14 Hoping for a Miracle

"It's true, I'm telling you, didn't you see his face that day you told him about Wayne?", Will tried convincing him. "You could be wrong, we can't just assume things about people'', Kian countered. He suddenly remembered that he left his backpack at the mansion which had the notebook he was looking for, "Ugh! Dammit..", he cussed. "What?", Will gave him a puzzled look. "I left that notebook at that fucking snob's place...I gotta ask Uncle Lee, he said he'll get my stuff from there", Kian reached for the phone in his pocket. "Alright, I texted him the address and now let's get going with the work", Kian said reading the reply on the phone screen, "I'll prepare the glazing and buttercream, when Allis comes back he'll take over the kitchen and I'll attend customers".

Kian was stirring the contents in the large bowl with a spatula in one hand, while his other arm was acted as support to prevent it from slipping. Although it was tiresome to work with just one functioning arm, it was still quite relaxing. The reason being, he was incredibly fond of baking. It reminded him of the good times he had spent as a child with his mother. After she ran away, she forgot her cookbook behind and Kian decided to keep it for himself. It was something about the process that just brought a smile to his face. He tried busing himself and taking his mind off of his problems by focusing on the task at hand, but all of a sudden, he began feeling slightly queasy in his stomach. He ignored it thinking it might be a side effect of suppressants. After sometime it became much worse and he felt like nausea was clogging up his gut. He made a quick run into the bathroom and threw up in the sink. After he vomited he felt a bit of relief in his chest, he took deep breaths and came back to drink some water. He thought to himself that he might be sick, but even if he was he couldn't be bothered right now. There was a lot of work that needed to be done and there was no time to rest.

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It was already evening, but Elian's mind couldn't stop pondering over the argument he had with Irene that morning. He tried focusing on his laptop screen but his numerous thoughts kept distracting him. Could it be that he can really be happy if he forgave everyone he blamed for his pain? Could he really live a normal life again? Was his hatred towards omegas just a mechanism to hide from his fears?, he thought while gazing through the window panes in his bedroom. There was just one thing he was sure about, that he was sick of this constant agony in his heart. While he was lost in his thoughts, he heard the knock on his door. "Come in", he yelled. The door opened and a guard stepped in, "There is a man outside who says he wants to meet you". "I've told you to forbid those media people from entering haven't I?", Elian scolded. "He is not a reporter sir, he said he owns an orphanage by the coast. He looked pretty decent so I thought I should ask you. He said he's related to the boy that was brought home", the guard explained. "Alright, send him in", Elian said, exhaling sharply.

The fact that the man claimed to be related to Kian ignited some curiosity in Elian's mind. He wondered why he would come here? Is he his lover? Or just a friend? Is he here because of what happened between the two? Regardless, he decided to come downstairs and meet him. After waiting for several seconds, a middle-aged man entered through the door and walked towards him. "Levi Henderson, I'm Kian's uncle", he put his hand out for a handshake as he introduced himself. Elian scanned him from head to toe and shook his hand reluctantly. It was easy to tell that he was an alpha. He had broad shoulders and was almost as tall as Elian. There were a few wrinkles on his face with a visible amount of gray in his hair to suggest that he was starting to grow old. His skin was dark and he had thick eyebrows suggesting that he was clearly not of European descent unlike Kian.

"You don't look like his uncle, and even if you are I don't need you to come here to tell me that", Elian commented in a snide tone. "Yeah, you're right, you didn't, I should've just asked for his stuff and left quietly. But something happened here that compelled me to have a word with you", the man spoke calmly. "Oh yeah? You came here to defend his actions? Perhaps apologize on his behalf?", he mocked. "No, I came here because he is like my own child, and he's had a tough life. And he's going through a tough time right now. I don't know the reason for your prejudice but I know there are always some basic rights that every person is entitled to. Kian didn't deserve to be demeaned because of his gender", the man explained. "He lied to me about his gender. He used his pheromones to seduce me. Is that also within his rights?", Elian began losing his cool. "Being an alpha doesn't mean that you can put the entire blame on him. Your aristocracy and privilege don't let you off the hook. In my perspective you took advantage of his vulnerability, a late bloomer who experienced his first heat in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers, while he was struggling to understand his own body.", the man's words stunned him and he was left utterly speechless. It hadn't occurred to him that he wasn't the only victim in the situation. "But yes you're right I'm not his blood relative. He grew up in my orphanage and that was more the reason I came here. It doesn't make him dispensable just because he has no family to stand by him, because he has me. He deserves as much respect as anyone else. And since you refuse to take responsibility on your part, you have no right to humiliate him either. I'll take his items and get going, it was nice meeting you", the man picked up the bag sitting on the side table and walked out of the door.

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By the time night sky set in, it was already closing time for the bakery. Kian turned off the lights in the shop, put the closed sign on the door and walked back to the kitchen. Will was sitting on the countertop with his legs crossed and Allis was on a wooden stool next to him, both holding a takeout box in one hand and chopsticks in the other, chewing with their mouths full. "Yours!", Will pointed to another takeout box resting on the platform. Kian reached to it, opened it and began eating as he sat next to Alis, on a nearby stool.

"Hey, I'm thinking, we should move to a cheaper place maybe...", Will spoke while still chewing. "What? Why? You don't like it here?", Kian questioned. Will stayed silent for a few seconds, "Um..no it's not that, but we could save more money that way, don't you think?", he suggested. "It was really difficult to find this apartment, and it is safer for the two of-", he paused, "For us". Kian remembered that he could no longer exclude himself. "Yeah I know....alright, whatever you say", Will figured maybe it isn't the right time to bring up something that will worry Kian since he's already in a fragile state. "How'll we pay for this month's installment then?", Allis blurted out causing Will to lower his face into his palm. "We didn't pay the installment this month? But I reminded you guys, I handed you the cash, didn't I?", Kian narrowed his eyebrows, and placed his chopsticks on the counter. "I had to use it... for the suppressants", Will explained. "For my suppressants?", Kian asked and Will nodded his head. "Those guys showed up yesterday, but don't worry I convinced them to give us a few weeks, we'll manage something by then", Will tried to relieve him. "Can't we borrow from Uncle Levi for just once?", Allis suggested. "No! Taking from him is like taking from those kids living there, I'll figure something out don't worry", Kian assured them. However, his head immediately began imagining all the worst case scenarios that could take place if he fails to arrange the money. He wouldn't even be able to get a well-paying part time job, now that he was an omega. All he wished for now was a miracle that could solve his problems.