An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 3/3 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington Characters: Steve Harrington, Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington's Parents, Original Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Billy Hargrove, Omega Steve Harrington, Top Billy Hargrove, Bottom Steve Harrington, Witchcraft, Witch Curses, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Sleepwalking, Steve Harrington Needs a Hug, Grief/Mourning, Angst, Dreams and Nightmares, Drowning, Biting, Marking, Self-Lubrication, Rimming, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Barebacking, Knotting, Bonding, Semi-Public Sex, POV Steve Harrington Series: Part 23 of Harroween
Summary:
Steve learns the secret of his family's land after he returns to his family farm after his father's death.
Chapter 1
It had been almost five years since he'd last stepped foot on the farm. The balmy summer day shortly after his graduation he'd walked from the fields to the bus station in town with nothing more than what he could carry on his back. His dad had made his stance very clear. An Omega wasn't fit for farm work. He had felt like a disappointment from the moment he'd presented at fifteen but things grew steadily worse until it became unbearable. He wondered solemnly if his mom could have mediated things between them better but he would never know. He had left on a bus heading as far as he could and never looked back. He created a new life for himself. One that was just for him.
In all that time his dad never tried to contact him. When a letter had arrived a week ago he had been surprised and a little apprehensive at first. He tore it open only for his heart to stop. It wasn't a long overdue letter from his dad saying he was wrong or that he missed him or even just a passive-aggressive enquiry into his life. It was a short business-like letter of condolence from his dad's lawyer. His dad had been found in the ocean the investigation was still open but would more than likely be listed as accidental. Steve had felt a sharp stab of pain before it dulled to a constant ache he could feel in his chest. Deep indifference finally filled him until he realised he would have to travel back to the farm to settle his dad’s affairs. He wanted to call the lawyer to let him know that he wanted to sell but there was an unexpected yearning to visit the farm one last time. He packed lightly as he only intended on staying long enough to find out about selling.
He placed everything he needed in his car and started his journey. It felt strange like he was reliving a painful memory but one that he felt compelled to see through.
He arrived on the farm a little after two. It looked the same as he remembered even the house had stayed the same. He walked up to the door and bent down to retrieve the key that was always under the doormat. He remembered a time when they didn’t even lock the doors to the house. It had been a cold winter morning when his dad’s panicked cries had awoken him as the field closest to the house was set ablaze and his dad had been worried that the house would catch fire. After that, he’d had new locks installed but old habits die hard and his dad was always misplacing his key so one was always hidden under the mat. He eventually thought of the incident as a freak accident even though it had been below freezing temperatures that night.
Steve laughed softly in amusement where he lived, everyone had deadbolts and alarms to keep themselves safe but here everyone knew everyone else. There wasn’t another property for miles and it was Johnson’s farm in one direction and past his dad’s orchard there was a small beach that only the locals knew about. When he’d been younger during the summer he had sometimes gone days without seeing anyone but his dad and the farmhands he employed. He opened the door and walked inside. He set down his bag by the front door and irrationally waited for his dad to appear from the back. He had a workshop built out the back when he’d first got married as he loved to spend time by himself tinkering with various mechanical parts from his trucks and tractors. His dad could fix anything and he had vivid memories of him standing at the kitchen sink washing thick oil off his hands.
The phone rang bringing him back to the present. He picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Hello Steve is that you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Mr Crocker I sent you a letter about your father’s affairs.”
“Yeah, I was hoping to meet with you soon.”
“I assumed you’d want a few days to grieve and reaquitant yourself with the property.”
“Thank you but I want to sell as soon as possible.”
“Sell?”
“Yeah, I have no interest in running a farm.”
There was a pregnant pause on the other end.
“OK I’ll try to fit you in somewhere in the next few days but in the meantime, you’ll want to speak to Mr Hargrove, he’s been working on the farm for the past few years and will be able to fill you in with anything you need to know.
Steve sighed.
“Can I not see you sooner? I didn’t plan on being here that long.”
“Sorry, I’m fully booked for the next few days but I will make your appointment a priority. You have my word and if there’s anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.”
He hummed in response before they said their goodbyes. He couldn’t help the annoyance he felt inside. He had tried several times before he left to contact the lawyer's office but the line was always busy. He’d still been under the assumption that he’d only be here for a day or two tops. He had to collect his dad’s ashes and initiate the sale of the farm. He didn’t want to deal with farm workers and have to sit around going through his dad’s stuff. He spent the next few hours boxing up stuff around the house before the funeral home called to say he could collect his dad’s ashes. He collected them without much fanfare unsure of what to do with them. They offered him a small service and he told them he was arranging a small service back in the city for a few ageing relatives who couldn’t make the trip. It was easier than the truth. He was all that was left and he had little to commemorate.
