Chapter Text
Could Jayce Talis ever have imagined himself in such an embarrassing situation?
He was a tough guy, weathered by the years, with a stern face and a thick beard that only made him seem even more intimidating to others. Jayce wasn’t the type of man to show his emotions openly, as he found it very difficult to be honest with himself.
It was a secret deep in his heart, but… he is hopelessly and irrevocably in love with the pretty omega he married months ago, in a marriage arranged as an alliance between their families.
It was well-regarded for older alphas to seek out beautiful, fertile omegas to have offspring; countless times he’d heard his colleagues brazenly chatting about their charming wives, and how fantastic it was to come home to be greeted by their loving caresses and a staggering amount of food.
Between drinks on a good night out or more intimate gatherings, the boldest among them would often say that there was nothing better than fucking a young, adorable omega to fill him with cubs.
Many found it a charming topic of conversation; for Jayce, it was unpleasant, as he would always sip his Dalmore with a sour expression and distance himself from the rest.
He was happy with his job as a councilman; he was focused, and his career was at its peak. He didn’t need a wife, as people often told him. He didn’t need kisses or tender caresses after a long day’s work, and he didn’t need children.
Until one day, his closest colleague, his dear friend Nicolás Reveck, arrived at his home with unparalleled enthusiasm and laid a marriage proposal on the table, asking— almost begging— him to marry his eldest son: an omega who had just turned 17.
Of course he knew who Vitenka Reveck was, since he’d met him when he was just an adorable newborn cub; he’d even become involved with the family when the boy was seven years old, only to lose track of them after ten long years.
Nicolás was so happy, proudly introducing his son and letting him know he was a wonderful boy eager to meet him. Suddenly the idea seemed utterly ridiculous to him, almost disgusting, compounded by the fact that his best friend was bringing his son along as if he were merchandise.
But of course he was going to refuse; of course he wouldn’t be part of that entourage of perverted alphas who only thought about bonding innocent boys and saddling them with responsibilities that weren’t theirs to bear. Jayce was a mature alpha, a man of principles, with other desires in mind.
He would reject the proposal and, if necessary, tell the boy to his face— as the chivalrous alpha that he was— that she would never accept it.
Until, well, he saw him arrive at his home after ten long years, now transformed into a beauty. His jaw nearly dropped when that beautiful boy crossed the threshold and gave him the sweetest smile in the world, coming to his side and almost throwing himself into his arms with too much confidence. He caught him quickly to keep him from falling, immediately noticing the cane supporting his slender frame. He was left breathless and began to sweat from nerves, even causing Jayce to sit down and look away with a stern expression.
Viktor was beautiful, truly gorgeous. Delicate as a flower and radiant as a ray of sunshine. Smelling of sweet milk and honey.
The words caught in his throat, and without realizing what he was doing, he was already signing the papers that would formalize their marriage that very afternoon.
Viktor smiled more freely and released that delicious scent— now understood to be something he did when he was in a good mood or focused on something that made him happy.
He brought light into their home, opening the heavy curtains every morning at 7 o’clock sharp and always going downstairs to greet the staff respectfully, only to go out into the garden and bring back the freshest flowers he could find. Jayce often saw him making his way down the hallways with excitement, walking carefully thanks to the brace that protected his left knee, accompanied by the beautiful cane that supported him on his journey.
He would hear him reading aloud and sometimes softly humming gentle melodies. He often saw him sit in the beautiful vermilion armchair in the main living room— Jayce’s favorite armchair, if you’ll pardon the redundancy— and make it his sole reading spot.
Of course, he’d noticed this from day one, but now that he understood Viktor’s disability better, he mustered his courage and created an advanced prototype for a new crutch for him.
Jayce spent the first few days studying it in silence, sketching and correcting everything he found imperfect, until he finally decided it was ready to be built. At last, he ventured to devote hours of his time and effort to forging a more suitable crutch for his lovely wife. Of course, he said nothing about it; he didn’t announce his arrival in Viktor’s room— a temporary room before the marriage was arranged— and simply presented the gift one morning, placing it next to the boy’s bed, without a word or a smile.
