Rise From the Ashes

by Noah Harris

  Adam’s arm around Josh’s shoulders tightened in a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. It was a good idea. It’s not your fault we won’t be able to see anything.”

  Josh’s brows furrowed just a little bit more, his bottom lip jutting out. “But you left your pack on its own, and now this”—he gestured vaguely to the empty park around them—“Isn’t even happening.”

  “We still had dinner,” Adam pointed out.

  Josh sighed. “I guess that’s true...”

  “And you may find this hard to believe, but I didn’t leave my pack to look at meteors.” Josh looked at him sharply, confusion playing across his features. Adam smirked, letting the pause stretch and unable to hide his amusement. He leaned forward, putting his forehead to Josh’s as he whispered, “I left my pack to come spend time with you.”

  Josh blinked, confusion melting into something softer. Then he smiled. “You’re so cheesy,” he said softly, and Adam could feel his breath on his lips.

  He grinned. “You seem to like it.”

  They stayed like that, close and intimate, basking in each other’s presence. The wind breezed through the park, lifting their hair and playing with the strands. It was a cold wind, one that smelled of rain. It whipped through the trees around them, making the leaves rattle. He felt Josh’s shiver, and tightened his hold, pulling the omega against him. Josh folded into his side, resting his head on Adam’s shoulder and nosing against his neck. A shiver ran down Adam’s spine, but it had nothing to do with the chill.

  “What made you change your mind?” Josh asked after several moments of comfortable silence.

  “Hmm?” Adam’s free hand idly ran up and down Josh’s arm, both to comfort and warm him as well as sate his urge to simply touch the other man.

  “You said you had things to do, and then shortly after you changed your mind.” He clarified. “What happened?”

  Adam leaned cheek against Josh’s hair. He smiled, eyes distant as he stared across the park. “I had a talk with one of my pack mates. An old friend. While we don’t agree on most things, and she’s probably the biggest pain in my ass, she did give me some pretty sound advice.”

  “What was it?”

  “That I should take what I want. I wasn’t actively doing anything with my pack in that moment, and all I could think of was how I just wanted to be spending time with you.”

  “Were they mad at you for leaving?”

  “Only her, but she was angry, anyway. She seems to think I’m not taking my position seriously. I told her the pack will be fine without me for one night.”

  “So... you don’t regret coming out there? Even if we don’t get to see the meteor shower?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “Not one bit. A date is a date, and that’s all I’ve wanted with you for the past week.” There was a pause, a brief hesitation in which they both were far too stiff to be comfortable. Adam coughed. “This, uh... is a date, right?”

  Josh stiffened for only a moment before scooting closer, seeming to sink impossibly deeper into his side. He buried his face in the crook of Adam’s neck, voice muffled as he said, “I’d like it to be...”

  “Good. Me, too.”

  He didn’t know how long they sat in comfortable silence, but it wasn’t long before the first raindrop hit his cheek. He blinked, looking up as several more landed on his face. He could hear the wind rustling the leaves as well as the soft patter of droplets falling to the ground.

  “It’s starting to rain,” he said, nudging Josh.

  Josh lifted his head, holding out a hand as if to confirm for himself. Luckily it was only a light sprinkle, and they had plenty of time to—

  And just like that, with nearly no warning, the rain increased tenfold, drops falling fast and hard and plentiful. It came on quickly, leaving Adam sputtering and reeling and immediately soaked. He cursed under his breath as he jumped to his feet, reaching out to take hold of Josh’s hand. “Let’s go!”

  Josh stumbled along behind him as he ran. Puddles were already forming, and Adam’s hair was already plastered to his cheeks and neck. He ran for the nearest shelter, a picnic structure with a roof and several tables beneath. By the time they were safely out of the rain, they were wet beyond repair. His jacket was soaked, though luckily his shirt beneath remained mostly dry. The front of his pants was damp and his shoes squelched with every step.

