CHAPTER 365: IT’S A SLOW GROWTH. YOU’LL BE OKAY

Amir and the rest of the omegas that had been sequestered away from Andrew as he had an emotional moment showed up shortly after that. Someone cleared their throat loudly, making sure that Andrew and Maxwell were decent.

Andrew at the very least knew better than to get any more intimate with the man, while Andrew could tell that Maxwell was pouting that he didn’t get to go further with Andrew. Andrew was feeling a little better, seeing Maxwell was behaving like his normal self when the others entered.

Maria had been fine because she had been mated, protected, and not in a critical state. Like pregnancy.

Which was why Amir was held back, and probably the reason Jordan had been held back as well. Richard was obvious, since he was newly manifested, but Mr. Newman was a new addition that Andrew had no problem with.

Every single last one of them was concerned, as was Rose and Ben who joined them.

Amir rushed to Andrew’s side, sitting down with a little effort as he leaned in and squeezed his shoulder. He didn’t even seem to care that Maxwell was still in Andrew’s lap, their hands still possessive on each other.

"Andy! Are you alright? I can’t believe he had the fucking balls to show up today of all days." Amir sounded distraught, with a hard line of anger underneath everything.

Richard looked pale, but also pissed, as did Mr. Newman. Jordan looked a little dazed, while Rose was holding onto his hand and looked fucking pissed.

"I’ll gut him like a pig." Rose declared, and Ben turned a shocked gaze to her. Even Andrew was a little surprised by her declaration.

"Uh, Rose, that’s a little...extreme." Andrew said, giving a soft chuckle. He was doing much better after his kisses with Maxwell, and having the man pressed against him. Rose shook, trembling. Jordan held onto her hand. She was probably unable to control her pheromones as Jordan looked a little ill. "Rose. Be careful." Andrew warned, and that was what she needed. She took a few deep breaths, calming herself, before she pulled Jordan over gently and sat down with him in her lap.

Jordan went willingly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders loosely, holding onto her, his fuchsia hair vibrant. He’d probably redyed it for this event, and Andrew felt bad that it wasn’t going as well as anyone wanted it too.

It had, until dickface had shown up.

Andrew had never called him that, not even inside of his head before. It felt...good. Therapeutic to say it.

"Sorry. He just makes me so fucking mad. All the time. He’s never been a good man, and now he wants to show up somewhere where he wasn’t invited and make a scene? Trying to say that you belong to him? Fuck off with that shit. If I was a true alpha I would have had my heel around his throat." Rose snarled, and Maxwell chuckled.

"What’s stopping you? You could have done that as a regular alpha. It would have been more embarrassing. A great sibling bonding moment." Maxwell said and Ben sighed. He ran a hand over his face, clearly just as pissed, but also knowing his brother.

"No Maxwell. Don’t put Rose in that kind of position. She doesn’t need to earn the ire of that family. We’ll do it, or let Andy do it. They can’t fight back as much if it’s Andy since he had documented proof of their neglect." Andrew was appreciative of Ben stepping in. Richard went to sit on the other free couch, a little distance away. Mr. Newman went with him.

Andrew knew that Mr. Newman had feelings for Richard, at least somewhat, but it was clear he wasn’t using this time to get to know him, it was more like he was supporting the man. Andrew jerked.

"Richard, are you okay?" Andrew asked, worried. Richard looked pale, his skin clammy. Andrew wanted to get up and check on him, but Ben was the only one still on his feet. He was an expert in dealing with omegas, at least in dealing with Amir, so he went to Richard. He checked him before he tsked.

"You aren’t feeling well at all, are you? Are you overwhelmed? You should go somewhere where there aren’t any scents for a while." Ben told him softly. Not chastising him, but telling him what was wrong.

Richard looked like he hated hearing that. Hated being out of the loop. Hated that this was happening to his body.

"Richard, it’s okay. It’s not a big deal if you need a minute." Andrew tried to say but Richard’s jaw tightened.

"Is it? I fucking hate this. You just had a terrible interaction with that fucking sperm donor and yet people are worried about how I’m doing." Richard spat, pissed, and Maxwell, bless him, crawled off of Andrew’s lap and headed towards their roommate.

Maxwell surprised everyone by crawling into Richard’s lap and ordered Richard to smell his throat. Richard froze, clearly unsure what to do in this situation, but when Maxwell got more insistent, he finally did as he was told.

On whiff and Richard looked like he was going to pass out. He was having a hard time breathing, unable to get air in through the pheromones that were concentrated on his neck and Maxwell got off of his lap but still loomed over him, offering him comfort.

