GABRIEL #6
The joint graduation ceremony takes place on a rainy day in May.
I graduate with a double major in cybersecurity and electrical engineering, and Marlow graduates with a veterinary degree.
Maybe it’s a good thing it’s raining, because Blue and I can stay hidden under a dark umbrella, masks on our faces, blending into the crowd so no one recognizes us.
Blue’s small hand is tucked under my arm, and I feel this intense happiness at being among people with my omega, my chest filled with pride.
I'm back at campus but no longer as a guy nobody wants, nobody notices.
Of course my parents are there, along with a large group of my cousins and uncles.
Not all of them made it, but plenty did, because my father is everyone’s favorite uncle.
"Uncle Van!" keeps ringing out as more relatives join our group, my cousins showing up with their partners. A lot of them have found their True Mate recently, and it’s actually nice to look around at all those happy faces.
Blue and I planned to share our news with my parents and the whole family today, to tie this happy occasion together with something we’ve been putting off for a long time.
Blue pushed back a bit, saying we shouldn’t take attention away from the graduation event, from Marlow, and monopolize people’s attention, but I convinced him I know Marlow well enough to be sure he’ll feel relief if not all eyes are on him the entire time.
I take my diploma first, then Marlow takes his and steps down from the stage, but he doesn’t look great.
He seems thinner, and there’s something in his eyes, some kind of hunger.
He looks worn out, which makes sense after the intense final stretch and all the work he put into earning that degree.
He was always the most attractive out of all my brothers, with his willowy build and delicate, beautiful features, but now there’s this dullness around him, his usual pastel aura somewhat faded.
The diploma in his hand doesn’t seem to make him happy.
Is there something more going on? I feel like everyone can sense it, that tension in him, that restless anticipation of something, the craving.
Most people probably assume it’s just his disposition.
That he doesn’t want to be the center of attention and would rather slip away from the family celebration and the crowd of loud, cheerful relatives as fast as possible and sink back into his deeply private world.
After the ceremony, we all head to a restaurant.
Blue wants to contribute, but my father insists on paying for everything.
The table is huge, since many of my cousins came with their partners, and some even brought small kids.
Among the few singles are Veyron and Dallas, who sits there with his usual twisted expression, like someone forced him to swallow a handful of mustard seeds. That’s just how he is.
The table is loud and lively, my cousins all have strong personalities and talk over each other.
Storm naturally takes the lead, with Damian sitting next to him, looking a bit surprised that Blue is joining us like he’s part of the family.
Winter is there too, along with Sariel Lowen.
I didn’t expect that pairing, but it’s another connection tying my family to the Lowens, and somehow that gives me a boost of confidence.
We decide to reveal our relationship closer to the end of dinner, because after all it's a graduation party first and foremost.
When the plates slowly start to empty after the food my father ordered, I gather myself, exchange a look with Blue, and stand up in a sudden rush of courage, even though my heart is pounding like a war drum.
I tap a spoon against a glass, but most people don’t pay attention, and I feel that familiar wave of shyness, that old sense of being stuck in the same role I always had in this family, like I was no one, someone fading into the background next to the intense personalities of the other Nolans.
Not this fucking time. I feel something rise in me.
I glance at Blue, at the slight curve visible under his jacket that no one has noticed yet. Blue also uses deodorant to mask the scent of pregnancy, and I used one today, to cover the scent signaling that I’m mated.
We just didn't want to spoil the surprise.
Our eyes meet, and that strength comes alive in me, lifting its head. I'm an adult, I’m a mated alpha, and I will be a father.
"Can I have your attention, please, my dear relatives? I have something important to tell you," I say, loud and confident.
This time my voice cuts through, and all eyes turn to me.
I take a breath and continue.
"As you probably know, exactly a year ago I got into trouble organizing an attack on Malden Pharmaceuticals.
The worst decision of my life, or depending on how you look at it, the best one, because it put me on the path to meeting this man," I gesture toward Blue, who sits there with a composed expression.
All eyes shift to him with a soft murmur of surprise.
