The first and most important thing he noticed was the bond, his ever-present connection to Tim, sitting quietly in the back of his mind, soft and comforting as Tim lay sound asleep next to him. Their combined scents filled the air, and Seb took a long deep breath, his wolf…content—that was the only word he could think of to describe how it felt. Or maybesmug. Apart from the ambient sounds of the room, the one thing he could hear was Tim, breathing steadily next to him.
Seb opened his eyes and turned to find Tim looking back at him. He was sleep-rumpled, with bed hair and pillow creases on his cheek, but definitely awake.
“I thought you were still asleep?” Seb smiled, and Tim returned it.
“I am.” He yawned, his jaw cracking loudly. “Well, I feel it. Are you going to see who that was from?” He nodded at Seb’s phone on the bedside table.
“Oh, yeah.” Seb turned and reached for it. “Jared,” he muttered as he unlocked it. “He and Nathan are down the hall. They’ve come to see if we want to run with them. Jared doesn’t run, does he?” He glanced at Tim expectantly.
“No, but he can be there. As Nathan’s mate, he has permission to be a part of it if he wants.”
“Oh.” Seb had to admit, even though Jared wasn’t a wolf, that it would be good to have his best friend there. “I’m going to tell them yes. Is that okay? I mean we have to do it anyway, right?”
“Yeah, we do.” Tim reached out to stroke his thumb along Seb’s jaw, smiling bright and happy. “And of course it’s okay.”
Seb quickly typed out a reply, then laughed at what he got back. “Jared says they’re coming to our room, and we’d better have at least boxers on.”
Tim shrugged a shoulder. “No point when we’ll only have to take them off again.”
Seb hadn’t thought about that side of it. He was no prude, and Jared had seen him naked far too many times to count, but did he fancy getting naked in front of Nathan?
Clearly sensing his doubts, Tim drew him in close for a quick kiss. “We can shift before they get here if you want? I know everything must be overwhelming for you right now.”
Seb’s phone vibrated again. “Too late, they’re outside the door.” He moved to get up, but Tim grabbed his arm.
“It’s not too late for anything. Put your pyjama bottoms on, and if you’re uncomfortable shifting in front of them, then we’ll ask them to leave first. No one will mind.”
“Okay.” He kissed Tim once more before hopping out of bed and pulling on his bottoms.
When he opened the door, Jared grinned and then immediately hugged him tight.
“Oh my God, you’re all fixed!”
When Jared let go, Nathan frowned and let out a grumble of dissatisfaction as he tugged him back.
“For fuck’s sake, J. Now you smell like those two and sex!” He pulled Jared into his side and raised an eyebrow at Seb. “Showers not working?”
Seb flushed, realising how he must smell to Nathan. Before he could come up with a reply, he felt more than heard Tim move, and a second later Tim was plastered to Seb’s back.
“Nathan, Jared.” Tim offered in greeting. His voice had an edge to it, and Seb turned his head to get a look at Tim’s face. He appeared friendly enough when he said, “You know very well I’d never have let him shower.”
Nathan grinned. “Iknow. But he doesn’t.”
Tim’s low growl vibrated through his chest to Seb’s back, and Seb had really had enough. “Standing right here, guys.” He glared between the pair of them, then faced Jared. “Does this happen a lot?”
Jared laughed but shook his head. “No. They just get a little territorial around the full moon. You’ll get used to it.”
“Used to it?” Nathan slapped Seb on the shoulder, earning himself another growl from Tim. “He’ll be doing it himself. He’s now a fully fledged member of the—what is it you two like to call us?—‘arrogant, arsehole shifter brigade.’”
“Something like that,” Jared answered, smile widening.
The traitor.
Nathan pointed his finger at Seb but didn’t touch him. “Now that prestigious group includes Seb too.”
Seb groaned, unable to take much more of Nathan’s smug face. “Whatever. Come inside so the whole hospital isn’t listening in.” Stepping back, with Tim still plastered against him, Seb ushered them in and closed the door.
Jared put a hand on his arm, and Seb noted that Tim didn’t so much as flinch.Hmm… guess it’s just shifters that are pissing him off today.
