Chapter Text
Not even the worst hangover can mask the obvious absence of their pups. The moment Max opens his eyes, the sunlight painfully burning his pupils, he knows neither Oscar nor Ollie returned to the apartment.
Charles is, predictably, awake as well. The omega's arms hug his skinny knees, and if not for the huge dark circles under his eyes, Max might dare to make some joke about post-drinking misery. Max’s omega reeks of anxiety.
“Good morning, schat.”
“They didn’t come back.” That’s all the Monegasque says. Max pinches the bridge of his nose with one hand while the other moves to squeeze his boyfriend’s knee. “Our pups went out at 11 PM last night, and now it’s 2 PM. They didn’t send a message. Not a single fucking message.”
“Charlie... did you sleep?” Max stretches to get a better look at the smaller man’s face. Charles hisses at the mere touch on his cheek. “Schat...”
“Of course I didn’t sleep, Max! How could I, when our pups have been out of the nest for so long, and I don’t even know where they are?” Charles snaps, nervously rubbing his face. Max flinches slightly. “I told you it was too soon to let Oliver off punishment. I warned you! I know my pups.”
“He’s with Oscar.”
“Is he? What guarantees that?” Charles hisses, storming out of bed. “One rule. I gave them one rule. At least a message to let us know how they’re doing. Neither of them said anything!”
Yeah... neither pup would end the day without their butt thoroughly warmed.
“I’ll call them, love. Come lie down and try to rest.” Max subtly injects a touch of alpha authority into his voice to calm the omega. Charles hisses sharply but approaches, lying almost fully on top of the blond. Max carefully covers him. “Rest a bit, baby. Please.”
“I’m going to scorch their insolent little behinds. I swear I will,” Charles mutters, burying his nose in the alpha’s neck. Max nods in agreement. “And we’re not letting them out until the end of the season. They…” he yawns mid-sentence.
“Sleep well, Charlie,” Max says, massaging his mate’s nape tenderly.
The alpha doesn’t know how the omega is still standing. After an intense race, interrogations, their birthday celebration, and staying at the club until 5 a.m., the omega must be drained from all the night’s activities. Max is impressed he stayed awake this long.
“When the pups get back... send them to... the nest...”
“I’ll drag them here myself, love,” Max murmurs.
Not even ten minutes after Charles falls into a deep sleep, Max hears the front door opening. His dry lips twitch. The pups are back. Max feels his canines graze his lower lip. Disobedient pups, stressing Max’s omega.
“Careful!”
“Keep it down, Ollie!”
“Then walk slower! You’re hurt, and—”
Hurt. Max slips away from Charles with less care than he intended. The omega whines as he’s settled back on the pillows. Max doesn’t even bother with slippers, striding to the door just in time to see their pups’ heads appear at the top of the stairs.
“What on earth happened to you?” Max demands, spotting a glaring bruise on Oscar’s cheek. Both pups freeze. Ollie’s eyes widen comically, looking ready to bolt. Oscar’s jaw locks, his expression almost wary. “Who hurt you, pup?”
“It’s not—ouch, Sire.” Oscar winces as Max’s firm fingers press the area around the dark bruise. Max’s piercing blue eyes scan him, unimpressed, before turning his attention to the Australian. “It’s irrelevant.”
“It’s not irrelevant! Especially since it hurt you, and I’m sure it’s why you’re only getting back now.” Max’s voice is sharp. Ollie shrinks back. Oscar’s jaw tightens further. Max scoffs, disbelieving. “Ollie, who hurt your brother?”
“Don’t you dare, Ollie!”
“I...”
“Ollie, I want names.”
“Ollie, don’t! I swear, if you tell, I’ll never speak to you again.”
A sharp hiss cuts through the argument. Max steps back from Oscar immediately. Charles, disheveled and exhausted, almost flies toward them. Unlike the bravery Oscar had shown with Max, he instantly relaxes under Charles’ touch. “What happened, my little alpha? Who hurt you?”
“I’m not hurt, Dam. Sorry we got back late.”
“I couldn’t care less about the time right now, mon petit. Come! Let’s take care of that nasty bruise, and... do you have more injuries?”
“My torso hurts a little,” Oscar admits softly.
“We’ll take care of that too,” Charles agrees at once. Max can feel his mate’s worry. Ever since Oscar fractured his ribs, Charles has been terrified of him hiding injuries. “Alpha. Pick up the pup.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t need to be carried, Dam!”
