Thorns And Roses

Chapter Four

Demi stared out the window of the black corvet. His father was in the passenger seat as their driver, Fredrick drove them to where ever the hell Theodore Mateo lived. He didn't even know where the man lived, his father keeping it all a secret. Like Demi would be surprised to learn how rich and famous the guy was. He's done his research, trying to find any information on his soon-to-be husband.

He learned that Theodore owned a lot of companies. Mostly ones that he bought and claimed as his own. His name was plastered on every big business out there. How did Demi never notice? Maybe he needed to get out more.

Demi glanced at his father, who talked to Fredrick, ignoring his son. It could have something to do with the fit he threw last night after getting drunk on the wine he should have never had. Again. Third time in the past four days but it did help with his heat cycle that month. Being drunk has it's perks.

He drank a glass in the bath while he soaked, then another glass when he got out. He poured himself a third glass as he got dressed. At some point, he forgot about the glass and drank from the bottle.

He lay in bed, crying until he made up his mind that he wasn't going to get married. That he was going to run away and fall in love with whoever he wanted. In his drunken haze, Demi grabbed one of the suitcases, rolled it down the stairs of his home, and banged it off every last step. It woke the whole house.

It ended up with Demi getting backhanded across the face after his screaming match with his father and being sent back to his room. He's just happy that he wasn't beaten for his reckless behavior. Wouldn't want Theodore Mateo to see his new husband covered in bruises the morning of their meeting. The bruise on his cheek was covered up with makeup after the swelling went down.

After another hour of being ignored, they finally pulled into a paved driveway. Woods covered both sides, the sunlight being broken up by the tree branches that hung over them. Demi felt giddy at the thought of running through those woods. To feel the dirt under his paws, and the grass tickle his belly. Living in town had it's pros, but you couldn't really run through town as a snow leopard. There at his new husband's place, he very well had a chance to.

The driveway was long, that eventually stopped at a set of gates. The gates separated outsiders from the insiders. Demi couldn't see anything beyond the gate, guessing that the house was set further back. Fredrick rolled down his window and spoke into the box that sat by the gate. They were buzzed in and had to go up another driveway, this one leading to a house that sat in the back of the woods.

The house looked like a cabin. All dark wood and brick. It was beautiful and big. Windows covered every corner. Demi was shocked at how big it really was. Why does one man need a place of that size? As they pulled up in front of the steps to the house, Demi felt like dying. He didn't want to be there. He didn't want to marry Theodore.

"Father, please reconsider this. Please." He begged before his father got out of the car as he saw a huge man step out of the house. Bigger than Demi even.

"Be quiet. The first lesson you must learn, Demitri," His father turned to glare at Demi, a look of hatred in his eyes. Hatred for his own son. "You are supposed to be seen and not heard. If Mr. Mateo doesn't speak to you directly, then you do not say a word. This will be the last piece of advice I ever give you, do you understand? From here on out, you will have to deal with this on your own. Now get out of the car."

Demi could only stare at his father and silently obey. His hand shook as he laid it on the door handle, but before he could open the door the big man opened it for him. Demi looked at his lap before a hand was put in his face. The hand was large, and calloused at the fingertips and palm. As if he handled an axe every day.

"How rude could you be, Alex? Not even opening the car door for an Omega." Demi cautiously took the hand, when the man waved his fingers at him to hurry it up. It was warm, but it didn't swallow Demi's hand. He was pulled out of the car, and the look on the man's face was almost comical. His hand was let go.

"I thought you said he was an Omega." The man turned to look at Demi's father before his gold eyes glanced back at him.

"He is. He's just on the big side." The man faced Demi and looked him over. Demi has been stared at like a piece of meat plenty of times, mostly by other Omega's, but not once has he felt like prey. Not until this golden-eyed beast of a man gazed at him.

"He's almost as tall as me. He can't possibly be an Omega." Demi feeling embarrassed by his size dropped his eyes and looked away. There's nothing he could do about it.

"I've had him tested plenty of times. Every last one came back with the same results." His father pulled a folder out of his messenger bag and handed it to the man. The folder was flipped open, Demi peeking over the man's shoulder to see what was inside as he faced away from him.

"I see you had him at a clinic two days ago and got him tested for STDs." The man said that Demi assumed was Theodore Mateo himself reading through the papers.

"It also says here that he's a virgin and is updated on all of his shots. What I don't see is any information on him being able to produce offspring." Demi can remember being tested for that and begging the doctor not to tell his father. The doctor just stored it away in the folder with the rest of the papers. He wonders if Elizabeth had anything to do with the missing information.

"I didn't go through the papers when they were given to me. I was letting you do that, but I know he was tested for it. Weren't you?" Demi stepped back and shrunk in on himself as everyone looked at him.

"Yes." He mumbled. To scared to lift his head and see the look on Theodore's face.

"It must be missing. If you're that worried about it, then get him tested again once you get married. Unless you're planning on knocking him up before the wedding." Why did Demi feel sick, like he was going to throw up? He gripped his stomach and swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Not to worry, Alex I'm not planning on getting him pregnant right now." Demi breathed out a sigh of relief at the news. He didn't have to worry about telling Theodore the truth just yet.

"Okay. I'll help you get his bags inside but after that, I have to leave." Demi was told to stand by the porch as his father and Theodore brought in his bags. He didn't have to lift one finger.

His father said goodbye to Theodore but didn't even look at Demi. He hated to say it, but it hurt. It became uncomfortable very fast as the two of them stood in the foyer of the house.

"I'm sorry," Theodore finally looked at Demi and smiled at him. "I don't think I caught your name." That's because his father didn't introduce him.

"Demitri Rose." He spoke low and quiet, too shy to actually raise his voice.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Demitri. My name is Theodore Mateo and I'll be your new husband." That same sick feeling went through Demi as if he was still hungover from last night. Demi gave him a nod, but that just made him dizzy. Could it be a hang over or was he stressed out due to the situation he was in?

"Are you okay?" Demi lifted his head to look at Theodore and could feel a warm liquid under his nose. He went to wipe it off, figuring it was snot or something but when he pulled his hand back to look it was covered in blood.

Demi grew even dizzier, his vision going in and out until it finally went black.