Forget the Moon! - 5. Chapter 5

“I should hope so,” Gideon said sternly, feeling an incensed aversion to the idea of anyone touching his Omega. Gideon stepped close, an arm going around Regan’s waist. “You’re my mate. I’ll tear the throats out of anyone who tries anything inappropriate with you.”

The movement caused Regan to place both his hands against the Alpha’s chest to stop himself from getting any closer. Without permission from his mind, his pinky fingers fanned out and back as if to try to investigate what was hidden beneath the older man’s business shirt. The fuck you doing, Embers? He hissed mentally to himself.

“What, you seriously think I’ll go skipping around seducing random Alphas every day or something? Get real!” Regan countered when he regained his wits. “Just having one of you as a mate is punishment enough.”

“Punishment?” Gideon’s brows drew together, looking down at Regan as though he was certainly pondering punishing someone.

"What else should I call it?" Regan hissed petulantly, though he couldn't quite bring himself to move away from the other man. "You refuse to allow me to live on my own or to work to help with costs...it's like you've got the mindset of an Elder from a different era.”

“Ah, I think I see.” Gideon tucked the smaller wolf to his chest. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? You’re worried about money and work because it was a concern for you before you were led to me. I know it’s hard, but try not to worry. I’ll take very good care of you. I swear it to Khonsu.”

A large part of him deep inside of Reg made him want to cling to the warmth of the larger man. But Regan clenched his teeth and shoved himself away in a resolute manner. “No, this is exactly what I don’t want,” he argued as he threw his hands up in the air and then raked back his curly hair. “I don’t want to be coddled and treated like some busy little homemaker. I mean, I can’t even cook!”

Once he started, the Omega couldn’t seem to stop ranting. “And I most definitely do not want an antiquated old fart of a mate like you!” He concluded with a huff of bravado, pointing his finger into Holton’s face. “You sound like you’re little more than a jailer.”

“You’re distressed and confused,” Gideon told him, speaking slow and soft. “Everything will be alright. You’re going to overstress yourself.” Such a thing was clearly unacceptable to the Alpha wolf. “I’m taking you home.”

Regan’s arm slowly lowered back down. “Wait, home? What home? Where?” He questioned. “Right now? So soon? Do I still get my one phone call before going to jail?”

“I’m being patient because I’m sure today has been overwhelming for you. I have no idea what your pack was thinking, sending out an unmated Omega to find work and living arrangements outside the safety of the pack. I’m very sorry that happened to you, but I guarantee nothing like that will happen again. You have nothing to worry about, now.” Gideon led Regan to the door by a strong arm around the Omega’s waist. “I’ll make sure your family is notified that you’re safe and mated. We can call them when you’re calmer and settled.”

A slight panic overcame the Omega when he realized the truth of his own words. He was going home to an antiquated and controlling Alpha...one that didn’t seem to have any plans to allow him to come and go as he pleased. And, though his entire body wanted nothing more than to keep Holton’s arm around his waist, Regan forced himself to duck and twist out of Gideon’s grasp before rushing behind the man’s desk. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” He said as his hands gripped the back of the desk chair tightly. “You’d have to drag me kicking and screaming!”

"You're my mate," Gideon said, trying to control his exasperation. Patience. He knew Omegas were a sensitive lot and his mate seemed to be worse than most. The younger wolf looked like a gazelle ready to bolt. "I won't hurt you. You're safe with me, I swear it. You can't want to stay in my office all day. It would be boring for you, and I wouldn't get any work done. You must be interested in your new home."

Regan immediately crawled down beneath the desk in a crouched position. "Nope! I think I'd rather stay here. Thank you very much," he responded. "You can go home by yourself."

“Are you…” Gideon paused to gather his wits. “Are you actually hiding from me under my desk?" The Alpha shook his head in disbelief. "You are my mate, and you will behave in a manner that position requires. Come out of there at once. We’re going home.” His tone was stern and commanding, as though refusal was simply impossible.

“Che!” Regan scoffed as he folded his arms. “Make me.”

A low, annoyed growl was the only warning the Omega got before the heavy oak desk was suddenly no longer sheltering him. Gideon set it down behind him with a soft thud before rounding on Regan. The smaller wolf was gathering himself to bolt when an arm like an iron band snapped around his waist. Then Regan was in the air, much too far from the floor, flung over Gideon’s shoulder like a sack of flour or potatoes.

“We’ll speak of this later,” Gideon promised, striding to the door. “At home.”

Regan took a deep breath as if he were getting ready to scream his lungs out, but a sharp pinch on one of his thighs made him yelp instead.

“Y-you jerk!” The Omega growled. “You’re the jerkiest jerk I’ve ever met!!” He was also apparently the strongest jerk he'd ever met. The way he managed to move that desk earlier so easily was downright startling. Though he wore a business suit that concealed his physique, the guy had to have some kind of muscle to be able to carry him around like nothing. Just what had he gotten himself into?

Holton’s receptionist, who had been discreetly dismissed with a quick wave of Gideon’s hand when she’d tried to stop the young wolf from entering earlier, was concerned about the small man’s outbursts. She trusted her boss to handle any qualms and returned to her post. As she saw them emerge in such a manner, however, she began to doubt the entire situation once more.