He placed the urn carefully on the floor of his car and drove back to the farm. When he arrived this time the shadows cast by the house and crops were long across the ground. The house looked haunted in a way that it never had before. He parked his car and to his right, he could see a glow in the window of the cabin that his grandfather had built so the people who worked on the farm didn’t have to travel. It had saved the farm at the time because it was too great a distance to travel out but when they had a place to stay people tended to stay longer. It had helped the farm to prosper and his dad had carried on the tradition. His dad had always favoured young male Alphas to work on the farm as he had outdated ideas about Omegas. If the Alphas happened to have an Omega with them his dad would always hire them for light domestic work around the house and tending to the chickens.
He stepped out of the car and walked along the flower-lined path towards the warm glow in the window. He could hear strange soothing music coming from the cabin. It sounded like a lullaby his mom used to sing and he suddenly felt so tired. A shadow appeared at the door drawing his attention when it suddenly opened to reveal an Alpha with wavy blonde hair and intense blue eyes staring at him. He felt a spike of annoyance as he felt his eyes roam over him. It had been a long day and he suddenly felt heavy and tired.
"Hargrove?"
"Yeah, you must be Harrington Jr."
Steve bristled at the comparison to his dad.
"Have you been here long?"
"Yeah, a few years."
"Mr Crocker told me you knew everything that goes on here."
Billy moved out of the shadows and placed a cigarette in his mouth. The scratch of the match and his face was momentarily lit up as he lit the cigarette. Steve could see that he was young, probably around his age. He took a long draw of the cigarette.
"There's not much to know unless you're looking for a rundown on what I do here."
Steve could hear annoyance in his tone which only fuelled his own.
"No, I worked here long enough to know what happens. It was more…what happened with my dad."
A lump formed in his throat as the words became stuck there momentarily.
Billy took another draw and then shrugged.
"He had a few drinks and decided to go for a walk and he drowned."
"That's it?"
Billy nodded.
Something was screaming at him that this was all wrong. Billy was wrong.
"But he hated the beach."
"I'm sorry Jr, I don't know what to tell you…"
Steve felt tension tightening his shoulders. He felt so tired so he just nodded quickly.
"Right, I'll see you tomorrow."
He turned and walked away before Billy could say anything else.
His dreams that night were filled with overlapping voices and the crashing of waves. He tossed and turned all night and by the morning he felt more exhausted than before he went to bed. He practically crawled into the shower where he stood for several minutes under the spray slowly returning to full consciousness. After a light breakfast and a large cup of coffee, he decided to go for a walk to clear his head.
When he’d been a child he’d loved walking around the farm especially out by the orchard but after his encounter with Hargrove the previous night he didn’t want to deal with him too early in the day. So he headed out towards the main road into town. He thought maybe some civilization would help him feel less isolated. He was about halfway into town when he heard someone calling his name. He turned to see a familiar beat-up truck that belonged to Jimmy Smith one of the most obnoxious Alphas from his high school.
The Smiths were the only mechanics in town and had built their empire by knowing everything there was to know about farming equipment. Every farm in town except for his dad had called upon them for help at one time or another. His dad didn’t need their technical knowledge but he had visited them for parts in the past. Mr Smith was a ruthless businessman yet he was approachable and kind. His wife was a pillar of the community who volunteered at the library reading stories to the younger children on weekends. They had three sons Paul, Daniel and James. Steve had never really known Paul as he was away at college by the time he was in middle school and married and living elsewhere soon after.
Danny was a couple of years older than him and he was a town legend having broken the record for the most touchdowns in his senior year. The previous record dates back to the sixties so it was a big deal at the time. He had always secretly looked up to him, many people did as he was a combination of his parents in being sweet-natured and having time for everyone. He was one of the most popular kids at school but he still helped coach younger kids in football and he never looked down on anyone. Jimmy was nothing like his brothers.
He had been a small skinny kid who lived in the shadow of his family. Trouble seemed to follow him around and after he presented as an Alpha he followed Steve around. He became Steve’s shadow. He incorporated many of the stereotypical bad Alpha traits he was aggressive, he threw his weight around and he seemed to believe that all Omegas would just fall at his feet. He was given a position on the football team not based on his ability but because his brother had been so gifted but this only made his entitlement worsen. He was focused on Steve throughout high school even though he made it crystal clear how he felt. Soon trouble caught up with him but it never seemed to humble him any. He was someone Steve did not miss.
The driver’s side door opened and Jimmy’s head peeked out. He looked much like Steve remembered although the last five years hadn’t been kind to him. His face was thin and pale, his hair was shaggy and bunched up under a dirty cap. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days with dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. He gave Steve that same hungry obnoxious look he remembered so well. He exited the car and walked briskly over to him.
