***

Erin was present in his father’s study when Jake arrived.

“And this is the best bodyguard in the world,” Erin introduced him, pointing at him with both arms, like the host of a game show.

Jake blinked and walked in awkwardly. Erin patted his shoulder and squeezed it. “Dad, you should’ve seen him. Those guys’ heads were like melons in his hands.” He took Jake’s wrists and showed his paws to Hector.

The head honcho was staring at Jake, slowly rubbing his chin. His eyes glinted with mischief, just like Erin’s. “Do you know why I asked you here, Jake?” he boomed in his usual, cheerful manner.

“Not really, no, sir,” Jake admitted.

“So modest. See, lads?” Hector addressed his sons. “Strong and smart.”

Jake didn’t know why Hector thought he was smart.

The old Salazar wagged a finger at him playfully. “All that talk about having no training as a bodyguard. And there you are, thinking on your feet, taking initiative, slamming those dogs down like they were nothing.” Hector smacked his hands together with satisfaction. “Ah, to be young. Now, what would you like better? A raise or a car?”

Jake stared at Hector, as shell-shocked as anyone had to be under the circumstances. He had a vague idea that the Salazars were rich, but this seemed so extreme. Was it all a bad joke, and any moment now, Hector would change his tone and condemn him for today’s mess?

“Neither, sir,” Jake eventually managed to say.

Hector stared at him, his bushy eyebrows shooting up. “How so? You put your life on the line for our blood today. Okay, you name it. What would you like?”

Jake squirmed under the head honcho’s benevolent gaze. Then he realized that there was something he wanted.

“That omega, sir.”

“The omega?” Hector asked. He scratched his temple and gave Jake a curious look. “Do you want him?”

“No,” Jake exclaimed, realizing his mistake. “I only want to ask you to go easy on him if you can. He was there, and I know that’s incriminating enough, but I believe he was forced into the situation. He’s still an omega. Omegas are rare and precious, right?” He couldn’t believe that he was asking the great Hector Salazar to show mercy to someone he had to consider an enemy of his family.

“I see,” Hector said slowly. “So, you really don’t want anything for yourself?”

“No, sir. I only did my job, as poorly as--”

“None of it,” Hector waved. “You’re so modest that my sons here will start feeling bad since they’re the opposite of that.”

“Come on, Dad.” Matteo chuckled. Erin didn’t seem to be bothered at all.

“You have the advantage of age,” Hector said. “But Erin here should learn a lesson or two. Matteo, bring the omega. Jake here must think we’re about the rough the poor thing up.”

“We should rough him up,” Erin said. “He must know something.”

For the first time since Jake had come in, Hector frowned. “Yes, he most likely knows something. But you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Erin, you’re free to go. Matteo, you too, after you bring me the omega.”

Erin looked for a moment like he was about to protest, but a look from his dad was enough to make him fall silent.

“Yes, Dad,” he said, looking like he could be on his best behavior if he wanted.

***

The omega stepped into the room, looking even more terrified than Jake had seen him. Matteo closed the door after delivering him and soon, Jake was alone with him and Hector.

“Come here, pretty thing,” Hector said in pleasant voice.

Jake felt his body reacting to that tone. That was how alphas talked to omegas. His limited experience with Rico had taught him a bit about it, about how he’d answer to an alpha’s call like his life depended on it.

And now, he saw it happening before his eyes, even if he wasn’t directly involved.

The cute omega walked towards Hector, as if he was bewitched. But he started crying when he reached around the desk and stood in front of the alpha.

“Come now,” Hector cooed. “Don’t ruin those pretty eyes. Nothing bad will happen to you. Now, you will have to tell me what you know. Don’t leave anything out, no matter how small it might seem to you.”

Jake watched, not daring to move a muscle.

“I’m scared,” the omega whined.

Hector cupped the young man’s head in his big palms. Then, he brought the omega’s face to his and kissed him with tongue.

Jake shifted his position. What he was seeing did nothing for his nerves. A complicated net of sensations spread all over his body. He was hot and cold, and he could tell his face was red.

The omega calmed down some as Hector pulled him into his lap and began caressing his hair.

“I will not mistreat him, Jake.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The omega gave him a startled look. Did he understand that it had been Jake who insisted on him being treated right?

“You are free to go,” Hector added, not unkindly.

Jake scrambled towards the door. He could hear Hector speaking softly to the omega, as well as the omega’s gasps of pleasure.

He stopped for a moment outside the door, his heart beating wildly in his chest. He’d been lucky this time. But no amount of heat suppressants would help him if he ended up witnessing how the alphas in this family treated an omega, with such calm, yet alluring words and caresses.

From now on, he had to make sure not to put himself in such a position with the head of the family. Or anyone else who was an alpha.

“Done already?” Rico was peeking at him from around the corner, his face all a smile.

Jake nodded. He was still unsure on his feet. Hector Salazar had a strong scent that could make an entire army of omegas swoon and fall at his feet.

Rico sauntered towards him. His nose scrunched up in a silly, adorable way that shouldn’t have fit someone as big and strong as him. “Let’s get out of here. Dad’s pheromones can affect even a beta.”

Jake, for once, was thankful for being dragged away.

tbc