Chapter 31

"Here we go!" Thatch laid down the last plate.

He and Ace were having an early dinner before he drove his little brother back into East Blue. The idea made him twitchy, but Pops had reassured them as had Ace that Sabo wouldn't let Ace get into trouble, and that Sabo knew how to be sneaky. He'd keep Ace safe.

Thatch still didn't like it, but Ace's happiness was important too, and he had been worried about his little brothers.

Better to let Ace feel reassured then bring him back home so Thatch could get his hugs in without Marco threatening to boot him into next week. After all, Marco had to calm down at some point. Ace had stopped egging him on as much too now.

Although, that was probably because Marco was trying to convince Ace to stay with them tonight rather than go back into East Blue.

"We could go back to our nest yoi." Marco rubbed Ace's side.

Ace was wolfing down his food. "Nope. I'm seeing Sabo tonight."

"Maybe you could see him another night," Marco said, cooing softly. "We could have a gaming night. I know how much you like those. We could sit down with snacks and you could teach me the controls yoi."

Ace snorted, but leaned in to kiss Marco's cheek. "I love you, but I'm seeing Sabo."

Marco whined.

"So protective." Ace chuckled.

"It's just my Alpha yoi..."

Thatch rolled his eyes. Bullshit.

"Guararara!" Pops laughed.

He was sat at the other side of the kitchen at one of the larger tables, drinking his tea. Because Thatch was working on other types of drinks Pops might enjoy more than alcohol under Marco's and his army of doctors and nurses orders.

Thatch would never refuse their requests. Not when they kept him healthy and knew how to hurt him.

Pops had decided to amuse them by trying said drinks.

Thank every God in the world for that. Thatch was not eager to find out what his angry doctory siblings would do to them if they disobeyed their orders. Marco was terrifying.

His right-hand woman, Sam, was just as bad. She had learned off of Marco.

.::.

"Your Alpha is an overprotective nightmare," Pops teased.

"I'm just getting used to being mated," Marco insisted. "That's all yoi. Right?"

The 'right' was hesitant, and Whitebeard couldn't help but laugh. "You remember how Oden and Toki were with each other, right?"

They had both been protective of each other the moment they had mated. They growled at anyone who walked past them for weeks.

Marco groaned. "They were so sweet, but damn. It was terrible. You think I'll be the same?"

"Guarararara, yes."

Whitebeard was a bit worried about letting Ace go back to East Blue to be honest, especially so soon. But his son had been ordered about enough by Teach, and Whitebeard didn't want to cage Ace and make his decisions for him now that Ace was finally free.

Besides, it was Sabo. That brat would murder everyone and then himself if something bad happened to Ace while under his watchful eye. His youngest son would be fine. It was just his old, Alpha fatherly nature that made him feel protective.

It wasn't as bad as Marco's new mate status. That was just going to be a pain. Honestly, Whitebeard wasn't sure how Ace was going to even get into Thatch's car without Marco biting Thatch in the process, or without Marco mugging Thatch and stealing his car.

Ace wouldn't like either of those things. He didn't usually like being smothered in attention.

It had been a nightmare trying to put that pup in a nest for the first time. At the tender age of seventeen. It had taken days, or months, probably months, to get Ace to finally not destroy a nest.

Usually by setting it on fire. The cheeky brat.

Ace smiled. "Don't worry, Marco. I love you for it."

Marco beamed.

"But I'm still going back to East Blue."

Marco deflated. "But nest? Games? Snacks?"

"Very tempting, but I'll resist." Ace kissed his forehead.

Instantly Marco's arms were locked around Ace. Ace twitched, but managed to wriggle an arm free so he could still eat the last of his dinner. Thatch was still munching his, laughing as Marco squeezed himself tighter to Ace's side.

"We can hug for now, Marco." Ace decided. "But you're going to have to let me go when I finish dinner. I've got to go get ready for my night out."

Safe to say, Marco did not let Ace go. So Ace marched out, dragging Marco along with him back to their bedroom, who remained clinging, but to his arm now instead of his waist.

Whitebeard snorted.

Thatch grinned. "So, will Marco get Ace distracted when they get back to their room, or will Ace resist?"

"I bet on Ace resisting. He's very protective of his little siblings after all." Whitebeard smiled fondly.

"Yeah, but Marco's persistent. He's the one who tries to stop you drinking even after all these years."

Whitebeard chuckled. "I guess we'll just have to see what happens then."

.::.

Law read while Kidd slept against him. Law's mating gland was a little sore, but Law knew that would go away with time. Kidd was a rough idiot after all, and not even biting a mating gland was a gentle process.

After all this time he finally felt content. Law was properly bonded to his mate, they had bitten each other's mating glands, and he felt complete. Once Law had recovered from his heat completely, he'd go and chat to his uncle, who had told him before he left to come back and tell him everything about his mate.

Law was relieved that his uncle actually liked Kidd. That he was happy because Law was happy. It was much better than his father's reaction, and much more appreciated too.

