It really was that simple.
“If you like him, we’re happy for you. And I’m glad you’re not too caught up in what other people will think to be put off dating him,” his mother said.
“It’s just a date. We’ll see how it goes,” Chad said, shrugging. He didn’t want to jinx things by investing too much. For all he knew, Peter was just looking for a bit of fun.
His parents didn’t comment further, and the rest of the dinner was spent talking about other things. Still, Chad couldn’t stop thinking about Peter. He wondered what they were going to do for their date, if he would still be comfortable with the older man, and if he’d end up back in Peter’s apartment.
He guessed he’d just have to wait and find out.
***
Chapter 18
Chad had missed both Friday and Monday’s classes, and as he made his way to the training facility on Wednesday he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Parking his bike close to the front door, he took off his helmet and headed inside. Getting changed, he put away his things and headed toward the training room. He hadn’t even walked ten steps when Aiden came up behind him and put his arm over his shoulders. He tried to pull away, but Aiden held him in place like it was nothing.
“There you are, puppy. I hope I didn’t scare you off last week. I heard you had some complaints about me.” Aiden sounded mad.
“I didn’t—”
Chad didn’t get to finish the sentence. The arm around his shoulders tightened, curling around his neck and pulling him into a headlock. His face pressed against Aiden’s muscular pecs, the alpha squeezing his arm down in a show of pointless domination, Chad knew he was in trouble. Aiden lowered his face down so that he was speaking in Chad’s ear.
“Next time you have a problem with me, talk tomeabout it. Do you understand?”
Again Chad tried to tell the dickwad that he hadn’t complained to anyone, but Aiden shut him up before he could get a word out with a callused hand over his mouth.
“Nod your head,” Aiden demanded. Seething with furious indignation but knowing he was vastly outmatched, Chad did as he was told.
“Good boy,” Aiden said, not letting go. Chad went limp, submitting totally to Aiden’s humiliating show of power, justwaiting for the older man to tire of teaching him a lesson. A few guys walked past, but they stuck to the other side of the hallway and didn’t intervene.
Chad was humiliated.
A minute later, Aiden rhythmically squeezing his bulging bicep against Chad’s cheek, he heard someone walking toward them.
“Does Peter know you’re playing with his new toy?”
Chad recognized the voice coming from up ahead, though he couldn’t see the speaker. It was Merchant. Chad recognized the amused drawl in his tone. It was as unsettling now as it had been the previous two times they spoke.
Aiden let go of his head with an irritated huff, and Chad pulled away. He pushed back until he had his back against the wall, standing between the two alphas. Aiden had obviously worked out before heading to teach the class, and Chad’s shoulder and neck were wet with the other man’s sweat.
It was gross.
Aiden watched Merchant like you would a particularly venomous snake. Merchant was just standing there, dressed in the same dark jeans and black T-shirt he always wore, an amused smile on his face. He didn’t look like someone Chad wanted to mess with, but from the way Aiden was glaring at him you’d think the man was a serial killer.
“We’re just having a little talk,” Aiden said. Merchant’s easy smile morphed into a grin.
“You weretouchinghim,” he said, like it was the funniest thing in the world. “You know how Mr. Tank can be about things like that.”
Chad looked between the two alphas, the way they were talking about him making him feel about as significant as an omega.
These were the kinds of alphas Chad didn’t like being around.
“This is none of your business, Merchant.” Aiden’s words were almost a challenge, but his body language made it pretty clear he didn’t want to fight. Merchant took a step closer, and Chad almost missed the way Aiden flinched.
“Except it is my business. You see, Chad here is my new student. I’m taking over your class starting today.”
“You’re not—”