He felt truly pleased with the idea of displaying his family’s colors, and even more so when, that same afternoon, after a long day at work, he found Viktor using it with a bright smile on his lips.
Jayce watched it all from the silence and the shadows: always observing the gentle curve of her back every time he sat down to water the plants, and watching with discreet attention as her sleeveless T-shirt slipped off his shoulder, revealing a patch of his milky, freckled skin.
At first he felt ashamed of his behavior; of course, he scolded himself harshly for acting like his coworkers: like a perverted alpha who never missed an opportunity to gaze at his slender body. He avoided eye contact at all costs after realizing how aroused he was by his wife, always keeping a safe distance and speaking only what was strictly necessary so as not to get caught up in an awkward conversation with him.
Jayce was quiet and cherished his personal space, while Viktor was a naturally talkative young man who invaded it without a shred of consideration; he always had something to say or complain about, no matter how trivial or silly it might be.
He didn’t look at him directly and pretended not to hear him, but his keen sense of hearing allowed his to pick up on a wide range of sounds and expressions that only Viktor could offer.
He never said a word about it… but he could say with absolute certainty that he knew everything about him: from the sweets he loved to sneak into his room when he thought no one was listening to him going down to the kitchen. From the loud, cheerful music echoing from the bathroom every time he took a long shower, to the way he chose short, delicate clothes to look adorable.
For Janna, Viktor was only 17 and he was a 46-year-old alpha. Obviously, they had nothing in common; nor did they need to. His life experiences stood in stark contrast to those of his wife, who surely wished he could be dating guys his own age and enjoying his studies to the fullest. But there was that sweet omega, always willing to share his time and his reading moments with him, even if there was an overwhelming silence between them and Jayce couldn’t bring himself to say a single affectionate word to him.
Maybe… if he were younger and had more self-confidence, maybe… he could approach him and sit by his side to enjoy afternoon tea with him. Perhaps if he were honest, he could breathe in his scent and touch his soft skin with greater confidence, with the respect that only Viktor deserved.
Maybe he would do it if he weren’t so bad at expressing his emotions, and he wouldn’t yet consider it inappropriate.
And of course, his upbringing also had a huge influence on his behavior, constantly reminding himself that he had to act like a responsible man. He repeated his father’s words, who had raised him to be strong and aloof, neither affectionate nor sentimental. Someone who acted like a gentleman.
“Emotions are kept hidden,” he would tell him most of the time. And he, in an attempt to please him, kept them so well hidden that he no longer knew how to bring them to the surface.
The first few months of marriage were a painful contrast for Jayce. Viktor used to come home from school with all the energy of a playful puppy— an arrangement they’d both agreed on, since Jayce didn’t want him to drop out of school— and the first thing he’d do was help prepare dinner, even if he was exhausted or stressed, even if his body was begging for rest. He’d just hum a soft tune as he put on his favorite apron and set to work with enthusiasm.
Even though it wasn't his duty, even though Jayce never asked him to go out of his way. Viktor would always approach him and invite him to his table with a genuine smile on his face. He would greet him with a warm embrace, and his delicate perfume would fill the house — sometimes so bold and uninhibited— touching him without any shame and taking his coat at the door.
Always looking for his alpha.
“Alpha, how was your day?” he’d hear him ask as he came out of the kitchen.
“Do you want me to run you a hot bath?” he’d sometimes say when Jayce returned from his job as a counselor, greeting him wearing only a short, loose dress that hinted at the outline of his tiny breasts.
Out of respect, he tried not to look directly at him; he tried to pay attention to the food and not to his charming omega, even though the desire to touch him was overwhelming.
“Husband, look, I saved this little friend from falling out of his nest. Do you want to see him?” He said on one occasion, showing him the chick resting in the makeshift nest Viktor had made for him.
His omega looked at him with sparkling eyes as he proudly showed off his creation, pressing his cheek against him and rubbing up against him. Jayce was dying of embarrassment and tried to hide it with his most serious expression.
