Chapter 1
Ethan jumped on the couch, repeatedly gaining momentum before leaping off of it, “I can’t believe I finally get to perform again!” The omega rambled, for probably the tenth time that night.
“I’m excited for you too, but if you break my couch, I’m gonna break your butt.” Malcom said tiredly. It was close to 11 now, and while that used to be Minks 9 o’clock, it was more like the alphas 1 am. “I’m gotta head to sleep. Come to bed by midnight.” He instructed, giving the omega a quick kiss before heading to the bedroom connected to the living room.
“No, you can’t leave!” Ethan exclaimed sadly, following the alpha a few steps before the door clicked shut behind him. The omega sighed, cutting through the kitchen to the unused dining room, pulling open the closet door and settling inside in the nest his alpha had set up for him. He’d given him the materials, and taken him a few places to find more, but let Ethan put it all together himself.
When Ethan got his chastity piercings, he’d chosen to hang a string of blue Christmas lights around the upper perimeter of the nest, along with picking out a few stuffed animals online. He was too embarrassed to tell the alpha which ones he wanted - he tried asking for Malcom’s debit card, but the alpha met him in the middle by letting him add some things to a cart and having Malcom put the numbers in without looking at what he chose. Ethan thought about buying some contraband, but he doubted the alpha would let him open the packages himself anyway.
There weren’t many items that were considered contraband under Malcom’s rules. He mainly had to let the alpha choose what he ate - not in a calorie restricting way, they just had almost nothing “unhealthy” in the house. There were a few deserts Malcom bought for the omegas sake, but he made sure Ethan only got one a day. He couldn’t smoke, or have any kind of drugs or alcohol. Malcom had an alcohol chest in the table-less dining room, but it was under lock and key.
Suppressants were also a strict no. Ethan worried what his next heat was going to be like without the help of his medication or the facility, especially without Scott and Devon; But he was coming to terms with these things being out of his hands anymore, it helped with the anxiety.
He pulled his iPad out from behind the pillows; Malcom had given it to him. He didn’t know why he felt the need to hide the iPad, but he always did. He had these big clunky headphones that he could slip over his head and block out the rest of the world - not that there was hardly ever any noise pollution on Malcom’s lake.
Right now, he was intent on listening to some of Minks old music and playing some time wasting games. He’d rather go outside, or eat, or smoke some weed, but he wasn’t allowed to do any of that without permission anymore. Well, he didn’t need permission to leave during the day, but the doors and windows were alarmed at night. Ethan had no intention of leaving anymore, he didn’t know why Malcom bothered to secure the house.
A familiar vocal bridge over his headphones made his heart swell. He had missed his entire last tour season being locked in the facility, but Malcom had booked him a gig opening for a local band playing at a bar in Vegas.
He hadn’t performed without Danny since - well, ever? They had built the band together in highschool. It was undoubtedly going to be weird performing on his own. Ethan had always attracted the most attention between the three of the band members, a big reason he was their front runner.
He was sure he could find the Mink persona he had left buried in there somewhere. He could be a solo act, he had the charisma and the attraction, he just, had to remember how to do it. Without the drugs. It would be fine.
—
The omega woke up to the closet door sliding open. He had been pressed into the corner, with his head supported by the wall and stack of pillows as he slept. The light of the dining room was a little blinding, forcing him to squint against the glare as he pulled the headphones off.
“I thought you didn’t use your nest?” Malcom teased him lightly. This wasn’t the first time the alpha had found him in the provided space, but still Ethan hated being caught ‘giving into’ his omega instincts. “I told you to come to bed by midnight, what happened?”
“I guess I fell asleep,” Ethan grumbled out the obvious, sitting upright and stretching his limbs and back out. “What time is it?”
“It’s like nine, you gotta get up and take a shower,” Malcom extended his hand out to the omega, helping him to his feet, “You have a haircut appointment in an hour, so hurry. I thought you were outside somewhere, I would’ve woken you up sooner,”
Ethan coughed quietly, meandering into the bathroom before he could fully wake up. His hair was pretty overgrown and wild, but he kind of liked it. It had been about five months since he last had his hair cut, and his short wolf-cut had taken on a much more punky appearance. His hair developed a curl when it got long, but it actually looked pretty good once it got past the awkward in-between stages.
Regardless, if Malcom wanted it cut, it was gonna get cut. He shampooed and conditioned his locks for the last time, making sure to massage it into his scalp. Ethan still wasn’t going to let him cut it past his ears.