“Steve, when did you get back?”
“Not long had to sort out the farm.”
Jimmy’s eyes lowered.
“Yeah sorry to hear about your dad.”
Steve sighed.
“Thanks.”
“You gonna be here long?”
Steve shook his head.
“No, just long enough to sort everything out.”
"How about a drink at mine tonight?"
"No thanks."
"Still a little knot tease I see."
"Fuck you, Jimmy."
Jimmy laughed.
"No need to be shy now Stevie, I know you wanted me in high school."
"Yeah in your dreams."
Jimmy's face became serious as he placed his hand on Steve's shoulder.
"You should get out of the house and take your mind off things and I just want you to know I'm here for you."
He suddenly felt cold like he'd fallen into the icy water of the ocean and shrugged his hand away.
"I'm fine."
"It's ok I saw him. It must have been tough."
"When?"
"Huh?"
"When did you see him?"
"We became unofficial drinking buddies the last few months but I saw him maybe a few hours before."
Steve swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Did he say anything?"
Jimmy hesitated and Steve turned towards him. He lowered his eyes and tried to make himself seem small and vulnerable.
"Please Jimmy if there's anything important he might have said."
Jimmy sighed.
"Important? I'm not sure about that he'd become a little strange over the years."
"Strange?"
Jimmy laughed softly.
"He believed your land was cursed."
"Did he have a bad crop or something?"
"No, not cursed like that, more like cursed by some serious pissed-off witches who were out for blood."
"I thought you were serious for a minute."
"I am serious, especially on the day he died he kept saying they'd never forget and something about fire and blood. He'd gone completely fire and brimstone about your place and how the witches would get him."
"He didn't believe in things like that."
"Maybe but something convinced him."
Steve got lost in his thoughts for a while. His dad had always been a very pragmatic person but maybe he'd gotten lonely and indulged in his drink a little too much and let the shadows of the farm overtake his mind. Jimmy continued to try and convince him to hang out but Steve wasn't feeling that lonely yet. He got a lift into town and walked around the familiar streets for a few hours before he returned home. Jimmy's claims from earlier continued to haunt him and for the first time, he wondered if maybe he'd abandoned his dad to a terrible fate. He wandered around the house unsure of what to do. Tiredness washed over him and he got ready for bed and walked to the window to close the curtains. Out in the vast darkness of the farm, he could see the warm glow of the cabin like a lighthouse sitting near some jagged rocks surrounded by the dark vastness of the ocean.
The air is cold and damp, and rough, heavy sand sticks to his skin. A whistle on the wind becomes a beautiful song that he follows towards the waves crashing against the land. His heart stops when he sees a figure emerging from the darkened depths. He’s frozen in place as a hulking figure with wet heat coiled around its face hunts him down. He’s pinned easily in his shock and looks up into the narrowed eyes of Hargrove.
A sharp pain drags him from his slumber as he finds himself panting and cold on the floor of his room. The images from the dream slowly fade with the last one being Hargrove’s eyes boring into him as though he wanted him dead.
Chapter 2
Exhaustion wracked his body the next morning. It took him over an hour to drag himself from beneath his covers. He decided he’d wasted enough time and he needed to ready the house for sale. He was surprised but happy to find that a lot of his dad’s private papers and important documents had already been boxed so he moved upstairs to clean and cover furniture. His dad wasn’t a particularly sentimental person so he only found a few keepsakes that he placed in a separate box that he would take home with him. There was little concerning Steve outside of a few baby pictures but he found his grandfather’s medals and watch, his parent’s wedding photos, a letter his mom wrote to his dad early in their relationship and her engagement ring which had belonged to his grandmother. He wished he had more things to remember her by but he’d taken a few things when he’d left and he knew she’d always remain in his memories.
By midafternoon the house had become too confining. He had a light lunch and decided to walk to clear his head before he returned to sorting out the house. He only walked for a short distance when he encountered Hargrove in the fields. He was shirtless with golden skin that was dewy with sweat in the warm sunshine. He was tending to the vegetable garden that his mom had planted when Steve was young. He closed his eyes for a moment and pictured her there. Tomatoes had always been her favourite, a small taste of home she used to say with a smile.
“Can I help you with anything Jr?”
Steve bristled but knew he needed to be a little friendlier to get what he wanted.
"Hi Billy, sorry about the other night. It's been a stressful week."
He softened his features and gave an uncertain smile. Billy swept his hair back from his eyes and Steve was temporarily stunned by how blue they were. He felt as though he were being studied for several moments before Billy nodded.
"Bountiful harvest?"
