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Charles has never bothered his head too much with these issues. He is in a stable relationship, and with Carlos being infertile it really isn’t something they think about daily. Leo brings more than enough joy and excitement into their quiet, beautiful home.
But now Max is there, icy eyes wild, and scent all over the place.
”He is going to…”
”Who is going to do what? Breathe and talk to me.”
”George. He is pregnant, and he is going to end it.”
Oh dear.
”Max. Sit down. I’ll get you a cup of tea, and then we’ll talk about this.”
Before that he returns to the bedroom, where Carlos is on the bed with a book. He looks up, brown eyes round, and soft for his alpha.
”Some problem with Max and George. I’ll try to figure out what is going on.”
”Kiss me first.”
Anything he wants. Carlos’ lips and touch are home, and Charles would rather just stay in the room with him, exchanging thoughts and lazy kisses instead of going to deal with Max, and the mess he had caused.
”I’ll wait for you”, the omega whispers, sensing his alpha’s craving for him. Letting his fingertips touch the scar on the omega’s neck Charles finally goes.
Max is sitting in the living room, his hands shaky, when they reach out to take the warm cup smelling of strawberries.
”I have to stop him.”
”Absolutely not if you want to call him your boyfriend also tomorrow.”
Alphas always have their alpha needs and urges, but good ones know how to control them. Max could get George to submit to his will, but it would cost everything, every good thing between them, and every soft thought the omega has ever had about the alpha. Max hopefully doesn't want to really pay that price.
”Just stop and think about it for a while. George is a serious title contender. He cares for you, but you you can’t do this to him.”
Red flame covers Max’s cool eyes for a while. Charles swallows down a growl, knowing he needs to protect his omega if the other alpha loses his control, but he wouldn’t appear as a threat until it was necessary. Max and him know each other, and he trusts Max to remove himself from the apartment if it gets bad.
The other alpha staggers, finding the sofa under his butt, and sits down hard. He buries his face in his hands, breathing heavily. Charles can smell the salt of his tears, but he wouldn't say anything about that.
”You are right. Of course. I can’t push him like that, and I made promises. It’s hard sometimes, and I let my instincts carry me away.”
”I can understand it being hard, but then you have to ask yourself some serious questions. George or this idea of a family? You can’t have both.”
Max gets on his feet. Carrying his cup of tea he walks to the glass doors, staring at the sea while he takes slow sips. Charles breathes in an out, the Dutch alpha’s scent of campfire smoke and caramel losing its terrible bitterness.
”He is my everything, you know.” The other alpha turns around, and walks back, putting his empty cup down.
”I know that feeling. Go support your omega, and remind George of that too.”
When Charles next sees them, they are standing very close together, giving the people walking past them identical icy looks. The poor soul who would annoy one of them, and would face the wrath from the other one too.
A warm hand touches Charles’ side, Carlos coming to stand next to him in his Williams blue.
”You did a good thing.”
Charles agrees.
George texts him later. Just one word. Thanks.