Chapter Five

F OR THE FIRST TIME in weeks, I woke up without wondering where I was or the dread of something dark lurking in the shadows. I stretched and turned to my side, facing the large windows of my bedroom. The view was something to behold, the side of the mountain bathed in sunlight, the bright sparkles of snow intensifying the light to the point where my eyes hurt.

I sighed and stretched again considering whether I could just go back to sleep.

“Wake up, you lazy bum!” Shiki knocked on the door loud enough for people a few cabins over to hear.

“Go away and let me sleep. Find someone else to entertain you.”

Shiki pushed the door open and barged right in. He threw himself on the bed and the ripple effect almost had me falling over. I growled and pulled the pillow over my head, but it wasn’t enough to deter him.

“Shower and get ready. I didn’t come all the way here to find my own entertainment. Besides, Cristian is grumpy, acting like I kicked his puppy or something.”

“Welcome to my world. He’s been acting like that ever since I arrived here.”

I gave up on trying to wrestle the pillow out of Shiki’s grubby hands and stumbled into the en-suite bathroom.

“Hurry up,” Shiki said, his voice muffled by the closed door between us.

I didn’t put barging into the shower past him, so I didn’t linger. I washed myself and dried as fast as I could, ignoring all the fancy massage functions in the shower along with a nice little sauna next to it. Spending under five minutes in this luxurious bathroom was blasphemy, but that wouldn’t have mattered to Shiki. He was bored and someone – that would be me – had to entertain him. Normally I took Shiki’s impatience in stride, but today it irked me. Maybe Cristian’s grumpiness was rubbing off on me.

Shiki sighed, channeling an exaggerated anime character, hand to his forehead and all. “Finally. I thought you might have fallen and broken your neck or something.”

“Fuck off. Your hearing is as good as mine. You knew exactly what I was doing in there.”

“Yeah, nothing exciting.” He grinned like an idiot and wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“Do I need to give Blake a call? Tell him you’re so horny, I can’t even take a shower in peace?”

Shiki tilted his head and squinted at me. “You could try. He’ll either laugh in your face or come here to murder you.”

I groaned and rubbed my cheek, cringing at how unruly my scruff had gotten. “Then stop pestering me, otherwise someone will end up dead. And knowing you and Blake, that might be you in the end.”

Shiki stood and came right up to me, only a couple of inches between us. “Okay, now I’m worried. What the hell is going on here? Why are you so tense and why can’t you stand my brand of humor all of a sudden?”

“Shiki – ”

“Don’t Shiki me. Is this about the assassination attempt? Any PTSD?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No, it’s something far dumber than that.”

“Does it have to do with young Cristian and his sulkiness?”

I swore under my breath. “It just gets to me. I am not sure, but I think it has to do with my sexuality.”

Shiki’s eyes widened. “That can’t be it. I am gay and Cristian has never reacted like this.”

“Maybe you didn’t show any interest. Or got caught staring at his ass.”

“Do you mean he figured you were gay because we’re werewolves? Or are you genuinely interested in him?”

I shrugged and looked away. “He’s an attractive man. I may or may not have had a few dirty thoughts about him. But interested in him?” I sighed and shrugged again. “I can’t even say. I’d have to get to know him. He’d also have to be less of a jerk around me.”

Shiki hummed. His eyes drilled into me and I looked away, still unable to face his scrutiny.

“Maybe he’s just straight. I can ask Vicks if you like. Cristian might just be uncomfortable.”

“I suppose. Some guys feel uncomfortable knowing they’re wanted by a man. I might be the first one to put him in that position.”

Shiki nodded and ran a hand through his hair. It was once again getting longer and the light brown highlights were almost gone. “That explains it. Well, apart from that growling thing he does every time I’m too close to you.”

I snorted and shoved him playfully. “I’m pretty sure you’re just imagining that.”

“Hmm. I wonder.”

I didn’t want to get any further into this. There were few reasons a werewolf growled around others of his kind. More so among friends. Cristian being possessive of me would have been my first call. It just didn’t seem to fit this time. I feared I’d already wasted enough energy on figuring Cristian out and I just couldn’t be bothered to keep digging. To my relief, Shiki dropped the subject and dragged me downstairs for breakfast. He’d already ordered it, so I expected pancakes and bacon. That was his go-to when he couldn’t have a traditional Japanese breakfast.

When we got into the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee and bacon made me moan with delight. I’d gotten that part right. Instead of pancakes we had scrambled eggs waiting for us and some fresh pastry filled with cheese that the chef had prepared that morning.

Despite the loud growl in my stomach, I went straight to the coffee mugs and got our doses of caffeine ready. I placed Shiki’s cup on the breakfast bar, but he ignored it, too focused on filling up his plate. I took a few sips of the dark liquid sloshing in my mug and grunted, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Hey, stop making love to the coffee mug. Better get something to eat while you still can.”

I’d shared a meal with Shiki before, plenty of times to know he wasn’t joking. As I wasn’t willing to wait for a second breakfast to be cooked, I temporarily abandoned my coffee and filled a plate with eggs and bacon. As I walked to the other side of the breakfast bar to sit next to Shiki, I sniffed the plate. God, it smelled heavenly and my stomach rumbled again to show its enthusiasm for the treasure I’d amassed on my plate.