"It took us almost a full year to get to a place where we’re ready to tell the world that what connects us is more than just a work relationship between a bodyguard and a CEO.
Today I want to tell you that our unusual contractual marriage, the one we entered through Fate Choice, has become a real marriage, not just something on paper, and in six months we're going to welcome a new member to the family. "
If I expected shock, I only really see it in some of my cousins’ faces. My dad, Uncle Lake, and Storm, especially him, don’t look surprised at all. They’re smiling widely.
Storm winks at me.
"Finally, Gabriel. Out of all the couples I’ve clocked as True Mates, you two really took your sweet time. Honestly, Damian and I had a bet going that it would take you another year to admit it."
Damian chuckles softly and squeezes Storm’s hand. "Well, maybe half a year!"
"Seriously?" Sariel throws out. "I had no idea, totally blindsided. But congratulations, Blue. I guess our families really just have surprisingly strong compatibility."
"Not necessarily," Dallas mutters darkly, but no one pays him any attention.
"Congratulations, sweetheart, that’s wonderful news," my dad says, getting up to hug me, then reaching his arms out to Blue a little hesitantly.
"I know you’re not big on hugs, but just this once for your dad-in-law?"
Blue lets out a soft snort and nods. "Sure."
Then, with a faint smile, he lets himself be pulled into the hug.
My father settles for a firm handshake. Blue’s germophobia is probably going to need some adjustment in my family, otherwise they won’t leave him alone.
"Big congratulations," Uncle Lake adds, already moving in for a hug I can’t shield Blue from.
"You really are lucky, Gabriel. Blue has a huge heart, I always knew that. I owe him my son’s life," Lake says, smiling as he pats Winter on the shoulder. Winter raises his brows and mutters under his breath, "Honestly… yeah, that actually makes sense, our families have fated genetics."
Only then do I look over at Marlow and notice his eyes fixed on Blue’s stomach, which is more visible now that he’s standing, showing slightly between the sides of his jacket.
"Congratulations, brother," he says quietly. "That’s amazing news, the best kind there is." There’s deep sincerity in his voice. "Kids are incredible," he adds with a wistful sigh.
"Thanks, Marlow, that means a lot to me, and I’m sorry for dropping this on our big day. I know the timing isn’t great…"
"It’s fine, Gabe. I’m really happy I’m going to be an uncle, and that’s wonderful."
And I know he means it.
Then he stands up and hugs me tightly.
The rest of the gathering turns into a flood of questions about our plans, how we’re going to balance Blue’s demanding career with being parents, whether we’ll have an official wedding, when the news will go public at work, and a dozen other things.
We don’t have answers to all of it yet, but Blue handles it as best he can.
I’m honestly surprised by how easily he fits in with my family. I have my suspicions about why, because if our families are this compatible, a lot of my relatives are probably his Half Mates, maybe even High Mates, so we’re operating on a similar wavelength.
Blue genuinely seems comfortable around them. Everyone treats him kindly, and aside from Dallas, who gets ignored anyway, there isn’t a single sour look directed his way.
I feel good too, lighter than I have in a long time, my heart like a balloon filled with something brighter than air, full of happiness and hope for what’s ahead.
No one treats me like a shy pushover anymore.
I get congratulations, looks of respect, quiet comments like "wow, you did well," "you really landed that," "look at you," "man, you’re lucky," "well, at least you don’t have to worry about money anymore," and even my cousin Raven leans in and whispers, "Hey, any chance you could lend me a little cash? "
Right before the end of dinner, Marlow unexpectedly asks Blue if he can have a word with him, and they step away for a short conversation. From a distance I can see Marlow looks downcast, but he parts from Blue with a polite nod.
When we’re on our way home, sitting in the limousine, I ask Blue what that was about.
He explains that Marlow asked him about the progress on the fertility activation program for alphas.
I raise my eyebrows in surprise, because I somewhat forgot about it, but apparently Marlow’s been holding on to the hope that Blue would figure something out.
"But you mentioned before that Fenn Drax left the research project and it was closed…"
Blue lets out a small sigh.