Chapter 273: The Only Contract Clause That Mattered

[FROLO]

"Don’t go... please," Katya begged.

Sergei looked at the omega, confusion still written on his face. And unlike the other times when it took him a long time to understand, this time he did, fast.

"I’m not leaving, Solnyshka," the alpha said, and Katya stared uncertainly.

"But the termination..."

And Sergei, he moved to close the distance between the other couch. Far enough for both of them to have clear minds, and close enough to make sure they understood each other.

Sergei understood how Katya’s brain worked lately, and he refused to be the reason there was ever a bout of doubt in the omega’s head.

"I do want to terminate the contract," Sergei began, holding Katya’s hand in his. Gently rubbing the back of his hand like he was trying to communicate more than what his words and attitude could say for him.

"So, you—"

"I love you, Solnyshka," Sergei said, as his left hand reached to rub Katya’s cheek softly.

This was not the kind of conversation they had ever had before. It was different and comfortable and scary at the same time.

Katya didn’t know what to make of it or even what to expect anymore. Sergei was not acting like he usually did, and honestly, that unsettled him, given the fact that he had just dismantled the senator earlier.

"Vladimir... Alek..." Katya trailed off, looking at Sergei as if to remind him that he still had a boyfriend. That they may not have been on the same side of things with Alek, but there was a relationship to respect.

"I know, Solnyshka. I know. Which is why I’m terminating the contract," Sergei added, and Katya sighed in defeat.

"I promised you freedom, moy lyubim," Sergei breathed.

"I am free," Katya said quietly.

Sergei had done more than enough for his freedom in the past few years, and honestly, Katya wasn’t blind to it. He didn’t want their relationship to change, and the contract was the only thing that Katya knew would always bring Sergei back.

A part of him believed that tides would change.

And with the war in Frolo looming, there would come a day when he probably wouldn’t see Sergei again. He was aware of it and had had nightmares one too many times about it.

Even when he slept beside Alek.

Now it was like that was coming true.

Katya didn’t care for the contract, really. He was only worried because without the contract, he didn’t have a reason to see Sergei anymore. Or rather, Sergei would probably not have a reason to seek him out anymore.

He loved their dynamic these past few years. He loved the way life had been easy with Sergei around, the way Sergei had made life feel normal.

Wanted.

Loved in every way.

Katya was scared of losing Sergei. Not just as someone he loved, but because beneath all the contracts and the love that they both knew was forbidden, Katya had found a true friend in Sergei.

"You’re overthinking, again," Sergei said when Katya went all stiff for too long.

"I... I’m fine, I just... I just don’t understand. Why now? I know there is more to your world than you let me know, and I understand that you don’t owe me an explanation...

"But..." Katya said, his voice quiet like he was trying to find the right words for this and was constantly failing. He couldn’t even be blamed for that because there was no easy way to say this.

To embrace what was coming.

"But what, little wolf?" Sergei teased.

"I think... I think I’m too selfish to let you go. I don’t want to terminate the contract if..." Katya rambled, and Sergei stared like a man who was watching history unfold before him.

He didn’t want to rush Katya, he really didn’t.

But gods, what he was hearing was redefining every ounce of his long life. Every minute he had lived. Every decision he had made was all getting him to this very moment, and he would be damned if he lost it.

"Solnyshka..."

"I know... I know I have no right, and I know I didn’t want the contract from the first day. But I can’t help but wonder, will I see you again if I agree to terminate? Will I never see you again?

"Everything these past three years, I’m so used to having you around. So used to spending the day with you. I thought, at least with the contract at the back of our minds, we had some sort of unspoken obligation to the company.

"But now... you’re leaving, and I am not selfless enough to let you go, Vladimir," Katya admitted, and Sergei didn’t even breathe.

He had gone still somewhere along the way as Katya explained his reasoning, and fuck if air was suddenly a useless element in Sergei’s life right now.

Katya wanted him to stay.

Katya cared about whether he showed up to work or not, and not just because of work.

Katya looked forward to seeing him.

Those were the things Sergei was getting from this conversation, and frankly, he didn’t even trust himself to say anything steady.

Yet at the same time, he had to remind himself that he needed to communicate, that if he stayed quiet for long, Katya would make his own assumptions. But fuck, this was the most heartfelt confession Sergei had ever heard.

This was better than heaven for him.

This was the whole reason he had strived to be better.

Gods, Vitya would be so proud of him.

Someone was choosing him.

Looking forward to seeing him.

Looking forward to being around him.

And it wasn’t motivated by fear.

"My beautiful Solnyshka," Sergei said as he looked at Katya. He could already see the tears pooling, and he’d be damned if he was the reason Katya Romanov cried again.

"Don’t cry for me, moy lyubim," Sergei added as he rubbed his thumb on Katya’s cheek gently.

"I’m terminating the contract, because I want you to be free. It’s not because of the upcoming war with your boyfriend or anything. I am doing this because I love you. Because I want you to have a choice in everything that you do.

"I don’t... I don’t want you to be stuck with me because of a contract we signed when you were at your lowest, Solnyshka," Sergei explained, and Katya just stared, unsure of what to say.

"I... I loved you before I knew what it meant for me after so many years of mourning Vitya. I know we didn’t exactly have the best start, but I want to give you one.

"A fresh start where you don’t have to worry about anything. Where you can live your life without the contract looming over your head. Your family is safe, will forever be protected, even if I’m not here.

"No one will ever hurt you again. I know I said the contract was for protection, and it did its part of the job. But now you’re free, Solnyshka. Still protected. Still safe.

"... Just not in the name of a paper that I used to protect you from my feelings," Sergei said in earnest, and Katya...

He pulled the alpha into a sudden hug.

"I’ll accept the termination of the contract if you make me a promise, Vladimir," Katya said into the hug.

"Anything."

"Don’t die, Vladimir... I can’t... I don’t want to... Please don’t let me live in a world that doesn’t have you in it."

"I promise to do my best to stay alive... for you, moy lyubim."