Novae Vitae-6
Novae vitae
This time Jensen lead him to a different room at the estate; a room as big as the one at his apartment and overlooking the landscaped gardens out back. It had a bed big enough for two of him to spread out comfortably and piles of pillows. There was a shelf with a few books as well but no TV.
Jensen was watching for his reactions and he gave the alpha an acknowledging nod, gratitude filing him at the knowledge that Jensen had understood -and anticipated- how horrific the turning would be for him and given him a room in a different wing altogether.
As he climbed under the thick covers, he felt the first flicker of hope since feeling Jensen’s teeth break his skin: maybe he would be able to make it in this world as an omega...
It was a little more than a fortnight when things came to a head. Jared had begun to adjust to his new life in Jensen’s estate, and barring a few hiccups on the health front, things were progressing smoothly.
The turning had caused something of an upheaval in his body and his digestive capacity, as a direct result, was severely compromised. Once he threw up the first two times, Aldis paid him a visit and he wasn’t sure what the doctor told Katie, Jensen’s cook, but the beta began preparing lighter meals for him. So for two weeks he’d been on a diet of stews and oatmeal and porridge and similar. He’d been feeling better since yesterday and today he’d had a craving for pizza. Yet, despite his repeated whining, Katie had placed a bowl of warm oatmeal before him again. Angry at being disobeyed, he’d tossed the bowl off the table, upturning it on the polished hardwood floor.
“I said I didn’t want oatmeal again! I’ve been-”
“Jared!”
Jensen’s voice was like a whip-crack and for a long second Jared just stared dumbfounded at the obvious fury on his custodian’s face- the man had not looked this angry even when Jared had called him an ‘omega-bitch’ back on that fateful evening...Guess the joke was on him now that he was the ‘omega-bitch’... Understanding that the alpha was waiting for some sort of explanation and not wanting the beta to get her version out first, he hurried to explain, “I asked her for pizza, Jensen. I told her this afternoon and again this evening when she went into the kitchen. And still this bitch brought me-”
“Enough,” Jensen’s single word order had his lips snapping shut faster than he could process.
“The names you called her are unwarranted, Jared. She didn’t get you pizza because you’re under doctor’s orders to stay on light meals till atleast this weekend. So, first of all, you are going to apologise. Then you’re going to pick up that bowl and scoop as much of the food you can back into the bowl. And then you’re going to eat it. Understand?”
Jared bristled, “I’ll do no such thing!”
“Apologise, Jared.”
“No,”
“Jared...”
“No!”
“Very well, I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to act like a traditional custodian because you were capable of being reasoned with. Since you’ve proven yourself incapable of rational argument, I’m going to have to resort to more... shall we say ‘popular’?- means. You are to put back the oatmeal in the bowl and then report to me in the study within five minutes.”
Jared swallowed at the dire words but stared mutinously back.
Jensen glared right back, “Do not try me, Jared. You’ll come to regret it if you do.”
Jared strolled into the study ten minutes after the time set by Jensen to find the alpha in his leather executive-chair behind the antique oak table.
He remembered his father purchasing a table like this and then it being put up in their guest room so that no-one missed the expensive furniture. It had been a show-piece, a prop to show off how affluent they were... Jensen’s table on the other-hand looked well-used. The fact that it was in the alpha’s study where others seldom came attested to the fact that it was important for its purpose (and maybe the memories, if Jensen had them) instead of its monitory value.
“You’re late,” The alpha told him quietly.
Jared shrugged.
“Do you know how late?”
He glanced at the clock dismissively, “Ten-fifteen minutes?”
“Ten or fifteen, Jared?” Jensen snapped, and before he could respond, cautioned, “Be careful of your answer... I’m adding each minute as a separate infraction to your tally.”
Jared bit his lip, unable to keep from stuttering in the face of the alpha’s glare, “Te-te-ten.”
“Ten what?” Jensen prompted.
“Ten minutes. I’m ten minutes late, alpha.” Jared grumbled, trying to keep a brave face before Jensen’s uncharacteristic anger.
Jensen nodded, “Yes, you are. Please, have a seat.”
Jared walked in on rubbery legs to sit docilely, suddenly afraid.
“Do you know why you’re here, Jared?”
“You asked me to come,” He responded.
