Jude’s family has always been a bit... strange.

Of course, Robin doesn’t have much room to talk. His own family feels like a bunch of strangers half the time, which is nothing like the typical closeness between relatives. He can’t remember the last time he had a conversation with either of his parents. At least, not one that was voluntary or productive in any way.

So, Robin’s family is not traditional by any means. However, Jude’s? That right there is a whole different story.

Jude’s father is a minister—which doesn’t really take a rocket scientist to guess. Jude’s full name is Judah Nathaniel Silas, after all. His mother works for the government, though she does lead a Bible study in her free time. Jude grew up in a very religious and well off household.

However, there are a lot of problems behind the scenes. There is a reason the two spend almost no time at Jude’s house. Why Robin has only met his best friend’s parents a handful of times.

There is a lot of corruption. Mostly within the church. According to Jude, the church hardly uses any of the money it gets—which is a lot—on anything service or charity related. One look at the huge billion dollar building, as well as Jude’s massive house, and... well, it’s not so hard to believe.

Howard Silas is a very passionate man, and could probably persuade anyone of anything from his charisma alone. He’s clearly quite devout, and very proud of his religion. A respectable family man, on the surface level. However, his secret extensive criminal history and continued embezzlement put a bit of a dent in that.

Raina Silas is beautiful and intelligent. She was the valedictorian of her class at Irvine Academy. She graduated in the top 5 percent of her entire university class. Afterwards, the woman worked her way up to the assistant city manager of Irvine, which is the city closest to their small town of Hill Grove. Of course, her infidelity and alcoholism sort of ruin the flawless image.

Then you have their son, Jude Silas. The boy is almost nothing like either of them. An atheist, despite his abundant knowledge of the Bible and extremely religious upbringing. He doesn’t like or trust the government, even though his own mother holds a high position in it. He did inherit a bit of his father’s knack for corruption and rule breaking, if his school discipline history is anything to go by. He also has his mother’s brain, as well as her good looks. Aside from that, though, he might as well be adopted.

He spends next to no time with either of them, to Robin’s knowledge. Jude is usually doing one of three things;

1. Hanging out with Robin.

2. Getting into trouble.

Or 3; His schoolwork.

There isn’t much else Jude gets up to, really. Also, almost none of the above ever occur at his actual house. Jude really doesn’t like being home that much, which is why it catches Robin off guard when he gets in Jude’s car after school, asks where they’re going to study tonight, and the guy replies;

“My house.”

Due to Jude being unbelievably intelligent and a decent tutor, and Robin having straight C’s on a good day, the two try to spend a couple nights a week studying together. Like, actually studying. Not Jude sneaking into Robin’s house in the middle of the night and helping—as well as irritating—him in passing. The location varies, depending on their schedules, but it has never been at the Silas residence.

“What? Why?” Robin is confused. Jude doesn’t even like being in his own house, now he wants to bring Robin there too?

“It’s quiet,” Jude replies, and Robin just raises an eyebrow at him. It’s quiet? Well yeah it’s quiet, the dude lives in a multi million dollar house. It’s half a mile between his room and the kitchen, so obviously it’s quiet.

Okay that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but whatever. This is strange.

“So is my house? And the café on main? We’ve never studied at yours before.” Robin hasn’t even been to Jude’s house in years, and he’s trying to make sense of this. Unfortunately Jude really isn’t giving him any sort of useful information.

Jude glances over at him. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

Robin frowns. No, they’re already on the interstate. Jude lives closer to the city, and Robin honestly doesn’t even know why the guy goes to his school. It’s at least a twenty minute drive, not to mention he’d probably get way better education at a private school or something anyway. It’s not like his family can’t afford it, as mentioned before.

“No, it’s up to you.” Robin replies, turning to look at the road. He honestly doesn’t care, he was just surprised is all.

“I know we never go to my house,” Jude says, “but it’s Friday and my parents are away so I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Robin nods, because he guesses that makes sense. He’d probably miss his home too if he was never there, no matter the reason.

