“So, this is what you choose to do when you have the day off?” Aidan asked as he approached Kyle.

The omega squinted up at him through the light streaming into his eyes. Even if he was still unsure of how much he wanted this, it was hard to argue with how good Aidan looked standing there in the afternoon sun. Kyle didn’t think the alpha owned any shirts that didn’t fit like a second skin, and he couldn’t really complain. The shirt outlined his muscles perfectly, and Kyle could see Aidan had decided to go without underwear beneath his shorts. The shorts weren’t quite loose enough, since they left as little to the imagination as his shirt did.

Aidan smirked down at him. “Are you going to answer, or are you just going to sit there and gawk at me?”

Kyle hurriedly looked away, trying to remember what it was he’d been doing. He was sitting in the grassy yard in front of his house trying to enjoy the warmth of the day. The mortar in his lap and the pestle in his hand reminded him he had been steadily grinding up some dried herbs to store away for future use. They could be mixed into various remedies and poultices the village would be able to use later. He’d been so lost in the task he hadn’t even noticed Aidan’s bulk walking up to him.

“It helps to get this stuff done. Just because I’m not actively learning something from Mags or doing some job for her doesn’t mean we don’t need herbs crushed, mixed, or gathered. It’s not nearly as exciting as going out in the field and fighting I’m sure,” he added the last comment with a bit of a smirk.

Aidan peered down at the vessel. “The sept sends us potions and salves from the village’s stores whenever they can. Are you telling me we’ve been using your medicine this whole time?”

Kyle hadn’t thought about it like that. “It’s possible. Mags doesn’t make everything now that I’m skilled enough to make most of the potions on my own.”

Aidan squatted down in front of Kyle. “You said you were also taught first aid, correct?”

Kyle tried not to watch the bulge of Aidan’s leg muscles. “That’s right. I started off with the small stuff, but now? There isn’t a wound I can’t stitch up, at least in theory. I don’t really get to see many injuries here except for the occasional training accident or fall.”

“Why don’t they just go wolf and heal the wound that way?” Aidan asked.

Kyle shrugged. “Sometimes the wound is bad enough that transforming could risk the body’s ability to keep itself going. Going wolf takes a lot of energy and focus, and sometimes it’s more important for the body to focus on healing the wound than on turning. Sure, for minor to moderate wounds, you can just turn and the wound will be pretty much gone. Try turning when your guts are trying to spill out and you’ll just be a dead wolf.”

Aidan grunted. “We don’t have anyone in our pack who knows anything more than basic first aid. My knowledge in that area is…a little lacking.”

Kyle pushed the pestle back into the bowl and resumed grinding. “Your family didn’t put any emphasis on teaching something like that? I’d have thought knowing how to deal with wounds would be pretty important.”

Aidan shrugged. “My family didn’t consider that knowledge to be important for an alpha to know. It was considered to be a task for the omega, falling in line with the rest of the omega’s duties of supporting an alpha.”

Kyle grimaced but didn’t say anything, trying to withhold any negative comments. It wasn’t Aidan’s fault his pack had considered omegas useful only for what they could provide alphas. It wasn’t an unfamiliar mindset in the werewolf world. Omegas had no protection outside of what their pack provided them, and if their pack expected them to be little more than servants, then that was their lot in life. Kyle had been spared most of that growing up, and now he was wondering how far away from that mindset Aidan had drifted.

“And what do you think?” he finally asked.

Aidan snorted. “I think sometimes people forget that just because someone provides a service, it doesn’t make them less than the rest.”

Kyle looked up. “Really?”

“Perhaps treating another’s wounds counts as serving them, but if you’ve just saved their life or a limb, how does that make you less than they are? Without your service, they wouldn’t be alive to treat you as less. I think omegas serve as they were meant to, but it doesn’t mean you have to treat them as less important because of that,” Aidan said simply.

He wanted to take offense at that, but there was a strange logic in it that he found appealing. Kyle had known his whole life that he was an omega, and as such, he was expected to serve. It wasn’t that he was bothered by the idea necessarily, but the way so many alphas treated that fact had eaten away at him. He didn’t mind if he was the one who brought someone back from the brink of death, prepared the meals, or whatever other service he was meant to provide. What he didn’t want, was to be treated like a slave with little appeal beyond what he could bring his “betters.”

“You surprise me sometimes,” Kyle finally said.

