Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (13 page)

ἈΙ

Alpha

Alpha looked around the large wooden table, all of them seated there, barely eating any of the nice breakfast Pierce had spent two-and-a-half hours preparing.

“Is something wrong with the food, guys? Is it cold?” Pierce asked, his blue eyes seeking out answers behind his gold wire-rimmed glasses.

“Everything is delicious, babe.” Hawk smiled at Pierce, his battle-scarred hands reaching out to stroke his chin affectionately. When Hawk turned and looked at the rest of the table, his eyes sparked and burned in an array of red and orange flames. His tone was gravelly and just short of deadly when he asked them, “Isn’t it, fellas?”

Everyone was suddenly too busy shoveling food into their mouths by the forkful to answer. Call already reaching for more sausage when he hadn’t even finished what was on his plate. Alpha couldn’t stop the rambunctious laugh that bubbled up in his chest and exploded from his mouth.

If Alpha hadn’t witnessed Hawk’s abilities for himself, he might have thought gossips were exaggerating the extent of what the ex-Special Forces SEAL could do. The military had kept Hawk’s heightened sense of vision top secret, only his team and the most important figures in the government knew of them. To see them up close and personal was fascinating.

Pierce began to clear the table, not concerned about who Hawk was addressing. Alpha wondered if the petite man was nervous about being around so many made killers. He doubted it after only a second’s thought. Hawk would know if danger was coming to his door, not to mention invite it in. Alpha actually had the sneaking feeling that Hawk already knew how this whole mission was going to play out. And whether they’d all come out alive or not. Call told him Hawk’s visions were always accurate but often very ill timed. Regardless, he wouldn’t inquire. He didn’t need to know the future, he was the master of his fate… not Hawk.

“You’re on your own for lunch, gentlemen. The fridge and pantry are stocked, so help yourselves,” Pierce told them while they sat around finishing their breakfast drinks. Alpha and Lion had chosen tea, while Call drank an extra bold coffee. Omega had just finished his second glass of orange juice when he excused himself. Alpha saw so much misunderstanding and disorder in his brother’s expressive eyes. He knew he was barely hanging on, but he didn’t chase him. He needed space. He just hoped Lion knew what he was doing.

“I’m going to go over the blueprints again while we wait on Viper. Dinner is at seven.” Pierce pointed over his shoulder at a set of stairs just off the spacious kitchen. “There’s a well-equipped gym on the third level, a theater room with satellite television on the second floor towards the back, and … actually, move around at will.
Mi casa es su casa
.”

“
¿Qué generoso. Tu hablas español?
” Lion asked, his accent flawless.

Pierce grinned a handsome smile and shook his head disbelievingly. “No. No, I don’t speak Spanish, Lion. Not fluently anyway, it’s just a phrase Americans jokingly say when they want someone to feel at home.”

“And Americans say this joke – like funny haha, joke – in Spanish? A saying in Spanish that has no comical qualities at all? Why not just say it in English?” Lion questioned skeptically with one light brown eyebrow raised, like Pierce was a few cards short of a full deck.

Alpha hadn’t been so amused in a while, especially when Pierce didn’t bother to answer Lion’s pointless question. The big guy was still looking confused when he unfolded his body from his chair and assisted Pierce with clearing the larger serving dishes. Pierce looked up at him and nodded his appreciation, a wry smile still on his pink lips. Seeing those two side-by-side, Alpha felt for the first time they were going to make a pretty badass team. These guys together were like oil and water, but somehow they were going to mix. Lion might be looking at Pierce like he was a damn idiot, but Alpha couldn’t wait for him to see just how brilliant Pierce really was.

It wasn’t even eight in the morning yet, and already they’d finished breakfast and had a short powwow, when Viper messaged that there would be a slight delay in getting the surveillance equipment they’d requested and he wouldn’t arrive until the end of the week. Hawk and Pierce were fine with them all staying for the duration, but Omega was restless. After the meeting, he’d left so fast Alpha didn’t have a chance to stop him. He went to the window and watched as his brother took off into the sanctuary of the forest.

“He would do that as an adolescent. Run off into the woods. After a while, I stopped disciplining him for leaving the compound without permission. He’s free spirited.” Alpha knew Lion was right behind him, watching Omega disappear. He felt he had to say something because he could feel the disappointment barreling out with each forced exhale Lion released.

“Are you going after him?” Lion asked. Probably out of respect.

“No.” Alpha turned around and cast his eyes up to look at his own brother in arms. What he saw reflected back at him through sharp hazel eyes was determination and heart. Lion was more than capable and for the first time since he’d met Omega, Alpha didn’t fear for his younger brother’s well-being.

“I used to do the same thing when I was a boy. Sneaking into the market for a stolen taste of Khoresh.” Lion’s deep voice had taken on a far-off quality. “My master’s every punishment was inevitably greater than the last but it never stopped me from exploring. I always had to see more, learn more.”

“I can easily see that. You and Eriktor have that in common.” Alpha tucked his hands behind his back and walked off, leaving Lion with a parting message, “The elders must’ve seen it, too.”

ἈΙ

By the time Alpha had finished his own morning routine the house had gone very quiet. He wasn’t sure where everyone went, he actually had no desire to keep tabs on the rest of the men in the house. He trusted Hawk and Pierce without question, because Call did. He knew he could trust Omega too, but his brother was warring in his mind and Alpha needed him at one hundred percent. Lion on the other hand, he was absolutely sure of. Alpha knew it was done only once a generation – a cherished arranged by the elders. Lion’s original intentions were honorable and noble, even from the beginning, but his wants had clearly changed during their journey. Lion wanted something else more than he wanted to restore balance to the Order, and that told Alpha that Lion would protect and honor his brother for the rest of his days, or die trying. It was the same way he felt about Call. 

