Good Morning

Zack's face contorted, muscles tightening across his jaw. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he twisted in the sheets, tangling them around his legs. His breathing came in short, sharp bursts.

His eyes snapped open. The darkness of the room pressed in around him as his heart hammered against his ribs. His chest rose and fell as he worked to steady his breathing. He ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair, fingers catching on the half-shaved side. The lake house creaked and settled around them, a symphony of sounds that set his nerves on edge.

He squeezed his eyes shut, the memory lost again – but the feelings – clinging to him like a shroud.  The acrid tang of fear, the metallic scent of blood, a suffocating sweetness he couldn't quite place. It was a phantom limb pain; he knew something terrible had happened, his fathers car accident, but the details always eluded him, leaving only a gaping hole where memory should be. It wasn't even just his fear. The other scent, overlaying everything, was what haunted him.  Sweet, warm, vulnerable; an Omega’s scent, thick with despair.  He opened his eyes, the lingering scent clinging to the air even in the dimly lit bedroom. The image of the explosion flashed in his mind, but then darkness again. A nameless dread squeezed his chest.

Zack's gaze shifted sideways, his blue eyes gentling as they settled on Brandon's serene figure. The young Omega lay curled beside him, one arm draped possessively across Zack's torso, the other cradling his cheek. His short, brown hair, with its striking white stripe, was disheveled from slumber, a few stray strands brushing his eyelids.

A smile tugged at the corners of Zack's mouth as he watched Brandon. The tension in his body began to ebb away, replaced by a warm feeling that started in his chest and spread outward. His gaze traced the contours of Brandon's face, taking in the creamy skin that looked even more delicate under the slow rise of the sunlight filtering in through the window.

The scent hit him with the force of a wave. Warm caramel and marshmallow mixed with a hint of earthy chai and something uniquely Brandon. It filled Zack's senses, grounding him, anchoring him to the waking world. 

He's here. He's not a dream.

Zack could feel the weight of Brandon's arm draped across his torso, the gentle push of his head against his shoulder. He was here. And his scent was perfect.

A warmth spread through Zack's chest, melting the icy knots of apprehension that had settled there. It was tempting, overwhelming. The raven-haired alpha dared not breathe, afraid that even the slightest movement would shatter this fragile haven. He wanted to reach out, to run his fingers through Brandon's silky locks, to trace the curve of his jaw, to reassure himself that this wasn't a phantom he'd conjured in his delirium.

A flicker of fear chilled the warmth spreading through Zack's chest. Could he risk scaring Brandon away? Perhaps, in some primal, instinctive way, Zack had summoned him. Come to me! He smiled, recalling the Omega's exuberant sprint toward him, nestling into the Alpha's embrace. With the Omega's legs encircling him, clutching each other fervently, it was perfect. 

Gently, Zack reached out and ran his fingers through Brandon's hair. He watched as Brandon's eyelashes fluttered at the touch, but he didn't wake. The young Omega sighed in his sleep and snuggled closer into Zack's side. The Alpha felt a pang of protectiveness surge through him.

He softly removed his hand, his other arm now encircling Brandon, drawing the Omega closer.  Zack rested his chin on Brandon's head, his eyes shut, relishing the embrace before the approaching light brought the day, and with it, the return to reality.

The soft sound of Brandon's voice had Zack tightened his hold around the younger man, feeling him shift closer. The sound of Brandon's breath hitched as he pressed his nose against Zack's chest. His breath was warm and comforting, washing over Zack's skin in soft waves.

"Oliver...smells good," Brandon murmured sleepily, his voice a low whisper that barely disturbed the quiet of the room. The words hung in the air between them, seeping into the silence of the room. Zack blinked, confusion threading through him.

His heart clenched in his chest, an unfamiliar sting at the mention of someone named Oliver. He tried to push away the unwelcome thoughts creeping into his mind. The irrational wave of jealousy was foreign and unexpected, a gnawing feeling that settled deep within him.

