(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 283: Round two, fight!

The hurried footsteps were what clued Andrew into the fact that Maxwell was coming. He didn’t even need to guess who they belonged to, he just knew.

Ford was pushed to the background of his mind as Maxwell came into view, huffing, Mr. Newman trailing behind him. Maxwell looked horrified at the state of him and rushed towards him.

"Andy!" He shouted, running towards him and practically falling on the other man. He wrapped his arms around his head, pulling him against his chest. His grip was tight, his scent potent as it filled Andrew’s lungs. Andrew’s arms wrapped around the other man like a vice, locking into place to pull Maxwell tighter against him.

"Max." Andrew exhaled, his face in the crook of his neck as Maxwell held him.

"You damn fool. Your health comes before everything else." Maxwell grumbled, clearly upset and Andrew flinched. He wanted to explain himself, explain his reasoning. Unfortunately, his tongue still felt thick in his mouth, swollen with words he wanted to say, but couldn’t.

"Burden." Andrew managed to get out and Maxwell nearly screeched.

"There is no fucking way you’re a burden to me, Andrew. If you dare say that shit again..." Maxwell trailed off, upset, but Andrew just inhaled his scent. It was completely different to get it from the source instead of a little sheet filled with his scent. It was good, it was nice, it was soothing.

The sound of a door opening, and the shifting of fabric.

"Ah. Welcome, Mr. Beckett. I assumed you would be here shortly.’" Dr. Liu was taking everything in stride. Honestly, Andrew was pretty sure she would take everything in stride. It was a complement. It was a good trait for a Doctor to have, even if Andrew didn’t know what she had her doctorate in.

"Of course. How is Richard?" Maxwell asked and Dr. Liu sighed.

"Everything appears to be alright. We’ve put him to sleep for now, just to let him ride out the worst of the manifestation and heat combination. His readings are abnormal, but after consulting Dr. Smith on Dr. Nice’s manifestation, I am beginning to think it’s normal. We’ll continue to monitor, and none of the other staff members have noticed. We have moved the more sensitive members of our teams to the lower levels. They didn’t complain once they learned someone had gone into heat." Dr. Liu explained.

Andrew was glad this his past was able to help them. Especially when it came to Richard.

"When will he be able to leave? And what should we have in place for when he leaves? He’s not going back to his apartment alone, but my wife is an alpha. Should I be worried about that? We always discussed what would happen in the case that one of our children became an omega, but I just didn’t anticipate that it would happen so late in life." Ford asked and Dr. Liu sighed.

"While it shouldn’t be a concern because Mrs. Gates is related to Dr. Gates, it would be something I would be cautious about. Limit contact. Not for her sake, but for Dr. Gates’ sake. He’s going to be in a brand new world. He’s going to be overwhelmed by everything. It’s easier when you’re a teen because you haven’t gotten as prepared, and you’ve been warned that it could happen. Once you’re out of your teens..." Andrew could feel everyone looking at him. "Dr. Nice is a clear example of that. Unlike Dr. Gates though, he’s found a partner that soothes him. Dr. Gates won’t have that. He’ll be on his own." It was a pang against Andrew’s soul.

He really didn’t want Richard to go through this alone.

"He’ll have us." Ford said, his voice strong. "He won’t be on his own." Andrew wanted to applaud, hug the man. He knew that Ford would have his son’s back. It was a given. Andrew just wanted to reward him for it.

"Good. We’ll help you with anything you need. Andy won’t let me not do that. I can tell by the way he just squeezed me." Maxwell said, humour in his tone. "Andy, Baby, can you let me go so I can go check on Richard myself?" Andrew didn’t want to let him go. He didn’t want him to go in there. But he also knew that he couldn’t stop his adorable, strong willed boyfriend.

Reluctantly, Andrew let Maxwell go, and got a kiss on the cheek for his efforts. Maxwell smiled down at him.

"Good job. I’ll be back soon, okay? Mr. Newman, follow me." Mr. Newman bolted after Maxwell as he entered into the room where Richard was being kept and monitored. Ford was staring at Andrew, a smile on his face.

"It’s good to see you two together and made up. I thought I was going to have a heart attack for you when things went badly. Are you feeling better after he’s arrived?" Ford asked and Andrew nodded. The crushing pressure had faded, and he felt like he could breathe better. Ford nodded. "Good." Ford opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He sighed, looking away. "You’re like this because of what happened, aren’t you? I mean, I know that, I was there when you explained but..." Ford trailed off and Andrew stared at him. Ford’s bottom lip trembled before he let out another soft sigh. "If I ever see her, Andy, May is going to have to pull me off of her." Andrew felt shock course through his body.

