Sean cautiously made his way down the steps. Gesturing for Nathan to follow, he told him a little shyly. "This way." Sean's mom let out a throaty growl as Nathan slipped around her. Nathan avoided her eyes to keep from accepting her challenge, following Sean through the living room. His dad tapped Sean's shoulder, coaxing the plushy fox from his hands as he told him softly. "I'll warm him up for you." Sean handed the plushy off, going to the sliding glass door to push it open. When Sean looked back to see if Nathan was following, he saw him looking around at everything like he was impressed by it. Leaning back against the frame of the door, Sean asked him gently. "Do they not have houses like this in the city?" Nathan shook his head, answering casually as he approached him. "Not like this. We have apartment buildings. They aren't designed anything like this." Sean raised an eyebrow, questioning softly. "What are they like?" Nathan reached past him to slide the screen open, upon answering with a smile. "They are... probably what you'd call a large room." Sean inhaled Nathan's scent, his mind getting a little fuzzy from it. Quickly stepping outside in the hopes that the fresh air would dilute his scent, he bashfully mumbled out. "Sounds like you don't have a lot of room in the city."

Nathan followed him out, sliding the screen door shut as he replied nonchalantly. "Well... How much room does one person need, really?" Sean absently made his way out under the backyard's wooden awning. The light breezy tan curtains were tied back to the posts since no one was out here, but usually they were closed to keep the bugs out and to shade the area nicely from the intense sun on sunny summer days. Nathan stumbled a bit as he looked out at their yard, stating aloud. "Holy shit... I knew you Valley types had yards, but... Wow." Sean shuffled his feet and looked around the backyard. He didn't think it was anything really special. Here in the Valley this was normal. Everyone had yards similar to it. Under the awning was a little stone firepit with plush wicker chairs around it. At the far side of the awning was a small outdoor brick kitchen to grill or make outdoor foods. Farther out in the yard was a narrow in ground pool with a jacuzzi on one side. While the other had his mom's raised garden and a hammock to lounge in. The entire yard was surrounded in a high wooden fence. Then around the fence and awning were hanging twinkling lights that could be turned on for extra lighting at night.

Nathan chuckled as he explored around the yard, grinning out. "In the city, we are lucky to get a balcony. You guys are pampered." Sean rubbed his neck a bit anxiously, asking guiltily. "You say that like it is a bad thing." Nathan shook his head, retorting quickly. "Oh, no. I mean no offense by it. It has just been a long time since I've seen a pack like this." Sean moved to stand by an awning post, putting a little distance between himself and Nathan. Wrapping an arm around the post, Sean played with the curtain tie, curiously questioning him. "Don't you have a pack? Back at the school, you said...?" Nathan rested his arms on the back of a chair by the firepit, shrugging out honestly. "It's not the same. We aren't close. We are more like a group of people that gets together occasionally. Most of the time, we are out doing our own things. We look out for ourselves." Sean couldn't help smiling as he saw Nathan sway his hips a little like he was wagging a tail. Looking away, he told him softly. "How does that work? Don't you have a lead Alpha that sets rules for everyone?" Nathan rolled his eyes, moving away from the chair to walk across the yard as he told him. "Oh sure. We have a lead Alpha like everyone. But our lead Alpha doesn't set rules like others do. If we have problems, we are expected to handle it ourselves. Makes us wise and strong. Independent."

Nathan jumped up the raised garden wall, making Sean cringe. His mom had never let him do that. Jogging over, Sean tried to beckon him down before his mom saw him, saying a bit grimly. "I guess with no Omegas to protect... Alphas and Betas are free to be themselves then?" Nathan hopped down in front of him, leaning in close to purr to him in a smooth voice that made Sean blush. "I wouldn't say that... Omegas like you are just too clever to be runaways." Sean crossed his arms, uttering out a little defensively. "You're pulling my leg, aren't you?" Nathan shook his head, staring into his eyes to reply without hesitation. "Now why would I do a thing like that?" Nathan circled him slowly, whispering to him in a playful tone. "What reason does an Omega have leave their pack? You have guys like me wrapped around your finger... With the snap of your fingers, you can have me on all fours." Sean shuffled his feet, watching Nathan circle him. Their eyes locked on each other, until Sean was feeling a little breathless. Shaking his head, Sean whispered back as Nathan stopped circling him. "You're wrong. No Alpha or Beta would lower themselves that much. It ruins their reputation as big badass dogs."

Nathan brought his forehead close to Sean's, whispering to him in a light but serious tone of voice. "Your Valley dogs are all bark and no bite... They don't know how lucky they are to have you." Sean found himself speechless and mesmerized by Nathan's words. He couldn't believe a Beta like this existed. It felt too good to be true, but his heart was running laps in his ribs at the thought of having found someone who saw him in such a way. He felt suddenly... special. Sean bit his lip, when Nathan very lightly pressed his forehead to his and told him so unabashedly. "Go ahead. I can take it. Command me." Sean rolled his eyes in doubt, stepping back a bit to get his breathing under control. Nathan didn't move though. He just stared at him through those long dark bangs. His big mysterious dark brown eyes seemed to challenge him playfully. Crossing his arms over his chest, Sean told him flatly. "I'm not going to do it just so you can laugh at me. I don't have any influence to make you do anything... and you should know that." Nathan shook his head in disbelief, starting to circle around him again as he said softly. "They sound insecure to me. Intimated by Omegas... I'm amazed they find mates at all." Sean clenched his jaw, about to snap at him for insinuating that Omegas were weak, but Nathan added over his shoulder in a smooth voice. "I wouldn't mind you putting me in my place."

