Forget Me, Not Chapter 4

Offroad POV

Offroad practically ran into the apartment in fear that if he looked behind him Daou would be chasing after him. The only thing he could hear inside the apartment was silence and his panting. Offroad dropped his things by the door and ran straight to his room seeing his son peacefully asleep in the bed gave him a comfort he didn’t know he needed. Offroad made his way over to the bed not caring his clothes were dirty and gathered his sleeping son in his arms. He can’t believe he had let Daou get that close to him again. He was terrified for how quickly his body had given in the moment Daou’s lips touched his all the rage and fight in him disappeared. All he had wanted to do was crawl up Daous body like he was a tree and beg to be taken home. Offroad decided that it was the fact his last sexual encounter was a year ago during his last heat cycle and had nothing to do with the fact that Film was right.

That his omega instincts were just blindly obeying Daous alpha ones, this was the 21st century, omegas, alphas, and betas had long since evolved from only acting on primal desires for the most part. Besides Daou didn’t remember him, so why would the alpha part remember? What kind of stupidity would that be? It wasn’t like they had officially mated, it was just sex. Very good sex, but still his alpha had no claim over him what kind of barbaric shit was that. Offroad had wondered at some point long ago why Daou didn’t remember him. He had made himself feel small and insecure over the questions he had asked himself. Was he not good enough for Daou to remember? Offroad had few sexual encounters and wasn’t as experienced as Daou. Was the money left behind for something other than a cab? He hadn’t taken the money any way he had left it there for the maid. Those questions coupled with the pregnancy hormones had him crying whenever he did think of them as he sat in his room alone, alone in the house most of the time.

It was in those moments he swore to himself he and his son didn’t need an alpha. He was the one who took himself to the appointments; he was the one who fought through the horrible morning sickness and hospital visits. He was the one who went into labor alone scared for 25 hours before having to be ushered in for an emergency c-section surgery. He got so angry when his parents and Poon reminded him he didn’t have to do it alone he chose to but what was he supposed to do? Go back and shout it there in the quad as his sister announced her engagement fake or not to the man. It would have turned into a whole issue, he would have been accused of trying to steal his sister’s fiancé. He would have been made out to be the affair partner. Did people really not think he didn’t want to raise his son with 2 living parents? That he didn’t notice the looks at his schools when he was the only one who showed up? Or when his son’s artwork hung in the hallway and his was the only one with one parent?

Offroad could feel the tears he had always tried holding back start falling down his face. Offroad gripped his son tighter to the point he groaned in his sleep at the pressure he was feeling. His son was an alpha which Offroad was thankful for as hopefully, his son would never have to experience the pain he had. He just wanted to take his son and run back home where they belonged.

…

Offroad raced through the apartment trying to find 2 black socks. He had gotten a call from Earn that the director of the firm buying theirs was calling for a meeting in, Offroad paused to glance at his watch, 20 minutes.

“But Daddy, you promised we would go to the park!” Chance screamed from the kitchen table. Offroad felt horrible for canceling on his son.

“Hey we can still go to the park,” Offroad heard Poon say, trying to soothe his very angry son.

“No! Daddy said he would take me weeks ago!” Chance screamed accompanied by the bang of something he threw.

“Hey!” Offroad shouted rounding the corner to the kitchen tightening his tie. “We do not throw things when we are angry, young man.” Offroad scolded picking up the toy car his son had thrown, walking over and pulling his chair out and knelt in front of his son. “How about this,” Offroad said, taking his son’s hands in his. “You and Poon will drop me off at work, and go to the park, and then when I’m finished you can come pick me up and we will go get ice cream?”

“Are you going to take forever again?” Chance asked in a small voice.

“It’s just a meeting nothing else I promise,” Offroad smiled at his son holding out his pinky to make a pinky promise to which his son happily hooked his pinky with his. “Now go get your shoes on, I can’t be late,” Offroad said, picking his son up from the chair and gently pushing him to the door. He gave Poon a ‘this is crazy’ stare that Poon just responded with a chuckle.

They were able to catch a cab fairly quickly. Offroad had made it in the elevator with 5 minutes to spare as he raced off it to get to the firm’s office. When he entered everyone was in an uproar of running around. Offroad quickly spotted Earn.

“I thought you weren’t going to make it in time,” she said, letting out a breath of air. “He hasn’t arrived yet.” Offroad released his own breath of air. He hated being late. The ding of the elevator had everyone pausing as the doors opened. Offroad’s breath stopped and his heart felt like it was going to explode. There in the elevator was Daou, his father the director, who were both seemingly locked in conversation with his son who was holding onto Poon’s hand. His son quickly noticed him.

