Father rolled his eyes. “So you and this man have been conversing, and now you’re in love?”
“You say it like it’s impossible.”
“It is!”
Zeller shook his head. “I’ve had a connection with him since the beginning. At first, it was just friendly. Someone my age to talk to—”
“What could you possibly have in common? He’s alaborer.”
“Yes, he works for a living. And his skill has benefited all of us. You’ve seen how great the library shelves look. Plus, he’s a way better landscaper than Uli ever was. But being good with his hands doesn’t mean he’s dumb or has nothing to say. He’sinterested in books, and he taught me about flowers. And he likes my art.”
“A couple of conversations doesn’t mean you’re in love,” Father reiterated. “And that is besides the fact that this alpha violated the terms of his employment by seeking out yourfriendship. I realize you’re an omega, but he should have known better.”
Zeller shrank back. “He’s a good man.”
Father arched an eyebrow. “But not an appropriate one for my son.”
Zeller debated whether to plow ahead. He had clearly made a strategic mistake. He should have come in softer, working up to the revelation that he loved Valentin.
His fathers had returned home under the assumption that their lone alpha employee had shared Zeller’s heat out of obligation or necessity, or possibly for sexual fulfillment. They were prepared to thank him and give him a bonus, contingent upon his signing an NDA. When Zeller asked for an audience this morning to inform them that he and Valentin wanted to be together, they were stunned into silence.
Until Father exploded.
“Your father is right, dear.” Daddy finally entered the conversation. “It can be very overwhelming sharing a heat with someone. Feeling bonded afterward is normal. It doesn’t mean you’re in love.”
“But Valentin and I talked about being together before my heat—”
“What?!” Father roared. “Did he take advantage?”
“No! Of course not! I told you, it was just talking.” His parents didn’t need to know about the kissing. “But I realized months ago that we were connecting. I can…smell him. And he can scent me. We are very, very well-matched. I know it, deep down.”
“You have no clue,” Father sneered. “You sound like the green eighteen-year-old you are because you haven’t been around enough men. And I suppose that’s on us for thinking we had time, not realizing you were so close to blooming. I bet if we took you to town, to more parties, you could meet more alphas, and you would react the same to them.”
“I don’t think that would change things.”
“Well, you’d better hope you’re wrong. Because we aren’t handing over our only omega son to some…some…nobody,” he spat. “Now that you’ve fully matured, we can find you a husband. Asuitablehusband. I’m sure there’s someone who won’t care that you shared your first heat with another alpha. This is a little sooner than we had planned. I had hoped to generate more interest before we decided, but we’ll manage.”
Zeller’s mouth dropped open. “You talk about my marriage as if it’s a business acquisition. Like I’m at the center of a bidding war.”
“Stop being dramatic. It’s nothing so crass as that. And we intended to give you a say in the matter. We still might…if you go back to behaving like yourself. But there’s nothing wrong with marriage also being an excellent deal.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not doing that,” Zeller repeated, openly defying his fathers for the first time in his life. “You can parade me around and introduce me to all the alphas you want. I won’t marry them. I’m going to marry Valentin.”
“You absolutely will not do that.”
“But—”
“My mind is made up on this, Zeller. You are our son. Ouromegason. It’s our decision.”
Zeller did not want to talk in circles. He had hoped to have Valentin with him to share his bigger news, but it didn’t seem like he could put it off.
His fathers had been remarkably uncurious about his heat, which surprised him, but he assumed they were so used to thinking of him as a child that it hadn’t really sunk in.
He needed them to be in the same reality.