  Once he stopped running, he huffed, putting his free hand on his hip as he caught his breath. He turned to find Josh was in a very similar state, hair soaked and pushed back from his forehead. He was turned away from him, eyes on the rain beyond their small bubble of shelter, aimed up at the sky. Adam got a good look at his profile and was content to simply admire. The angles of his features were soft, made even more so by the small smile on his lips. His nose had a cute little upturn at the end, and there was a light smattering of freckles along the peaks of his cheekbones.

  Adam stared, taking in all the small details, storing them for later.

  Then Josh turned to look at him, eyes soft and smile shy when he realized Adam was watching him. Adam returned the smile, running his fingers through his hair to push it away from his face.

  “We should have known it was going to rain,” he said, chuckling. In fact, they had known it was going to rain. All the signs were there. Humans liked to say they could smell rain in the air, but as werewolves, they definitely could. No matter how sudden the downpour had been, he had known it was coming. But he just hadn’t wanted to leave. He’d wanted to stay with Josh for as long as possible. Though that wasn’t the worst outcome. He supposed he’d got what he wanted after all. “Now we’re stuck here.”

  He gazed out across the park, through the sheets of rain. He hadn’t driven his truck to meet Josh. He’d walked from the pack house to the bus stop, then had ridden the bus to meet Josh near his home. Josh had driven them to the park, but the parking lot was far away from where they were. They’d have to brave the rain to get there.

  “I don’t think we’re stuck.” Josh said, so softly and gently that Adam didn’t quite register it at first. When he did, the omega was already staring out beyond the shelter again, eyes far away. He didn’t say anything, waiting patiently for Josh to elaborate. “I like the rain.”

  Josh took a step forward, stretching out his free hand, palm up, to extend beyond their bubble. His palm caught a stream of water that was dripping from the edge of the roof. It pooled in his hand before overflowing, falling to the ground.

  “Everyone likes the rain until they’re stuck in it.” Adam said, lips quirking in amusement.

  “Like I said.” A smirk played across his lips as he took another step away, pulling his hand from Adam’s grasp. “We’re only stuck if you’re too afraid to brave it.”

  Keeping eye contact, Josh took several more slow steps backward, stepping out into the rain. As the water hit him, trails of it streaming down his face, he threw his arms wide, laughing as he spun in a circle.

  Then he walked away, further into the rain, pausing only when he was in the middle of the park. He tilted his head back, eyes closed against the droplets, arms relaxed at his sides as the rain soaked into him.

  Unable to hold back any longer, Adam stepped out from the shelter to join him.

  “Most people think rain is gloomy,” Adam said as he came up behind Josh, pressing his chest to Josh’s back and wrapping his arms around his waist.

  Josh leaned back into the touch, humming contently. His eyes remained closed. “Most people like to dwell on the negatives.”

  “It can be inconvenient. Makes you have to change your clothes. Makes it harder to stay outside. Not everyone likes being soaked,” Adam teased.

  “I think it’s peaceful.” Josh said softly, lifting his hands to rest them on Adam’s arms where they crossed over his stomach. His fingers danced over Adam’s arms, and his head fell back against his shoulder. “It’s soothing, and as long as you accept the fact that you’re gonna get wet, it’s kinda nice. It
makes me feel... at peace. Calm. It’s refreshing and clean. When I’m out here, I feel like none of my problems can touch me.”

  Adam tilted his head back, letting his eyes close. He felt each drop hit his face, felt the rain stream through his hair and soak his clothes. It was cold, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Josh was warm, snuggled firmly against his chest. It felt like they were alone, two people frozen in time where no one and nothing could touch them. His tangled worries eased from his heart, and tension leaked from his shoulders. He simply breathed, simply existed in this moment with Josh.

  Josh, who put his heart and mind at ease with his mere presence.

  Adam heaved a long, contented sigh and opened his eyes. He was a little surprised to find Josh gazing up at him, a lazy smile tugging at his lips.

  “Yeah,” he said, unable to hold back a smile of his own. “I guess the rain isn’t so bad.”

