Double upload ahead so keep in mind there's another one after this. Don't bother reading if you don't have time for this and the next chapter because they kind of run into each other.

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::CHAPTER 28::

Danyel’s POV

If it were anyone else, I’d shove them hard enough that their mom would feel their wrist snapping long before they did. But it wasn’t anyone else. It was Richie sprawled out across me sleeping too deeply to realize that his weight had put my leg to sleep or that he was drooling on my shirt.

I looked down at the unsightly bird’s nest trying to pass itself off as his hair. It was an unfortunate result of his constant rolling in his sleep meshed with him not drying his hair properly and his hair natural state of messiness. His cheek was imprinted with lines from the crumpled material of my shirt. The same shirt that he’d adamantly insisted on making his pillow for the past few hours. I rolled my eyes for probably the fifth time since I’d gotten up however long ago.

Ignoring the hot mess cuddled against me, I tried to wiggle my toes and winced at the pins and needles sensation. Yes. If it were anyone else, I’d definitely wake them up. Instead I rest my chin on top of his head because, as uncomfortable as this position was, he was my hot mess and I had a habit of letting him do what he wanted. That said, I kept my mouth shut and didn’t complain.

I let him sniffle and huff. He tugged at my shirt in his sleep and tangled his legs with mine like the clingy, restless octopus he was probably dreaming he was.

It was kind of cute if I was being totally honest. Never mind that the physical size of him outstripped mine only enough that I was faced with just how much of him there was. Spread out, sprawled off, stretched across; encroaching on every inch of my skin he could get into contact with. Moving when he wanted more.

Tucking a strand of his bird’s nest behind his ear, I watched him relax more into his sleep and give a soft hum. I don’t know how it was possible, but sometimes it was almost like the mating affected him the same as me although it should have been one sided. It made me wonder if we would get to a point where it would work the same as normal matings too. Maybe he’d feel it just like I did.

A part of me didn’t want that. I preferred him to not be bound to a relationship that would make things so much more difficult for him when the shit hit the fan. At the same time, I was selfish enough to think to hell with that. The latter was winning out more and more the longer he stayed here. I should feel bad about it, but I didn’t. Especially not after those inner demons he’d confessed last night.

Richie, more than anyone, deserved everything good. He deserved a mating that was smooth sailing. Like Asher and his mate. Or Uncle and Aunty. He deserved to know what was happening.

I was yet to fully commit to a decision, but I was thinking on it long and hard because when the fated moment came I had to have an answer. Beyond that, I also had to prepare for the possibility that Richie’s answer may or may not match my own. It was a very real thing that I had to brace my wolf for. I’d long accepted that probability in a way that I doubted the animal could.

At first I didn’t pay attention to Richie moving. He’d been doing that all along after all, twisting one way or shuffling the other. I only turned to him when I spotted his head rising up. A pair of super sleepy, chilled blue eyes blinked up at me. “We really need to stop waking up like this,” he murmured in a voice hoarse and broken from lack of use. The familiar words reminded me of the morning he’d left. He’d said the same thing.

Things had been so much different then. So much easier. In retrospect, it seemed obvious that we’d be mated. Our friendship had never been like the others I’d seen. Even while platonic, there always felt like there was more to it. Something that shouldn’t be broken or toyed with.

“Yeah, we do,” I agreed, “You’re squishing me.” I poked him in the ribs and I was beyond pleased to find that he was still as ticklish as ever. I filed away that for later. He unzipped the sleeping bag and let in the early morning breeze slip in.

It felt cool against my skin after a warm night in the bag with someone who didn’t have any concept of ‘my side and your side’ of beds. I wasn’t complaining of course. I’d have every night be like last night if I had my way. Richie had always been bigger and heavier. I wasn’t any stranger in being smothered in limbs and affection. Richie was like an animal scent-marking someone he’d accepted as his. It was hard not to feel a little buoyant at the thought.

“Hey,” he rolled onto his back and checked the time, “We’d better get our swimming done quick so we can get you to school, huh?”

“Noooo,” I ducked further into the sleeping bag.

“You dragged me all the way to your deserted island and you won’t even go swimming with me?” Richie sat on top my back, “Who does that?”

“Oh, I’ll go swimming,” I assured him, “But I’m not going to school today when I can hang out on my own private island.”

“But we’re almost out of food. Do you plan to starve?”

“It’s okay,” I said I said with a wistful sigh, “We lived good lives. Maybe it’s our time.”

“I am not starving on this island because you don’t want to go do Math,” he lied down on my back.

“We can die together. It’ll be majestic. The Tragic End of Richard and Danyel. They’ll make a movie about us.”

“Yeah. The guy who hated school so much that he preferred to starve but then his wolf got hungry and decided to tear their friend to shreds.”

“I smell a box office hit.”

“But what about the anniversary party?” he swapped tactics, “You promised to come with me.”

“You could just–.”

“–And you wouldn’t stand me up,” he rest his chin on my shoulder, “would you?”

I shimmied until he slid off my back and onto the ground with a thud! I made sure he knew that I wasn’t happy that he’d won this one. I wasn’t happy about it at all.

He was positively beaming at my scowl and pat my cheek, “I knew you were a gentleman all along. Come on, grouchy.” He hoisted me up by the hand and we brushed our teeth outside in the early morning breeze.

Now that we were up and moving, it was hard not to be fully awake and anxious to go out and do something. Richie ran down to the beach pulling off his shirt as he went. At the animal’s insistence, I stripped out of my clothes and shifted into second form.

Richie was already swimming outward by the time I caught up to him. He didn’t seem at all shocked to see the wolf bounding into the waves and doing his best to swim to him. Doggy paddling over, the wolf stuck his nose in the air and swished his tail. “Oh God,” Richie’s face crumpled into a grin, “I wish I had a camera. This is the cutest thing.” The wolf yapped at him and continued on his merry way sloshing water around in his wake.

