Chapter Text
The beige room filled with dark wooden furniture was the place where Albrecht thought was safe. The place where he can cry without anyone punishing him for it. For all his life, his parents have been locking him inside this room, only letting him outside for important matters and emergencies.
Albrecht was laying on his white linen sheets, his eyes steadily stared at the brown ceiling fan but his hands were shaking while squeezing his blanket. It was the night before he turned eighteen, never in his life that he enjoyed his birthdays, and he knew this day would come. Just before his bedtime, he had heard his father talking with someone on the telephone, he didn't need to hear everything to know what it was about as soon as he heard the word marriage.
He felt as if the world had burnt, and that this room was his only protection, but he knew it was only a matter of time before his only safe place would be taken away. He never experienced what it felt like to have freedom, he was controlled in everything; one thing that his parents had forced him to do was to take care of himself, not for himself, but for his future husband.
Every morning and night, his mother, Eleonore Stein, would make sure he took all of his beauty supplements and vitamins. It was such an oppressive feeling for him to take ten pills everyday just so he can satisfy his future husband.
The white pillow had been catching Albrecht's tears, he had never felt what it is like to have someone to wipe his tears away and caress his hair so tenderly until he fell asleep. Sometimes, he would lay on his side and caress his own hair, imagining that someone was doing it for him. He didn't want to sleep, he didn't want the night to end but he was already exhausted from everything. He fell asleep with tears still falling out his eyes.
A knocked on the door woke up Albrecht from a bad sleep, he saw the sun lighting up his room, he felt his heart stopped beating, he had always thought that he was already used to everything that they had done to him, but this one was different, he knew what nightmare he will have to endure in the hands of someone he doesn't even know yet.
Eleonore had entered the room, she was kind enough to knock before entering. “Take a shower and take your pills. Make sure you look decent and wear this.” His mother threw light blue clothes and landed on his gray couch. His mother had been telling him since he was a child how this color suited him so much, most of the time they went outside, his mother always wanted him to wear this color. Occasionally, some men will stare at him and look him up and down, somewhere between admiring and impure thoughts. It always made him feel sick, he wanted to run away but where would he go?
Albrecht's parents have been paying tutors for him so he will not go to school to get a diploma but still get knowledge to impress their friends by how intelligent he is. He would look at the window above the headboard of his bed and would stare at the students walking home from school. He always felt envy towards them for they have freedom to study and become whatever they had dreamt to be.
He had been always writing, but no one had read it except for himself. It would only stay hidden in his drawers forever or worse, his parents would throw it out once he had been married. He knew the reason why they had not let him go to school, it's to trap him with no other choice but to rely on them and his future husband.
Albrecht was standing in front of the mirror of his bathroom, staring at himself wearing the clothes her mother had given to him. He had heard other omegas that they will do everything to have his looks, but if he could only tell them what he needed to endure for having this beauty.
He stepped out of his room after hesitating for what felt like a year. A loud voice could be heard coming from the living room, all were men. He could feel his heart gradually beating fast every time he stepped onto the stairs.
Eleanore was busy serving the men food and drinks, despite her being on his father's side, he still had love and pity left for her, he knew his mother didn't have any choice but to follow whatever his husband had told her, or he would also abuse her. Albrecht couldn't bear to see her mother obeying whatever those men needed, he didn't want to end up like her but he knew that would be his fate, to be a housekeeper, obeying his husband, and his dreams would be nothing but a dream.
He took a deep breath before completely coming down the stairs, his father was sitting next to a man smoking cigarettes and drinking beer at the same time. Albrecht knew this was the man he's going to marry, a famous man known for his intelligence in the military, owning numerous businesses that produced equipment for Nazis, Leovan Richter.
“Is that beautiful boy your son? Mmh, how much is he? Looks expensive.”
“As long as I can benefit from your businesses, you can do whatever the hell you want on that boy.” Albrecht felt like he was not a human but a product being sold, the way his parents always make sure he's perfect. A product must be perfect.
Heinrich flicked his cigarettes on the floor, he told Albrecht to sit next to Leo. Albrecht felt his shoulders slowly tensing, he needed to clench his hands to stop himself from shivering. He saw the anticipation in Leo's eyes, like a predator looking at its prey, he leaned back on the couch and gestured to him to sit on his side. Albrecht slowly walked towards the couch, every time he went closer, the tears in his eyes became harder to control, but he managed, he didn't want to seem weak.