“I did,” Jensen acknowledged, “Do you know why?”
“Cause I didn’t follow one of your ‘rules’?” He made finger quotes around the word.
Jensen tilted his head in acknowledgement. “You don’t think rules are necessary?”
“Depends,” He answered, “Say, you’re talking about the road; then yeah, they’re abso-fucking-lutely necessary-”
“Language,” The alpha reprimanded lightly.
Jared grinned, relaxing at the correction- (he’d been so right! Jensen was as antiquated as they come!) But then sobered, “But say you’re talking about rules that omegas should follow... then no. Why is it that omegas need ‘rules’ and alphas don’t. Huh?”
“You’re right. Rules shouldn’t be different for omegas or alphas,” Jensen agreed.
“So you’re telling me that you would have told an alpha off for being late as well?”
“If the alpha was under my care and I was charged with ensuring he behaved in a civilized manner then yes, I would, Jared. I’m not singling you out because you’re omega. I’m singling you out because you’re my responsibility. And I will not tolerate people saying I’ve got an unruly omega.”
The man waited a moment to see if he would respond, and when he didn’t, continued speaking, “You insulted Katie using some very offensive words. And then you refused to apologise. You tossed the food she’d so lovingly made for you to the floor-”
Jared stared defiantly back at the older man, "She's just hired help, man..."
"Yes, she is. She is also a qualified chef with a degree from the Cordon Bleu. "
"So?"
"So she may be hired help but between the two of you, who do you think is capable of supporting themselves, huh?"
Jared looked away.
“If you want me to be the traditional alpha, I will; Jared." Jensen informed him.
He looked up to glare at the alpha, "Whatever. I'm not eating that gruel, Alpha."
“Yes, you are.” Jensen refuted quietly. “You’re not getting any other food till you eat that.”
“I’ll order something,” Jared shot back.
"I see," Jensen hummed. “And how do you plan on paying for your purchases? "
"…"
"What? I'm sorry, I didn't get that. "
Jared rolled his eyes, "I said; I’ll pay for it the way I always have, with money."
Jensen visibly suppressed a smile as though that was exactly the response he’d been expecting, "How? As you might remember, you have no money to speak of. And if you're planning on asking me, let me inform right now that I shall not sanction any such transaction."
Jared's eyes widened as he remembered that as an omega he no longer had any money unless given by his alpha- just because the man had not curtailed his purchases all this time didn’t mean he wouldn’t in future... Close on the heels of the thought came the memory of the pizza order he'd placed before coming here.
"Jensen, I... I just ordered pizza. "
"Well, you'll just have to cancel your order, won't you?"
"Please...?"
"No, Jared, I told you no once and I meant it."
"I-I..."
"I said no, Jared."
"Just this once... p-please?" The word stuck in his throat and he had to work to get it out but -for the first time in his life- he couldn’t see any other way out than begging.
Jensen shook his head.
"Unfortunate.” Jared felt his stubborn side rise, “You will have to pay when the order gets here."
"You're mistaken if you think you'll get me to relax my stance by forcing me into a corner. I will refuse to pay for the delivery and confess that my omega disobeyed me… And to seek reparations from you.”
“Alpha, please…” Jared couldn’t help it, his voice cracked… ‘Reparations from an omega’ could be translated to anything as long as the custodian granted permission.
Jensen held out his phone, “Call them back, Jared.”
Swallowing, - his pride broken- Jared obeyed. “H-Hi… I’m Jared Padalecki, I’d called five minutes ago to place an order for a meat-lover’s supreme? … Yeah…Yeah, I know; that’s not what called about. Uhmm…” He glanced up pleading at the alpha but Jensen didn’t soften his stance, “I’m sorry but I want to cancel my order….reason?...uh… my- my alpha forbade me and I…” He stared at the phone in his hand, his ears still ringing with the annoyed insults hurled-‘fucking ‘mega; wasting our time!’-before it had been slammed down and took in a shaky breath before meeting his custodian’s eyes. Forcing his voice into some semblance of ‘steady’ he demanded, “Satisfied?”
Jensen shook his head, “There’s still the matter of your words to Katie and the fact that you were late,”
Jared closed his eyes and lowered his head to hide the tears as he waited for the sentence. He struggled to rein in the hitch in his breathing as he gave a tiny nod of resignation.