Richie bundled the furry animal in his arms and accepted the lick to the face. Neither of them paid me any attention, preferring to dodge waves and splash at each other. It was an odd feeling to be nearly submerged in imaginary water or to feel the sting of salt water in my eyes even when it hadn’t really touched them. I complained only a little but the wolf took extra care in the water after that.

I have no idea how long the three of us were there, but Richie was staring at his watch suddenly. “Guys we have to go. You’re going to be late,” he said. The wolf growled at him before returning his attention to the water. “C’mon. We have to finish getting our stuff together and bathe and everything. Get out,” he moved to touch the wolf. I told him to growl again and he did. “Shut up,” Richie glared back at him, “We both know that you won’t attack me.”

The wolf paused and pondered on it. It was true. “See?” he face was smug now as he lifted the wolf up in his arms again, “Now you’re coming with me and I want you to shift back so we can get ready to leave.”

Being the little bastard that I was, I did just that. In his arms. While he was still holding us, I shifted forms. At first he froze and stared while it happened. That was before I was staring back up at him with human eyes and a gaze far too innocent to actually be innocent. It was easy to tell exactly when the situation began to dawn on him.

“Did you just shift while I’m holding you?” he asked quietly.

“Essentially.”

“Which means you are sitting butt naked in my arms right now?”

“Essentially.”

“Ahmose, Nye!” he dropped me in the water going red and spinning around.

Laughing, I swam back to shore and walked all the way back up to the castle. He’d definitely be getting an eyeful if he hadn’t looked away in time. You’re being extra bad today. When am I not? You think that was a good idea? It’s not like he’s never seen me naked. Things are different now. We’re…older. And I’m allowed to enjoy that.

It said a lot about how often we were in each other’s space that Richie could time how long it took me to bathe and dress. He was back at the castle just as I put on my other shoe. He pointed at me, “You’re terrible.” I gave a shrug, unabashed as ever.

He hid a smile and got ready while I finished putting our stuff together from the room. When he came inside, I left him to get dressed while I carried down the things to the cruiser and loaded it up.

He met me not long after and we set course back home with a sufficient amount of complaining and bitching on my behalf. He just flashed a couple of indulgent smiles and patted my back like I was some kind of pet. I would not admit that it was calming. No. He was smug enough as it was.

It was a long enough ride that we polished off the last of the sandwiches and juices along the way, enjoying our last moments on the sea. The fresh air, the salt water smell, the gorgeous view; it was all kinds of hard to leave behind. I glanced over to the other side of the cruiser to see Richie looking back at the island, a wistful expression on his face. “Thanks a lot for this trip, Nye,” his voice was soft, “I really needed the time away.” I didn’t respond because he didn’t need me to.

I sensed more than heard him nearing me. At first he moved from a seat on the opposite edge of the cruiser to one at the center edge behind my back. Then he shuffled over to the edge closest to the driver’s bench seat. It was long enough to fit two people.

I waited for him to stop playing around and just come sit, but he was idling nearby. Hovering like he was new to this whole I-want-to-be-near-you thing we’ve always dealt with. I glanced over again and he was toying with the railing. It seemed to take more deliberation than was necessary before he slid into the seat beside me.

“About time,” I turned to him, “What was all of that?”

“Trying to find somewhere comfortable to sit.”

“Restless as always. I’d think you were Chosen if I didn’t know better,” I said nudging at his shoulder.

His lips tipped up at that, “I don’t think I’d mind that so much.”

“Would make things easier,” I agreed.

He didn’t ask what things and I didn’t explain. He probably knew what I meant. What happened between us yesterday wasn’t something to forget. It didn’t matter that I was giving him time to get used to the idea of it being okay.

“I’ll miss you when I go,” he said.

“Same.” It wasn’t what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it, but it’s what came out.

“At least we know how to keep in better contact this time.”

“Thank goodness for that. For the record, hating you is exhausting,” I replied. He shot me a look but looked amused by it anyways. We didn’t say anything more as I got the cruiser to land.

Auto was already waiting none too patiently to see his vehicle again. You would think it was more than a few hours or that we’d thrown a party on the thing. I gave him the keys to his cruiser and he gave Richie the keys to the sports car he’d babysat for the night. Auto had been thrilled at the thought of keeping the car in his garage overnight. We didn’t get expensive rides like that in the shop.

While we loaded the car up with our stuff, Auto inspected every inch of his cruiser. He wasn’t pleased to find a couple of stray potato chips on the floor and had us hand vacuum it up. Richie wasn’t happy about that as it meant that we had to stall longer and I was getting later for class. He frowned extra hard when I told him that I hadn’t bothered to back my schoolbag in the hopes that he’d let me skip.

It was well into the recess period by the time the car pulled up to the front of the school. He kicked me out before I could even turn on my best wolf pup begging face. I could even partial shift and give him the sad ears. He knew my tricks too well and left me grumbling to myself as he drove away shouting, “Survive the day!” out of the window and not looking back.

Once I checked the time, I groaned more. I’d gotten here right when classes were about to resume. A few more weeks and I’ll be out of here. That upped my mood enough to start walking into the school.

I went around the bend where the younger kids played and the older ones goofed around. From this angle, I couldn’t be seen very easily but I could see the rest of the open space as well as a pair of guys talking not too far away.

Orion was leaning against the wall in what was a purposely non-threatening, unaggressive stance. He was being careful here. My eyes turned on the other person and I smiled. It was our waiter. That explains Orion’s easy smile and not-so-secretly flirty body language.

Dude. What? Dude, he totally wants the booty. Orion? And the human? Watch the tone. We’re just as bad as he is. Except we and Richie are mated. They’re only…them. But I suppose if he makes Orion happy, that’s not too bad. You’re a hypocrite.

