𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓸 𝓔𝓿𝓲𝓵 [√]

Part Fourteen

Zach woke up surrounded by warmth. Warm arms wrapped around him, and snores came from above him. Zach slowly opened his eyes and looked up to see Chris sleeping. He tried to pull away, but the arms tightened around him.

"Chris," Zach said, putting his arms on Chris's chest and pushing him away.

"Mmhmm," Chris mumbled, and Zach frowned; he ran his hands down the alpha's chest and pinched him hard, making him let go and sit up quickly.

Chris looked at him and rubbed the spot where Zach had pinched him. "What was that for?" he asked.

Zach looked away and pulled the sheets closer to him. He moved to get out of bed, but a hand grabbed him. "Zach, we need to talk," Chris said.

"No, Chris, we don't, and I need to find Junior," Zach said, trying to pull away.

"Yes, we do. And Junior is fine, and he's with Koki and Martin." Chris told him, and Zach looked at him and sighed.

"Look, it was six years ago, and it was a one-time thing. It's nothing to talk about," Zach said, and Chris frowned.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Chris asked, looking at him a little hurt.

"How was I supposed to tell you? Every time we were within five feet, you were yelling at me and attacking me." Zach said, glaring at him. Chris looked a little guilty.

"Cause you were trying to take animals from their homes, mind control them, and use them for your evil deeds." Chris snapped and Zach flinched, he pulled his hand away roughly and got out of bed.

"I never hurt those animals. I took them for Junior so he could see them up close, and I had to mind control them. I didn't want them hurting Junior," Zach yelled, he was panting and Chris looked up at him wide-eyed.

"You think I would go out doing evil to get caught and risk leaving Junior to someone who would mistreat him just because he has my blood in his veins? I have never attacked you. Never. You always see me and assume that I am doing something terrible just because I'm there." Zach said, slumping at the end of his rant, and Chris just sat there quietly, a thoughtful look on his face.

"You are right," he finally said. Zach looked up at him, shocked. "We always saw you and instantly acted, not giving you a chance to explain or see what you were doing," Chris said, and Zach gave him an apprehensive look.

Zach sat at the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hand. He heard movement behind him and saw Chris sniffing close to him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, glaring at the too-close Kratt.

"I can smell you. It's faint, but it's there. You smell like mate," Chris said, frowning. "How did I not notice?" he asked.

Zach panicked because he hadn't bathed in the scent suppressants last night. He didn't think Chris would come into his room to sleep in his bed.

"I normally bathe in suppressants." Zach tells him, standing, "Which I have to do now." He said, standing up again and heading towards the bathroom.

A hand grabbed him again and made him look back, "Don't," Chris said, and Zach raised a brow. "Look, your mate and I have a kid together. I want to try to get along. I know it must be painful for you to be rejected. So, let's do platonic mating. My scent here will help ease the pain and make things easier during your heat. We don't have to do anything, be around each other. I never rejected you because I never knew; that's why it's so painful. You never got rejected by ME," Chris said, and Zach just looked at him, speechless.

"I...I can't," Zach said, dashing into the bathroom.

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Word count: 628

Re-published: April 26, 2024, 1 pm

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