Chapter Text
The outside of the alpha house looked totally normal. The other one had looked normal too. Lando glared at the innocent facade, his hackles up. Max kept hold of his hand though and squeezed it reassuringly. Lando took a deep breath; Max smelled absolutely confident, his scent was the usual liquorice with notes of dark roast coffee beans. He wasn’t worried at all.
“We are doing this,” he told Lando, completely confidently.
“ You do this all the time.”
“And now you’re doing it with me so that we can both have the good time we deserve.”
Max tucked Lando’s hand into the crook of his arm and tugged him gently toward the door. Lando grimaced but walked with him. He hated the shoes he was wearing, actually he hated his whole outfit but he’d been dressing like a beta for weeks. He’d been getting under the skin of alphas everywhere he went, which made him feel viciously triumphant and also more angry, because he hated these clothes and what they meant.
Inside the building, there was a beautiful spacious lobby. It was softly lit and while there were a couple of comfortable-looking armchairs clustered by a low table, there was no one waiting. There was a reception desk, manned by an omega wearing a patterned blouse that showed off her mating mark. She smiled in welcome, an expression that faded into concern when she looked at Lando. Lando’s hackles went up again and his lips drew painfully back into a growl. The pain caused him to hiss through a wince though, fury rocketing through him. He hated this, he hated how his black eye wasn’t healed and how his cut lip and left arm still hurt. He hated that knowing there were alphas nearby made him fearful in a way he’d never been before.
“We have an appointment with Sebastian, Britta,” Max announced, keeping Lando close.
Britta quickly checked her tablet and nodded, “Of course, this way.”
She gestured to the door beside her desk and stood to show them through, swiping a card and tapping in a code so that the door would open for them. Her gaze on Lando was worried and angry on his behalf, there was no pity in her scent. Lando checked twice and then nodded at her, feeling something unclench a little inside of him. His hackles stayed up though. She nodded back with a reassuring smile.
“I have told Lando how safe he will be here,” Max told Britta.
“Yes, Master Sebastian’s alphas are very well trained," Britta replied promptly, then her eyes twinkled. "And I would say that they will all want to lavish you with much attention and comfort."
As Lando and Max walked through the doorway, Lando could smell the alphas and how many were aware of two omegas having entered the building. He could smell their curiosity and in some cases, the concern when they picked up on his pain. Max nudged him lightly.
"You will get all the comfort you deserve,” He nodded to Britta with a small smile. “I remember the way, Britta, thank you.”
Britta smiled back, not at all offended by the dismissal, and returned to her desk duty. Max confidently led Lando through plain hallways, all thickly carpeted with the walls painted warm colours, until he reached an unassuming door. Max knocked briskly, his scent full of confidence and comfort as a voice called them through. He didn’t hesitate, leading the way.
The room was unexpected, Lando had been expecting a bedroom vibe maybe or something more clinical. He clenched his teeth in furious memory. But it was more like a living room; there were a couple of landscape paintings on the walls that Lando didn’t recognise, and a chest of drawers and a dresser that had a couple of framed photos on and a football, for some reason. There was a big deep-green sofa and a couple of matching armchairs, all arranged around low tables that had books and magazines piled up on. Beyond all of that was a simple desk and a man standing in front of itt, wearing a pleased welcoming expression. He was slight with tousled curling hair, dressed in soft velvety trousers that were gathered at the waist and a matching thigh-length jacket. His scoop-necked t-shirt revealed a vivid mating mark. His scent was like honey.
“Max, it’s good to see you again.”
His accent made everything sound a bit formal but he kissed Max on both cheeks and cupped Max’s jaw for a second, looking pleased with what he saw in Max’s face. Then he turned to Lando and his scent thickened with concern and severe displeasure. There really was no pity or disapproval at Lando’s appearance but Lando still tensed and bristled challengingly. The last time he’d been in an alpha house…
Max guessed of course, “Lando, this is Sebastian, Master of this house and several others. Seb, this is Lando. He has had a terrible experience and he needs your help.”
Lando hissed at Max’s bluntness about him to a stranger but Max was unrepentant and Sebastian nodded, still not smelling of pity or disapproval. He gestured to the sofa, “Please, let us sit.”
Lando sat on the sofa beside Max and noticed that Sebastian’s feet were bare, his toenails painted a silvery green. Max shrugged off his jacket, fully revealing his mesh shirt. Between him and Sebastian, Lando was very aware of how beta he looked and just how wrong it felt to him. Whatever, it had been doing its job. At least he was wearing some jewellery, he couldn’t imagine going out without wearing his tiny gold hoop earring.