As we said next to each other, bumping shoulders and stealing food off each other’s plate, Cristian walked in. I raised my hand to greet him, but his intent glare and clenched fists made the words die on my lips.

“Morning,” said Shiki, his eyes trained on the piece of bacon he was trying to skew with his fork.

Cristian stood there, the anger buzzing through him so thick, I could smell it as a sizzle in the air.

“Shiki,” I whispered and elbowed him. Shiki laughed and bumped his shoulder into mine.

Another growl echoed in the open-plan kitchen and Shiki finally looked up from his plate.

“Aren’t you a ray of sunshine? What exactly crawled up your ass this morning?”

Cristian took a step forward and grabbed the edge of the breakfast bar. He was leaning forward, showing his teeth, his knuckles white as he grabbed the wooden surface.

Shiki pushed his plate away. He picked up a tissue and gently dabbed his greasy lips. Shiki placed the tissue neatly next to his plate. He swung his arm around my shoulders and smirked. I couldn’t believe the way he was taunting Cristian, convinced there would be blood spilled in just a few seconds.

Cristian’s entire body rumbled with the warning sound he was emitting. He leaned closer to Shiki as I looked between them, rushing to find something to say to defuse the situation. Nothing came to mind other than maybe jumping between them. At this point though, I wasn’t sure they’d care. The aggression sizzling in the air was far more important than my well-being.

Shiki snuggled me close, pretending to be oblivious to the attack that I knew would come. Fast like a cobra, Cristian reached out, trying to grab Shiki. He was a second too slow, Shiki blocking his outstretched hand with ease.

“Do you have a problem with me being so close to Ganz here?” Shiki’s voice sounded sweet, deep and friendly, nothing like it should have, given the deadly focus in his eyes.

“Shiki, I don’t —“

“Hush now. I want to hear what this wee wolf here has to say.”

Cristian snorted, his hand returning to the counter and gripping it with so much force, I heard the crack. “Does your mate approve of this?”

“Unlike you, my mate isn’t fumbling around. He’s always known what he wanted, and how to get it, which I think is where you’re having a bit of an issue.”

“Is that the excuse you use to rub all over him like that?”

In a second I was out of the chair, over the breakfast bar and right into Cristian’s face. “Who the hell do you think you are? Telling me how to behave with my friends? Prancing around and growling like you own me?”

My eyes were burning with rage, my fists aching to put him in his place. I didn’t get the chance to. Cristian’s head whipped back as if I’d slapped him. He shook his head, both his hands gripping fistfuls of unruly hair, and he took a few steps back. I tried to follow, but he turned his heel and made for the door.

“Oh, no, you fucking don’t!” Shiki grabbed his ear and pulled, as if Cristian was nothing more than a naughty schoolboy.

“What the hell is going on? I feel like I woke up in a parallel world.”

Shiki and Cristian ignored me, one struggling to escape, the other determined to hold him in place. I sighed and grabbed the door handle. Before I turned it, I felt a sharp pain as Shiki grabbed my own ear and pulled.

“No getting away from this. I’ve barely gotten here and you two have exhausted me. I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re going to stay here and talk it the fuck out.”

I was pulled at an awkward angle, to the side but not quite. I tried to look up, to hiss something at Shiki. My eyes met Cristian’s and the ridiculous aspect of our situation hit me like a truck. Here was Shiki, treating us as if we were a pair of spoiled brats. And we had been acting like kindergarten toddlers, especially me, .

Laughter bubbled out of me, rolling out in excited spurts, like a dam had been broken. Cristian stared at me, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Shiki mumbled something and released us. He pointed to the breakfast bar and made a shooing motion. “Keys, please.”

I guessed he meant my cabin keys and that only made me laugh harder. “I… don’t have any.”

Shiki faced Cristian and extended his hand. “This year, that would be nice.”

Cristian stole a glance at me and I shrugged. If Shiki wanted the keys, he could damn well have them.

Keys in hand, Shiki waited until we took our places at the breakfast bar, an empty seat between us. Once we’d settled, he smiled. “Perfect. Now hash this all out. You’re not getting out of this cabin until things return to normal and I have my friends back. No growling, no sulking, no fighting between yourselves. Am I clear?”

Given Shiki’s serious stance, I tried to stifle my laughter. I only partially succeeded and he rewarded me with his trademark eyeroll.

“Yes, mom,” Cristian muttered.

I pressed my hand over my mouth and that kept my bark of laughter silent.

Shiki kept his word and locked us inside. It was pointless, we could have escaped through the many windows or just broken down door. Everyone knew we wouldn’t. Amusing as it was for a few minutes, I knew for sure I wanted to graduate from kindergarten and start acting like the adult werewolf I was.

“Look, man, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way. I apologize for coming on too strong. I didn’t realize you’d be so uncomfortable or that I was being so obvious.”

Cristian frowned, tightening his jaw. “Why are you apologizing? I should do that.”

“I don’t know anymore.” I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. “I thought you were upset about me wanting you. I don’t really understand the growling bit or the territorial displays.”

