Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (20 page)

“Exactly. At this point, I’m not sure I can harden my heart when it comes to you. If you’re in danger, would I be able to make the right decision? A hard decision, if it came down to it?”

“You would.” Call’s experienced eyes bored into him.

“I’m not so sure anymore. Maybe this is what causes Omega to hesitate about partnering with Lion. Maybe he already feels a pull towards him and can’t understand how he can fight with and love the man at the same time. It’s not an uncommon conflict among us in the Order.”

“So, not a decision to be taken as lightly as I was putting it.”

Alpha tilted his head up and kissed Call’s firm mouth. “Precisely.”

“Alpha.”

“Mmm hmm,” Alpha answered distractedly as he mouthed Call’s strong neck, licking his casually beating pulse.

“You will win this fight,” Call declared. Speaking of their battle as if it was already won.

“That’s all I know how to do,” Alpha confirmed.

ἈΙ

“Pierce, dinner was delicious. I’ve never had lamb quite that way. You’ve been a completely gracious host. Not many men cook where I’m from, but I’ve always found it a relaxing hobby myself,” Alpha told Pierce, the sweet man blushing under Alpha’s sharp gaze and compliments.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Pierce always sounded so nervous when he talked to him and he wished he could set his friend’s partner at ease. No one should be nervous in his own home.

“Pierce, you’re welcome to call me Daskshaun or Shuan, if you like.”

“You don’t mind?”

“I’d prefer it.” Alpha nodded with a sincere smile. Maybe not using their assassin names would help calm Pierce to the fact that he was in a house with a bunch of stealthy killers.

“Okay, then.” Pierce squirmed next to Hawk, and he saw the seer place his hand on the back of Pierce’s neck and massage him there. “Do you do most of the cooking at home, Alp –, I mean, Shaun? This one lived on too many MREs, I think. He can’t cook a thing.”

Hawk nodded in agreement at his partner’s words. “Not much time to learn gourmet cooking in the field, honey.”

“Got that right,” Call added. “Food was simply a necessity, not a luxury.”

“Yes, I do most of the cooking, Pierce, but Call has joined me in the kitchen a few times. He grumbles and fumbles around more than he cooks, though.” Pierce and Alpha shared a laugh while their partners took little offense.

When the conversation died back down, Alpha couldn’t stop feeling for Lion. He’d never seen a man long for a cherished the way he did. The big man was forced to sit at a dinner table with two happily partnered couples while they discussed their home routines and ribbed each other’s quirks. Unfortunately, there was little Lion could contribute to the conversation so he just sat there quietly and listened, probably wishing Omega would’ve at least joined them.

Alpha had tried to get Omega to come to dinner with them. His brother had refused, claiming he was still too sore, but Alpha knew better.

Lion stood. “Pierce, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to take Omega’s dinner to him in his living quarters. He’s probably still resting.”

“Of course, Firuz. Please tell him I hope he’s feeling okay and if he needs anything to not to hesitate to ask.”

Lion bowed his head just a fraction in respect. “I know your history with Omega. I appreciate your hospitality towards him. I truly do.”

Hawk and Pierce nodded in acceptance while they all watched Lion take great care in preparing Omega a balanced plate of roast lamb with rosemary sauce, spinach, and mushroom risotto. 

oMEGA

He could hear laughter and light-hearted conversation going on in another part of the house while he sat in his room, embarrassed. His muscles were surprisingly loose compared to the previous day and he knew why. Lion had done amazing things to his body before he left him earlier. He’d been half expecting the large man to come back, maybe for a late lunch or something, but he hadn’t. Maybe Omega had finally pushed hard enough that Lion felt he wasn’t worth the hassle.

No, wait. Lion said he’d make Omega his in three days. In three days, they’d be taking a sixty-seven hundred mile trip across the Atlantic. There’d be no talk of pairings or cherishments, only of fighting. That’s what Omega knew best. He’d thought all afternoon about his brother’s words, his master’s, and Lion’s. He knew what he was going to do. When they were victorious and the Elders were pleased that rule of law had been restored to the Order. He was ready to go back into the field. Alone.

He turned his eyes away from the window when he heard a light tap at the door, just before Lion walked through it looking like a gorgeous giant. His smile was sweet and looked genuine. Like he was happy to see him. Omega didn’t know if he believed that or not.

“Good evening, Erik.” Lion put the tray on the small table next to the chair he was sitting in and dropped down in the other chair. “It’s nice that you’re up. How’re your muscles?”

Omega didn’t want to admit the truth, but he wasn’t a liar. Sneaky yes, but a liar? Fuck, no. And he’d gladly tell Lion anything he wanted to hear because the aroma of the food that wafted from the large dinner plate smelled divine. He’d smelled seared meat earlier and it took a lot not to venture out of his room then. “I feel a lot better. Famished now, to be honest. I’m thinking of going back out for a bit. Work out the last of the kinks.”

“Sounds good. I’ll go with you. Help you keep it light.” Lion winked and Omega rolled his eyes.

“Despite what you saw or what you think, I know how to prepare for a mission. Been doing it for as long as I can remember.”

“That’s good. Eat.” Lion pointed at the plate and if Omega hadn’t been starving, he would’ve told Lion to fuck off for barking that order at him. Okay, he didn’t bark it, but he didn’t have to tell Omega to do everything. He was smart enough to know the food went in his goddamn mouth if he wanted the nourishment. Alpha was never so bossy or patronizing.

