Chapter 98: I picked up a dog, dammit
Sebastian made the pancakes and Noah ended up feeding Michael. He didn’t feel like having cake yet so he decided to have it after the pancakes.
"The pancakes are so good." Michael said as he munched on it. They were soft and chewy but above all, sweet. "Are you a professional chef?"
"No, I’m not." Sebastian answered plainly but Michael didn’t seem to believe it and turned to Noah.
"Noah, is this why you’re so terrible at cooking?" Michael asked, and Sebastian stifled a laugh, causing them to turn towards him, but his expression was completely cold and stern.
Then, where did they hear the laugh from?
"Ahem," Noah cleared his throat. "Sebastian hasn’t always been with me so he’s not the reason I’m bad at cooking."
"You’re not just bad, you’re terrible, Noah. Be honest. Who takes three months to learn how to fry eggs?" Michael bluntly said and it felt a blow to Noah’s pride.
"At least he’s good at washing vegetables." Sebastian suddenly added, his eye glinting with the pride Noah had and Michael laughed.
"Yeah, at least."
"Hey, whose side are you on?" Noah asked but Sebastian did not say anything further and simply stood there.
Noah sighed. It was as if they had ganged up against him.
"Anyway, it is true that I’m terrible at cooking but it’s not because of Sebastian. First of all, it’s never been heard that an Alpha entered the kitchen to cook. So I guess that’s why I don’t have the talent for it." He explained.
"And Alphas have never done shores before." Sebastian answered.
"Yeah, I figured that much." Michael said. "He was like a child who was learning how to live for the first time when he started living here." He added. "I had to explain everything to him even though I didn’t want to. He... Came into my life on his own."
"You picked me up!" Noah stated, but Michael flared at him.
"I picked up a dog, Dammit. I didn’t know I was picking up an Alpha in the slightest."
"You still picked me up. That’s the fact." Noah said and Michael scoffed.
He was on with this shamelessness of his again. Noah smiled.
"I’m glad." He said which got Michael blushing.
"You better be." He said.
"Then, shall we have cake now?" Noah asked.
"Wait, you need to introduce him first, right? You said he wasn’t always with you." Michael reminded. "And I was really startled to find him in the kitchen. How could you simply leave someone I didn’t know in my kitchen? How did you think I would react?"
"I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon. But I was indeed rather reckless with that decision." Noah said. "This is Sebastian. He’s been of help while I was still..." he paused, the words feeling uncomfortable on his tongue. "Lying to you." His eyebrows furrowed. "He is a devoted subordinate, and the reason I was able to leave him here with you alone was because I trust he won’t betray me while I’m still the Alpha."
"That’s confusing." Michael scratched his head. "Does that mean he’ll betray you once you’re no longer the Alpha."
"It’s not something you should concern yourself with," Sebastian said. "Alpha Noah will still be an Alpha for a while until he passes on the crown to his offspring."
"Ahem." Noah cleared his throat.
Sebastian didn’t need to say any more than that.
"Anyway, I will be of service till that happens."
Michael stayed silent, twisting his lips as he pondered. He was trying to get it. Was it something like swearing allegiance to the crown? If not, why would he only serve the person with the title of Alpha?
’I’m starting to have such random thoughts.’ Michael thought. ’What swearing allegiance? This isn’t a movie.’
"Michael," Noah called. "Things are going to get rather hectic from now on." He said. "And I might not be able to be around for a while."
Michael stayed silent. Of course. It’s not like he expected Noah to come back and their peaceful days would return.
"I wish I could simply stay in this house with you but unfortunately..." He closed his eyes, pressing them together.
"I understand." Michael said, placing his hand on Noah’s face and Noah opened his eyes. "I’m not that stupid to think we can go back to the way things used to be. And that’s why I said I was breaking up with you."
"No, we don’t have to break up." Noah said, grabbing his hand.
"Why not?" Michael asked, biting his lip. "Don’t you think it’s better for the both of us if we just split our relationship?"
"No, it’s not. We can’t break up?"
"Why are you so stubborn? Do you wish for me to suffer in loneliness while you’re no longer in my life?" Michael yelled at him and he froze. "Endlessly waiting for you, for the day you will come visit. Do you wish for me to restlessly wait for your calls day in and day night just because you promised to visit? Promised to come see me. Promised..." His eyes teared up again. "...to be with me."
Noah did not think of it like that.
During this period, after declaring war on the elders’ circle, he wouldn’t be able to come to see Michael, much less contact him, because they would be watching his every move and even put a wire in his phone so they could know the people he calls and get his weakness somehow.
And if they find out Michael was the reason he changed so much, they would not hesitate to get rid of him.
Because of this, he would have to cut ties with Michael temporarily and during that time, Michael would be alone. If he gave Michael hope and allowed him to wait in sadness, he might just die of depression.
"I... I understand." Noah said. "It’s true I won’t be able to come around for the time being so I wouldn’t want you to be so restless and fall into depression. I..."
"Then let’s part ways for now." Michael said. "I didn’t say I wouldn’t accept you when you come for me in the future. For now... I’d like to pretend that the Noah in my life was just a dream and I am back in reality."
"You’ll suffer."
