Stronger than Fate

by Dakila Reed

  "You know what?” Rustom started, patiently drawing a circle on Reece’s spine. He found Reece’s directness and jealousy rather cute. “I’ve done most of my work today. Let's do lunch and I'll tour you around and introduce you to the people I consider close. Happy?”

  * * * *

  Spending time with Reece had been the highlight of Rustom's day. There was nothing much satisfying than to have Reece walking beside him. They never did anything explicit out in the open, though the gazes they'd thrown at each other during the day might have been enough to draw out conclusions from the people who've seen them.

  After dropping Reece's travel bag into his home, he drove Reece to his favorite restaurant, explaining monumental sites and historical areas along the way. People who'd seen them together politely greeted them, throwing longer gazes and curious stares at the beautiful stranger by Rustom's side. Neither was Rustom uncomfortable showing off Reece, he even felt pleasant that his people showed natural ease around the man. That was a good sign. If somehow in the very not long and distant future, Rustom decided to finally tie the knot, then the transition would be flawless.

  After eating, he brought Reece back to the district hall where he introduced him to the employees and to his two brothers at heart James and Jules. Jules had been amicable. But James had been more distant than Rustom had expected and he took note to ask James what his problem was.

  Now, while he prepared the unused guest room in his house, Rustom found himself slightly smiling. What the hell was the jittery sensation he just felt just now? He shook his head. Marriage? Claiming? Those things would naturally come. Specially after meeting one’s fated mate, it means the search was over, and at any point in time he could finally settle. How lucky was that?

  Reece emerged from the open door. He looked around the room briefly, arms folded on his chest and then smiled at Rustom in what seemed like a very suggestive glance.

  "Do I really need to sleep here?"

  Rustom straightened with a raised brow. "Yes you do. Now be good, take a shower and rest."

  "Aww, who would have thought with that wild look of yours you're so old fashioned? Please don't tell me you really intend to get on with those blasted ceremonies before claiming me?"

  Closing in the distance between them, Rustom planted his hands on Reece's narrow waist. Brushing his lips on the man's smooth forehead, he inhaled deeply and then leaned back once more, his blood simmering in his veins.

  "I was raised not to hurry things. No matter how much attracted I am to you, we just met. I treasure you Reece, I want to. Fated mates are more than just a fuck. Right?"

  Reece stared hard and deep, his lips in an obvious pout. "You're a very weird alpha," he said before he snuggled into Rustom's neck. The tickle of his warm breath made Rustom groan.

  "You are doing this on purpose," Rustom whispered. His voice dropped so low with his blood searing on high. His hands which were innocently just resting on that narrow waist slid down, gaining a mind of their own. They palmed and squeezed the firm globes until he was massaging them in greedy kneads. The triumphant snicker and the wet tongue sliding up and down Rustom's throat sent his head reeling. "You are a fucking cock tease, babe."

  "Shower?" Reece crooned, snaking his firm arms round Rustom's neck, his fingers idly running through the short brown strands. "Together? Please?"

  "Shower. Just shower," Rustom warned but his eyes crinkled with laughter and promise. "And kissing."

  * * * *

  Reece obviously was tired. Despite him being suggestive and playful inside the bathroom, he nearly sagged and fell on the floor the moment the warm and calming spray of the shower hit his skin. Rustom laughingly shook his head, soaping Reece and attending to him like he'd never attended to anyone.

  His hands paused on Reece's throat. Well when Skye had been a sickly pup, he did his best to help looking after him and bathing and cleaning him up had been part of it. But that didn't count. There was a sensual way he knew was in the air as he soaped and rinsed Reece properly. He then wrapped the man in the soft fabric of his spare towels and carried him to the bed.

  "Sorry. I didn't know I was that tired," Reece murmured, locking his arms around Rustom's waist.

  "It's okay. Go to sleep."

  After a few seconds of patting Reece's shoulder in a steady rhythm, Rustom heard the light snore filling in the silence of his guest room. His attention darted from Reece's sleeping face to his phone he'd nearly forgotten he placed on the bedside table. He picked it up, his eyes protesting at the glare of his phone screen against the muted darkness.

