one

"I do."

Ivan couldn't stop playing those two words in his head. The two words that solidified their relationship and locked them together for life. He couldn't stop hearing those words as they mocked him with the truth.

The truth he could no longer avoid.

Jeremiah, however, sat on the other side of the car - per Ivan's demand. Staring at Ivan shyly...continuously passing a glance at not just what he wore, but how looked right now.

Unaware of his pheromones that gave away how he felt, becoming flustered when Ivan randomly rolled his eyes. He already knew it was at him as he faced back forward quickly.

Ivan found Jeremiah's timidness and lack of confidence so telling. Telling of what he already knew and now what he knew was that this...Jeremiah was his so-called 'Alpha'.

He would never call him that. What was Alpha about him besides his body?

"What is it?" Ivan spoke up first. He made sure to make eye contact with Jeremiah, for he knew the stare wouldn't hold. Jeremiah broke the stare immediately, flinching at Ivan's beautiful yet cold stare. "Spit it out. You clearly have something to say."

"I...I just wanted to tell you that you looked so breathtakingly enchanting." Jeremiah breathed to him softly. Except his compliment towards Ivan only made him feel bad as Ivan's lips twisted up in disgust to his compliment. "I know you probably don't want to hear that."

"You're right, I don't." Ivan makes very clear as sharply as he could. "The fact that you even have the audacity to say that to me, knowing very well how much I hate the color white, and why they made me wear this color for this stupid wedding is so insensitive. You just know how to piss someone off."

Jeremiah tightened his lips together in shame, lowering his head now.

"I'm sorry." He apologized without hesitation.

Ivan snorted, leaning his elbow on the arm rest of the car.

Now the scent of Jeremiah's pheromones were full of sadness and apologetic undertones. He couldn't believe how easily it was to read him through his scent alone.

It was so embarrassingly obvious that this 'Alpha' didn't even know anything about himself. Didn't even know how the Alpha body functions and how to control it.

"I want to make something very clear to you," Ivan began in a serious tone as Jeremiah looked at him nervously, "Just because we are...married doesn't mean I forgive you or that I love you or that I see you as my Alpha. I'm the Alpha in this relationship, understand?"

Jeremiah nods, but Ivan found himself wanting more than that.

"Say you understand. I want to hear you say you understand." Ivan demanded.

"I understand...yes." Jeremiah does what he was told and saw Ivan smirk in amusement. He was already aware of how much Ivan wanted him to be the butt of the joke.

Even if the only person who was hearing it was their driver, that still was embarrassing in itself. He understood that in marrying in Ivan it wouldn't change much of anything.

The words he told him in that principals office told him enough. He knew that Ivan wasn't kidding when he said he would never see him as his Alpha or ever love him.

When they were younger, he remembered that this was all he ever wanted to do. To get married to Ivan as his Omega and submit himself to him.

Except now...he was in a body that didn't feel like his own. Bigger than the other and yet on the inside, he felt so small. The ego that came with being this so-called Alpha was nonexistent for him.

He agreed with Ivan...he wasn't meant to be an Alpha and didn't deserve it. Ivan deserved it...

Jeremiah stole a quick glance over at Ivan who continued to stare out the window. With his eyes off of him, he couldn't help but gaze at him.

Gaze at the white silk suit that had additional frills. A corset that showed his slim waist that went further down. He could almost even see Ivan's chest as the suit offered a slight glimpse to the view.

"I can smell you," Ivan looked at him abruptly, Jeremiah flinching at the abruptness, "and just from your smell I can tell you're staring. How dare you stare at me?"

"Ivan you're being unfair-."

"I'm being unfair?!" Ivan raised his voice at him.

"I'm sorry, but...yes. We are about to have our honeymoon-."

"Honeymoon?" Ivan scoffed, waving him off like he was ridiculous. "There will be no such thing. Honeymoons are happy, lovely things that you do in celebration of marrying who you love. I...don't love you."

"Can you please stop...saying that?" Jeremiah found himself asking softly.

Ivan looked at him and saw Jeremiah with his neck low. Fiddling with his fingertip as he could see the nerves.

