*Axel*
As soon as I walked through the door, I knew something was wrong. The back of my neck started to itch and burn with a sense of uneasiness and fear. I instantly knew it wasn't me that was feeling this way. I felt the pheromones more than I could smell them. And rage was sent through me as I ignore people trying to get my attention as I rush through the area, my instincts guiding me where I needed to go.
When I reached the living room my blood went near boiling when I saw my mate looking terrified at some stranger I had never seen before, who was wearing a Siamese grin on his twisted face, leaning to damn close to him. I didn't bother to think beyond that point. I marched right up to him just in time to hear him finish saying,
"Now that's interesting." In a sleezy kind of way.
My fist connected to his jaw so hard that he went flying through my sliding glass door, shattering it to pieces. I don't heed the people around us or the fact the party was in full swing. I couldn't see anything beyond the fact that this perverted slime ball was making Tristan very uncomfortable.
"Who the fuck do you think you are immersing your filthy pheromones on my Omega." I growl with such anger and hate that I couldn't rein it in even if I wanted too.
It was also taking everything within me to keep my own pheromones in check. I knew they were strong, and there were other Omegas and Alphas present. While this jackass didn't seem to care that he was affecting others with his stench, I did.
I stare down at the bastard as he slowly picks himself up in a sitting position rubbing his jaw, blood dripping from his mouth. I was ready to pound him into the ground if he wanted an ass whooping but before I could take another step, soft warm hands touch my skin, instantly calming me down. Not enough to appease my anger, but enough to get the fog lifted from my brain and focus on the boy beside me.
"Axel." His tone was light and gentle but held a bit of warning too.
Suddenly my entire attention was on him and him alone. I clasp my hands on his cheeks frowning with worry that he looked paler than usual, and sweat had beaded his skin. He was trembling with his eyes a bit wild from the fear that he just endured. But when our skin connected it was like my strength was pulled into him and I could physically and emotionally feel him relaxing in my embrace.
Grabbing my wrists with his hands he gives a relieved sigh. Closing his eyes, he rubs his face further into my palms like my touch alone could bring him peace. I pull my body closer to him, resting my forehead against his, releasing a sigh of my own.
"What the hell happened?!" Sia slams up on the wooden porch of the patio looking down at the man that was now starting to get up.
He ignores the man and instantly comes to Tristan's side. "Did he mess with you?" He demands, not even bothering to look in my direction.
I didn't mind since my focus has gone back to the asshole that was somehow invited into my home. I was bracing myself for any ongoing attack he may do as he stares me down. I move in front of them staring him down right back when we all hear,
"Bret?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Cameron comes outside from behind us looking pissed and confused as all hell.
"Hey, Cam. Just thought I would drop by and say hi." He said awkwardly as he continues to rub his jaw.
He winces when he pulls out a piece of glass from his upper shoulder. Now that I could get a good look at him, he was partially covered in cuts from the blasting through the glass. I didn't feel guilty one bit. But the fact that the two of them knew each other sent annoyance through me. Was Cameron aware the fucking prick was a douche?
"Did you invite him?" I demanded in a hard tone, looking right at Cameron who wouldn't take his eyes from Bret.
"Absolutely not! I don't even know how the fuck you knew about this event. Did you fucking follow me?" He sounded a bit spooked by that revelation causing my insides to go on alarm.
I wasn't the only one as Sia looks a bit concerned and his pheromones began to seep out with the feeling of defense and warning to whoever came near him. He was getting ready to fight if needed.
Bret wipes his lips and spits out the blood that kept pooling in his mouth. "Geeze Cam, I'm over here bleeding and getting bullied on and all you care about is whether I followed you or not? That's a bit heartless don't you think?"
"Young man, if you weren't specifically invited than its best that you leave and get those injuries checked out. Then be on your way back to wherever you live." Mrs. Nigel walks up slowly in front of us all with a very stern look on her face.