Max arches an eyebrow at the younger alpha's defiant tone. “Watch your tone, young one,” he warns, throwing the pup over his shoulder. Oscar grumbles at being carried like a sack of potatoes but stays quiet. “Love, your phone is ringing.”
“Ollie, fetch my phone,” Charles orders without taking his eyes off their eldest pup. Max gently sets Oscar down on his bed. Oscar huffs, averting his gaze. Charles simply coos at him and extends a hand toward the hem of the pup’s shirt. “May I see, mon petit?”
“It’s nothing serious...”
“Obey your Dam, Oscar!”
“You don’t need to speak to me like that!”
“Don’t I?” Max snaps incredulously, trembling with anger. “You irresponsible pup! My omega has been awake for over 24 hours, did you know that? I trusted you to take care of yourself and my pup... and you show up looking like you’ve just left a bar fight!”
“Max!” Charles shouts. Oscar’s eyes brim with tears. “Leave!” Charles orders coldly.
“Omega...” Max growls low, though he takes a step back. Charles’ gaze is fierce.
“Out of my pup’s room, Alpha!” Charles hisses.
Ollie sniffles, letting Sire’s scent envelop him, though he whines as the scratch in his throat intensifies. Max doesn’t push him away, rocking the sick pup gently on his lap and maintaining his soothing scent. “It hurts,” Ollie whimpers.
“No one told you to wander around like a walking furnace,” Max retorts, checking the pup’s temperature. Ollie whines again. Charles, seated on the couch opposite with Oscar asleep on a pillow in his lap, gestures to the tea on the coffee table. Max nods. “Drink your tea, pup.”
Ollie buries his face into Max’s shoulder.
“Baby bear, if you don’t drink your tea, I won’t nurse you later,” Charles threatens sweetly. Ollie trembles, teary-eyed. Max places the cup in the pup’s cold hands. Ollie stares at the dark liquid like it’s poison.
“Just half a cup,” Charles encourages softly.
“Just half,” Ollie echoes, taking tiny sips. Max is more than ready to take the Ferrari-themed cup when Ollie thrusts it toward him.
“No more.”
“Alright, liebling,” Max agrees, settling more comfortably on the couch and pulling the pup closer to lie with him. “Now take your nap, okay?”
“Dam?” Ollie calls out needily, stretching a hand toward Charles. The omega shifts Oscar carefully, ensuring the young alpha doesn’t fall, and offers his hand to his youngest. Ollie purrs in contentment.
“Dam here.”
“Oui, mon petit bébé,” Charles hums with a small smile. The exhaustion of the day pounds at his temples in a way even painkillers can’t relieve. “Dam is here. Sleep. You’re safe,” he promises maternally.
Max flinches, his instincts prickling. He hadn’t protected his pups. He’d failed. He...
“He's fine, Max,” Charles says firmly.
“They're fine,” Max corrects, rubbing his chest where a knot sits heavy. He sees in his lover’s eyes that the harshness he’d shown Oscar earlier hasn’t been forgotten. “I didn’t... I... Oscar is my pup as much as Ollie, Charles. He is,” he asserts, biting his lip.
“Oscar was my pup before he was yours too. Ollie has always been ours,” Charles counters calmly. Max shakes his head quickly.
“That doesn’t mean he isn’t my pup. I’m his Sire, Charles. I made a commitment to him, to you, and I’m sorry if it seemed like I didn’t value him as much as I value Oliver, but...”
Charles’ hand, which had been stroking Oscar’s hair, moves to cover the young alpha’s ear. Oscar snores softly. Max’s eyes fall on the Australian with a mix of affection and regret.
“You wouldn’t be the first alpha to feel intimidated by another alpha—even a pup—being so close to your omega.”
“I’m not jealous of your relationship with Oscar, Charles!”
“Aren’t you, Max?” Charles asks, raising an eyebrow. Max stays firm.
“Oscar is our pup. My pup as much as he is yours. He’s a Dam’s boy, but so is Ollie,” Max says, rocking the snoozing pup in his arms. Ollie sniffles, twisting his fingers in a piece of Max’s sweatshirt. “Seeing you care for him stirs in me the same love and protectiveness I feel when I see you nurturing our baby bear.”
Charles nods slowly, though he doesn’t release his hold on their little alpha. “I believe you. But I think it would be best for everyone if you visited your Sire... and maybe the other alphas.”
“Charles,” Max groans, scratching his neck. “I apologized to Oscar.”
“You did no more than your duty,” Charles hisses back. Max flushes.