“A… uhm… a cane or paddle is the traditional choice as the implement for administering a punishment.” Jensen began.
Jared’s eyes flew to meet the alpha’s in a mix of surprise and horror.
“You…you’ve never been punished before?” Jensen asked carefully.
He shook his head mutely.
“Not even as a kid?”
He shook his head again.
“Can you tell me what was done when you did something you weren’t supposed to, as a child?”
Jared shrugged, “My… my governess would complain. I … I realized forgiveness could be bought, though.”
Jensen’s eyes were sad as met the omega’s gaze, “And… your parents?”
“Weren’t around, mostly.”
“Oh,” It took a minute for Jensen to compose himself, “Guess it’s a good thing that I don’t have any implements, in that case. I’m going to use my bare hand, alright? Ten for your offensive language-”
“Dude…!”
A raised eyebrow silenced his brief outburst.
“Offensive language just shows a lack of intellect, Jared. And I’m sure you are more than qualified to use better words… Anyway, where was I?”
“Ten for language,” Jared prompted sullenly.
Jensen bit back a laugh at the petulant mimicry and forced himself to continue, “Yes, ten for tossing the bowl, ten for disobeying, five for trying to avoid your punishment-”
“What?!”
“You ordered a pizza instead of eating the oatmeal like I’d told you to.”
“I cancelled the order!”
“But you shouldn’t have done that in the first place, should you?” Jensen returned evenly, “And since you were ten minutes late; ten for lack of punctuality.”
“That… that’s forty-five swats, Jensen.”
“You know how to add. Should I be I’m impressed?” The alpha retorted dryly.
But Jared was far too terrified to register the sarcasm, “Please… it’s…it’s my first offence… please…”
“Fine,” Jensen sighed, “I’ll not give you the ten for coming ten minutes late. Happy?”
Jared bit his lip.
“Happy?” Jensen repeated.
Jared inhaled shakily as he nodded, “Thank you, alpha.”
“Instead of ten swats, you’re going to stand in the corner for ten minutes and contemplate the error of your ways. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Good.” Jensen agreed, rising; “Now pull down your pants and bend over the desk.”
“What?!”
Jensen sighed as he explained, “Look, I might’ve been on the receiving end of spankings, Jared; but I’ve never administered one before. I need to see what I’m doing, alright? It’s usually done bare-assed anyway. And it’s not like I haven’t seen you before this…I’d have taken you over my knee, but you’re too tall to bend over my lap comfortably. So.”
Jared swallowed noisily but rose to his feet obediently.
“Good boy,” Jensen whispered.
Jared was trembling hard enough that the whole desk seemed to be shaking. The warm palm pressed to the small of his back for reassurance only made him shake more.
He keened when he felt himself being tugged upright but relaxed slightly when Jensen only pulled him into his arms. “Sshhh… it’s nothing to be afraid of sweetheart…”
Jared whimpered, “I’m s’rry,”
Jensen tightened his hold, “its fine…”
Jared shook his head, mewling in distress when he felt Jensen withdraw slightly.
“Look at me, Jared. Please?”
He shook his head.
“C’mon, kiddo; look at me.” Jensen cajoled.
Jared resisted awhile longer but the repeated requests wore him down until he hesitantly peered through his bangs to meet the green eyes.
“You’re scared?”
Jared bit his lip and nodded.
“Why?”
“It’ll hurt,”
“Yes,” Jensen agreed, “It will. … But it’s a punishment, Sweetheart. It’s meant to hurt.”
Jared nodded as he exhaled shakily, trying to put on a brave face.
“It’ll be painful, yes…But not unbearably so; alright? You may find it hard to sit for a day or two but I promise; there’s no lasting damage. Okay?”
Jared nodded again even though the words were not exactly comforting. Nevertheless, he appreciated the honesty.
Jensen hesitated.
“Alpha?” Jared questioned curiously.
“You’ve never been spanked before in your life, have you?”
“No, Sir.”
“Use my name, please.” Jensen corrected absently, but his eyes were far-off. Then he seemed to come to a decision, “Alright, change of plans.”
Jared tried not to look too hopeful.
“Instead of your due thirty-five, I’m going to give you just ten this time. And then you stand facing the wall for another ten minutes. Deal?”
