“I need your help tonight,” the older alpha all but growls.
Sebastian’s shoulders tense. “I’m busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Last I checked, it was none of your business,” Sebastian snarls, but Cordelia moves, and he focuses on her, unable to look away. A predator in his prime, his mate under threat. No idea he’s a bomb about to explode.
“We can’t keep doing this with you, Seb. It’s exhausting for all of us. If you could just communicate with us, we could help you.”
He can’t communicate; I’d bet my life that he doesn’t even know what’s wrong with him. I shift my weight, and he suddenly looks at me. All that temper, all that strength, smacks into me. I lift my chin and tilt my head to the side, challenge and submission. His eyes scan down my body, slowly, before he decides I'm not a threat.
Interesting and hopeful.
The second look he gives me is complete and utter possession. My body lights up, and I have to fight hard not to go over and sink to my knees in front of him.
Sebastian is surrounded by alphas constantly challenging him, trying to ignore the childhood training to obey. With his scent match so close and completely unaware, he’s one temper spike from falling into a rut whether he likes it or not. He must be going out of his mind. How has he held on all this time?
“Uh, hello. I’m Fox and…” I pause, because everyone is looking at me.Breathe, Fox, you have to do this. You can do this.“So, um, he should not help you. And he should come and stay with us for a few days.”
“WHAT?” Sebastian almost roars. “I don’t even know you.”
But you want to.
I lose my words and struggle, trying to get out exactly what I mean when Katsu swans in, bringing that cool and calm that grounds me faster than anything else.
He brushes his fingers up my spine as he passes and walks straight up to the raging alpha. My relief has me holding onto the counter so I don’t fall.
“Alpha,” he murmurs.
It’s not a challenge, but Sebastian sees it as one. He snarls, his eyes going almost entirely black, and then he inhales, andsuddenly, he’s got Katsu’s shirt and has dragged them until they are chest to chest, their lips almost touching.
Katsu closes the distance, brushing a soft kiss across Sebastian’s lips. They are almost exactly the same height. Katsu is possibly a bit smaller, but his energy eclipses’ Sebastian’s.
“I know what you feel, and I can help you.”
“Listen-” Cordelia starts to say, but I grab her wrist and pull her away.
“Just watch.”
Second by second, the rage, frustration, and anger in Sebastian melt away until he’s staring into Katsu’s eyes with wary curiosity.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Katsu asks. “You look thirsty.”
I laugh softly. Katsu has a thing about hydration. I like to tease that it’s his kink.
Sebastian gulps and glances straight to where I’m holding Cordelia. I tense, waiting for him to blow up, but he relaxes even more. Huh, I’m a safe alpha. That is so heartwarming, and it means I was right.
He’s mine, too.
“What is going on here?” Cordelia grumbles.
The older alphas are frowning, but they aren’t interrupting.
“Catch up with us, Fox?” Katsu says, drawing my attention to him.
I send warmth flooding through our bond, and his expression softens.
Katsu leads Sebastian back towards us, and they disappear back into the restaurant.