He didn’t respond. His focus was on what they were saying. I hadn’t originally set out to mind their business, but that’s not to say that I couldn’t use this spot to thoroughly do it anyway.

“I’ve got to have something to call you. Give me a middle name at least.”

“A middle name? You’re really grasping at straws here, Orion.” The tone was playful.

“I’ll stop asking if you tell me that much.”

“I’m not sure,” the boy stroked his chin, “Are you sure you can handle it? A whole name?”

“Shut up and tell me,” Orion said around a laugh.

“It’s Zavier.”

“Zavier. I like it,” Orion’s eyes dropped to the tattoos, “It suits you.”

“Hmm. It probably does now,” he pondered aloud, “Oh well. We’ll talk later?”

“You’re leaving already?” Orion called to his retreating back just as the bell rang. The boy gestured at the sound. “How do you keep doing that?”

All he got was a laugh in return and the boy left for class. I followed them both after a beat. Orion wanted to know all about why I was late and we spent a bit of time whispering about the trip he was only hearing about now.

It was way more interesting than this History lesson I’d read up on like two weeks ago anyways. I’d even finished the paper due next week already. I was done waiting for school to challenge me. It was a way better use of my time to do the work early and slack off after.

Orion on the other hand still had notes to take so I left him to it while I checked on my animal. You’re quiet today. You still alive in there? Barely. Death by boredom is a slow way to go. Efficient though, don’t you think? Very. I was thinking. Do you think Asher still has the name of Orion’s orange topped human? We call it red hair, dude. But maybe. I don’t know. You did have Orion ask the man to run a background check on the boy, right? If anyone would know his name, it’s Asher. I think we just got confirmation that he’s good, Asher didn’t get a name.

I didn’t ponder on it too hard. My fingers were already typing away at my phone, messaging Asher. I asked him to find out for me. If it was one thing that had rubbed off on me after dating Orion for so long, it was the curiosity. We’ve known about this guy for a couple of days and all we knew was a middle name. Not that either of them knew that I knew his middle name. That was beside the point.

The class was nearly over when the phone vibrated. It had taken Asher so long to text back that I was half surprised to see a message from him. When I read it, I almost dropped the thing. Of all the responses, I hadn’t thought of that.

The message read: I couldn’t remember so I got a hold of someone who did the check for me the last time. The boy’s name is Kevin Zavier MacQueen.

Kevin Zavier MacQueen. You think it’s our old Kevin? It must be. It’s kind of obvious now. Why else would he keep himself anonymous? But that guy’s nothing like Kevin. Which is why I didn’t think of it. I looked to the human half of the class and frowned at the boy busy scribbling down notes.

“What’s with you?” Orion asked looking behind at Kevin and back and me, “Why are you staring at him like that?”

“No reason.”

“Liar. I was watching you. Your phone vibrated and you read something from it and now you’re being weird.”

“You’re being weird,” I grumbled back.

“Such wit,” Orion deadpanned, “What, does it have something to do with him?”

“Seriously. It’s nothing really.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind,” he snatched the phone, “if I took a peek?”

I scowled. There was no way to reach over and grab it from the angle Orion held it at. I’d call too much attention to myself and get my cell confiscated. “Give it back, Orion,” I hissed. He and I usually were pretty cool with our phones. I could go through his and vice versa without much fuss. Without a doubt, watching me put up a fight about this had made him want to know more.

Kevin and I had never been close friends. In fact, today was the first time I’d found out his surname. What person didn’t even know their friend’s last name? We’d had the same classes, spent all day together in the same school and I hadn’t thought to ask once. It didn’t matter because I still had enough loyalty to want to protect his identity. He clearly didn’t want Orion to know yet. I didn’t want to be the one to let it slip.

At this point it was far too late to worry about that. Orion was reading the message saying, “Kevin Zavier?” aloud. His mind reeled and he turned to watch Kevin, then the phone, then me. I could see him on the verge of freaking out once he put two and two together.

“Calm down, Ri. It’s not that bad,” I whispered.

“It’s Kevin,” he hissed which would usually translate to ‘of course it’s that bad’.

“Yeah, but to be fair he’s certainly cute.”

“But it’s Kevin. I hate Kevin.”

“Hated,” I pointed out, “Past tense. Now you want the booty.”

“Oh my god,” he groaned, “And I wanted to… I mean I thought about… With…”

“I think I’m glad you’re incapable of finishing those sentences,” I shook my head.

“I flirted with Kevin.”

“This is actually really funny,” I sniggered, “You and him. After you spent forever thinking he was annoying.”

“Shut up.”

“Kevin and Orion sitting in a tree,” I sang, “K.I.S.S–.”

“–Don’t you dare.”

“ I.N.G.” I beamed at him, “Hey, am I invited to the wedding?”

“You are a horrible person.”

“Maybe that’s how I ran you into his arms instead,” I laughed.

“I hate you.”

“Whatever you say, Mrs. MacQueen.”

“Is that even a real last name? Sounds made up,” Orion eyed the text message before tossing the phone back to me, “I need air. My wolf needs air. Lots of it.”

He got up and left, the teacher not questioning him at all. The adults here tended to give him space what with his wolf’s on and off anger issues. They did the same for me, though my animal was far more easy-going. They didn’t particularly trust mine as much as they trusted Orion’s wolf.

I didn’t see Orion at all during lunch and then we had a double period of elective classes after that. In the end, I didn’t meet him again until school was over. He seemed in a better mood if not quiet. I didn’t bother him. Orion was a thinker. He had to go over things again and again in his mind, piece things together and analyze. He didn’t go with his gut or his initial thought. Whatever Orion chose to do, I could be sure that he’d deliberated over it good and hard.