Sean blinked, his anger vanishing in an instant. He hadn't expected that. Nathan stood before him, practically cooing to him a bit sassily. "Keep me honest. Deflate my ego. Make me work for it. I'm not afraid to be stared down." Sean opened his mouth but couldn't bring himself to say anything. No one ever talked to him like this. What could he say? Turning quickly, Sean walked toward the firepit, chuckling out under his breath. "Why on earth would you want me to do that to you? What would your friends think?" Nathan jogged out to cut him off, then slowly walked toward him, causing Sean to back up slowly. Nathan gave him a warm smile, openly telling him. "My friends wouldn't care. Sure, they'd tease me a little... but none of it would be directed your way. All of us knew coming here that we'd never stand a chance. So, why would I waste my time hurting you like that. I want to get to know you better. Not push you away." Sean backed into the fence and gasped in surprise. Nathan put his hands on the fence over his shoulders, whispering to him in a charming voice. "If you don't believe me. Put me to the test. I don't have a reputation to ruin. And I don't think it's weak to present myself to you. Judge me however want. I'm shameless."

Sean extended out a hand to touch Nathan's chest hesitantly. He did it only to keep Nathan at arm's length, but the second he touched his warm shirt... Sean swallowed. He could feel Nathan's muscles beneath his band shirt. Then the way Nathan bowed his head to see what he was doing had Sean jerking his hand off him. Slowly Nate looked back up into his eyes, telling him in a beautiful low voice. "You can touch me if you want. It's alright with me." Sean licked his dry lips, his hands practically moving out to Nathan's hips on their own. His fingers slid over the jean fabric, tracing the bottom of Nathan's leather belt. With how close he was, his body was starting to react to Nathan's scent. His mind was fogging over with the idea of pulling Nathan against him to let his warm body dull the returning ache of his joints. Just as his fingers curled around his belt loops, Nathan leaned in closer to his neck. Sean tilted his head back, pulling gently to coax him closer. Nathan's breath on his neck gave him goosebumps, before his dad called out across the yard. "Sean? Are you ok?" Sean jerked out of his clouded state, ducking quickly under Nathan's arm as he said breathlessly. "Ya... Ya! I'm good. Just talking."

His dad didn't look convinced as he uttered out casually. "Is that what the puppies are calling it these days...?" Sean blushed a bright red, heading to a chair around the firepit, replying guiltily. "No. I was... We were..." His dad held out the plushy fox and Sean lost his train of thought. Taking the plushy, Sean felt the heat radiating off it and hugged it to his chest. Dropping into a seat, his dad looked to Nathan and said neutrally. "Here. You can use my portable DVD player to watch your movie. Right here. By the firepit." Sean dropped into a chair, grumbling out. "Dad... What do you think he's going to do?" Sean's dad huffed, telling Sean bluntly. "Is that a trick question? Keep in mind that you wouldn't be here had I let my dad chase your mother off." Nathan chuckled, dropping into a seat, before raising his hands in surrender and replying calmly. "I'll keep my hands where you can see them." Sean's dad narrowed his eyes on Nathan but muttered out swiftly. "It's not your hands I'm worried about." Sean dropped his face into his hand with embarrassment. His dad had never embarrassed him like this before. Nathan lifted his legs to rest them on the firepit, making a show of crossing them for good measure.

Removing the movie from his jacket, he handed it to Sean and asked kindly. "Mind putting this in for me. I'm afraid to put my legs down." Sean took the DVD and leaned forward to put it into the player. While Sean's dad slipped back inside, admitting calmly. "It's not me you need to worry about. It's his mother. So, if you don't want to lose it... keep it in your pants." Sean jerked his head up, stating aloud. "DAD!" Nathan chuckled to himself, crossing his arms as he leaned back in the chair and said warmly. "I like your parents." Sean hid his flushed face, mumbling out. "They aren't normally like this..." Nathan shrugged, replying lightly. "You're their puppy. They want you safe from... naughty pups like me." Sean pressed play and sat back in his own chair as he said. "You're not a bad guy. I'm sure your parents would think I'm the bad one." In response, Nathan blurted out. "I wouldn't know. I didn't know my parents that well." Sean turned his head to look at him with wide eyes, prompting Nathan to tell him nonchalantly. "My mom was apart of a pack like this one to the far East. She a... She got pregnant by an Alpha from a rival pack. She loved him. He didn't love her. She tried to return to her pack with me... The pack wouldn't take her. So, she went where all the Wolves that are kicked out of their packs go. The City."