As soon as he sat down, Leo placed his left arm around his shoulders. He just stared on the white marble floor, but he could feel Leo's eyes staring at him intensely. Suddenly, he froze, he felt Leo's hand caressing his neck as if he wanted to strangle him. “Are you scared? Don't worry I won't hurt you. You’d feel better with me. And this color really suits you.” Albrecht wishes the floor would suddenly sink, swallowing him whole so no one can hurt him again.
“So in one month you will get married. My wife and I will plan it. So, Leo, you know what you need to give me in exchange for my son.” Heinrich said.
“Yeah, I know, I know. You didn't disappoint me with your son, I won't disappoint you either,” Leo brushed his index finger on Albrecht's bottom lip.
“So, I guess Albrecht will pack his things now.”
“Nah, I'll give him time to cherish his time here, ‘cause I want to show him he can trust me.” Albrecht knew he couldn't trust him, just by the way he was treating him in front of his father and other men, he can already see what awaits him.
Leo saw a faint bruise on Albrecht's right hand, he pulled his sleeve and saw tons of bruises, some were new, and others were wounds. He whispered to Albrecht's ear, “Your father didn't hit you in the face because he wants me to see your face perfectly, and don't worry, I don't hit.”
Albrecht's pillows caught his tears again. He laid down on his bed, trying to wipe the feeling of Leo's touches on his waist and thighs with his blanket. He had never wanted something like this, for someone to touch him for their own pleasure without love, without thinking and caring for him, and without genuine feelings for him. The fact that it was his birthday, but no one seemed to care, as if it was just another day.
The next morning, his eyes were a bit swollen from crying all night. His mother once again knocked on his door, and entered. “Take a shower and your pills. Your father will need to work on some documents, Leo will be there, he wants to see you.” Eleonore threw clothes on his couch again, it was black this time.
Heinrich pulled Albrecht's hair so hard that tears fell on his cheeks. His sobs could be heard by Eleonore and their maids but they didn't pay attention, they couldn't do anything, even if they did, Heinrich would still hurt Albrecht.
“If you don't smile at him, I'll beat the hell out of you. Don't embarrass me, you stupid.” He pushed Albrecht to a small table, hitting his back. He felt a sting on his arm when a sharp edge of books landed perfectly on his wound that hadn't healed. “Stand up, fix yourself. Don't be such a pain.” Albrecht followed, he stood up and fixed his hair and clothes.
Albrech sat on the back of the driver's seat, he stared at the window, looking at the greenery. He had always appreciated the beauty of nature, the way the flowers swayed at the wind, the calmness it brings, the innocent animals wandering around, all the good things it brings, but even though nature is beautiful, humans will always find ways to ruin it. They always take it for granted and wouldn't realize its worth until it's gone.
He had longed to have the freedom to spend time with nature, but all he could do was to stare at it. The last time he had been alone outside, enjoying the rustling sounds of the trees was when he went out of his house to go to the garden using the window in the kitchen. He remembered how brutal it was when his father had punished him for it. His entire body was covered in bruises and wounds except his face, he couldn't even leave the bed for weeks after his father refused to take him to the doctors. He was very grateful that nothing was serious and he recovered on his own, but the trauma is still hiding inside his mind.
The car stopped in front of a tall black building. Albecht stepped out of the car and his father grabbed his arms and led him inside. They rode the elevator up to the fourth floor where Leo was waiting for them. His father dragged him to Leo's office, he could sense some people staring at him, the word embarrass wasn't enough to describe what he was feeling at the moment. He didn't look up, afraid of seeing them judging his situation.
Heinrich opened the door while subtly pushing Albrecht inside. Albrecht saw a bunch of men smoking and drinking, the people in front of him terrified him. The thought of possible inappropriate things they could do to him caused his hands to shake terribly, clenching it only helped a little.
“Oh, Heinrich. Tell your son to sit next to me.”
“No, he sits next to me.”
“You look very beautiful, mind letting me see more than your face?”
“Heinrich, how much is he? Just one night, come one.”
