Work Text:
Context (yes this always starts a good fanfiction):
This is an alternate universe called “omegaverse,” where everything is the same but NIck can get pregnant.
In this universe, sexuality does not matter. Instead, there is a new social ladder:
Alpha, who are top-class citizens who outperform the majority of humans. 20% of the world population are alphas. They secrete a pheromone that attracts omegas, and are very sensitive to omegas’ pheromones, with the primal instinct being to mate the omegas and produce offsprings. The strongest alphas, known as “dominant alphas,” are more likely to impregnate an omega and are able to turn betas into omegas by marking them.
“Marking” an omega means biting them on the back of their necks. Only the alpha can remove their marks, and if they die before the omega or they abandon the omega, said omega will be in a state of heavy, and sometimes fatal, stress.
Alphas go into a “rut,” and are usually triggered by an omega’s pheromones. They will want to mate with the omega secreting pheromones, and can get worse the more pheromones the omega secretes. Alphas describe omegas’ pheromones as a “sweet-smelling aphrodisiac.”
Beta, which consists of normal people like you and me. They make up 70% of the world population and are not affected by pheromones.
Omega, who are on the bottom of the social ladder and their worth equates to their ability to give birth due to their high fertility rate. They secrete pheromones that attract alphas. They make up 10% of the population.
Heats: Omegas will go into a “heat period,” which is a time of month when they produce a large amount of pheromones that will cause their body to heat up and yearn for adulterous acts, specifically with an alpha. There are drugs that can either be injected or taken as pills called “suppressants,” and are used to reduce heat symptoms to allow the omega to continue with their daily lives.
*Note: omegas are more susceptible to being impregnated during a heat period.
Fated pairs: it is rumored that every alpha has an omega soulmate, and vice versa. They are able to tell through smell and reactions (such as irregular heats and ruts). It depends whether or not the alpha/omega wants to follow this destiny.
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“Welcome home, Helen,” I said, opening the door to a large, semi-circular door. She ran in, looking around while hugging a small teddy bear close to her silk dress. She spun around rapidly, her eyes inhaling the foreign territory with wonder.
She perked up when she saw the window looking out to the waters of Long Island Sound. “Look, pa! It’s a bird feeder!” she shouted, waving an excited finger at a white, empty bird feeder. “We can get sparrows to eat from there!”
“When the feeder is filled we can,” I reassured her, patting her on the back. “Shall we take a look around the house?”
It was a shining summer day, and, with the help of my old man, I had managed to secure a small, cottage-like house on the waterfront. It was humble and small, but it had enough space and peace for my daughter and I.
“Pa, pa! Come upstairs!” Helen yelled. I grabbed the suitcase’s handle and headed up the creaking stairs.
“What is it?” I set the case down on the small bed. She pointed outside the window. Through the trees and branches lie a grand house; thrice the size of the most luxurious hotel in the world and quadruple the price of a year-long cruise tour.
“Who lives there?”
Good old mysterious Gatsby. A single man living in a single home chalk-full of alluring riches. However, as grand as the house seemed, it felt lonely- as if it was missing a piece of… something.
I felt a tug at my sleeve and my daughter gave me wandering eyes. I shook my head with a smile. “I don’t know.”
“Well whoever it is, I like their house!” she exclaimed, jumping on the bed.
I grabbed her and twirled her around in the hair with a laugh. “Don’t break the bed now! Let’s get ready to see Auntie Daisy.”
“Yay! Auntie Daisy!”
I haven’t seen my cousin, Daisy, in god knows how long. All I knew was that she married an old college mate of mine, Tom; an alpha of the one percent. It was rumored that his pheromones could reach Egypt if he got excited, but the rumor was never confirmed. It was the “Marriage of the Year,” but I wasn’t able to go because I was in the hospital for my new child, my pride and joy, Helen.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked, opening the door. She bounded to the car, tapping its door impatiently. I fished the keys out of my pocket and hopped into the car. As Helen sang “Daisy, Daisy, auntie Daisy,” on a loop, I looked up at the large, lonely manor.
At that moment, I felt Gatsby’s eyes on me.
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On the other side of Long Island, I stopped in front of the largest manor on the block. It looked like a bank and the White House rolled into one, and the yard was the size of three football fields. Flowers adorned the front patio and Helen made sure to smell every single one, rating them on size, smell, and style.