Billy reached out and plucked a large shiny red tomato from the plant and held it up towards him. He could see his mom smiling at him as she held them towards the sun when he'd barely reached her elbow. Billy's eyes flashed in the sun and he sank his teeth into the tomato. It burst against his sharp teeth causing red juice to flow down over his chin. Steve swallowed thickly.
"Did you know my dad well?"
"Well enough."
"Did he seem…strange just before he died?"
Billy licked the juice from his lips but his eyes never left Steve's.
"He seemed the same to me."
"He didn't mention anything strange going on?"
Billy shook his head.
Steve's heart was racing as though he'd just been spooked by a monster in a horror film or seen something strange outside the window at night.
"Thanks, Billy, I need to get back to sorting out the house."
"Anytime Jr."
He returned to the house feeling confused but hopeful. Jimmy wasn't exactly a reliable source of information. He walked towards the stairs then stopped and headed into the room at the back of the house that contained his dad's papers. The first few boxes contained legal documents and receipts and he thought maybe he was just overreacting. He pulled another box over and ripped it open. Inside were his dad’s notebooks and the upkeep of the farm and machinery. He had always kept detailed notes of everything that was happening and what had to be done in the coming months. He flicked through the first couple and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
The third one he picked up had a large triangle carved deep into the cover. Her ran his finger over its jagged edges. Inside the pages were filled with long rambling sentences written in loopy cursive script. He could see some letters written the way his dad did but his writing was normally neat and concise. He tried to follow what was being written but it was difficult to comprehend although the same sentence was repeated.
‘We will become one, through three, water or fire.’
Gooseflesh broke out across his skin. He needed to understand why his dad seemed to be possessed by this thought. He set the box down and taking the notebook with him he drove over to Jimmy’s house.
He knocked on the door for several minutes before Jimmy finally opened it. He was dishevelled and with small blinking eyes, he squinted at Steve for an almost unbearably long time before his face softened. When he spoke his breath smelled like stale alcohol and bad decisions. He beckoned him inside. His house was small but looked as though a tornado had swept through it the previous night. There were empty bottles strewn all over the floor, residue on the coffee table and clothes that didn’t look like they belonged to Jimmy scattered towards the stairs.
“Want a drink?”
Steve momentarily thought he meant coffee as he seemed to still be half asleep when he walked over to a bottle of scotch sitting near the couch.
“It’s only three.”
Jimmy shrugged and took a swig from the bottle. He motioned Steve towards the couch but he opted to sit on the chair facing it. Jimmy sprawled out on the couch.
“What do I owe the pleasure?”
Steve held up the notebook.
“I found this in amongst my dad’s things and it talks about water and fire and I can’t make sense of it.”
“They’ll never forget.”
“Never forget?”
Jimmy nodded.
“The witches.”
“Witches?”
“Yeah, your dad discovered a few things about the land. It’s cursed.”
Steve sighed.
“I’m not here to talk about some superstitious bullshit, I just want to know what was going on with him.”
Jimmy shrugged and took another swig.
“I’m just telling you what he said. When your family acquired the land it wasn’t peaceful, it was through bloodshed and the ones who paid the price were said to be witches.”
“And now their ghosts want revenge?”
“Who said anything about ghosts?”
“Yeah because witches are so much more believable?”
“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just telling you what he’d been saying these past few months. He found some buried family history and it consumed him.”
“Where did he find this out?”
“I dunno he just started talking about it but he saw something that convinced him.”
Steve didn’t believe it. His dad only believed in what he could see and feel. He wondered if the loneliness had finally gotten to him. Had he spent his last few months slowly driving himself insane over the past?
“Jimmy?”
A soft confused voice filtered down the top of the stairs. Jimmy smiled over at him.
“If you’re feeling a little lonely, you could always join us. I can promise you a good time.”
“No thanks, I’d rather face the witches.”
Jimmy laughed.
“Rather you than me but my doors always open if you change your mind.”
Steve left quickly when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He got into his car and headed back to the farm. He knew the one place his dad would have put things he deemed important as he spent all his free time there. His work shed was where he worked on the machinery for the farm and whatever else he did there. Steve had been all but banned from the shed once he’d presented and his dad decided he could never take over the farm. He came to resent it as it took all his dad’s time leaving him to grieve and become isolated after his mom had died. Sometimes he wondered why his dad never remarried so he could pass the farm onto someone or at least have written Steve out of his will either way the farm would soon belong to someone else.
He entered the house to retrieve the keys because he knew his dad had always been very secretive about his work there and kept it locked at all times. He approached the shed but stopped short when he saw a depression in the ground in front of him. He leaned down to get a closer look and realised it was a triangle. A few inches away there was another and then another. He pushed the key into the lock and turned it. The shed opened and he slid his hand in the door and felt around for the light switch. Once the shed was lit up he pushed his way inside and stopped in shock at what he saw.