“Your boss is a dick!" Regan burst aloud before Gideon was able to instruct the employee properly.

Another discreet pinch yielded a gasp that earned the Alpha a small moment of silence. "Jackie, if you would be so kind as to postpone all of my meetings?" he stated calmly before motioning towards the struggling Regan with his free hand. "I seem to have found my mate."

Jackie’s face lit up at the announcement. “With pleasure, sir! Congratulations!”

For a while, it had seemed as if the twenty-eight-year-old Alpha would reach thirty before he was ever claimed by an Omega. Jackie had started to make secret plans in order to introduce Gideon to available Betas for company. But now that he’d found his true mate, she was happy for him. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her own mate’s face when she passed on the news. Linda was going to flip!

Gideon gave her a soft nod of thanks, and the two of them shared a small moment of friendly warmth, not that Regan could even see from his position over the grey-eyed Alpha's shoulder. When Holton began to walk towards the elevator, Regan couldn't resist but to bark out one last thing.

“Don’t you look at him with admiration, he’s a total dickwad!” Regan reprimanded. Though the Alpha seemed to be strong, Regan didn’t fear him. What he truly feared was his future with the stubborn older man. Was he going to force him to cook and clean? Cleaning wasn't so big a deal since he helped with the chores around the house all the time for his family. But cooking? The Gods did not bless him with a cook's hands.

On the bright side, if Regan somehow poisoned them both with his horrible cooking, he’d be put out of his misery. Right?

“We’ll be having a serious discussion about appropriate behavior when we get home,” Gideon growled as he pushed the down button on the elevator. When the doors opened, Regan reared up to peer inside. It was occupied by a distinguished older man who seemed as annoyingly burly as the caveman who was lugging Regan around as though he were one of those tiny purse dogs, not a werewolf with pride and self-respect.

"Hello, sir," Gideon said calmly as he joined the older man on the elevator. "Did you get my report on the Henderson properties? It seems like an excellent investment, and it would help their pack get themselves out of debt and moving in a better direction."

Regan’s gaze was once again drawn to the elder wolf’s stature. Damn Alphas...did they just not shrink and deteriorate with age like everyone else? He thought to himself. “You know what would be a better investment? Allowing adult Omegas to rent a bloody apartment whether they're mated or not. You'd rake in the dough then-ow!" He griped when he felt yet another pinch. "You think you're so special, but you're barely more than a brute!"

The sound of laughter drew their attention towards the oldest werewolf in the elevator. “My, Gideon. You seem to have found quite the feisty Omega. He’ll keep you on your toes,” the aged man warned. “But, he’ll also keep you feeling young and energized. You have my congratulations.”

“Thank you, sir,” Gideon said with a broad smile. “I couldn’t be happier. It was just a few minutes ago.” He patted Regan’s behind gently. “He’s a bit overstressed by everything. I’ll be sure to bring him to one of the dinners as soon as he’s settled in. I’ll be out of the office until then. I know you understand.” He shared a knowing smile with his boss, remembering stories of when the man had found his own Omega. “Jackie has everything under control. Please, feel free to contact me if there’s an emergency.”

The Omega would have had a few choice words for the two Alphas, but the way that Gideon patted his derriere was so embarrassing that he ended up blushing instead. Blushing in and of itself was an embarrassing ordeal for Regan because his fair skin broadcasted the red hue far too easily.

The elderly wolf immediately took note of it. “Oh? And he’s a blusher, too.” He commented aloud with a chuckle. He reached out to ruffle the top of Regan’s curly brown hair. “I look forward to seeing you both at one of the dinners and being properly introduced to the young one.”

The doors of the elevator opened before Regan was able to think of something cheeky to say to the old man. His mind and body kept alternating between shock and shame. Friggin old ass Alpha looking like a buff George Clooney and acting all high and mighty while giving me a tender grandpa ruffle, he thought to himself. How dare he be so reasonable about this situation?

And why did Regan sorta-kinda respect him a little? Damn Omega genes.

Gideon smiled wide as the elevator doors closed again, taking them down to the parking level beneath the building.

"If I set you down, are you going to run off like a rabbit or hide under a car?" the Alpha asked with obvious amusement. Gideon shifted Regan's slender body to hold him with strong arms supporting beneath the Omega's knees and shoulders. "I'm more than happy to continue carrying you."

For a moment, Regan instinctively pressed a hand against Gideon’s chest. Being held that way allowed for more contact between them, which made his Omega-ness rear its ugly head. That whole ‘let me plaster myself all over you’ feeling made the words that came out of his mouth all the more embarrassing. “I prefer to be carried,” Regan admitted through gritted teeth. “I’ll end up clinging to your leg or something as ridiculous if you don’t.”

The Alpha didn’t need to be told twice. His position in the company was high enough for him to have his own designated parking spot near the building. The Omega was carefully deposited into the passenger seat.

