The table goes lively after Peinaire and Caspian left, indicating that it's just a mere drama and nothing is serious. The Sarin exchange some stories; most of the time, Ezra just keeps listening with no judgment.
"Are you tired?" Fa asks. The Omega shakes his head, although the dark circles are visible under his eyes behind the makeup. He doesn't want to be rude, plus, the conversation is drawing his interest.
Softly, Fa kneads Ezra's palm. That Omega yanks away at first, but later submits because it gradually eases his tiredness. Fa's lips crook up, as he leans closer.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Shut up. Or, I'll pull away my hand..."
Fa sneers. The knead continues, but this time, Fa is targeting Ezra's lap. He massages the thick meat under the table, trying his best to keep his calm face to facade the string of lust in him. His mind projects a lot of scenes; imagining how he could bite these juicy thighs of this fresh-brewing Omega.
Fa's heart races a bit. His rut is coming soon, and now, he just can't wait.
The door of the dining hall opens one more time. Cirrus walks in, hand in hand with a male almost as tall as he is. There's a glow behind that pale skin. His long hair is tied in a low ponytail. He seems a bit tired and sick, but still looks ethereal as ever.
"Sorry we're late," Cirrus apologizes. The male next to him bows along, leaving a smile on everyone's face.
"It's okay. Come! Have a seat, cubs!" Renyu welcomes the couple warmly. Cirrus nods, as he leads Tul to their seat. He pulls the chair for the Omega, letting him sit comfortably before taking the space next to him.
"Tul can't drink wine..."
"It's fine. I already asked them to prepare some pomegranate juice," says Mei. A helper Beta comes forward with a glass of that maroon juice. Tul utters a thank you to her. As he is about to grab the glass, Cirrus grabs it first and sips the juice a bit.
"No sugar. Okay," Cirrus then softly brings the glass near Tul's lips. He sips the content with a helping hand from his Beta partner.
From his seat, Ezra keeps watching the couple. They are so lovely and sweet; something unexpected from Cirrus. His grim reaper feature doesn't match this soft kind of gesture that he had for his Omega. Behind that dark vibe, he seems to glow next to Tul.
Ezra silently makes a comparison between Cirrus and Tul with Peinaire and Caspian. These two couples are opposites in terms of taking care of their partner. Peinaire prefers Caspian to be sharp and clean, well taken care of. Compared to Cirrus who lets Tul live and choose as he pleases. His clothes are decent, nothing screams fancy in them. And Cirrus cares nothing about it, except for Tul's well-being.
Tul might look a bit sick, but there's a glow in his face; evidence of happiness. Caspian, on the other hand, looks handsome and proper, yet his face doesn't glow like this. Ezra wonders if Caspian is happy with his life, anyway! He looks tense almost all the time next to Peinaire.
Well, I will react the same if I have a partner like her!
"Oh, I almost forgot we have a new member tonight..." Tul gives out a smile at Ezra. "I'm Tul Sarin, Beta Cirrus's partner."
"Ezra Han. I am..." Ezra gulps, pausing his sentence midway.
Am I gonna introduce myself as this pervert Alpha's mate? We're not mates yet!
"I am glad to meet you, Omega Tul..." Ezra smiles widely, feeling satisfied with his answer.
From his seat, Cirrus notices Fa's reaction has turned dim. The Golden Alpha perhaps feeling upset by the response given by the love of his life.
"You should address yourself as the Omega of the Golden Alpha, Ezra. You don't wanna make your Alpha lose his mind, right?" Cirrus pinpoints Ezra's mistake.
"I haven't been marked by him yet, why should I?" Ezra's nonchalant reply makes everyone at the table giggle. It sounds so innocent and cute, with his lips pouted.
Fa is still gloomy next to Ezra. He hates it when Ezra denies his status daringly. "Fine, I'll make sure you change your answer in a few months. I'll mark you all over your neck!"
"Don't make such a hasty move, son. You might scare your Omega," Renyu teases his son. He knows Fa is upset by now, judging by the downward curve of his lips, but, as a parent, he takes Ezra's answers as a joke. Nothing more, nothing less.
