I pressed on the doorbell and waited patiently before the door opened and I stared at Azrael with an innocent look. He had a cigarette in his mouth and had his reading glasses; he looked back into the house then stared at me.
“What do you want, brat?” Azrael asked as he exhaled smoke from his mouth. “We weren’t to meet today.”
“I know, I know, but I didn’t come here as your editor. I came here as just Leslie and I brought drinks.” I said as I raised the bag in my hands. “I can’t take alcohol because of low tolerance, but everyone loves soda, and I also picked up some yogurts if you didn’t like it and bought two cans of beer with a minimum percentage.”
“Why are you doing this?” Azrael asked.
“I want to be your friend.” I whispered as I took a bold step towards him. “I sincerely want to get closer to you, Azrael.”
Azrael stared at me as I waited patiently in silence before he walked in with the door open, and I smiled and followed suit, closing the door behind me before it locked.
It surprised me. The house was cleaner than whenever I came around except for the empty bottle of vodka that was placed on the table.
“It seems like you cleaned up.” I said as I dropped the drinks on the table.
“Just shut up and sit down.” Azrael said, as I flushed before I sat down on the couch.
The apartment had a different light now that I took the time to appreciate it instead of cleaning. It must cost a lot to even afford a bedroom and Azrael bought a three bedroom. I’ve been to two of the rooms, but he always has the last one locked.
I flinched when I felt something cold against my cheek and I stared at the bottled water, then at Azrael, before I collected it.
Azrael walked to the chair opposite mine and sat down before my eyes went down to the novels and magazines scattered on the floor at his feet.
“What are you reading?” I asked, and he raised the book.
“I was doing a comprehensive study on some psychological disorder.”
“Is that what you do all day? Drink, eat, sleep, read, and…” I fidgeted when I thought about the other thing before he scoffed and took off his glasses.
“What do you take me for? A troglodyte?” Azrael asked as he put out the cigarette in his mouth.
“Then what do you do?”
“Things that children shouldn’t know about.”
“I’m twenty-six.”
“Yep, still a child. Married men should focus on their family.” Azrael said as he leaned against the couch. He was just five years older, and he was acting like an old man.
“Now that we’re friends-”
“We’re not friends. I couldn’t say no to free beer.” Azrael said as I pouted.
“Now that we’ve been in each other’s presence for seven minutes without fighting; could you tell me what you have against people in the LGBTQ+ community?” I asked as he rubbed his stomach and took a can of soda and popped it open.
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“Then what about omegas?” I asked with a serious expression before he stopped midway in his drink.
Azrael dropped the can and headed to the kitchen. He came out minutes later with a bottle of whisky and a cup before he mixed it with his soda. I watched as Azrael gulped it quickly before he slapped half of his face.
“Nothing.” Azrael replied.
“You can’t keep on avoiding the question with vague answers! You said that we’re not friends, but I can’t be your friend if you don’t tell me why you hate me! All friendships are built on communication.”
“You’re getting on my nerve, you idiotic fag! Stupid omega!” Azrael said as he poured himself a drink.
I grabbed the bottle and toppled the drink in the cup the moment he dropped the bottle before I stood up with Azrael’s eyes fiercely glaring at me.
“Give me my drink Leslie” Azrael said as the colour of his eyes changed from the soothe green to a dangerous red.
Things were becoming dangerous now that he was enhancing his dominant genes since it was only dominant species that could change their eye colours like me, but the voice in my head was louder than the warning waves from my brain.
“The little I know about you, Azrael, is that you’re mad at someone and you’re directing that anger at omegas. If you just told me, maybe we could-”
The bottle slipped from my hand and broke when Azrael caught my wrist. I didn’t even see him move; he was too fast and quiet for me to even notice.
“Don’t talk to me about understanding me! You know absolutely nothing!” Azrael screamed, as he slammed me harshly against the wall and blocked my path with his body.
I breathed hard as Azrael glared at me from his height, his disturbing alcoholic breath meeting my candy flavoured and grazing my lips.
“I won’t know anything unless you tell me.” My voice felt weak as I tried to push him away. “We differ a lot, but I know I can justify your anger as your fan, editor, and your friend.”
“If you want to justify it, then leave Leslie.”