Jared licked his dry lips before nodding, “Deal.”
nEXT
This time Jensen lead him to a different room at the estate; a room as big as the one at his apartment and overlooking the landscaped gardens out back. It had a bed big enough for two of him to spread out comfortably and piles of pillows. There was a shelf with a few books as well but no TV.
Jensen was watching for his reactions and he gave the alpha an acknowledging nod, gratitude filing him at the knowledge that Jensen had understood -and anticipated- how horrific the turning would be for him and given him a room in a different wing altogether.
As he climbed under the thick covers, he felt the first flicker of hope since feeling Jensen’s teeth break his skin: maybe he would be able to make it in this world as an omega...
It was a little more than a fortnight when things came to a head. Jared had begun to adjust to his new life in Jensen’s estate, and barring a few hiccups on the health front, things were progressing smoothly.
The turning had caused something of an upheaval in his body and his digestive capacity, as a direct result, was severely compromised. Once he threw up the first two times, Aldis paid him a visit and he wasn’t sure what the doctor told Katie, Jensen’s cook, but the beta began preparing lighter meals for him. So for two weeks he’d been on a diet of stews and oatmeal and porridge and similar. He’d been feeling better since yesterday and today he’d had a craving for pizza. Yet, despite his repeated whining, Katie had placed a bowl of warm oatmeal before him again. Angry at being disobeyed, he’d tossed the bowl off the table, upturning it on the polished hardwood floor.
“I said I didn’t want oatmeal again! I’ve been-”
“Jared!”
Jensen’s voice was like a whip-crack and for a long second Jared just stared dumbfounded at the obvious fury on his custodian’s face- the man had not looked this angry even when Jared had called him an ‘omega-bitch’ back on that fateful evening...Guess the joke was on him now that he was the ‘omega-bitch’... Understanding that the alpha was waiting for some sort of explanation and not wanting the beta to get her version out first, he hurried to explain, “I asked her for pizza, Jensen. I told her this afternoon and again this evening when she went into the kitchen. And still this bitch brought me-”
“Enough,” Jensen’s single word order had his lips snapping shut faster than he could process.
“The names you called her are unwarranted, Jared. She didn’t get you pizza because you’re under doctor’s orders to stay on light meals till atleast this weekend. So, first of all, you are going to apologise. Then you’re going to pick up that bowl and scoop as much of the food you can back into the bowl. And then you’re going to eat it. Understand?”
Jared bristled, “I’ll do no such thing!”
“Apologise, Jared.”
“No,”
“Jared...”
“No!”
“Very well, I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to act like a traditional custodian because you were capable of being reasoned with. Since you’ve proven yourself incapable of rational argument, I’m going to have to resort to more... shall we say ‘popular’?- means. You are to put back the oatmeal in the bowl and then report to me in the study within five minutes.”
Jared swallowed at the dire words but stared mutinously back.
Jensen glared right back, “Do not try me, Jared. You’ll come to regret it if you do.”
Jared strolled into the study ten minutes after the time set by Jensen to find the alpha in his leather executive-chair behind the antique oak table.
He remembered his father purchasing a table like this and then it being put up in their guest room so that no-one missed the expensive furniture. It had been a show-piece, a prop to show off how affluent they were... Jensen’s table on the other-hand looked well-used. The fact that it was in the alpha’s study where others seldom came attested to the fact that it was important for its purpose (and maybe the memories, if Jensen had them) instead of its monitory value.
“You’re late,” The alpha told him quietly.
Jared shrugged.
“Do you know how late?”
He glanced at the clock dismissively, “Ten-fifteen minutes?”
“Ten or fifteen, Jared?” Jensen snapped, and before he could respond, cautioned, “Be careful of your answer... I’m adding each minute as a separate infraction to your tally.”
Jared bit his lip, unable to keep from stuttering in the face of the alpha’s glare, “Te-te-ten.”
“Ten what?” Jensen prompted.
“Ten minutes. I’m ten minutes late, alpha.” Jared grumbled, trying to keep a brave face before Jensen’s uncharacteristic anger.
Jensen nodded, “Yes, you are. Please, have a seat.”
Jared walked in on rubbery legs to sit docilely, suddenly afraid.
“Do you know why you’re here, Jared?”
“You asked me to come,” He responded.
“I did,” Jensen acknowledged, “Do you know why?”