“It’s not my nature to question your capabilities and decisions as Sire, Max. You know that. You’re an exceptional Sire to Ollie, and you’ve always been attentive and diligent with Oscie. The pups love you. But it might do you good to talk to Lewis.”
“I don’t need Lewis’s advice. I’m not a pup anymore, running to my Sire’s den for guidance. I know how to rule my own den.”
Charles pinches the bridge of his nose. He looks up at the ceiling and curses mentally when a sharp headache kicks him directly between the eyes. “You’re a stubborn, proud bull,” he mutters. Max remains unyielding. “Make my pup cry again, and I’ll kick you out myself.”
“I won’t repeat my mistake, omega,” Max promises. He glances at Oscar’s peaceful face, the bruises hidden under the heavy cream Charles had rubbed on him. “I will protect our family. I won’t be the reason there’s insecurity in this den.”
And there it is again—the magic word when an alpha is feeling more wild. Den. Charles just wants to sleep and stay in his nest for the rest of the week. But his alpha is near pre-rut and will continue to be annoying for at least seven more days. “Is the door locked?” he changes the subject.
“Yes. And the windows are locked.” Max answers anxiously. Charles nods in approval, watching with some exasperation as his alpha’s chest puffs out. The omega moves quickly, pulling Oscar closer to him.
“Where are you going?” Max snaps, horrified.
“Shh!” Charles silences him quickly. He pushes the sofas together and pulls Oscar closer. “Lift your arm, you idiot alpha,” he orders. Max doesn’t hesitate. He obeys, raising his arm and lowering it quickly when his omega curls into him. A rumble reverberates in the Dutch Lion's chest as he feels his whole family close. Oscar snuggles into Charles’s waist, and the omega coos at him, kissing Ollie’s hand. “Let’s sleep while the pups sleep.”
“A nap sounds good.”
“Then be quiet.”
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George rolls his eyes. He swats his eldest pup’s cheeky hand away and hisses a warning to the younger pup trying to escape the den. “Where on Earth does it seem like a good idea to face a bunch of drunk alphas? Where on bloody Earth?” The omega reprimands, irritated. Logan shudders, feeling the antiseptic on his injured skin. “I swear I don’t understand you pups.”
Alex averts his gaze from the puppy-dog look on his eldest pup’s face and focuses on the mischievous pup climbing over the cushions of the nest. “Mimi, your Dam already told you to sleep.” He gently scolds, taking the phone from the younger pup’s hands.
Kimi pouts. “But Ollie didn’t text,” he protests, kicking his legs. Alex just makes him lie down again.
“I can’t sleep without…” A yawn interrupts him.
“Charles texted us. And the other pseudo-parents too,” Alex adds. Kimi yawns louder, rubbing his eyes.
“I don’t want to sleep.”
“Why do I still hear my baby pup talking?” George intervenes. Alex gives his omega a apologetic glance. Kimi whines.
“What is it, Mimi?”
“Dam.” Kimi whimpers, wriggling out of Alex’s grip and crawling to George. The taller, blonde omega places the tube of ointment down and cleans his hands before picking up the pup. Kimi snuggles into his chest and sniffs. “Dam scary.”
“I know, my little one,” George purrs in return. Logan averts his eyes. He walks to Alex, and without words, the Thai alpha pulls him into a hug.
“But you’re all safe now. All of you,” George reassures softly.
“Loggie owie. Oscie owie. Jackie owie... Fran owie,” Kimi chatters tearfully. George coos. Logan curls deeper into Alex’s arms. The alpha emits a soothing purr to calm him, but the American still cries softly, rubbing his nose on Alex’s shoulder. “Silly Mimi. Silly Ollie,” he sobs, beating his fists against Dam’s shoulder.
George takes a deep breath. He silently thanks the state of mind for influencing the strength of the people. He holds Kimi easily despite the fierce tantrum. “Everyone is fine now. Everyone is safe. And it’s time for the pups to sleep. Enough of the big emotions.”
“Silly…”
“A nap sounds amazing, love,” Alex supports, guiding Logan into the nest George prepared. The young beta immediately curls into the omega’s shoulder. George coos at him, pressing a gentle kiss into his hair. Kimi pouts jealously and extends his hand to pat George’s cheek. Alex laughs. George laughs. Logan rolls his eyes.
“I wonder where he got all this jealousy from?” Alex teases.
