Christopher
"It was so embarrassing! I damn near saluted him!" Reed flung himself down on one of the couches in the large family room. A few of the pups giggled. Several of the others sitting around nodded in agreement.
Most of them had been there when Alec got riled and everyone else has heard about it. Reed had told me the gist of what had happened right away but this was my first chance to hear about it in-depth.
It seems Alec's Luna connection is coming in nicely.
At dinner, the pack members had a change in attitude. Most of them didn't pop up at the table with extra food and the ones that did came with sheepish smiles.
"You know, I'd been joining when I told Alec I put him in charge."
"This is all your fault! Alec didn't even know what he was doing and I was acting like some little, toy soldier. Reed lifted his head only to shoot daggers at me. "I didn't know what to do! I just kept saying I was standing. I said it so many times!"
I have to cough to hold back laughing. "I know it's hard protecting Alec's knowledge but this is still a normal amount of time to take with human mates."
"Well, when was the last human that joined the pack with his Alpha mate's authority behind him?"
"Okay, I am sorry. I didn't know it would be quite so noticeable or inconvenient for everyone."
"How much longer?" Someone in the group speaks up.
"Alec has been handling a lot, finding out the way he did. Maybe a few weeks?" Strained looks are exchanged among the group. "Alec goes home tomorrow. I won't bring him to the pack house until after I tell him. I'm just hoping to strengthen our mate bond a little bit more. Alec is a little..."
"Fussy?" Reed helps. "Grumpy? Sensitive? Aggressive?"
Soft chuckles go around the room before the members nearest the hall stop, tilting their heads toward the doorway. Shortly, we all hear the group coming down the hall. Reed straightens and sits up.
Alec walks in with some of the other kitchen helpers. The only one not keeping their distance, and is currently engaged in lively talk with my mate, is Dee. Families start to split up after the dinner chores, some settle in for games and others retire to their rooms or elsewhere.
Alec comes and sits easily down next to me. He lets out a little sigh but gives me a small smile when he catches my eye. He tenses a little when I put my arm around him, neither leaning in nor pulling away.
"Thanks for helping clean up today."
Alec shakes his head side to side. "It's nothing, if I eat then I should clean."
"I still have a little bit more reading to get through, do you want to stay down here and play with the others?"
Alec looks around but turns to me to ask, "I'm a little tired, can I go up to your room?"
"Of course. If you don't mind, can I read there with you?"
"That's fine."
"Okay, I'll go grab my stuff, wait here!" I hurry out of the room and through the pack house. Quickly gathering my stuff before running back to Alec.
"You don't need to run."
"I didn't want you to wait long, you're tired. Let's go."
Alec is quiet and seems to be lost in his thoughts on the way up to the room. Getting back to my room, Alec shifts the folded pile of blankets he's been using to the side and settles down on one side of the couch. He immediately leans on elbow, propping his head up and closes his eyes.
"If you're tired, you can take the bed tonight."
"Huh?" Alec glances up to me.
"Why don't you take the bed tonight?" Alec's eyes widen a little bit and I can see his body tense again. "If it makes you nervous to have me on the couch, I can bunk in with Reed or-"
"NO!" Alec springs up off the couch. He walks over to start herding me towards the other side half of the seat. "It's fine, I'll take the couch again. Just worry about your work. I'm not that tired even, I'm going to get cleaned up."
"Um, okay. I left pajamas out earlier for you-" The bathroom door shuts closed firmly. Setting in, I try to focus on reading. I can hear soft, indistinct sounds from the other room. Is he getting undressed now? The water turns on and soon I can smell the scent of my shampoo.
Shit, reading here isn't going to go well. My eyes scan the same sentence several times but none of the words make sense. My ears are tuned for when the water shuts off.
Shifting a little, I try to look casual when Alec comes out in another paid of my sweatpants and tee shirt. He joins me on the couch, drying his hair with a towel.
"What are you working on?"
"Huh?" I have no fucking clue. "Uh, schoolwork."
Alec leans over a little, looking at the open pages in front of me. What do I study again? Sadly, not the clean, fresh skin of Alec's neck.
"Business math sure is different from vet math." Alec mentions, sitting back again.
Math! That's what I study. No, wait. Business, I'm a business major.
Alec drapes the towel over his shoulders and gets up. Gesturing to the bookcases lining the wall, "Can I read one of these?"
"Of course, help yourself."
I can't help watching Alec while he looks over the titles. This just feels so right. I want Alec to live here and we can read and talk together every night.
Alec pulls a book off the shelf and starts to flip through it. "This might be helpful."
I catch a glimpse of the back cover in his hands. "No, uh, not that one." Rushing over I take the werewolf history book from him, shoving it back haphazardly into the shelves. He wouldn't have to read too far before he'd find out all about mates.
"Uh, here, read this one." I grab a random book and push it into his hands. Smiling, I ignore his confused look. "It's one of my favorites."
Alec reads the title, "Project Management: Navigating the Complexity with a Systematic Approach?"
Ah, crap.
"Sure, sure. It's better than the chaotic approach, I've learned. Give it a try." I usher him back to the couch and sit with him.
Alec flips through the book a little and I force myself to turn a few pages of ming now and again, reading nothing.
"Chris?"
"Yes." I snap the book shut.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes! Of course."
"Earlier...you heard about what happened earlier, right?"
Double crap. "What happened earlier?" I feign curiosity.
Alec tosses the textbook aside and turns to face me. "I saw the long pause Reed made, he must have told you through your mind right away."
"Wow, you're picking that up quick."
"Did I do something wrong? I think I crossed a line, raising my voice at Reed like that."
"Reed probably deserved it."
"But, the way everyone reacted? Especially Reed? I was wondering if I provoked some kind of wolf defense response?"
I inch closer to Alec, covering his hands with mine. "I promise, it wasn't that. I think you just surprised everyone. I'm sorry if we acted weird. You can talk to Reed tomorrow if that will help you feel better but you didn't do anything wrong."
Alec nods slowly, considering my words. "Okay, but I think I will still apologize.. I need to get used to your friend a little bit more. But I'm still curious why I could hear Reed's voice earlier, you know when...? I've only been around him a little bit."
Because you're our Luna and he's already set to serve with you.
Welp, I can't tell him that now. I haven't even gotten my first date with him. Although, Alec might feel stronger for me than he lets on, considering what exactly did happen earlier when...
"Reed's like a kid," I try to explain. "They attach easier. Don't worry about it." I wrap my arms around him and try to pull him close but he stiffens in my embrace and resists.
Looking down at him I see the hesitation in his eyes. "Is there something else bother you?"
"Um, this morning..." I'm not going to like this. "I got a little carried away. I'm not ready for so much..."
Loosening my arms, I let them drop down to his hands again. "I understand. I got a carried away, too." Probably. Not as much as I'm willing to be carried away though.
"Really?"
I nod, giving his hands a squeeze. He eases some of my worry when he opens his psalm and lets our fingers intertwine.
"Thank you." His eyes look more clear and less worried.
"Alec," I shift all my books off the couch and sit back. "Can we just sit together for a little bit."
Wordlessly, Alec sits back, too. Our arms brush a little bit as my weight pulls his body slanted towards me. I put my open hand, palm up, on my thigh.
After a few seconds, Alec slides his hand into mine again. We don't have much to say and after a few minutes I feel Alec's head roll towards my shoulder. His breath becomes deep and even with sleep.