Fractured Alpha (BxB)

{Thirty}

☪︎⋆Three Months Later ☪︎⋆
"You're so fucking stupid, son," his father sneers down at the sobbing boy. "Fucking look at you. You're so damn weak." Alessio's eyes, glazed over with a reflective surface of his tears, peeked up at the cruel man.

"I-I'm sorry," he stammers out.

"No," he loudly growls out at him. Alessio flinches. The reaction causes a sly smirk to appear on Adler's lips. "You should never apologize. You know, son," he pauses to sit beside the fearful boy, "even when I had to murder someone, however brutally, I'd always smile sadistically. Because I was taught by my father to never show your emotions. That's what I always tell you, right?"

To shaken up to speak, he simply nods in reply.

Adler grins. "Well, I do that because I don't want anyone to take advantage of you, son. You may see me as a monster, like most, but I'm only prioritizing your well-being above all else. You understand that, right?"

While his tone is sickeningly sweet, the glint in his amber-hued eyes is the opposite. When Alessio tries to nod his head again, his father grips his chin tightly, but not enough to hurt the boy, and demands, "Answer me, son. I don't want to see your nod your head at me ever again. It's a sign of fear, you know that? And you're not fucking scared." His voice is low and threatening.

"Yes, s-sir," he stutters out.

Alessio emits an array of soft whines and whimpers from his plump, pink lips and clutches the sheets wrapped around his body desperately as if the satin will slaughter the fears grasping at his vital organ.

His chest and abdomen were painted in cold sweat. His cheeks were drenched in salty tears. Aleskei urged Alessio to allow his eyes to flicker golden, but the soft, beautiful fur that nuzzles into his skin and his mate's intoxicating scent prevents Alessio from shifting.

My Alpha, Malik coos softly, are you okay? What's wrong? I can feel you shaking.

Hearing his mate call him his Alpha sends Alessio into a frenzy, where butterflies flutter around in his stomach, and Aleskei growls lowly in his head, the sound sprinkled with desire. "My father. I-I had a nightmare about my father. Memories I tried to surpass were unlocked when I opened up about my past, I guess."

The confession elicits a growl from Malik, but he instantly melts when Alessio's fingers sift through his fur. I'm here now, my Alpha. You're safe. Don't worry.

Inhaling the fragrance of sandalwood and cinnamon, Alessio sobbed quietly into the wolf's blended fur.

"Please make it stop, Malik. It hurts so fucking bad. Why do the nightmares always hurt?"

At the sobs that bubbled up from his throat, Malik's heart was shards of broken glass. He hated how much his mate was in pain. Even more, he hated how he couldn't help him. He was powerless.

Alessio wrapped his arms gently around Malik's neck and bathed his beautiful fur in tears. "Am I broken, Malik? Will I always have to suffer like this?"

You're not broken, my Alpha. You're so perfect just the way you are. And the trauma you went through will never truly disappear, which I'm so fucking sorry about. The scars, even if they're not physical, will always be there. Like a permanent tattoo. But you'll learn to live with them, as time passes, and you won't let it define you. Because I don't let them define you, Malik reveals.

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Embraced by the silk material of the pillows beneath his head and the diaphanous, blush pink fabric veiling the upper-half of his body, Alessio propped himself up on his elbows, as his skin bathes in the streams of the morning light.

Between Malik's teeth was a cherry, covered in whipped cream, that he snatched from the top of Alessio's cherry pie. "Bad pup," Alessio says firmly.

Tilting his head to the side in an attempt to showcase innocence, Malik peered up at the honey beauty above him. "Don't you dare play the innocent card," Alessio accuses. "You knew I was going to eat that."

Malik flashed him a grin, his canines hidden. You can't prove that, Malik teases, his tongue darting out to wipe off the whipped cream.

Alessio pierces him with a playful glare before he reaches in the wicker basket to pull out a tupperware dish filled with triangle-shaped ham and turkey sandwiches. "Okay. I guess you'll miss out on the sandwiches then."

That's not fair, Malik whines, his soft-toned ears of silver and snow flat against his head. I am hungry.

"Aw, you are? But you just ate my cherry. Wasn't that enough for you, baby?"

Malik shook his head hastily. Please give me some turkey? I'll behave, I promise!

Cracking a smile, Alessio hands him a slice of turkey. "You're lucky I love you." Malik wags his tail happily at him and adorns his face with kisses. "Ew, now, my face is all wet," Alessio whines.

Well, I'm a wolf, he breathes out. What did you expect?

"When did you become such a smartass?" Alessio jabs a finger at him playfully, as he braids his fingers through his fur.

Malik barks out a laugh. Become? I've always been a smartass. You just happen to love that about me.

"Says you," he fires back at the wolf, who was curled up against him, nuzzling his furry head into the fabric of his faded jeans. Malik doesn't reply to his comeback. Instead, he sprawls out on Alessio's lap and lowers his head onto him affectionately. "Okay, yes, I love that about you. You and Messiah are complete opposites, you know. He's very romantic and you are a total smartass."

I'm his wolf, my Alpha. Not his replica. He laughs quietly. Besides, you're not very similar to Aleskei. He's bolder and more flirtatious than you are. But that means you're different from him rather than less than. Never forget that.

Like he was transparent, Malik seemed to read him. At least, who he used to be.

He used to always compare himself to anyone, especially Aleskei, who refused to bow down to anyone and who radiated confidence by simply existing. The fact that he's a softie to his mate is irrelevant.

Excuse me? Aleskei growled.

"Oh, don't even deny it, Aleskei," he shot back.

Admitting defeat, Aleskei allowed his mate to remain asleep on Alessio's lap and basked in the comfort of silence.

That was the last sad chapter, I swear, but I just wanted to show that Alessio still has to overcome a lot before he's truly feeling better, though he's getting there. I felt I should sprinkle in some moments with Malik before the story comes to a close, so I hoped you like them.