Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (14 page)

“He’s just being an ass, ignore him. What are you about to do?” Call said quietly. “I won’t be much longer.”

Alpha leaned in and put his mouth right against the shell of Call’s ear, his tone mesmeric. “I’ll wait a lifetime.” Alpha rose from in between his legs, moving as fluidly as always. “I think I’ll join Lion in the kitchen while he prepares lunch. Then, I believe I’ll take a nice long walk before dinner.”

“I’ll join you on that walk before dinner, Daskshaun,” Call said after Alpha’s retreating back.

Alpha turned and tilted his head just slightly, his eyes only for him and smoldering with insinuation. “I look forward to it, John.”

When Alpha was gone, Hawk turned and looked at Call, staring directly at him with a look of curiosity and maybe – yes, definitely – amusement.

“What?” Call snarled, right before he took a large bite of his sandwich.

“Is he always that fuckin intense, man? He looks at you like he wants to jump inside you and wear your goddamn skin.” Hawk kept staring.

After a long dramatic pause for chewing and another gulp of his brew to wash it down the rest of the way, he finally answered. “His love is very intense.”

Hawk frowned, shaking his head as he turned back to his own food.

It was at least another couple minutes before both of them burst out laughing, Call trying to punch Hawk when he told him he sounded like Nora Roberts. This was good. This was also what Call needed from his friend, a chance to kick back and talk about the things in life that were still humorous. And when the memories had settled deep in his soul and he and Hawk had reminisced enough, he’d get the other thing his soul needed from Alpha during his late afternoon walk.

Lion

Since the host of the house told them they could make whatever they wanted for lunch and to take advantage of their full pantry, Lion took them to mean what they said and went exploring after his extensive workout. One that he’d wanted Omega to join him in but the man had run again. Maybe it was fate that Viper wasn’t able to arrive for a while, therefore giving Lion five more days to win Omega over. Which wouldn’t be too hard, he hoped. He didn’t need Omega to fall in love with him, sometimes that took a lifetime. He just needed him to trust him enough to let him lead.

He had a hunch that Omega really did miss home and just needed a reminder of all the things he used to love so much there. The landscapes, the history, the fragrances, the culture… the cuisine! Lion checked to see if Pierce had all the ingredients he needed, and it appeared he did. With a sizable smile on his mouth, Lion found a small pot and filled it with water, placing it on the small gas range and turning the fire on medium. While Lion didn’t consider himself a master of the culinary arts, it was required for them, as assassins, to be able to feed themselves. In and out of the field.

Lion tilted his head when he heard light footsteps coming towards him. If he was recognizing everyone’s habits as well as he thought, the person he was about to see was Alpha, because the man didn’t rush anywhere he went. He’d just poured a cup and a half of long grain white rice into the pot when Alpha came around the corner. Lion turned and acknowledged his presence, giving him a quick nod and receiving one back before turning his attention back to the stove. He looked in the spice cabinet for something to add a little nuttiness to the plain rice he’d had to use for his dish since Pierce didn’t have any of the preferred Basmati rice, but he’d make do. However, they did have the key ingredient, which was saffron, both dried and fresh.

He let the rice come to a boil, slowly stirring so the starch rose to the top. Alpha had yet to speak, but Lion could feel those very dark eyes clocking his every move. Both of them seemed to be men of few words. He had to know that Lion was making this food for his brother. He wondered what he thought. Alpha’s judgements and opinions meant a lot to him. Regardless of how powerful Lion was already, a man was never too strong or so wise that he couldn’t learn more. Only a true ignorant believes he knows everything.

When his butter and oil were melted in another saucepan, he firmly molded the now-heavily saffron-infused rice to the bottom of the sizzling pot and let it cook fast, quickly toasting the bottom layer of rice, making—

“Tah-dig,” Alpha said into the silence. “A classic. It smells heavenly. You’re smart, Lion.”

He didn’t even try to play like he didn’t know what Alpha meant. He hated to ask this next question because, if nothing else, it made him sound unsure, but he knew he wasn’t, so he asked the older brother anyway. “Do you think he’ll like it?”

“He always has. Used to beg for it when we were younger. The cooks could never keep up.” Alpha smiled, eyeing the rice that was now suffusing the entire lower level of the house with the aroma of traditional Persian spices.

“There’s enough here, please enjoy,” Lion offered. He’d been about to ask Alpha a very important and private question regarding his brother until he was interrupted. He believed Alpha picked up on Lion’s unfinished business because the look he gave him said he understood and he’d be willing to listen any time Lion was ready.