“Darling, do you mind if we have dinner together tonight? I made your favorite dish.”
That night, as he dined alone, he slowly looked up toward where Viktor was calling him, and suddenly, he felt the question take his breath away completely. For a moment, the silver utensil resting in his hand slipped, barely held to avoid making a mess in his soup, all thanks to the tiny silk nightgown Viktor was wearing that night, translucent in strategic areas and leaving nothing to the imagination.
The omega moved slowly and leaned on his cane as he sat down beside him without even announcing his presence; instantly, he deliberately rested his head on his shoulder, exuding that perfume that drove him wild.
Jayce did everything he could to avoid revealing the raging erection hidden in his pants.
He looked up at the ceiling, turned his face away in what was meant to be discomfort, and tried to think about work problems so as not to focus his attention on those pink nipples pressing against the fabric... inviting him to savor them.
The idea of sweeping the plates aside and pulling him onto the table didn’t seem so far-fetched, not when he could easily grab him by the waist and fuck him the way he should.
Viktor was always seeking his company, calling out to him warmly and snuggling into his arms at the slightest opportunity.
And Jayce... he would only respond in monosyllables, trying not to seem nervous, and would immediately lock himself in his studio with his heart pounding. He hated himself for not knowing how to show his love the way Viktor needed. He hated himself because he loved him so much and couldn’t even string together a coherent sentence without sounding like a tyrant.
Every time Viktor smiled at him with that natural warmth and stood on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss on the cheek, the alpha felt like his chest was going to burst with love. His moral dilemma was coming to an end, and now he really had a problem and didn’t know what to do about it, since he was afraid of saying something stupid, coming across as a pervert, and hurting him with his actions.
He was afraid Viktor would realize how much his presence affected him and reject him for being so damn obsessive.
And so, two more months passed, and Viktor continued to try to get closer to him with the same enthusiasm, even though at first glance Jayce didn’t seem particularly interested in his company.
….
After a particularly rough night, Jayce arrived later than usual, his eyes tired and his face shadowed by a long day of hard work. They hadn’t treated him well today; the board had torn him apart at the meeting without any mercy: demands, criticism, pressure — because suddenly his ideas seemed outrageous to them.
His head ached, his shoulders burned, and all he wanted was silence and darkness in his room... maybe he’d just slip into his omega’s room quietly to watch him sleep and gently stroke his hair while he didn’t notice his presence.
He had just opened the door to his house and the smell hit him immediately: vegetable soup and seasoned meat, accompanied by a freshly baked cake, and that gentle sweetness that always accompanied Viktor when he was happy.
“Alpha!” the omega’s melodious voice suddenly echoed from the kitchen, as he poked his head out, revealing a tangle of brown hair falling across his forehead. Jayce froze in place as Viktor approached him as quickly as his cane would allow; he didn’t ask if he could touch him, he had no qualms whatsoever, and simply threw himself at Jayce, planting a chaste kiss on his chin.
His warm, sweet pheromones filled the room, trying to comfort the exhausted alpha with all the tenderness only he possessed, but Viktor didn’t realize that his presence actually had the opposite effect on Jayce: it embarrassed the exhausted man and made his tenderness only make him feel more uncomfortable than usual, since he didn’t know what to do or what to say.
Jayce stared at Viktor, his body stiff, so nervous about the physical contact that he didn’t know how to tell him he needed more of his sweet kisses.
“I’m not hungry.”
But he knew no other way to show his feelings than with harsh words. He simply muttered that he needed to rest while managing to make Viktor step back a little, grabbing his briefcase and the heavy coat he could barely take off with stiff movements.
“Alpha, sit down for a while,” Viktor asked gently as he guided him toward the table so he could rest. “You look very tired tonight… and I thought maybe I could give you a shoulder massage later…”
“Viktor.”
But the omega only took one more step toward him, still smiling kindly and concerned for him.
“I just want you to eat something warm, Alpha. You’ve been working too hard these days.”