Now if only he could get his father to understand that he was happy, and felt good about being by Kidd's side. That would help Law's stress levels even out.

"Thinking deep thoughts?" Kidd asked gently.

Law startled, then smiled as Kidd leaned up, kissing him. They shared lazy kisses for a time, before Law relaxed against his side.

"A little bit," Law admitted. "I just don't know what's going to happen after all this. Then there's everything my Uncle said about my family. That I'm related to the Celestial Dragons? It sounds insane."

"Yeah, imagine you as one of those fuckers," Kidd smirked.

Law groaned. "I'd burn down the entire city."

.::.

"Marco, behave." Ace huffed.

Marco was trailing kisses up his arm, slowly heading for his neck. Ace was trying to focus on picking his clothes, but Marco felt so good behind him. He almost melted into Marco's arms right then and there, his Omega cooing happily at the thought. But he resisted.

Just.

Because damn Marco's kisses felt so good and his Alpha's scent was comforting.

And now Marco's hands were slipping beneath his t-shirt.

"No, no, no, no, no-" Ace pulled his hands back out. "Bad, behave."

Marco whined.

Bloody hell, his Alpha was completely in control, wasn't he?

"I'm just going to see Sabo-"

Marco's lips closed over his own, slowly kissing the words away. Ace softened in his arms, and couldn't help but turn around to fully face Marco. He wrapped his arms around Marco's neck, and enjoyed the gentle kisses.

Marco purred.

Ace nearly lost himself to his Omega, his Omega insisting they lied down in their nest and got comfy. They could snuggle with their Alpha in the pillows and blankets, full of their scents.

It took Ace a moment to pull away from the kisses, nuzzling Marco's neck instead, before nipping at his mating gland warningly. Marco quivered against him, whining, but Ace kept up the warning nips.

That finally helped Marco regain his focus, who groaned, cheeks bright red.

"I didn't just lose control to my Alpha, did I?"

Ace laughed. "You did."

"That's embarrassing yoi." Marco groaned, shaking his head. "I do want you to stay here, very badly, because it's safe. But it's always your choice, sweetheart."

Ace smiled. "I know. And I love you for it, especially because you want to give me the choice. Teach would never have done that. And he most certainly wouldn't be taken over by his Alpha in an emotional attempt to coax me into staying."

Marco groaned. "Dammit."

"I love you." Ace grinned.

Marco beamed. "I love you too."

"Even if you're crazy." Ace laughed.

"Not as crazy as you."

"Sure."

"I'm not! I swear yoi!"

"You lost yourself to your Alpha and I'm not even in my heat."

"I'm just getting used to this." Marco flushed, burying his head in his hands. "I swear."

"Mhm." Ace smiled sweetly. "If you like, you can drive down to East Blue with Thatch and I?"

"Yes!"

There wasn't even a moment of hesitation. Ace couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. Marco groaned and collapsed on to their bed, cheeks bright red.

Marco was adorable, and Ace couldn't help but soften.

He couldn't remember the last time he laughed this much. Ace was happy to finally be home again. He wasn't stressed or upset and now he could see Sabo and Luffy again.

Life was finally turning around.

.::.

Whitebeard rolled his eyes. Ace had chosen the front passenger seat instead of sitting in the back with Marco, so now Marco was sat beside the door, whining once more.

The poor boy was hopeless.

Thatch passed by cackling, so Marco swiped at his legs, causing him to trip. Thatch yelped. Ace groaned, shaking his head, but his scent was full of happiness. His Omega was still soothed by Marco's actions, and that was only spurring Marco's Alpha on.

These two needed to control their counterparts. That was for sure.

"Just sit behind me." Ace sighed, reaching out the window to pet Marco's hair who purred.

"Come back beside me yoi?" Marco asked hopefully.

"No, because then you won't let me leave the car." Ace huffed. "You'll hug me and never let go."

Marco smiled coyly. "I could still hug you from the back seat."

Ace laughed. "You're terrible!"

But Ace's scent only grew more sweet and soothed. Whitebeard shook his head and rolled his eyes. His sons were terrible. Both absolute saps.

Thatch meanwhile was slowly and carefully getting into the drivers seat, eyeing Marco warily. As if he was going to bite him, which Whitebeard had to admit, was a high possibility. But surprisingly Marco slipped into the back seat.

Ace held out his hand and Marco took it, their fingers instantly locked together.

Whitebeard sighed. Hopeless. Just utterly hopeless.

"Stay safe, all of you," Whitebeard said, approaching the car.

He ruffled Ace's hair who grinned.

"I'll be fine. Sabo won't let me get into too much trouble."

Whitebeard noted the 'too much' and refrained from sighing.

"I'll see you tonight when you get home," he said instead, smiling.

Ace nodded. "See you tonight, Pops."

My book cover for my fantasy story The Wardens of Strar is out now on Facebook if anyone wants to check it out. Just look for The Wardens of Strar Facebook on Google and you should be able to find it!