"Richard, it was 20 times worse than that." Maxwell told him softly. "You aren’t even sensitive like I am, you’re newly manifested. Stop trying to live like everything is the same. You’ll get there, and who the hell in their right mind would predict he would show his face here? Mom made sure to exclude him and yet like a roach he showed up. This isn’t on you, and no one is thinking that you aren’t doing enough." Maxwell told him. "Andy packs a punch. He’s no joke when it comes to his pheromones. They are powerful, very powerful, and that’s not a bad thing against you or him. You just need to learn that this self loathing? It’s worthless." Maxwell told him firmly, as Richard continued to gasp.

All of the other omegas were looking at him with concern, clearly worried for him. Maxwell took a few steps back, allowing him more space to breathe.

"Remember what I told you, Richard? It’s okay to take time. I know it’s frustrating, but at least you weren’t confined for a month like I was." Andrew said, giving him a weak smile and Richard looked over at Andrew, really looked at him and Richard gulped.

"Fuck you for being so damn happy about what happened. You probably went through hell but you’ll never admit it." Richard grumbled, his anger now directed at Andrew, who just laughed. Maxwell turned back to him, coming to crawl back into his lap and Andrew accepted him easily.

"Hmm. It could have been, but I had Maxwell by my side when the medications didn’t exist for me yet." Andrew said cheerfully, and Richard tilted his head back, resting it against the edge of the couch.

"I’m never going to catch up." He muttered, quiet, and Andrew was sure he wasn’t supposed to hear it. He turned, hiding his smile behind Maxwell’s body as Richard let out a weary sigh. "So? What’s the plan? I’m fine for now, I know my limits, I just look ill because of the shock of it all." Richard declared, and even if no one else believed him, they weren’t going to call him out on it.

Richard wasn’t Dr. Richard Gates for nothing. He was a researcher in this field, so everyone was going to respect his opinion now that he’d declared it so firmly.

"We go over what my Mom left me document wise and make sure they don’t have a claim on me. My guess is that Mom made him sign away his parental rights, but everyone is warning me not about my father, but about my grandfather." Andrew told him and Richard seemed slightly confused, while Ben nodded.

"Ah, yes. He’s still alive. That crusty old fox." Ben muttered. "I’ve sat across from him while we’ve been negotiating before. He’s not a good person. The rumour on the street is that he killed two of his own brothers for the position of family head, and the other two just gave up to keep their lives." Ben told him, and Amir gasped, hand going to his belly while Maxwell’s gaze hardened.

"Well, that at least makes him no different from our own grandfather." Maxwell said. "At least rumour-wise. That gives me some idea of how I can treat him. Like shit on my shoe." Andrew was so proud of him as he spoke coldly. Richard seemed mildly surprised, while Mr. Newman sighed and pulled out his phone.

"What notes should I be taking?" He asked quietly and Maxwell slid his gaze to him, furrowing his brow.

"None, Mr. Newman. You’re a guest right now, not my secretary. You aren’t doing a damn second of work. In fact, why aren’t you drinking right now? Ben, wave down a waiter and get this man something to drink." Maxwell’s words were final, and Ben seemed to agree.

Mr. Newman looked shocked, almost lost.

"M-Mr. Beckett, I don’t-" Both Ben and Maxwell gave him a sharp look.

"We would not have invited you for this. It’s an appreciation event, Mr. Newman. Enjoy it." Maxwell warned, and Mr. Newman slid his phone back into his pocket, looking about as pale as the man next to him. Richard stared at him, surprised, before he turned to Maxwell.

"Why don’t you call him by his first name?" He asked and Maxwell froze. Mr. Newman froze, as did Ben. Andrew wasn’t sure why everyone reacted that way, but Maxwell quickly relaxed.

"Well...it just has always been that way. Mr. Newman wanted it to be that way, at least at the beginning. Are you still wanting that?" Maxwell asked, turning towards Mr. Newman who seemed surprised by this sudden turn of events.

"Uh...I don’t mind it?" Mr. Newman said carefully, and Richard sighed.

"It’s not right that they just call you by your last name." Richard told him, and Mr. Newman looked at him, his cheeks going red.

"It’s not?" He asked, swallowing, and Richard nodded.

"No, it isn’t. I’m sure you don’t feel this way, but it feels dismissive. Like they aren’t viewing you as a person. You do know his first name, right Max?" Richard asked, and Maxwell nodded.

"Of course I do. It’s Ellis." Maxwell said, and Mr. Newman jerked. He seemed shocked that Maxwell knew his real name, his first name, and Maxwell gave him a strange look. "Did you expect me not to know? I’m the one who gave you your last name, Ellis. Of course I know your first name." That was news to everyone but Maxwell, Ellis, and Ben. Even Amir was surprised to hear that.

"What on earth happened that meant you chose Maxwell to run to to hide?" Amir asked, realising how that sounded, and then turned and apologised to Maxwell. "Sorry Max, I didn’t mean-" Maxwell waved his hand dismissively.

"You’re right to question him. I asked him the same thing when he came to work for me three years ago."