“Daddy your phone!” His son called letting go of Poon’s hand as he raced over to him, hand outstretched with Offroad’s phone. Offroad had given it to him in the cab to play his games and forgot as he rushed out of the cab. Offroad knelt down grabbing his son.

“I’m sorry,” Offroad heard Poon’s voice whisper as he arrived at his side a second later. “He raced into the building.”

“You can’t call us to pick you up if you don’t have your phone.” Chance said as he buried his head into Offroads neck.

“Thank you, baby,” Offroad said as he stood with his son in his arms. He looked over at Poon pleading for him to give him some reassurance his secret hadn’t just been blown.

“Ah, so you are Sam’s son?” Offroad looked to the man who had just said his father’s name. The director while shorter than Daou himself looked almost identical to his son just more aged and perhaps softer.

“Son?” Daous practically yelled.

“The bas-” The director stopped mid-word and noticed the growls that were coming from Offroad and Poon. He cleared his throat keeping his eyes on the back of Chance’s head. Poon must have sensed how uncomfortable Offroad was as he proceeded to turn and grab from Chance.

“Let’s go to the park, say bye to Daddy,” Poon instructed his son. Chance gave Offroad a big kiss on the cheek before allowing himself to be transferred to Poon.

“Bye Daddy.” Chance said, waving. “Don’t forget ice cream.”

“I won’t be good and listen to Uncle Poon,” Offroad said, waving back. He waited until his son was safely in the elevator out of earshot before turning back to the director. “Yes, I’m the affair bastard.” Offroad finished the sentence for the director. “I’ll make sure to send my father your regards. Now are we having a meeting or am I free to leave as you just heard I have much more important plans to attend to.” 

“Just like Sam,” the director laughed, looking Offroad up and down. Offroad could now sense the man’s alpha pheromones and while the hint of vanilla was there it was nothing like his son. The man raised a questioning eyebrow at Offroad. “You’re right we do have a meeting and I made a promise to someone I wouldn’t keep his father too late.” He waved towards the conference room signaling for people to enter. As Offroad nodded and walked past he heard the director whisper something just loud enough for Offroad himself to hear that had his blood turning cold. “Either of them,” the director smirked at him and then made his way into the conference room with his son who was in shock about learning Offroads biology.

Offroad quickly pulled out his phone and texted his father.

-Does the Director know?

Offroad made his way into the conference room. Keeping his phone in his hand waiting for the reply that would calm his nerves, but as the meeting went on the text never came. Offroad could feel eyes on him but he refused to acknowledge them, as he was keeping his eyes on the PowerPoint that was going over the final stages of the merger and a potential end point. 3 months. Offroad couldn’t last another 3 seconds let alone 3 months. The PowerPoint came to an end after about 30 minutes Offroad shot a text to Poon letting him know he was finished as he stood to make his way out of the conference room. He made it just out of the door when he almost ran into Film.

“What are you doing here?” Offroad asked confused.

“Do not ever deny you are father’s favorite after this,” Film growled just loud enough for him to hear, grabbing him by the arm.

“Ah, Film what a pleasant surprise,” The director called as he too made his way out of the conference room.

“Director,” Film bowed his head. “My father was just made aware of your presence in town and wanted me to come greet you on his behalf.”

“Oh?” The director laughed buttoning his suit jacket.

“He also wanted to remind you that a man’s word is worth its weight in gold.” Film said pulling Offroad closer to him. Offroad was almost giving himself whiplash as he looked back and forth between his brother and the director Daou doing the same.

“Sam always did have a soft spot for omegas. I guess his omega son is no different.” The director said now with a hint of anger in his voice.

“You will come to find that some things are better left in the past,” Film growled at the director.

“We will see about that,” The director said, turning and walking towards the back Offices.

“Get your stuff now,” Film growled at Offroad as he quickly complied with his brother’s orders.

“Film?” Daou asked, taking a step towards them. Causing Film to full-on growl teeth barred and all at Daou. Offroad had to hand it to Daou who Offroad saw for a split second his alpha side trying to break through but he ended up taking a step back from him.

“It would be wise that from here on out you and your father stay very far away from my brother.” Film growled, grabbing Offroad by the upper arm and dragging him towards the elevator.

“What’s going on?” Offroad whispered to his brother.

“Ask your father.” Film said pulling a phone out of his pocket and tossing it to him. Offroad caught it realizing it was on an active call.

“Hello?” He said, sticking the phone to his ear.