Once they arrive, Jude parks his car in the garage—which also houses a Mercedes and a Jaguar, by the way—and leads Robin inside. Robin vaguely remembers where the alpha’s room is, and he’s feeling nostalgic. He’s starting to remember playing here sometimes when he was a kid, actually. Jude’s parents used to be somewhat good people, before the money and power got to their heads.

Once they enter Jude’s room, Robin pauses. He’s taken aback, because he’s not used to being in an area that smells so potently of his best friend. The closest he gets is the guy’s car, and even that smells more like air freshener than anything.

Robin blinks, watching as Jude walks over to his desk and starts organizing his schoolwork and getting out things to study. Robin shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. This is going to take him a minute to get used to.

Robin walks over to Jude’s bed and takes off his shoes, before crisscrossing his legs and rooting through his bag. He pulls out his homework after a minute, and puts it on a folder so he can write on stable material. The entire time he is very distracted, and he knows it’s because of the smell, but he can’t tell why.

It smells like alpha in here, obviously. He expected that, and he’s trained himself not to be too affected by it. However, the fact that it is mixed with Jude is causing Robin problems. Though, again, he can’t fathom why.

“Robin? Hello?” Robin snaps out of his trance, and looks up to find Jude in his desk chair, turned to face him with his feet resting on the bed. He has his homework in his lap, on a binder, and he’s staring at Robin inquisitively.

“What? Sorry.” Robin blinks, rubbing his neck as he tries to focus.

“I asked what your lowest grade is. We’ll work on that first.”

Robin tries to remember his grades. He knows he has a B in art, C’s in his graphic design and English classes, and... he’s failing math. Right.

“Math. I’m failing.”

“Okay,” Jude says, and Robin has always really appreciated something about this guy. Despite having the best grades in the whole school, he never acts arrogant about it or genuinely tries to make Robin feel bad. Even just now his facial expression didn’t even change, despite Robin telling him that he currently has a grade Jude has probably never even gotten on a quiz. “Get out your math, then. What unit are you guys on?”

Robin tries to remember. “Uh, probability? I think? Or maybe functions. I think it’s functions.”

“Well start on it and let me know what you need help on.”

Robin nods, and does so. His main issue with math is that he has a hard time paying attention. This is a problem because the second he zones out or gets distracted, and misses part of the lesson, he’s lost for the rest of class. That’s mainly when he needs Jude’s help.

Robin needs Jude’s help on most of the problems. However, once he’s done with math, he understands the rest of his homework pretty well. He makes conversation to help pass the time.

“So where are your parents?” Robin asks, and Jude glances up at him.

“My mom’s on a business trip. Dad’s working late.” He responds. Robin hums in acknowledgement. So that means Jude’s father will probably be coming home tonight. He wonders how late. Robin tries to avoid both of Jude’s parents, to be honest. They’re really judgemental and they make Robin nervous. They’re also both alphas—which, uh, yikes.

It does explain why Jude is so... Jude, though.

“Do you wanna get food when you take me home?” Robin asks.

Jude is still staring at him, which catches Robin off guard, so he looks away. Robin has been trying to ignore the smell in here, but it’s getting difficult. He figured he’d be used to it by now but it has not gotten any better.

“You should stay the night, we can order something.”

That is a bad idea for multiple reasons. For one, Robin didn’t bring his medicine, and he takes it every evening. Also, he can’t deal with this smell for a full night. He just can’t. It’s intoxicating.

“Uh, I need to take my medicine,” Robin replies. Jude knows that he’s on medication, but he thinks it’s for insomnia. That was the only lie Robin could come up with that didn’t raise much concern or suspicion. “You could stay at mine though?”

Jude is making a... strange expression. He’s studying Robin. He has a very thoughtful look on his face, and he responds, “sure.”