"Jeremiah...look at me." Ivan tells me softly.

That kind of softness startled Jeremiah as he looks up. He saw Ivan look at him differently and he was unaware that he was being fooled right there.

Ivan gestured for him to come towards him, Jeremiah unbuckling his seatbelt. He scooted over until he was right beside him and looking closely at him.

His hand running up Jeremiah's arm until he reached the collar of his shirt. He was completely betaken by Ivan until he gripped his collar sharply, yanking him down to his level.

Glaring into his eyes, Ivan felt even more anger from the fact that Jeremiah would think it was that easy.

"I can say whatever I want. How dare you ask me to not do something? Don't tell me, did I hurt your feelings?" Ivan pouts in his face, smiling as Jeremiah began to shrink into himself. "No, don't pull away now. You thought I'd really let you get this close to me as if I really want you near me? Now you want to shrink away?"

Ivan held Jeremiah firmly to keep him from pulling away. Causing Jeremiah to just give up, his breathing slowing to keep himself from inhaling more of Ivan's scent.

His scent was so sweet smelling...a precious scent. He already knew why he felt the urge to pull Ivan into him. Except he remembered when Ivan would hold him close...when he'd take care of him.

Now he was looking down at him...and he felt that instinct. The instinct to pull him close and not want to let go.

"You actually like me? No way..." Ivan began to snicker as Jeremiah began to look at him from under his lashes. "I love...how pathetic you get when you're before me. When you're so submissive to me."

Jeremiah softened his gaze upon him as Ivan began to loosen his grip on his collar.

"You...like when I'm this way? I'm not acting any kind of way...this is just me.

"It suits you better." Ivan snickered, letting go of Jeremiah's shirt collar entirely. "State who's the dominant one again."

Ivan waited for him to say as his eyes remained set on his. He watched Jeremiah begin to cave under his stare as he nods.

"You're the dominant one, but you already know this. I'm just not good at that kind of thing. Why do I have to keep stating that fact?"

"Because I told you so?" Ivan scoffs at him for the stupid question. "Don't question why I do things, you submit yourself to me, nothing more. Now, don't speak until we get to my house."

Jeremiah looked away, just doing as he was told. He didn't want to fight with him. He preferred if Ivan was happy and hating him less for something that they both...divulged in.

They both divulged into each other.

Ever since then, they haven't done anything else. Besides them giving a simple kiss once they gave their vows...nothing else.

That made him sad because he wanted to be close to him, but couldn't be.

When they arrived at Ivan's house, he saw that their parents were already there. That threw him off much more than he thought it would because he wasn't expecting to see them.

Once the car parked, Ivan rushed forward with Jeremiah as he looked at his parents in absolute confusion.

"How...did you guys get here before us? And why are you here?"

"We wanted to surprise you guys," Ivan's father smiled, urging for Jeremiah to hurry over as he stood somewhat near Ivan. Everyone noticing how awkward it was between them both...Jeremiah mainly than Ivan, "we arranged and paid for this for you guys. A honeymoon-!"

Ivan's head whipped onto Jeremiah who was just as surprised, glaring complete daggers into him.

"You brought up us going to some 'honeymoon', so you already knew?"

"N-No, I promise-."

"You liar!"

"He's not lying." Jeremiah's mother chimed in softly, Ivan looking down at her calmly. "I believe he only brought it up because it's a common thing that happens once you get married. A honeymoon...not too out of the ordinary to ask or assume you'd have one."

Ivan kept his lips sealed, aware of his own sensitivity when it came to Jeremiah's parents.

They were such soft speakers...too kind and gentle. Then he looked over at their son, seeing him look away timidly when they made eye contact.

"Honeymoon to where? Hell?"

"No, it's a surprise." Ivan's mother rolled her eyes, nodding for him to follow her. "Come with me. I almost have your things set for you."

Ivan didn't hesitate in walking away from Jeremiah, Jeremiah watching his retreating back. His eyes lowering onto his parents who smiled at him.

"You're...married to the love of your life." His father stated excitedly. Ivan's father watching the way Jeremiah began to force a grin to his lips. "Right?"

