by Noah Harris
Josh had also done most of the branding and graphic design for their little company, being the most creative one in the group. Adam, Rob, and Karen had left that up to Josh while they’d worked on the more technical logistics of starting up a company.
Their consulting firm was small, but quickly growing. They’d started with only Josh, Rob, Karen, and himself but were quickly making a name for themselves. They had recently been able to renovate the office to fit more employees, and Adam had tentative plans for more expansion in the near future. They still weren’t up to the standard of their previous companies, but it was nice. They were in charge, and they could pave their own way.
When he had originally quit his job and approached Rob about helping him start their own company in the next town over, he hadn’t thought that Rob would say yes. Not when it was a good hour drive away and when he had a secure job already. But Rob hadn’t even hesitated. He just looked Adam up and down, asked when he wanted to start, and turned in his two weeks’ notice. While Rob still didn’t know about the werewolf side to Adam and his family, he’d quickly bonded with the others and was considered a close friend of the pack.
Adam was glad he had Rob with him. Other than his pack mates, Rob was his best friend, and it had made the transition into this new life that much easier.
When they got outside, it was raining. Adam closed his eyes, tilting his head back and letting a few drops hit his face, lips stretching into a small smile. Josh pulled his jacket tighter around him and leaned into Adam’s side. That brought him out of his trance. He unfolded his umbrella and held it up to shelter them both.
The streets outside were busy. Their little office was located in the outer rim of downtown, in the next city over from their previous home. The city was close enough that they hadn’t needed to move far from their original homes, but far enough that they weren’t really associated with their previous territory.
It was also far enough away that their old packs didn’t bother with them. In fact, the plan had gone off without a hitch. The alphas who had accompanied Millie to the rooftop had sworn a blood oath to follow her and had agreed to claim that Adam and Josh had died, under the condition that Josh provided the names of Eddie’s murderers. It had taken a week of careful spying on Josh’s part, but no one had suspected anything of the soft-spoken omega, and they had talked about things openly while he was in earshot.
The last time Adam had seen Millie was when he had given her the names. She’d called him later and informed him that they had summoned those wolves to justice, and the New Moon Alpha had handed them over. The wolves had been dealt with accordingly, and the packs had entered a tremulous truce once again. Millie had promised that she was following in Eddie’s footsteps and making peace.
He hadn’t asked for the details of their punishment, and didn’t want to. It was odd. He’d always thought he’d want to know, for Eddie’s sake. But he’d come to realize it wasn’t any of his business anymore. He had mourned Eddie, but vengeance was never something he had wanted to achieve. His old pack had found the peace he’d wanted for them, and he was at peace with that.
It hurt a little to know the pack was doing fine without him, but he knew it was for the best.
Besides, he had his own pack now.
Hand-in-hand with Josh, Adam made his way through the busy street. Rain pinged off his umbrella, gathering on the ground and soaking their shoes. The streets were busy, but he navigated them easily enough, weaving through the crowd with his head held high, holding his umbrella higher when he had to cut close to someone. All the while, he tugged Josh along behind him. The omega followed swiftly in his footsteps, sticking close and following his lead.
They passed by a bus stop, and Adam spared the people there a glance. He took in their dull eyes and blank faces, a smile on his lips as he realized just how far he’d come.
They stood next to the curb, waiting for the light to change. A car came speeding past, and Adam pulled Josh back before the car hit the puddle, keeping them clear of the splash zone. Then the light changed, and he hopped over the puddle, holding Josh’s hand up as the omega jumped straight into the water, splashing both their pant legs.
Josh grinned up at him, eyes alight and sparkling with mischief, and Adam laughed, pulling his mate in close as they crossed the street. When they reached Josh’s car, alone in the parking garage, Adam closed his umbrella and backed him up against the driver’s side door. Josh tilted his head back in welcome, green eyes darkening as he smirked up at Adam, hands sliding up his chest to coil around Adam’s neck, pulling him close as Adam bent to capture his lips.
Adam kissed him slow and deep, pushing his tongue into Josh’s mouth to taste that sweetness, breathing in his honey scent. He pushed a knee between Josh’s legs, swallowing the soft gasp and gentle groans, loving the way Josh’s fingers tightened in his hair.