“I’d say that wouldn’t happen if you weren’t always assuming the worst, but that isn’t completely fair considering our history. But tell me, what have I done to surprise you?” Aidan asked.

He shrugged. “I guess I just never expected you to make sense, at least not to me. I spent years being terrified of you, then years trying to forget you. Then I wanted to hate you from the moment you came back, and now, after spending less than a week with you, I’m finding I can’t hate you. And it’s because you sometimes say shit like that, where you sound like you’re not a complete asshole.”

Aidan sat next to him, chuckling. “I suppose it should be a comfort that you don’t believe I’m a complete asshole.”

“Just kind of an asshole,” Kyle told him.

Aidan eyed him. “You’re not exactly easy to get along with, either.”

Kyle laughed. “No, I guess you’re right about that. We’re just two ‘sorta assholes’ who are bonded together.”

Aidan gave a bark of laughter at that, his green eyes lighting up. It was the first time Kyle had heard him laugh in a way that wasn’t making fun of someone or laced with condescension. The sound was deep and it felt as if it echoed through Kyle’s chest, tightening the muscles there. He liked the sound of Aidan laughing, and he found himself smiling. Sure, Aidan sitting this close meant the smell of him was starting to affect Kyle, but he knew it was just that. Just the sight of Aidan relaxed and laughing at something he said was enough to leave him feeling warm and if truth be told, slightly faint.

Aidan regarded him for a moment before asking. “So why are you like this?”

“An asshole?” Kyle asked.

Aidan grinned. “A ‘sorta’ asshole.”

Kyle shrugged “Life changes you, sometimes for the better, or sometimes for the worst. I’d like to think it’s changed me for the better, at least as much as it can. At least I’m not terrified of my own shadow now.”

“Was it what I used to do to you, or was it the loss of your pack?” Aidan asked.

“Oh, are you finally admitting you were a dick to me?” Kyle asked, pausing in his grinding to hear the answer completely.

Aidan sighed. “Is that what you want to hear? That my behavior back then was reprehensible and I fully deserve your anger?”

Kyle set the mortar and pestle down so he could face Aidan. “You actually believe that?”

“I did everything I could to make your life a living hell when we were younger. It’s no surprise that you have nothing but hate for me. You spent the majority of your childhood in fear of me, and then I return, treated as a prince among men. So yes, I believe you have every right to despise me, and my behavior when I was younger was every bit as awful as you have said,” Aidan said simply, with no real emotion on his face.

Kyle squinted at him. “And you aren’t going to, I don’t know, offer up a reason why you might have done that?”

Aidan’s mouth tightened. “No, because there’s no reason I could give that could justify my behavior.”

Kyle thought there was, but he didn’t want to be the one to say it aloud, either. Aidan still didn’t know that Kyle knew about how his pack had treated him when he was a child, and that it probably had everything to do with how Aidan had treated him. Kyle didn’t necessarily think it absolved Aidan of any guilt, but it at least helped him to understand Aidan a bit better. He was hoping maybe the alpha would open up and share what had happened to him all those years ago, but seeing that wasn’t going to happen, he let the moment pass without comment.

“And it wasn’t just you, though you were a big part of it. It took the loss of my pack to really wake me up to how the world worked. This world doesn’t give you anything you don’t take for yourself, and it will take whatever you aren’t willing to fight for. I realized that when my family was taken from me, and the only thing I had left was Mags. It was the one thing that was given to me, and it wasn’t given by the world, but by Mags herself, and she’s half-nuts. I guess I just sort of figured that if the world was going to keep taking things from me, I wasn’t going to let it do so without a fight,” Kyle said, not meeting Aidan’s gaze.

“It’s always been said that the lone wolf is the weakest wolf,” Aidan mused slowly.

Kyle gave a derisive snort. “Maybe, but at least the lone wolf knows what and who he is. Just because I know what my lot in life is doesn’t mean I’m required to roll over and take it. I might have to serve an alpha in the future, since I won’t become a full shaman, but that doesn’t mean I need to do it with a pretty collar around my neck begging for a treat.”

Aidan eyed him with consideration. “I think you’d look quite good with a collar.”

Kyle glared at him. “Don’t even think about it. You aren’t putting me in a collar.”

The look in Aidan’s eyes shifted to something more lusty. “I was thinking for more…private moments.”

“That’s not really helping your case,” Kyle told him with a huff.

Aidan shifted so he could roll on top of Kyle, pinning him down. “I wasn’t aware there was a case I had to make.”

