ELIANO #7
Silence falls.
The betas turn toward Gabriel, who stands there for a moment with a dazed, almost bewildered expression. I’m sure he doesn’t recognize me at first. He’s used to seeing me with long curls, and now my hair is short. Besides, this is probably the last place he would expect to see me.
Then something clicks.
"Eliano?"
"Yeah. It’s me. Can we talk?"
He curses. "Fuck. This is not a good time. I’m working. You really shouldn’t be coming up here," he says, his tone sharp, almost unlike him.
"Then you come to me. I need to say a few words to you. It’s important."
Gabriel glances at his people with a frown, then gives them a brief, wary nod and starts walking toward us.
I’m surprised by how much he’s changed. Gabriel was always well built, but now he radiates a different kind of strength, almost authority, like he has grown into his alpha nature.
Before, he always seemed withdrawn, shy, keeping to himself among the other fighters, muted and unremarkable.
Where did this change come from? It’s genuinely fascinating.
He steps up beside us and studies me closely.
"Gabriel… meet my True Mate, Salt," I say calmly, tilting my chin toward Salt.
Gabriel lifts his eyebrows slightly, then nods with honest surprise. "Oh. Well then. Congratulations."
Another brief pause follows.
Then he suddenly adds, "And now maybe you can explain what someone from the Ferro family is doing here, the family that had a hand in the bombing attempt on my boss, Mr. Lowen?" His voice sharpens, edged with cynicism and something almost threatening.
I answer in the same sharp, sarcastic tone: "Aren’t you an eco-terrorist who attacked and burned down a Malden Pharmaceuticals lab? And you’re here too, Gabriel."
A short but intense silence follows my words.
So I decide to add, "By the way, I walked out on my family and cut all ties completely. What about you? Aren’t you an activist anymore?"
Gabriel makes a particular face. "Let’s just say I changed careers."
"Well. I didn’t even need to change my views. I was never an enemy of Mr. Lowen. My uncle was. And I escaped his fortress two months ago."
A flicker of surprise crosses his face. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I need something from you. I need a moment to speak with Blue Lowen."
Gabriel bursts out laughing, even leaning back slightly. "Do you honestly think I’d let you talk to him? No matter how ‘cut off’ you claim to be from your family, you’re still of the Ferros’ blood, Anzo’s nephew!"
I clench my jaw. "Anzo murdered my parents, Gabriel! I don’t owe him a shred of loyalty. Or this psycho, Rocco, for that matter." I close my eyes for a second. "I just want to talk with Blue!"
"I still think…"
"Oh for fuck’s sake!" Salt suddenly snaps. "When Eliano says something, he keeps his word!"
Silence crashes down. Gabriel glances at Salt’s flushed face and then studies me for a long moment.
"What do you want to talk about with Mr. Lowen?" he finally asks.
"I want to ask for his help getting into the Beta Activation Follow-Up program. He has that kind of influence. I don’t have enough money to buy one of those houses outright. I need his approval for participation and for a loan."
Gabriel straightens, lifting his chin. "Mr. Lowen does not manage that project directly. Even if he can approve participation, loans and housing purchases are not handled at his level."
The way he says it does not sound like a simple employee relaying information. There is something else there, something close to respect, almost reverence toward Lowen.
It makes me weirdly irritated. "What, is he too high and mighty to speak to the people in his own program?"
Something flashes over Gabriel’s face.
"Mr. Lowen is deeply devoted to the cause and sacrifices his own private time to tend to matters here. He does much more than you can see on the surface!"
I narrow my eyes. The passionate defense seems strange, considering Gabriel is someone who once wanted to wipe every branch of Lowen’s pharmaceutical empire off the map.
The words slip out of me before I can stop them.
"Are you hot for him?"
Salt chuckles, and Gabriel blinks.
"What?!" He quickly averts his gaze, his hands clenching.
"Does he even know?"
"Know what? What the hell are you talking about?" Gabriel hisses, his calm cracking.
He takes a step back, unease flashing across his face. For a brief second, I see the old Gabriel again, shy, skittish, slipping along walls, passing other fighters like a shadow.
"Gabriel, it’s none of my business. If you’re infatuated with your boss, well, I wish you luck.
I’ve heard he’s practically a monk, so you may need a lot of luck trying to win him over.
But if emotions like that aren’t foreign to you, then know this.