It’s then that it occurs to Robin. He hasn’t been able to hide how affected he is by the smell—he couldn’t if he wanted to, honestly. He’s visibly distracted, and Jude had a shirt on his bed when they first arrived. Robin stole it without even realizing, and it’s currently in his lap. He’s also been sniffing the air. Frequently.

There’s no way Jude can’t tell.

That’s when it dawns on Robin.

It doesn’t matter how many suppressants an omega is on, it’s very difficult to ignore the smell of an alpha. Robin is usually fine at it, or at least passable, but the alpha scent being mixed with Jude is what’s throwing him off. Jude is aware that Robin has a secret, and he’s already mentioned that Robin acts like an omega, so...

So this was a test. That’s why Jude wanted to study at his house. He wanted to see how Robin reacted to the smell. There’s no doubt, Jude is beyond smart enough. Robin can’t put that past him.

Robin failed.

Robin is irritated at this realization, but he doesn’t let it show. Whatever. Maybe he can pretend to ignore it the rest of the time he’s here? He can redeem himself!

“You seem distracted.” Jude states, and Robin’s eyes widen when the guy stands up. Oh no.

Jude starts walking towards Robin. Normally Jude’s smell isn’t very obvious. Robin has seriously trained himself like a dog to ignore it, though it does get a bit more difficult when the guy is near him. However, he is completely surrounded by Jude’s scent, and now that the guy is drawing closer and closer to him... it’s getting worse.

“No,” Robin denies, trying to think straight. “I’m not dis—I’m not distracted. It’s just...”

Jude is standing in front of him now, at the end of the bed. Robin curses himself for not sitting more towards the headboard. Jude is way too close, and Robin’s grasp on rationality is slipping.

“We should go get some fresh air, or-or something. Actually, let’s just go to my house. Now.” Good god please spare Robin right now, please. Please.

Robin’s wishes are not granted. Robin has flashbacks of weeks ago, when Jude was all in his space and acting alpha-like. This is because the guy leans forward, his hands resting on either side of Robin—arms pressed right against the omega so there’s no escape. They’re so close like this, and that does it. Robin can’t think anymore. His mind goes completely blank as he stares into his best friend’s eyes.

Robin’s eyes are dilated, and he can feel his cheeks beginning to flush. He really needs to get to his medicine, because if somethings activates his omega instincts too much, the more work the medicine has to do and the shorter it lasts. Usually that isn’t a problem, so he barely even remembers the precaution.

“Why?”

Robin is having a hard time sitting up, that’s how intoxicated he feels. Just from the scent. It takes everything in him not to grab onto Jude for support, because physical contact would just make everything worse. Robin can barely think of a plausible lie.

“It smells. Uh, really... horrible. I can’t focus.” Robin lies, and Jude tilts his head a bit. He looks like he doesn’t believe Robin, though he’s visibly amused. Robin wouldn’t believe himself either. It is very obvious he does not mind the smell in here one bit.

“Really?” Jude asks, and holy shit please back away. “That bad, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Jude finally pulls away, giving Robin a knowing look. “Alright. Pack your stuff.”

Robin tries to come back to himself as he obeys without a second thought, and he finally does once Jude is standing by the door with both of their bags. “Ready to go?”

Once Robin has completely snapped out of it, he feels a mixture of anger and panic. He absentmindedly follows Jude out of the room and to his mustang. He can actually think.

Oh no. There’s no way that’s enough proof, right? Robin’s lie was sort of believable! Even though Jude probably couldn’t smell bad if he wanted to. Jude remembers basically everything about Robin, but... if the guy actually thought Robin was an omega, surely he’d say something. Right? Right?

Yeah, he would. No way he could keep that from Robin. Jude definitely doesn’t know, and even if he suspects, he can’t prove it. So there. Robin’s secret is still safe, no matter how brainless Jude’s scent can make him.

After a few minutes of rationalizing and denial, Robin finally says;

“You’re an asshole.”

Jude just grins, and the rest of the night starts to feel normal.