Resisting The Heat [18+] (ON HOLD)

-06- 🌙 Butterflies In My Stomach

^ Picture of Stone Morris-Reid

"And I can't tell you what it is but, it's the best thing that I've found. The butterflies in my stomach, and my feet off the ground."
~Dave Barnes, 'Butterflies'

~~~

*Gabriel's POV*

My blood is boiling as I storm out of the locker room. Well, not I'm not really storming. More like... I'm walking normally with a slight frown on my face.

How could Sawyer say such a thing? It's not even just the fact that he was mean to Asher, which I am upset about. But it's the fact that he used that word, without giving a single thought to our parents.

When my dads adopted me, I had already been rejected by countless families when they found out I'm an Omega. The first person to stay interested in adopting me was my dad, Benji. I think it's because he's a human, and he's also shy like me. My other dad, Rafael, is really outgoing and fun. He's the Beta of our pack; always caring for the other wolves. I have the best dads in the world, and hearing Tin use a word that would hurt them sent a sharp pain through my chest.

I've stuck with Sawyer because he said we're both the outcasts of our pack. With him being a hybrid and me being an Omega, we're the lowest of the low. Well, according to him. My dads have always told me that being an Omega doesn't make me any less. Every pack has an Omega, and wouldn't be complete without one.

I've also stuck with Sawyer because... well, I feel sad for him. I can tell that he wants friends, but something is holding him back. Even if he won't admit it, I know he misses Remi. If I left his side, he would have no one.

"Gabriel," Asher's soft voice stops me in my tracks. I look at him with wide eyes, feeling the butterflies in my stomach going crazy.

"A-Asher," I stutter shyly. "A-Are you okay?"

He tilts his head. "Me? I'm okay. I'm more worried about you. I'm sorry you had to see all of that. You looked terrified."

I smile weakly. Of course, the Omega looked terrified as the Alphas went against a powerful hybrid. Goddess, I must've looked so weak in front of him.

"I'm okay," I murmur, my cheeks turning pink. "I'm sorry about what Sawyer said to you."

Asher grin, and my tummy does a hundred backflips. "Don't worry about it," he says, reaching out to pet my hair. "I'm not going to let Sawyer make me feel ashamed of who I am."

"S-So...!" I shout a little too loudly. "You are? Gay, I mean."

He pauses, and my nerves start to claw at my throat. Crap, I should not have asked that; that was too invasive.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" I quickly apologize. "It's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, no, that's okay," Asher assures me. "But... it's kinda pointless, isn't it? Defining our sexuality before we find our mate?"

"But, you would still know who you're attracted to, right?" I point out. "You would know if you're attracted to men or women."

Asher thinks about that for a moment before smiling softly. "I guess you're right."

His eyes lock with mine for a few seconds, and the blush in my cheeks spread down to my neck. His gaze is so intense that I begin to squirm, not understanding why he's looking at me like that.

"Anyway," Asher finally breaks eye contact before my soul can leave my body. "I still don't think wolves should define their sexualities before finding their mates. It could make things awkward. Like, imagine if Sawyer's mate is a guy. That would actually be pretty funny."