Kyle tensed, trying to not flail and risk knocking the mortar over. “Hey! You’re going to make a mess!”

Aidan reached down between Kyle’s legs with a smirk. “Here. Allow me, or we might risk Shaman Magdiel’s wrath.”

Kyle watched him place the bowl aside and snorted. “Then I’ll move onto point two, which is that you’re manhandling me.”

Aidan brought his hands back, letting them rest on Kyle’s hips as he laid on top of him. “Yes, and the agreement was, if I pushed you too far, I would have to respect it when you told me to back off. Am I to understand that this is you telling me to stop?”

Right now, Kyle was having a hard time remembering the exact wording of the agreement. That might have something to do with the press of Aidan’s weight against him, and how good that felt. The alpha’s hips were pressed against his ass, making the position extremely suggestive. Kyle could see on Aidan’s face that he knew exactly what he was doing and was enjoying it. That should have annoyed him, but Gaia help him, the smirk on the alpha’s face was actually a little arousing.

“Well, I suppose it’s good you didn’t start humping me in the middle of the village,” Kyle said with a grunt.

Aidan bent down, brushing his lips against Kyle’s. “Now there’s an idea. Watching you get turned on in front of everyone, and watching you try to get angry with me for the same reason. It’s still arousing to watch you get worked up, though it’s far better to watch you get worked up in a different way.”

Kyle groaned, refusing to take the bait and force the kiss. “You just like pissing me off.”

Aidan shifted his hips forward, grinding his crotch against Kyle’s ass. “I like turning you on far more.”

Kyle’s eyelids fluttered at the promise that came from that light thrust. He was glad when Aidan was the one who gave in and leaned forward to take the kiss. The familiar flush of warmth washed through Kyle’s body and he reached up to wrap his hand around the back of the alpha’s head. The man’s large frame seemed to grow heavier against him and he sighed into the kiss. It was oddly comforting, having Aidan’s weight bearing down on him like that.

It was Aidan who broke the kiss. “Mm, it’s nice to see you enjoying yourself.”

Kyle snorted. “You’re just saying that because you want me to blow you again.”

Aidan licked Kyle’s bottom lip. “I think you already want to without my encouragement. But no, that’s not why I said that. I’ve never used this word in earnest before, but you’re adorable when you’re aroused and trying not to look like you are.”

Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Adorable, huh?”

Aidan nodded, now laying firm kisses on Kyle’s neck. “But only when you’re trying to fight it. I wish you could see the way you look when you finally give into it. It’s like watching a piece of art come alive. Everything you’ve been holding in, everything you’re trying to hide, it just comes boiling up to the surface.”

“That doesn’t sound very sexy,” Kyle said faintly as he tried to focus on Aidan’s words and not his teeth on Kyle’s skin.

“Once, I might have agreed, but watching you do it has changed my mind. I never thought I would enjoy watching someone come to life under my touch the way you do. Yet, you hide so much under that grumpy demeanor of yours, and it’s amazing to watch it show itself when you finally stop fighting your passions. I don’t know if you’ve ever done that with anyone else before, or if it’s simply a product of the bond we share,” Aidan mused as he wrapped an arm beneath Kyle.

“Are you trying to get me to let you fuck me right now?” Kyle asked, arching his back so that his ass pressed against Aidan.

Aidan grunted. “No. You’ll do that when you’re ready.”

That bit of acceptance drew a groan from Kyle. “I’m a little scared to find out what that’ll be like.”

“Why? I’ll be perfectly gentle,” Aidan assured him, breath warm against Kyle’s ear.

“Not quite what I meant,” Kyle chuckled, running his fingers down Aidan’s strong back.

“Then what?” Aidan asked curiously.

“I guess I’m just…everything else we’ve done has only made this bond between us even stronger than it was before. I kiss you one time, and suddenly I have an idea of what’s going on inside that head of yours, or at least I get a peek. Then there was the storehouse, and suddenly I’m agreeing to try things out with you. I make out with you on the beach and blow you, and suddenly we’re both acting like we’re going to leap into bed with one another and…I don’t know. It’s strange, it’s weird, and it’s freaking me out,” Kyle admitted, his worry draining his arousal away.

Aidan’s green eyes appeared in Kyle’s view, darkened with either worry, dwindling lust, or both. “Do you believe you are losing yourself?”

