Chapter 15 - The Atwood's

Rowan kept shooting me worried glances, probably trying to figure out why on Earth I had us practically hiding in the corner of my own sister's wedding ceremony. 

We had arrived early—just as I planned—to avoid potentially running into my sister. Or worse, my parents. 

The ceremony hadn't started yet, so none of the present guests had taken their seats. I practically dragged Rin and Rowan into the furthest corner as possible, away from the other guests and their prying eyes.

Rowan hadn't said anything yet, but I could tell he had questions just sitting at the tip of his tongue. All I had to do was look at him through narrowed eyes, though, and he kept his mouth shut. 

The same could not be said for Rin.

"Alek, why are we hiding over here?" He innocently asked me, looking up with those big hazel eyes that felt like they could see straight through you. 

"We're not hiding." I dismissed, shooting another glance around the venue to make sure no one was approaching us. 

If it weren't for how bad I didn't want to be here, I would probably admire the place the way it deserved. 

The venue was beautiful with these gorgeous chocolate cosmos trailing across the off white walls and hanging from the backs of the seats and over the altar. Mixed in were little yellow daisies, an odd color combination but one that worked, nonetheless. 

Every chair had a white cover over it as well, and the front seats were all lined with cards on them, claiming those spots for family only. I already knew my name would not be up there. 

The fact that I was here at all was ludicrous. I genuinely wondered what faces my family made after receiving Carly's call to RSVP for the three of us. Surely, they all looked dumbfounded by the news that I'd be showing up. 

The thing was, my family wasn't inherently awful, but they were traditional. They felt it was against nature for men to be omega, but I had no clue how to make them understand that I didn't choose my secondary gender, as much as they liked to blame it on me. 

My sister was always different. She didn't make me feel like I was wrong for simply existing, yet she still left me behind when she went off to college. And I didn't mean in just the physical way. For some reason, she ceased all contact with me not long after she left.

I didn't question it. I knew from my time with our parents that I wasn't easy to love. Lyn had to do so much for me when we were kids that it probably felt like a relief to finally be rid of me. 

"So then, why do you look so scared?" Rin's voice brought me back to reality and I cringed. 

"I'm not, everything is just fine, Rin. Promise." I gave him what I hoped was a believable smile and chanced one more glance around the room.

My stomach dropped when my eyes connected with my mother's across the room.

Oh shit.

My mother, Sharon Atwood, had long blonde hair like Lyn's. It was pin straight, pulled back in a half up style, and framed her round face well. Her blue eyes shone with an almost excited sheen, but I knew better than to believe it was excitement at seeing me. She was most likely excited to have her verbal punching bag back in her sights. 

She wore a beautiful yellow dress that had ruffles on the sleeves and her brown sandal heels clacked against the marble flooring as she walked off to the side for a moment.

It took no time at all for her to grab the attention of my father and begin making their way over to us. 

Gabriel Atwood, my father, looked the same as he had all those years ago. I still remembered the weight of his arms around my back when he hugged me goodbye, as awkward as it was, before my mom cleared her throat and he had retreated.

His slightly wavy brown hair was slicked back as usual and he had on a lovely brown suit with a white dress shirt and matching brown tie. You'd think it would be too much brown, but he made it work. Especially with the suit being the same shade as his eyes, as our eyes.

It hurt my heart a little to see the shock in our matching eyes staring back at me. I could tell he truly wasn't expecting me to show up today.

My dad had always been the more understanding of my parents. I never felt like I was wanted by either of them, but he did make me feel like he cared for me at least a little. Even now, with the apologetic look in his gaze, I could tell he was only going along with whatever my mother told him to do. Business as usual for the Atwood's.

I just stood there, frozen in place with no clue how to warn Rowan and Rin of how awkward this day was about to get.

"Aleksander, what a surprise to see you here." Sharon spoke first as her and my father came to a stop a few feet away from our little corner.

I could feel Rowan and Rin's curious eyes on the side of my face as I forced a smile. 

"Mother, it's been awhile. How are you and Dad doing?" I asked softly, trying to hide my shaking hands behind my back as I looked between the two people I was meant to feel the safest with.

"Oh, just splendid. We couldn't be more excited for our precious Evelyn. William is a bit of an interesting choice, but still a reputable alpha. It's just perfect for our omega Lyn, wouldn't you agree, Sweetheart?" My mom's hair shifted over her right shoulder as she glanced to the left at Dad, awaiting his never ending agreement to anything she said.

"Yes, just the perfect pair. William is such a good man." And that's likely all my father would say until Sharon decided to insist for his input once again.

"Yes, indeed. Well, Alek, who is this handsome fellow with you, hm? Have you finally got an alpha of your own?" It irked me how my mother completely overlooked the child standing in between Rowan and I, but perhaps that was the better outcome.

My face heated at the implication in her words as I quickly responded, "Oh no, this is Rowan Madden, my boss." I could see the moment my mother latched onto my words like a vulture that just spotted its next meal. 

"Oh, boss you say? What possible job could little Alek have gotten with such a fine alpha as a boss?" A strike of possessiveness hit me hard as Sharon raked her eyes up and down Rowan's body. I wanted to yank him closer and tell her that he was mine, but I knew better than that.

Clearing his throat, Rowan stepped in between my mother and I and started to introduce himself.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. Alek here works for my wife and I as a nanny for our little Rin." Rowan gave a blindingly charming smile as he reached a hand out to shake my mother and father's, his other hand ruffling Rin's hair as he introduced him as well.

"Oh, aren't you just a charmer? Well, it's nice to meet you. I hope Aleksander hasn't given you any trouble." I hated the little smirk Sharon gave at her own words, but the very apparent disapproval written all over Rowan's face made me feel slightly better.

I could tell he was growing rather furious with my mother's words, but he was doing a wonderful job at remaining polite.

"Not at all, Alek is wonderful. Just ask Rin, he absolutely adores him." Rowan smiled fondly at Rin as he nodded his head rather aggressively. He is too precious.

"Yes! Alek is the best! We protect him. Right, Daddy?" 

"We sure do, little man." The alpha's voice was filled with fondness for his son and I couldn't blame him, Rin was the sweetest kid I had ever met. It completely warmed my heart how much he seemed to care for me already.

"Right, well. The ceremony is bound to start soon. Keep to yourself, Aleksander, and I'm sure we'll have more time to catch up with you later." Sharon gave a curt nod toward Rowan and briskly left not long after, my father following in tow. 

"So, um, she was. . .nice?" Came Rowan's unsure voice a few quiet minutes later. 

"Yeah. Sorry about that." I sighed, turning back to face my two plus ones and swallowing down the residual nerves leftover from seeing my parents, 

I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly as I took in the concerned looks from both my boss and his kid. Rin was far too young to have that look on his face. 

"Hey, nothing to apologize for. Do you maybe want to find a seat?" Rowan asked, looking around the venue in search of what I assumed to be a cluster of seats for the three of us.

"Yeah, sure. Come on, bud." I smiled warmly at Rin in hopes of settling his very obvious nerves and he lit back up like a Christmas tree. His parents weren't wrong, Rin truly did seem to enjoy formal events like this. 

I was just glad the worst of it was over. Hopefully I would be able to avoid my parents for the rest of the evening.

I also wanted to ease the tension that settled hard into Rowan's shoulders, but I had no clue where to start.