"And what was that urgent call about?" Alex demanded, his voice laced with worry and a sharp edge of irritation as he stepped out of the car and slamd the door shut behind him. "I had to end the therapy session with Gabe imdiately even though it wasn’t what I wanted to do. But I didn’t have a choice. He was... damn weak."
The mont Gabe’s na left his lips, Alex’s thoughts betrayed him.
His mind drifted back unwanted yet irresistible to warm skin, broken breaths, the way Gabe had clung to him earlier. Heat crept up his neck, flooding his cheeks as he unconsciously bit down on his lower lip, trying to ground himself.
"Alex?"
Damien’s voice cut through the chaos in his head.
Alex blinked, snapping back to reality.
"What the fuck are you thinking about?" Damien continued, narrowing his eyes. "You look like you’re lost in so fantasy. Don’t tell you’re thinking about fucking Gabe’s asshole."
"Oh, co on," Alex shot back almost too quickly, turning away as he walked into the living room. "That’s not what I’m thinking about."
His denial did nothing to help his case. His face was still flushed pink, and when he dropped heavily onto the sofa, he released a long, restrained sigh.
Damien scoffed and crossed his arms. "Then what are you thinking about? You’ve been smiling ever since you got here. You hate smiling. Right now, you look like soone who just won the lottery."
Alex shot him a warning look before straightening. "Can you forget about for one second and focus on yourself?" His tone shifted calr, sharper, professional. "Let’s talk about you. What went wrong between you and Fred?"
He raised an eyebrow, studying Damien closely.
"You’re supposed to be looking after him. Taking care of him. But here you are back at your own place. And now Gabe had to go over to Fred instead. So tell ... what the hell happened between you two?"
Damien ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly. "He just... snapped. Out of nowhere. I didn’t do anything to him, Alex. He just told to get the hell out of his house."
He paused, jaw tightening.
"Honestly? I think it’s because of that oga I fucked back at the hotel. The one I’m still trying to find."
Alex leaned back slightly, listening.
"Fred’s acting like he’s the oga’s brother or sothing," Damien continued. "Every ti I bring him up, Fred flares up. And when I explained what would happen to that oga if I don’t find him..." He let out a bitter chuckle. "That was it. He kicked out."
"Oh," Alex murmured, confusion flickering across his face.
He thought about it for a mont before speaking again. "Maybe he just feels sorry for the oga. You shouldn’t have explained the consequences to Fred in the first place especially not knowing how he is."
Alex shrugged. "Fred’s friend Gabe is an oga. And Fred himself is an alpha who deals with ogas all the ti. Of course he’d react that way."
Damien sighed heavily, shoulders slumping. "Yeah. I probably look like a complete villain to him now."
"Sure! I really hope he’s not going to convince Gabe to stay away from at this rate." Alex added with a heavy sigh.
There was a brief silence before Damien glanced up again. "Anyways he wouldn’t do such and even if he did, Gabe wouldn’t agree. How are things going with him though? Is he going to file for divorce from Sabe?"
Alex’s expression darkened instantly.
"That idiot Sabe is already out of police custody," Damien continued. "The fentanyl investigation is still ongoing, though. Do you think he’ll actually get caught?"
Alex scoffed, eyes cold. "Just because he lost his dick doesn’t an he suddenly lost his brain."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "He’s going to look for a scapegoat. Soone to take the fall. And that," he added firmly, "is where you and I need to focus."
Damien frowned. "You think he already has soone in mind?"
"He will," Alex replied calmly. "And whoever it is, we get them on our side. At all costs. Once Sabe ends up in prison, Gabe will finally be free."
He paused, a slow smirk curling inwardly...hidden from view.
He’ll finally belong to alone.
"Well then," Damien said, breaking the tension as he stood up. "Let’s go have so drinks. I really need to clear my head. A lot’s been happening."
"Stressed because of Fred?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow as he rose to his feet. "You two aren’t even that close."
