Victor Castellan was not a man accustomed to problems. He made problems for other people. So when word came down that the police had opened an official investigation into the fire at The Den, complete with evidence tying his people to the attack, he was furious. He paced his office, jaw tight as he cracked each knuckle as his informant laid out the details. 

"They've got footage," the man said, shifting uncomfortably under Victor's gaze, "Recovered from the club's security system." 

Victor exhaled sharply through his nose, sloppy. His men had been sloppy.

"Names." His voice was quiet, though there was an undertone of a growl that warned the other this was an order. 

The informant swalled, "L-Logan Kade talked." 

Victor went still. Of course he did. Logan was useful for intimidation, but under real pressure? The man folded like wet paper. Victor leaned against his desk, his tail swayed almost lazily as he tapped his gold-ringed fingers against the smooth wooden surface. 

"How much does Price know?" 

The man hesitated, "Hard to say, but...enough." 

Fingers curling into a fist, Victor breathed out a low growl. Beckett should have stayed down. Instead, he was fighting back. Victor's lips curled into something sharp and humorless. Fine. Let him fight. It would only make it sweeter when he finally breaks.

====

Beckett stood outside The Den, arms crossed, staring up at the burned-out building as the contractor walked him through the damage report. It had been almost a month since he'd personally seen what was left of his club. 

"The structure is salvageable," the man explained, flipping through his notes, "But there's extensive smoke and water damage. Electrical will need to be redone. Some of the foundation took heat stress, but nothing we can't reinforce." 

Beckett exhaled slowly, "What's the timeline?" 

The contractor hesitated, "Depends on how fast we can get permits pushed through. Could be months, maybe longer before you're fully operational again." 

Maybe longer? Beckett's tail flicked anxiously, he knew it would take time, but hearing it out loud made it real. The Den had never been quiet this long, and now it wouldn't just be repairs -- it would be renovations. A full-scale project. 

Expensive. Time-consuming. 

But not impossible. Beckett nodded, "Fine, get me a full estimate." 

The contractor jotted something down, "I'll have numbers for you soon." 

With that business attended to, Beckett turned back to the building. He nodded again, this time more for himself. It would be a long road, but he'd rebuild, he had to. 

Now, for the other problem. Beckett barely made it three steps away from The Den before Gabriel was there. Again. Like he had been every damn day. 

"You're hovering." The omega muttered, not looking at him. 

Gabriel smirked, "I'm keeping you alive." 

An annoyed scoff, "I don't need a damn babysitter." 

Tilting his head, Gabriel walked in step beside Beckett, "No? Cause last time I checked, you nearly died two weeks ago." 

Beckett stopped, but then started walking again, he shot the alpha a warning glare, "And I'm still here." 

Insufferable and sharp, Gabriel grinned, "Because I'm watching you." 

Groaning, Beckett tried walking a little faster, "Gods you're annoying." he grumbled as Gabriel easily caught up to him. 

"And yet, here I am." 

Beckett stopped again, "You have a life you know?!" he pointed off in the opposite direction, "I can't possibly be the only person in your life right now." 

At this Gabriel shrugged, "Not one more important than this." he kept walking.

That shut Beckett up. Now it was him rushing to catch up with the alpha. For a long moment, they just walked. Then, quietly, Beckett muttered, "That's really pathetic..."

Gabriel just chuckled but didn't push the matter. Because for all his irritation, Beckett hadn't actually told him to leave. And Gabriel wasn't going anywhere.

====

The tension had been building for days. Gabriel wasn't subtle or kidding about the fact that he wasn't leaving Beckett's side. Every time Beckett turned around, Gabriel was there; hovering, watching, making sure he didn't do anything "stupid", as the alpha so gently put it. 

Beckett could handle a lot. But this? This was too much. 

It came to a head just outside the airbnb. They had just come back from another meeting about The Den's renovation estimates and Gabriel had, again, insisted on driving him back. He didn't even ask, just tossed Beckett his helmet and expected him to get on the damn bike. Beckett had grit his teeth and played along because arguing about it in public wasn't worth it.

But now, as Gabriel followed him up the front steps like a damn shadow, Beckett snapped. He whirled around, tail bristling, ears pulled back, "Enough!" 

Gabriel, caught off guard, raised an eyebrow, "Enough what?"

"You, breathing down my neck. Following me everywhere. Watching me like I'm going to collapse if you look away for five fucking seconds." It all started to spill out, Beckett's teeth were bared.

Gabriel's expression barely shifted, "I mean, you might." 

An involuntary, yet nervous chuckle escaped the omega, "I'm not fragile, Gabriel. You can leave me alone." he growled. 

The alpha crossed his arms, expression infuriatingly calm, "I'm not leaving you alone again while Castellan's still out there." 

"I can take care of myself." 

At this, Gabriel scoffed, "Yeah? Jonas and I would beg to differ." 

Beckett saw red. He shoved Gabriel, hard. Though he barely moved, his gold eyes flashed, sharp and assessing. 

Beckett's chest heaved, breath coming fast, "I don't need you two babysitting me," he snapped, "I don't need you making decisions for me, deciding where I go, how I get there, who I talk to." his voice had the faintest tremble, "I don't need you acting like I'm yours to protect." 

