Chapter 54: Like Father, Like Son

There's not much left to say, so Liam didn't say anything. He simply picked up another toast and put some jam on it.

Cold grey eyes watched his every move, but the platinum blond alpha didn't break under the pressure. His companion, on the other hand...

"Father," Mar put down his own toast to face the Aster family patriarch. "I have a request."

"Say it." Mr. Aster didn't seem interested in complying with it.

The black haired alpha took his time, intentionally slowly chewing on his food to frustrate his father. The older alpha didn't mind his son's behavior, instead he took a sip of his own coffee.

"I will not mate with anyone, so don't push anyone into my life."

The coffee cup was on the table in that instance; priceless porcelain shattered on impact, and the shards went everywhere. Liam put down his own food, and his leg hit Mar's underneath the table.

He thought Mar wanted him? And yet...

Purple eyes didn't meet blue because they're focused on the seething Aster family patriarch. The scent of sage went full force, making the platinum blond alpha want to gag right then and there, but he's still too shocked by Mar's request.

Is the request just another cover up?

"Not even for business. Even if it's beneficial, I refuse to tie myself to anyone." The black haired alpha's voice remained neutral as he continued to explain. "Not like you either, father. Don't expect any children from me."

For context, Mr. Aster was never formally married to anyone. There's no Mrs. Aster, but there were a dozen women who carried Mr. Aster's children. All of them are dead by now, totally normal behavior.

From the expression on Mr. Aster's face, he thought his youngest son was going to be like him, not tied down to anyone and free to get with anyone.

"William Junior," Mr. Aster let his anger out on the taller alpha. "Did you put this idea into his head, too?"

"No." Liam clenched his jaw. "No, I didn't, Mr. Aster. In fact, I encouraged his relationship with Laura."

It was Mar's turn to kick Liam under the table.

Really, that's fair because the last statement was a complete lie. Technically, Liam didn't butt in the way of their relationship, but he wasn't actively encouraging them to be together either. The platinum blond alpha acted like he didn't care about Laura's presence, honestly. He was jealous of her, sure, but he didn't go out of his way to sabotage their relationship.

"However, my lifestyle might have inspired Mar to be this way." Liam's throat tightened, but he kept talking. His lips ran faster than his brain could filter it, and it's actually useful this time. "I have not sought out a mate nor opened myself up to the dating pool. I only keep to myself and my small circle of friends. I'm genuinely not interested in having a mate since I was a boy, and it did wonders in my life. Though my parents would want me to settle down one day, I don't see that day coming in the near future because I'm more focused on achieving my greater goal. But... I'm pretty open to the possibility of changing my mind."

Sky blue eyes moved from the Aster family patriarch to his best friend. "Mr. Aster, your son's a great friend of mine, but recently he's gone through a tribulation, and he rediscovered his purpose in life. Please comply with his request because the future is really unpredictable. Maybe one day each of us will find someone, but for now, the request is beneficial to us."

Silence befell the room again, and Mr. Aster gestured for the maids to clean up the mess he made by shattering his coffee cup.

Mar kept his face turned away from Liam, and the platinum blond alpha felt a pang in his heart.

Shit... He talked his heart out, and he couldn't unsay what he had already said.

He never thought of going against Mar's wishes, but some things just had to be done. From his words, he still supported his best friend's request, but he made the request a temporary one. His best friend can be angry at him all he wants, but Liam will stand by his decision.

Also, they still have to fucking talk about that. There's no way Mar doesn't want a mate, not now, not ever. If what the black haired alpha requested was true, then what makes Liam? What of their relationship?

"Like father, like son." Mr. Aster's voice got the two younger alphas' attention. "William Junior, you truly are a Velison down to the core of who you are, how you behave, how you speak and your ideology."

The platinum blond alpha gave a single nod to show that he acknowledged the compliment.

"Such wisdom at such a young age. You're a mirror image of your father." The Aster family patriarch let out a dry chuckle, devoid of any amusement. "I wish my boy Marnette would get the right inspiration from you, but he got all the wrong ones, it seems."

Shit, fucks...

Can they have one meal together where Mr. Aster doesn't passive aggressively insult his own son?

Said son was radiating anger and sadness, but Liam can't just swoop in to hug his best friend.

"Everyone grows at their own pace, Mr. Aster." The taller alpha used all his might to keep his composure. He's not sure what will happen if he loses it... "Your son is one of a kind. The pleasure of watching him progress is all mine. Give him more time."

The warmth of his companion's leg left his, and Liam stopped himself from reaching for it.

"You're more invested in his future than me." Another dry laugh escaped the Aster family patriarch. "What are you planning, William Junior?"

"I am only a Velison." Liam looked at the older alpha. Instead of releasing his pheromones, he kept eye contact. "Like my father, my grandfather and his fathers before him. We cannot be compared to the Asters because we are here to complement your bloodline."