After weeks of hard work, Torn finally put his paintbrush down and gazed at his painting.
It was finally finished.
It was nearly identical to the photo, but contained the fantastical qualities that can only be replicated by paint. For having not been able to paint in a long time, Torn was satisfied with his work.
He heard someone knock on his door and before he could tell them to come in, the door opened.
He could think of only one person who wouldn't be afraid to enter without permission.
Torn turned to stare at Jak, sheepishly blushing in the doorway.
At first, he wondered why the kid looked so embarrassed...
...then he remembered.
He suddenly felt just as embarrassed.
How the hell was he going to face the kid knowing about the monster he had swinging between his legs. He already felt something twitch in his belly just by remembering the sight of it, so he took a deep breath the calm himself.
Now was NOT the time to start thinking about Jak's fucking Alpha dick.
"Woah! You finished it?!" Jak eagerly bounded over to him and stared wide eyed at the painting. Torn turned to him and watched as his grin widened the longer he stared at the canvas.
Thankfully, this helped get his mind off his...less than pure thoughts.
"Yup." Torn grunted, "Just needs to dry now."
"It's amazing!" Jak gushed, "I mean, I thought it looked great when it was just some lines and a little paint, but WOW this is fucking fantastic!"
Now Torn felt embarrassed for a whole different reason. He still wasn't used to getting praised so earnestly. "I mean...it's ok." Torn scratched at the back of his neck, feeling his face grow hot, "I haven't been able to paint since I was a teen so it's not as good as it could be."
"Oh shut up man!" Jak lightly punched his arm and chuckled, "You artists always whine about how 'terrible' your work is, while the rest of us struggle to draw stick figures! It's fucking annoying! Stop complaining about being talented and just accept the compliment."
Torn rolled his eyes, "Fine fine...thanks for the compliment."
Jak raised a brow, "That was quick. I expected at least 3 more scathing remarks from you."
"Yeah? Consider it an early wedding present. I plan on being nicer than usual to you for the next couple days."
"Ok, I call bullshit on that." Jak folded his arms as he chided, "I'm pretty sure I've seen the epitome of how nice you can be, and you've maxed out."
"Take what you can get brat." Torn cast a smirk towards the younger man before turning back to his painting...his thoughts travelling elsewhere. "How you handling all this?"
"Huh?" Jak asked confused.
"We're going to be married and bonded tomorrow..." Torn kept his gaze trained on his painting, not truly looking at it, more like looking through it. "Any thoughts? Concerns? Plans to elope to Kras and give a big middle finger to the whole affair?"
"Sounds like that's what you're planning." Jak gave a sigh before continuing, "Honestly, I don't know...I'm nervous I guess? And...I'm kinda anxious too?" Jak flushed lightly from the admission, "I know we're not going to be anything more than friends...but I'm strangely ok with that. I mean, you're not a total asshole 100% of the time, and you're a lot of fun to talk to and hang out with. I don't think I'll mind being married to you...but...bonding is a little..." He couldn't admit that the idea of being bound to someone was scary to him.
Torn turned to face Jak, noticing how closed in the younger man had become from confessing something so personal. He reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Jak to look up at him, "It's gonna be ok. Bonding isn't something that an Alpha needs to be scared of." He decided to keep his own fears to himself, as that isn't what Jak needed to hear at the moment, "We'll make this work. It'll be easier now that we don't want to strangle each other."
Jak huffed out a laugh at that statement, "Well, 'strangle each other as often', you mean."
"You know what...I take it back. You might not make it down the aisle."
"Well, in that case, can I at least kiss the bride before I die?" Jag waggled his eyebrows suggestively as a mischievous grin spread on his face.
Torn scrunched his nose up and growled, "Do you actually want me to punch you?"
"Only if you kiss it better."
"I've got a better idea." Torn growled as he gave a sinister smirk. Jak gave an un-alpha-like squeak as Torn trapped him in a headlock and yanked him towards the floor.
As he was pulled to a kneeling position on the floor by his unnaturally strong soon-to-be mate, Jak managed to get enough air in his lungs to snicker teasingly, "Can we at least set a safe word first?!"
"Sure, the safe word is 'I'm a pathetic excuse for an Alpha and I deserve to have my scrawny ass nailed to the wall'."
"That's way too long!"
"Then suffer."
In Jak's defense, he managed to hold out for an entire 3 minutes before submitting and using the ridiculous safe word.
"FINE FUCK!" Jak panted as he grumbled out, "I'm a pathetic excuse for an Alpha!"
Torn tightened his hold slightly and purred, "And?"
Jak growled slightly in annoyance, "...and I deserve to have my ass nailed to the wall..." He then smirked and purred right back, "Hopefully by a super hot Omega."
Torn sneered and released Jak, "Could you not make innuendos? You're still a minor."
"I'm 17 dude!"
"And I'm 27. We're a good decade apart, so compared to me, you're still a whiney pup."
Jak's was about to respond when eyes darkened a bit and he gained a different look on his face all of a sudden.
At first, Torn was concerned over the sudden mood change, but when he noticed how Jak's eyes were focused on his neck, he realized what was going on.
The exertion caused him to let out a bit more of his scent, and Jak was being affected by it.
Oh right...the scenting therapy.
"Shit, we didn't scent this morning..." Torn sighed, sitting back and crossing his legs.
Jak mirrored his position and looked away shamefully, "Um yeah...that's um...actually why I was looking for you in the first place. My body's acting a bit...weird."
"Weird how?" torn tilted his head curiously.
"Like...my teeth hurt. And I feel...jittery. Is that normal?"
Torn nodded, "Yeah, that's normal. Seems your Alpha hindbrain has already subconsciously marked me as your mate. Mated couples need to scent daily, remember? This is why."
Jak frowned and gave Torn a once-over, "You seem fine though?"
"I'm older than you. I'm used to these things." It also may have to do with the fact that Jak's feelings for him were way stronger than Torn's, but he didn't think that bit was necessary to say. He leaned back a bit, bracing himself on his hands as he sighed in mild annoyance, "Alright shit-for-brains. Come on over and let's get this over with."
Jak's eyes visibly lit up and he didn't even try to hide the blatant desire on his face. He crawled quickly next to Torn and wasted no time shoving his face against the older man's neck.
