2
Kyle
It wasall Kyle could do not to scream in frustration as he walked back to his apartment. He hadn’t known anyone this hardheaded, oblivious and stupid in all his life. He kicked a pebble down the sidewalk as he reached his apartment building’s front steps.
As he climbed the old stone stairs (there was an elevator but he preferred to have the exercise), Kyle thought about how generous it was of Killian and Scout to get him this apartment. But the thought of those two happily mated shifters lit an ugly jealousy in Kyle’s chest. He loved both of them to death, especially after all the trouble they’d gone through to save him from Silvercreek pack territory last year, but Kyle couldn’t help the feeling of resentment that he didn’t have a mate of his own.
But it wasn’t Killian and Scout’s fault. He knew that. It was Stark’s.
Kyle grunted as he reached his apartment and fumbled with the key before entering the sunlit unit. The bright midday rays brushed his face and once again he was reminded of his friends’ generosity - Scout had picked out a unit that faced the sun for most of the day. Because of Kyle’s time in what was practically a dark cold dungeon, he really didn’t want a house that reminded him of that.
Kyle stood for a moment in the front hall, wondering what to do next. He promised Stark he would invite one of his omega friends to meet the alpha tomorrow night for dinner. Now he was cursing himself for being so meek.
Regardless, it was too late to back out of it now. Grumbling, he picked up his phone and thumbed through his contacts.
There was someone he had in mind - a mutual friend he met through Scout a few months prior - but when he reached his name in the list, Kyle paused. He promised Stark he would do this, but what would happen if the two of them hit it off?
A cold chill ran through Kyle. What if the two of them began dating? Became mates? Got married?
Had children?
Kyle felt sick. Could he really go through with this knowing there was a chance he could lose the alpha he loved to someone else?
He shut his eyes and leaned back against the wall, bracing himself. Stark’s face appeared in his mind’s eye. He was grinning that huge stupid grin of his, oblivious of the suffering he was putting Kyle through. Kyle sighed. He knew that if Stark found out how he felt about him, none of this would be happening.
But Kyle just couldn’t do it. Even just thinking about confessing his feelings for Stark made his body seize up and a dreadful chill run down his spine. It seemed like the hardest thing in the world. It frightened him to his core.
No. He wouldn’t do it. Hecouldn’t.
Kyle pressed the button. The phone rang.
A muffled voice came on the other end of the line. “‘lo?”
“Hey, Chase?” Kyle began. “Sorry, did I wake you up?”
“Nah.” A huge yawn. Kyle pretended to believe his story that he didn’t actually wake him up. “What’s up, man?”
“I kind of have a favour to ask,” Kyle said. Anxiety churned in his stomach. “I hope this isn’t a weird question or anything, but you don’t have a mate, do you?”
“Nope.” The bed creaked as Chase got out of bed. “Single.”
Kyle tried to ignore the prickle of irritation he felt at Chase’s nonchalance about the situation. Here was Kyle trying not to lose his mind over not being able to get his love interest to notice him, and Chase was barely awake enough to care.
“I see,” Kyle said. He bit his lip. He had to spit it out before he back-pedalled. “Um… Would you be interested in a date?”
“Hm? A date?” Chase asked. “Like, with you?”
“What? No. With an alpha.”Is Chase really that dense?
“Oh,” Chase said, sounding more interested now. “An alpha, huh…? I mean, I guess finding a mate has been sounding better and better lately. Must be hormones kicking in or something.”
Kyle gritted his teeth, just waiting for ayesornoanswer. “Must be.”
“Hmm…”
Kyle could tell Chase was mulling it over on the other end of the line and he drummed his fingers across his leg impatiently. The sooner he could get this conversation over with, the better.
“You know what?” Chase finally said. “Let’s do it. Hell, I don’t have anything else planned tomorrow so at least it’ll be good for shits and giggles. And if I really like the guy, who knows.”