Leslie is my name, but hearing Azrael call me by name instead of degradative words I was familiar with made me feel strange… It made me angry and sad.
Why? Why is it him?
“I’m stubborn, Azrael, more stubborn than you think!”
I felt his hands, sweatier than usual and warmer underneath my chin before I stood petrified when Azrael kissed me.
The feeling of facial hair roughly brushing against my skin, heated lips crudely kissed me and hands that held me arms and shoulder pinned to the wall but that didn’t bother me as much as the thought that I was leaning towards him while struggling with myself that this was wrong.
Why is it him? Why did it have to be him?
Tears escaped my eyes as Azrael stopped before his eyes changed back to normal. He looked horrified, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was crying or the fact that he kissed me.
“Leslie…”
“I wish I never met you.” I said before I ran away from his apartment.
I was mad at myself. I should have hit him and be satisfied, but I couldn’t deny the fact that what I felt in there — what happened, didn’t happen.
Azrael was my alpha. If he had excited his gene and I wasn’t heavily doused on suppressants, we would have known the moment we met.
Ben can never find out, or I’m afraid he’ll leave me.
I took time off work for two weeks, but it was time for me to return. I still don’t know how to face Azrael, but I was hoping things would work out and even if the relationship between us was a complicated one; it didn’t change the way I felt about him… He annoyed me to death.
I unlocked the door and stepped in; but Azrael was nowhere to be seen. I walked in searching for him until I saw the room; he locked was open.
I peeped and saw Azrael, head tousled, on the table, before I stepped in and noticed some papers with words highlighted and written words on his laptop.
Finally, he decided to start writing again, and I felt relieved after seeing that I didn’t damage his creativity process.
I didn’t want to wake him up, especially since he looked tired before I looked around in the room. The room was extremely neat, empty, with a bed in the corner and a few paintings on the wall and his table.
I was going to leave until I saw a box by the corner of the bed. There were a few pictures littered, and I didn’t want Azrael to know I was in this room, but I stopped when I saw a picture at my feet.
I picked it up and turned to the front before I stared at the image in disbelief.
The person in the picture was certainly an omega… An albino omega like me. His side bangs were longer, and he cut the back of his hair short with green eyes. He smiled brightly with that innocent face that had an erotic appeal.
A lot of possibilities ran through my head on who this omega was because he looked familiar, but I was certain of one thing… This omega was the reason Azrael hated omegas, especially males.
Azrael The vibrations from my phone woke me from the long-awaited sleep. I frowned as I picked up my phone before I saw Reina as the caller ID. I knew exactly why she was calling, so I dropped my phone before something fell from my body; a blanket. I stared at it and picked it up as I tried hard to remember when I took the time to pick it up before the scent of hot food from the kitchen wafted in. It couldn’t be. I thought as I rushed out of my chair to the kitchen. I barged in and stared at Leslie, who was tasting the stew in the cooking spoon before he turned back and smiled at me. “Oh, you’re awake and right on time. Dinner is ready.” Leslie said as he dropped the spoon aside and picked up a few plates. “I told Ben I wouldn’t be heading home late since I’m having dinn
LeslieI was returning home from the office. I was happy heading home early since today was one of those days I refrained from Azrael’s place and prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner.I suggested to him a few times to buy an AI with culinary skills, but Azrael remains the traditional person he is. I suggested a housekeeper, but most of them were elderly people and he would be stuck doing the keeping than kept.I praised the excuses he gave because he enjoyed teasing me, after all, we are now on good terms. Also, he is unaware I am his fated pair, and I’d like to keep it that way.The chances of finding a fated pair were less than a percent and for the few who did, it was difficult for them to be together due to age or marital status, but when they did; it was a love that lasted till death, and their children were usually born of far more excellent genes.I was about to open th