He was used to my teasing. He knew I didn’t mean anything by it. In fact, had he known it was Kevin before hand, he would have definitely come to me expecting it. Instead he rolled with the punches and let me at it. It was the opposite at training today.

Orion gave as good as he got and didn’t hesitate to utilize the presence of his wolf to shove and flip me during a sparring session. He knew I didn’t trust my own animal presence to do the same. Maybe if I were sparring with Asher I’d chance it. I had to use the Chosen sixth sense to try and track the presence of the animal once it left the other boy’s body.

Once I was done with him, he moved on to Kenny who had her own tactics for dealing with Orion. She knew she couldn’t use her size or strength as an advantage; he was bigger yet slender and the Pack Second. Kenny was one for using her weight, speed and cunning. She could run, dart, leap at high heights and angles. She moved at speeds that got to the best of us. Add that to her skill in tactics and scheming, she had a couple of not-strictly-textbook moves to get her out of a jam.

You always knew when Kenny was sparring because the words “That’s not fair! Is she allowed to do that?” always ring out at least once. And then there was Asher’s amused laughter because he was all for doing what it took to get out of trouble during a fight. He wasn’t above letting Kenny – or anyone who could manage it – get away with using wit to win. Kenny just had a knack for it that many of the Chosen our age didn’t.

I’d seen her a couple of times leaving a session with a smug face, sauntering away from the panting body on the floor and flicking a stray strand of hair from her face. She didn’t need anyone to tell her she was a badass and she definitely enjoyed spurring on her reputation on the mat. She’d ensured respect a long time ago. No one brought gender into the matter anymore. It wasn’t about sparring a woman. It was about sparring Kenny Xhu and winning.

I was proud to say that I was one of a handful who’d done it and damn it was an accomplishment. She was as sneaky as she was smart. As soon as you got past something unexpected, she was already throwing a move out of nowhere. The woman was a gorgeous fighter no matter how dirty she fought. She was great when I wanted a challenge that was intellectual and physical as opposed to simply relying on brute strength. She made me forget that I was Alpha for a couple of minutes and not everyone could do that.

By the time I’d sparred with Orion, Asher, Kenny and another two members of the Pack a lot of time had passed. Asher had then roped me into setting up some sessions later on. He wanted me to start taking over a couple of the younger Packmates. It was a big responsibility, but I was told that I was pretty good with the kids. I would have to learn to be patient but strict with the dominant animals that would run some children ragged. At the same time, I needed to be coaxing and clever with the submissive animals who’d be hiding and shying away in the other children.

When Asher dropped me back home, I was still unshowered and dead on my feet. I didn’t even make it upstairs. Thank goodness Aunty wasn’t here to get pissed about it because her couch was getting a seat full of smelly, sweaty teenager. 

It felt like hours later when I heard Tommy exclaim, “No! You can’t be sleeping…and reeking…and dressed in that.” I raised my head and turned to him. “You have a date to be on in a couple of minutes. What are you doing?” he demanded, “Dude, don’t ruin this now. We’ve gotten this far.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. I forgot. I just got back from training.”

“Um,” he rubbed at his forehead, “Look I’ll stall for a bit and you go take a quick–,” he sniffed the air, “–and thorough shower.”

“Yea, okay. Thanks, Tom. Be back in a sec.”

“No really. A very thorough shower!” he called up to me.

I couldn’t help but laugh in spite of my panic. That probably was why it came out strangled. I ran up the stairs skipping three at a time, limbs clumsy from sleep.

Diving into the shower, I got the water on hot and soaped about three times to be safe. I really didn’t have the time, but I gave my hair a good wash too. I wanted to make a good impression at Richie’s event thingy. All of his super rich, uber suave co-workers and their equally flashy dates would be hard to match if Tommy was anything to go by.

Tommy was downstairs now in a custom made tux designed at the trim in a hint if midnight blue that was almost negligible if it wasn’t for the way it brought out his big, blinking, baby blues eyes. His shoes were the kind of leather that was handmade, not mass produced. His hair was salon coiffed. I couldn’t even use the word styled. I just used the word coiffed like that shit was something people said in day to day conversations. He was all freshly shaven and smelt like some cologne that probably belonged to some celebrity superstar that he probably got for an unreasonable price at an auction…probably.

My mind was obviously not running at its optimum if this was where it was going to insist on going. I blamed the frazzle-mindedness on being startled out of sleep and panic. It really wasn’t a good mix.

I was hopping over dirty or possibly not dirty clothes in the room, skirting around wet spots I’d left on the floor after the shower while also trying to do a dozen things all at once. I was brushing my teeth while blow drying my hair and then drying my skin while searching for a pair of good socks and underwear. A couple of times I was spinning in a circle trying to decide what I could simultaneously do next.

I didn’t even have time to spare for shaving, but I supposed that I could get away with it. It was just light stubble. Nothing off-putting or particularly scruffy looking at least. That would have to do.

“Crap crap crap,” I muttered trying to get my hair combed back. I vaguely wondered if the conservatives would turn up their noses at the way the sides of my hair was shaved down on the sides. It was a considerably Chosen hairstyle. Who are you kidding? You don’t need the hair to give off a Chosen vibe. Too true.

I took a breath and got ready the fastest yet, only slowing down to slip into my military formal. If the hair wasn’t going to give me away, the uniform definitely would. It was Alpha-white though I was not officially theAlpha of the Pack. Asher had issued it anyway. And as an Alpha, I didn’t have to ask Asher permission to wear the military formal. It was up to my discretion.

Buttoning up the uniform, I adjusted the standing collar and did up the gleaming buckle of the belt. It was a crisp uniform, well fitting and almost surgically clean as per regulation. I looked at the overall effect once I had the shoes on. It was no custom suit that cost thousands of dollars but it would have to work. I took a calming breath and went downstairs to meet them, hoping I didn’t hold them back too long.