His dad had always kept the shed completely immaculate. It was his pride and joy next to the farm. All his tools were always organised and placed back in their place no matter how tired he was but now everything was in disarray. There were papers, photographs and tools strewn all over the place. There was writing on the walls, ‘We will become one, through three, water or fire’ in the same loopy cursive from the notebook he’d found earlier. He took a deep breath. He couldn’t help the previous feeling of helplessness from before returning. Had he abandoned him to a terrible fate? Was this land cursed? He turned off the light and locked the door. He walked with no real idea about where he wanted to go. There wasn’t anything here for him except for bittersweet memories. His mom felt like the only real tie he had left to the farm and she’d been gone longer than he had known her. His dad had rejected him shortly after.
His mind was filled with so many painful thoughts that when his feet hit wet sand he wasn’t surprised. He walked over to some dunes and fell onto his knees to watch the rapidly approaching tide. He didn't know how long he sat there mesmerised by the waves but one thought echoed in his mind, would anyone miss him?
That night he dreamt of the wet cold sand beneath him as a figure emerged from the water and crawled towards him. He knew he should run but the sweet siren song of the water held him captive. He finds himself pinned down and when they move their hair he sees the intense stare of Billy. He leans forward his cool lips at Steve’s ear.
“We never forget.”
Steve tripped on a stair and almost fell to the bottom. He shivered as the coolness of the house enveloped him. He slowly realised he was out of bed but wasn’t sure why. He stumbled down to the kitchen for a glass of water to soothe his parched throat. He returned to bed but all he could hear was the ocean keeping him from his dreams.
The next day he walked the fields in search of Billy. He had a burning desire to speak with him. To talk to someone he held no history with. Everyone in town and the neighbouring farms knew who he was but no one really knew him. The few friends he had in school had left to go to college and he hasn’t spoken to them in years. His only real link to the past was Jimmy and Steve would rather be lonely than endure him for too long.
He saw Billy’s truck parked near the orchard and walked towards it. When he got closer Billy emerged from behind some trees and then reached into the truck. Steve was just about to make his presence known when Billy ripped off his shirt. Steve quickly swallowed back his greeting. He couldn’t help admiring Billy for a moment. He was almost a cookie-cutter Alpha ideal with broad shoulders and golden skin. He’d always thought he wouldn’t be interested in that type of Alpha, especially after growing up in a small community where the Alphas at his school were all knotheads who thought that all Omegas would want them based on that alone. Just thinking about Jimmy with his unkept appearance, pale skin and dull eyes against Billy who looked as though he’d been carved from marble made Steve’s stomach twist in a way no Alpha had before.
He took a small shuddering breath and moved forward to tell Billy he was there when his hands slid down to the button on his jeans. He felt like he’d swallowed his tongue as his fingers made quick work of the buttons and zipper. Billy shimmied his jeans down off his legs and Steve couldn’t help but shamelessly take him in. If he thought the top half was impressive the rest of him was making his mind turn to mush.
Billy turned away almost too soon and retrieved another pair of jeans. He slid them on and pulled them up his legs before hopping a few times to get them in place. Steve bit his lip to keep a whimper in place as he watched him cover himself once more. Before Billy had buttoned up his jeans he turned his head and made eye contact with Steve who felt his stomach drop to his knees. He wanted to run but he moved closer, laughing nervously.
“Hi."
Billy leaned back against the truck and let his eyes travel over Steve who grew redder by the second until he felt like one of the tomatoes Billy had grown. His heart was beating so loudly in his ears that he almost missed when Billy spoke.
"Wanna go for a ride?"
He knew he shouldn't. He had so much to sort out at the house, he needed to contact the lawyer, and he needed to sort out the mess in the shed. The heat in Billy's eyes from his dream flashed through his mind. Steve nodded. A small smile spread across Billy's lips for a split second before he turned and hopped into the truck.
He felt a little strange sitting side by side with Billy in the truck, especially after being caught staring. Billy didn't say much at first as they drove through the fields and he checked on the crops. Steve stayed in the truck at first but soon he joined him. He felt so peaceful out in the fields. It was something that connected him to his parents. A time when they'd been a family of three who loved each other and spent time together. He still wished he could return to that time, the only time he'd been happy. Before his mom's death and his dad's bitterness.
Billy pulled the truck in beside the orchard and turned toward him. He studied Steve for a few moments before he spoke.
"What was the deal with you and the old man?"
"I left straight after graduation."
"Why?"
Steve sighed.
"He made it clear how he felt and how disappointed he was."
