Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (10 page)

Alpha slid his hands along the cool sheets on the mattress and under Call’s back, squeezing his shoulders. This was where he’d find comfort. “Put your arms around me, John,” Alpha whispered against Call’s coarse throat.

“Alpha?”

“Tighter.”

Alpha felt John tighten his strong arms around his waist and hold him close to him. He felt the hot puffs of air against the sensitive skin behind his ear as Call spoke. Concern lacing his tone.

“Did anything happen with your brother? Not much else causes you concern. Talk to me.” Call lifted Alpha’s head, his fist curled under his chin, his thumb lightly stroking over the smooth patch of hair just under his bottom lip. He slowly licked his tongue out, tasting the rough saltiness of Call’s finger. Alpha closed his eyes and inhaled with deep breaths. The commander’s scent was calming, his words reassuring.

“My brother is well.” Alpha leaned in and kissed Call on his chin, then on the corner of his mouth. “All is well.”

His stomach churned with anxiousness even as he spoke the words that he wasn’t so sure he believed.

Lion

It was still early for him. The lights were turned down in the spacious home as they all settled into their rooms. Lion was familiar with the customs of the United States. Pierce and Hawk were extremely generous and accommodating as hosts. He didn’t need for anything. His living quarters were far above his standards, he didn’t have to leave his room for anything… except.

Lion had just finished his shower, blow-dried his long, blond hair before pulling it up into a loose bun at the back of his head. He’d been contemplating so many different scenarios all afternoon and throughout dinner, since his conversation with Omega in the woods. Was this his journey? He wondered for the first time since he’d left his homeland if he was on the right path. He knew he needed to restore balance within the Order and he knew he had acquired the right men to help him do the job. But then. What was next? What came after?
Do I walk away, like assassins are trained to do?
The thought of never seeing Omega again – or even just not for an extended period of time – caused his protective nature to pound in his chest.

Lion finished drying himself and dug in his bag for his personal items. He dug out his bottle of mixed oils and began to smooth it all over his body. Immediately he was immersed in the smells of his home, of his land, and it did what it always had. It centered him. Natural scents from the earth. When he was finished, he let his hair down and brushed it until he was certain there was not one single tangle from the root of his scalp to the tips that almost touched him mid-back. 

He didn’t realize he was going anywhere until he’d slipped into a pair of black cotton pants instead of his lounging ones and a black, ribbed turtleneck. He pulled out a new scarf, this one black with fine gold dots around the edges and wrapped it around his neck and up over his head. He wasn’t sure what was propelling him forward, but before he knew it, he was standing next to his closed door, listening for any sounds in the home. If anyone was awake, he didn’t want to startle them, and he sure didn’t want it to appear that he was stalking around the home after everyone else had retired for the evening. But there was something on his mind. He guessed he’d figure out what when he heard it leave his mouth. Usually he was more focused and organized, but something was throwing him off… or someone. The pull was a greater force than he’d ever felt before.

Lion walked tentatively down the long flight of stairs. The house was dark, except for the moonlight streaming in from the vast expanse of ceiling to floor windows and skylights. He had to concur that Hawk and his companion had good taste. Their home was so free, open and liberating. Like his home. Lion had found so many American homes to be fake and uniform with their plastic siding and imitation shutters that were mere decoration. His large shutters were used to keep out the harsh winds of the short but cool winters in Iran. Everything inside the homes here was devoid of character, the rooms riddled with boring monochromatic decorations and high-tech, overpriced appliances that he felt contributed to laziness. People didn’t have to vacuum their own rugs; a little circular machine could do it for them while they enjoyed a cocktail. No one even have to squeeze a fruit anymore to receive its natural juices, meat was all processed and pre-packaged, no one hunted for their food and thanked the gods for the circle of life after the kill. No. Everything in the Americas was about convenience, and he’d known early on that it wasn’t where he belonged.

He turned the corner down the hall that led to Omega’s room. He had little problem seeing where he was going. Omega’s room was just past the corridor that ran behind the kitchen. It was the only bedroom on the first level and had its own private patio door.

Lion listened at the door, but was sure he wouldn’t hear anything. He lifted his hand and knocked twice. Tilting his head, he listened harder. No sound. He turned the knob, surprised to find it unlocked. He entered slowly, not making a sound. His eyes took in the large room that had the same amenities as his own. A large television that was mounted over a large wood-burning fireplace was turned off. Omega’s one bag sat wide open in the corner atop the one large dresser with a mirror. The bathroom door was ajar and Lion could see that steam still clung to the edges of the large mirror. Omega was there, or at least he had been ten or fifteen minutes ago. Lion walked over to the patio door and peeked through the sheer curtains, not seeing anything, before turning the handle and stepping out into the cool night air. The outdoors always called to his soul.
It must do the same to Erik.

Omega wasn’t on the balcony or anywhere in the vicinity. Lion gracefully leaped over the wood railing and scanned the ground for fresh footprints. There were several tracks that lead to different directions in the dark forest. Lion looked up to the sky for the hawk, hoping he would help lead him in the right direction.

Where’s that nosy raptor when you need it?
Lion scrutinized the several sets of prints. Had Omega done that on purpose? Lion smiled. Omega had known Lion was coming back for him. Knew he couldn’t just leave things how they were and go into battle in a couple days. He and Omega still had their own personal business to discuss.