Jak's nuzzling turned into gentle mouthing when he located where Torn's scent gland was. He rubbed his cheeks and jaw against the gland, coating himself in Torn's scent before he moved to rubbing his neck along Torn's shoulder, marking him with his own scent. Occasionally he would press his lips against the gland, pressing against it to coax out more.
In between gentle nuzzles he complained, "Ya know, we could be doing this on a nice soft mattress instead of a hard fucking floor. But someone decided to be a little bitch this morning just because he got an eyeful. Did my naked ass scare you that badly?"
Torn gave a growl, "Excuse me?!" He grabbed the back of Jak's head and yanked him away, "Just who was it that got absolutely hammered last night and had to be dragged back to their room? Not only did I have to suffer your clingy ass forcing me to stay with you the whole damn night, but I had to get visually assaulted when I, oh so kindly, brought you your fucking hangover cure!"
Jak's face flushed as if he didn't hear a single word the other said. Torn's growling and the tight grip on his hair distracted him from the insults. He couldn't hold in the small submissive whine that escaped him.
Torn's ears picked up on the sound and he sat up, still holding Jak's head away from his neck. He stared down the younger male, watching how submissive his body language became...memories of what happened the night before flooded back.
Once again, Jak's behavior never failed to confuse him.
And he remembered a question he'd asked himself when Jak did something very...odd in his alcohol fogged brain.
That night, Jak had groomed him. A behavior that was usually Omega only and something highly emasculating for an Alpha to do...at least in Haven standards.
Now that Jak was in his right mind...would he do it again? Or was that a one-time thing brought on by alcohol?
Noone was here now, it was just him and the Prince.
His curiosity outweighed his anxiety.
"Whatever, just get the scenting over with kid. Do what your instincts tell you." He released Jak's hair and tilted his neck to the side, the wet patch over his scent gland still shiny from Jak's saliva.
Jak didn't need to be told twice and resumed what he was doing before...only this time, he decided to stop scenting and started grooming.
Bingo!
Jak was sober now. His mind was clear. And yet, here he was...an Alpha happily grooming an Omega's scent gland.
Torn felt something blooming in his chest...a mixture of pride and contentment. Pride from having an Alpha do something so abysmally beneath them to him, and contentment from...he wasn't even sure, but it didn't matter at the moment.
He closed his eyes as he focused on the drag of Jak's tongue over his neck and the harsh sucks against his gland, more than likely leaving marks. At one point he felt the graze of sharp teeth teasingly slide and prod, but he was too far gone to care.
When he started purring again, it was loud enough to fill the room.
His jaw ached as he caught Jak's scent.
The kid really did smell good.
Too good...
With a feral growl, he yanked Jak's shirt down to expose his neck and decided to start his own grooming session. If he didn't, he felt like his Omegan hindbrain would go insane.
It was just some familial grooming.
There was nothing wrong about this.
It meant nothing.
At least that's what Torn told himself as he fell into a deep, scent-intoxicated trance.
Jak moaned softly against his neck as Torn began laying firm swipes of his tongue along Jak's gland. Torn had done this many times before with his past partner as a mere formality...but shit, it's never been this good before. It always felt more like a chore to him, something that had to be done in order for the sex to start.
But now...he couldn't stop...and he didn't want to either.
He raked his teeth across the heated skin.
He could feel the blood pulsing under them...the scent steadily leaking out the more he teased.
The scent was powerful...
It would be so much stronger if he just...
"AUGH!" Jak gave a loud yell as Torn's teeth pressed down hard...
The second he heard that yell, Torn was instantly brought back and he was suddenly highly aware of what he just did.
He fucked up...royally.
Pushing himself away from Jak, Torn scooted away from the other, holding a hand over his mouth as his teeth remained bared. He couldn't stop baring them as small growls spilled from his throat. His hindbrain screamed at him to get back over there and finish the job!
But he refused to give in now.
Not when he just did something so unforgiveable.
Jak was holding the side of his neck, his eyes wide with both shock and confusion.
And he absolutely should be confused.
Omegas DO NOT bite Alphas!
The ONLY exception is when they decide to bond, and it's ONLY after the Alpha has bitten first.
When Torn finally was able to pull his lips down over his teeth, he took a deep breath the calm himself before saying, "I...I'm so sorry Jak! I don't know what came over me-"
"Dude, it's fine." Jak pulled his hand away and traced the indents of Torn's teeth, "You didn't break the skin-"
"Thats not the point!" Torn roared, his face was twisted in anger and shame, "I fucking BIT you!"
Jak blinked, clearly not understanding the wrong that had been done against him, "So? You're gonna do it again tomorrow. A LOT harder than this too."
Torn shook his head, "You don't fucking get it! I'M an OMEGA! I fucking BIT an ALPHA! That's not how this works!"
"Torn, it's not that big a deal!"
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW?!"
The room went silent, Jak stared at Torn in confusion and mild irritation.
Torn looked at anything else to keep himself from breaking something.
…
And Sig suddenly regretted not making a pitstop at the kitchen before coming to get Torn, "Um...am I interrupting something, cherries?"
Both men snapped their heads up to stare wide-eyed at Sig before both looked away awkwardly. It was Torn who spoke up finally, "No, we...um...we were just finishing up."
Sig glanced between the two of them, obviously not convinced, "Right...well I just came to let you know that the Tailor Countess Reista requested from Haven is here. She wants to get you fitted for your wedding gown, Torn."
Torn winced, debating whether it would be worse to go with Sig and get poked and prodded, or stay with Jak and wallow in his shame. He decided that getting fitted was at least productive.
"I'll go meet them." He rose to his feet and quickly exited the room, pushing past Sig. Sig quizzically looked at Jak with his good eye, and the blonde Alpha just looked away from him sheepishly. Sig decided that it was better to interrogate the boy later and focus on escorting Torn to where the Tailor was before he got himself lost again.
When he and Sig arrived at the room where the Haven city Bridal tailor waited, Torn was immediately forced down to his underwear and pushed onto a large round platform. The tailor wasted no time taking his measurements.
It was tedious and boring as hell, but at least it got him out of that room and away from Jak.
She maneuvered his body as she stretched the measuring tape across his body various ways. When she finally finished she beamed at him and commented, "Well, I think I have some pieces that would fit some of your parts. Though it is unfortunate you have so much muscle. Ah, and there's no time for you to slim down, so I supposed I'll just take to make a few adjustments!"
