Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 34: Unexpected visitor

Chapter 34: Unexpected visitor

"What happened?!" Kayden’s shocked voice echoed within the room. Only when Knox looked up at him did he realize he even stood and shouted, so he embarrassingly went back to sit. Kayden exhaled loudly to calm his nerves.

He turned to Knox, waiting for his answer.

Knox gulped. He cupped his forehead and sighed in exasperation. Even Athan didn’t know about his bond mark, but of all people, he was confiding to his accidental mate’s cousin. Since Kayden knew already, Knox decided to tell him everything, omitting a detailed explanation, of course.

"So, it was a failed attempt," Kayden mumbled. He sighed and continued, "That leaves a broken bond which temporarily protects you from predators. I guess it’s still working since I can’t smell your pheromones at all even when we’re this close.

"But that’d be different towards Azrael. That dickhead would probably think you’re offering him a bloom again, so if he learns that—

"Please, Dr. Kayden!" Knox shouted, kneeling on his bed and bowing towards Kayden who looked dumbfounded, "Please, I beg you, don’t tell Azrael. Please, doctor..."

Knox’s voice was trembling, to which Kayden felt extremely troubled. He hesitatingly patted Knox back and assured him, "Okay, okay, I won’t tell. I’ll keep it a secret until then."

Knox bowed once again, mumbling his deepest gratitude. He was already thinking of packing his things up as soon as he went home.

Kayden sat again and spoke, "But, Knox, if you keep your pheromones like that, what happened before might occur again. You have to release them in quantities if you don’t want that to happen, but now that you’re bonded, even if it’s not complete, you need Azrael’s help.

"To unmated omegas, suppressing heats tend to be more painful, that’s why they seek partners to share it with them, and only an alpha can quench that thirst. The relief they experienced is also what made them desire a bond.

"Since a bonded omega’s heat won’t be as painful as when they’re unmated. However, there’s a disadvantage to that. If the alpha rejects their mate’s bloom, the omega’s body would have no other way to release them, and it’ll accumulate inside and explode."

"What would happen if it explodes?" Knox asked after listening attentively.

The doctor answered, "It could be both dangerous to both the omega and alpha. Too much concentrated omega pheromones can make an alpha go wild and crazy, and can induce an alpha’s rut since the mated alpha is the only one who can be affected by his mated omega’s scent."

Knox lowered his head. Many things ran inside his head – his plan to escape, his son, his son’s father, his condition, and many more. His head ached like something was drilling into it. He closed his eyes and decided to ask the doctor what was the best course of action.

Kayden answered without hesitation, "Receive Azrael’s help."

Knox frowned, starting to regret why he even bothered to ask. However, Kayden supported his advice, "Somehow, it’s similar to the method Azrael used back then. As you already know, he suffered from a condition where his pheromones went wild after contact with your bloom. And the reason he hired you was because he can release his pheromones all he wanted without affecting you."

Knox nodded, "Yeah. I remembered."

"Back then, even a beta can’t handle his scent, but you were okay. So, he kept you by his side to receive all those pent-up pheromones," Kayden explained properly.

Knox furrowed his brows, genuinely confused. He asked what was bothering him, "Why couldn’t he just release them anywhere? Or to anyone?"

Kayden gawked at him, "Are you serious? If he releases that amount of pheromones anywhere, there’ll be a naked show. Azrael doesn’t like omegas before, he’s stubborn so that’s a no. And an alpha doesn’t have glands that release a relaxing agent to same-sex partners. So, some alpha and alpha couples are having trouble getting into comfortable and satisfying intercourse, because both of them release the same predatory sense.

"You know how predators are often engaged in rivalry, right? Imagine that way between two alphas during intercourse. The strong scents they release tend to be territorial, and with their competitive nature, they reject each other’s scent."

Kayden leaned back in his seat and wondered for a second how the check-up became like a seminar about gender development. He continued, "Azrael was able to release his pheromones to you, and you, in exchange, release those relaxing agents that calmed him because you’re an omega."

Knox’s eyes widened, "Are you saying I’m unconsciously releasing that scent...and he didn’t even notice?"

