(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 40: Confronting the fears

"Do you...feel better?" Andrew asked Maxwell after his tears had dried. Maxwell didn’t say anything, didn’t even nod, but Andrew saw his ears go pink. Holding back a smile, Andrew patted his back soothingly. What else could he do? He knew that the man wasn’t going to own up to it. Maxwell was a stubborn guy. He was pretty sure he hadn’t even cried when Andrew came back after he’d been gone.

Andrew wasn’t bitter about that. How could he be? The man had offered his body to him as soon as it became obvious to him that something was wrong with Andrew. If he hadn’t cried, that was fine. He obviously still cared about him. That was why it was so surprising that he had cried now.

Maxwell finally raised his head, and Andrew’s eyes went wide with how swollen his eyes were. He looked puffy and pink, like a peach, and Andrew had to fight a smile. It wasn’t appropriate to say he was cute. Not given how serious the situation was, and he knew that Maxwell would be pissed. Instead, Andrew rubbed the spot under his left eye, and Maxwell winced. He sniffed, still frowning, and Andrew softened.

"Do you need a hug?" Andrew asked, and without hesitation, Maxwell opened his arms. Andrew wrapped his arms around him, burying his head into his shoulder, trying to hug away the pain he had caused him. He wasn’t sure how well he could do it, but he wanted to bring comfort to this man who so willingly offered Andrew comfort in whatever he needed.

After some time, Maxwell sniffed, and fought against his hold. Hesitant to release him, but knowing that he had to, Andrew let the man go. Maxwell wiped at his face with the back of his hand before pulling himself together. Andrew said nothing about how puffy his eyes still were, since there was nothing he could do, and he also didn’t want to worry Maxwell. Maybe it was a good thing he cried a lot. His body wasn’t as shocked when he did it.

"We should leave. You need to get home." Andrew said nothing to Maxwell’s slightly raspy voice. He needed to get home? Sure, he’d agree to that. But Maxwell also needed to get home. If anyone else saw this soft, fairy-like creature, Andrew knew he’d have to chase them away with his fists. Andrew wasn’t much of a fighter, so that would be difficult.

Maxwell got up first, still sniffing, before offering his hand to Andrew. Andrew smiled, taking his hand, and nearly pulled Maxwell on top of him as his legs didn’t support him. He was able to prevent Maxwell from falling, and it took him several more attempts to get to his feet.

Maxwell’s already pale face was even worse. He looked sick as he watched Andrew try to walk. Andrew had a feeling that Maxwell was actively spiraling because his legs were taking a moment to wake up, but it wasn’t a big deal. Just a few extra minutes.

When the two of them did leave the change room, the security guards were waiting outside. The three of them opened their mouths to speak, but froze at the state of the two of them. Maxwell’s slightly puffy and red face, and Andrew’s slow, slightly painful walk.

"Uh, shall we go?" The one who had to be in charge asked, and Maxwell nodded. "We’ve already spoken to the owners of the gym, informing them it wasn’t anything too unusual. Just that Dr. Knox had gone through a manifestation later in life, which is what set off his reaction. They were very understanding, since their daughter had gone through one recently as well." Andrew nodded, while Maxwell said nothing.

Maxwell had taken Andrew’s hand in his and was refusing to let it go. If it was under any other circumstances, Andrew would be kicking and screaming about how adorable his partner was. His boyfriend. But since Maxwell was ready to carve him while sobbing, he had to keep it in.

The three guards led them out of the building, a tight circle around them. Andrew felt embarrassed, but smiled at everyone as he passed, including the two people who had set him off. The smaller of them, the omega, looked horrified, while the alpha was trying to keep it together. Andrew wanted to comfort them, but had no idea how he could. Especially since their smell made his stomach roll, and Maxwell was ready to fight them the moment he saw them.

Tightening his grip on Maxwell’s hand, Andrew forced the both of them to walk past them. It felt like he was controlling a tiny, vicious animal, like a cat or something. On a leash. His hand seemed to work, but he knew that the two of them knew that they had fucked up. Andrew didn’t know it, but it was not polite to flaunt your rut or heat pheromones like they had done, and his reaction was a good lesson for them.

Andrew actually didn’t really remember how long it took them to get back to Maxwell’s house. It felt like one moment, they were holding the door for him as he left the gym, and the next, he was walking into a trap. A trap that was set by Michael, who seemed legitimately pissed.

Michael stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the front door. He had his arms crossed, and a deep, deep frown on his face. His eyes were dark, his expression was dark, and when Andrew looked at everything laid out on the couch and table, he paled. He was in true, deep, shit.

"I tried to be forgiving and understanding. I tried giving you space. I know you have a tendency to bottle everything until you’ve processed it, but this? This is too much. You’re a fucking idiot." Andrew winced. "Andrew fucking Knox. If you ever pull this shit again, I’m sending you to a hospital where they will monitor you until you’ll want to be anywhere else." His gaze was scathing. "You are going to therapy, there is no way out of it, and if Mr. Beckett complains, I’m not going to fucking listen. There is no other way you are going to get over this, or get through this without help." The front door closed behind them, and Andrew stood in shock.

"M-Michael, isn’t this-" Maxwell tightened his grip until bruising on Andrew’s hand.

"I fully agree with Dr. Smith." Andrew froze.

"W-What? But I don’t need to go to therapy." The two men who knew him best stared at him.

"Andrew, I found where you stashed the informational brochures from Dr. Smith. You clearly haven’t read them." Andrew winced.

"I have all the time in the world to read them." Andrew said casually, trying to brush it off.

"No, you don’t." Michael’s tone was harsh, and Andrew turned towards him. "Unlike others who have had time to adjust, even if slowly, to their new environments, you are not the same. Your body didn’t want what happened to you, so much so that you went about pretending that it didn’t happen. You need to face the music, Andrew. You are an alpha now. And that means your life is going to change. If you don’t realise that it has, you could die. Today was an example of that. If you fight your body too much, it will fight back." Andrew snorted, waving his free hand.

"This? This isn’t-" His usual dismissal caught in his throat when he met Maxwell’s gaze. His eyes were still puffy, and he looked like he was on the edge. If Andrew continued his sentence, he wasn’t sure which part of him was going to be in danger. "Ha ha." He finished lamely, and he swore he saw Michael’s lip twitch, but he remained stoic. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"It wouldn’t be wise to continue your statement, Andrew." Michael warned, which Andrew was glad he had picked up on Maxwell’s energy without his warning.

"L-Look. This was just a minor blimp. I’ll be fine. I don’t need to go to therapy." Maxwell’s grip tightened on his hand, and Michael’s face hardened further.

"Andrew, say it." He blinked.

"Say what?" He asked.

"Say out loud that you are an alpha." Andrew froze.

"W-Why is that important?" Andrew asked, trying to sound like he was laughing, and easy going. Maxwell knew he was shaking.

"Say it out loud, Andrew. Admit it. You are an alpha." Michael’s words were harsh, and anyone else would have said he was being cruel. But Michael didn’t budge. Andrew needed to say this out loud, or this shit was going to happen again.

Unfortunately for Michael, he’d seen it happen to other betas who had manifested late and had never accepted the change. He did not want to see that happen to Andrew.

Andrew began to sweat, and he wanted to shake off Maxwell’s hand. He tried to, in fact, but Maxwell held on.

"Say it, Andrew." Maxwell encouraged, and Andrew felt his betrayal like a blow. How could Maxwell turn against him like this? They had had a good moment earlier. Sure, it was filled with heartache, but it had been a good moment. How could Maxwell hurt him this way?