"Brandon," Zack whispered softly, brushing his fingers gently through the young Omega's hair. Brandon hummed in response, nestling closer into Zack's embrace. His hazel-green eyes remained closed, lashes casting long shadows on his cheeks under the soft morning light filtering in through the window.

"Oliver's is a friend, right?" Zack found himself asking, keeping his voice steady despite the uncertainty curling within him. There was a pause before Brandon responded, his words slurred with sleep.

"Yeah...friend," he murmured softly before he went silent again. Zack breathed out a sigh of relief he didn't know he'd been holding in.

He let himself relax back into the bed, pulling Brandon closer against him. The tension seeped out from his body as he felt Brandon's steady breathing against his chest.

Brandon's eyes fluttered open, an amazing scent enveloped him completely, a heady mixture of pine and musk that made his head swim. His body responded instinctively, a warm flush spreading across his skin as he felt the first telltale signs of slick beginning to form. 

The next thing he noticed was the warmth enveloping him. He glanced down, and his breath hitched as he realized that he was practically cocooned against a body. His arm was draped over a waist, his face pressed into a firm muscled body. His heart pounded in his chest as a flush crept up his neck and onto his cheeks.

  As he took in his surroundings. The unfamiliarity of the room struck him first. It wasn't the dorm room he shared with Oliver and Silas, nor was it the clinical starkness of the medical facility he'd been trapped in. This room had a warm, lived-in feel to it, with its wooden walls and soft ambient light filtering through the curtains.

Startled, Brandon recoiled, nearly falling from the bed.  Zack groaned, his arms shooting out to catch him.

"Careful," Zack mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

Brandon's hazel-green eyes were wide as they met Zack's calm blue ones. His mind raced to piece together how they ended up in this position. He remembered bits and pieces - a chase through the forest, Zack tackling him, Zack carrying him... a shower but after that, everything was a blur.

"I..." Brandon stammered, struggling to find words. "I... didn't mean to... I mean... I don't remember..."

Zack simply watched him with an unreadable expression on his face. He didn't say anything for a moment, allowing Brandon to collect his thoughts.

"You're safe here," Zack finally said softly. His gaze was steady and reassuring, but it did little to quell the panic rising in Brandon.

Brandon swallowed hard, trying to control his racing heart. His instincts screamed at him to flee from this intimate proximity with an Alpha. But another part of him, a part he didn't quite understand yet, urged him to stay.

Brandon's fingers brushed against something at his throat. His eyes widened as he felt the collar, memories of similar restraints flooding back. His breath quickened, chest tightening as panic clawed its way up.

"Why am I wearing this?" His voice cracked, fingers scrabbling at the collar.

Brandon's eyes darted between the collar and Zack, his breath hitching as he struggled to contain the surge of fear that threatened to overwhelm him.

Zack reached out, his hand hovering near Brandon's without touching him. "It's okay," he soothed, his voice low and steady. "I think it's Benny's way of making you feel safe. He wouldn't hurt you…I wouldn't hurt you either."

The Omega's fingers stilled on the collar, his hazel-green eyes searching Zack's for sincerity. Zack met his gaze evenly, a silent promise that no harm would come to him. Slowly, the tension in Brandon's shoulders eased, and his hand dropped from the collar. He took a shaky breath, the faintest flicker of trust flaring in his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Zack brushed Brandon's bangs aside, examining the cut along his hairline. His fingers lingered, gentle against Brandon's skin.

Heat crept up Brandon's neck as he leaned into the touch. "I think I'm okay."

Zack's voice dipped even lower, a soft murmur that seemed to be pulled from the depths of his chest. "I...I don't know how to explain it," he started, the words emerging hesitantly, as if he was testing the weight of each syllable. His brow furrowed slightly, a silent testament to the battle being waged within him—the struggle to articulate the inexplicable. "But there's something about you...about us...that feels...familiar."