Timothy quickly comes to his mother's aide, hiding both Cameron and Tristan from the man's view, who gave a scowl on his face for only a split second before he covered it with a false smile and a chuckle.
"I'm not here to start any trouble. I just wanted to talk to you since you keep ignoring my calls and texts-"
"With good reason." Cameron interjects quickly.
The man sighs heavily when he sees he's outnumbered. Pulling his hands up in defeat he says, "Alright, I get the hint, I'll leave. But I just want to talk to you for only a few minutes and then I swear I'm gone." He looks right at Cameron and something about him gave me bad vibes.
Maybe he was an ex-lover or something. It could explain the hostility between the two of them and the refusal that Cameron wanted anything to do with him. But it still doesn't excuse the fact that he was rubbing his nasty smell all over my mate.
Cameron didn't look comfortable doing that and he looked around realizing all the attention we were all getting. I was starting to get angry again. I know he didn't mean for this to happen, but he needed to get this situation handled and soon.
"Talk to him or don't talk to him, I don't care. Just get him out off my property." I almost growl again but held myself back since this was Tristan's best friend after all.
I take my mate's hand and steer him the hell away from that guy and back inside the house. He allows me to pull him after me and he doesn't say anything as I do. Once we get into the kitchen, he immediately goes straight for the broom closet and starts taking out the broom and dustpan.
"What are you doing?" I ask him with confusion swirling in me.
"We can't just let the glass stay there on the ground out there. People could get hurt; besides we need to get rid of any glass that's still stuck in the door frame. What if someone accidently grabs the frame and gets cut in the process?" He says as he shuts the door.
Watching him I instantly became angry free. Here he was, the one who had got assaulted and all he was thinking about was the guests and their wellbeing. I couldn't help marching up to him and kissing him right there in the center of all these people who were dressed in catering clothes doing whatever it was they were doing. I completely ignore them as I gather him in my arms and kiss the living shit out of him.
Once I release his lips he was truly and utterly jellified in my arms and so dazed out that pride swells in my chest that I had that effect on him. Slowly putting him back down on the ground, since I lifted him up, he was so tiny, I let him go carefully making sure he had his balance.
"Don't worry about it. I'll pick up the mess since I was the one that created it." I tell him softly and take the broom and dustpan from him.
All he could do was nod and watch me leave the room. As soon as I reach the archway to go into the dining room, I stop short just as Cameron passes me with that jerkwad Bret following after him. I stare him down with such venom I watch him swallow hard and avert his eyes. But the fact was I didn't like thinking that him and Cameron were going to be alone. Didn't matter if there were dozens of people here, nor the fact that it might only be for a few minutes.
But I told Tristan I would pick up the mess I made. I stood there debating a bit until I see Sia across the room heading in their direction with a scowl on his face. He beelines to the front door but he doesn't leave out of it. Instead he stands there at the side window and watches with his arms crossed over his chest.
Guess he had been thinking the same thing. A little relieved to see Cameron was in good hands I head for the backyard where I also needed to apologize to my guests. When Cameron had asked for my permission on the party for Tristan I had no problem for it, but I wasn't planning on seeing so many people here.
If the mayor was here, then more than likely Cameron had shopped in town and curious eyes and ears followed him. And they either sweetly bullied him for an invitation or went right out and invited themselves and he didn't have the heart to tell them no. I bet on the latter that's exactly what had happened.
And they witnessed drama out of it.
Sighing heavily, I head for the unwanted badgering of curious questions and gossip of what had just happened and why. I loved this town, but sometimes they were a bit much. I just wanted to enjoy my love's birthday, quietly.
Just as I reached the porch, I stopped cold fully realizing what I just thought at that moment about Tristan. I just thought of him as my love. And I didn't bat an eye or hesitated on it either. It came out so easily because it was true.
He was my love because...I love him.
And I also realized that I never told him.
Tonight. I'll definitely tell him tonight.