  "Are we still on for the food expo tomorrow?"

  It was a text from Skye. Rustom glanced back on Reece stirring on the bed, his long lashes spread like fans over his cheeks. Rustom planted a kiss on Reece's forehead. He then ran his fingers through Reece's hair and the man fucking purred. He stared back at the glaring screen. Skye had always had his attention ever since. This time was different. There was a need to look over and watch every breath Reece made.

  Skye had always and would always be there. Reece, he just met him and was kind of even angry he only met the man now. Making up time for Reece and being with Reece, aside from his role as the supreme alpha was the current priority. He could always make it up to Skye. Soon.

  "Sorry can't tomorrow," he typed. "Let’s hang out next time?"

  Skye sent back a blank message.

  “I’ll make it up to you next time.”

  How many times had Rustom said that? Skye hauled a bundle of old books in the nursery’s stock room, the old rope tying the thing snapping. Old editions fell haphazardly around his feet. He glared at them for long but eventually he squatted and picked them one by one.

  “He doesn’t need me for his flying saucers. Doesn’t go with me to the food expo. Doesn’t even hang out anymore… so what now?" he spat as if he was picking a fight with the innocent nursery books he was stacking. "Freaking blondie waltzes in and he sees no one else?”

  By the time he noticed what he was doing, he’d already made a leaning tower of books. He scowled at his masterpiece. “Fine. Go ahead and flaunt your fated mate.” He threw the ‘fated’ word with such thickness his bitterness oozed out of it. And it didn’t help him remembering seeing Rustom all smiling and more inspired than usual. They literally were on the same pedestrian lane the other day but Rustom hadn't even noticed him. That hurt. Seriously.

  After pushing all the dusty books to the side, he started polishing the large mirror on his left. His grandma Felice loved to dance in her younger years and this room used to be her little dance studio. Now only filled with unused stuff for the nursery, slowly being buried deep in dust and neglect, Skye somehow felt bad for the fucking mirror. Maybe he should haul it out and put it where it would be able to do its purpose.

  He picked up an orange-scented cleaning spray and sprayed a generous amount to the mirror surface. He sprayed harder where his face was reflecting, annoyed and angry at his miserable mug. He wasn't some dumped lover but he felt sure as one. He gritted his teeth and began scrubbing with vigor.

  Wiping a bead of sweat threatening to drip into his eye, Skye wiped it with the sleeve of his shirt. He looked up the ceiling and rolled his eyes. Of course the damn ceiling fan would choose to be stubborn now of all days when he decided to clean this place. It was blistering hot despite pushing all the windows open and the fan just stopped freaking turning. Great. His mood was going along just fine with the weather. Getting immensely annoyed by the strands of hair falling over his eyes, he looked around and found no rubber band. With no choice, he settled for the thin rope which snapped earlier and looped it on the top portion of his hair. He ignored his ridiculous reflection and went back to work.

  “You always have something interesting going on your head.”

  Skye froze for a brief fraction of moment. His gaze meeting Rustom’s through the mirror. And as if that wasn’t enough to convince Skye that Rustom was really there behind him, he looked over his sho
ulder, the rag he was holding long since forgotten.

  He didn’t know but the relief as he realized he wasn’t hallucinating was so strong he felt drowning.

  “Rustom. What are you doing here? It’s Saturday…”

  “The hell kind of question is that?” Rustom beamed, arms crossed over his broad chest. “I wanna see what you’re up to of course.”

  Leaving his spot by the doorway, Rustom motioned for the scattered boxes. “Where do I put this?”

  “Huh?” Shit. Pull your self together! he admonished. But he couldn’t help it. After all, the week not entirely being in Rustom’s presence felt like a damned, barren year. “Uh… Just stock them up neatly to that corner.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Skye watched Rustom roll his dark long sleeves. Without care, the man bent and carried those boxes that Skye remembered felt like weighed a ton. The alpha's arms bulged and relaxed with every haul of those boxes. His scent Skye missed so bad he just stood there like an idiot inhaling his drug.