“I’m sorry for how I acted yesterday. It was rude and inappropriate.” I apologized with my head lowered to my team members.“It’s alright. Once in a while, we need you to put us in our place.” Sven said as my brows softened.“I was damn tired of you being too nice or the management and authors would eat you alive.” Jade said as everyone laughed.Reina placed her hand on my shoulder and I stood upright before she smiled at me and raised a chart in her hand.“It’s great to have you back Leslie.” Reina said before I smiled brightly.“Likewise.”The mood in the office was far lighter than the normal that I was familiar with, but I was glad. There was no hard feeling or resentment against me, especially since my team was used to getting complaints from the other staff.“I’m heading out.” I said after I helped Ash process a request for his author since I only had one author t
I held two tickets to an event to an amusement event and sighed when I remembered the words of Uncle Bob.“Leslie!” Bob shouted from the door of our office loudly.“Am I in trouble?” I whispered to Jace, who looked at Bob and shrugged.“He seems excited.” Jace whispered before I heard my name over a megaphone this time.“Leslie Campbell!” Uncle Bob shouted as I stood up. “Outside! Now!” He screamed as everyone covered their ears before his secretary snatched the megaphone and glared at Bob.“Sir, I would appreciate it if you acted appropriately.” Sawyer, his calm and cold secretary, said as Bob smiled and tapped his shoulders.“Sorry love. Leslie now.” Uncle Bob said as I followed suit immediately with Sawyer maintaining a distance that gave us enough privacy.“Is there anything I can do for you, sir?” Before Uncle Bob placed his hand inside his suit, I asked, and he ha
AzraelI was mad, and I was mad for a good reason.“Hoy kid.” I said, as Leslie smiled awkwardly.“I just remembered that I have this thing to do for Reina at the office. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Leslie said, while avoiding my gaze before he left.Strange.“Omega, I need…” He replied by shutting the door with a text message a few minutes later.Another excuse.This went on many times. When we meet, he had something to do; if we had to be around each other, he avoided my gaze and maintained space with his eyes stealing gazes occasionally when he assumes, I’m unaware.I grabbed the cup and chugged the drink before placing it on the table and pouring myself another one.“It’s one of those days.” Mike said as he exhaled smoke. “What crawled out of your pants?”“What’s that supposed to mean? Mitsuki isn’t someone to be in a
LeslieI focused on editing an author under my team’s management work when I heard a loud ruckus. I was startled at the noise and peeked to understand what was happening.“I have great news, everyone. To celebrate our new employee and making another successful book by author R. K Rowling under our editor Jade Lee; the management has rewarded us with a team picnic with all the authors we handle.” Reina said like she had just won the lottery and it shocked me how everyone banged their table in excitement.“Hey Sven, what’s so special about a picnic?” I whispered, as Sven moved closer.“Any picnic hosted by the company always has prize money. Depending on the game, the prize varies. Team B won one grand for category editor-author leg race. Reina won a new car from an eating contest.” He replied as I stared at him in shock.“Is the management really okay?” I asked, and he nodded.“You
They said it was going to be our team, authors and one invite; an approximate of thirty people, but here we were in a perfect and large private outdoor space with a few board members and their dates.The editors I've assisted introduced me to the other authors. They were super friendly, shocked that an omega like me was the one who improved their work, but friendly in summary as we exchanged names and business cards.I haven’t spoken to Ben since he left and I was going to block him if he tried to call to make any excuse other than where and how he’d get to me. Azrael also wasn’t here, but everybody expected the same from him.“Are you enjoying yourself our little Leslie?” Uncle Bob asked as I stared at the jovial mood at the party. It was colourful and everyone you could never imagine in anything casual was very casual.“Yes, I am. Thank you for honouring our team with this reward.”“Thank you for making us number one. I was hoping you’d be here with your partner. I wanted to see the
I introduced Ben to the rest of the team and they were loving him, but the bonding had to be placed on hold because the event was about to start.The first game was a sack race and though the reward was a plushie, it was fun to see everyone give their all, including uncle Bob. Pictures were taken, winners declared, and the cheers only got louder when it was a dramatic athlete.“The three-legged category will soon begin.” The announcer said as Ben locked our fingers.“We should see if we can sign up for that.” Ben suggested before Azrael appeared.“Sorry to ruin your honeymoon with your husband, but I need the shrimp to take part; we are a team.” Azrael informed Ben from behind us as he wrapped his arm around his neck.Ben clearly didn’t like it, but the moment I held his hand, he smiled before he patted my hair“I’ll be cheering from the side-lines. Remember, don’t overwork yoursel