"Relaxing agents are odorless. They aren’t released like pheromones but work intangibly as well. How should I put it, uhm...something to do with instincts? An omega’s body releases them unconsciously to console their opposite sex, while the pheromones work to attract them."

There was a knock on the door that interrupted their conversation. The door slid open and a nurse’s head peeked, "Sir, you’re being called in the office."

Kayden nodded. He stood and smiled at Knox, "You should think it twice. Azrael doesn’t have to learn about the truth. You can still keep that secret and just spend time with him. That way, you can stabilize your condition."

Knox still looked hesitant, "What if I affect him too much?"

"That would happen if you poured them at once. However, since Azrael is dominant, and his condition is now stable, it’ll take a great amount of pheromones to shake him," Kayden answered before walking to the door, "I’ll have to go now. I’ll prescribe you a smaller dosage of suppressants. But it’s not advisable to use it as an alternative. You still have to release them naturally."

"I understand. Thank you, Dr. Kayden."

Kayden just nodded and left. Knox sighed and reached for his phone. Athan took him to the hospital last night and stayed with him. He explained the situation to Franz, but as soon as morning came and Knoa found out that his father hadn’t come, he threw a tantrum and Franz couldn’t make him stop crying, so Athan came over.

He called Athan’s phone and it only rang shortly before it got answered, "Papa!"

A cry followed afterward. Knox worriedly whispered consolation and coaxed the child to stop crying, which Knoa did after a fit of cries from missing his father.

"I’m sorry, baby. I promise I’ll be home soon. There’s just something Papa needed to do, okay? I’ll be back soon, so what present do you want me to bring? Anything you like?"

Knoa shouted, "Then, I’d like cookies!"

"Cookies?" Knox smiled softly. All his worries disappeared temporarily after hearing Knoa’s energetic voice. Still, he wondered why cookies when Franz’s café sells a variety of them. "Alright, I’ll bring cookies. Hm. I love you too, dear."

A loud and heavy sound startled Knox. He turned his head toward the door where the noise came and paled after seeing Azrael standing by the entrance, leaning on the door with his arms folded and his expression cold and frightening.

Knox hastily ended the call and dropped the phone. He could feel the atmosphere changing inside the room. He gripped the sheet and looked behind him, only to find out that the man locked the door inside.

Gathering his courage, Knox swallowed his fear and asked with a shaky voice, "W-What are you doing here?"

Azrael walked slowly. He walked past the lounging area and headed to the seat next to his bed. Then, he sat without his eyes leaving Knox. He crossed his legs and leaned on the backrest, then he propped his elbow on the armrest and fiddled with his lower lip.

He seemed to be thinking about something. If Knox did not repeat his question, Azrael wouldn’t even blink and answer.

"I was visiting my dear cousin when I saw your name on his chart, so I stopped by," Azrael answered.

’Is that why he was called?’ Knox asked inwardly, about why the doctor was summoned.

Azrael clicked his tongue, and spoke sarcastically, "Do you always go your way spreading pheromones everywhere?"

Knox flinched. He tried his best to suppress his pheromones, but why did those words seem familiar? "It’s not what you think. Aren’t I in the hospital, and your cousin was even the one who checked me up."

Azrael chuckled deadly, "Right. That means your pheromones are unstable. Why? Is your alpha not satisfying you enough? That’s the bastard you were talking with earlier, right? Is it the same alpha bastard who punched me in the face and snatched you away last night? Or another one?"

Knox clenched his fist, "I don’t like the way you speak, Mr. Del Valle."

"Do you think I care about what you like or not?" Azrael stood. He set his arms on both Knox’s sides, locking him up in between, before bending his head down and glaring directly at those trembling green eyes. "Now that I look at your face this close, I was reminded of something."

Knox’s face flushed from his husky voice and hot breath hitting his face. Azrael inched closer, his eyes lowered and glimpsing at the pursed lips against him.

His eyes went back to Knox, "Breach of employment contract, Mr. Arden. I’m going to sue you. I’m going to send you the documents lest you think I was just making this up. You didn’t forget, did you?"

Knox went speechless.

Azrael smirked and straightened his back, "See you in court. Although...I might be open to negotiation."

With that, the room became silent again. If Azrael presses charges, he can’t escape by airplane. Knox grabbed his head and groaned silently.