“Now, this house’s purpose is to help,” Sebastian told them from the armchair. “But if you can, I will need some details of what you need, or what you definitely don’t need. Some of the alphas are newly-trained so they may not have the experience necessary to meet your needs.”
Lando’s jaw felt too tense to talk, he was starting to growl at the thought of needing so much help. He wasn’t a pup or an alpha. All of his still-bruised omega instincts were roused and insulted. But Sebastian sat implacable and patient, with no hint of being offended, and Max held Lando’s hand and raised his eyebrows pointedly. Lando took a while but he did nod eventually. Fine, he was here now, and Max thought this could help and he trusted Max completely. Max had been amazing so far in supporting him through all this and Sebastian still smelled completely without disapproval or pity. And when Lando focused outside of his anger, he could pick up the scent of willing and happy alphas, alphas who might actually kneel for him. The base omega part of him relaxed in response.
“He’d had a bad day and knew he needed an alpha,” Max explained evenly. “I am out of town, his friends are unavailable, and he cannot wait so he goes to an alpha house that he sees recommended. His first time at any alpha house for some time. He picks an alpha, goes to a room, but once they are inside, the door is not closed and they try to rob him.”
Sebastian’s scent buzzed with anger now, his gaze flicking over Lando thoroughly, “They did not succeed?”
Lando shook his head, “I fought my way out. They didn’t think I could do it.”
They’d hissed disgusting things as they’d tried to stop him though, about how he wasn’t so above alphas now, that he was no better than them, how this sort of treatment was what he wanted and deserved. The Master there had tried to keep his wallet and had said he’d be in touch. But after Lando had gotten home and Max had gotten the story out of him, Lando had called his parents. It’d been one of the hardest phone calls of his life.
“They were going to try to blackmail him but they are being put out of business,” Max announced with a smug smirk.
Sebastian smiled back, “How fortunate. Please, if you could send me a list of the alphas who worked there.”
“Of course, though I don’t think even you could salvage them.”
Sebastian focused on Lando now and gestured to the sofa, “May I?”
Lando nodded slowly, watching as Sebastian sat beside him.
“Whatever you want tonight, there are many alphas here for you.”
Lando eyed him, it was such a commercial line, “Whatever I want?”
His tone was challenging, his hackles firmly up, but Sebastian smiled, “Of course many omegas come here for sex, but they are not all like Max.”
Max grinned but said, “He knows about Sergio, Seb.”
Sebastian’s smile became fond, “He isn’t here tonight, otherwise I would suggest him.”
Lando shook his head, he wouldn’t want to hire Sergio anyway. He’d walked in on Max snuggled up with Sergio on the sofa at home, and Max was always in such a submissive position, curled up in Sergio’s arms, under his chin, and smelling so happy and relaxed. Lando couldn’t understand that, it was so against his instincts and he was sure that it was usually against Max’s. When they’d talked about it later, Max had said that he trusted Sergio. That was huge from Max, especially as he’d also mentioned that Sergio was one of the only alphas he’d hired more than once and the only one who’d ever been in Max and Lando’s house. Lando was pretty sure that Sergio wasn’t getting paid now for his visits to Max anyway, they were friends. Yeah, it was weird, especially as Sergio had a mating mark.
Sebastian nodded, “You would not want someone of that age?”
“I wouldn’t want an alpha that Max hires regularly.”
Max shrugged, “He’s not mine though. I hear you’re going to be the godfather, Seb, congratulations.”
Sebastian smelled very happy, “Before the pup is even born, yes.”
Lando was so confused. Sebastian smiled gently, “I can promise you, no alpha here will think less of you if you do not want to sleep with them."
"Really, even though I'm dressed like this?"
Lando plucked at his baggy t-shirt, the boxy jeans that did nothing for him. Sebastian nodded.
"People come here dressed in many different ways. Sometimes they bring outfits to change into, or for the alpha to wear. They will be more concerned about your injuries. They will all want to soothe them."
The thought of a house full of pliant alphas, all kneeling and wanting to serve him, brought a little purr out of Lando. The thought was fantastic, and so remote from what he’d been feeling lately. Sebastian nodded in agreement.
"If you do not want soothing, there are a number of alphas available to you for the opposite. There are only a certain number free for this though, everyone else is booked for tomorrow already."
And no omega wanted to hire an alpha that was already marked up. Lando tried to imagine making marks across strong alpha skin that weren’t from his mouth. Lando shook his head, no, even now that wasn't appealing.
"It's never been an interest for him," Max confirmed.
"Well, it is available. So, Lando, what is it you want here?"
