by Noah Harris
His grin must have been infectious because she wore a similar expression. “Yeah, no wonder.” They lapsed into a content silence as the warmth of realization and acceptance flooded through Adam, buzzed between them. It was comfortable, and he found his appreciation for her growing.
He needed this. He hadn’t been aware of how much he needed this. Everything had been happening so fast since Eddie’s death. He’d been thrust into a world of responsibility, of holding himself high with so many eyes on him. He’d been kept busy, only able to focus on the next task, the next face in front of him. That, combined with his job and the excitement that came with his growing relationship with Josh... He hadn’t had the time to simply breathe and take everything in.
He also hadn’t realized that Eddie’s death had left him more alone than ever. He’d not only lost his best friend and Alpha but also his only confidant. Eddie had been the only friend who had known about his preference, and while Josh obviously knew, it wasn’t the same. Karen, though, fit so easily into that space. He had been comfortable with her before the reveal, and in one moment she slipped neatly into a void that he hadn’t realized was there, filling his heart and making him feel a little more whole.
In some ways, it was even better than what Eddie could offer, because Karen knew. She had first-hand experience that Eddie couldn’t sympathize with. Adam felt like he had not only gained a confidant but an ally. And he could do and be the same for her.
“So.... you like him?” she ventured, breaking their silence.
He finished off the last of his beer, setting the bottle down with a sigh and signaling for another. “Yeah... yeah, I do,” he said softly, unable to hide his smile.
“So I take it he’s not a random hook-up?”
A new beer was set in front of him and he took it gratefully, shaking his head at Karen. “No, we didn’t even... we didn’t hook up.”
“He stayed the night, but you didn’t...?” She sounded surprised.
He felt his face heat up, and he looked down to hide his flush. “No, it was just... We were both soaked, and the roads were bad, so he stayed the night...”
Her teasing smile was back, curling coyly as she bumped into him. “Did you cuddle? Did you kiss?”
“Yes, and yes,” he said gruffly, feigning annoyance. His heart fluttered, and his stomach flipped. It felt good to be able to talk about what was happening, to be able to revel in the excitement of his developing relationship. “I want...” His nails picked at the label on his beer. “I like him a lot. I want this to last.”
Karen’s smile was fond, and her hand on his shoulder was comforting as she squeezed. “I’m sure he’s a great guy, but you know...” She trailed off, sounding almost sad. “You know relationships with humans are hard. Especially as an Alpha...”
He smiled wryly, eyeing her sideways. “He’s not human.”
She blinked, face going blank in her surprise. “He’s not?”
Adam shook his head once, smile soft and fond as he whispered. “He’s an omega...”
“Does he have a pack?”
“I don’t actually know. He doesn’t talk about them, if he does. I haven’t pushed him because I don’t want to rush things. But, if all goes well... I want him to join us.”
“You’ll have to deal with a lot,” she warned, not unkindly. It was simply matter-of-fact.
“I know. Another reason I’m not pushing it.”
Her hand on his back was soothing, and she leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. “I’ll be here to support you. I’m not as influential as some, but I’m here for you.”
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head. “Thanks, Karen.”
“We gotta stick together.”
“We do.”
“I wanna meet him one of these days.”
He chuckled. “Please don’t scare him off.”
She gasped in mock offense. “I would never.”
“What’s going on over here?” Millie’s voice cut through the air, sharp as a knife, shattering their moment of peacefulness, their bubble of comfort and companionship.
Adam stiffened, and he felt Karen stiffen beside him, too, before they both forced themselves to relax. He caught Karen’s eye, giving her a reassuring and apologetic smile before it fell away. They both faced Millie. As usual, she wore jeans and a fashionable top that skimmed the line between modest and showing her assets. Her hair fell in loose ringlets to her shoulders, perfect and precise. One arm was crossed over her chest, the other holding her drink. She looked like she was trying to hold a pleasant expression, but it was spoiled by the lines around the edges of her mouth and the suspicion in her eyes. She cocked an eyebrow, looking between the two of them.
“Nothing to worry about, Millie.” Adam said, brushing aside her question. He half turned, leaning sideways against the bar, elbow on the countertop. Karen turned with him, so they faced each other but could easily turn to see Millie.
Karen let her hand drop from his back. Millie watched the action, glaring at it. Adam had to suppress a sigh. Millie had always been this way whenever he got attention from other women, even if it were completely harmless. Her eyes snapped back up to Karen’s, smile on her lips predatory and fake. “Karen, right?” she asked sweetly.
Adam cringed. He knew for a fact that Millie knew who she was. Millie made a point of knowing everyone in the pack, including those who lived away from the pack house.
Karen gave her a flat look, one eyebrow raised. “Yes, Millie. I’ve been in the pack for years.” She hadn’t been here as long as Adam had, but she was by no means a new face.
Adam snorted a laugh into his beer, trying to hide his smile. Millie bristled. “What were you two talking about over here?” she asked, trying to sound polite. Neither of them were fooled.