Maybe another day, maybe another night, he would agree to stay with him and have dinner at his table. But today he couldn’t do it, not when Viktor looked so adorable gazing at him with that endless adoration, and his beautiful figure made him feel like a pervert. He was exhausted, so tired and fed up with work. So nervous and in need of his touch.
So frustrated at not knowing how to ask him without looking like a complete lunatic, but so eager to take a breather. Viktor talked nonstop, without pausing for a moment, chattering around him and touching him without asking if he could.
“Omega.” He felt embarrassed; he didn’t know what to do or what to say. The word sounded more like a warning than a direct order, but Viktor didn’t stop; on the contrary, he took his hand firmly and enthusiastically showed him everything he had cooked that night just for him.
“It’s a family recipe; I made it for you, honey.”
But Jayce couldn’t hold back any longer.
“I don’t like it when you do that. It’s annoying.” The words slipped out unintentionally, and not in a good way.
Nerves, stress, and the desire to share a real moment with him made him snap. Months of frustration came flooding out, causing Viktor to freeze in his tracks, staring at him with a look of confusion and less confidence in his amber eyes.
“Oh… umm, I’m sorry, I…”
“Why are you mumbling? It’s annoying that you can’t form a coherent sentence.”
«Shut up, shut up already.»
A voice inside him kept telling him to shut up, that he was scaring his wife, that he was acting like a bad alpha, but Jayce ignored it.
The alpha simply lowered his gaze, and his olive-colored eyes pierced him with a controlled, distant coldness, making the omega feel small and causing him to step back as if he were on fire.
“Stop making so much noise, Omega,” Jayce continued in that authoritative tone that brooked no argument, but without raising his voice. Every word was spoken with clarity and weight, more than he wanted.
“I don’t want to talk to you, I don’t want your company. I don’t want your attention tonight; I want you to stay away.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“Obey, Viktor.”
Viktor instinctively took a step back, and the sweet smile vanished completely from his face. He opened his eyes slightly, surprised and confused; frightened by the cold, commanding tone his alpha was using with him. Never before had Jayce spoken to him with such deliberate, almost impersonal detachment.
But he didn’t want to upset him any further.
“...Yes, Alpha,” Viktor murmured in a very low voice, lowering his gaze to the floor and completely extinguishing the happiness in every sentence; the warm, sweet pheromones soon became subtle and submissive, and Jayce didn’t like that one bit.
“I’m sorry... I won’t bother you anymore, dear.” He simply turned away in silence and returned to the kitchen, slowly dragging his cane.
Jayce heard the muffled sound of the burners turning off and the dishes being carefully put away in the cupboard. At no point were there any reproaches. Just that sad, silent obedience that twisted something inside his chest and made him walk firmly toward his study without looking back.
He knew he’d been too cold. He knew he’d scared his omega and made him cry that night, for he’d heard his soft sobs from the hallway after he’d retired to his room. But the words had already been spoken, and he wasn’t the type to back down easily… or perhaps he simply didn’t know how to apologize properly.
That night, Viktor slept curled up in his bed, with his back to the door, lying very still and breathing softly. Jayce stayed up late in the study, staring at the wall, aware that he would have to start repairing the damage once and for all.
Viktor subtly but painfully changed his affectionate behavior.
He now avoided greeting him with beaming smiles and his characteristic sweet scent wafting throughout the house so as not to bother him.
Now his movements were quieter, almost cautious, always attentive to Jayce’s sounds and glances. He didn’t laugh out loud or sit in his favorite armchair to begin his morning reading. When his husband returned from work, Viktor no longer went out to greet him with a big kiss on the cheek or a tight hug; instead, he preferred to stay in the kitchen or at his small desk, speaking in a low voice and avoiding direct eye contact for fear of truly upsetting him.
“Good evening, Alpha,” he murmured respectfully, lowering his gaze before quickly disappearing into another room. He no longer saw him wearing those flashy clothes, nor did he greet him in those flowery outfits that made him look charming.
Instead, he wore more subtle and discreet clothing: loose-fitting pants and baggy shirts. Outfits that stirred a whirlwind of frustration in the alpha’s heart, who didn’t know how to ask him directly to go back to the way he used to be. And now, he also avoided having dinner with him.