I looked around with a pep in my step. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen Tom, and I didn’t miss him a single bit.
The front door swung open, revealing a slightly burly man with dark brown hair and a stubbled, sharp-jawed man with a large, white grin. “Nick! How are you today?”
“You seem to be in good spirits,” I replied as he clapped me on the back with a hearty laugh.
“Oh Nick I’ve never been better now that I get to see you and the little miss.” He turned his head over to my daughter, who smiled and waved. She grabbed for my hand as we walked into the mansion.
“Pa, why can’t our house look like this?” she asked, using my arm like a leash to an excited puppy.
“I think it would be too big of a house- you’d get lost,” I responded before turning back to Tom. “How’s everything been?”
“Couldn’t be better! Struck a good deal with someone yesterday. It’s about some horses- Daisy’s been asking to get a stallion or two,” he said as we headed towards two large glass doors. “Ya think it’d liven stuff up around here?”
“Well I-”
“Here we are!” He opened the door to silk curtains billowing in the soft breeze. I could hear quiet giggles from the white satin couch. Helen ran over with her small, seven year old legs and seemed to disappear into the curtains.
“Close the curtains!” Tom yelled, waving his arm around. The servants around the room gathered the curtains and closed the ginormous windows with a hefty bang.
“Oh Nick, is that you I hear?” I see an arm emerge from the front of the couch- a slim arm with pale fingers holding an expensive diamond ring.
I took off my hat and traveled to the front of the couch. “Hello, Daisy.”
Her description of being the paragon of perfection; her short blonde bob seemed to shimmer like jewels in the sun and her eyes could melt the coldest of ice with a single glance. Her body seemed to be carved from the smoothest marble by an old master, and her laughter could summon the sun in the freezing winter. I was fortunate to have a cousin like her- chatty, kind, and seemingly docile.
Well, that’s how Helen describes her personality. She was crafty, as if she planned everything that happened in her household. She withheld a secret on her lips, and the key was nowhere in sight.
“Pa! Come say hi! Or are you scared?” Helen teased, pulling me to Daisy.
“Are you joining us for dinner?” Daisy asked.
“Of course he is! It’s almost time anyways,” Tom said, checking his watch. “How’s the writing going?”
“Well, I’m trying to sell bonds. Could be better,” I said with a shrug, taking a seat. Helen hopped onto Daisy’s lap and started to talk to a tall, slender woman hiding behind a gossip magazine. The woman looked up, brown eyes piercing through my innocent daughter.
“Who is she?”
“I’m Jordan. Jordan Baker. You can just ask me instead of referring to someone else, you know,” she said in a low, sultry voice.
“Pardon me. Helen, get off of Daisy,” I said.
“Oh, no, she’s fine,” Daisy replied as she braided Helen’s dirty blonde hair. “I hope my daughter has such beautiful hair.”
Helen giggled at her compliment and swung her legs with glee. I sighed and shook my head with a small grin. “Okay then.”
Menial chatter rang throughout the room. It droned through my ear as my mind wandered, voice giving an occasional “yes” and “uh-huh.” Tom was somewhere else in the house as the women talked. I glanced at Helen, who seemed to be listening to Daisy and Jordan’s talking but unable to comprehend their conversation.
“Nick? Nick!” Fingers snapped in front of my face as I snapped out of my trance. Daisy was giving me wide eyes and said, “it’s time for dinner.”
We hurried into the dining room and sat down, Helen and Jordan feet beside me as a waterfall of servants cascaded into the room bringing plates and plates of food.
“Why can’t we have these servants at home?” Helen asked, watching a large lobster emerge from a covered tray.
“Our house is too small. We can do all of this ourselves,” I said, taking a piece of steak and cutting a portion for her.
“Let her get her own steak. She’s seven, Nick! You can’t just keep giving her food,” Tom criticized with a wave of his fork. Jordan nodded in silent agreement as she took a bite out of her food. “The only people who can’t get their own food are infants,” he said as a small bowl salad was placed in front of him. He stabbed a piece of lettuce and silenced himself.