She instructed him to redress before bounding away behind a partition to arrange her work. Torn sneered at the partition, wishing his gaze could set it, and the annoying tailor, on fire.
As he redressed, his mind began dwelling on what happened with Jak earlier.
He still couldn't believe he actually lost control and almost bonded the little idiot right there!
And Jak...
Torn suppressed a growl when he remembered how the young Alpha had reacted. Did he really not understand what just happened to him?! If Torn had tried that with any other Alpha...
He shuddered just thinking about it. In Haven, those were grounds for drastic measures. At the least, he would be forcibly bred to give the Alpha back some sense of control...in the worst scenario he would be dead. Hell, even Jinx had gotten upset when he tried biting him...the first time he tried taking his knot. He'd lost himself in that new feeling and tried sinking his teeth in Jinx's bicep, but Jinx thankfully stopped him before his teeth could connect. Jinx was a lot cooler about it than a typical Alpha, but he unabashedly let Torn know that it still crossed a line.
He remembered that he did it a lot with...Errol too. Though that situation was different since they were both Omegas.
Errol was an Omega, so of course Errol would want to be bitten. Torn was just a surrogate Alpha for him.
Maybe that's why he had trouble controlling it? He'd been so used to having another Omega as a partner, or being alone during his heats, that he'd forgotten the basic rules of Alpha/Omega dynamics? Or...maybe this was just a part of who he is as a person?
Why did he bite Jak?
Because he smelled good? Because he was right there? Why did he feel the need to make the first move with him? Alphas always bite first. Omegas bite second, if at all, assuming their Alpha requests it. And why would they want to? Biting is a dominant behavior. It's possessive.
So what does that mean for him?
Torn understands that he is aggressive by nature and always used to being the one in control. He's domineering, driven, and ambitious in every aspect of his life.
The exact opposite of what he was told an Omega should be.
Omegas were supposed to submit. They were supposed to take, not give.
It was normal...it was preferred...
Why did it seem so unappealing to him?
That mark he left on Jak...usually it would make him feel good. He'd done something humiliating to an Alpha. If it were any other Alpha, Torn would have ridden this high till he was old and grey.
But he didn't bite just any Alpha...he bit Jak.
The mark was not light...it was deep and highly visible. If anyone saw it...
...if anyone from Haven saw it...
...if his Grandmother saw it...
"Alrighty! I think I've got the perfect style for you!" The tailor practically squealed as she rolled out a mannequin wearing the outfit Torn was supposed to wear down the aisle.
The second he looked at it...he wanted to vomit.
It was a dress.
A frilly, lacy, white fucking dress.
It looked like it was made for a woman, but upon closer inspection, he realized with dawning horror that the Mannequin it was displayed on...was male in form. The dress was made for male omegas...
"Beautiful isn't it?! The long sleeves are made with the finest silk and the flower embroidery is lined with rhinestones! The bust is low cut and designed to be slimming around the waist, and oh the skirt is to die for!" She gave a sad pout and crooned, "It's a shame we need to alter it to fit your overly muscular body though. Really, you should consider slimming down those muscles! You know, childbirth will be much harder with them! In fact, my cousin-"
Before Torn could start cussing out the irritating and extremely insensitive woman, Sig cut in, "Can we have a moment alone please?" He moved forward and ushered her to the door. She gave an indignant huff, "Well I never!" before marching out into the hall.
Sig shut the door behind her then turned to Torn, eyes showing sympathy, "You ok, Cherry?"
Torn barked out a humorless laugh as he sneered at the offending outfit, "Ok?! No I'm not fucking ok! Do they actually expect me to wear this?!" He gestured to the dress, as if it were the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen...and at the moment, that's exactly what it was.
Sig shrugged, "I don't know anything about Haven fashion, but I'm gonna guess that men are supposed to wear it?"
"Maybe some men, but I'm not one of them." Torn seethed as he glared daggers at the garment, "I don't fucking believe this. Of course she would do this to me...it's not enough for her to watch me get collared against my will, she has to dress me up like a fucking doll too!"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Countess Reista." Torn tsked as he crossed his arms, "My Grandmother." He walked forward and looked closer at the fabric, "She chose this damn dress because she knew how much I would hate wearing it. I know she did. That old bitch has no joy left in her life other than making everyone around her miserable."
He felt his anger turn into loathing.
Was this his punishment for biting Jak earlier? Maybe karma for denying his predetermined gender role? He could already see his grandmother's face lighting up if he walked down the aisle in this monstrosity.
This was too much...it was too far...
He felt that this last humiliation...this final checkmate would lose him the war that he'd been fighting his whole life.
"What do you mean by 'collared against your will'?" Sig narrowed his eye and stared down at Torn.
Torn decided it didn't matter at this point if Sig knew as well, "The short version is I got strong-armed into this whole affair because my Grandmother has always hated the fact that I'm not cute and girly. Apparently, getting married and bonded to an Alpha automatically makes me a fucking woman."
Sig raised a brow, "That so?" He huffed out a laugh, "Well, something tells me she'll be disappointed. Spargus aint like Haven. She can't tell you how to act here."
"True...but it doesn't matter where I am...", he clenched his fists tightly as he stared at the mannequin, "She will always try to control my life wherever she can...this proves it."
The sharp knock and creak of a door opening brought him out of his progressively depressing thoughts.
He turned and saw Ashelin entering the room, a large flat box under one arm. She smiled at him, "Am I interrupting-" She paused when she saw the dress, face screwing up in disgust, "Please tell me that's not what she commissioned for you to wear."
Torn threw a hand in its direction and sneered, "In all it's glory."
Ashelin didn't hide the disgust clearly blooming on her face, "Are you going to..."
"What choice do I have?" Torn gave an exhausted groan, "I need to wear something to the damn thing. There will be cameras, and if I want to keep up this façade I need to at least look like I give a damn."
Ashelin turned to him and smiled deviously, "Alright, but what if I told you this wasn't your only option?"
His ear perked up and he whipped his head to give Ashelin an intrigued look, "What are you-"
She didn't let him finish and just grabbed his hand, "C'mon, we have an early wedding present for you." She dragged him behind the partition and placed the large box she held on the table. She stepped back and motioned for him to open it.