Tommy and Richie were talking in the hallway near the door when I walked up to them. Tommy looked over Richie’s shoulder and grinned, “I hope you’re over your military kink, buddy.” Richie turned around with his most confused expression to date. It melted off for something considerably more unreadable as his eyes gave me a twice over.

Let it not be said that I didn’t look my fill in those moments either. He’d obviously taken his time to get ready in a way I hadn’t been able too. His hair…my goodness the hair. I had to wonder if he’d spent all day at some spa somewhere to prep for tonight. Not only was his hair cut and magazine photo shoot ready, but the man was positively glowing.

Just shaved, the smell of his aftershave melded with his cologne and his own natural scent. It was a knock ‘em dead cocktail of a scent if I’d ever smelt one. I half dreaded, half anticipated sitting in a car with that scent so close. It was even better than usual.

And his tailored tux was so crisp I doubted he’d worn it before even to see if it fit – which it did all too well. The white of his shirt stood out and I spotted a slight sheen to the suit material. Well damn. When he cleaned up, he cleaned up nice.

He was so extraordinarily tidy tonight. It was unlike him. I had the sudden urge to get him pressed flat against the wall so I could mark him up good before he left just to see him ruffled, mussed up and disheveled. You know. For science. Ignoring how far my thoughts were already straying, I followed the boys out the door and locked up behind me.

I got into Richie’s car while Tommy hopped into another, somehow more obscenely flashy car than the one I sat in. Turning to Richie, I didn’t even have to ask. “Tommy and I usually take separate cars when we have dates. It’s in case one of us wants to leave. That way the other pair doesn’t have to bail early,” he said leading the way out of the forest.

Once we were in the town, Tommy started to lead. He got us into a modest neighborhood where Tommy parked his car and got out to go to a door. After a few beats, a gorgeous, Latina came out in a midnight blue dress and a pair of strappy heels that did wonders for her leggy frame.

Richie and I both got out to say hello. Apparently she was a manager at the hotel where they usually had meetings in and could somehow get Tommy to behave. Okay that was an exaggeration, but she got him to show this gentleman side that apparently existed.

I hadn’t been sure where the event was being held but I’d assumed the hotel. I was wrong. The thing was on a cruise ship. A really big cruise ship. The biggest one I’ve seen in real life. Not that I’ve ever seen a cruise ship in real life. It was sleek and intimidating and I wanted to check it out so badly.

We were ushered past the people who’d already been waiting in line and there was this air of importance that I got from the way they treated us. “This part is probably going to irritate you a bit,” Richie said as we entered. There was a red carpet and cameras flashing everywhere. I frowned a little, thinking how much that would make my eyes ache after a while.

Once we got up the stairs properly, the loudness drowned out my thoughts. Standing on the red carpet were lots of well dressed people posing for pictures. Are we expected to do that too? I have a terrible feeling that we do.

Logos for different companies were on the white backdrop and I suppose it kind of made sense that this would be a red carpet kind of thing. Ackles Corp was whole string of companies all headed by Tommy – and Richie to a lesser degree. With some of those companies partnered with others and a bunch of charities linked to them, I should have expected the anniversary event to be a big deal.

Suddenly I felt overwhelmed if not out of place.

A hand sat on my lower back; protective and possessive. “Are you alright?” Richie asked, “Want to take a breather outside before we go in?” I met his eyes and they were as concerned as I’d expected. I wanted to, but it felt cowardly for some reason.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Let’s go,” I motioned to Tommy and his date. Both were being photographed and Tommy seemed to be in his element. The man thrived in the limelight and Clair was dealing with it pretty well too. Richie hesitated, but I walked along ahead of him.

The camera people seemed excited to see me for some reason. I heard someone ask Richie who’s his date tonight but I didn’t like the tone. It felt sneering and I had a feeling I knew where that guy’s attitude came from. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I can tell your wolf got pissed. It’s fine. Don’t pay that guy any attention.” I kept my temper to myself and worked on my calming exercises. “Good. Better,” he said.

I turned back to face the crowd of people all trying to snap pictures of us. “Give us a smile, come on,” one encouraged. I blinked my shock when one of them addressed me specifically. Richie grinned and nudged me in the side. It was enough to pull a smile out of me and he pulled me closer to his side, hand on my waist. It felt intimate. I liked it.

After what felt like forever and half, three months and seven days, Richie turned to me. “I think we gave them enough pictures. You want to go in and check the place out while I hold down the fort?” he asked, “I know it can’t exactly be fun standing around watching me answer questions.” Leaning in and hugging him, I thanked and blessed him before making a dash for it. Sweet freedom.

My eyes were too sensitive for all of the flashing cameras. I’d really hate it if I had to do that all the time. Stepping past the barrier, I really was able to take a look at the ship. It was impressive. Auto would have loved to be here, but I doubted that he’d fit in particularly well with this bunch. He’d refuse to change out of his oil stained t-shirt on principle.

The ground floor seemed to be the mix and mingle floor. The music was slow enough and there were wait staff walking around with finger foods so fancy they seemed inedible. I accepted the champagne mostly because I’d always wanted to try the stuff. It was good. I knew I’d be getting tipsy off of this later because I fully intended to gorge on it. Why not if it’s free?

Two glasses later and I got brave enough to try one of the hors d’oeuvres. It was actually incredible. Grinning inwardly, I grabbed another from the next waitress to pass me. While I munched away, I glanced over at a posing couple. People were snapping pictures in here too. Nowhere was safe it seemed.

I turned around to find myself being approached by a lady in an outfit that, for some reason, brought the words corporate fashionista to mind. It was odd because I was sure I’d never paired those words together in my life and I hope I never did again. I made a face mentally, but waited her to come over.

