The Ugly Omega

3.

Lunch was served at a long table in the dining room. Jake had heard of such places, seen them on TV, but to be there was a whole different kettle of fish. Getting used to such large spaces was a challenge after living his entire adult life in a rental that could barely qualify as livable space. His family had never been keen on him, even less so after they found out he was an omega. Jake thought, as sick to the stomach as that made him that he wasn’t his father’s son, because both his parents were as average as they could be in looks and intelligence, while he’d always grown up fast to the mountain man he was today. But he’d never asked, and they’d never told him anything.

The other challenge was having lunch in the family. Jake was still terrorized by the idea that he wouldn’t know how to behave. Erin was obviously up to no good and teased him mercilessly so far, asking him about how many fights he’d won in his life and never believing for a moment that his personal bodyguard wasn’t a brawler, like he expected.

They were the first at the table, he and Erin. Plates stacked upon plates and utensils in different sizes met his eyes the moment he sat down. He picked a seat as far as he could from the place where the master of the house would most likely sit, despite Erin’s protests.

In the end, the young Salazar had plopped down by his side, giving him the evil eye.

“Ah, you must be Erin’s new prisoner,” someone said in a deep, sonorous voice.

Jake got up and turned to see who was addressing him. A tall man in his early thirties with dark hair and dark eyes, dressed in a navy blue suit, measured him up and down. Whatever he was looking for, he found Jake having it.

The smell of expensive leather was strong in this particular Salazar, but not exactly like the scent of the alpha who’d rocked Jake’s world in the span of minutes. Whereas the remembered scent made Jake a bit too excited for his own good, this one offered comfort. “Matteo Salazar,” the stranger said and offered Jake his hand and a strong shake. “How are you?”

“Very well, sir, thank you,” Jake said. Matteo, unlike Erin, had impeccable manners and his handshake was honest.

“I hope you will keep our young one in line,” Matteo said. “Please, you can come closer. These places are for the lesser associates, as they tend to come and go during lunch.”

Erin rolled his eyes and smacked Jake’s shoulder. “Told you.”

Erin hadn’t told him anything about lesser associates. But the little devil definitely wouldn’t miss a chance to get physical, as Jake had come to notice.

They both followed Matteo, who gestured with two fingers at them, already turned on his heel.

The master of the house emerged through a different door. He immediately gave Jake a thorough appraisal. “Rico chose well. They don’t make men like you anymore, do they?” he said.

In his fifties, Hector Salazar had the dignified air of a don, one who appreciated perfect grooming and impeccable fashion. His dark eyes examined Jake from underneath bushy eyebrows, and his alpha scent was unmistakably Salazar. Jake was starting to get used to it. Good thing that the doctor had given him enough pills to last him through his six months of employment.

Though he could tell that not one of the Salazars he’d met so far under this roof had the same effect on him as the one who, apparently, made it so that Jake ended up being here.

And fortunately for Jake, he wasn’t here. Rico, Erin had called him. Once more, he cursed his inability to research the Salazar family. But time had been short, and before being asked to come here, he’d never been interested in the powerful of the day.

According to his quick calculations, Rico had to be the middle son. Matteo was obviously older, and Erin was simply Erin.

“Thank you for having me, sir,” Jake said.

Hector nodded and gestured for everyone to sit. “Let’s enjoy our lunch. I’ll give you the rundown of what’s expected of you, Mr. Bones. Erin is the apple of my eye, but I will not hesitate to order you to spank him when he misbehaves.”

“Dad,” Erin whined, the height of his cheeks coloring slightly.

Jake had enough to worry about as things stood. “I beg your pardon, sir?” he asked. “I’m afraid that, as a beta, doing such a thing to an alpha--”

Hector burst into laughter. “It was only a joke. Something to help us start on the right foot. Come on, come on, let’s eat.”

Personnel dressed in black and white started pouring through the doors, seemingly from different directions, carrying trays and plates filled with the most wondrous foods Jake had ever seen in his life.

He ate little. As for enjoying himself, that was rather hard. Erin kept teasing him, stealing food from his plate and then smiling like an imp when caught. Matteo warned him several times, but Hector laughed it all off. Jake truly wanted to know what he was supposed to do to keep Erin in line, given the chasm in status between him and the Salazar family.

***