That was exactly what Kyle had been thinking, and Aidan had picked up on it immediately. “How much of this is us, and how much of it is simply the will of Gaia?”

“I can’t really say. I don’t possess knowledge or wisdom sufficient to properly explain what’s happening between the two of us. I know only what we’ve been taught growing up, and what I’ve seen happen between us with my own two eyes. That is…sufficient,” Aidan said, looking cautious as he finished speaking.

Kyle frowned. “Just like that?”

Aidan looked thoughtful but whatever thought he was about to share was interrupted by the soft clearing of a throat. The both of them twisted around to see Elder Sky standing with a group of villagers just beyond the limit of Kyle’s front yard. Kyle would give Elder Sky credit: the older man was doing a good job of not looking embarrassed, having come across Kyle and Aidan in a compromising position. The villagers, however, were looking amused as they watched the two of them.

Aidan huffed in annoyance as he rolled off Kyle. “Is there something I can help you with Elder, or did you simply wish to interrupt?”

The older man shook his head, quickly composing himself. “I apologize for the interruption, Pack Leader Aidan. I wasn’t aware you were enjoying one of our…diversions.”

The phrase was like a smack in Kyle’s face. He knew he wasn’t exactly a favorite in the village, but to be spoken of like he was nothing more than a commodity the village could offer a guest was an icy stab to his gut. No matter how much he tried, he was never anything but an omega to the people of this village. Even other omegas had no lasting respect for him, seeing him simply as an omega who had found a position with Mags outside of a pack, and would occasionally entertain an alpha passing through.

A low and dangerous snarl brought his head up with a snap, seeing Aidan bringing himself up to his full height. “I would advise that you watch your mouth, Elder.”

Elder Sky leaned away, his only show of surprise at the sudden shift in Aidan’s posture. “I wasn’t trying to cause offense.”

Kyle stared up at Aidan. “Hey, it’s okay.”

Aidan never looked away from the elder or the villagers who were now shrinking away. “No, it’s not. Whatever they might have thought about you before, it stops now.”

Elder Sky’s white brows pinched together. “Forgive me if this isn’t helping to calm you, but what would make you care so suddenly? This omega has done nothing but provoke you from the moment you returned, and has shown you none of the respect due to you.”

Kyle could see the reply on Aidan’s face and took a steadying breath as he heard the alpha respond. “Because that’s my bonded mate you’re speaking of, Elder.”

Aidan would have probably got a similar reaction if he’d told them that he was giving up his warrior’s position and trying to be a shaman. The villagers with Elder Sky openly gaped, and the elder’s sharp gaze immediately flicked to Kyle. Kyle returned his gaze, smiling and giving a little shrug. It wasn’t his fault it had happened, though you wouldn’t know it from the elder’s accusing glare.

Elder Sky recovered enough to appear in control once more. “I take that to mean Kyle will be joining your pack, then?”

Aidan was continuing to watch Elder Sky closely, looking as if he might pounce at any moment. “In due time perhaps, but in the meantime, you’ll afford him the proper respect.”

Elder Sky inclined his head. “My apologies. I had no way of knowing that such a happy event had occurred. You must, of course, allow me to rectify my mistake by allowing me to organize a proper celebration.”

Aidan’s jaw tightened. “Another party? Oh joy.”

Elder Sky nodded. “Yes, and not to further invite your wrath, but there were a few matters of defense the other elders and I wished to speak with you about.”

“And your group of followers are here to speak about battle plans, too?” Aidan asked caustically.

“Simply well-wishers who want to afford you the proper respect,” Elder Sky assured him.

Aidan grunted, turning to help Kyle up. “Come with us tonight.”

“Us?” Kyle asked, annoyed that Elder Sky was still looking at him like he’d grown a second head.

“My pack and me. We didn’t go out last night for a run under the moon, and I want you there with us tonight. We’ll be running on the mainland,” Aidan told him.

“I, sure, yeah,” Kyle agreed, if only to get everyone to leave him in peace.

Aidan gave him a small smile, the expression disappearing before he turned back toward Elder Sky. Kyle watched the alpha walk off, the group of nosy villagers with him glancing back at Kyle in wonder. He’d been hoping to have a little more time to deal with this thing between him and Aidan before it became public knowledge. The secret was out, and by dinner time, everyone on the island would know.

When he thought about the dangerous glint in Aidan’s eyes as he had protected Kyle’s name though, he didn’t think the secret being out was a total loss.