“Hello, I’m Elliot Wentz from the Empire magazine,” she beamed and added, “Everyone calls me Ellie.” I glanced down at the hand she stuck out for a second. As she was about to retreat, cheeks already flushing, I grasped it and gave a shake. Since that last photographer outside, I was wary of all media persons in this place. It was unfair to judge them all on one potential asshole, but I was nothing if not cautious with humans.

“Pleasure,” I said unsure of how true that statement was yet, “What can I do for you?” She had walked over with purpose. The kind of purpose that came with someone out to get something, not give. The fact that she was allowed inside the party instead of sweating it in the mob outside made me curious. “Nothing big, don’t worry,” she assured me, “I’m here to chitchat.” I raised a brow. I hadn’t expected that.

“I’m not a part of the company. What could you possibly want to talk to me about?” I held my hands behind my back and gave her my full attention.

“Again, nothing big,” she stepped back a fraction, “I saw you come in with Mr. Richard Crowley.”

“So this is about him. Expected,” I nodded, “If you want to interview him, he’s outside.”

“I’ll get to him soon enough,” she fanned a hand seemingly sure about that, “I’m interested in you.”

“You mean you’re interested in how I’m linked to him.”

“Smart and handsome. Always a good pairing.”

“Not hard to figure out. I obviously don’t work here, therefore I came his date,” I said, “And I’m in white military formal. Only the Chosen use white in their military formal and it’s for Alphas only.”

“A well known enough fact,” she agreed, “But Richard Crowley generally sticks to models, actors and pretty, party boys. I don’t think you fit into those categories.”

“I don’t know,” I offered a smile, “I’ve got some pretty great moves when the music starts.”

“You’re funny. I’ll add that to the list.”

“What list?” Richie said from behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see him eying Elliot and then me. His tone was as cool as mine had been at the beginning of the conversation. “I leave you alone for a few minutes and you’re already flirting with a reporter?” he said. I think it was meant to sound lighthearted and joking. It came out slightly jealous if not possessive. At the same time, I knew he wouldn’t ask me not to if he thought I was interested in her. Considerate idiot. You’re both considerate idiots. Nobody asked you.

“Don’t be a baby,” I shot him a grin, “You left me on my own.”

“I figured you’d be upstairs with the good music by now. Thought you’d be elbow deep in cupcakes and ice-cream.”

“There’s ice-cream? Here? Now?” my eyes widened, “And you didn’t think to mention this for the entire ride here.”

“I was…distracted,” he shrugged.

“By what? You were only driving and we didn’t even talk,” I rolled my eyes, “Anyways. There’s ice-cream upstairs so I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

“Behave. And leave some for other people,” he teased, “There’s only enough for like a thousand.”

“Ha ha. You think you’re so cute today, huh?” I nudged him and disappeared upstairs.

If I’d known that this was what was waiting upstairs, I wouldn’t have bothered hanging out downstairs at all. It was all dance music, dimmed lighting, tables lined with every dessert I knew and a bunch that I didn’t.

I sampled frosted cupcakes and flakey, blueberry tarts topped with sugar. There were four tier cakes that were mobile – as in they whirred and moved. There was a glorious assortment of puddings and jello shots. I tried so many flavors of truffles and international chocolates. The varied candies and gourmet, plated desserts were amazing. I was probably halfway on the road to a sugar stroke before I spotted the greatest thing I’d ever seen in my life.

An ice-cream fountain. I had no idea how the hell the physics behind it worked but the top tiers spouted cold, soft served while the bottom was a pool of ice-cream soup seeping into the bottom.

Getting downstairs, I found Richie in the same spot talking to the reporter. He turned to face me, his scowl melting and already laughing by the time I got there.

“By the look on your face, I take it you found it.”

“And it’s amazing, Richie,” I said trying to contain myself, “There’s an ice-cream fountain. Like a chocolate fountain but with ice-cream.”

“Tommy pulled out all the stops, didn’t he?”

“Yes. You have to come up and raid it with me.”

“I’m almost done here. Hold on a quick sec, ‘kay?”

“Richie?” Elliot raised her brow, “You call Mr. Crowley ‘Richie’?”

“Richard to you,” we chorused out of habit more than irritation.

“Apologies,” she looked more amused than sorry, “Mr. Crowley told me that you two are close childhood friends. Was it odd to have a human for a friend at that age?”

“Excuse me?” I frowned.

“Oh – uh – don’t take that the wrong way. Dominant wolf pup are pretty hostile then, right? It would have been hard to control it.”

“Him. The wolf is male,” Richie said.

“Right. Yes. Him,” she agreed, “The wolf in you is an Alpha. I expect that it was difficult to keep it in line around human children.”

“He corrected you seconds ago. The wolf is a he not an it,” I said, “ But no. It was easy to be around human children. I only had one Chosen friend actually.”

“Strange. I’d expected you two to have a difficult time being around each other,” she said and I caught on to what she wanted.

She was baiting at different things to see if she could fish for some angle to write about. Namely Richard Crowley, new money millionaire who grew up in the original Chosen village and was childhood friends with an Alpha. Oh, woe is him and how terrible it must have been to be a child there and suffer the friendship of these violent people. Rags to riches and all that. Thomas Ackles and Ackles Corp must have saved him from that hardship. From me. My jaw clenched but my voice was steady.

“I’m a Dormant Chosen. I seemed human and had no wolf for most of my life. There was nothing complicating our friendship.”

“Dormant Chosen. This is new,” Elliot stared at me, “I rarely meet Chosen, far less an Alpha. Now I get a Dormant Chosen who’s an Alpha.” I sensed her angle beginning to change again and the fact that I was the only known Dormant Chosen made me uneasy about where her story would go.

“I think your time’s up with us,” I said and eyed Richie.