That’s when the phone started to ring. Everyone looked into the parlor at a small, red phone on a table next to the couch. Tom excused himself and went to answer. Daisy abruptly stood up and hurried after him, a look of distress crossing her face.
“What’s happening?”
Jordan moved her chair closer to me, lowering her tone and asked, “you don’t know? Almost everyone around this damn country knows that Tom is seeing someone. Even Daisy knows. He’s not subtle about it one bit- as if he’s trying to show the world who he is.”
“Well I didn’t know.”
“What a blessing that is,” she replied sarcastically, inching back to her food. “Just put your head in your food and be oblivious.”
The two returned to their seats soon after and no one spoke a word. I snatched glimpses of Daisy, who was staring at me as she ate. When she finished, she stood up and walked over to me. “Can I meet you outside?”
I nodded and swallowed the rest of my meal and trailed behind her. We stopped on a large, marble balcony overlooking the water. She stared outside with a sigh. “How is Helen doing?”
“She’s fine.”
“Has she asked about her other father?”
I paused. “I never told her about another father.”
“Did she mention another father or mother?”
“...No. She doesn’t ask, either.”
“Do you regret your decision to have her?”
I swallowed, turning around and leaning against the railing and stared out into the vast water, observing the waves overlap each other. “No, she’s a wonderful girl.”
“She’s a foolish girl, too,” Daisy added nonchalantly. I straightened my posture with a look of offense. She laughed sadly, staring at Tom talking to Jordan with pain in her eyes. “I hope my girl can be that foolish. Pretty and foolish.” She looked up with a tired smile. “You’re lucky to be an omega.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re protected. You’re a ‘rarity’ in this world unlike us betas. You’re protected by society.”
“We don’t have equal job opportunities, though. We have problems like everyone else.”
“But you have exclusive liberties like everyone else. I can’t choose a soulmate because I have no soulmate. If you’re lucky, your mate is kind and nice and, well, just wonderful.”
I touched the back of my neck, looking down at the ground. “I’m like you. I have no soulmate.”
She stared at me in shock. “All omegas have their alpha-”
“I can’t!” I shouted. Calming down, I started to explain. “Soulmates don’t exist. Alphas mark any omega they want, and suddenly we’re tied down to this one person for the rest of our lives. If soulmates existed, I’d rather kill myself.”
“Well… what if he was your soulmate?”
“Him?” I scoffed, turning to her with a grin of disbelief. “Me, the long lost soulmate of the Great Gatsby himself.”
Daisy looked down, ashamed about what she said. “I… sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
I sighed, releasing any tension in my body. “It’s fine. I wanted to.”
“You wanted to sleep with him?”
“No, I wanted to help you out.” I put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to your wedding whether or not I was pregnant- I’d have to enlist.”
Daisy cocked her head. “Did they change the enlistment requirements?”
“Any omega with no symptoms of pregnancy or irregular heats will be supplied with suppressants and immediate aid for heats on the field,” I restated from the newspaper. “I would say Helen is a miracle.”
“Children are a gift from God,” she replied. “I hope you can make good use of your gift. Shall we head back inside?”
I thrust my arm out with a smile. She took it, returning my smile as we walked back inside. Tom was playing with my daughter and Jordan was back to reading her magazine.
“Did you two enjoy yourselves?” Tom asked.
“Well if you word it like that, we did not. Conversation wise? It went well,” Daisy responded, sitting down and greeting the tired Helen.
“Pa, can we go home soon?” she asked, walking up to me and resting her head on my waist. I ruffled her hair and nodded.
“We’ll leave soon.”
I lifted her up and placed her on the couch. She curled up and closed her eyes. I sat down beside her and stroked her hair.
“You’ve got a fine daughter,” Tom said. “I hope my daughter can be as well behaved as yours.”
“It takes time,” I said. “Hard work, money, and time. Sounds like a lot to give, but the amount of happiness and adventure you gain is worth every single resource.”
“Sounding wise there, Nick. Maybe I’ll have you take care of our child.”
Daisy and I laughed nervously. “I should head home now,” I said, scooping Helen up and putting her head on my shoulder. “Have a nice night.”
I took my leave swiftly and quietly, grabbing my hat and starting the car. I knew Tom was not the kindest of the generous man on earth- he’s just a morally confused man. I felt a little bad for Daisy, but those thoughts weren’t as pressing as the conversion we had on the porch. I never thought I would have to tell Helen about her father, but what if she does ask? How could I tell her that it was my fault for her not having a second parent?