“He knows, but he is legally not allowed to tell Daou or he loses his entire Chiang Mai operation.” Offroad heard his father’s voice.

“You told him?!” Offroad screamed into the phone.

“Like I was going to let your sister marry the man who knocked up my son!” His father yelled back.

“So what, me and my son became some type of business deal?!” Offroad asked knowing that there was more to the story. His father’s silence answered his question. “Tell me.”

“The deal for Daou marrying your sister was for our involvement in the Chiang Mai operations so when I found out about you I realized that I couldn’t let your sister marry him and when I pulled out to stop the lawsuit I had to tell him. But he signed an NDA that if he breathes a word to Daou he gives controlling ownership.”

“When are you going to realize you fathered humans and not chess pieces?” Offroad asked, hearing the defeat in his own voice. “He saw Chance today.”

“He isn’t supposed to be anywhere near this merger. When I got your text I called Film.” His father informed him.

“I’m taking my son and going home,” Offroad growled into the phone.

“I need you there for one more week, the funds are transferring and I need to make sure there are no hiccups.”

“One week and you keep them away from my son,” Offroad growled, hanging up on his father, handing the phone back to Film.

“That’s the first time he has ever called me directly,” Film laughed, putting his phone back into his pocket.

“What am I supposed to do?” Offroad asked in a tiny voice. 

“Uncle Film!” Offroad heard Chance yell as the elevator dinged open on the ground floor. He watched his son run to his brother.

“Hey, Champ!” Film smiled, scooping up his son into a hug.

“Are you coming with us to get ice cream?” His son smiled from ear to ear.

“Of course!” Film said. “Poon,” he acknowledged Poon with a nod and walked past him, Chance chatting his ears off all about the ice cream flavors he was going to get.

“Poon,” Offroad said quietly and was wrapped up in a hug. Poon tried to soothe him as Offroad began to cry. It seemed his whole world was crashing down around him and he didn’t know how to stop it. Well, he did but it was the last thing he wanted to do. He just wanted to take his son and run.

—-

Daou POV

Daou sat at his desk racking his brain. Over what had happened the last 48 hours. Offroad was their brother. For as many years he knew Mang she never mentioned having another brother and that fact had Daou wanting to finally pick up his phone and call her but he didn’t want to deal with that right now. He wanted to understand what had happened between Film and his father yesterday. When he had asked his father he flew into a rage and ultimately stormed out of the office without saying anything.

“Knock knock,” Gelers voice called from his office door.

“Hey come in,” Daou said, sighing and waving him in, as he flopped back in his chair.

“You good?” Geler asked, taking a seat. Geler was there today as his accountant. They were signing the final documents to begin the money transfer to finalize the merger.

“Just been a crazy ass couple of days.” Daou sighed, focusing on a random painting on his wall.

“How about after this we go grab drinks?” Geler suggested, to which Daou agreed he wanted to get wasted and sleep for days with the way he was feeling.

“Sir, Offroad is in the conference room.” His secretary’s voice called over the intercom.

“Thank you,” Daou said back.

“Offroad as is the Offroad we went to school with?” Geler asked laughing standing up.

“Wait, do you know him?” Daou asked, still sitting in his seat.

“Uh yeah, petite pretty blonde omega right?” Geler asked. Blonde? Blonde….it smacked into Daou like a train at full speed. Gelers 21st birthday party. The omega who fought with him at the party over something stupid. Daou had been staring at him all night trying to get his attention and the first thing out his mouth to him was an insult and that made Daou want him more. Offroad was blonde and had short hair then but now it was long about to his eyes and a deep brown. “Hey if he works here, were the rumors true?”

“What rumors?” Daou asked.

“That he got knocked up by some drunk alpha at my party.” Geler laughed. ‘We didn’t matter to you then,’ Offroads’ words came flooding back into his head. ‘We’ Daou stood so abruptly that it caused Geler to jump back. “Whoa, you okay?” Geler asked, studying Daou’s face. “Daou? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

“If he did get pregnant the night of your party how old would the kid be?” Daou asked Geler, unable to do the math on his own.

“What?” Geler asked looking at Daou confused.

“How old?” Daou pleaded with him.