Cristian growled and covered his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Yeah, that. I’m not sure how to explain it. I was not upset or offended by your… attention.”

“So what’s the problem then?” I frowned and tilted my head, giving Cristian my full attention.

Cristian sighed and crossed his arms over the breakfast bar. He buried his forehead in the crook of his arms and groaned. “I just didn’t expect it,” he mumbled.

“You’ll have to clarify that for me. I really can’t follow.”

Cristian turned his head without lifting it. He peeked at me over his elbow and smiled a little. “I am so very rarely attracted to men, I didn’t expect such a powerful reaction.”

“So you’re bi? I don’t see the problem with that.”

This conversation was tiring without going anywhere. I got up and headed to the fridge, opened it and stood there, looking inside and hoping for something to catch my eye. “You want something?”

“Anything with alcohol in it? I could use some right about now.”

I snorted and rummaged through the freezer. I found a bottle of vodka, Russian brand, but the bottle design was different from what it used to be. Probably bottled locally, still, it just might be good enough. After a short search through the cupboards, I found two tumblers and brought them with me. I sat next to Cristian and poured the drinks for us.

I pushed Cristian’s glass closer to him and motioned with my chin for him to take. “I’m listening.”

Cristian downed the vodka shot and hissed, closing his eyes as the alcohol hit him. “There is no problem with me being bi. The problem is I have very specific preferences.”

I shrugged and downed my own shot, then refilled both glasses. “Doesn’t everyone? What’s that got to do with anything?”

He sighed and took a smaller sip from his glass. “Let’s just say what I like is not necessarily common among your kind.”

“What exactly is my kind?” I muttered, feeling the tension in my jaw.

“Alpha. That’s your kind.”

I glared at him and gulped down my second drink. “Beta. If you want to get technical, that’s what I am. And it’s my position, not my kind.”

Cristian’s eyes crinkled at the corners with a barely contained smile. “You are going to be alpha of your tribe. And leading is in your blood, but that’s part of who you are.”

I shook my head, wondering if I should have some more vodka. Adding more alcohol couldn’t add to the clarity of this discussion. Eh, who cared? I poured the drink and decided to pace myself this time. “I doubt I have too much alpha blood running through me. People are not compelled to follow me. Not like they are willing to follow my father.”

“That shouldn’t surprise you. It’s the werewolf way. If a position is inherited, something you get by blood, you have to prove yourself.”

“Yeah, respect is earned and all that crap.”

Cristian winked at me. “Given what you survived, I think you’ve just gained a massive amount of respect. You’ll see once you get back home.”

I closed my eyes and rubbed them with the heels of my hands. “Maybe. That’s not what we’re talking about, is it?”

“I think I made myself pretty clear.”

I arched an eyebrow and stared at him. “No, I’m pretty sure it’s only clear in your head. Use more words and keep explaining.”

Cristian rolled his eyes and I wondered if he’d picked that up from Shiki. “Fine. I’ll make it simple. Alphas like to challenge and dominate. That’s fine within a pack. It’s fine if I play a game with Shiki. I don’t like it in my bedroom. I like to be the dominating one and I like to fuck my partner senseless.”

I laughed and patted Cristian on the back. “I get it. You’re a condescending prick who thinks he knows best what people truly are, what they want.”

Cristian growled and pushed my hand away. “Enough experience, and you learn how not to waste your time.”

My mouth twisted in a grimace of disgust. “Sure, whatever you say. I think whatever desire I had, it just wilted away. A lot of wolves and mere humans like to dominate. They still don’t act like assholes.”

He shrugged, downed his remaining vodka, and stood to leave. “Glad we cleared the air.”

I ignored his smirk and left the kitchen. I suddenly had enough of Cristian. No matter how hot he was, or how my dick had twitched at the thought of being dominated by him, it didn’t make up for how conceited and self-absorbed the man was.

A few minutes after Cristian’s departure, Shiki wandered in, a challenging smile and his lips. “Cristian said it’s all sorted out now. Why do I doubt that?”

I snorted and shook my head. “If you look anything like he did when he left, it doesn’t take a genius.”

“Obviously. So… what are you going to do about it?” Shiki wiggled his eyebrows at me, leering and making suggestive intercourse gestures.

“Not happening. He’s a pompous prick who thinks he has the entire world figured out. Hasn’t got a clue about me, nor is he interested in finding out. That always trumps an interested dick.”

Shiki sighed and stepped closer to me. “We’ve all had bad relationships. Some are more effective than others, faster to run when they feared trouble ahead.”

“I know,” I said, looking pointedly at Shiki. “I have this friend who first tried to kill himself in battle, and then almost ruined the best thing to ever happen to him out of fear.”

Shiki shoved me with enough force to send me a few steps back. “We’re not talking about me. Besides, you helped me out. Why not do it for him?”

“Because he isn’t even trying. So his interest must be fleeting.”

Shiki opened his mouth to say something more but didn’t. Instead, he took a swig straight out of the vodka bottle and went to sit on the couch. He patted the spot next to him and smiled at me. “Come on, Ganz. Let’s watch a movie or something until your stubbornness wears off.”