He pulled back after a moment, hovering close and enjoying the way Josh stared, eyes dark, lips lax and parted, scent heavy and needy and sugary sweet. He felt his own body react to it, felt the warmth coiling low in his stomach as the wolf inside growled. The full moon was close. They could feel it humming in their veins, feel it calling out to them and keeping their instincts close, bringing their wolves to the surface.
He leaned close, pressing his lips to Josh’s ear and smiling at the way his breath hitched. “Let’s get home before I devour you right here and now,” Adam whispered, voice low and husky.
Josh shuddered against him, back arching and body pressing up against his. “Tonight?” he asked, pressing his hips forward in obvious question.
Adam chuckled and promised, “Tonight.”
_________________________
The sun set slowly, casting the world into shades of crimson and fire before the peaceful shades of purple and blue faded to darkness.
He stood in the open field outside their pack house, stripped down to nothing, as his gazed fixed on the western horizon. The pull of the rising moon was singing in his veins, like electricity buzzing across his skin. The wolf was close to the surface, pacing and waiting. His hair stood on end, energy thrumming in the air, nearly tangible.
His pack stood behind him, all bare and waiting. Josh was at his side, close enough that his scent filled Adam’s lungs with every breath, close enough that he could feel his aura brushing against him, calm and welcoming and familiar.
Home.
They had settled onto the large property next to Nadia’s, all of them pitching in to buy it. They’d lived with Nadia while renovating the large house at the center of the property, and the witch hadn’t minded at all. Karen and Gwyn still lived with her, and while it was sad to not have them living in the same house, they weren’t too far away.
Their pack had started out small, claiming their own property and Nadia’s as their territory before slowly expanding outward. As word of them spread, a small, cozy pack that was welcoming and peaceful, they’d slowly started gaining new members. A few lone wolves wandered in and were accepted only if they got a stamp of approval from everyone. Five of them, now, added to their numbers, plus the newest addition: Ben and Megan’s baby.
She was still young, chubby cheeked and round eyed. They usually left her with Nadia on the full moon nights when the rest of them answered the call of the moon. The entire pack was in love with her, especially Josh. Adam could see it in the way he held her, in the way his eyes sparkled whenever he looked at her, in the fond gazes Josh sent him afterward.
He knew it wouldn’t be too long before they made their own addition to their small family.
But for now, there was only the call of the moon.
Josh stepped up to him as the last of the sun’s rays dipped beneath the horizon. They didn’t touch, but they were close enough to feel the energy vibrating off one another. He looked away from the sky and to his mate. The omega was smiling, eyes reflecting the last light as they glinted with the power of the change. Josh had made the transition to Alpha mate flawlessly. He was a perfe
ct pack leader. He was kind and caring, nurturing and understanding. He was learning to be firm when he needed to be, but he was also lenient and forgiving.
He was everything Adam had ever wanted in a mate, everything that Adam lacked, and everything he needed to support him and be at his side.
Josh was perfect, and though Adam was the Alpha, he knew that Josh had him wrapped around his little finger. He would do anything for him. He would do anything for his family.
Adam led the change, but the others were only seconds behind. They took to their wolf forms quickly, feeling the dizzying rush of release and flood of endorphins. Adam shook himself out, feeling the wind in his fur and the dirt beneath his claws. He raised his nose to the breeze, smelling everything in the night wind. He revelled in it for a moment, in the moon and the power, at peace with himself.
Then Josh nudged him, a nose to his jaw, a smaller body pressed up against his side, gently pushing him forward. Adam glanced at the omega, seeing the excitement sparkling in his eyes, the eagerness for the run tensing in his muscles, making his scent come alive with the thrill.
Adam leaned into him for only a moment, loving the feel of him so close, before digging his paws into the dirt and shooting forward.
He ran quickly, adrenaline fueling his movements, the strain and ache of his muscles stretching, the burn of pushing his body to the limit. He loved it all. He charged forward, hearing his pack behind him and his mate at his side. For the first time, Adam felt like he had found where he truly belonged.
If he was a kite, then his pack was his tether, keeping him grounded so he could rise and soar.
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