“Pa? Are we home yet?”
I looked into the distance and saw Gatsby’s house quiet and unbothered. The fountains were turned off and the lights were dimmed or completely gone from the windows. I pulled into my driveway minutes later and shook my daughter awake. She groaned slightly, rubbing her eyes and sitting up.
“We’re home.” I stepped out of the car and opened her door. “Let’s head to bed.” She nodded and hopped out, running to the door shortly after. I looked up at Gatsby’s house, the feeling of eyes lingering on my back.
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After a hearty breakfast consisting of slightly overcooked pancakes and bacon, I walked outside to have a letter handed to me. “What’s this?” I asked the messenger.
“An invitation to Gatsby's party tonight at 10,” he replied with a curt bow. I looked down at the invitation.
Dear Nick Carraway,
You are cordially invited to a party hosted by Jay Gatsby at 10 o’clock tonight. Any attire is fine. Kind wishes and hopes to see you there.
Gatsby.
I went back into the house, staring at the fine calligraphy as I closed the door. Helen ran up to me, grabbing the letter with a smile. “A party? Can I go?”
“You’ll be fast asleep by then. Also, it’s for grown-ups,” I said, taking the letter back and putting it into my pocket. “Come on, let’s get you dressed and ready for school. Last night was a late night for you.”
“Yay! I can’t wait to get into my uniform!” she exclaimed, hopping up and down.
“Go hop upstairs and be down soon.” She bounded upstairs as I sat down in the living room, overlooking the waters and to Tom’s house. It was a peculiar move for Tom, an alpha, to marry Daisy, a common beta. Was it for power? For fame? Daisy had money, but it was nowhere near the wealth Tom had before their wedding.
“Pa! I’m ready!” Helen yelled, running down the stairs and jumping off the last two. I opened the door and readied the car, with my daughter hurrying over to the door and pumping the locked handle. The eyes were watching from the window as I started to head towards Helen’s new school.
“You’ll be good now, okay?”
She nodded as the fields around us transformed into a suburban landscape. Kids walking, running, and every form of human mobility possible. Helen hopped out and ran into school. I watched her leave, feeling teary that my little girl was slowly growing up. With a long sigh, I turned the car around and headed home.
It wasn’t a long drive, but it sure felt like it; a good kind of long, with the soft breeze and the leaves dancing away from its owners. The sun embraced me, warming me down to the core as I pulled into my driveway.
I had decided to take the day off due to any sudden compilations with Helen at school. I had always kept her home, so I had every right to be nervous about my daughter’s physical, social, and emotional well being. Heading inside, I sat down and stared out the window to Gatsby’s house just beyond the thick green.
It was a grand house. A lonely house; one that would capture you in its picturesque beauty and implore you to stay forever. If I were to live in that house, I would, without a doubt, feel like something was missing from my life. Perhaps a partner to help take care of my daughter with me, or someone that would keep me company when she went to school. The house would provide a shelter, but not a home.
In the silence, I started to hear my heart beat faster than its average pace. I clutched my chest, collapsing to the ground as my face started to heat up. I squirmed uncomfortably, heat radiating off of my entire body. I staggered to my feet and stumbled into the kitchen, throwing open a cupboard door and grabbing a pre- loaded suppressant needle. I opened the needle and tossed its cover onto the hard floor and sat down, shoving the needle into the side of my leg and pressing the top.
Like a river of good fortune, my body cooled and my heart steadied. I sighed in relief, curling up as I regained my senses. My heat came once a month on the 18th monotonously. I hold a suppressant in my hand and swallow two pills, sometimes three if I am feeling worse. I locked myself in my room and reassured Helen that I was alright, and it was “just a phase Pa had to go through, but he’ll be out shortly.”
Today was the 23rd. I took a deep breath and grabbed the newspaper. Anything to get my mind off that man.
Sometimes I wonder if it was a wise decision to shield Helen from the truth that Gatsby was her father. Would she know who he even is? If she leaked it to her peers, they would use her for money and other material goods, and not be willing to build a true relationship with her. At least that’s what happens in my mind. I open the paper, scanning the columns for any scrap of interesting news. Nothing.
