Chapter 105: Julian Fletcher the godfather

Noah’s POV

I sniffle as Uncle Julian kisses the top of my head. He hugs me and laughs at the look on my face.

I’m trying not to burst into tears.

"Look at you, all grown up and elegant. You’re really the best omega of this modern age" he says and I give him a wobbly smile.

I can smell my dad’s comforting scent from here and tears are starting to form in my eyes. This is my entire world. While other kids had their mother’s scent to latch on to, all my life it has always been dad’s scent.

My mother never gave me the affection of a mom, but dad was always there.

"Go meet your dad" Julian says softly and steers me in my dad’s direction.

I break into sobs the moment my dad gets up. He looks like he has been on the run for a long time, he has dark circles under his eyes, and his clothes look big on him.

"My son" he whispers and everything around me disappears as I run into his arms.

Dad holds me tightly, releasing his scent for me to breathe in. Dad’s pheromones smell like soft and rare herbs. This is the scent I have fallen asleep with so many times before now.

"Dad" I breathe out, body shaking with my sobs as he rubs my back.

"You’re alive...my son is alive" he says, breaking our hug and looking at my face with obvious worry and love in his eyes.

With the way he’s looking at me, I can tell that Dad never gave me away to the Deus. He was forced to let me go, but why would the brothers lie to me?

I sniffle and dad wipes my tears off with his thumb.

"Don’t cry, dear. A strong omega holds their head up in public" he says and I nod, sending more tears down my cheeks.

"I’m sorry I missed your birthday" he tells me in that father tone, and I swallow back my sobs.

I can’t even speak; my throat is closed with so many emotions. I’m finally with the man I look up to.

"Shhh...don’t cry" he whispers and I nod again.

"Here, here. Come sit, dear" he says, helping me into a chair and handing me his handkerchief. I wipe my streaming tears off and smile at Dad’s worried frown.

"Did they hurt you? Hmm?" he asks and I shake my head.

"They weren’t as bad as expected" I say with a shaky voice. I turn my head to look for Elias, but he’s not standing at the spot I left him. Both he and Julian are missing.

I hope he’s not trying to ruin my meeting with dad.

I can forgive him for kidnapping me and lying against my father, but I will never forgive him if he’s trying to ruin my evening.

"What are you looking for, pup?" dad asks and I shake my head.

"Nothing" I lie and dad smiles at me.

"How have you been dad? Have you been hiding?" I ask and he sighs, shaking his head side to side.

"I need to find my way back to Winslow. The world is a harsh place" he says with a sad look, and I reach out to hold his hand.

"I’ll talk to them, maybe there’s a political decision that can help...I think we can come to an agreement" I say and dad sighs again.

"Don’t do anything that will get you in trouble" dad says, wiping tears off my face again. He drops his hand and picks up a bag off the floor.

"Julian has been hoping to see you, he even sent you a birthday gift" he says and brings a golden box out of the bag.

I take the box from my dad with round eyes.

"What’s in here, Dad?" I ask.

Uncle Julian has always had a thing for spoiling me. He says I’m his first godson, and that he cherishes me.

"This is really heavy" I whisper.

"Open it" Dad encourages and I open the lid of the box. When I see what’s inside, the small smile drops off my face.

It’s a claiming collar.

"Dad..."

"Isn’t it wonderful? He’s going to save you, Noah. We have a plan and you just have to trust us" my father says.

"Dad..."

"Don’t forget who you are or everything we taught you" he continues to talk and I shut the box. I don’t need to be saved with a collar, and I am trying to forget everything they taught me.

"He doesn’t like it?" Julian asks as he rejoins us. He looks roughed up and he’s here without Elias. My grip on the box tightens.

What’s going on?

Elias will never leave me alone for a second. And even if he’s mad at me, he would be here with his eyes red and lips set in a straight line.

"Where’s Elias Deus?" I ask, getting up from the seat and placing the gift box on the table.

"He had a panic attack, I saw him and helped him, remember I’m a professional therapist" he says, adjusting his shirt while I continue to stare at the corner Julian just came out of.

"Do you like the gift, Noah?" Julian asks and I look at the box.

"It’s nice, but isn’t a claiming collar something people give to their own omegas?" I ask and Julian’s smile wobbles.

"It’s true. But this is a way to bring you out of the Deus and their mafia madness. An omega like you wasn’t born to be stuck with...criminals" he says and I look at the box.

"I’m married" I say.

"You can’t be married if you’ve already been claimed." Julian says and I lift my chin.

"I’m claimed by Elias" I say.

"Son, why are you saying it like it’s an acceptable thing" dad says.

"Because it is, Dad. I already belong to Elias. You can’t give me a claiming collar" I say as I push the box and step away from the table.

My omega is starting to feel uneasy.

"Noah, I claimed you long ago. Your father made you mine when you were twelve" he says and I stumble backwards.

"What?" I whisper.

"Son, it was to save you. You were kidnapped and Julian knew the Deus family would make you into their property, so I signed the contract to bind you to him" dad says and I start to laugh.

I don’t know what exactly is funny, but I laugh.

"I saved you then, and I will save you now, Noah. I am your hero" Julian says. He holds his hand out for me to take it and I laugh even harder.

I think I’m losing my mind.

I might be hallucinating this dinner.

"Dad, what’s going on? What is Uncle Julian talking about, he’s my godfather" I say pointedly and dad sighs.

"Son, you’re precious to me. I know you can’t remember but when you were kidnapped, the kidnapper told the Deus to abuse you" dad says and I shake my head.

"Do you know I was brainwashed?" I ask and his face falls.

"Yes. But Noah, put yourself in my shoes! I’m just a father who loves his son deeply" dad starts to cry and I shake my head even harder to reject everything I’m hearing.

"You knew? Who is Conan and where is he? Did you give them the order to mess with my memory" I ask all the questions at once and Julian takes a step forward.

"Are you listening to yourself, Noah?" he asks and I growl at him weakly to protect myself.

"I can’t do this...I need Elias" I mutter and move away from them.

This wasn’t how I envisioned the dinner. I didn’t think I would be claimed by the man I have always called an uncle.

I never thought I would ever be in this position of doubting my father.

I need Elias, and I need him now.

"Elias" I call his name as the alpha comes out of the corner. He stops walking when he sees me and I also stop, pinned in place by his eyes.

He’s looking at me with those cold and dead brown eyes that suck the air out of my lungs.

What is going on?