“Oh mygosh! That smells so awesome!” Pierce bounded into the kitchen, his mouth open wide in surprise when he saw Lion standing there over the stove. “I was just coming in here to take out the meat for dinner. Firuz, did you cook that? What is it?”

“I did,” Lion answered. “It’s a very simplistic dish, but delicious. It’s an old favorite of mine—”

“And Omega’s...,” Alpha teasingly interjected, and Pierce shot Lion a knowing wink that made him blush a bit.

“That’s good to know,” Lion said boldly. It was interesting that Alpha had a comical side. He’d never heard that before. Heard the man was all seriousness and barely contained power. His lighter side must’ve come out from loving and being loved by his cherished.

“I’m glad I didn’t need to interrupt you in your study, but I need to know if you have something I can take this outside in?” Lion asked Pierce, who was digging in a low cabinet before Lion finished asking.

“I have some insulated dishes here and a little travel case to hold drinks, cutlery, whatever you need. Dane and I eat outside a lot, so use whatever you want.”

Lion took the offered plastic containers with graciousness and scooped some of the golden brown, crispy rice from the bottom of the pot to place it in the insulated dish. He added the utensils and a couple bottles of water.

Pierce placed a small bowl in front of Alpha and sat next to him at the breakfast bar with a little sample of his own Tah-dig. When the small man moaned happily at the flavors, Lion felt whole that he’d pleased the host of the home and felt like a worthy guest. He never wanted to be considered unpleasant.

“Pierce, if you’ll excuse me, I may not return in time for dinner,” Lion mentioned.

“Of course. Leftovers will be in the refrigerator, help yourself when you return, if you like.”

Lion nodded as his answer. Now, he needed to go before his dish cooled too much.

“Dress warmly, though. The temperature drops significantly at night and also, it’s bear season. I have a trank gun if you want it. Those animals are dangerous, believe me. Ever seen animals attack?” Pierce laughed nervously, looking slightly taken aback at their serious expressions.

Lion and Alpha both shook their heads sadly, but Pierce looked like he didn’t know what was so upsetting. Lion did. Animals didn’t frighten them because animals weren’t dangerous to them. Assassins knew how to adapt in a predator’s habitat. They’d been trained to respect another’s house when they were in it. Regardless if the house’s owner is human or not. The forest was home to the animals and plant life. None of them had any right to go into their home and disrupt the natural flow of the environment… or tranquilize them. It was simple. Assassins from their Order understood the elements and the balance of all living things. Large animals weren’t dangerous. All it took was respect for man and beast to coexist peacefully. Lion had thought Pierce was a genius. How did he not know this?

Lion didn’t insult the host, instead he politely declined the tranquilizer gun. After closing his cotton twill jacket, Lion covered his head, draped the food carrier over his body, and let it rest against the small of his back. Once outside, Lion took a large inhale of fresh air and opened his emotions to the wild, feeling the cool breeze settle his anxiousness.

He looked at the disturbed earth from Omega’s footprints, listened to the sounds of the inhabitants of the woods, and tasted the slight bitterness of smoke from a man-made fire while he used every one of his senses to pinpoint Omega’s exact location in the thick woods. Which turned out to be easier than he thought because the hawk that seemed to own the sky was sitting high in one of the tall trees looking down as if watching over Omega for him. The steady plume of white smoke drifting up into the skies was an easy giveaway as well, like Omega wanted someone to come for him. The hike wasn’t long, and he was thankful for that. He only hoped as he got closer and Omega picked up on his company, that he wouldn’t bolt again.

Omega

Omega had been smart enough to bring a couple tightly folded blankets in his backpack this time, knowing he was going to stay out there for most of the day and evening. He was still debating going in for dinner because after his rigorous workout, the protein bars and shake might not be enough. He’d be starving for sure. The sweat that had long ago clung to his exhausted body was now dried, leaving a salty residue coating his cool skin.

He’d trained all day under the light gray sky, conditioning his body harder than he ever had before. He’d run for miles, up steep mountain inclines, leaping over jagged rocks and back down at record speed, only to do it again, then again. He flipped and climbed up towering oak trees, then concentrated on his agility to move and attack from the low ground as well. With the constant up and down, he had to have done the equivalent of a thousand squats. What’s worse is he didn’t stop there. Lastly, he’d worked his arms until they felt like two limp noodles. Doing countless pullup after pullup on low-slung, thick branches, lifting and tossing huge fallen logs off the earth’s floor and benching them until he had them up over his head. Now he wasn’t sure if he could even lift his hand to swat a mosquito from his face. If there was an immediate threat, Omega would be useless. Maybe he didn’t think his workout through enough to allow for sufficient recovery time, but he was sure something big was coming and he knew his body and mind needed to be ready. He would be ready even if it killed him.