"No, we’re not," Damien admitted quietly. "But... I still care. Sohow. We talk sotis. Drink together. It’s enough to matter."
He shrugged. "Just like you care about Gabe."
Damien grabbed his jacket. "There’s a new club outside town. Just opened. Let’s go waste so ti there."
"Sounds good," Alex replied, a warm smile finally settling on his face as he followed.
As they walked toward the car, Alex’s thoughts drifted back uninvited yet persistent.
After that session with Gabe, he thought, one drink won’t be enough.
****
anwhile, the mont Alex finished getting Gabe dressed, Gabe insisted on leaving imdiately.
Despite the dull, persistent pain radiating through his body, he made his way straight to Fred’s house.
The instant he stepped inside, his heart sank.
Fred his friend, his best friend was sprawled on the floor, shoulders shaking as he wept like soone who had just lost everything he ever cared about.
"What the fuck is happening to you?" Gabe demanded.
Ignoring the sharp protest from his body, he pushed himself up from the wheelchair. The movent sent a stabbing ache through him, especially in his lower body, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself forward anyway. Step by step, he crossed the room and lowered himself beside Fred, sitting on the cold floor.
"I’m screwed, Gabe," Fred choked out, his voice breaking. "Maybe I should have kept a low profile. Maybe I should’ve just stayed an alpha... Maybe I shouldn’t have behaved like an oga, even for once."
Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks as he shook his head.
"Acting like that ruined everything. It ruined my life."
Gabe frowned deeply, confusion washing over him. "What are you talking about?" he asked gently. "Is this because of Damien? Did he do sothing to you?"
He studied Fred’s face carefully.
"He doesn’t even know you’re an oga, right? So what’s the problem?"
"He doesn’t know," Fred replied weakly, letting out a broken laugh. "But he already handed a death sentence, Gabe."
Gabe stiffened.
"I made one mistake," Fred continued, tears spilling faster now. "Just one. I acted like an oga for once... and now I’m starting to regret ever doing it."
"Fred," Gabe said firmly, straightening despite the discomfort. "Stop speaking in riddles. Make understand what you’re saying."
Fred wiped at his face with trembling hands. "Damien is the reason I’m bleeding like this," he began, his voice barely holding together.
Alex nodded in response.
"Damien explained that the ogas that used his drugs but then already got treated by him hence they’re free," Fred went on. "But the ones who didn’t get treated with his drugs to get rid of the poisonous one... they’ll start showing symptoms. Losing their minds. Or worse."
His breath hitched.
"They could die."
Gabe felt a cold rush of anger surge through him. "What?!" he snapped. "What the hell is wrong with him?!"
He clenched his fists. "Then you should just tell him the truth. Tell him you’re that oga so that he can give you the drug too."
"No," Fred said imdiately, his tone sharp despite his tears. "Absolutely not."
He turned to face Gabe fully now, eyes burning with fear and resolve.
"He might treat , yes. But once I’m better, he’ll deal with in his own way."
Fred shook his head slowly.
"I don’t want him knowing as an oga. I want him to keep seeing as an alpha."
Gabe opened his mouth, stunned.
"I’m not ready," Fred continued. "Not ready to be seen as an oga. Not ready to be punished, ridiculed, or looked down on by soone who despises ogas."
His voice cracked again.
"I just want the drugs. I want to heal myself and continue living as an alpha."
"Huh...?" Gabe muttered, completely thrown off. "He wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you after treating you. Not when I’m here. If you can’t tell him you’re an oga, then I’ll help you."
Fred grabbed his sleeve suddenly, fingers clutching tightly. "Just help get the drugs, Gabe," he pleaded. "You can do it. Once you set your heart on sothing, you always find a way. You don’t need to let him know I’m an oga. That’s not necessary."
He swallowed hard.
"I know you can get the drugs from Damien without him suspecting anything."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I don’t want to lose my mind. I don’t want to die."
He looked straight into Gabe’s eyes.
"So please... help ."
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