There was a long and heavy silence. Those words had struck a cord in Gabriel, he needed a moment to reel himself back in before he said something he really regretted. Beckett was in a similar boat, he immediately picked up on how his words registered to the alpha. 

Then, after the long moment passed, Gabriel exhaled a steady, "You done?" 

Beckett hesitated but stared at him, "Are you fucking..."

Gabriel took a step closer, crowding into his space. Beckett had flinched at the sudden movement, something he never used to do. Part of Gabriel ached at being the cause, but words needed to be said. 

"You don't get it," Gabriel spoke, voice lower now, steady, dangerous in a different way, "This isn't about babysitting. Or control. This is about the fact that someone tried to kill you and you think I'm just going to walk away and hope it doesn't happen again?" 

"I don't need..."

Gabriel leaned in, "You do..."

Beckett's throat tightened, he knew Gabriel was right. He hated that Gabriel was right. Not about to give the alpha the satisfaction of knowing he'd won that argument; Beckett clenched his jaw and shoved past him into the airbnb, making sure to slam the door behind him. 

Pressing his lips together, Gabriel groaned. That may not have gone quite how he had pictured it in his head. But this was fine, it's fine...Gabriel stayed outside. 

====

Once the door was closed behind him, the sharp thud echoing through the small home. Beckett stood frozen in place, his breath still coming fast, his fingers still curled into fists at his sides. His skin burned; from frustration, from the lingering heat of the argument, from the press of Gabriel's presence that still felt like it was wrapping around him. 

He hated this.

He hated the way Gabriel wouldn't back down. 

He hated that his damn hands wouldn't stop shaking. 

Beckett took several deep breaths; inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. He forced himself forward into the living room. The space was too quiet, too clean, too temporary. It wasn't home. It wasn't The Den. It wasn't his. He ran his fingers through his hair, scratching at his scalp while pacing. 

Gabriel was just too damn persistent. Everytime Beckett turned around, the alpha was there; watching, guarding, waiting. Hell he was probably still standing outside the door right now. Beckett knew why, he wasn't stupid...Gabriel was protecting him. Gabriel was making sure he didn't get jumped again. He was doing what any alpha would do for someone they cared about. 

And that was the problem. Beckett didn't know what to do with that kind of care. His throat tightened. He had always handled things on his own. He had built his business from nothing, clawed his way into a space no one wanted to let him have, fought for every inch of ground he stood on.

He had been so close to losing everything and he didn't even know if he could really get it back. The frustration curleded like a slow-burning ember in his chest. 

Gabriel needed to back off. Because the longer he stayed, the harder it would be for Beckett to pretend he didn't want him there.

----

Gabriel stood outside, staring at the darkened street, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. The air was crisp, cool against his heated skin, but it didn't do much to ease the tightness in his chest. Beckett had shoved him. He'd snapped and Gabriel had let him, because he understood. 

Beckett was wounded; still recovering, even if he wouldn't admit it. His scent though, it lingered just out of reach. Sharp, scared, when the weight of everything had settled over his shoulders, would it make him break? 

Scratching the back of his head, Gabriel could only bring up memories of that moment. He had never seen Beckett like that before, and the worst part? He wasn't sure if Beckett had ever had someone stay long enough to see it. His posture betrayed his frustration. He wanted to fix this, he wanted to do something. But Beckett didn't want him to, not yet. So Gabriel forced himself to stay still. To wait. Because no matter how pissed off Beckett was at him right now, Gabriel wasn't going anywhere. 

----

Jonas had been gone for two hours.

Two. Hours.

And somehow, in that time, Beckett and Gabriel had already managed to have a fight. Jonas let out a slow sigh as he walked past Gabriel; who at the time, was sitting on the front step, clearly in the dog house. Once inside, he found his brother sitting in the kitchen nursing a whiskey. 

"So. That bad huh?" 

Beckett didn't even look at him, "Shut up." 

"Nah, I think I'll keep talking." 

The growl from his twin didn't stop Jonas, he just walked over and poured himself a strong drink, deliberately stretching out the silence. He took a sip, "What was it this time? Gabriel breathing too close to your personal space?" 

Beckett shot him a glare but didn't take the bait.

Jonas tilted his head, "Or was it the fact that he's been hovering like a very possessive watchdog?" 

Beckett twirled the liquid in his glass, scowling, "He's everywhere..."

"Oh no! How awful! An alpha who actually gives a shit about you." Jonas wasn't pulling his punches, he knew kid gloves weren't a sustainable option when dealing with his brother. 

Beckett's head snapped up, "That's not...!" his mouth then shut just as quickly.

Bingo. Jonas watched him for a moment, then took another slow sip of his drink, "Why does it piss you off so much?" 

His brother stiffened. 

Like a cat with a canary, Jonas grinned wider, "I think I already know." 

Beckett just turned away, ears flicking back.

"You suck at pretending you don't care," Jonas hummed in amusement, "Look, you're a grown ass adult, you know what's best for you. But come on...really? At least man up and give it the consideration it deserves." 

Beckett just huffed, slumping further into his chair.