Chapter Text
The snow in Moscow was heavy this evening, just like the evening before, and the evening before that. The snow was covering the large expanse of land surrounding the house, leaving no space for people to walk around, not that anyone ever walked outside there. Inside, the fireplace was churning through the wood, the heating was flawless, creating a comforting warmth in the living area. However, Shane could still feel the chill deep in his bones.
“Niko, please don’t jump on the sofa.” Shane pleaded. He bounced six month old Alexandra on his hip, her small fingers finding their way to the collar of his sweater. It was one of Ilya’s older sweaters that he no longer wore, but it still had the possessive scent of cedarwood and leather.
Niko continued to jump around, he was rowdy, like most six-year old boys. He landed with a heavy thud as he jumped off the sofa and onto the soft rug, his chest puffed out, light brown eyes flashing with a spark of adrenaline, similar to his father’s. “Smotri, Anna!” Niko yelled out to his sister, his voice was sharp and rapid, the syllables were crisp, but Shane couldn’t understand what had been said, despite almost 6 years in the country. Look, Anna
Four year old Anna giggled from the floor, where she was diligently colouring in an educational book that one of the tutors had brought over recently. “Mama skazala ne prygat’” she replied, her voice flowing easily with the Russian syllables as she looked over at her brother. Mama said not to jump
Shane felt a sick twist in his stomach as he wondered what his children were talking about. They could be talking about him, saying that he was annoying, or that they hated him, but he couldn’t know because Ilya had done an excellent job at making sure nobody taught Shane Russian. He felt like an outsider in his own home, a Canadian boy who had dropped out of the freezing college in Ottawa to follow an Alpha across the world, just to end up a dutiful omega to his three kids.
“Anna, English. Please talk to Mommy in English.” Shane pleaded. The baby started to whimper into his chest as Shane released a bitter scent of vanilla and burnt sugar. He tried to take the book away from Anna but she yanked it back forcefully, her lips trembling, seconds away from a tantrum.
Before Anna got the chance to begin sobbing, the click echoed from the entrance of the house. The security locks on the front door were unlatching and the sound was robotic, and synchronised, just the way Shane has been hearing them for the past 6 years. The atmosphere shifted as everyone stood idly as they prepared for the door to finally swing open. The once chaotic living area was now silent, Niko smoothed out his shirt and composed himself while Anna closed her book and put her markers away.
The oak door swung open and a gust of freezing air was let in. Then the heavy scent of a commanding Alpha entered the room. Ilya stepped in the foyer, looking immaculate and composed as usual. He took off his coat, shaking off the flakes of snow and then hanging it on the hook by the door. Behind him two men entered, they took off their coats and held them in their arms, they carried neutral expressions which always made Shane nervous.
Ilya walked further into the house until he got closer to the living area, then his eyes locked onto Shane. The dark scent continued to flood the space, commanding that the room take in his presence and acknowledge him without even having Ilya open his mouth to demand it. “I am home,” Ilya said.
“Papa!” His children screamed out.
The tensions softened as Niko and Anna ran across the hardwood floor, their small feet thudding in a competition to reach their Papa. Ilya’s stern face melted immediately as he watched his children greet him with smiling faces. He dropped his leather briefcase and knelt down to catch both children in his arms, he let out a loud laugh as his kids finally reached him and wrapped their arms around him.
He picked Anna up into the crook of one arm, burying his face in her hair and saying something to her in Russian, which his other hand gently petted Niko’s dark hair, pulling the boy closer to his side. To his children, Ilya was no longer someone to be feared, but someone they could look up to. He smothered them in kisses, speaking to them in soft, rapid russian that Shane could barely try to follow, but the adoration in his children’s eyes must have meant Ilya was saying something sweet.
Shane stood frozen by the sofa, before Ilya had come in, he was seconds away from breaking down, but now he had to keep his composure. He held Alexandra closer to him as he watched Ilya trace his body with his eyes. Ilya was a good father, he was a good husband, he had his flaws but he had his redeeming qualities to match it. However, watching Ilya get to come home from a day outside, made Shane seethe with jealousy, even if he was happy to spend the day with his kids.
After a few minutes of small conversation between Ilya and the children, he whispered something to the children and they immediately walked away towards the kitchen, likely to go wash up before dinner. Then, it was silent as Shane continued standing there with Alexandra in his arms. Ilya turned to Shane and walked in long strides toward him. He walked into the living room, taking in the mess of drawings all over the floor, cushions thrown all over the rug, and leftover markers that Anna had forgotten about.
“You look exhausted, moya lyubov,” Ilya murmured, his voice washing over Shane like a wave of calm serenity.
Before Shane could answer, Ilya was already reaching out his large, possessive hands to take the baby off Shane’s hip. Shane willingly let her go and he watched Ilya place a gentle kiss of Alexandra’s forehead cradling her effortlessly while he brought Shane in for a hug, Ilya pulled Shane into his chest and Shane let himself relax for the first time today.