Alpha needed to calm his own mind. He needed to meditate. Meditation wasn’t about turning off your thoughts; it was about centering the many thoughts dancing around in your mind. Outside was one of his favorite places to go. He’d been walking back and forth on the large deck attached to the great room, waiting for his mind to tell him when he was ready. The air was crisp and clean. The sounds of nature flooded his ears and he closed his eyes, paying attention and identifying the vast expanse of wildlife right before him. Majestic hawks and an eagle graced the skies, in the distance a fawn stayed close by its mother while it searched for food. Predators lurked silently, and Alpha breathed in deep when he felt the forces of nature surround him.

Trusting that Call was consumed with catching up with his old comrade, he was confident he wouldn’t be bothered once he started. He took a few long inhales of fresh air as he lowered his body to the smooth wood, crossed his legs, and gently placing his hands over his knees, Alpha closed his eyes and welcomed serenity.

Call

“He still out there?” Hawk asked, passing Call another Sam Adams from the small cooler in the theater room when he got to the bottom step. They had it tuned to world news, more so out of habit than actually paying attention. Since Call and his team were no longer in the official government fight, he preferred to just not hear about some things.

“Yeah, he is.” Call took a large gulp of his third beer and propped his legs back up in the recliner where he’d been lounging. He looked at his watch, wondering if Alpha would want lunch. It was still amazing that even after two years his first thought would always be Daskshaun. “He’s been out there four-and-a-half hours.”

“Do you ever disturb him?”

“No. And I wouldn’t. Not unless it was absolutely necessary. So, no. I never have.”

“What’s the longest he’s meditated?”

“With me, nineteen hours. He said he’d once meditated for two days with very few checkpoints before he came to the States.”

“Damn,” Hawk said simply, and they settled into a comfortable silence for a little while. “Should I be worried?”

“Nope.” Call was confident in Alpha’s skills. His partner’s meditation was a good sign. He was preparing his mind for the fight.

“How’s the leg?” Call flicked his head in the direction of Hawk’s thigh where he’d taken a bullet during their last mission, which officially retired him from the field. He noticed his friend absently rub at it every now and then.

“You hungry?” Hawk asked, standing and popping joints in his neck and back.

“Sure. Bring me whatever you’re having.”

“I think there’s some sandwich stuff in there. You still only use mustard?” Hawk smirked.

“I sure as hell didn’t start eating mayonnaise all of sudden,” Call scoffed.

“Hell, you’re with a Pakistani lover now. I thought you may have switched to pitas, hummus, and labaneh or some other gross shit.”

“Fuck you, gimp. My partner is Arabic and Persian, first of all, and I eat what the fuck I want.”

“Fuck you too, scar-face. I was only trying to be hospitable,” Hawk joked, ducking one of the remote controls Call hurled at him.

“Hospitable, my ass,” Call grumbled. When he heard Hawk’s heavy footsteps taking the stairs down to the kitchen, he laughed out loud at his friend’s antics. It’d been a while since he’d met with any of his team in person. Skype wasn’t the same as a brotherly hug. Call still battled with his appearance and some PTSD. Hearing Hawk call him scar-face eased some of the self-consciousness he wore over his marred skin. He didn’t tense when Hawk looked at him because he knew the man wore his own scars from that day – on the inside, his own shame – that he wasn’t able to warn Call before the explosion. He was about to let his mind wander back to that date when a comforting palm landed on his shoulder. He jerked even though he knew who it was.

“Easy, Commander.”

“Impeccable timing as always, Daskshaun,” Call whispered, wrapping his hand around Alpha’s wrist and pulling him around to the front of his chair.

“Everything okay?” Alpha looked well rested and relaxed and the feelings almost instantly eased into Call’s own damaged psyche.

“Everything’s fine.” Call sighed, rubbing his cheek against the smooth, beige skin on the back of Alpha’s hand.

Alpha dropped to his knees and Call spread his legs in invitation. As soon as Alpha’s chest was pressed against his, he wrapped his arms around him and held him tight to him. His breathing had elevated, but not from arousal. Anytime his mind went back there, it was always difficult to yank himself away. He felt Alpha’s sure palms rubbing soothing circles over his chest then up to his shoulders and neck. A gentle kiss was placed on the corner of his mouth.

Alpha kept his soft lips pressed there while he spoke. “Tell me what you need. I can feel it’s something, John.”

Call could feel Alpha’s heartbeat, he was pulled so firmly against him. “I only need you.”

“Then your needs are satisfied because you have me.” Alpha rubbed his dark, morning stubble across the sensitive scars on Call’s left cheek.

“Feels good,” Call said gruffly. Alpha could always take his mind to a good place.

“Mmm, you taste like hops.” Alpha removed the large scarf from around his neck and draped it behind Call’s head, the soft material was cool on the back of his warm neck and Alpha used it to pull him close, preventing him from retreating until he’d taken what he wanted. “I need more.”

“Well, it’ll have to wait, because I didn’t fix this other big ass submarine sandwich for nothing.” Hawk’s voice reached them before they saw him coming down the stairs; both hands carrying a tray piled high with potato chips and two massive sandwiches stuffed to capacity with slices of ham, turkey, and salami. The scent made his mouth water even though his cock was stirring as Alpha stared into Call’s eyes, ignoring Hawk’s comment. Call watched him back, making sure he wasn’t missing anything, but Alpha looked fine.