He soaped up his hands and scrubbed them over his body. Malcom kept his crotch waxed, he kept saying he was going to schedule laser hair treatments, but it never seemed to happen. He only had his underwear-area waxed bare, he was allowed to keep everything else. It was Ethan’s job to keep his own face clean shaven.
The chastity piercings had grown on him; he really, truly loved how they looked, even if he refused to admit it to anyone else. Two studs on either upper outer labia, he hadn’t yet healed enough to have Malcom use the bars, but he was pretty excited to see how it would look. He’d still undoubtedly fight it.
Being in a holistic household, there was every possibility the omega would be forbidden from things like deodorant and contraception, in the same way he was forbidden from using heat blockers. Malcom thankfully allowed all-natural products on the omegas skin - he could only use condoms, but thankfully Malcom was on the same page as Ethan if any mishaps were to take place. His deodorant smelled like it was made of oats and essential oil, he debated shaving his pits sometimes, if only so the deodorant would accomplish more than it did.
Once a week, Malcom insisted on putting him through what he called a ‘spa day’. It consisted of bathing him, exfoliating him with various fancy scrubs, clipping his nails, and touching up his wax. The alpha would give him a massage with oil or lotion, sometimes with hot towels or rocks. Malcom liked to tease him with the prospect of ‘cleaning him out’, but had never done as much. The process usually happened on Sunday, but could happen earlier if Malcom had a bad day and wanted to pamper his omega. It felt like a lot at first, but Ethan had come to look forward to the time spent with his alpha.
Sunday was also when Ethan received his maintenance spanking. Usually right before bed. He only expected one session a week these days.
Stepping out of the shower, he applied his deodorant, brushed his teeth, and combed through his hair enough to release all the tangles before re-ruffling it to look disheveled. Malcom would check, and would brush his hair flat if he didn’t do it well enough. He wouldn’t need to anymore once he got it cut, he supposed.
His alpha handed him some jean shorts and a loose athletic fit tank top upon exiting the bathroom. Malcom liked him getting dressed out in the open. Ethan pretended to hate it, but Malcom wouldn’t make him do it if the uptick of citrusy sweetness in the air didn’t smell so good.
“Do I get underwear?” The omega asked, already knowing the answer. Malcom grinned cheekily and shook his head, arms crossed while he watched the slightly damp omega get dressed.
“Wait, leave your pants there. You can finish getting dressed otherwise.” The alpha gestured with his hand. Ethan’s shorts were around his thighs, the waistband falling to rest below his bare crotch. The omega spread his legs to keep his pants up. The little stainless steel barbells reflected off the overhead lights of the living room. He was almost fully healed by now; still not enough to get fucked, but enough to be dancing around a stage for an hour or so.
Once he was fully dressed, Malcom knelt in front of the omega, thumbing his pussy lips apart to get a good look at the piercings, “You’re so pretty, Ethan.” The alpha said, with so much emphasis it made his omega blush. Ethan’s dick twitched in time with his heart beat under the intimate observation.
— . —
As predicted, the alpha cut about 4 or 5 inches off his hair. He still had a style akin to a wolf cut, but it was the shortest he’d had it since he lived with his parents; Cowlicks that hadn’t seen the light of day in years sprung up on the back of his head. He tried to object around two inches, but he’d come to find his alpha was quicker to punish him when he argued in front of strangers. He hadn’t been punished in front of anyone yet, but he didn’t want to push it.
He kept finding himself carding his fingers through his hair, only to find it ran out of length rather quickly. The breeze was nice, but it was still a lot shorter than Mink would’ve chosen. Ethan didn’t have a choice though, Malcom just said it would grow back. He didn’t want to push the issue, he had to pick his battles these days. If he were to argue, there was always the possibility Malcom could tell the venue he had to cancel.
He couldn’t play his own music on stage yet, he didn’t have any songs ready to go that his old label didn’t own. He had to play cover band for the evening, but it was better than nothing.
Further enacting his unreasonable levels of control, Malcom had taken him to get new clothes for that evening. The alpha was dressing him like a fucking nerd, with a soft green polo shirt and dark khaki pants. He didn’t tell Ethan he had to keep the clothes on during the performance, but he didn’t know what the alpha might do to him if he stripped down to his underwear on stage. Maybe he would appreciate the claiming bite being shown off, but there was a non-zero chance he could be punished, having already made his ass so available and everything.