Billy moved in closer. Steve shivered when his scent engulfed him.
"Why would he be disappointed in you, Pretty Boy?"
"He didn't want an Omega for a son."
Billy's eyes stole all his attention as he moved even closer.
"His loss."
He captured Steve's lips in a harsh kiss as he easily pulled him close. Steve allowed himself to be moved until he was straddling Billy's lap. He kissed him back just as desperately. He needed to feel something. Anything other than the numbness that had seeped into him since he'd returned. Billy's fingers squeezed his hips causing him to moan into his mouth. He was getting lost in the kiss, in the feeling of Billy's body beneath him when he heard a voice echoing in his head.
‘We never forget.’
Chapter 3
Steve arrived home just as the sun was setting. The voice in his head had only grown louder. He thought about the almost incoherent ramblings scribbled in his dad's notebook. He could feel a tingling on the back of his neck like someone was watching him from the encroaching darkness. He quickly walked around the house locking all the doors and windows. Once he was sure the house was secure he ran briskly to the top of the stairs so he could move into his room and close the curtains. He kept thinking no one should be able to see him there.
Just as he reached the top a loud bang made him stop dead in his tracks. It was swiftly followed by another and another. He looked back down the stairs at the front door. His heart was in his throat as he saw it shudder against someone's fists as they struck the door. The horrible feeling from before engulfed him and he became frozen to the spot. The sound of the bangs only grew louder and he waited with bated breath for the door to splinter.
"Steve…"
The loud cry of his name propelled his body forward as he ran into his room and locked the door. He slid down the wall and crawled towards his bed keeping himself out of sight of the windows. He threw himself under the covers and wrapped his pillow around his head to try and drown out the loud sounds from downstairs.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity the banging ceased and the house grew eerily silent. Steve lay trying to calm his racing heart until exhaustion eventually claimed him.
The next morning he crept down the stairs but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. He even checked the door but there was no evidence of loud banging from the night before. He'd expected a few dents or at least marks but there was nothing. As he sat over his coffee that morning he knew he needed to get out of here. He phoned Mr Crocker again and this time got an appointment in three days. He made it very clear he wanted to sell even though Mr Crocker seemed to think he'd change his mind.
He wanted to go and find Billy. To explain his plans. To see him but he knew it was pointless. Steve was selling the farm and leaving so he didn't want anything tying him to the farm. He justified his avoidance by convincing himself that Billy would hate him after he learned about the sale. He'd been here for three years and Steve could see how much care and attention he put into the land. He'd decided to avoid Billy but the universe had other plans. It was hard to avoid someone when they were the only other person around. He caught Billy's lopsided smirks when he dipped behind trees and under bushes so he didn't have to talk to him. He felt like he was back in school making a fool of himself in front of his crush. It didn't help that he couldn't stop thinking about how good it had felt being held and kissed in his truck. As though Steve was a juicy tomato that Billy had plucked to devour, he wanted so much more.
One early evening he was sitting looking out his window at the soft glow coming from Billy's cabin. It was taking everything he had not to follow the light like a moth lost in the darkness when a knock at his door stole his attention. His heart started to race as he set down his cup and moved closer. He glanced back at the stairs as the desire to run became stronger.
"Steve?"
The voice on the other side of the door was soft and sweet. A voice he remembered vaguely from the past. He moved over to the door and with a deep breath he opened it. On the other side stood Daniel Smith, he was still handsome with soft brown hair and kind eyes even if they looked a little tired and desperate.
"Danny?"
He smiled softly and moved forward pulling Steve into a hug.
"I'm sorry to hear about your dad."
Steve collapsed against him.
"Thanks."
He pulled back and motioned behind him.
"Do you want a cup of coffee?"
Danny's face softened and Steve could almost see the football legend he'd idolised in school.
"I'd love to but I'm looking for Jimmy."
"Jimmy?"
"Yeah, have you seen him?"
"A couple of days ago, I think. It's hard to keep track of the days with everything else going on."
Danny nodded and squeezed his shoulder.
"Did he say anything important?"
"Not really. I was asking him about my dad, something he'd said before and we talked for a few minutes and then he had someone there so I left."
"Do you know who it was?"
Steve shook his head.
"Sorry, I didn't see them."
Danny nodded and looked out at the farm. The silence stretched on for several moments. Steve tried to remember if Jimmy had said anything significant but he couldn't think of anything. Danny turned back to him with a small sad smile.
"If he calls or turns up will you phone me?"
"Sure, anything."
Danny pulled a small notebook and pen from his pocket and wrote out his number before passing it to Steve.
"Thanks, Steve."