"Yes, I am... I believe I am." Jeremiah glanced down at Ivan's father who looked at him with so much pity, looking away instantly. "Can we go inside? I assume you guys already put together my things?"

"Jer...?"

Jeremiah rushed past them all, squeezing his eyes as tightly as possible to make the tears go away. Rushing past the room Ivan was in, completely unaware of the conversation he was having with his mother.

"I...will just party and avoid him as much as I can, you hear me?" Ivan tried to make clear as his mother just snickered at his words. "You think I'm lying?"

"Not at all."

"Then what's so funny?"

Ivan watched his mother shrug, smiling as she folds a robe for him as she lays it atop his things.

"You could use this honeymoon as a way to...I don't know. Don't you think you two will be interested in having children?" Ivan's mother asks him excitedly as his face began to twist up into disgust. "Jeremiah used to be such a cute child, but I never knew he had such a growth spurt. He's become so refined, so handsome. You two would have such beautiful children-."

"Never!" Ivan exclaims out angrily, his mother continuing to pack his things. "I...I am not meant to do those kind of things. Genetics may say I'm an Omega, but I...I am an Alpha. Alphas' don't..."

He drifts, seeing his mother look at him curiously since she was an Alpha. His hands went over his face as he shook his head.

"I hate him so much. I wouldn't be able to get it up. I'd be too distracted on how useless of an Alpha he is and how much that title has been wasted on him!"

"Jeremiah is still young. He can always learn how to be an Alpha-."

"No. Being an Alpha is a natural, innate thing. You can't teach someone how to be one, ridiculous! You know that too...why are you trying to be so nice to him?" Ivan looked at her with narrowed eyes as he just smiled.

He always knew that his parents came to care for Jeremiah because of him bringing him in at a young age. With him having been around so much and growing up around them, that connection to him ended up becoming genuine.

They saw Jeremiah like a son too.

"You can't even answer me."

"I can."

"Then do it."

"Oh Ivan." His mother laughed at his obvious irritation to her caring for the kid. "Jeremiah has done nothing wrong to you besides become an Alpha. He couldn't help that. Why are we going to start hating him because he exceeded all of our expectations?"

Ivan sat on his bed, watching quietly as his mother zipped up his last suitcase. She rolled it before him just for Ivan to stand up and look down at her.

Saddened by the obvious for his case.

"While I disappointed you guys?"

He watched his mother frown, beginning to shake her head.

"Don't play dumb. I remember. Jeremiah and I were here, together with our results. He was an Alpha, and I was the Omega. Complete opposite of what everyone expected. You all praised...that pathetic excuse for an Alpha, and he hadn't even had his growth spurt yet. He sat there, looking like an idiot and actually looked afraid to be considered the top of the hierarchy.

"While I was already tall, big, and expected...to be somebody; just to be a nobody. Who wouldn't hate that? Jeremiah...sickens me, and I will make sure that he regrets ever liking me. I'll show him a real Alpha and I will make him the most pathetic Alpha that all of you have ever seen-."

"You don't need to do that, he already is one." His mother interrupts calmly.

Except she didn't mean that as an insult. Jeremiah's parents were both Omegas and he also had Ivan to shelter and protect him a lot of the time. He even believed he'd be the Omega that relied on the Alpha, and he accepted that role.

He accepted it so early on that he didn't think he'd be any more than that. It became a part of him, it became ingrained in his personality.

The submissiveness and Omega characteristics.

Then for him to be the very opposite of it? Of course he'd be pathetic, he was pitiful to watch; yet amazing to behold.

Everyone saw his potential, except himself.

Ivan didn't care about that. He wanted to be seen as the Alpha and wanted to be dominant over Jeremiah. To be 'the Alpha'...

"But you...are going about this all wrong. Jeremiah truly loves you and for you to do this because of jealousy is-."

"I will be his Omega of domination. I will dominate him. That's how I can allow myself to tolerate this relationship. He isn't so bad when he's being absolutely pathetic and anything but an Alpha. It'll show that I have control...and that I'm meant to be the Alpha. Especially in this ridiculous marriage." Ivan nods proudly, ignoring the disapproval from his mother towards his decision.

