(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 61: Panic? Andrew would never panic

Entering the living room still holding Maxwell’s hand, Maxwell gave it a squeeze when he felt Andrew’s pheromones wrap around him. Chuckling, Maxwell raised their hands and pressed a kiss against Andrew’s knuckles.

"You’ll be fine." He whispered. Andrew nodded, but he was still for a different reason. He’d just passed the first hurdle, now he really needed to not fuck it up. Maxwell’s blue eyes watched him as Andrew swallowed, and Maxwell gave his hand another squeeze. "I’m going to join Will and Amir outside for a smoke. You already know my Father won’t bite you, Ben? I’m not so sure yet, but he has Amir, so he should be fine." Maxwell’s whisper washed over Andrew, and it took Andrew a minute to process what he’d said.

Turning a frown down towards him, Maxwell smiled up at him.

"There you are. You’ve been doing great so far. Go impress them with your scotch knowledge." Maxwell told him softly, and Andrew felt a sigh leave his body. He did want to impress Maxwell’s family, but he also really wanted to keep that smile, and that expression for himself.

Andrew nodded, and Maxwell gave his hand one more squeeze before he released him and headed outside to be with his family to smoke. Andrew noticed that Maxwell’s Mother was talking to the remaining omega who Andrew still didn’t know the name of on the couch, while his Father and Ben were over by a hidden wooden cabinet. The door was open, and a small shelf had been rolled out. On it sat snifters and rocks glasses galore, along with several very expensive bottles of scotch and brandy.

"Ah, Dr. Knox. Did you and Maxwell have a good chat?" Andrew felt his cheeks heat as Maxwell’s Father’s teasing tone.

"I uh, have a hard time controlling my pheromones most of the time. Smelling Maxwell’s seems to help me take better control." Andrew admitted, deciding that it was better to tell almost the full truth than a lie. Ben’s eyes widened, and he glanced at his Father. His Father shrugged.

"It’s alright, Dr. Knox. You don’t have to justify yourself to us. As long as Max is happy, I don’t mind. As long as he is happy though, alright?" Ben warned, and Andrew laughed nervously.

"Of course. I would also be quite upset if he wasn’t." Andrew told them, meaning every word. If he ever found out that Maxwell wasn’t happy, it would break Andrew’s heart. That is the last thing he could ever want for the man. After all, they started out as friends, so he had no intention to wish ill will on him.

"Dr. Knox, do you like scotch?" Maxwell’s Father asked, and Andrew nodded.

"Yes. I grew a fondness for it when I went to Cambridge." The two older men smiled, and quickly, Andrew was swept into a serious conversation with them about peat and the benefits of it for some scotches and how it was a determinant to some others. Andrew was enjoying himself, but he knew the moment that Maxwell stepped back into the living room.

Turning slightly, he watched as the smaller man laughed with Ben’s partner, while Will, the other brother, pouted as he came in behind the two of them.

Maxwell, as if he was able to sense that Andrew was looking at him, turned his gaze towards him immediately. Their eyes met, and Maxwell’s warm expression softened even more. Andrew felt his face flush as he stared at the pretty man, and knew he was a goner.

His hand trembling slightly, he raised his glass to his lips, letting the scotch wash over his taste buds to distract him. It was of no help when Maxwell came over, his eyes teasing.

"What are you three drinking?" He asked, his eyes never leaving Andrew’s face. Andrew swallowed as he heard Ben speak, but he was tuning him out in favour of watching Maxwell take Andrew’s glass, with his hand still wrapped around it, and raised it to his lips. Taking a sip, he didn’t break eye contact, and Andrew’s face was on fire. Andrew had to be the one to look away, since it felt too intimate for even him in front of so many people.

Maxwell burst into laughter.

"You are just a big softie, aren’t you?" Maxwell’s arms wrapped around Andrew, and Andrew wrapped his arm around Maxwell in response, even as he was embarrassed. He took another sip from his glass, swallowing the liquor.

"You already knew that." He muttered, embarrassed, and Maxwell gave him a squeeze.

"Father, can I have a glass too?" Maxwell asked, and soon Maxwell had his own while he was tucked against Andrew who was red in the face. Ben was the one to clear his throat.

"I thought you didn’t like pda?" He suggested mildly, and Maxwell chuckled.

"Not for no reason, of course, but teasing Andrew is a good enough reason for me." Maxwell stated, his tone warm, and his eyes sparkling. Andrew was a fucking mess. He was trying to keep himself upright being around a teasing, laughing Maxwell. He worried that if Maxwell asked him to jump, he wouldn’t even ask how high. He’d just do it.

"Ah, well you need to give the man a break. I don’t think his face is supposed to be that colour for too long." Ben responded, a slight tilt to his lips that denoted he was teasing Andrew as well. Andrew wanted to groan. He was in for it if all of them ganged up on him.