No, he wasn’t planning on pushing it this time. Maybe another time, once he got a feel for how his alpha expected him to act in public. He got to leave the house with Malcom frequently, but they never went anywhere besides the small town the facility resided in. They were going back to Vegas just for Minks- just for Ethan’s appearance, the first time the omega had been to the city since his overdose.
They were going to some hole-in-the-wall bar, and Ethan doubted the alpha even bothered to promote his appearance. The venue probably didn’t even realize the deal they were getting, having Mink- having Ethan perform for free. Even if he was only playing covers.
“Are you ready yet?” The alpha was getting impatient waiting for Ethan to finish up in the fitting room, but he was still trying to convince Malcom to go to Hot Topic, if nothing else. He looked like he was going to sing office-core country music at a work retreat.
“I think I saw a Spencer’s, you could pick out some new piercings for me while I grab a-“ Ethan started bargaining again, arguing through the door of the fitting room so his alpha couldn’t grab him before he had a chance to plead his case.
“Ethan. No.” Malcom didn’t ever really yell at him, but he was getting irritated for sure, “Get out here, now, or you’re gonna miss the show.”
“Why not? What kind of sick thrill do you get making me perform looking like this,” The omega complained. Even to his own ears he knew he was being dramatic, but he was already showing back up after an almost 6-month hiatus in the middle of a cancelled tour season, a claiming bite on his shoulder, performing in a dingy Vegas bar without his band… Couldn’t Malcom at least let him look like himself? “What if we go to Victoria’s Secret, you can pick out some cool lacey-“
“Ethan! I said no!” Malcom snapped, “This isn’t even a venue for clothing like that, you’ll be embarrassed when we get there and everyone else is wearing blue collar clothes.”
“Can I pick the next venue then?” Ethan asked, consciously trying not to let a whine break into his tone. “I just really-“
“If we make it to this one in time!” The alpha whisper-yelled, “I’m serious, you’re going to be late, hurry up! You’ll need to explain yourself to them if you show up late because you were arguing with your alpha over performing in your underwear.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Ethan muttered, swinging the door inward with a creek, the light green t-shirt and khakis folded over his arms, “Let’s go, we’re gonna be late.”
— . — . —
“Is that Mink Cecil?” “No, he’s in prison or something.” “Omegas don’t go to prison,” “No, he’s in a facility in the south,” “I’m pretty sure that’s him, I was at their last show.” “Why would he be playing here?” “There’s no way.”
The omega could hear the bar chattering with life, patrons discussing him and Malcom hiding in the shadows. They had taken up residency at a booth when they arrived, giving Ethan about twenty minutes to acclimate to the vibe of the place. His heart was pounding, part of him wanted to drop everything and go home.
Sure, he carried most of the charisma of the band, but he always had Danny behind him. He knew Malcom wouldn’t let anything happen to him, but still, his mind wandered to his friends from highschool finding him when he ran away. He wasn’t claimed then, but he’d learned through his alpha’s info-docu channel that there was a whole subculture of alphas that got off on the smell of claimed omegas specifically. How was he supposed to know who was safe?
That was admittedly a big reason he didn’t leave Malcom’s property. He knew logically it was kind of a ‘hiding under the covers’ situation, but it made him feel safer to be surrounded by his alphas smell. Malcom had lived there since he was a kid, his scent was in every inch of the place. In his mind, the other alphas couldn’t get him as long as he was at home.
Now though, the lights were dimming, and a nervous beta was climbing the steps to the stage. “Hello everyone! I’m excited to present our- I’m sorry, our opener? For the evening,” He stuttered, like he was scared Ethan was going to get offended, “I suppose he really requires no introduction, Mink Cecil, Alphas and Betas!” The beta bowed his head a little and left the stage, the crowd stared at him standing in front of their table, Ethan stared back, his shoes frozen to the floor.
A gentle hand on his hip made him jump, he turned to find Malcom watching him with a kind smile and worried eyes, “Are you ready?” He asked, in reference to a few things.
The alpha didn’t know he had been having trouble talking to alphas, but he had refused to leave Malcom’s side in public since he was claimed. The alpha had tried sending him off on little tasks, but he was glued to Malcom’s hip. The alpha knew he was nervous about performing without Danny, but Malcom didn’t know he felt bad about missing him when he never asked to call the beta anymore. He didn’t know why he was scared to call Danny, but he was.