I forced myself to read, trying to forget my early cycle. The gentle breeze swept my hair back as I sank into the words on the inky-smelling pages. I immersed myself in a paper world, drifting away from the wealthy reality that I was stuck in. If I could, I would run off to a far away land with Helen and live there without worrying about familial ties, wealth connections, and false relationships. They would blow away like white dust and into the chasm below our little faraway land.
I finished the paper. It wasn’t worth rereading, but I had nothing else to do around the house. There were still about four more hours until I had to pick up Helen, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Thinking about Gatsby was off the table- an irregular heat could happen again.
I wonder if Daisy is going to the party. I stood up and grabbed the phone, sliding the dial to call Daisy. She picked up in a heartbeat.
“Yes?”
“Are you free tonight?”
Silence. “Yes, why?”
“Will you be able to take care of Helen?”
“Why can’t you do it?” she sighed.
“It’s not like you’re getting busy with Tom,” I replied snarkily. I could feel her roll her eyes.
“Why can’t you take care of her? Already partying?”
“Well, yes… but I’ve been invited to Gatsby’s party.”
Another silence. “You to Gatsby’s? Is that a good idea?”
“I… I’m not sure. I just went into an irregular heat.”
A clatter arose on the other side of the line. “You what?”
“Don’t freak out…”
“You went into an irregular heat with no one around? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
“I can’t have anyone around!” I yelled. “What would a beta know?”
“...Sorry.”
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s fine. I was able to get the suppressants before things went to hell. Anyways, can you watch Helen tonight? She’ll be good.”
“Well I doubt she would misbehave. Sure, come over tonight with her.”
“Are you interested in Gatsby’s parties?”
“No. They’re so flashy and fancy- too flashy and… well, too artificial. There’s no feeling behind them. God knows why he does that.”
“It seems fun,” I said.
“Why did you go into heat?”
‘Why?”
“It’s not your… Well, it’s not your time to go into heat. What happened?”
I didn’t want to tell her that I went into heat because of Gatsby. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll go and drop her off after dinner. See you then.”
“See you then.” She hung up before I could bid her farewell. I slunk into the couch, staring at the phone with a groan. Passing time would be a sour pain in the ass.
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Helen had a lot to say when I picked her up and all throughout the day, she talked my ear off about all the classroom experiences and new friends she made- boys, girls, frogs, and the teacher were all included in her friend list. She seemed to have had a good time at school, which relieved me to no end. Even though she was a lovely distraction, Gatsby’s party was soon coming.
“Helen, you’re going to stay with Auntie Daisy for the night,” I said. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands.
“Wait, where are you going?”
I looked out the window. “An old friend of mine.”
It wasn’t long before I left Helen with Daisy, who ushered her in and shooed me away. I drove back to my home to grab the invitation and set off to the party on foot. My heart pounded, as if it was trying to leave my ribcage, and I entered the party scene.
There were no servants to welcome the hoard who chaotically jumped into the deafening rooms, drinking and eating and dancing to their heart’s content. I weaved through the crowd, covering my nose from the smell of alphas around me.
“Excuse me? Do you know where Gatsby is?” I asked a servant. He only looked at me with a shake of his head and handed me a drink. I took it with a small bow of my head and sipped the cool liquid, looking around. Women with men, men with men, women with women- if it wasn’t for shame it would be a giant sex-fest.
I gulped down the rest of the beverage and placed it onto the tray, scanning the room. The figures looked slightly more hazy and disorienting. I stumbled, clutching onto another server’s suit for balance.
“Are you alright?”
It was a smooth, low, and calm voice. I looked up to see a blond man standing over me with worried eyes. Red in the face, I released him. “Sorry!”
He laughed, his voice being the only pure thing in this chaotic menagerie. “It’s quite alright, Old Sport.”
I froze at the nickname. Was it him? “Gatsby?”
“Hello Nick. I’m happy you could make it.” He pointed outside with a pleasant smile. “Let’s get some fresh air and catch up.”
I followed him out onto the balcony, everything seemingly behind us. He leaned against the railing with a sigh, staring up at the starry sky. “How have you been?”
“Good. You?”
“The same.”
