Evans #2
I know my lot in life. I know the role mapped out for me. I’m a rising star on the football team and the sole heir to a real estate conglomerate, Pembroke Holdings. I’m also a prime alpha in a long line of other distinguished alphas.
One day I’ll settle down with a suitable omega and continue the legacy. It would be a marriage of convenience to someone socially desirable who could help me elevate the family business and provide me with alpha children. That was my path in life, what was expected of me.
Right now, until graduation, this was my time to shine.
My time to have fun because once I wore that cap and gown, that was it.
There would be no turning back. There would never be another opportunity to live my life selfishly.
Even now I can feel the clutch of my father‘s cold hand on the back of my neck.
The incident at Crest Haven might just have been the straw that broke the camel's back. He was threatening to set me up with a suitable omega. And withhold all my credit cards.
As if my thoughts have summoned the devil, my phone rings. With a tap to my earpiece, his voice fills my head.
“Benedict, I assume you are keeping out of trouble.”
There’s no ‘hello’. No ‘how are you?’ Pleasantries are a waste of time for Harrison Crawford. He’s always been the same.
“Good morning father. Of course I am.” I clench my jaw, when he would see that I was a normal college student?
Yes, sometimes I made drunken mistakes.
And no, I still don’t know where we got that chicken that one time or how we ended up naked in a fountain. But it was all harmless fun.
“Good because I won’t be bailing you out of prison again.”
Inhaling, I take a deep breath and count to three before I let it go. “I wasn’t in prison. I was in jail. Overnight.”
“Over some common omega you found in a dive bar.” He tuts, and I hate the way his words ooze with disdain. He speaks to me like an underperforming lackey, instead of his only son. “It doesn’t matter what it was for, Benedict. It doesn’t lessen the disappointment.”
Scrubbing my face, I kick my foot at the grass before continuing on my route. The sun on my face reminds me that I’m here, and he’s there. Wherever there is. “Of course not.”
He appears to be done with letting me know how dissatisfied he is as he moves on with an awkward cough. “Anyway, I’m calling to let you know but your mother is remarrying again. A female alpha at that.”
I blink.
“Oh…Congratulations?” I say weakly, halting in my steps. My mother, like my father, had multiple failed marriages under her belt. This would be lucky number five.
“I assume she hasn’t called you to tell you herself then.” He knows she hasn’t, otherwise he wouldn't be on the phone now.
During the divorce, she made it very clear that I would hamper her lifestyle and that since I was the heir to Pembroke Holdings, it was my fathers’ responsibility to raise me.
I was six.
“No, I haven’t heard from her since my birthday.
” That was almost a year ago. Even then it had been a quick video call while she was out shopping with a friend.
I hadn’t been bothered since I was in the Mediterranean on our yacht, celebrating with Zale, Hunter, Blake, Sadie and a handful of our other friends. Besides, I was used to it by now.
“Of course not.” I can practically hear him roll his eyes.
He was probably tugging on the knot of his tie.
He usually did that when we mentioned my mother, like even the thought of her was suffocating.
“I’ll be in Oakley in a few weeks for an important business meeting and I think we should have dinner. ”
I still, my brain trying to keep up. “Dinner?”
My father never wanted to have dinner.
Not with me.
“Yes, Benedict. Dinner.” He sighs and I curl my toes inside my sneakers. The click clacking noise of a keyboard lets me know he’s working, even during our call. “Must you keep repeating my words back to me like some sort of parrot?”
“No father,” I say cautiously, “I’m just surprised as you don’t usually have time for dinner.”
He makes a humming noise, and I hear the clicks stop.
“Given your recent behaviour, I’ve decided that perhaps it is in our best interests to keep a closer eye on you.
This is your final year at Oakley, Benedict.
I won’t have you ruining your future and the future of the business with your fratboy lifestyle. ”
Before I can stop myself, I snort. Fratboy lifestyle? I went to parties, played football and occasionally got into trouble for silly pranks. I guess I was a stereotypical frat boy when you thought about it.
“Perhaps you should bring along that omega you’re seeing, the Templeton girl?”
The way he says ‘Templeton girl’ tells me all I need to know. He’s already looked into her background and decided she might be a suitable match. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s booked a chapel somewhere already.
“You want me to bring Sadie to dinner?” My throat feels tight.
“Well, if she’s a potential future mate, don’t you think I should meet her properly?”
I rub the sweat from my forehead. “Father it’s not like that Sadie and I are not—”
“Benedict.” One word. Spoken firmly. Coldly. One horrible word and any protest I’m about to make dies in my mouth. “After the situation I rescued you from a month ago, don’t you think it’s time you started taking your relationships more seriously?
Relationships were shackles. Chains around my feet. I thought I’d have more time. I knew my time at Oakley was the last of my freedom, but I still thought perhaps I’d graduate, learn my place in the business, then I could deal with marriage and all that entailed.
My father continues, and why wouldn’t he? I’m barely needed for this conversation. “You have an image to protect, and as my only heir it is my job to make sure you don’t ruin it. Is that understood?”
The only heir.
I stand rooted to the spot, those imaginary chains feeling heavier with every passing moment.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good I will see you in two weeks, Benedict. And bring a suitable omega, or I will.” With that my father hangs up.
There’s a feeling in the pit of my stomach, it starts to unfurl slowly, creeping through my body like lazy vines and up my throat until I’m leaning forward with my hands on my knees struggling to breathe. It feels like I’m choking. Like I’m suffocating as I try to suck in panicked gulps of air.
A heavy hand landing on my shoulder startles me into silence and I force my breathing to slow. Force the rising tide back into the box.
“Shit! Are you alright Evans? Is everything okay?” Zale says as he crouches beside me. He’s wearing a vest and a pair of shorts, obviously here for a morning run too. “Breathe, man.”
“Yeah,” I laugh, straightening. “I was just in the zone, bro. Pushed myself too hard trying to get pumped.”
I make a few stretching motions and flex for him until he chuckles.
“Dude, don’t worry me like that.” He runs a hand through his blond hair, watching me carefully for a moment until he relaxes. “I thought something was wrong for a moment.”
I shrug, letting my mouth pull up in one corner to a half-smile. “Nah, you know me. It’s all good.”
Lies.
Lies.
Lies.