Ethan gave a tight-lipped smile and nodded, gripping the neck of the acoustic guitar their neighbor had graciously given him. His fingers were numb, but there was no turning back now. He turned back to the crowd, everyone was watching with eager eyes. He swallowed nervously and approached, cutting through the crowd while everyone eyed him excitedly.
Someone whistled, the other people at the same table started clapping. The whole bar was in an applause when he made it to his place on the stage. Ethan shifted his feet nervously and grabbed the microphone on the stand, swallowing again in an attempt to loosen his constricted throat. His heart swelled with pride and affection, for himself, for his audience, for Malcom and Danny. Tears pricked at his eyes, he laughed quietly, tucking his face into the crook of his arm shyly while he waited for the applause to die down.
“Thank you for having me, it’s nice to be out of the house,” He opened with, speaking steadily into the microphone. The audience laughed harder than was warranted, Ethan beamed, locking eyes with his alpha across the crowd. He looked just as proud, flashing his omega a thumbs up. “I can’t sing any of my own work tonight, I lost the rights to it all when um, when…” he trailed off, “But, I have a few songs prepared, they were kind of a lyrical inspiration of Minks, but their tone is pretty different.” Ethan shook his head, cutting himself off with a bubbly smile while he got his guitar into position, “Anyway, I hope you like it.”
He started his set off with Astrovan, the bar silencing themselves after the first few chords. The glare of the stage lights blinded him to the first few rows, but he could perceive the flashes of cameras recording his performance. He looked again for Malcom, opting to close his eyes when he didn’t see his alpha at the table.
Another supportive whistle made his lips twitch up, he fell a little more organically into his role, “So if I love at the tip of my toes, reaching out for the great unknown,” his eyes popped back open, landing naturally on his alpha like a beacon in a storm. He had moved to a closer table, joining a few familiar faces - a beta and an alpha from the omega facility. “Every addict has illusions,” he looked away from the familiar faces when they leaned in and whispered something to Malcom.
He got a little creative with the guitar during the chorus. Knowing their neighbors, it was likely the hardest the instrument had ever been played. The audience loved it, and the guitar seemed to be able to take a little abuse. “Life ain’t ever what it seems, these dreams are more than paper things,” his smile started to feel forced, so he let the corners of his lips fall. He stared out into a void in the audience, finding some comfort in the imaginary isolation, “But I don’t wanna see those tears again, you know Jesus drives an Astrovan,” the audience was silent, but Ethan was confident it wasn’t in any kind of negative way.
He caught his breath during a short guitar solo, again, getting a little creative with the chords. The applause picked back up. This was a favorite song of his, but he didn’t expect his own emotional reaction to be as such. “And I’ll know I’ve made it when my doobie smoking Jesus puts my name up on his guest list,” he felt the familiar energy of the song returning, he crouched a little, pressing his lips to the microphone with a smile.
“And says son you’re famous in heaven- and maybe you’re famous in heaven,” Ethan closed his eyes, stepping back to give himself room to finish out the song appropriately, “And maybe there is no heaven! And maybe we’re all alone together now, and,” another whistle, people were standing and cheering for him.
He felt weightless, “I don’t wanna see those tears again, you know Jesus drives an Astrovan,” he beamed through the applause, searching his mind for what other songs he could play with the remainder of his time. He arrived in with a few in mind, but maybe it couldn’t hurt to choose some songs he could give a little more energy to.
“I know that look. Stick to your set.” The alpha playfully called out across the audience, making a few of the other alphas in the room laugh.
Ethan blushed, his ego deflating. Screw Malcom.
— . —
“Good job, pup,” Malcom scratched his scalp, pulling the omega over to sit in his lap at the table with his co-workers. Ethan huffed, tucking his face into his alphas neck and laying his head on his shoulder.
Ethan kissed his alphas neck, “Where did you go?” The omega asked quietly. He knew Malcom gave him a lot of freedom other omegas didn’t get, but he didn’t like Ethan being so blatant about it in front of others.
“I was cussing out the beta who introduced you.” He explained simply, making sure to keep his omegas head held to his body to prevent him reacting.
Ethan tried to jump up regardless, but was unable to break the alphas hold, “Why would you do that? Don’t be a dick!” He whisper-yelled.