Ezra pulls his thigh away from Fa when he realizes that the hand is almost near his crotch under the table. But, Fa yanks it back next to him, releasing his stress over that meaty leg.
"Could you stop it? It hurts!"
"I just want you to know how I feel right now," Fa replies, no smile on his face. Ezra falls into a deep silence. If this is the way this Alpha expresses his emotion, that's a stern note to Ezra.
A sadist like Fa is a threat.
***
Dinner ends in a breeze, no more drama after what happened with Peinaire. The dining hall is empty, as everyone leaves for their room.
Ezra slowly follows Fa from behind. It is the final rule of the dinner in the Sarin mansion: Alpha needs to send the Omega back to the room.
As they reach in front of Ezra's room, Fa halts. He glares at the helper Betas, a signal for them to leave this Golden Alpha alone with his Omega. Ezra keeps his composure intact, still, even though his eyes are barely open by now.
"Omega Ezra."
Ezra lifts his head, staring at Fa before that Alpha suddenly drags him harshly and kisses his lips. Ezra is too stunned by this, his Omega instinct activated, and immediately his hand swings up and slaps Fa's cheek. He whines in pain and then rubs his cheek.
"Did you just slap me, Omega?" Fa's eyes turn red.
"Yes. A good lesson for a pervert like you!"
"I just kissed my Omega! Is that a problem?"
"It is. A huge one," Ezra straightens up spurring his opinion. "Don't ever think, just because you have slept around before, especially whenever your rut comes, all Omegas are the same. I am unlike any Omega. I have my pride, I have my dignity."
Fa stares at Ezra, eyes unflinching. His forehead is twitching in anger. "So, that's how you see me? A playboy who sees everyone as a meal?"
"Yes." Ezra bluntly answers him. "From the first time we met, you keep pestering me with skinships, and never for once, I feel safe around you. I know, I am here as your Omega, but if skinships and sex are the only matters that you're looking for, then, you chose the wrong Omega for that!"
Fa gives a sharp glare before he slams Ezra's body against the door. He leans closer, leveling their eyes so he can stare deep into them.
"Just because you're still a virgin, doesn't mean you're all chastity! Don't forget that you broke the most important rules of Ou Academy; you sneaked out and mingled around with Alphas and Betas! Who knows what you did with them anyway?"
Fa sneers. He tilts his head, squints his slitted eyes before his smile slowly disappears from his face.
"So, why did you mark me that night? If I am a dirty Omega, why did you choose me as your target?"
Fa's blood almost flushed out of his body. From the bottom of his heart, he was almost screaming the truth. But, Ezra's reaction towards his warm gesture makes him bottle up everything and fold them back in.
"So, you're still mad about that..."
"I did tell you before, I won't forgive you for that. You have no idea how miserable my life was after that. I lost my purity, I lost my freedom, I lost my love!"
"Love?"
Ezra's eyes turn sorrowful. He balls his fist, then he spurs the most heartbreaking fact to Fa. "Before you, there's someone else in my life. Someone that I love dearly, and you'll never match her!"
Fa blinks his eyes in disbelief. He steps back, creating a space between them. What he hears is enough to burn him whole. How he wishes he could find that person who dares to live in Ezra's heart, until this Omega refuses to submit to him!
He will kill that person at the instant!
"Get rid of her from your life! That's my command as your Alpha!"
"You think, love is something that can come and go, just like that?" Ezra asks.
"Yes. It can be nurtured, it can be gained. So, just forget about that bitch, and open your heart to me—"
"You're unbelievable! Not only a pervert and sadist, you're a totalitarian! You think I can give up just like that?" Ezra's eyes start glassy. "You're not worth my love. So, don't ever dream about it! Ever!"
Ezra pushes Fa away from him, twisting the doorknob and entering the room. As soon as he steps in, eyes fill with tears. Not because of sadness, but more like pisses him off.
How did I end up having this cruel Alpha as my mate?