He grabbed his suitcases and ignored her calls to him. Except when he opened the door he was met by Jeremiah's parents.

Seeing them both look at him shyly, he kinda hoped they didn't hear what he said in there.

"Can we talk to you really quick before you go?" Jeremiah's father asked Ivan quietly.

"Sure." Ivan pulled his suitcases out as he followed them to a different room. When he stood within it he already could tell that Jeremiah was in here.

The smell of his pheromones were filled with anguish and sadness. That already told him enough as to why he may be in here.

"If you two are going to talk to me about how I am with him, that's-."

Jeremiah's mother pulled Ivan into her embrace, hugging him. He stood there in shock as he looked down at her being practically close to tears. Her hand caressing his back, he saw Jeremiah's father rest his hand on his shoulder.

"Please be...a little kinder. I know you hate Jeremiah, and we don't know what happened between the two of you for you two to be so strained, but now you're married. Jeremiah...really loves you, you know?"

Ivan watched her pull back, looking up at him kindly.

"I won't be the one to tell you what to do, however you act within this marriage is up to you. I just...implore you that within that you show some kindness. Jeremiah already hates himself for being an Alpha, and it's not just because he's hating for himself - but because he wanted to be the Omega for you. Don't forget that, genetics made the choice - not him." She reminds him much more seriously.

He looked Jeremiah's father who now looked away from him.

Now he wondered what he needed to say. He definitely had something to say or he wouldn't be acting that way.

"What do you want to tell me?" Ivan asks outright.

Just to watch his father look him straight in the eye, "You'll either be the ruin of him or help him become the best version of himself. So far...you're not either, but it hurts my heart that you two used to be so close; and now... I feel like...it doesn't matter what I feel."

Ivan watched his father step back, looking away from him now. It was that timidness that he expected from them since they were Omegas, but...he was impressed that his father willed through that to tell him that much.

Except...it didn't really change anything.

He turned away now, but before he left he wanted to at least...give a response.

There was a soft spot for Jeremiah's parents, more than he realized.

"I'll try...to be kinder. But the way I am with him...will probably not change. I'm the Alpha and he's the Omega, he already knows how it's supposed to be. It's just the way we are. I don't expect any of you to understand." He tells his mother, not seeing her reaction as he left.

Ivan headed to the living room where Jeremiah already was. Standing before his parents, he stepped back from them as Ivan came near.

"I'm done now. Let's get this shit over with. Is the car here?"

"Yes. The car will take you guys to the airport and you'll be given your tickets. You'll find out where you'll be from there. I hope you both remember the place."

Jeremiah found himself smiling at the thought that they'd be in the place he believed they'd be. Only for his smile to cease as Ivan was already looking at him, his face twisted up in annoyance at Jeremiah's excitement.

Only to fix his face as he remembered where he was, clearing his throat.

"What? You think you know where it is now after that pathetic excuse of a hint?"

"Maybe... I could be wrong though."

Ivan looked away, looking at their parents once more.

He saw how concerned Jeremiah's parents were, but his dad looked upset. That kind of hardened expression wasn't one he was used to seeing from them. Except his parents were good at hiding how they felt about the situation, causing him to snort.

"We'll be on our way then. Let's go, now." Ivan walked past them as Jeremiah followed behind.

In following he found himself stuck at two places.

Stuck at being able to be with Ivan...but also stuck at going against the rules and ending things for his sake. He didn't want Ivan to hate him any more than he already does.

It was too painful...

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♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚🍌:;

↳ ❝ [ i will be updating this once a week (all depends, but realistically once a week). i want to keep people wanting more- 🙇🏽‍♀️. did i succeed? ] ¡! ❞

oh Ivan.

you gotta work on...

everything about yourself. 🤡

Jeremiah is as...pathetic as it can get. 🌚

he'll get there.

...☹️

honeymoon time now.

what do you think of Ivan so far? 🤡

how do you feel about Jeremiah? 🫢

what'd you think so far, in general? 🤓🫵

vote, comment, follow~✨

- yolo🍖