Alpha's Little Secret

Chapter 11| Meet My Friends

I was used to the glitz and glammer of fame. Being a successful actor meant that I had to be prepared for rumors and speculation. I just didn't expect word to get around that I was in fact courting someone so quickly. I wanted it to be a mystery until I was ready. Until Drake was comfortable enough with everything changing. I refused to let him go back to his apartment alone, almost begging him to stay with me. I didn't want to give his family any sort of opportunity to get to him. Even after I marked him, he still very much feared his father.

"Maxwell! Maxwell! Over here! Is it true that your..."

The slam of my car door muted the overly asked question, giving me temporary relief. It felt like no matter what I did, people potentially finding out about Drake was inevitable. I knew there would be a day where I couldn't hide him or keep him a secret from the media. I'd have to eventually face the backlash. After thinking about what Jacob said, he was right. I'd be painted as the villain and made out to be someone who took a engaged omega away from his Alpha.

I sighed with uncertainty wishing I could cuddle Drake as this very moment. He made things so much easier when he was next to me. "Well, I'm happy you're deciding to let us meet him at least. I thought you'd keep him away from us forever," Jacob said. He was sitting right next to me, staring down at his phone. Olivia, who was quietly glaring at me through the rear view mirror, was in the passenger seat. I had come clean about Drake and who his family was and she refused to speak to me until she met the boy. I didn't blame her for being upset with me, but she did make me feel like a jackass for not telling her sooner.

I sighed again, ignoring her taunting and focused on seeing Drake. I hadn't seen him in more than 24 hours and the deep loneliness he felt in my absence left me regretful. I detested not being able to be with him whenever he wanted. I knew he occupied most of his time with my opa or distracted himself with causal entertainment until I returned, but it was all just to pass the time. My busy schedule was hectic and left me with little time to spend with him alone. Marking him had multiplied our need to be near each other at all times and it seemed to get worse the longer I spent away from him. It was like every time I got the chance to be with him, something work related would come up. Thankfully, the production studio gave us the week off so we could prepare for the second season release. I was well aware of the media frenzy the release would cause and I wanted Drake to be prepared for it.

"Do you think he'll like us?" Olivia asked, suddenly bringing me back to reality when we exited the car and started to walk the halls of my apartment building. I was positive that she was more so talking to Jacob rather than me, in spite of me walking right in front of them.

"I'm sure he's perfect. I can't see Max falling for someone who isn't," Jacob replied innocently. I could tell there was still some resentment there, but it was much less venomous and tamed. I was happy that he was slowly allowing himself to move on. Even if it was forced.

"Right, because Max makes the best decision with his life," Olivia replied sarcastically. She had a right to be upset, but she didn't have to rub salt into the wound. She didn't even know enough about Drake to make a fair judgement. Couldn't she see that I was in love with him?

I held my tongue, knowing I'd just regret it if I defended myself. I then unlocked the door and opened it, allowing the two omegas to walk into my apartment. My opa was in the living room space cuddled comfortably next to my Apa on my couch. They were well into one of those sappy romcoms that my Apa had probably snored his way through.

"Ahhh!!! My two favorite people!" My Opa exploded once he noticed us. I watched as he practically pushed his husband off of the couch and ran to Jacob and Olivia. I rolled my eyes, spotting a tired looking Drake poking his head out of my bed room. His messy dark blond hair hung from his head as a small smile spread across his lips when he saw me. How long was he waiting up? I had left him yesterday morning without waking him up so that he could sleep. He had gone multiple nights without a full nights rest. I never asked him about it, but I could feel it. He felt like he was being to much of leech. He thought that me letting him stay here was already to much. Drake was very much an independent omega, but I also wasn't comfortable with him being on his own for hours on end. Plus, I didn't want his father intimidating him to come home.

"Mr. Jenkins....I can't breath," Jacob wheezed, as Drake slowly walked into view. My opa let go of the small omega and looked him over. There was a small blush on his face as he ignored my father's instant praise. Jacob had a habit of becoming shy around my opa. For a boy who was so talented on screen he was so reserved in front of people.

"Look at you Jacob. You've grown so much. You turned out to be so adorable. I know the Alphas are throwing themselves at your feet!" He exclaimed. It felt awkward knowing that he didn't want any of them. The one alpha he wanted made it clear that he didn't return those kind of feelings. It felt like every time someone reminded him that I'd never feel the seem, his face would sadden slightly and he'd become the tiniest bit more flustered.

"And you Olivia. You've always been beautiful, but your blossoming. It's like your glowing," my opa complimented her. It was Olivia's turn to blush as she thanked the man. I felt embarrassed for the both of them. My opa always made it an event when I brought them over.

"Oh my, where are my manners. Drake...sweaty...come meet Max's friends," the joyful man exclaimed, motioning for Drake to introduce himself. I looked at the boy I had marked. The bite mark on his neck still hadn't fully healed. The reddish bruise reminded me that I had made a promise to him and myself. I never wanted Drake to feel like how he felt when his father was standing in my doorway.

Drake was hesitant, his beautiful blue eyes scanning Jacob and Olivia with unbridled fear. He was scared. Scared that my friends would reject him. Scared that they'd judge him for the minuscule amount of information they did know about him.

"He's...he's pretty," Jacob said unfiltered. He quickly covered his mouth and stared wide eyed at Drake. I felt my heart sink a little, realizing that Jacob was comparing himself. Drake was to nervous to notice, but Olivia and my opa did.

"T-Thank you....That actually means a lot coming from you. I'm...I'm like your biggest fan," Drake stuttered out. He was so innocent. He didn't even realize that Jacob felt intimidated.

"Oh...really?! Your a fan of me?...but your like a billionaire," Jacob replied in an attempt to play off his obvious feelings. Drake dropped his face, becoming uncomfortable at the mere mention of money. He didn't want to be reminded of where came from.

"So you know who my parents are and you know that I ran?" Drake sounded defeated. Like he didn't have the strength to explain his situation anymore.

"Umm...yes, but I totally understand why. Im not judging you because of that. If you don't love someone then you shouldn't be with..." Jacob paused for a few seconds, realization striking him in that very moment. "-with them."

Was he just now figuring out how I really felt. That me forcing myself to be with him would only backfire. That I was protecting him from me by not acting on false desire. If I didn't know Jacob I definitely would've played him like a fiddle. I would've used him for what I wanted and left him wondering what he did wrong. What Jacob didn't understand was that Drake's situation was much more then just being in love with someone. That someone was much older and would abuse and manipulate him. Forced marriage was literal slavery.

"Is everything okay?" Drake asked, letting his eyes fall on me. I gave him a small frown knowing that I couldn't lie to his face. As much as I wanted to tell him everything was fine, I couldn't bring myself to mislead him. However, as soon as I opened my mouth, Olivia began speaking.

"Jacob has had the biggest crush on Max for like ever and then you appeared. It's nothing personal against you, it's just..."

"I walked in on something that could've been," Drake finished. He looked even more miserable causing me to reach out and pull him into me. He didn't walk in on anything. I chose him, he didn't choose me. He didn't have to blame himself for something that honestly would never happen.

"No, it's totally okay. It was just a silly crush. I can see that Maxwell adores everything about you. From the very first moment he mentioned you I sort of knew that he was in love with you," Jacob explained. It seemed like he had finally come to the conclusion that sulking about me not being interested in him was a waist of time and energy.

"Jacob..."

"No Olivia. It's not fair for me to be mad at Max for not feeling the same. He was honest and upfront and even had the decency to make sure I was okay. That's all I could really ask for from a friend," the omega smiled.