Sempiterno VI (AlanxJeff)

Birthday gift

Jeff

The first time I truly understood what world my family belonged to, I was only ten years old. Until that moment, I had believed that most of the alphas in our family were merely authoritarian and intimidating. Yet, strangely, they had always shown me kindness, as if something about me softened their hearts—even as just a beta. However, my mother always looked at them in a way I couldn't decipher.

She was strong, yes, but whenever my uncles approached, I could see her shrink back, a slight tremor of fear crossing her face. She hated it when they came near me, especially when they wanted to train me. I thought it was simply because she was an omega and they were alphas, but I couldn't fully grasp why that distinction weighed so heavily on her heart.

On Winner's fifteenth birthday, my cousin, we went to the main mansion to celebrate. The house was a labyrinth of marble and opulence, adorned with bright lights hanging from the ceiling like shooting stars. My mother detested these gatherings and only attended because she felt she had no choice. My uncles, with their sharp smiles and cunning glances, didn't seem to notice, or perhaps they were just pretending not to.

It wasn't that I didn't enjoy parties; there was something in the atmosphere that made me feel dizzy. The voices blended into a deafening whirlwind, their scents intertwining in an overwhelming symphony. Perhaps it was an inherited trait from my mother, or maybe it was due to my abilities, but everyone understood. They knew I couldn't endure long at these events, so they had prepared a room for me. It was a small sanctuary where I could escape the bustle, the shouts, and the laughter echoing like distant memories.

I sat in a corner, a slice of cheesecake in hand, watching everyone around me. Children dashed toward the pool, their laughter ringing in the air. In the distance, I spotted my cousin Kenta sitting on the edge, teasing those who had fallen into Winner's trap. My uncles and their friends exuded an air of superiority while the omegas, including my mother, kept their distance. I always found it strange how indulgent and sweet they were with me but treated my mother coldly. She also hated the parties, but it seemed rude for her to want to leave early, even if it was with me. Was it because I was just a child?

After a while, I approached my uncle Tony, the alpha in charge of our family. It was a tradition I couldn't avoid; I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to him.

"Oh, my dear sweet nephew Jeff, are you tired already?" he said, gently ruffling my hair. His smile was warm, but there was something unsettling in his gaze.

I nodded. "I had a piece of cheesecake," I replied shyly.

"I ordered it because I know it's your favorite," he said, his smile brightening his face. "Did you like it?"

"It was delicious, thank you."

"Good, now go and rest," he said, gesturing toward the interior of the mansion.

I nodded again and headed inside, but not before casting a glance at my mother. She followed me with her gaze and nodded, as if granting me permission to retreat.

Once I reached my room, I put on my headphones, but after tossing and turning in bed for what felt like hours, I couldn't sleep. I decided to go downstairs for a glass of water and heard voices coming from a side hallway; there was the basement, a place I used to explore with Winner and Kenta, even though my uncle didn't like us being there.

Curiosity took hold of me. I crept down slowly, silently, memorizing the passages and codes. When I arrived at the labyrinth, I hesitated between going left or right, and then I heard a blood-curdling scream.

My heart raced. I moved closer. The door was ajar, and what I saw froze my blood. A man was tied to a gurney in the center of the room, and Winner was looking at him with a mix of delight and ferocity, a knife in his hands.

"So, what do you think? Do you like your gift, son?" my uncle Tony asked, his voice laced with pride.

"It's the best gift in the world, Dad!" Winner exclaimed, his excitement overflowing before... before he began to test his knife.

I took a step back, shaking my head. What was happening? My legs felt weak.

"Look away, Jeff," I told myself, but I couldn't. Winner practically pounced on the man on the gurney, like a cat leaping onto a wounded mouse, and drove the knife through his cheek.

The screams echoed in my ears, and my vision went black. I bit my fist to stifle the sound, but I eventually let out a scream that could have awakened the dead before vomiting. Behind the doors, silence reigned. They had heard me.

The door swung open, revealing my uncle's surprised face. Behind him stood Puem and New, both with their weapons drawn. When they saw me, they returned their weapons to their holsters beneath their jackets. Then I turned and ran.

A deafening scream echoed in the distance. I spun around, breathing heavily. A cold sweat covered my skin, and my heart raced so fast I was sure I might have a heart attack at any moment. I needed to check one of the medical books in our library to know if it was possible to have a heart attack when you were young, without a heart defect.

I didn't stop running until I reached the room my mother shared with other omegas. My breathing was labored. I tried to process what I had seen, to understand the meaning of it all. My uncle had gifted Winner a man to hurt...

I knew my uncle was feared, but he always made sure I didn't know too much about his work. I didn't go to school, nor did I have contact with people outside our world, so I had never heard anything. But even with my limited knowledge, I could only assume the cruelty of what was happening.

"Oh my God, Jeff, what happened? Did you have a nightmare?" she asked, alarmed when she saw me. I could no longer hold back the tears.

"They're monsters, Mom," I managed to choke out between sobs. "They... that man..."

"What are you talking about? It's just a nightmare, my boy," she said, holding me tightly.

"I saw them, in the basement," I murmured, clinging to her. "They're monsters."

"You saw them? What did you see?" she asked, alarmed, releasing me to search my eyes.

"Winner... he was hurting someone. My uncle... my uncle gifted him that person. How can you give someone away, Mom?"

"Oh, sweetheart. Come here," she said, hugging me again.

"Why do they do that?"

"I don't know," she replied, her voice heavy with sorrow. I wasn't sure if she was telling the truth.

Her blue eyes were gentle when they met mine, but her mouth was set in a tight line of worry. She wore no makeup, and her brown hair was a mess.

"I wish you hadn't seen what you did. I wish I could take this burden from you. I'm your mom. I just want to protect you. You know that, right?"

I nodded, feeling her embrace wrap around me like a refuge.

"Do I need protection from Uncle Tony and Winner?" I asked, fearing the answer.

She cupped my cheek gently.

"No, you don't. On the contrary, they will protect you. This, darling, is the mafia. And it's all just darkness. But look at me; you'll be fine. I know it. I'm so glad you're a beta. If you were an alpha, you would have to compete with your cousin Winner for the position of heir to the family, and if you were an omega, you would be... you would be used as a bargaining chip, especially because of your abilities. Being a beta gives you a bit more freedom in this world where freedom is a privilege, and you will be protected because of your powers. Everything will be okay. They're monsters, but those monsters need you. They would never harm you and will protect you from other monsters. Everything will be fine.