Lando stared at Sebastian, at his very blue eyes and his total grounded calm, like no alpha would ever be able to move him. He definitely wasn’t riled by Lando’s bristling scent or beta clothing. Lando could see why Max had recommended Sebastian so highly. He was everything the other omega Master wasn’t. No alpha was going to behave out of line here, it wasn’t something Lando had been able to even think about believing in for a while.
“I want to feel in control again,” he said. “I want good alphas who know how to behave.”
When he looked at Sebastian, the omega radiated understanding and strength. His smile was small but very powerful. Max squeezed Lando’s hand. The scent in the room was overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging. Lando wanted to believe in it and have more.
“There’s a lot you can be in control of here,” grinned Max. “They will all love it.”
Sebastian smiled and nodded, getting to his feet decisively, “Yes, they will be honoured. I am sure we can find someone.”
“You always find someone for me,” agreed Max as he got to his feet and linked arms with Lando again.
“There are some alphas in tonight who have been booked when you have been in before, I think you’ll be interested,” Sebastian informed him with a twinkle.
As he led them from the room, an alpha approached from the opposite direction. He had incredibly piercing eyes and a serious expression. But he immediately bared his neck, and mating mark, to Sebastian and nuzzled Sebastian’s shoulder and neck. Sebastian smiled and ran a hand through the alpha’s hair, love filling his scent.
“Ah, Lando, this is my mate, Kimi. Kimi, this is Lando, we are going to find him an alpha worthy of him tonight. He needs a very special evening.”
Kimi bared his neck to both Max and Lando. He smiled slightly at Max, and when Sebastian nodded, Max pressed a quick kiss to Kimi’s cheek and patted affectionate fingers through his hair. Kimi smelled fond in return and nodded at Lando, he didn’t smell even slightly interested, only sharply protective as his gaze zeroed in on Lando’s injuries. Lando had tensed without really realising, his hackles up again. But Kimi was behaving very appropriately, as an alpha should, and smelled sweet with love for his mate. Lando watched him closely, it felt like such a relief.
“Good to meet you,” Kimi offered, though his attention was very quickly back on his mate. “There are only alphas in the hall and no other booking is due for another hour.”
“This is perfect,” Sebastian kissed Kimi and tugged his hair gently. “Thank you, liebling. ”
He led the group through a set of double doors into the next corridor, into a hall that was full of alphas. They were in different states of undress, lounging on the floor, or gathering on sofas, and there was a low hum of conversation. A lot of them glanced towards the door but Sebastian minutely shook his head and all of the alphas seemed to turn away, giving Lando space and no attention. He looked over the room, at all the different kinds of alphas available. If any of them started to smell problematic, he would catch them. For now, the smell was intoxicating, Lando breathed it in hungrily.
“You have been missing this,” Max reminded him. “Remember, they are here only to please you, nothing else.”
The alphas obviously all heard him, thanks to their alpha hearing, but none of them visibly reacted. Lando could smell interest and lust though. He had missed this a lot, and this was…it smelled like it should. Lando soaked that in. No alpha was challenging him or acting like he shouldn’t be there. For the first time in ages, he didn’t feel like bristling in an alpha’s presence.
“Please, take a look around. I am here to answer any questions,” Sebastian told them. “I hope you both find what you need tonight.”
Max grinned and tugged Lando further into the room, waving to someone he saw. He talked to a couple of alphas as he and Lando moved through, patting their cheeks or smoothing his hand through their hair. But he was still looking. Lando was too, thankfully there was no one so far that reminded him too closely of the alphas he’d last met. There was a real variety too, in look and scent. Lando appreciated that. There was a lot to admire, and so far, no one smelled like they were ready to pounce. His hand clenched into a fist.
“So much to admire,” Max commented, looking over the room. “Seb always has the best alphas. They’re beautiful and they’re so well trained.”
Lando grinned as so many of the alphas preened. It was adorable. When the liquorice in Max’s scent got a lot stronger. It happened right as they got to a couple of alphas sprawled out together on some huge cushions. They were obviously involved, they stank of each other, and were both tanned and stubbly with strong thighs which were shown off in shorts. The shorter one wore a huge grin too that crinkled up his eyes as he looked up at his lover. Max grinned down at them, his eyes bright with clear interest. He might as well have shown his alpha teeth.
“You work as a pair?” he asked them.
“If you like, or you can choose either one of us,” the shorter one replied easily and with a sizable Australian accent. There was no lie in his scent as they both bared their necks to Max and Lando.
Max smiled, “Oh, I’m definitely choosing both of you. Lando will be choosing someone else.”
“Definitely,” Lando added firmly.