He approached the white box, heart thumping in anticipation.
He pulled off the top and peered inside.
His eyes went wide.
Jak peered at his reflection in the mirror, running his fingers over the deep indents Torn's teeth had made in his neck. It wasn't even close to his scent gland, and the skin hadn't broken, so Jak didn't get what made Torn so upset.
Because he lost control a little?
Because he bit him before the ceremony?
He sighed in frustration. Just when he thought he was starting to understand the guy...
He ran his fingers over the deep indentations again, remembering the harsh pressure and desperation he felt from Torn when he bit down. It was the most intimate they've ever been with each other.
He shivered when he thought about how Torn had felt against him. He was so possessive...so dominating...
He'd started grooming him so needily, and those teeth seemed like they were ready to tear through flesh and muscle...just to mark him as permanently and deeply as possible...
...and damn Jak had wanted that so bad.
He wanted to feel those strong teeth tear his flesh apart, and he wanted to do the same to Torn. He had never wanted to feel owned before...but Torn...damn it, the grumpy man brought out something in him that just drove him wild.
Of course, he drove these thoughts from his head and exited his bathroom quickly. Now was not the time to be having these thoughts, and honestly he shouldn't think this way about Torn to begin with. Jak was lucky that Torn wanted to have a friendship with him...if he knew these thoughts Jak was still having about him...
He chewed on the inside of his cheek as he thought about the situation. Torn was acting like he'd done something unforgiveable...and Jak was trying to find some logical reason for it.
He decided the best way to figure it out, would be to ask Torn himself.
He knew Torn was supposed to be getting fitted for his wedding attire, so maybe Jak could still catch him if he was still there.
He walked to his door and opened it, stopping when he saw Torn standing there, looking like he was just about to knock. The second their eyes met, Torn averted his and coughed lightly before saying, "Hey, I uh...just wanted to see if you're...ok?"
Well that was convenient.
Jak raised a brow, "Why wouldn't I be?"
He didn't miss the way Torn's eyes glanced down to his exposed neck...the indents still visible amongst the reddened skin.
"You know why." Torn narrowed his eyes, looking like a child trying to apologize to their parent for stealing from the cookie jar, "Look, I'm sorry. What I did...it was unintentional, and I should have controlled myself better. It won't happen again."
"I was actually on my way to talk to you about that. Can you please just explain to me why it's such a big deal to you?" Jak crossed his arms. He was annoyed beyond belief at how meek and apologetic Torn was acting. It was so unlike him, and Jak found the look to be distasteful on him.
Torn sighed, "It's just...fuck, I don't want to have this conversation in the hall." Torn glared at him, but it held no malice. Jak stepped to the side and allowed Torn to breeze past him, shutting the door behind him so they could have privacy.
After taking a deep breath, Torn began speaking, "Listen...I don't know how it works for you guys...but in Haven, what I did to you was as bad as forcing yourself on someone. I violated you. If you were from Haven, that would be grounds for legal action."
Jak's eyes widened in disbelief, "What the fuck?! They take it THAT seriously?" He reached up and put a hand over the mark on his neck.
Torn turned away, "I bit you when you were vulnerable...I could've bonded with you when you couldn't reject me. It was wrong."
"Even though we will literally be doing it tomorrow?!" Jak argued, getting more and more riled up with Torn's confusing apology, "Torn, this is making no fucking sense! Who the fuck cares if you had bonded me?! We've agreed to marry, agreed to bond, and it wouldn't even be permanent until I bite you back!"
"That's not the point!" Torn retorted back, his lips curled back in a snarl as the tension grew more and more. "You're an Alpha..."
"What the fuck does that have to do with anything?!"
"It has everything to do with it!"
"But WHY?!"
"BECAUSE OMEGAS DON'T BITE ALPHAS!" Torn screamed, causing Jak to flinch.
That's when Jak really noticed it...Torn's body language...he was panicked. Even though Jak still didn't understand why, this was a serious issue to Torn.
But...it wasn't the actual act of biting him that had him so spooked...it was something else.
"Torn..." Jak started slowly, approaching Torn as if he were a cornered animal, "I need you to help me understand. This obviously is way deeper than just the bite. There's something else that's got you on edge. I can't help you if you're not straight with me."
Jak gently placed his hands on Torn's shoulders, squeezing reassuringly. Torn looked down at him, staring into those determined ocean-blue eyes. He felt...comfort in them.
"If they see that mark...if they know what I did to you..." Torn began, his voice small and hesitant.
"Who?"
"The delegates from Haven." Torn whispered, as if he had to force out the words, "Ashelin, Jinx, and Tess would probably just find it amusing or treat it as a weird kink, but Countess Reista...Count Veger...they would see it as a fault in your character."
…
...suddenly, Jak understood. Torn was trying to protect his image. In his mind, he caused a problem for him. He was a Prince...soon to be King...any show of weakness if a death sentence.
Torn gave a huff as he scathingly bit out, "What kind of Alpha would allow their Omega to do something so possessive to them? They would probably think you're a pushover...they'd try to use it to their advantage...and it would all be because I couldn't fucking control myself." He lowered his head, and when Jak heart him whisper, "I'm a terrible Omega."
Jak felt his heart break.
He grabbed Torn's face, forcing him to look him in the eye again, "Hey! Don't you ever say that again!" He glared as Torn's eyes widened in confusion, "You are strong...you're smart...you care about people even though you pretend you don't. You didn't get upset or disgusted with me when I was having dirty thoughts about you, and you even started helping me control my urges! You can beat the shit out of anyone who crosses you and I love the way you smile when you eat something sweet."
Jak watched as Torn's expression went from confused to calm and he continued, "I know we didn't ask for this...but if I had the choice between you and every other Omega that has ever existed. I would choose you...every time." He released Torn's face and wrapped his arms around him, resting his head against the other's chest as he finished, "You're not a terrible Omega Torn...you're perfect as you are. So don't ever talk about yourself that way again."
Jak expected Torn to push him away, or awkwardly try to break the hold. Instead, Torn was still.
Then Jak felt strong arms wrap around him as well and pull him snugly up against the warm body he was holding. He glanced up at Torn, surprised when he saw a small smile on his face.