How would I know? We only met up for one night, I thought, lightly clenching my fist.
“Do you regret that night?”
I looked up, surprised at his question. “What?”
He looked down at me with a wistful stare. “Do you regret our night together?”
I shifted my weight back and forth, choking on an invisible lump in my throat. “No, not at all.”
Gatsby straightened his posture. “I missed you.”
“How could you?” I laughed. “It was one night.”
“It was my only night.”
“Did you go starry-eyed after a single night?” I scoffed, wishing I had a drink in hand. “Typical for an alpha like you.”
He looked down at the marble beneath his feet. “No, I didn’t yearn for your gaze.” He paused. “You have a daughter?”
“Yes.”
“... What’s her name?”
“Helen.” A server walked outside and I took a drink, slowly sipping away at it.
He turned around, leaning against the railing. I walked up next to him, staring down at the forest and my small house. “Was it another alpha?” he asked.
“What do you think?”
He stayed silent. “I’m happy I was able to see you again. It sounds ridiculous, but I wanted to talk with you for a long time. When I woke up the next morning, you had already left. No note or anything- I wasn’t able to find you.”
“You tried to contact me?”
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t pregnant, and if you were I would help with the responsibilities. But you vanished before I could talk to you.”
A twinge of anger sparked inside of me. “Well, I don’t need your help.”
He gave me a knowing look, his eyes penetrating my closed heart. A silence rose between us, trying to push us together.
“Will you give me another chance?”
I dropped the glass. No one seemed to hear it shatter as I took a step back from the sudden question. “What?”
He grabbed my wrist. “Please, Nick.”
I yanked it away with a glare. “Why the fuck would you even suggest that? Have you gone mad?”
He sighed, scratching his collar. “Nick, I could immediately tell that you were here based on smell alone. You’re my… you’re my fated mate.”
I grit my teeth. Fated mate? He’s out of his damn mind if I were to believe that! “And you couldn’t tell that I was your so-called ‘fated mate’ that night? If it was then, I might have said yes!”
His eyes widened. “You would’ve?”
My face flushed. “I- probably.”
“Then why not now?”
I looked out at the dark waters and up to Daisy’s house. “I’m fine.”
“Even with the child?”
“I said I’m fine.” I ran my fingers through my hair with an irritable groan. “She doesn’t need to know you.”
“But I’m her father.”
I spun around, red in the face. “No, she’s not. I don’t accept it.”
Gatsby shrunk. An omega scolding an alpha was not something organic- it was always the other way around. Alphas cheating, abusing, forcefully marking omegas as if they were making a twisted harem. All of it going unreported. This moment would go down in unreported history. I bit my lip, tearing my eyes away from a crumbling Gatsby.
I took a step back, a rush of something thick hitting my nose. I pinched it shut and started at Gatsby’s depressed figure. His pheromones are out of control-!
“Please control yourself!” I said through constricted breaths. Gatsby looked up with a wild look on his face, silently pleading for me to get away from him.
The influx of his emotions suffocated me, and I started to feel my heart rate increase. A panicked Gatsby looked around before grabbing my arm and slinging it over his shoulder, dragging me to an empty bedroom. He tossed me down and rushed into the connected bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
I rolled around slowly, trying to regulate my breathing as Gatsby’s mutters leaked through the door. Minutes later, a knock at the door drew the alpha from the bathroom and to the entrance. He took something from the servant and closed the door once more before approaching me. He had a towel covering his nose and he handed me a syringe.
I examined it, before popping open the cap and injecting myself with it. I squeezed my eyes shut as I began to calm myself.
“How are you?” He grabbed the cap and sealed the syringe shut.
“Are you really asking me that?” I snapped. “It hurt.”
“I’m sorry.”
I sighed, situating myself to look more flattering. “Your pheromones went out of control.”
“I know.” He hung his head. “I couldn’t control them, I- I apologize.”
“That was real shitty of you. Thank god no one else reacted to your little stunt,” I replied, leaning back. “You got some nerve.”
“It’s just… I have a daughter?” he asked, a spark of hope growing within him.
“She doesn’t even know who you are. All she knows is that you’re a man in the loneliest castle in the world.”
He ran his fingers through his hair with a distressed sigh, pacing back and forth. “Will I be able to meet her?”
