Page 259 of Claim Me
"I think we’re stepping onto a new path. One on which we won’t be walking through life just the two of us anymore…"
Silence. Blue closes his eyes for a moment, his hands coming to rest against my chest.
"Say that again… say it one more time," he whispers, blinking slowly.
I take a deep breath.
"We’re going to have a child, Blue! He’s already growing inside you. Your scent has taken on this… vanilla note. A change is coming, a big one."
Blue cautiously rests his forehead against my chest.
"A part of me already knew. And another part… still doesn’t."
"You can confirm it with an ultrasound, but my sense of smell is pretty good. I can tell."
A long moment passes, his forehead still pressed against me. I can hear his heartbeat picking up.
"I know what you’re thinking. About when to tell our families. And the world," I say, not entirely sure I’m right.
"That too. But I also feel fear. The responsibility for a child will be enormous in a world where my life is constantly at risk."
I stay quiet, not sure what to say, and then Blue exhales.
"I’ll have to change my life, Gabriel. Become more private. Fewer public appearances, fewer interviews, fewer business meetings."
"Won’t you miss it?"
Blue straightens and looks at me seriously.
"It’s part of this new path. It’s not a loss, Gabriel. It’s simply a change. A conscious one. Something I want… and need. I’ve already fulfilled myself on the other path, and I was starting to burn out. And the greatest discovery of my life is almost done. Then I will be able to partially relay some of my duties. Adams is a competent man who will manage well."
His hand slowly moves to his stomach, uncertain, almost tentative.
"Yes…" Blue adds. "Change is coming. A challenge. But as you know, I… I’m not afraid of challenges. I built my entire life on them."
Before I was a bit wary of this term, seeing it as his way of distancing himself, but suddenly I get it. The powerful drive hidden in him, carrying him through his life, the immense energy… needs sequencing, regulating, taming.
I put my hand on his shoulder and slowly slide my fingers up to his cheek. What I notice is that hedoesn’t shiverat my touch, maybe the first time?
"Your strength is… so sexy, you have no idea. Some alphas like fragile and subdued omegas but that’s not for me. I'm sooo attracted to you, Blue, it's insane!"
Blue cocks his head and smiles, wide and bright.
"Strength? Have you seen yourself in the mirror, Gabe? You’re the kind of guy who just never gives up. Fate really did make us a perfect match. That much is certain."
I chuckle and take his hand. Walking like this, we go back to the limousine, leaving the hospital and Marcel behind.
???
The joint graduation ceremony takes place on a rainy day in May. I graduate with a double major in cybersecurity and electrical engineering, and Marlow graduates with a veterinary degree. Maybe it’s a good thing it’s raining, because Blue and I can stay hidden under a dark umbrella, masks on our faces, blending into the crowd so no one recognizes us. Blue’s small hand is tucked under my arm, and I feel this intense happiness at being among people with my omega, my chest filled with pride. I'm back at campus but no longer as a guy nobody wants, nobody notices.
Of course my parents are there, along with a large group of my cousins and uncles. Not all of them made it, but plenty did, because my father is everyone’s favorite uncle. "Uncle Van!" keeps ringing out as more relatives join our group, my cousins showing up with their partners. A lot of them have found their True Mate recently, and it’s actually nice to look around at all those happy faces.
Blue and I planned to share our news with my parents and the whole family today, to tie this happy occasion together with something we’ve been putting off for a long time. Blue pushed back a bit, saying we shouldn’t take attention away fromthe graduation event, from Marlow, and monopolize people’s attention, but I convinced him I know Marlow well enough to be sure he’ll feel relief if not all eyes are on him the entire time. I take my diploma first, then Marlow takes his and steps down from the stage, but he doesn’t look great. He seems thinner, and there’s something in his eyes, some kind of hunger. He looks worn out, which makes sense after the intense final stretch and all the work he put into earning that degree. He was always the most attractive out of all my brothers, with his willowy build and delicate, beautiful features, but now there’s this dullness around him, his usual pastel aura somewhat faded.
The diploma in his hand doesn’t seem to make him happy. Is there something more going on? I feel like everyone can sense it, that tension in him, that restless anticipation of something, the craving. Most people probably assume it’s just his disposition. That he doesn’t want to be the center of attention and would rather slip away from the family celebration and the crowd of loud, cheerful relatives as fast as possible and sink back into his deeply private world.
After the ceremony, we all head to a restaurant. Blue wants to contribute, but my father insists on paying for everything. The table is huge, since many of my cousins came with their partners, and some even brought small kids. Among the few singles are Veyron and Dallas, who sits there with his usual twisted expression, like someone forced him to swallow a handful of mustard seeds. That’s just how he is.