"You are the weirdest Alpha I've ever met." Torn laughed softly before he tightened the hug, "Don't ever change."
As Torn readied himself in the makeshift bridal chamber, he glanced over his reflection in the full length mirror. In the background he could see the finished dress, taking its rightful place on the mannequin...where it was going to stay.
The box Ashelin had brought him was on the floor...emptied of its contents which Torn now wore with pride.
It was a traditional military wedding uniform, only modified slightly to fit his role as a "bride". Torn didn't even mind that the jacket and pants were flawless white, the rest of the outfit radiated masculinity.
It was a standard white suit with a dark blue sash, coming down from over one shoulder and across his chest to circle around at the hip. A simple gold corded belt was tied around his waist and golden buttons lined up the left side of the jacket, all the way to the open lapels that exposed a white collared shirt and a dark blue necktie wrapping around his neck and tucked neatly inside the jacket.
On his right breast, he wore his rank and insignia proudly, along with the medals he's earned in his military career. It wasn't all of them, but he chose his favorites and pinned them proudly. Golden braided cords attached from the white and gold epaulettes, crossing over his left breast and adding an elegance to his form.
He slid on the white gloves and shoes as the final touch and smiled at his reflection.
It was bold...defiant...and very much him.
He couldn't wait to watch his Grandmother's eyes bug out of their sockets.
He just hoped Jak wouldn't be disappointed. It seemed selfish to be making a statement when it was also his wedding too.
A light knock distracted him, "Come in."
The door opened and Damas entered. Torn immediately wondered if perhaps he should have just bitten the bullet and worn the dress. But that thought vanished when the King beamed at him, "My! You look so handsome! It was so kind of your friends to put that together for you."
Torn blushed lightly, "Yeah...I hope it's not inappropriate."
"Nonsense!" Damas laughed as he clapped a hand gently on Torn's shoulder, as to not ruffle his appearance, "You are a soldier, you deserve a soldier's wedding! And if jak's anything like his mother, he loves a man in uniform."
Torn really hoped that was true.
"Actually, I hope what I'm about to ask you isn't inappropriate..." Damas held out a black box to Torn, "I have a small request to make of you."
Torn examined the box curiously before taking it and opening it. Inside was a golden circlet, the top adorned with several short golden spikes, seemingly mimicking thorns. On closer inspection, Torn realized that it was similar to the precursor metal crown Damas had implanted in his skull. Also inside the box was a necklace made of a thin gold chain and holding the seal of the house of Mar.
"I know it may not be the look you're going for, but it would mean a lot to the people of Spargus to see you wearing both the crown and seal. The seal is given to all members of the House of Mar, and..." Damas looked down at the crown and said more softly, "The crown was Jak's mother's."
Torn swallowed around the lump in his throat, "Are you sure I should wear something so important?"
"You are marrying my son, are you not?" Damas smiled at him again, "You're part of our family. There is no one else I would rather give this crown to."
Torn paused, glancing between the king, the necklace, and the crown.
Sensing his hesitation, Damas reassured him, "Perhaps I'm being a tad pushy. It was just a small suggestion, nothing more. If you do not wish to wear them, that is perfectly fine, and you will not offend me if you don't. Whatever you choose to do, let it be because you want it...not out of obligation."
He gave Torn another friendly touch on the arm and said, "Good luck!" before turning and leaving the room.
Torn was silent for a while.
He set the box on a table next to the military cap that was supposed to go with the uniform.
Glancing between the two objects, Torn felt something pulling on his heartstrings. He thought long and hard about his decision, then when he made up his mind, he wore his chosen accessory and prepared to be summoned.
The throne room was practically glowing from the amount of candles spread around it. The room had undergone some reconstruction in the past week, smoothing out the natural rock formations and laying down tile over the flowing rivers that encircled the throne. There was a clear path from the elevator to the wedding arch, as well as places for the few wedding guests to stand.
On the left side of the throne stood Jak's family and friends which included Daxter, Keira, Samos, and Sig.
On the right side, Ashelin, Jinx, and Tess stood stoically...and next to them stood Count Vegar, looking shiftily from side to side as he looked unimpressed around the chamber.
Next to him, stood Countess Reista.
Jak stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Torn to make his entrance, and in that time he'd had more than enough of Torn's Grandmother to last him a lifetime.
He now understood why Torn was so afraid of her.
She had on a pleasant smile as she stood as still as a statue, but that smile was wrong...
Jak felt a chill in the air around her. There was a suffocating darkness that surrounded her, and she seemed so...fake.
She also kept glancing over at him when she thought he wasn't looking. He felt as if he were naked and under a microscope.
Suddenly the cameras focused on the elevator as it began to whir to life.
Jak straightened up, his gaze fixed on the elevator.
This was it...
…
The elevator arrived, carrying Torn with it.
As he stepped off the elevator, Torn tried to ignore the camera bots in his face as they whirred around him, giving the citizens watching at home a full view of his attire.
The white military formalwear, the seal of Mar hanging from his neck, and the golden Queen of Spargus's crown resting on his head.
He paused and surveyed the room first. He looked over Samos and Keira, both smiling happily at him, and Daxter who gave him a toothy grin and a middle finger. He will never tell the orange asshole that he nearly laughed out loud at the gesture. Damas stood in front of his throne, directly under the arch, wearing his kingly attire and wielding his staff. He didn't miss the pride and thankfulness in his eyes when he noticed Torn decided to wear his gifts.
Then Torn looked over his friends faces, seeing them all smiling at him...and Jinx trying his best to keep from snickering at his Grandmother and Vegar's expressions.
And oh...Torn could barely keep it together himself.
Vegar's mouth was agape, and he held his hand on his chest as if he'd never seen something so scandalous.
And his grandmother...
Her perfect mask had cracked.
She kept her face neutral for the sake of appearances, but Torn could feel her rage and appalment from where he stood. He gave her a smile, his eyes telling her what he really wanted to say.
You have no control over me here. So shut up, sit back, and enjoy the show.
Finally, he turned his eyes to Jak.
