Axel felt the colour drain from his face, a cold lump settling heavily in his chest. He had no control over his beast, only allowing him to take over in severe circumstances, and he had never taken over as the man. He wasn’t even sure that was possible.
A growl at the back of his skull, the first audible communication from the creature in question without any pain.
Never do that again,he thought, not sure whether his beast understood until he replied with a huff, claws gently prickling the edges of his mind.
Fuck. Me. That’s new.
“Did he hurt you?”
Sam narrowed his eyes.
“Answer the question,” Axel said, dread making him step forward, tone hardening. “Please.”
“He didn’t hurt me, he just pissed over everything. Now get dressed,” Sam said with a fierce stare, “and get out. You’ve been hogging my bed for almost eight hours.”
Axel yanked on the t-shirt Sam had handed him, the fabric tight across his chest. The jogging bottoms went on next, fitting a little better with the elastic waist. Despite them both being almost the same height Axel was wider, with denser muscle compared to Sam.
“I don’t know what happened,” he said, not sure what the fuck was going on. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”
Sam dragged a hand down his face. “You have a drug problem, whether you admit to it or not, I don’t care.”
“It’s not a problem. I use them for pain relief, and nothing more.”
“Pain relief? Aye, sure,” Sam said, his smile mocking. “You do you, Axel. I have no idea what this thing between us is, because right now I don’t even think we’re friends. But you can’t just show up and –” A phone buzzed on the bedside table, turning Sam’s head.
Axel clenched his fists, quelling the urge to touch him, comfort him. “I’m sorry.”
When Sam turned back his lips were set in a stubborn line. “No, you’re not. If you wanted sex, you could have just asked. You’re not exactly bad on the eyes.”
Axel bristled at the sarcasm. “This wasn’t about sex.”
“So you go around randomly grabbing people’s cocks then? How can you not see that you have a problem? You don’t have any memory of coming here because you were high as a fucking kite.”
“I haven’t got a problem, I’m not fucking addicted to anything,” Axel growled. “I don’tneedthe high.”
“Aye, and I’m the king of England,” Sam said in a clipped tone. “You need to admit you have a problem. Nobody can help you if you don’t want to help your-fucking-self.”
“Says the guy who fucks everything that moves,” Axel snapped.
Sam snarled, his response immediate. “Fuck you!”
“No thanks, I have more self-worth.” Axel regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.
Sam’s face hardened, his eyes flickering with some unidentifiable emotion.
“Shit, I didn’t mean that.”
“Aye, you did.” Sam’s voice was quiet, controlled. “Get out, and don’t come back.”
Chapter10
Axel
Axel didn’t bother arguing, descending the stairs and opening the front door with more strength than needed. He was sure he left an indent of his fingers in the handle, but right then he didn’t care. Nor did he care the fact his feet were bare, the stones cold as he walked the darkened streets. It must have been early morning, early enough the sun was only breaking through the horizon, and the moon still dominating the sky. Streetlights illuminated the silent paths, but he wasn’t paying attention to where he was heading. He just needed to get away, the cool breeze welcome against his skin as the scent of rain threatened.
There was still no pain, his beast was content and he hoped it would last. He’d finally found something that worked, except Crimson Mist had a side effect that he couldn’t compromise on. There were many things he would give up to be pain free, but his control wasn’t one of them.
The first drop of rain hit Axel’s cheek, and he stopped walking to close his eyes. Just wanting to feel, for the water to cleanse away his mistakes.