A gunmetal, electric, Aston Martin Rapide...the color was apparently called Concours Blue. He should have known that the Alpha would have such a new car. Was it even out on the market yet? Damn, but it still even smelled new. A full ten minutes passed before Regan was finally pulled out of the trance of such an enchanting car that he would never have the kind of money to buy.

“We’re here,” the Alpha suddenly announced.

What? So fast? How did...had he been drooling over the car for that long? Regan dragged a hand down his face. He should have counted his lucky stars that he had been so focused on the new-car-smell rather than the scent of his mate.

Regan's attention was reluctantly pulled from the vehicle by the building they were approaching at the end of the long, curved driveway. It was a huge red-brick Victorian covered in tall windows and delicate white wood trim. It was at least two or three times the size of the apartment building Regan's pack shared with another pack. The columned front porch stretched the entire length of the building with a carefully tended bed of flowers in front of it next to an equally immaculate yard. They drove behind to the five-car garage that was attached to the house. Gideon pulled in smoothly and pressed a button on the car's console to close the garage door behind them.

"Welcome home, Regan," Gideon said gently before stepping out of the car. Before the Omega had a chance to touch the handle, his door was open, and Gideon was offering him a hand to help him out of the car.

The younger wolf’s hand shook a bit as he placed it in the Alpha’s. The house felt like three or four houses all rolled into one to him. If the outside looked like that, then what would the inside be like? The very garage was bigger than the apartment he had been looking into renting. “So big…” he mumbled as he got out of the car. “Why is it so big?”

Gideon tugged Regan close, turning the younger man, so his back was flush with the Alpha's front. Gideon leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Regan and resting his chin on the smaller man's shoulder.

“To have room for the family we’ll someday have to fill it,” Gideon promised, his scent surrounding the Omega.

Fuck. The Omega mentally cursed at the overwhelming reaction his body had to Gideon being so close. Focus, Embers. He told himself as he tried to focus on what the Alpha said and not on the tent rising in his own pants. “Room for...family,” Regan replied. “M-makes sense then.”

“Do you like children?” Gideon asked softly, his breath tickling Regan’s ear.

“Of course I do,” Regan huffed as he struggled to fight his body’s instincts. “Maybe not right now, but I wouldn’t mind a few.”

“When the time is right, a few to start would be nice,” Gideon agreed, scooping his Omega up again and striding toward a heavy oak door carved with leaves. Even the door to the garage was fancy.

It opened into a small room with a set of scrolled wrought iron hooks along one wall with a gleaming oak cabinet beneath for boots. A long, low bench took up the opposite wall, the legs carved to resemble paws. Gideon didn't pause, continuing deeper into the house. Regan got a glimpse of a wide hall with paintings on the wall, then a wide-open space at the base of a thick wooden staircase that curved. The banister looked as though sliding down it would be an amazingly fun ride. The Alpha took the steps three at a time. They were at the top in moments and striding down a long hall with a crimson floor runner down the middle. It seemed to pass in a blur.

Then they were in a bedroom. A big one, with an equally big bed with huge carved posts. Was everything in this house carved? It was all done in warm colors of brown, amber, ocher, and burgundy that brought out the richness of the dark, shining wood of the floor and furniture. When Gideon kicked the door closed behind them, Regan’s heart banged nearly as loudly.

The Omega nervously cleared his throat. “That’s a pretty big bed...sure you didn’t have any roaring orgies when you were my age?” He teased.

“Never in that bed,” Gideon said firmly. "No one has ever or will ever share that bed with me except for you. Any furniture bearing scent or memory of past experiences will be removed at the earliest opportunity. This room, my room, I’ve never shared with another. It’s only for my mate.”

Don’t even think about swooning, Embers. Why would such a stupid, romantic sentiment make him want to swoon? No. Absolutely not. “Jeez. Sounds like you have some kind of experience racked up,” he said, instead. “Here I’ve never so much as kissed anyone except my parents on the cheek.”

Gideon’s eyes flared, then darkened to pewter as he stalked to the bed. He set Regan down on the edge then leaned forward, trapping the Omega between the powerful arms on either side of Regan. They were close, so close, and the only way to put distance between them would have Regan laying back on the bed.

“Never…that is an invitation I surely can’t resist.”

Before Regan realized it, he had somehow slammed onto his back, scampered, and wiggled away until his back was pressed against the headrest of the bed. “Wh-why so soon? Don’t I get a t-tour of the house first?” He babbled. The fact that it was his first kiss didn’t frighten him. What he feared was what the kiss would lead into and how it would affect his entire body. He was already fighting a losing war to begin with against his Omega instincts, and it was painfully obvious for anyone to see.

“There’s time to see your new home,” Gideon promised, kicking off his shoes and climbing onto the bed to crawl slowly toward the Omega. He was all muscular limbs and contained power as he stalked his mate. “Waiting to taste you, however…I find it can’t wait. Can’t you feel it, the need to consummate our bond?”

Regan's face began to glow red as it was overtaken by a blush. "Yeah, b-but…" His thoughts, along with the words coming out of his mouth, fizzled out as his amber eyes locked with darkened pewter grey.

What were they talking about, again?