Chapter Five
Zeller
Zeller squeezed his hands together in his lap, attempting not to fidget.
It was difficult when the alpha beside him kept blathering about a deal he’d closed that morning.
Although Zeller nodded at the appropriate moments, he was unimpressed hearing about a merger that would likely put hundreds of people out of work.
The alpha—Zeller couldn’t remember his name—continued speaking as Father looked at them approvingly from across the dining table. Daddy also offered an encouraging smile. Zeller tried not to be alarmed.
“Did you enjoy your chat with Criston?” Daddy asked after all the guests departed. “He’s likely to be a High Court judge someday.”
Criston—yes, that was it. “Sure. He seemed nice.”
“Nice. That’s what you said about the agriculture minister’s son,” Father’s sharp voice cut in, “and the boy whose fathers own Villdania Industries.”
“They were nice,” Zeller replied placidly.
Daddy glanced at Father. “It’s alright,” he said. “Sometimes it’s difficult when omegas haven’t…” His cheeks flushed.
Zeller almost laughed at how his omega parent could barely allude to the idea of his blooming.
He wondered what Daddy would think if he knew that, while Zeller had not fully matured, he wasn’t totally innocent. He hadn’t been since the first day seeing Valentin made his ass ache.
Once Father stopped grumbling about inviting more nice young alphas to dinner, Zeller retreated to his room.
Away from Father’s perceptive gaze, he thought about the events of this afternoon, when he’d gone on a long walk to the far corner of the estate where Valentin was repairing fences.
They spoke at length about My Summer by the Sea. It had taken Valentin two months to finish, and the alpha was skeptical about the story’s premise.
“I’m telling you, it makes no sense. The main character doesn’t seem to have a job, but somehow, he has the funds to stay in lavish hotels and eat at restaurants for every meal,” Valentin argued.
“I think you’re just supposed to go with it,” Zeller countered. “That part doesn’t matter. What matters is the beautiful prose the author uses to describe the different provinces. The whole state sounds magical.”
Valentin hammered a loose nail into a wooden post. “As someone who had to scrounge his way across the state trying to eke out a living with nickels and dimes and happy thoughts, I assure you traveling is a lot less glamorous than this book makes it out to be.”
“At least you’ve gotten to go places.”
Valentin paused and walked over, squeezing Zeller’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me. You know I’d show you the entire world if I could.”
Zeller looked up and swallowed, his awareness of the alpha amplified by Valentin’s hand on him.
Ever since that day in the library, there had been more of these touches between them. Electric and forbidden, causing warmth to pool in Zeller’s belly.
Listening to Criston at the dinner table tonight, Zeller had felt nothing in his belly. Other than mild indigestion. And when the alpha had punctuated his remarks by placing his palm on Zeller’s knee, that mild indigestion developed quickly into abject nausea.
Zeller would never fall for one of the men his parents kept parading in front of him.
He had already given his heart to Valentin.
His inner omega had been a goner since the first moment he laid eyes on him.
It was evident in every conversation. Every small brush of their hands.
Zeller still imagined a life where he could see the world and make art.
But now he wanted to share that life with the one person who truly saw him.
He had never held anyone’s attention the way he held Valentin’s. Each day, their connection grew more potent, even if neither of them had admitted it out loud yet.
Although Zeller was certain Valentin returned his affections—the heat between them was too palpable to ignore—the alpha was careful never to offer anything but casual touches.
With his parents more focused on marrying him off, Zeller needed Valentin to acknowledge that they were more than friends. Once that was out in the open, they could figure out a way to thwart his fathers’ intentions.
He had played the dutiful son for his entire life. Father and Daddy had no idea he planned to marry the alpha of his choosing. Not theirs.
Now all he had to do was get that alpha on board.