“Night, Mark,” he said.
“Yeah,” I muttered, pulling my jacket tighter around my shoulders. “You too.”
Outside, the cool night air bit pleasantly against my skin. The music faded behind me, replaced by the distant hum of crickets and the faint rustle of leaves.
I paused by my truck, half-hoping I’d catch sight of Zack again but tough luck.
The lot was mostly empty, just a few cars left and a pair of humans smoking by the dumpster. Zack was probably long gone. Maybe he’d headed home.
I leaned against the side of my truck and scrubbed a hand through my hair.You could’ve asked him to hang out. Bought him another drink. Something.
Would that have seemed too forward? Too pushy? What the hell was wrong with me? I was acting like some nervous teenager, overthinking every word, every glance.
I’d been in dangerous situations. I’d even stood toe-to-toe with Carter, the lead alpha of the Thornebane pack once. Of course, that had been a complete misunderstanding.
I’d wrongly assumed his pack mates had kidnapped my brother Devon. But apparently, a handsome musician could still reduce me to fumbling silence.
Get it together, Mark.
I blew out a breath and climbed into the driver’s seat, the leather creaking under me.
I started the engine but didn’t drive right away. My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, tapping out the rhythm of the song Zack had been playing earlier.
My wolf hummed quietly inside me, not satisfied but not entirely upset either. It was like it knew tonight wasn’t the end of things.
The drive back to the pack compound was quiet. The roads wound through dark forest, the headlights catching glimpses of deer and the occasional fox.
The moon hung low, silver and heavy, and my wolf stirred at the sight.
When I finally pulled into the gravel drive, most of the cabins were dark. The main lodge glowed faintly in the distance, a few night patrol members milling about.
Our family’s cabin sat on the far edge of the compound. It was big enough to fit all of us, which was both a blessing and a curse.
Between my parents, my other brothers, and the occasional visit from Devon, it felt like living in a beehive.
Eventually, we’d all branch off and get our own places. That was the plan, anyway. But for now, this was home.
I parked by the side of the cabin and sat for a moment, hands still on the wheel. The night air smelled of pine sap and distant wood smoke.
I could hear faint laughter from one of the other cabins, the kind of easy noise that came from a pack at peace.
I should’ve gone straight inside, maybe grabbed a beer and tried to sleep. But instead, my thoughts drifted to Devon.
He’d been spending more time in Thornebane lately. Still, whenever he was here, I made it a point to check in.
Little brother or not, he’d always been the steady one. The one who made sure I didn’t drown in my own mess.
The pack clinic wasn’t far. Light spilled faintly from one of the windows, meaning someone was still up. Probably Devon, since Ethan played with Zack tonight.
I made my way over, boots crunching over gravel. The smell of herbs and antiseptic hit me as soon as I stepped inside.
Devon was there, sitting on one of the counters, a mug of tea in hand. He looked up, eyebrows raising.
“Late night,” he said.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Or couldn’t stop thinking about someone?” he asked, tone too casual.
