prepared to fight.

"Listen to me closely". Zane leaned in: inches from his brothers face.

"You are not to come around my Omega again."

Zeke let out a scoff and a slight laugh.

"YOUR Omega?" He emphasized to be certain he heard correctly.

Zane held a death glare.

"Here I am the one in a rut and your here trying to claim things?"

Zane shoved Zeke away.

"And what's this about a letter?"

Zeke smirked.

"Shouldn't you know ALL the things about YOUR Omega?" He taunted ferociously.

Zane glanced at the empty bottles of wine on the table.

"Now it makes sense..." He Scoffed.

"Didn't we agree that he was going to be gone like the others?" Zeke asked.

Zane didn't say anything.

"I said before to not get attached and look what you're doing."

Zane looked at Zeke.

"Things have changed".