I stayed quiet. His shoulders slumped as he sat next to me with a solemn bark of laughter. “Remember that letter?”
How could I forget that letter? The letter Daisy was supposed to receive the night of her wedding. But, stricken with unspeakable grief, sent it to me instead. I had opened it in a great amount of confusion.
My beloved Daisy,
I will be waiting by the tree you love.
Jay Gatsby.
It was short, but filled with an essay of emotions. I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about, but I went to search for him, and I found a blonde man sitting underneath a weeping willow, the breeze casting freckles of light down his body.
I was entranced, my body unconsciously approaching him. He looked up, confused to see me standing over him. “Who are you?”
I gave him the letter and sat down. “Do you know Daisy?”
That was my first irregular heat. And, to him, his first irregular rut. Everything was a blur- it was as if a painter smeared it palette across a canvas and called it art. We went wild, day and night. And when I woke up, my back was in an unknown type of pain and my brain knew only one word: regret.
I slipped out of the bed, staring at a naked Gatsby strewn across the sheets sleeping soundly. I gathered my scattered clothes and rushed out of the hotel, not daring to make eye contact with anyone as I headed out. The crumpled letter rubbed against my sore legs in my pocket, its edges jutting into my skin.
“I remember that damn letter,” I grumbled. “Can’t forget it no matter how hard I try. It’s down the drain at this point.”
We went silent once again, the awkward feeling rising in the room. I opened my mouth. “I’m sorry.”
He perked up with puzzlement.
“I’m just… well I’m acting like it’s entirely your fault. It’s my responsibility, too. We were both there, both just- both of us were in the moment.”
“That’s what a heat can do.” We both chuckled. “It really should be my responsibility-”
“No!”
He jumped at my shout. I shut my eyes, burying my face in my hands. “It’s not.”
I felt my hands being lowered and Gatsby giving me a sympathetic smile, tears forming in his eyes. “I’m just happy I can talk to you. We can settle responsibilities later, but right now… I think it’s time we settle everything.” He kept my hands under his warm ones. “I think you’re my fated mate.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I think you’re my fated mate. My rut… I don’t get them often like your heats. But when you were with me, I felt hot. In a good way- it was a tingle, then a desire.” He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, slowly drawing circles around my knuckles tenderly. “I never was able to tell you that.”
I blushed. “To tell you the truth, my heat became irregular whenever I thought of you…” I trailed off, too flustered to finish. “It was scary. Really scary.”
He reached out and pulled me into an embrace. He squeezed me gently like a precious porcelain doll. “Please, don’t feel scared again when it comes to me.”
I swallowed, slowly extending my arms up to return the gesture as lightly as I could. Tears started to form in my eyes. “Daisy loved talking about fated mates, but I thought it was just…I thought it was stupid.”
He pulled back, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “Whether fated mates are real or not, I want to be with you. We can go through this together.” He cupped my cheeks, leaning in. “I’ll be by your side. I won’t make you angry, ro sad, or terrified. I promise.”
I laughed. “This is going fast, isn’t it?”
“Isn’t that life? We are on life’s leash, and we have to walk to its pace if we don’t want to get dragged through the mud.” He rubbed my forehead with his. “Of course, I can mark you later.” He touched the nape of my neck, cheeks red.
“I should get going soon.”
“Do you want to stay the night? Oh, Helen.” His face fell at the mention of her name.
“I’m still not entirely… sure if I want you to meet her soon. Maybe at a later date, she can get accustomed to her- her father.”
He smiled at the mention of this. “So we can meet again?”
“We have some catching up to do,” I chuckled. “I want to help you make this place a little more lively, if you’ll let me.”
“I would love to, old sport.” He leaned in, kissing me tenderly. I felt a spike of warmth travel up my body as he pushed me down.
Gatsby will always remain a mystery to the unknowing eye, but there is one thing that everyone in this country should know: he is a loyal man. That doesn’t mean he is good nor bad, but loyal. He stays by your side through thick and thin, and will wait for you no matter what. I had never expected to see him again- how could I have after our night of passion?
At least, to me, he is a good man. A confused one, but had a good heart. Perhaps he can use his heart to create the island for Helen and I, joining us when the time is right.
Everything will come together when the time is right.