“Just about some of Adam’s co-workers,” Karen said, patting his arm before pulling away. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure my sister isn’t making any questionable decisions.” She shot Adam a small, apologetic smile before slipping away, giving Millie a wide berth. Adam couldn’t blame her for leaving. Millie was obviously trying to assert her authority, and Karen wasn’t one for fighting back. There was no need for it.
Millie slid into the spot next to him with graceful ease, standing too close for comfort.
“You need to learn to play nice,” he told her flatly.
She huffed, lifting her glass. “I was playing nice. I didn’t say anything rude.”
“You don’t have to when your scent goes all alpha female like that.”
She shrugged. “I’m not in the habit of censoring myself.”
“I know.”
“It’s not a bad thing. I’m high in the pack hierarchy. I see no reason to hide it.”
“Karen isn’t a threat to you. She doesn’t want any of your power or position. She just want a peaceful life with the pack. She’s not here to stir the pot.”
“You never know,” she said, and Adam merely grunted, sipping his beer to avoid answering. He had nothing else to say to her. Millie was the one who broke the silence. “You two seem close.” She said it offhandedly, and had it been anyone else, he might have assumed it was a harmless observation.
He shrugged. “She’s my neighbor, and she’s a kind person. She’s also pack, Millie. We should be kind to pack.”
This time, it was Millie who made a wordless sound of acknowledgement. She straightened, finished her drink and set it down heavily on the bar top. “Come on, I didn’t actually come over here to interrupt your little... pow wow.”
He raised an eyebrow, actually surprised. “Is that so?”
She rolled her eyes, taking hold of his arm to tug him away from the bar. “No, I didn’t. I’m not that petty. There’s been some... developments that you’ll want to hear about.”
“Will I?”
“No, you won’t. But you need to hear them regardless. It’s important information.”
He sighed, letting her tug him away from his san
ctuary by the bar. “Fine, lead the way.”
He followed her through the crowd, weaving through pack members and strangers alike. Millie barely needed to move. Where she walked, the crowd parted, people peeling from her as they would a queen. And he supposed, to many of their pack mates, she was. It was no secret that he didn’t want to mate with her, yet everyone seemed to watch them like it was only a matter of time.
It was laughable how wrong they were.
Still, it was slow going. Every pack member they passed reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder, his arm. Others waved to him from their seats, nodded or smiled when he caught their eyes. He was used to being instantly recognizable to the pack, if an outsider, but now he was the center of attention. He couldn’t go anywhere in the club without his pack knowing, some kind of instinctual thing keeping them aware of their Alpha at all times. And when he was with Millie, they two of them could never escape notice.
They moved toward the back of the club, where the dancers were less prevalent and the music was dimmed so actual conversations could take place. Being werewolves with enhanced senses, it would be easy to hear each other in the back.
Millie led him to a small circle of men and women. He recognized them. They were part of Eddie’s inner circle, the stronger and more active members of their pack. Adam stood straighter as he approached, putting an ease into his steps and a laxness in his shoulders that spoke of confidence. It was a stance he had watched Eddie adopt countless times. They all looked up as he and Millie stepped up to them, their small circle opening to accommodate them. Each member nodded respectfully.
“Tell him what you told me.” Millie said, hitting right to the heart of the matter with an air of authority that had Adam bristling. She wasn’t the Alpha. She wasn’t even the official Alpha female. Yet she was here, hearing important news before him.
He had to mentally shake himself, grit his teeth. He shouldn’t be surprised. He had been trying to catch a moment to breathe, distracted with thoughts of Josh, while Millie had been doing who knew what. She always made it a point to know everyone’s business. He had to take it with a grain of salt.
The group glanced at each other, nodding for one of them to speak.
A man by the name of Levi turned to him, expression set firm and grave. Adam found himself mirroring it, adapting to the situation. “There’s been a lot of movement from the New Moon Pack,” Levi said, and Adam immediately bristled. Levi went on, voice low and hushed. “We’ve been keeping an eye on the area where Eddie was found. It’s neutral territory, and no one usually goes there. But they’ve been seen around there in high numbers.”
“They look suspicious,” Lily cut in, her voice sharp and eyes hard. “They know that we found the body. They know we found it there. They’re scenting the entire area, pushing past their territory lines.”
“It’s aggressive maneuvering, is what it is,” Neil grumbled, looking down at the drink in his hand, brows pulled tightly together. “They killed our Alpha and now they’re flaunting it in our faces. If that isn’t an act of war, I don’t know what is.”
“We have no proof that they killed Eddie,” Adam snapped, voice even and cold, one that left no room for argument. “Unless there’s been more evidence we’ve found that hasn’t been brought to my attention.” He looked around the circle, making eye contact with each of them until they looked away first. “I didn’t think so.”
“Something has to be done,” Millie said, turning to him. Her expression mirrored the tense atmosphere. “Whether they did it or not, they’re still acting suspicious and abnormal. They’re pushing their boundaries, and that territory is neutral to keep our packs separate. Territories right up against each other can result in serious conflict, which we don’t need.”
Adam pursed his lips. She had a point, but he also didn’t want to show aggression and risk sparking a war, either. It was clear where they stood, he could smell it in their scent, the adrenaline and the anger. But that was just it. They were angry and they were hurt. They wanted revenge for a crime that hadn’t been solved. And as Alpha, he had to be the voice of reason and the leash around their necks, lest they end up destroying themselves.