He hesitated, the silence stretching between them, taut and brimming with unspoken thoughts. It was a silence that begged to be filled, yet defied the intrusion of casual words. Zack's gaze was fixed on a point just beyond Brandon, as though the answer to his own confusion might be found in the stillness of the room.

"It's like I've known you before," he finally continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "or like I've been waiting for you without realizing it. It sounds crazy, I know." His eyes flicked back to meet Brandon's, searching for a glimmer of understanding, a sign that he wasn't alone in this strange, uncharted territory of their connection. "But every time I'm with you, it's as if pieces of a puzzle are clicking into place, and I can't shake the feeling that this...whatever this is...it's meant to be."

A slow smile spread across Brandon's face, the corners of his lips tilting upwards. A warmth bloomed in his chest, mirroring the sentiment echoing in Zack's words. "I think I feel it too," he whispered, his voice barely audible, yet carrying the weight of a shared secret.

The admission sent a shiver down Brandon's spine, his Omega responding to the deep rumble of Zack's voice. Their scents began to mingle in the air, creating an intoxicating blend that made Brandon's head spin. He could feel Zack's pulse quickening where their skin touched, matching the rapid beat of his own heart.

Zack’s thumb gently brushed against Brandon’s cheekbone, the contact as light as a feather yet enough to send a cascade of shivers down Brandon's spine. The moment hung between them, fragile and charged with an electricity that neither could fully comprehend. 

"I know this is all too much," he confessed, his words laced with a subtle undercurrent of guilt. "And I don't want to scare you or make you uncomfortable." His eyes, a deep shade of blue, searched Brandon's for any sign of hesitation, ready to retreat at the slightest hint of discomfort. The world around them seemed to quiet, as if nature itself was holding its breath, waiting for Brandon's response to this tentative dance of vulnerability and connection.

Brandon's mind raced with the tumultuous events of the past day. The raid on the school, the safety of Oliver and Silas hanging in the balance, the harrowing journey with Mike, and now, finding himself in the sanctuary of Zack's presence. His heart ached with the weight of his secrets, the past life he kept shrouded in shadows. Yet, despite the uncertainty swirling around him, one truth remained steadfast—his Omega instincts were guiding him toward this Alpha.

He studied Zack's face, the sharp angles softened by sleep. The scent that clung to Zack, a heady mix of pine and something undeniably Zack, was intoxicating. 

Brandon reached up, his fingers trembling slightly as they traced the line of Zack's jaw. The touch was feather-light, exploratory, as if mapping uncharted territory. His fingertips brushed against the slight stubble there, sending tingles through his hand. The Alpha's skin was warm beneath his touch, alive with an energy that seemed to pulse between them.

Could I really have this?

Brandon's voice was a whisper, barely audible, but it carried the weight of his resolve. 

"Zack, I..." He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. How could he explain the tumultuous storm raging within him? The fear, the hope, the undeniable pull towards the Alpha beside him?

"You don't have to say anything," Zack murmured, his hand coming up to cover Brandon's where it rested against his cheek. "I can see it in your eyes. I can feel it in the bond that's forming between us."

The bond. It was a concept that both thrilled and terrified Brandon. The connection to an Alpha was something he had always feared, a link that could so easily turn into a chain. But with Zack, it felt different. There was a gentleness to the Alpha, a sense of restraint and respect that Brandon had never encountered before.

"I want to trust this," Brandon admitted, his eyes pleading, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to trust you."

Zack's response was a soft smile, a silent affirmation that he would do everything in his power to earn and keep that trust. "We'll take it slow," he promised, his thumb gently stroking the back of Brandon's hand. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

The words wrapped around Brandon like a warm embrace, soothing the raw edges of his fear. He leaned into Zack's touch, allowing himself to revel in the comfort it provided. For the first time in a long time, Brandon felt a glimmer of hope for the future, a future he now dared to envision with Zack by his side.