"We can’t have our new son-in-law passing from a heart attack Maxwell. Save him from that at least." Maxwell’s Father pleaded, his own eyes sparkling and Andrew’s heart nearly beat out of his chest.

Son-in-law?

They thought of him as a son-in-law?

He’d breezed past the boyfriend stage and went right into marriage? They hadn’t even had to pass go and get permission? Was this permission? Did Maxwell even want to get married? They hadn’t had that conversation yet. Hell, he kinda knew the answer to that. Maxwell hadn’t said it, but he had made it pretty clear that he didn’t want to get married to anyone his family picked out.

But did that include Andrew?

Andrew was spiraling as Maxwell stepped out of his grip, stepping far enough away that only every once in a while their arms brushed.

"I can’t have that. Andrew has to remain healthy for a long time." Maxwell said, and that soothed a part of Andrew. At least, even if he didn’t want to get married, he wanted Andrew around for a while. He could live with that for now. Plus, it was too soon for them to be discussing marriage. Andrew raised his glass to his lips, taking a sip.

"So, how is prep for the wedding going?" Andrew nearly choked as the scotch went down the wrong pipe at the question. Maxwell offered comfort to Andrew as he patted his back, while Ben and the others looked on with concern.

"Are you alright, Andrew?" Ben asked, and Andrew nodded. Somehow, a glass of water appeared in his hand and Andrew gulped it down. Maxwell was laughing at him, he could feel it, but could you blame him? If anyone else had been in his mind, they would totally understand it!

"S-Sorry. Went down the wrong pipe." Andrew said, a slight smile to his lips. Ben nodded, but from the way his eyes curled up, he had a feeling that Ben was going to tease him about it later.

"It’s alright Andrew." Ben told him. Turning to his Father, he spoke. "It’s going well. We haven’t hit any roadblocks, so we’re on track for our preferred date." That interested Andrew.

"Wait, you two aren’t married yet?" Andrew asked, surprised. His throat was a little sore, but nothing that wouldn’t heal within a day or so. Ben blinked, his grip tightening on the snifter in his hand. Amir had frozen where he sat on the couch, his face paling.

"No, we aren’t." Glancing at his partner, Amir, Andrew realised he might have stepped into a landmine. Maybe they had delayed getting married for...a complicated reason? Andrew scratched behind his head, laughing nervously.

"Oh, I didn’t mean that in a bad way! You two just seem so comfortable with each other, I thought you’d already been married for years." Andrew said, and that seemed to soothe them. Ben coughed.

"We’ve been mated for a few years, but haven’t had the chance to get married. Amir’s family is a bit...strict." Ben offered, and Andrew wondered what the hell that meant. Glancing at Maxwell, Maxwell shook his head. Andrew knew better than to ignore a warning and nodded, smiling.

"Ah, well I am sorry to hear that then. I wish you two a happy union." Andrew’s words were sincere, while Ben gave him a confused look.

"Aren’t you coming to the wedding?" He asked, and Andrew furrowed his brows.

"When is the wedding?" Andrew asked in response, nervous. Ben shifted, glancing at Amir. Amir, sensing something was up, got up and came over. Ben raised his arm and Amir slotted himself against the taller man, much in the same way Maxwell had done earlier. Only Ben didn’t turn red like a tomato.

"Three weeks." Andrew’s jaw dropped.

"I, isn’t it a bit too late to invite me? Even if I am your brother’s partner?" Andrew asked, concerned, and Ben laughed.

"Andrew, one more person isn’t going to throw a wrench into our plans, especially if it’s my younger brother’s partner." Andrew glanced at Maxwell, worried, Maxwell came over and squeezed his arm.

"If he invited you, we should go. I was just going to send a present if you weren’t ready for it, and I’m sure they’ll be understanding if we have to leave early." It was basically a threat. Even if Maxwell said it softly and sweetly to Andrew, he knew a threat when he heard one.

"Of course. You’re freshly manifested. We wouldn’t want to push you. Of course, we think it would be the perfect opportunity for Andrew to get his face out there and rub it in the face of his old company, but we also don’t want to push him." Ben offered warmly, and Maxwell narrowed his eyes. Turning the look to Andrew, his eyes narrowed further.

"What did you two speak about when you were separated from everyone?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew gave a slightly nervous laugh.

"I just...I guess explained myself to him?" Andrew offered, and Ben laughed. Amir watched Ben’s expression as he did so, and Andrew sensed that their relationship was a good one. Andrew was glad that was the case, since he wasn’t so sure about his other brother’s relationship.

"He really did, Max. You don’t need to worry, he wasn’t spilling any of your secrets."