  Josh’s smile brightened, like the sun peeking through the clouds. His hand reached behind him, running along Adam’s shoulder, up the back of his neck, fingers burying into his hair, and then tugging him down. Adam followed the direction and dipped his head willingly, eagerly capturing Josh’s waiting lips.

  The kiss was gentle but firm and eager. Josh’s lips were soft as they pressed against his, cold and wet with the rain. Adam’s heart beat wildly in his chest, making him dizzy as emotions popped and crackled along his skin. His arms tightened around Josh’s waist, and the omega sighed into the kiss, lips parting. Adam licked along the seam, pushing into his mouth, slowly deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.

  When he pulled back, just enough to give them space, his knees were shaking and his breath was ragged, but Josh was smiling at him with a soft, dazed look in his eyes, and Adam let out a muted chuckle. “Yeah, I’m starting to like the rain.”

  _________________________

  He lost track of time, standing out in the rain with his lips pressed to Josh’s. They only decided to leave once they both started to shiver. By then, their lips were kiss swollen, and Adam was certain he’d never be able to catch his breath again.

  They climbed into Josh’s car with little regard for the interior—they were too soaked to do anything about it. Josh drove them back to Adam’s place, surprised that Adam didn’t live in the pack house, especially as the new Alpha. Adam simply shrugged and told him that he wasn’t ready to give up his solitude and privacy just yet. The drive back was spent mostly in silence, the radio playing softly beneath the pattering of rain. Their hands remained clasped over the center console the whole time.

  Once they reached his apartment, Adam convinced Josh to stay. It didn’t take much. It was well after midnight when they climbed the steps to his apartment, and he knew his friends wouldn’t be around to see even if they could hear them over the sound of the storm.

  Two warm showers later, they nestled beneath the blankets on Adam’s bed, Josh wearing a pair of borrowed sweatpants and a shirt that was far too large for him. It was incredibly adorable. They snuggled close, exchanging kisses that started out eager and relaxed into a lazy exchange. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, lulled to sleep by the driving rain.

  Adam was halfway through his first beer of the night when he felt a presence at his side. It was starting to become a normal occurrence. As acting Alpha, he had pack mates coming up to him whenever he was around. He wasn’t an intimidating Alpha that they were afraid to approach—he could never be that kind of Alpha, and frankly, he didn’t want to be. He was the approachable, trustworthy kind of Alpha. One that they felt comfortable enough to be around and also trusted to keep them safe.

  So he was getting used to pack mates approaching him with little warning. He was getting used to plastering a smile on his face and interacting with kindness, compassion, and patience at the drop of a hat, no matter how he was feeling inside.

  But this approach immediately felt different. He was facing the bar, elbows on the wood top and foot propped up on the under bar. His back was to the club, clearly closing himself off to everyone to simply give himself a moment to breathe. Any considerate pack mate would notice his body language, but this person clearly didn’t care.

  As a body slid up next to him, close enough that their shoulders bumped and their arms pressed together, he tensed. A flash of long hair, a smaller frame, a feminine scent. His first though was of Millie, and he had to stifle a groan. Of course, she would push into his personal space.

  But it only took him a second to note the differences in the scent. It was something more subtle, more subdued, like fresh air and orange blossoms and a warm, spring day. Nothing like the brash, alluring scent that Millie gave off, temping and daring anyone to stand against her or attempt to court her. Millie’s scent promised a thrill, danger. This scent promised peace and quiet nights watching Netflix with friends.

  Karen.

  He breathed a sigh of relief, letting her scent wrap around him like a warm hug. He could sense her amusement, hear her soft chuckle, but she didn’t say anything about it. Instead, she bumped her hip lightly into his, a friendly gesture that spoke of the comfort of their years of friendship. Karen was a strong and beautiful woman, but she was also one of the only women in the pack who had never tried to court him at some point. He appreciated that. He bumped her hip right back.

  “You’re late,” he said, lifting his beer to his lips. “I had to catch a ride with Ben and Megan.”

  “I’m sure it was terrible,” she deadpanned.

  “Dreadful.”

