Anteros: A Tale of Requited Love

Jealousy

Ingram groaned but he sat up in the bed. His third week in his new home. Vasileios was fast asleep. The alpha came in late after a pack raided border villages. He ran a hand through his alpha’s hair.

“Sleep in, I will be back after my morning walk,” said Ingram. Vasileios hummed. He then stepped out and poked his head into Zephyr's room.

He walked over and pulled the blankets tighter around him. He seems to have kicked away his blankets as usual. The he pressed a kiss on the baby's forehead before he stepped out.

Sure enough Niles was waiting, thrumming with energy, Kristof braiding his hair even as he was not standing still. There was a faint twinge of something in Ingram as he saw it. He realised it’s jealousy when he saw Niles hug Kristof warmly. Then they saw him and together all three of them began their walk.

“When are the pups going to be turned?” asked Niles, a spring on his feet that it’s evident he is excited about their walk and of course, the upcoming trip with his alpha.

“Next full moon only if Ingram is ready by then. Because Zephyr will need his omega parent’s support,” said Kristof.

“I would be ready,” said Ingram and he realised it came out a bit shortly. He didn’t intend to be snappish but something about how Niles was holding onto Kristof's hand all the way rankles him. This happens every day. Usually he manages to reign in his irritation.

Kristof raised an eyebrow but didn’t call out Ingram on his obvious irritation. Instead he led them to the river where all three of them swam. Usually Nikolas also joins them but Marco went into his first heat only the day before and Nikolas is staying with him, taking care of the omega pup.
Then Niles turned to Kristof.

“Can you braid brother’s hair tonight? He will like it,” said Niles.

“Niles, you can’t impose that on-

“It’s no issue I can do that. I always used to do it for Stefan, Vas and Nik too when they had their long hair phases. Even now Nik is very adamant about me doing it for him at least once a week,” said Kristof, the fondness and love for all three Antonakis's evident in his voice.

Ingram gave a small nod. So later in the evening, Ingram sat before Kristof in the hall on floor as the man tended to his hair which was in disarray. It was soothing. It reminded him of his parents. Niles was curled on Kristof’s side.

“You going to miss me while away?” asked Kristof amused.

“Lies. I would never,” said Niles with a scowl. But it was evident that he will miss Kristof. Ingram wonders if he has forever lost the place in his brother's life. Kristof’s hand on his hair was soothing. It felt too good and it irritated Ingram. He didn’t want to like anything about Kristof.

His kindness, his aura which soothes anyone, his deadly ferocity, his firm hand and stern gait, his affection and care- nothing. Niles trotted off to pester Zacchaeus as soon as he saw the alpha was back from daily rounds. He has made it a game of ownership claiming between himself and Egan. They both claim it’s their father.

“You don’t like me much do you?” asked Kristof, amusement clear in his voice.

Ingram's first urge was to scowl. He didn’t. He is not a child.

“Niles is my brother,” said Ingram and then he stood and up and stormed away. Ingram couldn’t sleep that night. He can feel an Omega’s despair. It’s a mother omega’s despair that he is feeling and he knew which. He also knew the cause. Himself. He sat up.

“So did your grievance with my mother come to a blow out then?” asked Vasileios. There was a teasing tilt to his voice but it was clear that he is not happy either.