Danny headed back out the door and for a frightening moment, Steve felt the overwhelming desire to grab him by the arm and never let him go. As the shadows grew longer the creeping paranoia was slowly taking over and he didn't want to be alone. Yet he knew by the heaviness in Danny's shoulders that he had his demons burdening him over Jimmy so he watched him go with growing dread.
He sank into the cold water. His thoughts muffled until he couldn't hear them anymore. Soon he would hear nothing ever again. He allowed his body to get pulled along by the water. Giving up everything to the sea. When there was a whisper in his mind. A voice he recognised. A person he was drawn to. Billy.
He awoke with a start at the front door. A cool breeze made gooseflesh break out over his skin from the crack in the door.
His dreams bled over onto his mind and he felt compelled to see the ocean. Fear kept him from leaving the house for most of the day but eventually, he couldn't fight it any longer. He walked almost aimlessly through the fields like a puppet on a string.
As he walked through the orchard he could hear overlapping voices up ahead. He thought it was strange. The beach technically fell on his family's farm but it was accessible from the other end which was a path that led through a small forest near town. Many people accessed the beach through there and his family had never objected to anyone walking along it. However, with it being a long isolated walk, not many people ventured out that way especially not at this time of the year when it would be dull and cold.
As he exited the orchard he saw a growing crowd of people being held back by a few police officers. He walked up to them and seeing Mrs Johnson he headed in her direction.
"What's happening?"
She looked at him with haunted eyes.
"Oh Steve honey, you shouldn't be here."
"Why?"
"Go home and I'll stop by tomorrow with a nice pie and we can talk about it."
"I don't understand."
Suddenly two men emerged from the water and the crowd became restless. When a loud gasp drew everyone's attention. The two men pulled a pale and bloated body up from the murky depths. Steve's heart stopped. He was too far away to see who it was but all he saw was his dad. His knees turned to jelly and Mrs Johnson grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the crowd.
He sank onto the sand and she stroked through his hair.
"It's ok honey, everything's alright."
"Who is it?"
She hesitated but after a small sigh.
"They think it's Jimmy Smith. His parents have to come down and identify the body but they're pretty sure."
Danny's sad eyes flashed through his mind. Mrs Johnson wrapped her arms around him and spoke softly in his ear.
"Go home. Everything will be fine and I'll come and see you tomorrow."
He moved and she squeezed him tighter.
"Go home."
He walked in a daze back to the house. He walked into the kitchen but found he'd lost his appetite. He paced around the bottom half of the house unsure of what to do when he tripped on something. He looked down and saw his dad's notebook with the triangle carved into the cover. He picked it up and opened it at a random page.
‘We will become one…through three…water or fire…’
He threw the book onto the couch and went to retrieve the keys to his dad's shed. He followed the three triangles to the door and quickly opened it. The disarray inside was still a shock but he pushed through it. He picked up the papers and looked through them. It was just like the notebook but with new words written even bigger and scored into the page.
'Our blood is on this land, on your hands, our blood becomes your blood.’
It was written over and over sometimes with such force that it had torn the page. He could see documents relating to the farm dating back to before a Harrington had ever stepped foot there. He saw groups gathered, ropes around floating bodies, flames engulfing the land and swallowing everyone in its path. He saw a blonde woman with an intense stare. Triangles.
He ran from the shed slamming the door behind him. He needed to get out of here. Now. Twilight was starting to darken the sky. He grabbed his keys and jumped into his car. It spluttered. He tried again but the car was dead. He ran back inside and locked the door behind him.
He hid in his room frozen with indecision. There was no one he could call. He was completely alone. He needed to wait until the sun came up and then he was going to walk into town and get the first bus out of there. He'd arrange everything with Mr Crocker over the phone. He didn't need to be here. Once the adrenaline started to wear off he could feel his eyelids growing heavy when he heard music. It was soft like a lullaby and he walked over to the window to try and hear it better. He could see an orange glow from a fire out in the field near the orchard. He felt compelled to go and see what was happening so he slipped out of the house and walked towards it.
When he arrived Billy was sitting by the fire with a drink in his hand. He watched Steve intently as he approached. He could feel a flutter in his stomach at his attention. He'd been avoiding him as best he could but standing here now he wasn't sure why. Billy motioned him closer and Steve sat down near him. Billy turned slightly away to pour him a drink from a bottle he had. The colour of the drink seemed to be a strange blue in the light of the fire but he didn't question it. He took a small sip when it was handed to him. It tasted sweet and made him feel warm almost immediately. They sat in companionable silence watching the flames dance and Steve taking larger sips of his drink. He felt himself relax for the first time since the beach but the images from dad's shed still lingered. He cleared his throat nervously.
"Billy, did your family live here before?"
Billy nodded.
"What happened?"
Billy stared into the flames.