I love Salt. I want him safe! We are expecting a baby… "
As I say it, Salt snaps his head toward me, but I continue with my eyes fixed on Gabriel.
"A deranged ex-employee attacked us here before.
Salt and I were shot! And from what I've gathered, this BA Follow-up settlement is much better guarded than the island, anyone can land here, no real fence, no one keeping watch. "
A faint grimace crosses Gabriel’s face.
"You were shot?"
"Yes! All we want is a chance to speak with Blue. He has the power to support us."
Gabriel falls silent, looking off to the side.
I watch him for a moment.
He is objectively a very handsome young man, and now, with the shift in his energy, he has truly come into himself, gaining something that was lacking in him before. Still, I do not believe he stands a chance with Blue Lowen.
Lowen is famously asexual and openly hostile toward relationships.
His story is widely known, and the tragic circumstances of his shooting range accident that resulted in infertility were something he was never shy about, discussing openly in interviews.
That event shaped his career path. I learned of it because Anzo used to bring the topic up, viciously mocking Blue.
Supposedly, Blue’s only obsession is science, and he is brilliant at it, a decorated, award-winning researcher responsible for numerous scientific breakthroughs.
At the same time, he is one of the most hated men in the world.
His involvement in the Beta Activation program and in military projects tied to NFH has made him a target for organizations that see him as unstable, dangerous, or a mad scientist. He is also known as the king of memes, with countless images and jokes circulating online that mock him directly, including his slight build and his distinctly nerdy appearance.
Gabriel exhales heavily.
"Fine. I’ll speak with Mr. Lowen once his meeting is over and ask whether he’d be willing to give you a few minutes," he says at last, looking back at me. There is a trace of sadness and thoughtfulness on his face.
"Thank you. And I assure you, Mr. Lowen is safe with me. Unlike my uncle, I would never harm a tiny, defenseless omega."
"He’s not defenseless. He has me," Gabriel says sharply. "And I will ensure his safety. You will not come within twenty feet of him. I’ll be standing between you and Mr. Lowen."
Gabriel’s face has a particular expression and I pucker my lips.
"Wow, Gabriel. That sounds like more than just professional dedication. You protect him with the intensity of an alpha guarding his omega," I say quietly.
Gabriel does not respond other than with a contemptuous snort. But he presses his lips together, and I can tell that whatever he feels, I doubt it’s returned.
"Either way, I appreciate you acting as a go-between. I’ll wait for word."
"For now, I want you to move to the end of the corridor," Gabriel says coldly. Then he turns and walks back to his post by the door.
Salt and I retreat together to the far end of the hallway, just as instructed, and sit down on the floor.
Salt studies me closely. "You really went all in back there."
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"He seems to take his duties insanely seriously," Salt murmurs. "I think you’re right, there’s something going on."
"It’s ridiculous. He could have shaken hands with Anzo once—over their shared hatred of Blue Lowen and Malden Pharmaceuticals, and now he’s suddenly his dedicated bodyguard? That’s pure comedy."
"Weird things keep happening. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that he’ll stand up for us," Salt mutters.
We end up waiting in the hallway for a good hour and a half. As we sit with our backs leaning against the wall, I wrap an arm around Salt, and he rests his head on my shoulder.
A mix of emotions fills me, many of them intense, but the strongest by far is the need to take care of Salt and of our baby.
As a young alpha, I never felt anything like this, my instincts were dormant, but now they’re waking up in me, making my focus fall on this one goal: keeping my new family safe.
At one point I kiss his temple, and Salt’s gray eyes lift to meet mine. In his gaze there’s an entire ocean of emotions I want to untangle, explore, understand.
Soon we’ll have the chance. I need to believe that.
I smile, lean down, and plant another wet kiss on his cheek. He makes a quick move of his head, turning it slightly, and it makes our lips brush against each other.
He gives me a slightly crooked smile.
Then we just sit and wait patiently. Apparently Mr. Blue Lowen has a lot to discuss with Mr. Gomez, because I assume that’s who the meeting is with.
At some point the door opens and a beta who works as Mr. Gomez’s secretary steps out.
Then Gabriel goes inside and closes the door behind him.
"Well, now our fate is being decided," I mutter under my breath.
Salt squeezes my hand lightly.
"No matter what happens, I still appreciate that you tried to fight for this."
We sit like that for a moment, both lost in our thoughts.
I notice Salt watching his forearm, where the words Justice for Senu are written.
He gently runs a finger over the skin above the name ‘Senu’.