When we went up the stairs and entered the house, his parents were sitting on the couch watching tv. The owner had an arm around his omega's shoulders, who was leaning against her husband comfortably.

I stopped at the door, unsure if I could barge in like that. 

John walked past me and entered the house as if nothing had happened.

– We're here! – He suddenly said out loud, breaking the good atmosphere.

I brought my hand to my face. 

– Oh, guys! You came, darling. – His mother hummed, getting up from the couch. 

– Good night. – I answered. I had gotten used to being called that way by her. 

John turned to me and smiled. 

– Get in. Don't be shy. – He said, brimming with confidence. 

I gave him a bad look and got inside the house. 

The owner stood up and followed John, who had entered to what seemed to be the kitchen. 

The omega waved me over with her hand. As soon as I was by her side, she patted the couch next to her for me to sit down, so I did. 

Before John arrived, they used to insist that I eat with them. I accepted several times so as not to be rude and they ended up lowering the food, eating dinner at one of the cafe tables. But since he arrived, I suppose they noticed that I got defensive, and that's probably why they stopped asking. 

So this was my first time entering their house. 

While his father was setting the table, John was preparing something in the kitchen. 

– We always have early dinner here. – Said the omega, seeing me look between the two of them.

I was actually looking at them because I felt bad watching them do everything.

– Oh, I see. – I replied. – Let me help, please. – I offered and tried to get up, but she placed a hand on my shoulder and made me sit down again.

– Just let them pamper you a little. – She winked at me and stayed by my side. 

I smiled at her, then turned my head to the kitchen. It started smelling delicious. 

I wasn't used to having dinner. I just had something and that was enough, but here they apparently prepared food as if it were a second lunch. 

– They eat a lot. – The omega suddenly spoke.  – Maybe because they're men and John is enormous, add to that he's an alpha too. – She laughed. 

I remembered my home life with Matt, when he used to eat a lot more than me. 

– Yeah, that may be it. – I said, getting lost in my thoughts. I always ended up cooking too much, but he ate everything I made, even at the beginning when I was not that good at it. He finished with a grateful smile on his face, as well as giving me a loving kiss on the forehead. 

I used to think we really seemed like newlyweds. He coming home after work while I took care of the household things. 

Matt always found me finishing cooking, so I quickly took off my apron and ran to give him a kiss.

He smiled and hugged me.

– ... lex. – I suddenly heard, taking me out of my thoughts.

– Oh. – I spoke. – I'm sorry, what is it? 

She placed a hand on my leg and squeezed it lightly for comfort.

I smiled at her. I liked the way she tried to comfort me despite not knowing why I was like this.

– Honey! – The owner hummed, and his omega gave me one more smile before standing up and going to see his husband.

As soon as she reached his side, the owner took her hand while saying something to her. They both smiled and he raised his hand to caress the face of his omega, who leaned towards that side.

I smiled seeing them like that.

I thought about how nice it would be to reach that age and continue loving each other with the same intensity with which they met.

I envied them a little, knowing that I could have gotten that with Matt. I quickly shook the thought away and stood up to stop thinking. I walked into the kitchen to see if I could be of any help, as well as to see what it was that smelled so good.

When I looked out, I saw John humming along in an apron that was too small for his size, which made me smile. It must have belonged to his mother.

I couldn't recognize the song we was humming, but sounded pretty cheerful, and he wasn't too bad at it.

Because that's how alphas are. I thought. They're the 'perfect beings' of the world, and even more so if they're dominant like him. Like Matt.

I tried to approach quietly, but as soon as I took a step John turned around, which made me flinch.

– How did you...? – I said, leaving the sentence unfinished in the air.

He smiled.

– Your pheromones, of course. – He affirmed.

I always suppressed them, but I guess for the dominant alphas it was no problem to distinguish us.

– I can only smell the food. – I replied without hesitation.

He laughed a little at my comment, and gestured for me to come closer.

The kitchen was small, but everything was in there. It was a bit tight even for two people though.

I stood next to him and sniffed around what he was doing.

He was cutting vegetables. 