He was wearing a Kurta similar to the one Torn wore when they first met, only it was far more elaborate. It was a deep ocean blue with delicate gold accents. The garment had special stitched designs placed around the shoulders, hip, and ends. The design looked like a mixture of fire and water illustrations, intertwining with white, black, and gold. He also had a gold sash across his chest, similar to Torn's but a bit bigger. His wild, shoulder-length hair was intricately braided and had gold chains weaved into it, and on top of his head sat a crown made of precursor metal, similar to Damas's but in circlet form.
And fuck...Torn felt his heart stop for a moment.
Jak cleaned up nice.
And it seems he also thought similarly of Torn.
The young Alpha was awestruck. His mouth hung open slightly, his wide blue eyes stared at him as if he were staring at a precursor. Torn gave him a wink before walking down the aisle. The cameras followed his movements, and Torn was surprised to learn he did not mind them. When he reached Jak he smiled down at him and whispered, "Close your mouth before a bug flies in."
Jak did just that as a harsh blush bloomed on his face, "Sorry..." Jak leaned closer to him and whispered, "You look...damn, you look fantastic!'
"Glad you think so." Torn linked his arm with Jaks making sure to take the feminine role so Jak could lead them, "I was afraid you'd want to see me in a dress."
"You kidding?!" Jak nudged him playfully, "Between the two of us, I think I could pull off a dress way better."
Torn turned to give him a suspicious look as Jak began leading him up the stairs, "Oh really? Didn't know you were into that sort of thing."
Jak laughed softly, "There's a lot about me you don't know."
"Well, good thing I've got time to learn." He turned to Jak once more, "You look handsome too by the way. For once, you actually look like a Prince."
Jak turned away, trying to hide the deepening redness on his face, but failing miserably. He mumbled out a small "thanks" as the finally reached the top of the steps.
Finally, they stood in front of Damas, and the ceremony could begin.
Damas glanced between the two of them before starting his speech, "Friends, family, and Citizens of Spargus and Haven, we welcome you on this joyous day to witness the bonding of my son, Prince Jak Mar to Commander Torn Reista of Haven." He looked between the two men before him, eyes teeming with pride.
"But today, we not only celebrate the bonding of two souls, but the union of our two cities. Too long have we stood apart while facing a dangerous foe. Now, with the union of these two wonderful people, our cities will be stronger than they've ever been." Damas paused for effect before turning his gaze from the cameras back to Jak and Torn, "Please turn to face each other."
Here we go.
Torn turned to face Jak, and Jak did the same.
Damas resumed his speech, "Prince Jak Mar, do you take Commander Torn Reista as your lawfully bonded mate? Do you swear to honor and love him in every aspect of your shared life for as long as you live?"
Jak didn't miss a beat. He kept a focused stare on Torn as he swallowed nervously and said, "I do."
Damas turned to Torn, "Commander Torn Reista, do you take Prince Jak Mar as your lawfully bonded mate? Do you swear to cherish and protect him as you share his life, and do so until death parts you?"
"I do." He blurted it out quickly before he lost his nerve.
"By the power vested in me, as King of Spargus, I now pronounce you bonded in marriage." He smiled widely, "You may exchange your marks."
Just as Torn was about to turn his head, Jak reached up and undid the first two buttons on his kurta, exposing his tanned neck. He turned his head to the side, presenting his neck to Torn with a smile.
Torn raised a brow, "What are you doing?"
Damas decided to clarify, "In Spargus, there is no predetermined order. Who makes the first mark is determined by the couple."
Jak finished, "And I want you to go first."
Torn's eyes went wide. He struggled to not look at the cameras pointed at them, "Jak, are you sure about this?! The cameras...everyone can see-"
"Let them see." Jak interrupted, "Let everyone in the entire world watch you mark me. I don't care. I'm not better than you because I'm an Alpha. We are equal...and I want to show them that."
As Jak flashed him a smile, Torn felt something warm bloom in his chest. This kid was going to be the death of him. He smiled back at him before leaning forward and placing a hand on Jak's shoulder. He grabbed the back of Jak's head with his other hand, threading his fingers through the yellow hair before gripping it and yanking Jak's head to the side. Jak gave a small gasp before grinning at the rough treatment.
He leaned down, looking at the faded mark from earlier.
He heard Jak growl lowly, "This time, don't stop until I'm bleeding, you fucking pussy!"
That was the push Torn needed as he harshly sank his teeth into Jak's neck, right over his scent gland. He felt the rush of blood in his mouth...iron mingling with another taste that came from the close proximity to Jak's gland. He wanted to smile when he heard the horrified gasp behind him, most likely coming from his Grandmother.
This was the best present Jak could have gotten him.
The young Alpha tensed under him, gripping onto his waist as he growled lowly. Jak clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth as he enduring the sharp pain.
Then it was over. Torn unsheathed his teeth, swiping his tongue across the fresh bite, clearing away the blood that had started to drip down, staining the kurta. He didn't have a lot of time to clean the bite as Jak grabbed his hair and forced his neck to the side. He grabbed Torn's clothed, yanking them to the side to expose his gland before he growled, "My turn."
Torn expected Jak to just dig in, tear through his flesh just as he had done prior...but the little shit just kept on surprising him. Jak ran his tongue over his gland in a light grooming before burying his teeth deep.
Torn growled loudly as he felt Jak's sharp teeth dig into his flesh, cutting deeper and stronger than Torn had. At first, he wanted to scoff, Typical Alpha, but he remembered that Jak had let him go first, so he could forgive this obvious show of strength and possession.
When Jak finally pulled away and inspected his work, Torn felt light-headed.
They barely registered the applause and Daxter's excited whooping as they were instructed to turn towards the cameras for a final smile before the ceremony ended.
Torn couldn't help but sneak a peek at his Grandmother.
He could barely contain his laughter at her red face.
After they had been treated for their wounds, Jak and Torn were quickly ushered to their new couple room. The palace had been filled to the brim with citizens celebrating their marriage, and the second they left the private medical room, they were swarmed with over-eager well-wishers. They dodged cameras, reporters, and pushy civilians as they followed a few palace guards to their room.
The second they entered and slammed the door behind them. Their new room was larger than their previous ones and more elaborate with a kitchenette and dining room, a living room, and a segregated bedroom.
As they trudged to the bedroom, the newly married couple's eyes were immediately drawn to the bed...which was decorated with rose petals and heart shaped pillows. Neither of them dared to mention the lube and condoms situated on one of the bedside tables.