Plus, he didn’t want a war. He wanted their pack to continue in peace.
To ensure that was the case, he had to keep the pack calm while also keeping them sated enough that they didn’t challenge his rule.
“What do we do?” Levi asked, and Adam suddenly felt all eyes on him. They were eager and expectant, hurt and angry and determined.
He refused to show them his own indecision and uncertainty, keeping his face calm and strong and his posture confident. “We’ll discuss this at a time when we’re not at the club,” he said firmly, making warning eye contact with everyone. “This weekend, I’ll call for a council at the pack house and we’ll discuss it there. No one acts without my permission, got it?”
He didn’t leave until he got nods and signs of submission from all of them, including Millie.
He turned then, intent on mingling with his pack for the rest of the night in hopes of getting his mind off of everything. It didn’t work. The short discussion hung over him like a shadow, dread filling his gut.
His thoughts of Josh were balms that didn’t help enough, especially when his phone died and what little communication they had was cut off.
_________________________
“So...” Adam said, letting his voice trail off.
“So...” Josh echoed. The tail end of it was cut off with a wide yawn that he tried to stifle with the back of his hand.
“You’re tired,” Adam said.
“No, I’m not,” Josh grumbled. He rolled onto his side, and the camera whirled as he adjusted. When he settled, he was curled up on his side, arms propped up under his pillow. His phone must have been propped up on another pillow so that Adam could still see him.
“You’re cute,” he said softly.
Josh made a strangled, embarrassed sound and buried his face in his pillow, peering at his phone through narrowed eyes. “Shut up,” he mumbled, voice muffled.
“You don’t mean that.” Adam chuckled, and Josh only made a hum of acknowledgement. Adam onto his stomach, collecting his own pillows under his chest to prop him up. He held his phone out in front of him. “It’s getting late.” It was nearing midnight, and they had been talking via FaceTime for nearly three hours.
“Don’t wanna sleep,” Josh mumbled, stifling another yawn with the pillow.
Adam smiled fondly. That smile never seemed to go away when Josh was around. “We have to get up early. We have work tomorrow.”
“I know, I know,” Josh huffed, adjusting and pulling his face out of the pillow. He laid his head down, blinking owlishly at the camera. “I don’t get to see you at the office tomorrow though...”
Adam’s heart clenched as his stomach fluttered. Josh never failed to make him feel like his world was off kilter. “No, but you’ll get to see me the day after that.”
“Not soon enough...”
“Someone’s getting greedy.”
“Shut up...” Josh mumbled, eyes dropping as his fingers played with the sheets.
“I think it’s cute.”
Josh looked up, his small smile breaking through his pout. He looked back down, speaking softly and shyly. “I think you’re cute...”
They laid in silence for several moments, though it wasn’t strained or uncomfortable. It wasn’t the same as having Josh in bed with him. He couldn’t smell him or feel his warmth or run his hands over the smooth expanse of his skin. But it was good enough when he couldn’t have those things.
“So...” He said.
“So...” Josh echoed.
“Tomorrow’s the full moon...”
Josh nodded, rubbing his face on the pillow as he hummed. “Yeah, I know.”
Adam knew that he knew. Shifters were always aware of it, more so than the days of the week or the numbers on a calendar. They felt the moon phases in their bones, calling
out to their blood, making their eyes turn skyward whenever the sun fell.
“My skin has been itching all day.” Josh scratched his arm as if to demonstrate, then shivered. “I hate the pre-moon days. I always feel restless and like my skin is too tight. And everything is so loud and smells so strong.”
Adam hummed, leaning his cheek against his arm. “Yeah. It’s always hard to sit still at the office on those days. Tomorrow will be worse.”
Josh groaned. “Don’t remind me. I have back-to-back meetings tomorrow. I’m going to have to spend my breaks walking around the block or else I’ll go crazy.”
Adam let the silence stretch again before broaching the next thing on his mind. “Will you be okay?”
Josh’s brows creased, eyes narrowing in confusion. “What’d you mean?”
Adam made a vague gesture with his free hand. “You know... Do you have a place to go? To run?”
At that his confusion cleared, and Josh rolled his eyes. “I’ve been living here for several years now, Adam. I’ll be fine.”
It was crazy, Adam thought, that they had lived so close to each other and worked in the same city for years but had never met before. It wasn’t too surprising. The city was huge, and there were plenty of outskirt cities around it. And Adam didn’t actually live in the city proper, but off to the side. His pack only had a fraction of the area outside the city marked as their territory, just a southern corner. There was a patch of woods in the area that was surrounded by empty fields where they spent their full moon runs. Most of it was property owned by the pack itself, and it kept them safe.
There were plenty of other supernaturals living in the city that Adam had never met. Their rival pack was the other biggest grouping of werewolves, but he wouldn’t be surprised if there were smaller packs around, not to mention lone wolves.
Still, it didn’t stop him from being awed by the fact that someone so perfect had been living practically under his nose for years.