“Cause I didn’t follow one of your ‘rules’?” He made finger quotes around the word.
Jensen tilted his head in acknowledgement. “You don’t think rules are necessary?”
“Depends,” He answered, “Say, you’re talking about the road; then yeah, they’re abso-fucking-lutely necessary-”
“Language,” The alpha reprimanded lightly.
Jared grinned, relaxing at the correction- (he’d been so right! Jensen was as antiquated as they come!) But then sobered, “But say you’re talking about rules that omegas should follow... then no. Why is it that omegas need ‘rules’ and alphas don’t. Huh?”
“You’re right. Rules shouldn’t be different for omegas or alphas,” Jensen agreed.
“So you’re telling me that you would have told an alpha off for being late as well?”
“If the alpha was under my care and I was charged with ensuring he behaved in a civilized manner then yes, I would, Jared. I’m not singling you out because you’re omega. I’m singling you out because you’re my responsibility. And I will not tolerate people saying I’ve got an unruly omega.”
The man waited a moment to see if he would respond, and when he didn’t, continued speaking, “You insulted Katie using some very offensive words. And then you refused to apologise. You tossed the food she’d so lovingly made for you to the floor-”
Jared stared defiantly back at the older man, "She's just hired help, man..."
"Yes, she is. She is also a qualified chef with a degree from the Cordon Bleu. "
"So?"
"So she may be hired help but between the two of you, who do you think is capable of supporting themselves, huh?"
Jared looked away.
“If you want me to be the traditional alpha, I will; Jared." Jensen informed him.
He looked up to glare at the alpha, "Whatever. I'm not eating that gruel, Alpha."
“Yes, you are.” Jensen refuted quietly. “You’re not getting any other food till you eat that.”
“I’ll order something,” Jared shot back.
"I see," Jensen hummed. “And how do you plan on paying for your purchases? "
"…"
"What? I'm sorry, I didn't get that. "
Jared rolled his eyes, "I said; I’ll pay for it the way I always have, with money."
Jensen visibly suppressed a smile as though that was exactly the response he’d been expecting, "How? As you might remember, you have no money to speak of. And if you're planning on asking me, let me inform right now that I shall not sanction any such transaction."
Jared's eyes widened as he remembered that as an omega he no longer had any money unless given by his alpha- just because the man had not curtailed his purchases all this time didn’t mean he wouldn’t in future... Close on the heels of the thought came the memory of the pizza order he'd placed before coming here.
"Jensen, I... I just ordered pizza. "
"Well, you'll just have to cancel your order, won't you?"
"Please...?"
"No, Jared, I told you no once and I meant it."
"I-I..."
"I said no, Jared."
"Just this once... p-please?" The word stuck in his throat and he had to work to get it out but -for the first time in his life- he couldn’t see any other way out than begging.
Jensen shook his head.
"Unfortunate.” Jared felt his stubborn side rise, “You will have to pay when the order gets here."
"You're mistaken if you think you'll get me to relax my stance by forcing me into a corner. I will refuse to pay for the delivery and confess that my omega disobeyed me… And to seek reparations from you.”
“Alpha, please…” Jared couldn’t help it, his voice cracked… ‘Reparations from an omega’ could be translated to anything as long as the custodian granted permission.
Jensen held out his phone, “Call them back, Jared.”
Swallowing, - his pride broken- Jared obeyed. “H-Hi… I’m Jared Padalecki, I’d called five minutes ago to place an order for a meat-lover’s supreme? … Yeah…Yeah, I know; that’s not what called about. Uhmm…” He glanced up pleading at the alpha but Jensen didn’t soften his stance, “I’m sorry but I want to cancel my order….reason?...uh… my- my alpha forbade me and I…” He stared at the phone in his hand, his ears still ringing with the annoyed insults hurled-‘fucking ‘mega; wasting our time!’-before it had been slammed down and took in a shaky breath before meeting his custodian’s eyes. Forcing his voice into some semblance of ‘steady’ he demanded, “Satisfied?”
Jensen shook his head, “There’s still the matter of your words to Katie and the fact that you were late,”
Jared closed his eyes and lowered his head to hide the tears as he waited for the sentence. He struggled to rein in the hitch in his breathing as he gave a tiny nod of resignation.