Neither alpha smelled like they’d have an issue with that. Good, Lando was relieved in a way that he wouldn’t have been before. He hated that relief. The shorter alpha looked over at Lando, baring his neck again. The other alpha did it again immediately too. Lando nodded his thanks, still loathing that he needed the reassurance from alphas. He was an omega here, he was in control. His fingers clenched again..
“Good boys,” Max murmured, cupping the cheek of the nearest taller alpha. “What are your names?”
“Michael,” supplied the taller alpha, also Australian and leaning into Max’s touch.
“Daniel,” added the shorter smiling alpha.
“Max,” Max replied, running his thumb over Michael’s lips.
His scent was so thick with liquorice now and the alphas were looking at him with so much lust. Lando couldn’t help smiling, there was no mistaking these alphas’s desires. Max was going to have a very happy energetic evening.
But Max said, “First, we will find someone for Lando.”
The alphas nodded, rearranging themselves so that they were closer to Max, who kept a hand on them. That seemed like enough for them right now, they smelled of anticipation but not too much impatience. Lando knew now what a different kind of anticipation smelled like. Michael's expression was quietly encouraging towards Lando, Daniel was smiling broadly again. Their scents mixed nicely with Max’s already. Lando couldn't remember the last time that Max had chosen any alpha so quickly.
Seeing them sitting so nicely under Max’s hand, it stirred a want in Lando again, a reminder of how long he'd gone without scratching that itch. He really wanted a good alpha at his feet, and for the first time in weeks it actually felt almost possible. Max patted Lando's hand encouragingly and Lando was aware of Sebastian nearing, to probably note down Max's booking. Would two alphas cost double?
Lando was aware of other alphas looking at him. He gazed around the room, his eyes catching on an alpha sitting alone. He looked comfortable and content, wearing only a pair of jeans. He was truly beautiful; sunkissed skin, a hint of stubble, glossy dark hair, and a lush mouth. Lando stared at him for a moment, his fingers unclenching. He hadn’t expected…well, he hadn’t expected to feel this kind of interested in an alpha. It was usually just the strong urge to fuck. There was that, but that wasn’t all it was. He wanted to keep looking.
He walked closer. The alpha bared his neck and gazed up at Lando through pretty eyelashes. He didn’t say anything, he waited. He was older than Lando and smelled of limes and warm earth. The lime scent got stronger the more Lando looked at him. They looked at each other for long moments before Lando licked his lips and lifted his chin.
“What’s your name?”
“Carlos.”
Oh, Lando liked that accent. He wanted to hear more of it. He looked Carlos over, the alpha hadn’t smelled amused by Lando’s appearance, only very interested and angry, protective, when he looked at Lando’s blackened eye and split lip. Lando wondered how much that would change once they were alone and Lando didn’t want any sex. His fingers flexed.
“Carlos,” Max purred, appearing beside Lando. “You have been behaving yourself?”
Carlos smiled and bared his neck to Max, “I have been very good.”
Max grinned and stroked Carlos’s cheek before turning to Lando, “He’s a good choice. I’ve hired him before, just once.”
Lando couldn’t smell any lingering interest between them and nodded. Max complained sometimes about the alphas he hooked up with but Lando didn’t remember him complaining about Carlos.
“You will be very good for Lando,” Max said, an order instead of a question.
Carlos nodded, “It will be my pleasure.”
His gaze was fixed on Lando now, his eyes were dark with want, and his scent was rich with lime. Lando’s fingers twitched and then rose to gently push Carlos’s hair out of his eyes. Carlos blinked slowly, his scent warming. Lando stared at him intently, his fingers stroking Carlos’s hair down past his ear. Carlos was feeling this too.
Max gently squeezed Lando’s arm, his good one, “Let’s meet at Seb’s office after. Enjoy yourself.”
He gestured something and Sebastian arrived, with a small smile, pocketing his phone, “This is a wonderful choice. You will show Lando this is true, Carlos.”
Carlos bared his neck to Sebastian, “Yes, sir.”
He didn’t stand until Lando gestured him up. Max waved as he exited the room with Michael and Daniel, all of their scents still full of anticipation. Sebastian nodded towards the door Max had just used.
“Carlos’s room is that way. It should be supplied with everything you need. If not, please, use the phone there to call Britta.”
He rested a hand on Carlos’s shoulder for a second, and then left them to it, Kimi walking neatly a step behind him. Carlos turned to Lando, his scent still warm and shot through with lime. Lando’s fingers flexed and he stared at Carlos, but the alpha’s want and interest stayed completely genuine. And he waited patiently for Lando's command.