Omegas' Destined Alpha [Full Collection]

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

WES

I have no idea how you’re supposed to act when you’re on a date. It’s not something I have much experience with, at least not as an adult. Zeke and I have been out for dinner and a movie a couple of times, but that was different, that was just us.

With Nathan here, an Alpha, I feel like there are different rules. Rules I don’t really understand. Like… What should we be talking about? Or how should I be acting? All those things…

I feel like I should have learned these things when I was a teen or something… And that I shouldn’t be figuring them out now, in the middle of my twenties.

Zeke is looking really sexy in his jeans and button-up, and he gave me a tight T-shirt and jeans to wear, said that I’d look good in them.

And Nathan… He’s also wearing a button-up, but it looks totally different on him, a lot more adult, if that even makes sense. The way the shirt stretches over his shoulders and his jeans hug his hips. It makes me want to reach out and touch him, try to figure out if he really feels the way he looks. Hot. Hard. Sexy.

Nathan and Zeke are talking about the local college, about classes and professors, and weird scheduling hours. I just listen to them, not really sure what I should be saying.

Nathan is an adult.

Sure… We’re all adults. We’re old enough. Zeke and I are both much closer to thirty than twenty, but Nathan feels much older than us.

I don’t know why, maybe because he’s an Alpha, or maybe it’s just the way he carries himself. But I’m very aware of the difference between us, and it’s making saying anything at all so much harder.

And as time passes, it’s making me more and more nervous and convinced that I don’t belong here. That I shouldn’t have come.

“Wes?” Zeke puts his hand on my knee, just a simple gesture, but I still jolt a little. “Are you okay?” His eyes are serious, worried.

I nod. “I’m good. Just a little tired.” I try to smile, but I’m sure it’s not reaching my eyes fully.

“I can imagine.” Nathan also looks at me. “Two young kids, going to college and working at the cafe. You must be constantly exhausted.”

I nod again, not able to meet his eyes.

Luckily, our dinners are brought by right then, letting me do something else instead of telling him that I have four kids, not just two kids…

Something that would definitely change the way he looks at me. Something that would make him look at me with pity in his eyes, as happens so often when people see me with Oliver and realise that I’m his father, not his older brother. I don’t want that to happen just yet.

The pizza I ordered tastes really good, and for a while, we’re all just eating instead of focusing on the awkward conversations that we could be having…

Why did I even agree to this? Why did Zeke not say something to get us both out of this? Why did he agree to it?

Why did I even come here? I already have Zeke, I don’t need anyone else… Not even someone who makes my heart skip a beat when he smiles. I don’t need another Alpha.

Plus, who’d want a mess like me, with four kids, and more baggage than anyone should take on voluntarily?

My chest hurts, making breathing hard, and I feel like tears could start forming in my eyes at any moment. I put down my knife and fork, standing up. “Sorry. I’ll be right back.”

When I pass him by, Zeke grabs my wrist and I look at him, his eyes are serious and he frowns when he catches my look.

“I’m just going to the bathroom.” I pull my wrist out of his hand and follow the signs to the bathrooms. I just need a moment to myself, somewhere where Nathan and Zeke can’t see me, or anyone else.

I lock myself in one of the stalls, sitting down, my heart hurting, my head hurting, everything hurting.

I should leave. I should really leave.

Let Zeke talk to Nathan on his own, not ruin their fun for the evening. I can still go home, spend the evening with the kids and catch up on homework instead of making a fool out of myself here.

My phone vibrates and a message from Zeke pops up. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Just tired, like I said.’ I pluck at the shirt I’m wearing. Zeke’s shirt, not my own. I thought it was sexy before, a little naughty, wearing Zeke’s sexy clothes. But now I feel like a fool.

I’m not sexy. I’ll never be sexy. And why would I even try to be? I already have four kids, I don’t need another Alpha.

‘Want me to come over?’ The next message pops up and I can’t help but smile a little. Of course, he’s always worried about me, has always been. He’s so good, he’ll make a great husband to Nathan.

‘I’ll be right back. Just need a breather.’ If you can call it that. My mind doesn’t seem to get any better when I’m here, doesn’t seem to be able to make much more sense of everything going on. If anything, it feels like things are getting worse.

I get up, putting my phone in my pocket, and washing my hands under the water, cooling them. Then I put them to my face, waking myself up more. Maybe that clears my head a little. When I feel like I’ve calmed down again, I leave the bathrooms, making my way back to the table.

On my way there, I run into Nathan, who stops as he looks at me, his eyes soft. “I hope I didn’t do anything to make you feel uncomfortable.” He looks serious and that reminds me of the way he talked to me yesterday, with supposed real interest.

I shake my head. “Long day.” I shrug a little.

He nods, a small smile on his lips. “Well, I just wanted to say that I think you look really good tonight. And I’d like to get to know you better. You seem like a cool guy. We should totally exchange book recommendations.”

I nod, my cheeks heating up and I have no idea how to respond to him. “Thanks?”