“A… uhm… a cane or paddle is the traditional choice as the implement for administering a punishment.” Jensen began.
Jared’s eyes flew to meet the alpha’s in a mix of surprise and horror.
“You…you’ve never been punished before?” Jensen asked carefully.
He shook his head mutely.
“Not even as a kid?”
He shook his head again.
“Can you tell me what was done when you did something you weren’t supposed to, as a child?”
Jared shrugged, “My… my governess would complain. I … I realized forgiveness could be bought, though.”
Jensen’s eyes were sad as met the omega’s gaze, “And… your parents?”
“Weren’t around, mostly.”
“Oh,” It took a minute for Jensen to compose himself, “Guess it’s a good thing that I don’t have any implements, in that case. I’m going to use my bare hand, alright? Ten for your offensive language-”
“Dude…!”
A raised eyebrow silenced his brief outburst.
“Offensive language just shows a lack of intellect, Jared. And I’m sure you are more than qualified to use better words… Anyway, where was I?”
“Ten for language,” Jared prompted sullenly.
Jensen bit back a laugh at the petulant mimicry and forced himself to continue, “Yes, ten for tossing the bowl, ten for disobeying, five for trying to avoid your punishment-”
“What?!”
“You ordered a pizza instead of eating the oatmeal like I’d told you to.”
“I cancelled the order!”
“But you shouldn’t have done that in the first place, should you?” Jensen returned evenly, “And since you were ten minutes late; ten for lack of punctuality.”
“That… that’s forty-five swats, Jensen.”
“You know how to add. Should I be I’m impressed?” The alpha retorted dryly.
But Jared was far too terrified to register the sarcasm, “Please… it’s…it’s my first offence… please…”
“Fine,” Jensen sighed, “I’ll not give you the ten for coming ten minutes late. Happy?”
Jared bit his lip.
“Happy?” Jensen repeated.
Jared inhaled shakily as he nodded, “Thank you, alpha.”
“Instead of ten swats, you’re going to stand in the corner for ten minutes and contemplate the error of your ways. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Good.” Jensen agreed, rising; “Now pull down your pants and bend over the desk.”
“What?!”
Jensen sighed as he explained, “Look, I might’ve been on the receiving end of spankings, Jared; but I’ve never administered one before. I need to see what I’m doing, alright? It’s usually done bare-assed anyway. And it’s not like I haven’t seen you before this…I’d have taken you over my knee, but you’re too tall to bend over my lap comfortably. So.”
Jared swallowed noisily but rose to his feet obediently.
“Good boy,” Jensen whispered.
Jared was trembling hard enough that the whole desk seemed to be shaking. The warm palm pressed to the small of his back for reassurance only made him shake more.
He keened when he felt himself being tugged upright but relaxed slightly when Jensen only pulled him into his arms. “Sshhh… it’s nothing to be afraid of sweetheart…”
Jared whimpered, “I’m s’rry,”
Jensen tightened his hold, “its fine…”
Jared shook his head, mewling in distress when he felt Jensen withdraw slightly.
“Look at me, Jared. Please?”
He shook his head.
“C’mon, kiddo; look at me.” Jensen cajoled.
Jared resisted awhile longer but the repeated requests wore him down until he hesitantly peered through his bangs to meet the green eyes.
“You’re scared?”
Jared bit his lip and nodded.
“Why?”
“It’ll hurt,”
“Yes,” Jensen agreed, “It will. … But it’s a punishment, Sweetheart. It’s meant to hurt.”
Jared nodded as he exhaled shakily, trying to put on a brave face.
“It’ll be painful, yes…But not unbearably so; alright? You may find it hard to sit for a day or two but I promise; there’s no lasting damage. Okay?”
Jared nodded again even though the words were not exactly comforting. Nevertheless, he appreciated the honesty.
Jensen hesitated.
“Alpha?” Jared questioned curiously.
“You’ve never been spanked before in your life, have you?”
“No, Sir.”
“Use my name, please.” Jensen corrected absently, but his eyes were far-off. Then he seemed to come to a decision, “Alright, change of plans.”
Jared tried not to look too hopeful.
“Instead of your due thirty-five, I’m going to give you just ten this time. And then you stand facing the wall for another ten minutes. Deal?”
Jared licked his dry lips before nodding, “Deal.”
nEXT