“I mean. Not like you have to. If you’re hungry, then eat. If you want to, or feel up to it. Well, you do want to, because you said you were famished. Darn. I should’ve brought you something earlier. I was um… trying to give you some space.” Lion was rambling like a flustered, hormonal teenager. Omega found it kind of charming. Lion was always so confident and sure of himself, arrogant almost. It was nice to see the man had a human side.

Omega grinned, picking up the large glass of milk first and downing half of it before he picked up the steaming plate. “Wow. This looks really good. Did you make this?”

“No. Pierce made it.”

“Did you eat?”

“I did.”

Omega made a noise that meant nothing and kept eating. Why’d he care if Lion ate or not?
Because he cared if you ate, and he brought you food, and you’re not a complete asshole.
Lion was silent while Omega ate, only speaking when asked a direct question.

“Any new word on Viper?”

“No. Everything is still on schedule as of this morning.”

“It’s not going to be easy to sneak up on assassins.”

“True. But we still have the element of surprise. It appears that they aren’t yet aware that anyone knows of their treachery. I informed your brother that there was another large withdrawal, this time it was seventy-five thousand, stolen from one of the Order’s bank accounts at the UBS in Switzerland. Remember – I’m here, but I’m not here. As of today at least, they are still none the wiser.” Lion looked troubled and Omega didn’t like it. He had no clue why and to be honest with himself, he didn’t like that he didn’t like it. What was it about Lion that made Omega lose himself? Omega’s food was all but gone and settling nicely in his full belly. The portions were just right and Omega felt revived, but he still hated that Lion looked so troubled.

“I’m going to go for a walk. You feel up to walking?”

Lion’s hazel eyes lit up like the sun. “Yes. Yes, I’d like that a lot.”

Omega only had a few bites of food left, but he’d eaten a little too fast. It was rare he ate a home-cooked meal prepared by someone he trusted enough to eat with. He’d have to stop all this brooding like a teenager and man the fuck up. They had so much work to do and Omega had a sinking feeling that they were stalled not only by Viper, but by him as well. If he hadn’t had torn his body to shreds, then he would’ve been working and training with the other men… properly.

“Hey. Enough of that.”

Omega jumped at Lion’s voice, his fork falling from his hand and clanging loudly against his dinner plate.
Why does he do this to me? He doesn’t know what I’m going through. It’s so easy for someone on the outside looking in. Someone who’s indestructible.
“I’m fine,” Omega mumbled, leaving his fork on the plate, which he set on the small ottoman next to his chair.

“Yes, you are.”

Omega darted his suspicious eyes over at Lion. “You use that line often? Does it work?”

“It wasn’t a line.” Lion frowned. His accent almost making it sound like he’d said that in another language.

“Whatever,” Omega scoffed. Damn, he was already regretting inviting company on his walk. Since he was already dressed, he got up and grabbed his thin linen overcoat, leaving his hood and scarf. There was no anonymity here and it’d be impossible to get a good satellite view of them in the thick woods. Government satellites were always their concern. Avoiding them, of course, so their identities weren’t discovered.

Leaving his room and heading out the side entrance, hoping to avoid anyone for now, he left it open since Lion was right on his heel.

“You don’t have to walk on my shadow, you know.”

“Am I too close?”

For the love of…. “Well, fuck. It might be hard to walk with your chest pressed to my back.” Lion was right there on him. All he’d done was step out onto the yard that was made up of several feet of bright green grass before the foliage of the forest welcomed them.

“It’s beautiful here.”

“In the States or Virginia, in particular? This State is full of National parks, mountainous terrains, huge rivers and lakes, you name it,” Omega informed the first-time guest to Virginia as they easily made their way deep into the trees. The canopy of leaves prohibited much of the sunlight from reaching them, but the warmth could still be felt on his skin. It’d been almost two full days since he’d been outside. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. When he had his shoulder surgery perhaps, but he’d been unconscious most of that time. 

“I’ve been all over the US. It’s a peculiar collection of people. So many cultures and beliefs, even leaders. Mayors, councilman, senators. How do you know who to follow? Who’s honorable? Their president?”

“I don’t have anything invested in liking or disliking the US. I’ve pledged no allegiance to any president. This isn’t my country.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because Alpha is,” they both said in perfect unison.

Omega ignored that. He came to an opening and off in the distance he could see a river that he’d thought of swimming in a couple days ago, but changed his mind. Virginia’s rivers were also well known for breeding trillions of parasites. He squatted and groaned a little at the slight pull still in his hamstring. Lion was on him before he could fully stand back up. “You move fast.”

“Yes, I do.”

Lion placed both hands on Omega’s shoulders, pressing his blunt fingers into the base of his neck. An almost imperceptible pop reached his ears and Lion rolled his head for him. Damn, that felt great. He hadn’t realized how stiff his neck was. “How are your muscles?”

“Like nothing ever happened.”

“But something did happen, Erikitor.”

“Don’t go there. You’ve already said enough on that.”

“I’d never try to lecture you on purpose. Or should I say, it’d never be my intention. I’m just concerned.”

“Why are you so concerned?” Omega whirled around. “About what? Me? Don’t be. I’ve been doing this a long ass time without any help from you, and I’ll continue to, long after you’ve left.”