Nathan grins. “No problem. You go back to the table, I’ve gotta use the loo.” He puts his hand on my arm for a moment, the spot where he touched me heating up and shooting electricity through my body, making me buzz. And then he’s walking off.

I stare after him for a moment before I turn in the direction I was already going and find Zeke at the table, looking worried.

“What’s going on?” He takes my hands, his eyes on me.

“I just…” I shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Is it Nathan? Do you hate him?”

I shake my head. No, hating him would be hard, with the way he makes me feel. But it’s also scary.

Having someone so interested in you can go wrong so easily, interest can turn into obsession, and obsession into… I know how that ends.

I sit down in the chair, looking at my half-eaten pizza.

“If you want to leave, just tell me. Yeah? We’ll leave.” Zeke squeezes my hand for a moment.

I nod, but already know I’ll never do that. I’m not going to ruin his fun and he seems to be enjoying himself. He deserves to feel happy and I’m not going to pull him down just because I’m the weird one. I start eating the pizza again, trying to keep myself busy, as I know Zeke’s eyes are still on me.

When Nathan comes back to the table, he sits down and I feel his eyes on me. “Wes, I heard that you only moved here last year. Do you feel like you’ve settled in yet? I’ve been here since early summer, and I still feel like a total stranger.”

“I guess. My brother also lives here, and Zeke showed me around the city a lot.” I smile a little, remembering some of our more silly outings. “He knows the best hideout spots and small cafes and restaurants that nobody else seems to know.” I look Zeke’s way, who grins back.

Nathan now looks at Zeke. “You grew up here?”

Zeke shakes his head, something passing over his face that always happens when he talks about his past, something that he won’t even tell me, not even after a year.

“I moved here to go to college. But you need to be creative when you’re a bad cook and you’re low on money.” He grins again.

Nathan laughs now. “Yeah. I can imagine that. Well, you’re going to have to show me some of these special places, then. Sounds like they’d be worth it.”

“Definitely.” Zeke nods, his eyes shining.

Yeah, I’m not going to ask Zeke to leave, no matter what. He looks so happy, he’s having too much fun.

After the main course, we all get desserts. I’ve finally relaxed a little by ignoring the fact that this is a date and just pretending that I’m out with friends.

Even though I’ve never done that before either, but I can imagine what it would probably be like. It helps to not feel so nervous. But it’s still not easy.

Zeke is having a lot of fun and so is Nathan, and when I forget where we are, I can enjoy myself for a couple of minutes at a time too.

Then, the subject comes to families and partners and suddenly Zeke falls quiet. His eyes on me. Of all the things we could be talking about… Yeah, that’s not something I can talk about easily, and neither can Zeke, without revealing our relationship.

“Wes?” Nathan’s eyes are on me. “Did I say something wrong?”

I shake my head. “No. I… Ehm… I live with my older brother and his mate.” I eye Zeke, not sure if I should say more.

“Wow. Brave. For them to take you in, I mean. With two kids, that can’t have been an easy choice. You must have a special connection with your family.” Nathan looks seriously impressed.

I ball my fists under the table, looking at the table in front of me, and then shake my head. “Their house is big, so it’s easy enough.” The truth, while avoiding his real question.

I don’t look up, but Zeke takes my hand. “We both live with them. Wes’ brother is my best friend.”

“Really? Isn’t that hard on you two? Not having a place to yourself?” Is Nathan implying what I think he is?

I finally look up, needing to see Nathan’s face, needing to see how he responds. “It works. And it makes for cheap babysitters.” Take the bait, please, stop asking questions.

Nathan nods, his eyes both curious and serious. “I guess it’s possible. I don’t know. I have no siblings.” His smile is a little sad, but then he looks at me, his smile growing again.

“I’m glad that you and your brother get along so well. Well enough to let your and your—” He stops himself, eyes darting around the place. “Zeke stay at their place.”

I still. So he did mean it the way I suspected. Nathan thinks, or he knows, that Zeke and I are together. I stand up, grabbing my phone. I can’t do this, it could ruin everything. “I have to check…”

Zeke grabs my arm, his eyes on me steady. “They’re fine. Don’t worry.” He pulls me a little closer, not letting go of my arm. Then he looks at Nathan. “Wes’ brother is amazing. He’s taken us both in, even though he didn’t have to. He’s great with the kids and he’s really protective of his family.”

Nathan looks serious now, nodding. “I get it. Sorry. I was just… Trying to get to know you.” Then he looks at me. “I’m sorry. Please sit down. I don’t mean anything bad by my questions. I’m sorry.”

I relax a fraction and sit back down, but I keep holding Zeke’s hand. I want to get to know Nathan too, but I can’t reveal anything here.

We’re too much out in the open. It’s too easy to overhear what we’re saying. And I know that not everyone will agree with Zeke and me being together.

Though Nathan seems to be fine with the idea…

But if he knew the truth… If he knew why I’m living with Clay. If he knew all the other things about my past…

Would he even look my way again? Would he keep looking my way, our way, again with those dark eyes of his?

And why do I care so much about that?