“From his Dam, of course,” George says, unfazed. Kimi purrs in satisfaction as he’s settled over the Brit’s chest. “A little snack before the nap, huh, baby?” he teases gently, pulling up the Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt. The response is lost as the hungry pup takes advantage of the moment.
“I’m sorry for not taking better care of him, Dam.”
“You’re an amazing big brother, my Loggie,” George reassures confidently. “You protected him. You protected him even though you got hurt. You did well, sweetie.”
Logan lets himself cry. Alex exchanges a loving glance with George. The alpha pulls the whole family into his arms. “Two crying babies, huh? Our hands are full, my love,” he says, wiping Logan’s tears and feeling the beta bury his face in his chest.
George smiles. He extends his hand to gently stroke the back of the American's neck. Kimi whimpers in his chest, demanding to be moved to the other side. "We’ve got this, my Alex."
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“They what?” Daniel’s growl cuts through the tense silence in Pierre and Yuki’s room. The Australian alpha’s pupils dilate, and his scent thickens. Franco tenses. Lando hisses at the alpha while tightening his hold on his pup. “I’m sorry,” Daniel apologizes, embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck. Liam shrinks slightly. “You didn’t tell me all the details, huh?”
“You were freaking out over two cuts!” Liam defends himself, raising his hands.
“There was blood!” Daniel retorts, ignoring the almost amused look Max is giving him blatantly. “I don’t like blood. That doesn’t make me any less of an alpha.”
“No one’s saying that, mate,” Max jokes with a snort. Charles pinches him sharply. “Ouch, schat!”
“You should have pinched harder, Charles. Sire used to threaten to muzzle him, did you know?” George teases from his seat on Alex’s lap. Alex hides his face in his omega’s back to laugh. Max throws a small pillow at his brother’s face. George laughs.
“We’re here to clarify what happened with the pups and how we’re going to act, not to punish Max…” Yuki intervenes, crossing his arms. Pierre smiles proudly. “Though, I think the muzzle idea is quite practical,” he finishes with a grin that makes his alpha shudder, and his pup curls up a bit.
“Crazy,” Pierre mutters quietly.
“Yuki’s right,” Lando agrees. Carlos raises his eyebrows. “About the goal of this meeting,” he clarifies, blushing. Charles snorts in amusement. “We were lucky Logan managed to call the police. But those… alphas… hurt our pups.”
“They didn’t hurt us that badly,” Oscar interrupts, clearly unhappy with his alpha ego being attacked. Max snorts, pulling him onto his lap. “They didn’t…”
“They hurt, Oscie,” Max gently interrupts. “You’re still limping. And that’s why we’re here. Because they were wrong. They’re older. They’re mature alphas who attacked pups.”
“I’m a mature alpha too!” Oscar protests, though he doesn’t try to leave Max’s lap. Charles smiles affectionately. Ollie blinks sleepily, too focused on nursing to follow the atmosphere around him. “I have my fangs. And I used them to protect the pups, just like you said.”
“Thank God for that,” Carlos mutters, receiving a punch from his omega.
Max smiles proudly. He lovingly runs his hand through Oscar’s hair. “I know, mein liebe. And you did a nice job wrecking their filthy hands, huh,” he praises, pulling a smile from Oscar.
“Can we not encourage our pup to use his fangs?” Charles grumbles, wiping a clean cloth over Ollie’s face. Ollie sniffs irritably but stays quiet. Max shrugs, giving Oscar a knowing look. “Alphas.”
“Pierre! You forgot to bring snacks for the guests!” Yuki smacks his alpha’s shoulder. “Lazy alpha!”
“I was cleaning the guest rooms like you told me to!” Pierre defends himself. Esteban holds back laughter as he watches the Frenchman shrink like a scolded pup. “What were you doing?” he retorts gruffly.
“Excuse me?” Yuki narrows his eyes. Pierre pales. “What did you just imply?”
“Where are the snacks? I’ll go get them. In the kitchen, right, mon coeur?” Yuki jumps up. Jack squeaks when the rough movement almost makes him fall. “Putain! Pardon, mon pup!”
“Foolish alpha!” Yuki mutters, pulling Jack into his lap. Jack snuggles into the Japanese omega’s chest with a disgruntled pout. “Let’s make him buy the entire restaurant’s menu tonight, koinu,” Yuki plans vengefully. Jack nods without hesitation. The pup rubs his face against his Dam’s chest, clearly sleepy. “Why are you still awake, huh? If you’re tired, go to sleep.”
“You’re talking,” Jack retorts groggily.