“Hey, watch it,” Malcom said seriously, scratching his omegas scalp, “You aren't Mink anymore. We could get in legal trouble if you still perform under that name,” Not to mention, it gave Ethan some sort of autonomy that the alpha couldn’t control. No one cared about Ethan Kastor, but Mink Cecil turned heads.
Ethan held his tongue, opting to avoid being spanked in the car. He doubted his alpha would spank him there in the venue, but he still wanted to avoid a walk of shame in front of people who knew him as he used to be. Who knew him as an omega who would rather die than let an alpha claim him.
“Yes, alpha,” Ethan replied sarcastically, barely audible over the main bands performance, “I’m sorry,”
“Save it. I’m acting as the designated driver, so convince me you don’t need a spanking in front of my friends before the nights over.” He pushed Ethan up off his lap, patting his butt in the direction of the bar, “Go get us some drinks. Something citrusy, in honor of my omega,” Malcom announced to the group, making the facility employees laugh.
Ethan scowled, but sulked off in the direction of the bar. ‘Us’ didn’t refer to Ethan in this situation, he could probably get away with ordering himself a Dr. Pepper, but he was going to remain as sober tonight as he had been for the last four months.
Unless?
“Hey, can I ask a favor?” Ethan put on his best fuck-me voice, propping his body over the bar so the bar tender could get a good look at him.
“What can I do for you?” She flirted back. Score! Ethan smiled with a little more light behind his eyes.
Maybe this night could be saved.
— . —
Two drinks in, Ethan was feeling good. Really good. His tolerance had gone way down in the several months since his last drink. He could act sober enough, but he could tell his eyelids drooped a little - nothing he couldn’t blame on the energy exertion.
Malcom insisted on holding the ‘sleepy’ omega in his lap. Ethan let himself relax against his alphas chest, but his mind was more focused on the soft cock under his leg.
He nipped his alphas neck gently, and shifted his thigh against Malcom’s clothed buldge. With a sharp intake of breath, the alpha moved his leg away.
Ethan made sure to keep his head down so Malcom didn’t smell the rum on his breath, “Can you take me home, alpha?”
“I can’t, we’re driving everyone else home,” Malcom laughed, grabbing his omegas hips to hold him still. Ethan huffed, falling limp against his alphas chest to sulk. “Do you wanna cockwarm me?”
“No!” Ethan whisper-yelled, jumping back upright, “Not in public!”
“It’s okay, you’re the odd one out being embarrassed-“
“Malcom, no!” Ethan snapped. A sly smile developed on his face as he realized what he said. And realized he was getting away with it.
“What was that?” Malcom replied after a few beats.
“I don’t want to co-“ Ethan started, cut off by his alpha.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” Maclom said with a dulled sharpness. Ethan snorted a laugh, receiving a nip to his already punctured claiming gland for his attitude. A slap on the wrist from his alpha, really. “Be a good boy. I’ll round everyone up in an hour.”
“Can I get a drink?”
“If I find out you ordered a drink, omega,” Malcom laughed quietly, this needing to be the tenth time his omega had asked that evening, “I’m spanking you right outside, or maybe in here. I’ll drag a chair up on stage.”
“Stop!” Ethan laughed back, recognizing he was (probably) joking. “I won’t order any alcohol, I just want a Dr. Pepper.”
“No, you’ve had two already.”
“Those were cokes.” Ethan replied curtly, conveniently omitting the rum portion.
“No. It’s already past your bedtime, you’ll need to go to sleep when we get home.” Malcom dismissed him, looking back to the main performance on stage.
“Bed time?!” Ethan felt his voice start to get a little louder without his control, his face heating at the indignation, “What do you mean bedtime? I don’t have a bedtime!”
Malcom laughed deflectively, pulling his omegas head against his shoulder, “Be quiet. This isn’t up for discussion.” A few heads glanced in their direction at the omegas distress.
“I’m twenty three! You can’t give me a bedtime!” Ethan struggled against him, trying to stand up off his alphas lap. Malcom sighed, standing up - his arms tucked under Ethan’s and around his chest to pick him up without giving him access to kick. Several people were staring by now.
“I’ll be right back,” he muttered to his co-workers, who shot him sympathetic smiles. Truthfully, it was pretty late for the omega. It was only about eleven, but he had stayed up late the night before too. Malcom liked to retire around nine thirty, and Ethan usually went with him.