“He looks like he's worth millions! Much better than those omegas I've been with. So how much for one night?”
These words coming from those drunk men made the tears in his eyes flow uncontrollably, he wiped it with his sleeve, hoping they didn't notice. Leo stood up and grabbed his arms, he made him sit next to him—at least a meter and half away from those other men. “Don't worry, I'm the only one who could sleep with you.” Albrecht wouldn't want it, but he felt it was better than having many men touching him; still, he knew this man could betray him, he didn't trust him.
The whole time they worked on some documents, Albrecht only stayed in his seat, frozen. He didn't want to get more of Leo's attention after he kept touching his waist every time he remembered Albrecht was sitting next to him.
Albrecht noticed someone along with the other drunk men. He realized that he hadn't said anything about him but he kept staring at him almost all the time. He glanced at him and the man gave him a smirk. He looked down again, the man's eyes gave him goosebumps, he couldn't handle someone staring at him with intentions he couldn't quite tell what. All he knew was everyone only wants one thing from him.
Time after time, the other men went out while some of them kept asking Heinrich if they could have Albrecht for one night. He was glad when Heinrich refused as he wanted him for Leo only, and once they were married, it would be up to Leo if he could let them.
All of the other men were all gone, but only one remained, and he still kept staring at him. Albrecht felt very uncomfortable, he kept trying to make himself small as if he wanted to vanish into thin air. He had found out his name when Leo had called him. “You must be Herr Sturmbannführer Dieter Hellstrom.”
“I am, so how's the deal?”
“Good, you must thank Heinrich's son Albrecht, if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't get this more power.”
Dieter snorted and stared again at Albrecht who's been keeping his head down since he sat down, his shoes barely even touching the floor. “Well, I guess I need to ‘talk’ to him.”
“Go, but don't you dare touch him.”
“I know.”
Albrech felt Dieter gently grabbed his arm and led him outside Leo's office, just beside the door. He can't help but feel intimidated by their height difference, he was about Dieter's shoulders. “You're Albrecht Stein, right?” Albrecht barely nodded. “I'm Dieter, I guess I have to thank you.” Dieter paused for a moment, he then slightly lifted up Albrecht's chin. “Stop keeping your head down. You look very beau—” Leo had opened the door, he grabbed Albrecht's shoulders and dragged him inside. “Maybe you're forgetting he's mine.”
“So? I was just thanking him.”
Leo banged the door closed, he pulled Albrecht's ear and whispered angrily, “Don't you dare flirt with other men if you don't want me to get mad.” Albrecht was horrified, he swallowed to stop his lips from trembling and nodded. Leo pushed him back onto his chair and proceeded to talk to Heinrich who didn't even bat an eye on Albrecht.
Dieter Hellstrom
He had known Albrecht ever since he was seventeen. He knew what his father had done to him but didn't feel any pity until he had seen him in person. He saw how terrified he was the entire time, the way kept looking down, and was treated like he was nothing but a low omega.
He did feel pity, but his greediness for power stopped his thought of helping him. Heinrich's connection with Leo also benefits him, all his life, all he wanted was power, money, and freedom to do anything he wants.
Albrech being with Leo gave him more of what he wanted, but of course, he also found him beautiful. He wanted to know how it feels like touching his soft cheeks, kissing his pink lips, and brushing the hair that falls onto his forehead.
Dieter never knew why he suddenly felt pity towards him, he had been known to show no mercy to anyone below him. If someone made a mistake, he would fire them on the spot, yes, both firing them at their job and firing them to death. All Dieter knew is that the pity came from Albrecht's attractiveness, and he knew this pity would be gone as soon as he got all the things he would benefit from Albrecht marrying Leo.
He had been with a lot of omegas, all he wanted from them was things that could benefit him both power and pleasure and he had never cared for them after, he was certain that it would be the same with Albrecht.
Dieter was walking in the hallways when he saw Heinrich walking out the building with Albrecht walking beside him, his head still down. He shrugged it off and went to his office. He wanted to read some novel to take everything off his mind for now, but he can't help but think about Albrecht, seeing him in such situations, powerless.
It's just another omega who could benefit me. Dieter thought to himself. He smirked, knowing what this boy could give him, more than any omega he had been with.