“Right,” Yuki agrees to everyone’s surprise. Daniel smiles proudly as he watches his protégé act so maternal. “I’ll be quiet now, yeah? Sleep already.” Jack closes his eyes.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At this rate, all the pups are going to be asleep." Esteban comments, looking around the room. Mick has Fred nestled in his arms, the Danish pup is snoring softly. Lance has Gabriel between him and Esteban, the young alpha is only half awake while scrolling through TikTok.
Lando tilts his head to look at Franco. The young Argentine omega is curled up in Carlos’ lap, but doesn’t show any interest in the conversation around him. "Are you okay? Comfortable?"
"Si." The younger one’s voice is half groggy. Carlos purrs paternalistically. Franco yawns. "Sire’s safe," he declares softly, closing his eyes and drifting off.
Carlos freezes. His heart races. His stomach flips. Sire. He’s Sire now. His arm tightens around the delicate form of his pup. The first face he can focus on is his omega’s. Lando is smiling, though his eyes are moist. "Muppet? Did I hear that right?" he asks, his voice trembling.
"You heard, cabrón. You heard." Lando agrees, moved, leaning in and scenting both the pup and the alpha with his wrists. "Our pup… called you Sire."
"He did." Carlos agrees, his voice thick with emotion.
"No cell phones during nap time!" Charles scolds his pup. Ollie whines, trying to hide the electronic device, but his Dam’s reflexes are definitely faster. Ollie whimpers under the stern look he receives. "Sleep."
"Oscie not sleeping."
"I’m not a pup." Oscar retorts. Max stifles a laugh, bouncing the youngest on his knee. Pierre appears, handing out cupcakes and cookies to everyone.
"Just two, pup. Your Dam will rip my head off if you don’t sleep today," Max warns, serving Oscar. Oscar blushes. Charles smiles sweetly. Ollie snores in his sleep, the cloth marking his cheek. "Vanilla and..."
"Orange, please."
"Okay." Max agrees, picking the two cupcakes. Charles suppresses a laugh seeing that the alpha serves them on the same plate as their pup. Max and his newfound eco-friendly tendencies. "The cupcakes are yours, the cookies are mine."
"Share?"
"Share." Max concedes with a sigh. Oscar beams, dropping the cupcake and grabbing a cookie for himself.
"How did the fight start?" Daniel asks after a few minutes. Liam tenses. Oscar looks away. But it’s pointless. The two are the only ones awake.
"We were having fun in one of the club’s VIP rooms when an alpha came to talk to Franco," Oscar begins to explain. Carlos narrows his eyes. Lando puts an arm around his pup and alpha. "He agreed to go dance with him and we thought everything was fine. But then Gabriel started saying he couldn’t find them, and me and Logan went out to help look."
"While I kept an eye on the pups," Liam finishes, sighing. Daniel looks at him with concern. "They couldn’t find Franco and the alpha because they were outside the club, alone."
"Alone." Carlos repeats, his jaw clenched.
"I went to take a call and started hearing someone arguing, so I called Oscar," Oscar nods in agreement with the blonde’s words. "When we managed to open the back door, the alpha was... was..."
"He was on top of Franco." Oscar finishes seriously. Lando hisses. "I got him out. I swear I got him off as soon as I saw, Lando."
"Gabriel got... furious," Liam says, twisting his lips. "He just went past Oscar and attacked the other alpha. But... Gabriel doesn’t even have fangs yet..."
"Shit." Lance mutters, scratching his pup’s head. Gabriel snorts loudly in his sleep from the affection. "Impulsive pup."
"After that, everything happened really fast. Logan tried to stop the fight, but another alpha showed up and tried to attack him. Oscar attacked the alpha, and more alphas started showing up..." Liam rubs the back of his neck. Daniel pulls him into his lap. Liam shudders at the memories. "I tried to keep the pups out, but Kimi slipped away and Ollie followed."
"Always the wonder duo." Charles comments dryly. Ollie sleeps angelically in his arms while Kimi sleeps in George’s arms. "The other pups?"
"In their heads, they were helping... but they ended up attracting more alphas to the fight and... Franco kind of passed out eventually... and Logan called the police... and..."
"Okay, enough." Daniel interrupts. "Gasly, bring whiskey. We all need alcohol right now."
"Excuse me?"
"Yuki, tell your alpha to bring whiskey."
"Alpha, whiskey." Yuki points petulantly. Pierre grumbles but obeys. Esteban stands up to help him when Mick and Lance give him a kick. "There are glasses in the kitchen."