– It's baked chicken. – He declared, pointing towards the oven with the knife. – And this, – He continued, going back to cutting the vegetables. – Is for the salad.

– I see. – Was the only thing I could say. 

There was a smile silent. 

– I just used the oven to make desserts. – I said, just to add something else.

Matt used to tell me that he really liked my food, but when I made desserts he always said he loved them, showing it in his eyes. Now I had stopped making them as I didn't even have a kitchen in the hotel.

John stopped and looked at me, so I did the same.

– You make desserts? – He asked.

– ... Yeah. – I answered. – I also cook.

He smiled widely and went back to what he was doing.

– I had no idea, so you know about cooking. – He said, cutting a carrot. – If you want, you can come here and make some desserts. Mom likes them a lot but she doesn’t know how to make them, and dad and I even less. We are better with savory dishes.

I was surprised that alphas aren't perfect at everything.

– I thought alphas could do everything. – I said. 

He looked at me sideways.

– We are not perfect at all. At least me. – He stressed, smiling.

– Oh, I'm very aware of that. – I said, playing along to annoy him.

He looked offended and I laughed at that, making John laugh too.

I tried to grab a piece of carrot that was close to me, but John put his arm out to stop me. I was about to give up when he looked at me and gave me a mischievous smile. Then I started to insist, putting my hand in to take at least a piece, but he moved his arm to stop me. I laughed as I tried and he warned me to be careful because he had the knife in his other hand, although he had moved it as far away as possible.

In the end, I gave up and crossed my arms.

He laughed and continued cutting. 

I turned to the other side to make even more drama, my gaze going to the kitchen shelf on the left. Inside it was a framed photo of the owner and his wife sitting on a piece of furniture and two people standing behind them. The omega was holding a baby in her arms.

I was about to ask when John placed a carrot in front of me.

I frowned, then smiled at him and tried to take the carrot.

He moved it away a little and brought it closer again.

He opened his mouth slightly, wanting me to imitate him. I narrowed my eyes but finally did so, taking the carrot and savoring it.

He laughed and I could see a hint of blush on his cheeks, making me stop smiling and feel embarrassed too.

What was I supposed to be doing being so friendly here? It was my first time spending time with them outside of work, and the first time I had enough confidence to laugh and joke around.

I remained thoughtful for a few seconds until a giggle behind us made me react. I turned quickly and there were his parents, looking at us from the entrance, smiling.

And I felt weird.

For a moment, a strange sensation ran through my entire body and I could feel that this was not my place.

A memory of my family came to my mind, always eating alone, with my dad working all the time, and being ignored by my mother and sisters. 

I couldn't pretend that they were my family, so I shouldn't act so confident. 

– ... I'm going to the restroom. – I said, heading towards the door to go down to the cafeteria.

– We have a restroom here, darling. – The omega pointed to her left side. 

– Oh, thank you. – I followed her hand direction.

I walked in and sat on the toilet lid.

I had never felt particularly attached to my family, so I was oblivious to the whole thing. Being largely ignored had matured me at an early age, and when I moved in with Matt I worked hard to be an ideal husband.

But this family was so different, with a warmth that somehow reminded me more of when I lived with Matt than with my own family, and that hurt me even more. Matt had always been my refuge, and he was even more my family than my own. With him, I had begun to change little by little, gaining more confidence and discovering myself little by little.

But after losing him, I felt like I was back to my old self, the way I was when I was with my family. 

I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face to wash away all those thoughts.

I put my hands on the sink and took a deep breath.

This family was so different from mine, and also to the home that Matt had given me. They were so open about how happy they were together, so close and warm, that I wasn't sure if I should stay here or excuse myself and go back to the hotel.

I remembered the omega's smiling face, so reassuring it made me want to cry.

I sighed and opened the door.

The noise came to my ears again. 

I saw John with the bowl of chicken in his hands, trying to pull it away from his father's hands, who raised his arm to grab a piece while the omega laughed and tried to get her husband to behave.

Until a moment ago, I felt out of place. But now another feeling had appeared.

The warmth of that family reached me.

And it warmed my heart little by little.