“Um, I don’t know if he carried to term the kid would have just turned 5 a few months ago,” Geler said. Daou remember the conversation from the elevator his father had with the young boys

“How old are you now?” His father had asked the boy. Daou didn’t pay attention to how his father asked the question. At the time it didn’t seem strange but now it made sense. He remembered the boy smiling at his father “I just turned 5!” The boy said holding up 5 fingers. Daou had never seen his father be that inactive with a child. Daou watched as Poon had pulled the boy closer to him in the elevator. Daou had asked if he was there to wait for Offroad when the boy had informed him that he had forgotten his phone and then made his father promise to not keep him too late cause he wanted his ice cream. Daou had to chuckle about that as the elevator rode up he could now scent the boy he was an alpha. Daou could smell the honey scent that was similar to Offroads but then also something else that was similar to a vanilla scent.

Something about the boy’s scent had his alpha side going insane. Daou had chalked it up to the boy smelling similar to his father but the way his alpha was reacting was more intense manor as if somehow the child belonged to him but he had ignored the feeling then in the elevator and once more as he watched Poon take the child from Offroad.

Daou raced out of his office, Geler hot on his heels. It all made sense now. He got to the conference room and threw the door open holding it open.

“All of you but him out now,” he growled, causing everyone to stare at him in confusion. “OUT NOW!” Daou yelled, causing everyone to run out of the room. Daou quickly shut and locked the door in everyone’s faces including Gelers. He stalked over to Offroad’s chair spinning him around noticing the boy was gripping the armrest so tight his knuckles were white. “Is he my son?” Daou whispered.

“Who?” Offroad whispered back, not looking up at Daou. Daou gripped Offroads’ jaw in his hand forcing the boy to look at him.

“Is he my son?” Daou growled at this point. Daous’ eyes searched into Offroads holding his Jaw firmly. He could see the boy was scared but there was also a bit of defiance in his eyes. “Is he my son!?” Daou half screamed and half cried.

“Yes,” Offroad answered as clearly as he could as he shook his head free from Daou’s grip. Daou felt his alpha rage to the surface as he roared in anger, swiping everything including the laptops and projector off the conference room table.

“How could you!” He shouted at Offroad.

“What do you mean how could I?” Offroad yelled back springing from his chair. “You didn’t even remember who I was and let’s not forget you were getting engaged to my sister!”

“You had no right to keep him from me!” Daou said, screaming back at Offroad.

“I had every right! I am his father!”

“So am I!” Daou yelled now standing toe to toe with Offroad. “So am I,” he repeated himself.

“So what would have happened? Would you have left my sister for me?” Offroad asked.

“Yes!” Daou shouted, apparently stunning Offroad as he stumbled backwards. “I never loved Mang. Not like that. Even if your father hadn’t called the engagement off I would have never married her.”

“Then why go along with the fake engagement?” Offroad his arms crossed over his chest.

“There is something that you will never understand about being born into a position and that is you have no control over your own life. We didn’t have a choice.” Daou sighed, rubbing his face with his hand. “You robbed me of my choice just like my father has done all my life.”

“What would you have done with a baby at 21?” Offroad scoffed. That just made Daou’s temper rise again.

“The same fucking thing you did with a baby at 19!” He yelled. “For the last week, I have been driving myself insane. Only to find out everyone around me knows I have a son!”

“To be fair I didn’t know your father knew,” Offroad said quietly.

“Who else?” Daou asked. He watched as Offroad bit his bottom lip in nervousness. “WHO ELSE OFFROAD!”

“My father, Film, and Poon,” Offroad answered him.

“Poon knew?” Daou said the betrayal was sinking in.

“He thought I got rid of it it wasn’t until after Chance was born he -”

“Got rid of it?” Daou asked, interrupting Offroad.

“I planned on it but I couldn’t go through with it,” Offroad admitted, breaking Daou’s heart.

“And if you did I would have never known right? How horrible of a person could you be?” Daou asked the hurt now bubbling to the surface.

“I was a scared kid okay! I came to tell you the day Mang went around announcing your engagement to everyone! If people would have found out I would have been just like my mother! People would have treated my son just like they did me.”

“Our son! Our baby! Our responsibility and you took that from me due to some stupid childhood trauma bullshit?!?” Daou yelled not caring about the weight of the words he was saying.

“Don’t act like you have even the slightest idea you know of anything I went through!” Offroad said defending his choices.

“You’re right, I don’t, but just as I assume your mother took away your father’s choice to not be a father to you, you to away my choice to be a father to our son so in the end you are exactly like her.” Daou spat out at Offroad watching the sadness grow on his face, to which his alpha was telling him to comfort him which made Daou mad even more. He spun on his heels unlocking the door to the conference room and flinging the door open to a bunch of shocked faces. Daou stormed past them shouting. “Someone clean up that fucking mess. And call my lawyer now!” He wasn’t going to let anyone else rob him of his choices.