Oh, it’s on.
Isaac raced after him, feeling lighter than he could ever remember.
They tore up and down the sand, chasing each other in and out of the shallow waves for what felt like hours. His muscles burnt, sand clung to his fur, but Isaac couldn’t give a fuck because this was what he’d been dreaming of ever since Michael left for London five years ago.
He wanted to stay in this moment forever.
* * *
As the skybegan to lighten, the first hints of sunrise starting to appear, Michael trotted over to Isaac’s blanket and lay down. Moments later, the air shimmered and a very naked Michael slowly got to his feet, expression serious. “Change back, Isaac.”
Isaac chuffed out a breath, not wanting to talk, but knowing they had to. He shifted back and stood facing Michael.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, reaching for Isaac’s hand.
Isaac swallowed. “I’ve missed you too.”
“I’m so sorry for leaving you again.”
“It’s okay—”
Michael put his hand over Isaac’s mouth and shook his head. “It’s not. I should never have left you to deal with that alone.”
Isaac sighed. He didn’t like talking about what Simon had done to him, but they needed to. “I understood why you had to stay. London is your home; your pack is there. I know that. But I had to come back to my home, my pack.” And though the words hurt to say, he had to be honest. “And I’m not sure I’ll ever want to go back there.”
So where does that leave us?
Michael’s smile caught him off guard and Isaac frowned in confusion. “You’re wrong,” he said softly, reaching up to cup Isaac’s jaw.
Isaac leant into the touch and closed his eyes. “About what?”
“London isn’t my home.” His breath ghosted over Isaac’s lips before he kissed him. “You are.”
Isaac’s eyes flew open, hope bursting to life inside him. “What are you saying?”
Michael’s smile was blinding. “I love you, Isaac. I don’t want to go back to London. I don’t want to be alpha of the McKillan pack.” He took in a shuddering breath. “I want to stay here with you. If you’ll have me?”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. Then Isaac grabbed him, pulling him in close and kissed him like they’d been apart for years again instead of weeks. “Of course I’ll fucking have you.” He kissed him again, just because he could, because Michael was here and he was never leaving again.
Then a thought occurred to him and he drew back. “But you’re an alpha. You need a pack.” It felt a bit like self-sabotage, but Isaac would never make Michael give up such a huge part of himself.
Michael was still smiling though. “I have a pack, just a little smaller than I’m used to.”
“Smith?” he asked, frowning again because one shifter wasn’t a pack. And Isaac didn’t even know if he’d decided to stay or not.
“Not just him.” Michael laughed. “I spoke to Smith and Nick earlier. With your permission, they’ve both decided to stay and want me to be their alpha.”
As happy as that made him, that was only two.
“I, um...” Michael looked uncharacteristically nervous. “I may have brought a few people with me.”
“Who?”
“Logan, Cole, and Aaron.” His smile turned softer, and he wrapped his arms around Isaac’s waist. “I’m not the only one who’s had enough of living in London.”
“So let me get this straight.” His lips twitched. “You, and your pack of five, would like to live in my territory.”
“Yes.”