Nathan tilted his head back, sighing as he added. "She died shortly after. She didn't have a lot of money. Every cent she made went to feeding me. After that... I survived on my own." Sean gawked at him. He couldn't imagine living through something like that. Hugging the fox to himself, he sadly told him. "I'm sorry... That must have been awful... How did you... feed yourself after?" Nathan gestured off, telling him more positively. "Don't be. It's not your fault. Besides, I got by. I learned to hunt rats, squirrels, pigeons. Now I go hunting with my packmates to the mountains every month on the full moon. When I'm not doing that, I work at a bar by my apartment. So, I'm doing fine. I'm happy and content." Sean pulled his legs up in the seat, leaning on the chair arm to be a little closer to Nathan. Reaching out to touch his arm, Sean told him in a comforting voice. "I'm glad. I don't know if I'd be if I was in your shoes." Nathan smiled at him, then shifted just a little in his seat to face him better, before asking curiously. "Can I ask you something?" Sean nodded, removing his hand off Nathan's arm, when he noticed his mom looking out the kitchen window.

Nathan stared deep into his eyes, asking swiftly. "That Alpha before at school. The one that Rutted. Do you like him?" Sean tensed a little, turning his attention to the movie as he uttered out under his breath. "It's complicated." Nathan's voice was so causal when he told him. "I see. When I saw him leave earlier... I wasn't sure." Sean raised an eyebrow, retorting suspiciously. "You saw him leave?" Nathan nodded, admitting truthfully. "Ya. I followed your scent home because I didn't know where you lived... and when I got here, he was leaving. He's your lead Alpha's son, isn't he?" Sean nodded, mumbling out. "Ya... How did you-?" Nathan smirked, cutting in honestly. "I've seen enough of them to tell. He'd been sizing me up since he saw me in the cafeteria. I think he can sense that I'm a threat to his position." Sean eyed Nathan, asking cautiously. "His position?" Nathan's eyes turned to look at him, his fingers traced over his lower lip as he said confidently. "Ya. He is going to try and be the next lead Alpha, right? If he wants it, he's got to go through me." Sean scoffed a little, stating out. "That will be tough. Mark's family is undefeated. He's been training for it. And no Beta has ever become the lead Alpha."

Nathan leaned closer to Sean's face, whispering to him in that charming voice of his. "I am." Sean blinked with a perplexed look. Nathan leaned in more to bring his lips to his ear, whispering discreetly. "I'm the new lead Alpha of the City Wolves. Lexus is pretending to be our new lead Alpha, because I didn't want to draw attention to myself. But it appears that I can't pull the wool over his eyes." Sean's jaw dropped. Nathan leaned back a little, chuckling out. "I came here to expand my territory and see if any of the Omegas might present themselves to me at the festival." Sean huffed with a smile, chuckling out. "Wow. Why would you tell me this?" Nathan blushed a little but told him honestly. "I wanted you to hear it from me. I have a feeling the secret would stay that way for long... and I don't want you thinking that I was lying to you. I am interested in you, Sean. And... maybe once you get to know me... You'll let me claim you." Sean's heart ached at his words, tilting his head to bring his lips to Nathan's as he whispered out. "You are making it very hard for me to hate you..." Nathan brushed his lips over his, whispering beautifully through a smile. "Then maybe I should steal a kiss from you?" Sean leaned back a little in hesitation, but Nathan leaned in to kiss him.

Sean whimpered a little in surprise but liked it. This wasn't how he had imagined his first kiss... but it still felt special. He liked how confident Nathan was. He knew what he wanted. There was a maturity about him that was intoxicating. He was independent and strong. Everything he wanted to be. When Nathan broke the kiss, he told him seriously. "Sean. Go inside." Sean opened his eyes, uttering out. "What...?" Nathan opened his eyes, his eyes changing from a human's dark brown to a wolf's dark brown. Sean bolted up to his feet, hugging his plushy fox in fright. Nathan slowly got to his feet, moving out to the center of the lawn as a large light brown werewolf leapt over the fence. The light brown werewolf landed on powerful hind legs behind the pool, its eyes locked on Nathan as it snarled. Nathan grabbed the sides of his jacket, sliding it off his arms. The light brown werewolf walked like a human around the pool, its long tail swaying menacingly as its ears fell back. Sean glanced up at the sky. It wasn't a full moon, but he'd heard rumors that an Alpha could force their transformation if they were pissed enough to trigger the rage of the beast within. He'd never known anyone that had even witnessed it though. Backing up into the wall of his house, he watched Nathan growl out to the werewolf. "You really don't want to do this. Trust me."

The light brown werewolf rolled its broad shoulders and as its scent traveled on the breeze, Sean uttered out in complete shock. "Oh, sweet Noctiluna... Mark?" Nathan shrugged, quickly stripping down as fast as he could as he yelled out in voice that grew deeper and more terrifying. "FINE!" The second his clothes were off enough, Nathan let out a deep growl and transformed into a large black werewolf! Sean thought he'd pass out from the powerful effect of their growls as they tried to overwhelm the other with their influence. To Be Continued...