Sometimes he made up the excuse that he had already eaten at the Academy; other times, he simply prepared a hearty meal for Jayce and retreated to the mansion’s gardens with a book or his notes in hand. He would hide there for hours; even when it was cold, he would simply wrap himself in a thick blanket to keep warm, and Jayce would just watch him from the study window: his omega sitting on the stone bench, now with his knees drawn up to his chest and a distant look in his eyes.
He no longer hummed.
He no longer shone or brought light into their home... and it was all his fault.
His pheromones, once so vibrant and sweet, now remained contained, almost as if he were avoiding releasing them out of shyness, as if he were trying to take up as little space as possible in the house.
Three days later, Jayce finally mustered the courage to speak to him and decided to give it another try, this time on his own terms. He made sure to arrive well before his usual time so he could talk to him properly, this time without fear or nervousness, acting like a gentleman.
He needed to show him how much he loved his company, even if he ended up looking like a ridiculous, foolish alpha.
That night, he entered his home quietly, looking for his wife, but found only the table set for one and no sign of Viktor anywhere in the spacious room.
Until suddenly, he heard noises in the kitchen and approached cautiously to see who it was. He found him there, organizing the pantry and putting away the clean cutlery, even though he’d been told many times that the cleaning staff could do it. He had his back to him, working alone, absorbed in his own world of thoughts, so he didn’t notice when the older man stood a few steps behind him and called out to him in a soft tone.
“Viktor…” he called his name in a deep voice, a little firmer than he would have liked due to his nerves, but trying to soften his tone almost immediately.
Viktor visibly tensed and turned toward him, his hands still holding the silver knives.
“Tonight you will have dinner with me," said Jayce, nodding toward the table, trying in no way to show that he felt overwhelmed by his beauty. "Sit with me."
Viktor hesitated for a second, his cheeks flushed with an adorable blush that only made her heart beat faster.
He noticed how he hesitated at first, but he just nodded slightly and obeyed in silence.
He hoped he would sit next to him as he always did, resting his forehead on his shoulder and wrapping his delicate hands around his arm as he usually did whenever he was in a good mood.
He waited in vain, as he took the seat in front of him and remained very quiet in his place, staring at his empty plate as if it could save him from such an embarrassing situation. As if he could escape the penetrating gaze of his alpha. The silence was thick and flooded with both of their pheromones: The subtle and sad essence of Viktor contrasting sharply with the dense and musky perfume of Jayce.
Viktor only allowed himself to look up when Jayce made a gesture to serve food for both of them, which caused the omega to try to get up to stop him, but Jayce stopped him with a silent gesture, passing a plate with the food he had prepared that very afternoon.
It was overwhelming, so much so that they just stood there for a long time without speaking to each other, until the alpha tried to talk, immediately noticing that the words were clumsy again.
"You've been avoiding me," he commented casually while cutting the steak with precision using the cutlery. "I don't think it's necessary for you to hide in the gardens as if you lived with a monster."
He wanted him to hug him again and fill him with noisy kisses. He wanted him to tell him that he missed him.
But Viktor didn't respond to his call, he just poked at some vegetables with his fork and hid his face among his brown curls, fearful of him. His lack of response ignited Jayce's frustration, making his scent grow more and more intense. He wanted to fix it, he really wanted to be kind to him and ask him not to hide again. He wanted to... but he didn't know how.
"Look at me when I speak to you, Vitenka," he ordered, this time with a stronger and graver voice, acknowledging that his nerves were cruelly betraying him.
Viktor looked up immediately upon hearing that beautiful nickname that contrasted with his husband's harsh words, but his beautiful eyes shone, filled with contained tears. His lower lip trembled slightly, and his hands were on the table, gripping the tablecloth in fear.
"I'm sorry, alpha," his voice sounded broken and her body trembled slightly. "Just... I'm trying to give you the space you asked for, and I didn't want to bother you anymore."
Jayce opened his mouth to respond, desperate to see him cry, but Viktor continued as tears ran down his cheeks.