He excused us far more politely that I could manage and followed behind me to go upstairs. I’d been so busy thinking of how a relationship with Richie could affect us in the village that I hadn’t thought about the wider world. He was still their shiny new toy. The millionaire they were still learning about who grew up in a place shrouded in rumors and stories. I didn’t consider what the outside world would be like for me and I didn’t appreciate it.

“You always surrounded by vultures like this?” I asked while he munched on a peach tart.

“More or less. Always hounding me and, if they can get away with it, whoever I’m with.”

“How do you keep from punching someone?”

“It helps that I have no fighting skills whatsoever,” he said, “I’m sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just raid this thing while we can.”

“After. Music first.”

He grinned and lead me to the center where we danced our behinds off. It was fun. It was wild. It was crazy and liberating and just us. Tommy joined in and then Clair. The four of us had a hell of a time moving to the music and enjoying ourselves. Song after song came on and we moved with it. Tommy was the biggest party animal of us all and he was loving this. He and I danced together almost as much as I danced with Richie.

When Richie complained about feeling warm, I got us out of the group and to the tables. We piled stuff high on our plates before going to the top floor. It was roped off and dark but Richie said it was okay for us to be there. We went out to the balcony area where it was much brighter from the moonlight. The ship was still moving and the cool, night air blew on our faces. The water was like dark glass in the distance and pretty scenic.

Sitting on a couple of chairs, we talked and joked for what felt like the longest time. We were red faced and in stitches by the time we’d made our way through the plates and champagne. Man it felt good to let loose and throw my head back and laugh like that.

Richie got up and went to the railing to calm down and breathe, still giggling – yes, actually giggling. I couldn’t help but smile. He was hanging over the edge of the railing with the wind in his hair and the moon on his face and if I don’t stop thinking right now, this description would turn poetic.

I was on my feet before I knew I’d decided to stand. Drawn to him, I let the pull run its course. I was moving on instinct more than thought. He turned around before I could say anything.

Hands braced on either side of him, I held tight to the railing. We didn’t touch. He leaned back on the railing, balanced on elbows and forearms. His gaze swept over my face but he didn’t say a word at first.

He reached out a hand but I didn’t pull away. His fingers moved over the decorations on my chest. When he met my eyes again, there was a question in them.

“It’s not the time to talk about that,” I shook my head, “Not yet.”

“You did things you’re not proud of either,” he guessed, “Except you were rewarded for it.”

“I wish I hadn’t been.”

“I think I’d rather be scorned for my wrongs than rewarded for it,” he admitted.

“Tonight’s not the night for that,” I shook my head.

“What’s it for then?” he smiled, playful again.

“Us,” I said thumb brushing against his arm, “You did ask me to be your date after all.”

“I did. You’ve been a damn good one too.”

“I try,” I shrugged.

“And it isn’t fair that you look that good in uniform.”

“Oh?” I glanced down out of reflex, “Really?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know,” he said, “Came down the stairs and my poor heart nearly gave out on me. I thought, just when I thought the boy couldn’t get more beautiful.”

“Um,” I could feel the warmth in my face and the animal’s surge of joy, “Thanks. I’ve never been called that before. It’s – uh – new.”

“And true. Spent half of my time here trying to keep from kissing you,” he admitted, “and the other half reminding myself not to ruin us.”

“You won’t. I keep telling you not to compare me to the way you treated people you never cared about. You wouldn’t use me.”

His lips pursed at that. He was offended by the very possibility of him doing that, yet he thought he would. I saw where his fear came from. If I were in his position and did the things he’d done, I wouldn’t trust myself with me either. If I was in the dark about the mating, I’d have thought he’d screw over our friendship with a relationship too.

We looked over the railing when the ship stopped. We were docked at Rondesdale again and had to leave. Richie was quiet all the way to the car. I didn’t think it was strange until I caught the vacant expression he wore. He was sweating in spite of the chilly night.

Tommy and Clair arrived before I could say anything. She was barefooted with her heels in hand and telling Tommy a joke that already had him in stitches. “You guys can go on without us,” Tommy waved us on and they got into their car before leaving us behind.

Richie seemed to be moving on autopilot when he unlocked and hopped into the driver’s seat. I got in and barely had time to put on my seatbelt before he drove at his fastest speed yet.

“Hey are you feeling alright?” I asked, “You’re acting weird.”

“Really?” he wiped the sweat from his brow and turned up the air condition, “Didn’t realize. I guess I’m not feeling too well.”

“Want me to stay over tonight?” I asked.

“It’s fine. I just need to sleep it off,” he said, “Alone.”

I got the hint and shut up about it. It was a ridiculously short time later that he parked his car in front of his house. Crooked and half on the grass, half on the walkway.“Sorry I have to bail on you like this,” he flipped through his keys, “Tonight was fun, I need to lie down.” I gave him an understanding pat on the shoulder but he flinched away from it. “Great. Good. Um…see you tomorrow,” he said and slipped away.

Every step away from him felt heavier than the last. I shouldn’t leave him alone. He’d asked but this was Richie. He didn’t like people worrying about him. He especially complained about the fussing and pampering though, after time, he clearly enjoyed it. It was frustrating to walk away knowing he would never leave me on my own if I wasn’t feeling well.

I took off my shoes and socks, contemplating going over there just in case. I’d definitely feel better if I could see how he was doing for myself. Richie had a long history of downplaying how bad he felt whether it was emotionally, injury-wise or illness. I always trusted him to look after me, but I couldn’t trust him to see after himself. His idiotic tendency to put others before himself was both his best and worst trait.

The decision was made before I consciously realized that it was. I found myself leaving the house still in uniform and walking barefooted through dew damp grass at four in the morning to get to his house. He’d left it unlocked for Tommy so it was only a matter was walking right in.

The house was dark but I didn’t need a whole lot of light to see. The living room was empty and the house silent. He wasn’t in the downstairs bedroom or the kitchen. The air felt too still for my liking and I had the very bad feeling that something was wrong.