  “So… do you have plans today?”

  “P-plans?” Goddamnit. On top of being jittery, he’d become inarticulate. “I don’t have any I could think of.”

  Rustom glanced over his shoulder and looked pleased. “Now you have one. I booked a table at that new bar and food joint in Trece Point for dinner. I heard they serve great chickens.”

  Skye’s lips started relaxing into a smile. This felt like the usual. This was their routine. This was his simple yet delightful normalcy with Rustom. Skye wanted so bad to hide his goofy, happy grin so he looked down, fishing his phone out of his jeans. “I’ll text Jules and James.”

  “No need. I already informed them.”

  Skye lowered his phone, his heart slamming in his ribcage. “Oh. Okay you came prepared. What brought this suddenly?”

  “What? Is hanging out with you lot something to have a reason first?”

  “Uhm…”

  “Besides, I haven’t introduced you properly to Reece. That would be a good starting point. I’m sure you two would get along.”

  "Excuse me?"

  Rustom rubbed his hands together, fending off the dust. "James and Jules already met Reece. But I haven't introduced the both of you yet. That can't go on."

  "What— huh?"

  "Reece is very interesting. You two should hang out over food and might even be..."

  Rustom was still talking, but everything around Skye had grown quiet. Even when the rustic ceiling fan decided to make an outstanding appearance again, he heard nothing. It was this siphoning force that sucked all the nice noises, the warming smiles he’d just been basking under a few seconds ago.

  Add more salt to the wound and the man Rustom was talking about so pridefully and animatedly appeared by the doorway, hurrying to nudge over Rustom’s shoulder.

  “Heya.”

  Rustom planted a very gentle kiss on the side of the blondie’s head as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. Really great.

  “Sorry, I was having a great time at the little playground. Everything here is so small. It’s cute.”

  Rustom smiled. “Well this is a nursery. ‘Course everything will be small.”

  Skye felt a surge of panic when the green eyes darted to him. Those green eyes were… indeed beautiful. No wonder Rustom was so lost in them.

  “You must be Skye?"

  He nodded, suddenly remembering how sweaty, how dirty and how unpresentable he was at the moment, compared to the ethereal-like presence looking at him.

  Reece sauntered towards him in a natural confident stride. Reece extended a hand and Skye paused wondering if he should wash his hands first. His hands looked… dirty and grimy. Reece grabbed his hand in a firm shake nevertheless. The blond’s smile was so perfect Skye forced himself to smile back. He tried and managed somehow, even when all he wanted was to get out and just throw a pity-party. He’d never felt so ugly, small and useless until now.

  “Reece Alkia from Sierra Gena. Nice meeting you Skye...?"

  Skye mentally slapped himself. He could show some manners. He was better than this. "Skye Runnel. Nice meeting you too."

  Withdrawing his hand from Skye's, Reece beamed, his knowing gaze felt scalding on Skye's skin as though this guy could read him perfectly. "I heard you’re close with my Alpha. Let me in on the secret tidbits okay?”

  Skye’s mouth went dry. ‘My Alpha’? His temples were staring to pound.

  Reece stepped back and once more threw a once over to the stock room. “I noticed you have tons of old nursery books around here?”

  “Uh… yeah. We just received the new editions so…”

  “Why don’t you start including tablets for the children? Cheaper that way, convenient too. All levels in Sierra Gena are using tablets nowadays.”

  “Uh,” Skye looked at the books and back at Reece. “They’re kids. They have to experience real—”

  Reece turned around and faced Rustom. He circled his arms around Rustom’s neck and whispered something that made Rustom smile. A loving smile. An adoring smile. Like Reece was the breath of the very life itself. Like Reece was the only person there in the stock room.

  “So… Skye, don’t forget. Seven later?” Rustom said, almost like he just remembered there was a sodding person there other than themselves. “I will show Reece the hot springs first so we’ll all meet at Trece Point.”