"Wow, you guys really don't waste time." He eyed the condoms and lube with mild distaste.
Jak, however, completely ignored the table and its contents as he tried to lessen the increasing reddening of his face, "They're just excited. Don't worry about it too much." He then turned to Torn, light panic on his face, "I mean, I'm not gonna try to do anything to you, if that's what you're thinking!"
Torn gave a tired sigh, "Even if that was your plan, it's funny to think I'd let you even try." He made his way to their bathroom and announced, "I'm showering first, if you try to sneak a peek I'll cut off your balls while you sleep." He didn't allow Jak time to respond as he closed the door behind him and stripped.
Meanwhile, Jak was attempting to de-petal the bed, since neither of them intended to sleep on a bunch of mutilated flowers. It was a cute gesture, but highly unnecessary. Especially since he and Torn were nowhere near being that close...yet.
Jak paused. He reached up and tenderly touched his gauze-covered neck which hid his fresh mating bite. He felt heat start growling in his loins and chest as he remembered the feeling of being bit. It was so much more intense than that first accidental bite. And when he returned the bite...
Jak shook his head. He shouldn't be having these thoughts with Torn so close to him. The man was clear with his intentions at this point, and if Jak wanted them to grow closer...he would have to be patient.
The bathroom door squeaked open slightly and Torn's head peeked out. He had on a nervous scowl as he asked, "I forgot a towel, could you...turn around?"
Jak turned, his face turned even redder as he quickly ran to the closet and pulled out a towel for Torn. He averted his eyes as he handed him the towel, "I-I won't look. Promise."
Torn stared at him distrustfully before sighing and grabbing the offered towel, "Forgive me if I don't take you word on it."
Jak felt his eye twitch, "Fuck you! I'm trying to be nice!"
"Uh-huh." Torn rolled his eyes again in disbelief, "And you have absolutely no interest in seeing me without clothes on."
Jak let out a small huff, then mused, "Well, you did kinda walk in on me yesterday. Didn't even have the courtesy to knock. You saw literally everything...so if we wanna be fair-"
He heard Torn growl threateningly behind him and snickered softly. His mate was easy to ruffle it seemed, "What? Were you that intimidated? I mean, I know I'm pretty big but, we're both guys, you aint got nothin' I don't. You scared of something?"
"I'm never scared."
"Says the man who's hiding behind the door asking me to hand him a towel."
"Was that a challenge?!"
"Nah, I'm just wondering why you're being such a prude about it." He smirked wickedly, "You got a baby dick or somethin'?"
The very loud growl did not go unheard, and Jak could swear he heard the wood of the bathroom door cracking under what could only be a very tight grip from the pissed off man behind him.
Well, he had his fun, maybe it was time to cut Torn some slack, "I'm kidding, Torn. I'm not looking, so please hurry the fuck up. I need a shower too."
He heard the bathroom door open and felt a hand on his shoulder. He let himself be roughly turned around.
He met Torn's angry sneer...
Then his eyes couldn't help but trail lower...
They travelled down the long neck with a new gauze patch taped over his scent gland, obscuring the bite...
...then he went lower to that toned chest...those washboard abs...and finally.
He felt his mouth water and his throat go dry, "Fuck..."
Maybe he should've noticed the towel thrown over Torn's shoulder first.
Torn placed his hands on his hips, stepping one leg out to the side confidently, "Satisfied?"
Jak couldn't speak...because...
...Torn's supposed to be an Omega right?
"Y-you...why...um..." His brain wouldn't work...he felt like he was hypnotized...by a dick...by Torn's dick...Torn's freaking huge dick. He finally felt strength return to him and he wrenched his body away, turning back around as his entire face felt like it was on fire.
He heard Torn laugh behind him, "I'll take that as a yes. We're even now." He heard soft footsteps and assumed Torn was going to collect his nightclothes from a drawer.
Jak rushed to the closet and grabbed another towel, then ran to the bathroom and entered it, but before he closed the door, he couldn't resist one more peek. Torn's back was to him as he rummaged through the drawer. Jak's eyes trailed down again.
Sweet precursors...
He slammed the door before he passed out from the jolts of electricity running through him. The images of what just happened kept replaying in his mind, and Jak couldn't stop his body from reacting. He shucked off his clothes and turned on the shower...setting it to a near freezing temperature.
His dick was hard as a rock, and he wanted to jerk himself off so bad...but Torn was just beyond that door. What would he think if Jak jerked off after seeing his fully naked body for the first time. I mean...it was a fucking HOT body. Curvy in all the right places, hard pretty much everywhere, and fuck...that dick was no joke. They were probably the same size too, maybe Jak was a tad thicker? Torn slightly longer?
And that ass...
He cursed as he slammed a fist against the wall, trying desperately to will away his erection.
It just wouldn't calm down.
Maybe if he was quiet...
He bit his lip as he fisted his cock again, roughly fucking his own fist as he grit his teeth to keep his voice down. He couldn't stop the small growls trickling out from his throat as he imagined something other than a fist on his cock.
Torn's smirking face came into view...those pretty lips...they would look so nice around his cock. Or better yet...Jak wanted to get on his knees and take Torn's gorgeous dick down his throat. He fucked his fist faster, pitoning his hips forward as he remembered the tantalizing shape of Torn's member...the shredded planes of his stomach and chest...the tasty curve of his squeezable ass.
When he came, he did it with an un-alpha-like whimper into his palm, keeping his copious amount of seed from getting on the wall in front of him.
Now with his dick flaccid and his balls drained...Jak felt the weight of what he just did.
He felt like a douchebag.
Then to top it all off, he remembered as he turned off the water...there was only one bed...
What have I gotten myself into?
Meanwhile, Torn was on the other side of the door kicking himself for what he just did.
He groaned as he fished out his lounge pants and a simple white tank top, "What the fuck was I thinking?!"
He really just flashed Jak...
WHY?!
Because Jak was goading him?! Torn was better than that! Jak was just teasing, he didn't have an ulterior motive, but Torn just...wanted to see his reaction?
Was that it?
He wanted to see how Jak would react to seeing him in his birthday suit?
He dressed himself then sat on the bed, mulling over the situation.
He reacted like I thought he would, at first. He did look...but then he just...turned away again. Why? Any other Alpha would've taken that as an invitation. Or a right of bonding. Then again, I already knew he isn't like any other Alpha.