"It was taken from us. My great-great-great grandmother was the only one who didn't drown or burn. She barely escaped with her life."
Steve set his mostly empty glass down and moved closer. He placed his hand gingerly on Billy's leg.
"I'm so sorry..."
Everything he wanted to say died in his throat. Billy stiffened slightly under his hand as he glared at the flames. Steve watched him carefully. He felt so tired and wretched. He desperately wanted Billy to understand that he was sorry but how could he atone for the past? He noticed something on Billy's skin, a small dark triangle illuminated by the fire.
He licked his lips to ask about it when suddenly Billy grabbed him and pinned him to the ground underneath him. He looked up at him. He could see the flames dancing in his eyes before Billy captured his lips in a ravenous kiss. He felt as though the heat was being transferred between them as Billy's teeth sank into his plump bottom lip. He gasped as the coppery tang of blood coated his tongue.
Billy moved back slightly to kiss his way down his throat. His teeth sank harshly into his skin after the whisper of his lips. Steve's heart was hammering in his chest as Billy ripped his clothes from his body to leave more stinging kisses in his wake. His skin tingled everywhere Billy touched him and he squirmed as he felt slick running down his thighs.
From the time he'd presented and seen the disappointment in his dad's eyes, he'd always turn from the fact he was an Omega. He tried so desperately for years to pretend it wasn't true and Alphas had always left him cold, especially after high school and dealing with Jimmy and his persistent chase. Billy's fingers dug into his thighs pulling them apart before he moved closer. Steve whimpered when he felt his teeth sink into the delicate flesh of his thigh. He had never wanted to be more desirable. He didn't want him to stop. As Billy's tongue started to push its way inside him he slid his fingers into his hair encouraging him.
His thighs started to shake as Billy pushed in his fingers one after the other giving his body something to squeeze down on. He could feel the pleasure building under his skin. The stretch from his fingers counteracted the feeling of being devoured by his tongue. Soon it became too much.
"Billy…please…"
Billy pushed his fingers in deeper until he was stroking over his prostate. Steve grit his teeth at the pleasure coursing through him.
"Tell me what you want?"
"You…"
Billy moved back up and pulled him into another harsh kiss. He whined into his mouth at the taste of his slick on his lips. Billy's fingers continued to drive him crazy, his heart was beating so fast he thought it might explode as his mind clouded over. He could hear a faint whisper in the wind but he couldn't work out what it was saying. Billy moved down to his throat. He licked over the marks he'd left behind. Billy's fingers slowly pulled out. Steve could feel him opening his jeans and moving closer. He spread his legs as best he could. He moaned as he felt Billy's hard cock brush against him.
"Please…please…"
He could feel Billy's lips moving against his skin as he whispered something before he pushed forward and Steve felt all the air leave his lungs as he was filled up. He wrapped his legs around Billy's waist as he tried to adjust. Billy gave him a few moments to adjust before he started a brutal rhythm and Steve got lost in the pleasurable fog once more. It didn't take long for Billy's knot to form and Steve sank his teeth into his shoulder as his body opened up to let it in. He started to pant as it finally popped inside and he came between them. The whisper grew louder until he could hear the words.
"We will become one, through three, water or fire…"
Steve awoke alone in front of the dying embers of the fire. He shivered as he realised he was only covered by Billy's shirt from the previous night. His body ached as he moved to sit up and he ran his fingers over one of the bite marks on his hip. The sun was just peeking out over the horizon and he searched and found his jeans which he pulled on along with Billy's shirt. Billy's scent enveloped him and his stomach twisted to the memory of last night. He looked around but he seemed to be alone.
He shivered as a thought spread through his mind overtaking everything else. He wanted to see the ocean one last time. He walked from the dying fire through the orchard and out onto the beach. It was cold, the sky was grey as the water lapped gently against the shore. He walked towards it as though in a trance. He could hear music playing over the sea, it was beautiful. When the water touched his feet he felt tears sting his eyes, a deep melancholy in his heart as he waded into the water. Relief spread through him.
Suddenly two arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him from the water. He cried out as the pain of being separated from the water felt like a thousand tiny knives piercing his body. He was dragged up onto the sand and pinned down. He looked up into the intense eyes of Billy. He was pulled into a desperate kiss which reopened the cut on his lip left by Billy's teeth. He gasped at the warmth that spread through him. Billy kissed his way to his throat. Steve squirmed when he felt his hot tongue lap at his cool skin before Billy's teeth bit down hard on his bonding gland. The warmth grew until he couldn't feel the cold wet sand anymore. He couldn't taste the salt air, only Billy's earthy scent. He collapsed on top of him. A whisper in his ear.
"You're mine…we will be three… my blood becomes your blood…"