I climbed the stairs and checked his bedroom but he wasn’t inside. Worry niggled at me as I scanned the lightless room a second time. Leaving, I did my best to keep calm. That was when I caught the first hint of light. It was a bare sliver under the bathroom door but it was something.

Initially I considered waiting for him to finish, but my gut said get in there now. It was insistent. As insistent as if it were a fated moment.

Usually I would knock, but this time I didn’t. I was in the bathroom within the next second, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. ­The bathroom curtains weren’t drawn but no one was in the tub. Yet it was filled with water. I frowned at that until I got closer.

Ice chips floated on top. It was an ice bath. I got right up to the tub and saw the body lying beneath the surface, eyes closed and motionless. There was barely enough time to register the panic before I was dragging Richie up by the arms so his head could break past the surface. He took a deep breath and blinked up at me looking confused.

“N-Nye?” his teeth chattered, “W-What are y-you doing here?”

“Checking up on your dumb ass. What the hell are you doing?” I glared.

“T-Taking an ice b-bath. W-W-What does it look like?”

“A whole list of things. None of them good.”

“I-I’m n-not drowning myself,” he said face pale and ice chips in his hair, “I really d-don’t need y-your help. I’m fine.”

“I think I’d feel better if I could keep an eye on you,” I frowned at the ice bath, “You have a fever or something?”

“N-No. Yes. S-Something like that,” he said, “Honestly, I can manage on my own. Go home.”

“But–.”

“I don’t want you here,” he snapped, “Why are you so stubborn?”

“You’d never leave me on my own if it were me,” I said.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t. I-I shouldn’t have gotten so pissy. You w-want to help. Thank you for that. I just…you really can’t be here right now.”

“Why not? Come out of the ice before you catch a cold and we can talk better.”

“No. I need the ice,” he said voice strained. He grabbed a fan from the ledge and fanned himself even though he was nearly entirely submerged in cold water and ice chips. This wasn’t normal even for a fever. I rest my hand on his head to his broken sigh, “Leave me a-alone.” He leaned into my touch as he said it. He was really warm.

“Don’t make me leave you like this,” I shook my head. His breathing was shallow and as his face dried under the manual fanning, he was sweating and flushed. He refused to look me in the eyes and it hit me in that moment what was going on. He’s in heat. My heart ached for him then. Here he was, alone and confused and hiding. Not knowing that he was trying to get rid of the one person who could help.

“Come on out of the water and we can deal with this,” I coaxed.

“The ice helps,” he shook his head.

“It’s not a healthy way to deal with this.”

“You don’t even know what this is,” he scoffed looking down at his knees.

“I know better than you do,” I said because now it was okay. I was allowed to tell him now. Nervous as I was, I took a breath and just let it out. “You’re in heat.”

“Sorry?” he blinked up at me.

“Heat. It’s mating season and you, Richard Crowley, are in heat.”

“You’re out of your mind,” he dipped his body deeper into the water, “I’m human.”

“Look at your eyes. Your temperature. You’re sweating in a tub of ice.”

“You have to be mated to…” he froze and turned to me, “Are you trying to say I’m mated?”

“Yes,” I nodded, “We are.”

“We?” he blinked up at me shaking his head, “Like you and me? That’s not possible.”

“Do you really believe that? Think about it.”

“You knew all along?”

“Not all along, but long enough,” I admitted, “Prophetess Ramla predicted it and everything. Full nine yards.”

“Fated moments,” he sighed, “That’s why you didn’t tell me.”

“Pretty much. That doesn’t mean you have to go through with it of course. You could deny it and the heat should fade with time.”

“Deny it,” he looked away, “You want me to reject it?”

“You don’t want to?”

“H-Hey I get it.”

“Get what?” my eyes narrowed.

“I’ve cheated on our – uh – our mating,” his voice went quiet, “But I didn’t know. If I knew I would have come home. I’d never have even looked at anyone else. I didn’t mean to, Nye.”

“I know you didn’t,” I said and something in my stomach fell when he looked up at me with unshed tears in his eyes, “I’m not holding it against you. I’m never going to hold that against you.”

“But you don’t want to be mated to me,” he finished.

“I – no. No, that’s not what I meant but I don’t want you to feel like being mated means that you have no choice. I said you could deny it, not that I wanted you to.”

“All these years and you think that I’d reject you if ever we were mated?” he laughed quiet and contained, “Of course I accept it.”

It seemed the stories weren’t true. We didn’t need some lengthy declaration between us both. No wedding vows time of confession and acceptance. Our mating only needed three words to come into being.

The reaction was so instantaneous that we both pitched forward at the exact same time. I couldn’t see. It wasn’t too bright or too dark but I was blinded. It was terrifying and exhilarating. It was flying and drowning. It was running and swimming. It was glacial cold and volcanic heat. It took a second to recognize that I was feeling things from me and Richie at the same time and more. I could feel how cold he was in the water but how feverish he was too. That hunger. The craving. The need.

Just as fast we were dragged back to our separate senses as if pulled from the scruff of our shirts and slammed onto the floor. I gasped for breath and shook off the aftershock.

“But you didn’t say anything,” he said sounding worried.

“I don’t think I needed to. I think I’d kind of accepted it for a while now.”

“And you still offered me an out,” he chuckled even as he shivered.

“I’m part animal, not a barbarian,” I smiled before tossing him a towel, “Get out of there, before you catch something.”

He looked unsure about leaving the tub, but I left him to it. I waited for him in the bedroom while he did what he had to. We had a lot to talk about and even more to deal with. 

*********************************************

Alrighty then. This is the first upload of the double upload. The other one is already up so go straight to that after you comment. Don't stop. Don't get a drink of water. Don't pass GO, you're not collecting $200. Get your glorious honey buttcheeks over to the next chapter.

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