Instantly, the thick scent of cedarwood and leather flooded Shane’s senses. Ilya tilted his head and pressed his nose right against the sensitive skin of Shane’s neck, releasing a soothing stream of calming pheromones. Ilya has had years to study Shane’s body, his wants and needs, he knew this was exactly what Shane needed in order to lessen the feeling of anxiety he had built up throughout the day.
“It’s okay, my omega, you have done a wonderful job.” Ilya whispered against his skin, his free hand rubbing up and down Shane’s back. “Let’s go have dinner now.”
Shane’s knees began to go limp, he was easily malleable when Ilya got him like this. He hated how easily his body was manipulated just from Ilya’s scent and praise, his body would always betray him no matter how hard he tried to fight it. The lingering stress from the kids' behaviour, the language barrier, the isolation, had all begun melting away as Ilya continued releasing his pheromones into the room. Shane allowed his head to rest on Ilya’s shoulder, taking a deep breath in and out. His arms found their way around Ilya’s neck and he tightened his hold until they were flush against one another, Alexandra silently cooing at the both of them.
Dinner was always a grand affair, Ilya had the decency to at least get someone to cook dinner 3 times a week, lessening the load for Shane. The dining room was massive, it was one of the most elegant rooms on the entire estate, used for many parties and get-togethers throughout the years. The table was long and dark, the chandeliers above were pristine and gold. A housekeeper moved around them as she began placing dishes down on the table before disappearing back in the kitchen.
Ilya sat at the head of the table, as usual. Shane sat to his right with Alexandra in a high chair beside him. Niko and Anna sat across from them. To an outsider, one might think this was the picture perfect family that people see in the ads, but to Shane, it was when he felt the loneliest.
“Papa, ya segodnya narisoval mashinu.” Niko said proudly, leaning over his plate and getting crumbs all over the table. Dad, I drew a car today
Ilya smiled widely, his expression softening. “Molodets, Niko. Pokazhesh mne posle uzhina?”
Well done, Niko. Will you show me after dinner
Anna began to chime in. She spoke in fluid and rapid Russian. She would gesture with her fork, laughing at whatever her brother or father said, and replying in a soft and enthusiastic tone. Shane would always sit perfectly still, his pushing around the food on his plate. He looked at his family, their lips were moving, their lips were curving into smiles, they were all conversing happily, without him. He could understand a word here and there, but understanding a full sentence spoken quickly and with a heavy accent was impossible. He felt so lonely in those moments, where nobody saw him and nobody cared.
He would just continue to shower the baby with attention instead, opting to ignore his husband and children and just focus on Alexandra. He felt that clinging to the one person who didn’t speak the language that divided them, would soften the blow.
Without warning, a warm, heavy hand settled onto Shane’s thigh beneath the table. Shane flinched slightly, but Ilya didn’t pull away. He looked up and Ilya wasn’t even looking at him, he was still immersed in conversation with their son, speaking in a loud, domineering tone. Ilya’s thumb began to rub slowly in a circle through the fabric of Shane’s pants. There was a certain pressure being exerted, almost as if Ilya was silently saying ‘Don’t ignore your children, don’t allow yourself to drift away’ Like clockwork, Anna immediately perked up and tried to get her mother’s attention. “Mama, look! I eat all my carrots!” She smiled proudly as she showed off her plate.
Shane’s heart swelled, a smile broke across his face. “That’s great, sweetheart.”
“Anna,” Ilya interjected. He didn’t raise his voice but there was a commanding tone, “Govori po-russki za stolom.” Speak Russian at the table
“Izvini, Papa, “ she murmured in a small voice. She looked down at her plate, letting her shoulder slump as she pouted.
“Ilya please,” Shane whispered. “She was just talking to me.”
Ilya applied more pressure to where his hand laid on Shane’s thigh and Shane felt the possessive pressure as a threat. “We have discussed this before, moya lyubov.” Ilya said softly, “the children must master Russian if they are to navigate our world safely. Just continue eating, and feed Alexandra.”
Shane felt completely invalidated, his loneliness was no issue to Ilya. Ilya would have Shane sit at the dinner table for the rest of his life and not have anyone to talk to, and he would be okay with that. Shane felt sick, and he no longer wanted to eat, but he scarfed it down as Ilya continued to push for Shane to finish his meal. He felt trapped by the man who claimed to love him more than life itself.
The dinner table was cleared quickly, as always the house staff remained quiet and practical as they cleared everything away, not a simple member of staff looked at Shane or Ilya. Shane assumed that Ilya must have told them not to look at any members of the family, and Shane felt unsettled by that assumption.
After dinner, the routine shifted back into the familiar dynamic that they have curated over the years. In the nursery, Ilya was the perfect father. Shane watched from the doorway as Ilya slowly tucked in Anna after reading her a bedtime story. Ilya kissed her on the forehead and slowly crept away from the bed. He handled Niko next, listening to him talk about his day until he drifted off into sleep. Then he handled baby Alexandra with such a gentle touch, rocking her slowly until her eyes fluttered shut and then placing her in her crib.