He paused, then heard Jak curse loudly from the bathroom. He suppressed a laugh and smiled in the direction of the door, "Jak Mar, you are one weird Alpha."
Just as he said it, Jak exited the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist and his skin a few shades paler than usual. Torn raised a brow, "You ok there?"
Jak grunted out, "Peachy." He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a different drawer holding his share of nightclothes. When he fished out a pair of boxers, he glanced over at Torn, waiting for him to look away.
Torn did not.
He just stared at Jak with a passive nonchalant face.
"Well?" Jak uttered impatiently.
Torn raised a brow, "What?"
"You gonna look away or is this our new norm?"
Torn rolled his eyes, "Does it really matter at this point?"
Jak turned his body toward Torn, scanning his face...reading his tone. He felt like he was being tested.
Jak narrowed his eyes, "Fair enough." He then whipped the towel off his body and chucked it at Torn. It landed directly on his head.
Torn ripped the towel off with an appalled look on his face, "Are you FUCK-" He stopped when jak turned around and grabbed his underwear. Torn hated the fact that he still liked what he saw...damn Jak for having such a toned body and a nice ass. He growled and tossed the towel away from him, turning away from Jak and reclining on the bed, "You're such a fucking child sometimes."
"Hey, you were the one who started this by swinging your dick around."
"The fuck?!" Torn snarled, "I walked out without a towel on! It's not like I swung my dick in front of your face! Besides, you didn't have to look."
"I'm 17 and a virgin. Of fucking COURSE I'm gonna look!" Jak argued back, finally pulling his underwear up and stomping over to his side of the bed...since Torn obviously claimed the right side. He paused before getting in, glancing over to Torn, "So...how are we gonna do this exactly?"
Torn looked over at him, and it suddenly dawned on him as well.
They had to share this bed.
Their clothes were moved into this room...their personal items were moved here...people would talk if they slept in separate rooms.
But being this close to each other was a bit...
"Yeah, this is not gonna work." Torn sighed, looking highly uncomfortable with the idea of sharing a bed with another person...especially if that person was an Alpha. "Last thing I want is you drooling on me or kicking me while I sleep."
"I don't drool!" Jak protested, "Or kick!"
"I don't want you getting any ideas during the night either! I've already had to spend two nights with you clinging to me, I'd rather not spend another." Torn scoffed, crossing his arms in dissent.
Jak coughed lightly, "Ok...fair enough. So...how about you sleep in the bed, and I'll take the couch?"
"No, it's fine. I'll take the couch." Torn started moving off the bed.
"No, I'll take the couch." Jak was already moving toward it.
Torn darted past him, "No, fuck you! I'LL take the damn couch!" Just as he was about to land on the couch, Jak slid past him and fell onto it, a shit-eating grin on his face.
"I," He purred, "got the couch."
And of course, Torn took that personally and got behind the couch, lifting it up with Jak on top until he rolled off. As soon as Jak hit the floor, Torn plopped down onto it and grinned.
Jak was flabbergasted at the audacity, so he grabbed Torn and heaved him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. With the Omega kicking and cussing him out, Jak tossed him onto the bed then made a dash for the couch.
He was mere inches away when Torn launched himself at his back and tackled him down face-first against the cushions.
Jak's screams of disbelief were muffled as Torn sat up and laughed scathingly, "I'm. FUCKING. Taking. The couch."
Jak turned his head so he could catch his breath them growled out, "I'm not moving."
"Well I'm not moving either!"
They both stayed like that, Torn sitting on the backs on Jak's thighs as he kept him pinned to the couch.
It took then 10 minutes before they realized how stupid this whole situation was.
"Fucking fine!" Jak exclaimed in exasperation, "Why don't we just use the bed?"
"The whole point of wanting the couch is so we didn't have to sleep together dumbass."
"WELL-" Jak paused growling in frustration before he got an idea, "Hey, why don't we make a wall with the pillows?"
"That's..." Torn thought for a minute, "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
Once Torn let him up, he and Jak started collecting the pillows that weren't going to be used and started constructing a wall, splitting the large bed in half.
Finally, they settled back on their respective sides of the wall.
For a while, they just laid there, staring up at the ceiling.
The day finally sank in for both of them...and they had no idea what to say at this point.
Jak broke the silence, "Torn...are you...happy here?" He paused before clarifying, "I know this wasn't your choice, and your chance to be bonded to someone of your choosing is gone now...but are you even a little happy with how it all turned out?"
Torn didn't speak at first.
He collected his thoughts, briefly wondering if he should lie...but he decided against it, "Honestly? I'm not happier here than I was in Haven. I miss my job...my brothers...my friends...I never wanted to get married...never wanted to be bonded. Now that it's happened...I don't know what to feel." He turned to face Jak, but found himself staring at the wall they built.
Huh...
Why did his chest feel tight all of a sudden?
"Why are you asking me this anyway?" Torn asked.
"It's just..." Jak started, "When I was talking to Jinx and Ashelin...they both said you looked happy. I want to believe them, but I can see that you get sad sometimes."
Did Jak really notice it? Torn turned his gaze back up to the ceiling.
He thought deeply about his short time in Spargus so far. He thought about the palace that he constantly got lost in. He thought about the friendly people who wore their hearts on their sleeves and displayed their strength proudly. He thought about how everyone was free to be themselves...free...just like the ocean that surrounded them.
"I'm happy that I've been welcomed so warmly by your people." Torn whispered loud enough for Jak to hear, "I'm happy that I can be a part of Spargus's military. I'm happy that your friends seem to like me, and mine like you."
He sat up, peering over the wall to make eye contact with Jak, "But...I think I'm most happy that you are the way you are. When I got here, I resigned myself to be reduced to the plaything of some pompous asshole. I'm glad I got you instead."
Jak looked up at him, his eyes filled with so many emotions, but the younger male simply nodded and replied, "I promise...I'll make you happy here."
Torn gave him a nod and laid back down, "Get some sleep kid, we leave for Haven tomorrow."
As he heard Jak shuffling around through the wall, attempting to get comfortable, Jak's last words rang in his ears.
I'll make you happy here.
Torn smiled softly to himself as he closed his eyes.
You already have...you snotty little bastard.
