CHAPTER 355: AN AMBUSH

Andrew stiffened up as the group turned as one and began to move towards him. He turned to look back at Maxwell, worried, but all he found was a man who looked amused.

"Andy, why on earth do you know them? Or should I say, why on earth do they know you?" Maxwell’s tone was casual, but a shiver of fear ran down his spine. He really didn’t want the man to think he’d been up to no good. That wasn’t where this came from.

The group was upon them before Andrew could fully explain himself.

"Dear lord! Did you get taller in the years we haven’t seen you? Jesus Christ! You’re a damn tree!" One of the girls exclaimed. She was a pretty thing, a giant diamond on her ring finger, a form fitting dress hugging her curves, and her face painted in a way that hadn’t changed since she had been in university. She’d once cried in Andy’s arms worried that everyone only thought she was vapid and cared about looks. She’d been going to school to major in math.

"Without glasses as well? Who the hell convinced you? You never wore contacts when we asked!" Another girl protested. She was blonde, wearing a nice dress as well, with a considerably less big diamond ring, but just as sparkly. Her lips were painted red, accenting her words. Andrew had given her some suppressants once when he caught her stumbling outside of a panic room the university had for omegas. Andrew later found out he’d saved her life.

"Uh, hello everyone." Andrew said, his eyes scanning the group that he had known when he was in university. The same group that had unintentionally or otherwise probably been the cause of the rumours about him in university. The rumours that Will had thought were true. Andrew turned, nervous, and reached for Maxwell. Maxwell, ever the gentleman, took Andrew’s hand and came to join him at his side. The rest of the group they had been chatting to stepped away, but were still listening in.

The group stared at Andrew, waiting for his words, his excuses, and Andrew felt his whole face get warm.

"I’m sorry I cut contact so suddenly." Andrew said first, muttering as embarrassment flooded him. "I was...going through a difficult time. I...I feel like you might know now, but my Mom had passed away and I just...well, I stumbled." Andrew admitted, feeling guilt wash over him.

"We know." The first girl said, and it only took a second for Andrew to remember her name. Fiona. He didn’t know her current last name, but he was sure he would find out. She was looking at him, her expression stern as she looked Andrew over. It made Andrew shiver, but he kept his composure.

"Andy, we were there when it happened. I supplied flowers for the funeral. Don’t you remember?" It was the second girl, the blonde, and Andrew sucked in. He slowly shook his head, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were wide in shock as Andrew remembered her name. Jess. She was a sweet girl. Her parents owned property that was related to gardening somehow. He couldn’t remember.

"I...I actually don’t remember much about the time after her passing, if I’m honest." Andrew told them. "It’s...a blur." Jess and Fiona stared at him, the others in the group softening as they heard that from Andrew’s own mouth.

"Oh Andy. You should have said something! We would have done anything to help you! Your Mom was such a sweet lady, and you were our friend! Was it just us, or did you-" Fiona asked, and it cut Andrew deep that he knew what she was going to say.

Had he only cut them off? Or had it been everyone.

Andrew’s voice was gruff when he responded.

"It was...everyone. I moved to England. Got into a different program. I was pretty...angry for a long time." Andrew admitted. "I’m sorry. I should have reached out. I’ve been slowly realising that everything I did only isolated me from the people who cared about me. Even the people I didn’t know cared about me because everything’s such a blur from that time." Andrew told them, and the group softened considerably. "A-Anyways, uh, some things have changed." Andrew told them, his face warm.

"Oh? What changed?" Fiona asked and Andrew glanced around nervously.

"I...manifested. Recently." Andrew said carefully. The group gasped in unison, hands flying to mouths. It would have been comical if this moment didn’t feel so intense. Maxwell remained at his side. Silent, but observant.

"What? Our sweet beta Andy isn’t a beta anymore? What did you manifest as? Was it an omega? I kind of hope that it was." Jess gushed, but Fiona’s gaze was staring at Andrew, calculating.

Then Andrew shifted slightly, as several of the group gasped.

"What? Holy shit!" One of the males said, a man with brown hair and grey eyes. It took Andrew a second to recognise him since before this he always had dyed hair. Clearly, that had changed in the years he hadn’t seen him. "You’re not an omega at all!" He exclaimed, and Andrew found himself chuckling.

"No. It turns out that one can’t run away from their past forever." Andrew said carefully, and Jess and Fiona shifted, their brows drawing together in confusion.

"So? What does that matter? We don’t care that you’re an alpha, Andy." Jess told him, indignation in her tone. "Did you think we would care? Why would we? You’d never be capable of doing half of the shit that others have done to us." She told him, and Andrew felt his lips turn up slightly.