  Skye nodded albeit unwillingly.

  When the night came about, he moved like a mindless and programmed marionette. He joined the group he considered his family with the new addition of a blinding, beautiful omega to the circle. Skye couldn't remember much about that dinner. Except he'd eaten so much without tasting them, heard a lot without a word registering, and smiled a lot without a meager drop of happiness at all.

  * * * *

  He couldn’t even remember taking a sip of alcohol but when he awoken the next day, Skye had a bloody headache piercing him through and through. His temples were pounding, the center of his skull as if being split open by a rustic chainsaw.

  He winced at the cheery Tuesday morning. He tried his best to smile back at the old couple taking their morning stroll. He helped a pregnant omega carry all her groceries until they reached her porch. By nine Skye was mostly drained and his painful chest, together with his painful head made a symphony of ache he shivered. He wasn't in the mood for the tiny yellow butterfly that fluttered around him. It followed him relentlessly until he had to gape at the wrought iron gates as if it was the first time he was seeing the nursery.

  Jaws hanging open, he saw a delivery truck from an online shopping company dropping boxes and boxes of... Skye squinted. His head protested being used for reading. But that wouldn't do. He closed the distance from the side of the street to the truck itself with huge strides. He nearly toppled from stepping onto his loose shoe lace.

  "What the fucking hell..." he hissed under his breath, bending to tie his shoe with his eyes still following two men in matching black and white overalls. They finished carrying the last boxes into the nursery's porch with satisfied smiles on their faces for a job well done.

  Skye threw a fast gaze to the porch where Mandie was, half-surprised and obviously half-thrilled to what she was seeing. Lots and lots of expensive and popular high-end tablets.

  "Excuse me!" Skye called, ignoring his damned shoe lace. He ran after the much shorter one between the two delivery men.

  Beady but kind eyes turned to Skye. "Yes?"

  "Those tablets, who sent them?"

  The man with his never faltering smile looked down at his phone, swiped and tapped a few times and pulled out a name. He obligingly showed the record.

  "Reece Alkia?" Skye read aloud. "B-but, we don't need these... we didn't order—"

  "If you have more inquiries, we left the delivery documents with Ms Mandie over there."

  After his practiced spill which he must have said a million times in his life already, he bowed politely at Skye before hopping into the delivery truck. A few seconds
later, Skye was as confused as before as he watched the vehicle grow smaller from his sight.

  He shook his head and trudged to the nursery with his nerves and muscles shaking. He didn't know why but he felt angry. Very very much.

  "What am I gonna do with these?" Mandie asked as her greeting. "The kids would go insane. This is the model all of them are raving about."

  "No," Skye replied he could hear his rigidness in it. "We're not distributing these... these crap to the kids."

  "But the papers," Mandie frowned at the documents she was given. "It says here Mr Reece Alkia wants us 'to have these for the betterment of our vision and mission'. Wow. Isn't he that gorgeous man Supreme Alpha is with recently? He from some rich conglomerate or something?"

  He angrily turned around ignoring Mandie for the first time in his life. He couldn't hear anything, hell he couldn't feel anything under his feet but he kept on walking. His pounding head was gone, but within his veins his searing utter annoyance was coursing a hundred miles per minute. He balled his fists as he glared at the boxed devices boasting about its specs one more time, and then he ran.

  * * * *

  When he pushed open the door, Rustom had just tossed his coat to the arm rest of his swivel chair, getting ready for another work day in the office. He glanced over his shoulder in acknowledgment as if he'd known Skye was coming. Of course he'd know. He'd probably scented Skye's anger through the air.

  Rustom smiled in that smile that Skye was increasingly finding to be annoying these past few days.

  "Skye. Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the nursery?"

  "Yeah. That's why I'm here." Skye walked right before Rustom's table without hiding the storm of ugly emotions in him. His eyes boring at Rustom's golden pair. "Tell Reece we don't need those tablets."

  There was a bit of a shock on Rustom's face before he exhaled. "So he really did go along with his plan."