CHAPTER10
Michael’s ears pricked up at the sound of footsteps coming down the tunnel. Like the others, he’d slept in his shifted form again, and he rose, padding towards the tunnel entrance just as the familiar scent hit him.
Isaac.
And he wasn’t alone.
That meant the HRU had left.
Not waiting for him to make his way to the cave, Michael bounded up the tunnel, the rough rock cool under his paws.
“Whoa.” Isaac held his hands out in front of him and Michael skidded to a halt.
He pushed up into Isaac’s outstretched palm, rubbing his nose against it. The two days they’d been apart felt like a lifetime.
Isaac chuckled and sank his fingers into Michael’s fur. “I’d forgotten how majestic you look in this form.” He bent forward and rested his head against Michael’s, whispering, “And how cuddly.”
Michael growled, bared his teeth, and pretended to snap at Isaac as he jumped back, laughing.
“I can’t believe you just called the alpha of the McKillan packcuddly,” the woman with him said, sounding a little in awe.
Michael didn’t recognise her, but her scent was Mothecombe pack, so he walked over to her and bumped against her thigh before moving back a little and shifting.
“I can’t believe it either, and I’m not the alpha of that pack any longer,” he said, stretching out his arms and back as he stood, unashamed in his nakedness.
“Shit, sorry.” Her eyes went wide. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“This is Alice,” Isaac said with a nod to her. “Alice, this is Michael McKillan, founder of the Candidate Evacuation Group.” He smiled at Michael, encouraging, and for once it didn’t sting so much to be reminded that’s all he was now.
Because you still have a pack with you.
Maybe Isaac sensed that things had changed because he tilted his head, assessing. “You seem... different.”
“I’m getting used to things, I guess.” Michael matched Isaac’s smile and gestured behind him. “Shall we?”
“Yeah, we’ve got lots to discuss.” His gaze drifted lower for a second, eyes darkening, before he snapped his eyes to Michael’s. “Go get dressed, and we’ll make a start on breakfast.” His voice had the rough, gravelly tone to it that Michael loved, and he reached for him without thinking.
Cupping Isaac’s jaw, he was seconds away from leaning in for a kiss when Callum cleared his throat, stopping him in his tracks.
He took a step back, smile wry, and it was only then that Michael noticed the cool box Alice carried and the two huge flasks held by Callum. “Is that coffee in there?”
“Coffee in this one, hot water for tea in the other,” Callum replied, lifting each one in turn.
Michael practically salivated.
He eyed the cool bag. “Please tell me you’ve brought food we can cook?” His stomach rumbled as if to emphasise his question.
Isaac laughed. “Yes. Paul and his team already left, so we can light the firepit again and make you some hot food.”
“Oh, thank fuck.”
As much as he wanted to kiss Isaac, he was really fucking hungry, and hot food and coffee sounded about the best thing ever. “I’ll go get dressed.” He turned and shifted, running back down the tunnel and jumping out onto the sand before shifting back and grabbing some clothes.
Laughter echoed behind him, and he heard Callum’s muttered, “You’re losing your touch, Isaac.”
Michael grinned to himself at Isaac’s grumble of, “He always did like coffee way too much.”
I’ll make it up to him later if he’ll let me.