Ilya finally walked to their room and found Shane sitting against the headboard with a book in his hands. “They are asleep.” He murmured into Shane’s ear. He lifted the covers and dropped himself onto the bed, his eyes instantly darkening as they swept over the top half of Shane’s body. Shane tensed up, he looked around the room, it was massive, double the size of Anna and Niko’s already large rooms, the drapes were a beautiful navy blue that Ilya had allowed Shane to pick and the roaring fireplace was flickering shadows across the walls.
Shane put the book down on the nightstand and moved closer to Ilya, allowing the alpha's arms to wrap around Shane’s waist from behind, pulling him towards a broad and warm chest. Ilya buried his face in the crook of Shane’s neck, taking a large inhale. The overwhelming scent of Ilya’s cedarwood and leather was now mixing with the soft, gentle aroma of Shane’s vanilla and honey scent.
“Are you okay, moya lyubov?” Ilya whispered, his grip on Shane tightening.
“I don’t know.” Shane replied.
Ilya huffed, “you have a beautiful life here. Beautiful children, beautiful husband, and a beautiful house. Why do you let your doubt overtake your mind?’
“Ilya, you know I love you and our children. I just…feel lonely sometimes.” Shane choked back a sob.
Ilya wasn’t angry, Shane could feel the calm scent still lingering. He rarely ever got angry when he and Shane were alone, he rarely got angry when they were around the kids too. Instead, he gently turned Shane so they were now facing one another, forcing Shane to look into his eyes. Ilya stroked his thumb against Shane’s cheek, wiping away a small tear that escaped from the corner of Shane’s eye.
“You are not alone, you have me and your children, what more could you want?” Ilya said softly. “The world can be cruel, especially in my line of work. If I let you and the kids outside, you become targets. I keep you here for your safety, and because I love you.” Ilya placed a kiss on Shane’s forehead.
“You trapped me,” Shane whispered.
Ilya’s gaze changed, his face hardened. His heavy scent flared with suffocating waves of cedarwood and leather. Yet, he didn’t argue, he let his scent do the work. As the waves of intimidating Alpha scent flooded the bedroom, Shane could feel his inner omega biology washing over him, trying to force him to submit to his Alpha.
“I saved you, everything I do is for you and our children.” Ilya corrected him softly.
He didn’t want for Shane’s reply. His large hands gripped the hem of Shane’s shirt and yanked it up, discarding it on the floor. Before Shane could react, Ilya pinned him down against the mattress, his heavy frame boxing Shane in. Shane let out a soft whimper as Ilya buried his face in Shane’s neck. Ilya’s teeth grazed the mating mark beside Shane’s neck, softly biting down just to make Shane feel something, but not enough to open the skin.
“Look at me,” Ilya commanded softly, his fingers finding their way to Shane’s jaw, turning his head and he was forced to look at him. “Tell me who you belong to.”
“You,” Shane gasped as Ilya moved his body so his hardening length was putting pressure down on Shane’s cunt, the fabric of Shane’s trousers were dampening with slick. “I belong to you, Ilya.”
“Good boy,” Ilya murmured against his lips, taking in all of Shane’s moans.
Ilya stripped away the rest of their clothes slowly, allowing himself to revel in the beauty of Shane’s body. When he pushed Shane’s legs back, exposing him completely, he stared in awe at the beautiful omega he had been able to capture. Ilya stroked his thick cock and swiped it up and down the omega’s cunt, using the slick as lubrication before thrusting into the wet heat in one go. Shane writhed in pleasure once Ilya began pumping in and out of him, all senses being lost except for pleasure.
Ilya leaned down and caught Shane’s mouth into a deep kiss, drinking in all the moans and whimpers coming out of his omega.
“Alpha, please, I’m going to come.” Shane whimpered, his legs wrapped around Ilya’s waist urging him to go deeper.
“You’re such a good omega, Shane. You can come. You’ve been such a good boy.” Ilya grunted.
Shane finally let go and he screamed into the room allowing his body to finally relax, slick continued to flow out and Ilya thrusted aggressively, trying to find his own release. Minutes later, Ilya filled him, knotting deep inside him, thick spurts of cum forced its way into Shane’s womb, making Shane feel full and satiated.
As the room began to finally cool down and Ilya had wiped them both down, Shane allowed himself to drift off. Ilya had come back to find Shane completely knocked out, he brought himself under the covers and pulled Shane closer so Shane’s head was resting on his chest. Shane whimpered again but once Ilya let out calming pheromones into the room, Shane allowed himself to relax again.
Ilya whispered into Shane’s hair. “Goodnight my beautiful omega. Moyo samoye tsennoye dostoyaniye.” My most valuable possession
As Shane slept, his mind wandered to a particular time in his life. Specifically the day he went to the party with Hayden, his college friend, and how his life had changed when he had locked eyes with the handsome Alpha standing across the room.