  “So...” she said, drawing out the word in a way that immediately put him on edge. He glanced at her, suspicious. She gazed down at her glass, running a fingertip along the edge. “I haven’t asked you about last weekend.”

  “Last weekend?” He paused to think, but he couldn’t connect anything he’d done with that particular tone of voice, that teasing edge of amusement. “I was at the pack house most of the weekend.”

  “Were you?” She rested an elbow on the bar, putting her chin in her open palm as she looked at him. “As I recall, during a certain storm, someone came home late. And not alone.”

  Adrenaline spiked, kicking in his fight or flight reflexes. Unfortunately, he could do neither. She simply watched him, her mouth curled in an amused smirk and eyes alight with laughter. It took a moment for his brain to kick back on. When it did, he coughed, turning his head away, shoulders slumping.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he mumbled, taking a long pull of his beer and ignoring the way his hands shook. Fuck. Fuck-fuck-fuck. She was looking at him like she knew. Did she know? Had he been obvious? They hadn’t even done anything.

  “Let me refresh your memory.” She held up a finger to illustrate her point. “It was storming pretty heavily.” A second finger popped up. “You came home with a young man who followed you up to your apartment, and”—a third finger joined the others—“he hurried out of the apartment complex the next morning.”

  Her smile was devious, and Adam knew he couldn’t deny Josh had been there. He could, however, deflect. He raised an eyebrow. “And what were you doing awake and spying on me?”

  She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. Gwyn was out late last night, and I was staying up to make sure she got home. I heard a car pull up, and I thought it might be her.” She tilted her head to the side, smile firmly in place. “It wasn’t.”

  Adam grunted, hoping the sound would save him from having to indulge her and hopefully make her drop the subject. It didn’t work.

  “So.... Who is he?”

  “Just someone from work...” He grumbled, hunching in on himself. He stared hard at the bottle in his hand. He would need another beer soon. Especially if this conversation continued. “He works at a partnering company. We were just... hanging out.”

  “In the rain?” She sounded amused.

  He shot her a quick glare. “It wasn’t raining when we went out. We got caught in it.”

  “You both looked pretty soake
d.”

  He shrugged. “We were in a park. Out in the open.”

  “How romantic.”

  Adam stiffened, heart in his throat. He didn’t know how he could escape this. He had to laugh it off. If he didn’t, Karen would know that her assumptions were true. Fuck. He had to say something, anything to get the suspicion off him. He wasn’t ready to be out. He wasn’t. He’d thought he might be, but here, faced with the reality of it, he realized he wasn’t. Everything could crash and burn so quickly. He wasn’t prepared.

  But he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. His voice caught, breath ragged and shallow. His mind was working a mile a minute, but it seemed to be disconnected from his mouth. He couldn’t think what to say, let alone force himself to say it. He was stuck. Stuck waiting, feeling everything shattering around him.

  “Hey.” Her voice was soft then, replaced only by gentle kindness. She reached out, resting her hand over his. He hadn’t realized how tightly he had been clenching his fists until he felt her touch. His knuckles relaxed beneath her warmth. He glanced at her, cautious and wary, but she was smiling at him. It wasn’t her teasing smile or a mocking smile. It was barely there, and her eyes were soft and knowing, without a hint of judgement. “It’s okay,” she continued, voice lowered so only he could hear. Her eyes flickered down to their hands, and her grip tightened around his. “I’m... It’s the same for me. I know what you’re going through.”

  He looked at her then, really looked at her. He could see the strain behind her kindness, the tension in her gentleness, the strength in her warmth. She met his eyes again, with a firmness there and a fire. Everything clicked into place.

  “The same?” he breathed, cautious but awed.

  She nodded shortly, face softening. “The same.”

  “I... I never knew.”

  “I never knew about you.”

  “I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.”

  He found himself smiling, and that smile quickly morphed into a grin. He found himself laughing the deep kind of bellied laugh that came in the wake of his intense relief. Giddiness pulsed through his veins. “No wonder we’ve always gotten along.”