"I’m glad you think so. It was...a concern of mine when I manifested. You’re also only partially right. I’m...a true alpha." Andrew admitted, and watched as a double reaction came from the admittance. Pure shock, and then calculation. They were all wondering who he’d gotten it from.

Andrew, for his part, felt his smile break across his face, flashing his teeth. He turned and pointed to Kim.

"Kim Proctor is my aunt. Or, like a second cousin? My Mom wasn’t exactly clear." Andrew told them. "Either way, my Mom came from a branch family of the Proctors." Andrew told the crew, and they knew what that meant. At least, most of them did.

"Can we ask about your father?" Fiona asked, her tone careful. Andrew laughed.

"I refuse to know who he is." Andrew said with the confidence of a man who meant his words. The group stared at him, before Jess and Fiona smiled. Harvey shook his head.

"Well, his fucking loss then. Now, are you going to introduce us to the man at your side? Not that we are unaware of who he is, but who is he to you, Andy?" Harvey asked, his eyebrows raised, and Andrew felt his smile shift slightly. He reached over, wrapping his arm around Maxwell’s shoulder and pulling him against his side. While it had been a while since he’d been around this group, it didn’t feel as awkward as he thought it was going to be if he saw more people like Maria.

"This wonderful man is my boyfriend." Andrew said proudly. "I’m sure you know who he is, but I would like to brag a bit." Andrew said. He cleared his throat. "Not only is he a CEO, but he has been published over and over in medical journals and studies about the advancements he has made to not just omegas, but also to alphas. He’s gone so far and above what the rest of the world has done, he’s considered a genius when it comes to pharmaceuticals. He’s so smart and caring and kind to those who he considers his own, and I am so proud to be the man who can say I have a claim to part of his heart." Andrew said.

He could tell that Maxwell had been a little tense, unsure what Andrew was going to say. When Andrew spoke though, he could feel how the other man slowly relaxed.

"And what about my looks?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew blinked several times, before he looked down at the stunning beauty in his arms.

"Of course you’re beautiful. That’s a given. You’re such a wonderful person that your internal beauty can’t be contained and has to spill over." Andrew told the other man and Maxwell’s ears were burning, they were so pink. Maxwell cleared his throat, ducking his head as he flushed.

Fiona and Jess let out a soft sound, an awe, and Andrew grinned.

"That’s so damn sweet, Andy. When did you two meet? How did you meet?" Jess asked, wiping a tear from her eyes.

"We met because we were neighbours." Andrew told them. "Maxy lived in this giant house, while I lived in the apartment next door. I brought him a casserole when he moved in. Like Mom suggested when meeting new neighbours. From then on, we were attached at the hip. As friends first." Andrew told them and Maxwell let out a soft sigh.

"He was dating someone else at the time." Maxwell told them. "It was love at first sight for me." Andrew was surprised that the man wasn’t embarrassed to admit that. He could tell that everyone was listening in raptly, wanting to get the scoop on the new couple. Harvey looked simply delighted.

"The Maxwell Beckett fell in love at first sight? With our Andy? My goodness, I knew he was going to end up with a fucking bombshell, but this is..." Harvey let out a soft laugh, taking a sip from the champagne flute he had in his hand.

"How long did you string along the poor man, Andy? Clearly you’ve broken up with whoever you were dating before." Fiona teased, waving her hand dismissively and Maxwell let out a heavy sigh.

"About 9 months. I even told him that I liked him, and he thought I meant it as a friend. He’s clueless." Maxwell told them and Andrew flushed again. The group laughed.

"He is. We once watched a stunning omega try to ask him out on a date and Andrew just thought she needed help studying. She came to us in tears after, and we told her that was just how Andy is. He doesn’t realise it until you kick him in the chest with it." Fiona said, making a motion with her hand like she was striking something. Or someone.

Maxwell turned his face up to stare at Andrew, his expression warm.

"Well, we won’t have to worry about any other omegas for a while, hmm Andy?" Maxwell teased and Andrew flushed.

"We don’t have to worry about any other omegas as far as I’m concerned. I’m a one man kind of man." Andrew declared, and the group let out a collective sigh.

"What a precious thing to say. God, I’ve missed having you around." Fiona said. "Always a breath of fresh air. Okay! Is it alright if we take Andy and interrogate him, Maxy? We’ll bring him back in one piece, promise!" Jess asked, turning to Maxwell as she made an ’x’ over her heart, like a promise. Maxwell chuckled, patting Andrew’s chest warmly.

"You may borrow him as long as you mean that promise. I need to keep him around for quite a long time after this." Maxwell told them and they grinned.

"You’ve got our word." Andrew wasn’t so sure if he felt okay with this outcome. He also didn’t feel like he had much of a choice.