Macauley’s wolf growled inside. Adres was his. He had to do something about the ache in his chest. His mate was right fucking here, on his pack lands, in arm’s reach. His wolf wasn’t liking that they weren’t mated yet, and frankly, neither was he. It was like dangling a pork chop bone in front of a dog but never letting him sink his teeth into it.
“Since Adres and Wrath killed the actual bad assassins and the prisoners are no longer a threat, then Justice will probably lift the curfew tomorrow!”
“Hells yeah. Finally.” Rich high-fived Bundy. “I need to shift and run… and not just around the damn compound.”
“The first thing I want is a rematch too,” Anna growled at Rich. “Double or nothing this time. Last one to touch the Mother’s rock at the top of Mt. Osceola has night watch for a week.”
“You’re so on!” Rich yelled.
Macauley was getting a headache. He rubbed at his throbbing temples, happy to see his cabin come into view.
“I don’t think I can wait another—”
“You guys can go for a run if you want. Justice is going to lift the curfew in the morning, so go ahead, no need to wait until tomorrow night for your rematch.” He told his betas to get them out of his hair. He was glad they were in such good spirits now, but he wasn’t in the mood to celebrate at the moment.
“Yeah!” Rich laughed as he began to yank his hoodie from over his head, Anna beaming widely and following his lead.
Bundy turned to face him. “You good, Alpha?”
Macauley nodded stiffly.
“Are you sure? You seem off or something. The past few days you haven’t really been yourself.”
Because I want my mate. Macauley’s body was thrumming with anxious energy, and for the first time, his betas were getting on his nerves. It was a telltale sign that the nature of who he was was being challenged. He needed to care for his mate.
“I’m fine… or I will be.” Macauley cupped Bundy’s shoulder and nodded towards Anna and Rich, who had already shifted into their tawny-colored wolves and were racing for the tree line. “Go on. Have fun. I just need some good sleep.”
“Okay.”
Macauley didn’t have to tell him a third time before Bundy flexed his neck muscles and shifted into his gray wolf. He caught up quickly to Anna and nipped at her tail, making her snarl and double her speed. Macauley waited until they were out of sight to release his exhausted sigh of relief. He was about to turn the doorknob to go into his home when he heard footsteps a few yards away.
“We can keep an eye on them for you if you like, Alpha,” Omor said as he and his twin approached him.
They’d done a good job at keeping their distance and not making him feel followed or watched all night long, but now that there was nothing to worry about, he felt the protection detail was a bit much now.
“I’d appreciate that,” Macauley said. “And I’m glad you guys are able to go about your regular duties now and not have to watch me like a hawk.”
Daciana tossed a long, blonde lock off her shoulder. “Oh, we still have to protect you… but not when the Lord of Arms is with you.”
Macauley snorted. “Adres isn’t here now.”
Omor and Daciana glanced back and forth between each other, their dark eyes sparkling with amusement. Daciana blushed. “Yes he is, Alpha.”
Omor chuckled before flashing away in the direction of Macauley’s betas.
He turned three hundred and sixty degrees, but he didn’t see Adres… nor could he scent him, which only served to infuriate him. “I don’t know what’s with the hiding act. But when you’re ready to be a man, I’ll be inside waiting,” he scolded, then slammed his front door shut behind him.
He was done playing games with his mate.
Macauley yanked his sweater over his head and tossed it onto the dining table on his way into the kitchen. He was starving, but he also wasn’t in the mood to jog over to Justice’s house and raid Henry’s leftovers. Instead, he made himself a heaping turkey, ham, and pastrami sandwich that he paired with a bag of plain potato chips. He ate standing in front of his counter and glanced around his home, trying to see it for the first time, the way Adres would.
His house was an open floor plan with a large stone fireplace almost as big as the one in the main house. While they didn’t get cold often, there were plenty of days in the winter when the snow was up to his window seal, and without that heat source, he’d freeze his nuts off. He didn’t have blackout curtains over his windows or even shutters like he’d installed for Alek when he mated with Belleron. He’d have to fix that.