Lion choose to go east. It was a hunch. If it had been him, that’s the way he’d choose. The direction that would ultimately take him home. The moon was high in the sky, providing him with more than enough light. This would hardly be a challenge.
Was
Omega challenging him? Oh, he hoped so. He was more than ready to show the perplexing man what he was capable of. That he was worthy.

He kept his eyes sharp, his hearing even sharper as he stealthily made his way through the thick shrubbery and towering oak trees so tall they seemed to touch the stars. He dropped swiftly to a low crouch when he heard the faint crackling of leaves. Only a highly sensitive, well-trained ear would’ve been able to pick it up. The sound was coming from low to the ground and Lion tilted his head and closed his eyes to focus his hearing, honing in on the quiet sounds of the forest. Lion’s left eye flickered and the hairs at the base of his skull tingled in an unsettling way.

Coming in fast… in front… no! Left!

Lion just barely ducked Omega’s flying punch out of nowhere, forcing him to spin hard to his right, quickly snapping back up into his fight stance.

Omega’s hood was low over his face but Lion could still see his deceptive smile formed on those perfect lips. He was cunning and not averse to fighting dirty, hence the sneak attack.

“Tiger style,” Omega purred, taking in Lion’s fight stance. Circling back around to Lion’s front. “I must admit… I’m impressed.”

Lion kept his massive hands flexed into the “tiger’s claw” ready to charge, ready to attack. He knew Omega was knowledgeable in many martial arts and most kung fu styles – the Order trained them all in numerous martial arts – but only the most worthy were taught an animal style. Which didn’t mean he could defend against it, nor did it mean Lion could defend himself from Omega’s moves. Lion crouched there, stunned speechless as Omega wound his upper and lower body in perfect sequence into a coiled fighting stance.

Oh my god. Snake style. Of course
. Lion’s external reaction was nonexistent but his mind jerked with surprise. This was another ancient fighting style originated by the Shaolin Grandmasters, then taught hundreds of years ago to only the swiftest, most intelligent students… the animal styles were reserved for the most gifted. But it’d been believed that the Masters of the Order no longer taught them, put in simplest terms, they made a man entirely too dangerous.

It was something about the way Omega was posed and standing before him in immaculate form. Lion took it as a gift especially for him. How many others – assassins or marks – got to see an assassin’s animal fighting style? It was rare for an assassin to reveal it and even rarer to be used. A couple strategically placed hits to his mark’s vital organs were always enough for him to succeed on missions, and then disappear without a trace. Using his tiger style would just be excessive. So why was Omega doing it? Lion’s voice was calm but thick when he spoke.

“You want to have a go at me, Omega?”

“I think you
want
me to have a go at you,” Omega’s dark voice barely whispered through his smirked lips, his head slightly bowed, his body curled tight. “But I already hear the sweet sounds of my victory.” Omega came out of his stance faster than Lion had ever seen any man move, his speed deceptive but accurate.

Omega attacked low, aiming at the vulnerabilities of the lower body – like any serpent would – with agile, swift toe kicks, trying to take out his legs. It only took a second for Lion’s mind to catch up to his defense mechanism. He crouched and ducked Omega’s speared hand aimed at his right eye, simultaneously tucking and twisting his frame out of the lock Omega tried to get on his right foot. It was such a masterful move that he was sure Omega wondered how he’d countered it without a second thought.

Lion marveled how his opponent moved with serpent-like precision and technique. Omega’s attack strategy was all about fast accuracy and false surprise while Lion’s was about charging and using his huge frame for brute force. Lion continued to easily block the random strikes that aimed for his vital organs and it appeared to be throwing his attacker off. After a few more countered hits, Lion
let
Omega back away and come at him again, faking left, and spearhanding Lion in the right side of his neck.

Augh!
Lion didn’t show any outward discomfort, but goddamnit it hurt. Felt like getting struck with light voltage – and yes – he’d been on the receiving end of a Taser or two. If he was right in his assumption, Omega would think he’d already won and get cocky, then finish Lion off. They weren’t fighting to the death. No. They were fighting to see who’d have to yield. Lion knew Omega was gauging if Lion was worth even giving thought to partnering with him. If he couldn’t defend himself against a smaller opponent, then he was useless to a man like Eriktor. Omega was far from weak, but the fact of the matter was, Lion was better.

“That must’ve hurt,” Omega said snidely.

Of course it did.
Still silent. Lion rotated his thick neck and let his scarf fall back off his head, leaving his golden locks to blow around his face. He was sure he heard a noise that sounded close to approval but chose to ignore it. Omega was still trying to goad him, get him frustrated with his sneakiness, but Lion was too smart to fall for that. He wouldn’t and couldn’t be thrown off his game. It was time to see if Omega could block
his
hits, since he’d yet to throw one.

Lion stood to his full height and locked back into his stance. Omega’s brow quirked in amusement as he continued to taunt. “Well you’re certainly not a quitter… that’s something.”

That’s something
. Lion wanted to grab the smart-mouthed man and slam his mouth over his until he shut up and spoke with respect, but good things came to those who took them. Lion smiled on the inside. Maybe Omega did have more of an effect on him than he wanted to admit.