"I don't know what else to do to avoid irritating you." Viktor looked so devastated and sad, making Jayce want to approach and hug him tightly.
“Before, I tried to get close and you got angry... now I keep my distance and that also bothers you. Tell me what you want me to do and I will do it. Just... please, don't get angry again.”
His voice broke at the end, and Viktor just lowered his head, allowing the tears to flow more freely, inevitably falling into his plate of food. Viktor didn't sob loudly; he simply let the tears run down his cheeks with that silent sadness that pierced Jayce's chest like a dagger.
The alpha froze again, fork in hand and his green gaze fixed on him. His eyes were filled with so many emotions, and his heart beat slowly, as sad as he was.
Of course, he thot about reaching out and pulling him to his chest. Jayce thot about hugging him tightly to let him know that he needed him, that he truly loved him... but in the end, he simply had dinner in complete silence while Viktor cried without saying a single word.
That night, the omega went back to sleep on his back in his room, curled up in a small ball while sobbing silently, as if trying not to be heard.
As if he were trying to hide from him.
Jayce didn't sleep well that night, and he only entered his omega's room to make sure he was deeply asleep, tucking him in carefully and gently stroking his blushing cheeks.
He refused to accept his affection, he refused to look him in the eyes— not now that he felt unworthy of his love, and a plan began to take shape in his mind to win the heart of his sweet omega: maybe he wasn't good with words, maybe he was bad at showing how much he enjoyed his company... but he knew very well that he was better at putting everything in his heart on paper.
He was a skilled writer, and his handwriting was a pleasure to behold, always receiving praise from his assistants or colleagues who had the opportunity to read what he wrote. Of course, he would leave subtle notes, doing it in a way that Viktor would never suspect him.
He didn't want to scare him, nor make him feel like he had to reciprocate his feelings just because we were married.
He would do it in a way that made it seem like a young and handsome man—someone attentive and chivalrous—who had suddenly, simply, fallen in love with his beauty and didn't know how to express his love to his face to face. Maybe he could pretend to be a young man of his age and write whatever came to his mind.
But... how?
How could he put into writing something that was so difficult for him to say with his own voice?
He thot and thot until his head hurt, scribbling incomplete notes and tearing the paper when the ink smudged under the pressure of his trembling hand.
Would he ever be worthy of him? Could he ever be... truly loved in return? He had no doubt that Viktor cared about him, given the way he treated him... but could he really love him?
He was hard on himself, embarrassed by his mature appearance more than he was willing to admit, and by his brusque way of speaking to her. His hair was starting to gray, and his demeanor intimidated anyone. His hands were calloused from hard work, courtesy of his job at the forge.
He was not gentle; he was not someone who could hold him with the tenderness he deserved.
But he wanted to try.
He looked closely at what he had written on the paper... and for a moment thot it wasn't such a bad idea to try it. Gods, Viktor had him enchanted.
Absolutely enchanted, adoring every little thing about him and the beautiful way he treated him.
He wrote and wrote until dawn. He wrote until Viktor left and finally felt satisfied. That day he arrived at work and tried to leave the office early, heading directly to a prestigious perfumery on the main avenue, specializing solely in masking the natural pheromones of the wearer. His steps sounded firm and he is remained serious as he looked at the woman in charge of the samples and asked her to show the most exclusive collection. He carefully smelled all kinds of scents and pheromones, from sweet notes to more intense tones.
Nothing convinced him or completely captured his attention, until he found the right one:
A perfume of wild violet, expensive and very delicate, which contrasts strongly with its earthy and slightly woody aroma.
Something he thot looked very good on his wife.
He paid for the product and bid farewell to the staff with a gentle nod; he finally arrived home just before midnight, entering thru the main entrance:
Viktor was nowhere to be found, so he went straight to his study and began his work with meticulous care, putting on gloves to avoid revealing his true scent.
He would be careful and suppress his scent so it wouldn't interfere with the notes.
He would leave them in a special place and make sure he could read them.
It was a promise... Jayce Talis would never make him cry again.