The omega was tired, and had experienced multiple endorphin highs throughout the day. It was expected for him to be a little testy, but behavior like that, especially in front of the coworkers at his facility? Absolutely not acceptable.
“Wait!” Ethan started kicking when they got outside, twisting and swinging and trying to drop his body weight out of his alphas grip before anyone saw him being carried, “Alpha, put me down!” The omega hissed.
Malcom didn’t address him, perching himself on the hood of his car, with Ethan standing in front of him. The alpha had a hold of his collar with one hand, his fingers on the other hooked through his belt loops to keep him from running. “We aren't going home yet. You just need a little recalibration to get us through the night.”
“No!” Ethan whisper-yelled, starting again to fight and lunge out of Malcom’s hold. It was dark, the parking lot of the bar only illuminated by street lights. No one else was outside, but anyone could come out at any second. “I’m serious, please! What if someone sees!”
“You should’ve thought about that before you were disrespectful.” Malcom replied simply, hauling his omega up over his lap, his chain collar hit the hood of the car with a loud clatter. He pulled his khaki pants down over his thighs without unbuttoning them, scraping them along his skin uncomfortably until Ethan relented and lifted his hips. “I want you to think about what got you in this situation. Imagine if any of your fans saw you like this? Getting spanked like a naughty omega” Malcom scolded him sternly, kneading his pale ass exposed to the night air, “You don’t argue with your alpha. You know better.”
“Alpha, please,” Ethan begged, thrashing against the hood of the car and pulling against his alphas grip, making the metal under them pop and concave, “Can we just go in the back seat?”
Malcom answered the plea with the first smack. Ethan kicked out, more disgruntled than in pain. A second and a third followed, a fourth blow made him wince, his breath hitching. The omegas head was on a swivel, looking for anyone who may be approaching the bar. Parking right in front seemed like a great idea at the time, but now he really wished they weren’t in view of the front doors. At least there were no windows along the front wall.
“Alpha, please! I’m sorry!” Ethan whispered in a panicked tone.
“Be a good boy,” Malcom replied simply, landing an eighth and ninth strike, “You know you earned this. You’re lucky I’m doing it now before my friends are in the car.”
Ethan’s gut squirmed at the idea, he dropped his forehead to the car’s hood. Malcom hadn’t actually spanked him in front of anyone since he was brought home from the facility, but some of his alphas friends had omegas, and Ethan had witnessed them getting punished before. The way Malcom spoke when it happened made the omega think he might’ve even spanked his friends omegas himself. Not to mention the neighbors' hybrid.
Ethan might spontaneously combust if Malcom were to let someone else spank him. He hated it at the facility, but it felt different these days to let Malcom spank him. He felt more like it was a necessary evil with his alpha, but with anyone else it would be just as embarrassing as it was when he was first hauled over Stephenson’s lap in front of the rest of the residents.
“This is why you need a bedtime.” Malcom said suddenly, cutting through the omegas thoughts, “You get rude, so I’m gonna start sending you to bed before you get snippy.” The alpha explained with another spank, before halting the storm and rubbing his omegas reddened skin. Ethan had lost count, but Malcom never seemed to count either.
“I’m not snippy!” Ethan bit back, holding back tears as his ass burned. He was still laying over his alphas lap, his pink ass cheeks illuminated by the street light overhead, “I just, I don’t,” The omega struggled for the words.
“It doesn’t matter, Ethan. You don’t make the calls anymore.” Malcom explained calmly, rubbing his omegas sore skin, “I say you go to bed by nine, so you go to bed by nine.”
“What? You don’t even go to bed at nine most nights!” Ethan started to argue again, his voice growing thick. It had been a long day.
Malcom struck him again, several hard impacts in the same spot, enough to make him gasp, “You need more sleep than you get. I work, you have all day to do whatever you need to accomplish.” The alpha explained, stopping the strikes only when Ethan let his shins rest against the cool metal. “You’re an omega. I’m your alpha. It’s my job to decide.”
Tears fell, of embarrassment, of indignation, of pain, of sleeplessness. He was ready to go home for real now. Ethan nodded. “Yes alpha.”
“Okay?” Malcom asked, in an agonizingly patronizing voice.
Ethan choked out a sob, “Okay.” The alpha rubbed his back and helped him up. No one ever saw him getting punished by his alpha. The murmuring of patrons when he was walked back in with a hand on his collar all but confirmed everyone knew what happened anyway.