Ford? Ford was saying that? He honestly didn’t expect it. Ford was the sweetest man he knew. So kind, so caring, the man who taught Andrew that men weren’t terrible creatures, it was just his father who was bad.

"Ford?" Andrew called and Ford’s throat worked. His hands were clenched at his side, he himself on his knees near Andrew.

"I’m glad that Max is here. Truly. I felt like I was getting too angry. I need to calm myself down. I need to be here for both of you." Andrew felt terrible. Ford should be here for Richard, not for him. He could- "I can practically hear your thoughts, Andrew. Do not make me angry." Ford’s tone was harsh, and Andrew flinched.

"I’m sorry." Andrew muttered quietly and Ford reached over, pulling him in for a hug. The soft feeling of his arms, and the faint, sweet scent of soil and plants filled his nose.

"It’s okay, Andy. You can’t help it. You’ve always been like this. Just know I won’t let you run away for a second time." Ford warned, and Andrew realised that though he’d always been worried about May, he should have known better. It was people like Ford who were the ones you needed to worry about more. The only reason why May had taken over the lecture and care of Andrew was because he needed someone who had the same secondary sex as him.

Ford had had a hand in his care, even if he had been quiet about it.

"I won’t." Andrew told him, meaning it. He doubted he’d be able to run away for a second time anyways. Not with the Beckett family involved. They would move every resource they had to hunt him down, and Andrew wasn’t even that good at hiding. He’d run to England. They had even found him while he was there too. He’d just not told them when he’d moved back.

Maxwell came back shortly after Ford and Andrew had shared a hug. When Andrew met Maxwell’s gaze, he looked angry. Pissed. Andrew worried it was something that he had done but Maxwell didn’t let that thought linger long.

He bent, wrapping his arms around Andrew tightly. His grip was almost bruising, but Andrew didn’t mind. He liked when Maxwell held him this tightly.

"I’ll kill her." He muttered, and Andrew opened his eyes and slid them to Ford. Ford had a grimly satisfied smile on his face.

"Max?" Andrew asked. "What do you-" Andrew went silent as Maxwell gave him another squeeze.

"We aren’t just destroying that damn fucking company. Fuck them. Fuck them all." Maxwell was truly pissed. He wondered what Maxwell saw in there that had set him off like this. "Mr. Newman, call Ben. Tell him to speed the fuck up. Everything. Tell him it’s an issue related to Andrew and he’ll understand." Mr. Newman passed the three of them in the hallway, pulling his phone up to his ear as if he had already pulled up Ben’s contact information ahead of time.

What the hell did Maxwell see in that room that had him this upset?

"Maxy?" Andrew asked. He was feeling better now, didn’t need Maxwell’s pheromones as much but this hold seemed to be for Maxwell now.

"Richard’s going to be fine." Ford said. "It’s your people, Maxy." Maxwell nodded.

"I know. I know that, I just..." Maxwell let out a shaky breath. "Fuck." He exclaimed quietly, and it broke his heart. Andrew knew that they both had some issues around Andrew’s disappearance, but he didn’t think that Richard would have set Maxwell off as well. Now he felt even worse for letting Ford call him here.

Maxwell eventually pulled away, wiping under his eyes and pulling himself together. He stared at Andrew.

"Do you want to try to go back into the room while I’m here? I know you want to be with Richard right now." Maxwell asked carefully and Andrew swallowed.

It was a big risk. He had just regained himself. He was likely to react again, but...

Andrew gave a quick jerk of his head and watched as a small smile touched Maxwell’s lips. He nodded.

"That’s what I expected. Come here, big boy. I’ll hold your hand. You squeeze it when you need to leave, alright? No running away without me." Maxwell warned and Andrew nodded. He slowly got to his feet, Ford there to grab him if he needed support, but he was okay. Maxwell was also there, ready, hand out. Andrew gulped, before he gently placed his hand in his. Maxwell laced their fingers. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"I’m here as well, Andy. We’re both here." Ford told him, patting his shoulder and Andrew nodded. He wanted to be there for Richard. He needed to be there for Richard.

Andrew took a deep breath. He’d walked in, all cock sure before. He wasn’t going to do that a second time.