Part 14

Justin stared at the screen. He couldn't help the sad little sigh escaping his lips or stop his wolf from shifting uncomfortably. His spirit was sad and he hated that. He was slumped on a bench at the rear of the pack house, looking out over the garden. He loved being outside, his wolf much preferred it. But for once even the feeling of the outside did little to soothe him. Glancing back down at the phone clasped in his hand he re-read the message. He had never expected a few lines cold affect him so much but they had. The brief little message that had flashed up on his screen had all but turned his world upside down. Running a hand over his spiked hair he let his head fall back and closed his eyes.

"Angel?"

He jumped at the soft call, and glancing over his shoulder he saw Josh hesitating in the doorway, the smaller man's face etched with worry. The little wolf looked very uncertain and Justin didn't like that. Without speaking he patted the bench beside him and smiled warmly. Within moment Josh was snuggled up against him, the smaller man curled on the bench beside him. Wriggling into place, Justin's wolf gave a contented little yap as he asked gently, "Are you okay?"

Resting his head against the top of Josh's soft hair Justin murmured, "Not really, welpie."

He smiled slightly when Josh's arm snaked around his waist. All the wolves were tactile their lupine halves loving nothing more than to lie in a massive tangle of arms legs and tails. Although some of the pack's more human sides held back Justin never did, loving to curl up in either form with any members of the pack. Stroking his hand over Josh's arm Justin let out another sigh confessing, "Wade sent me a text."

"What did he say?" asked Josh shifting slightly so he could look up at his packmate.

"Nothing really, that's the thing. He just said he hoped I was having a good rest and...and that he looked forward to working the next round of house shows with me."

"Well that's good, isn't it?" asked Josh frowning slightly.

"Yeah," chuckled Justin, "It's good. It's just I..." his voice caught in his throat and it took several attempts before he managed to squeak, "It kinda scares me how good it is."

Josh gave an understanding smile offering, "Sometimes scary is good thought...right?"

Justin chuckled and tightening his embrace around Josh he teased, "You mean like having two guys fighting over you?"

"Huh?" asked Josh pulling away so he could look at Justin properly.

The little wolf looked so wonderfully confused Justin couldn't stop himself bursting out laughing. Reaching over he ruffled Josh's hair soothing, "Oh Welpie don't tell me you haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?" exclaimed Josh, his wolf yapping in annoyance. If there was one thing his wolf hated it was surprised.

Justin stared at him in disbelief, suddenly realising Josh wasn't playing. The little wolf curled up against really had no idea that he was currently the centre attention or that John and Alex were practically fighting over him. Unable to stop the near evil smirk curling his lips Justin leant in and brushing a platonic kiss over Josh's cheek, he whispered, "Open your eyes, Welpie. Take a look at what's going on around you. You might get one hell of a surprise when you do."

He shot Josh a wink before puling back and chuckling to himself. Maybe the wait before hey got back on the road wouldn't be as bad as he'd first thought.

X x x x x x x x

Evan sent up a long low howl of delight, a call that was joined almost instantly by Lex's own howl. Glancing over his shoulder Evan smiled, the chocolate wolf loving the feeling of the firm earth under his paws. They had been running for over half an hour racing around the pack woods chasing the odd rabbit stupid enough to be out at that time of day. There really was nothing like a run to relax and soothe their lupine selves. Giving another play bark he veered off to the left, heading for a clearing that had caught his eye.

As they burst into the clearing they slowed to a trot both instinctively checking the surroundings. Finally content Lex gave a content bark the white streaked wolf wearing a smirk disturbing close to the smirk that normally graced his human face. Lowering his head Evan head butted Lex in the side, yapping in amusement when the black wolf stumbled and snapped at him. Giving a very wolfy snigger Evan quickly side stepped the paw Lex shot out, bouncing on the sport daring his pack mate to attack.

Lex gave a low play growl and planted his paws in the earth. For a moment he paused loving the feeling of dirt under his paws, just the way Shawn had predicted. Realising Evan was waiting for him, he shook his head trying to clear his mind knowing he needed to focus on the matter at hand. He snapped his jaws impatiently waiting for Evan to slow down and face him. As the small chocolate wolf readied himself, Lex cocked his head and gave a very puppyish yap. It was a yap Evan repeated before pouncing.

He sent Lex flying backwards sending up a storm of leaves as they rolled and wrestled. The two wolves were taking great care to sheath claws and keep their teeth covered but even so it was a hard fought fight. It was what they both needed. Lex needing an outlet for the anger, fear and anxiety caused by his mate's injury and Evan needing something to take his mind of the impending arrival of a man his own mate hated.

After several minutes of fighting, the power struggle going back and forth between the two evenly matched wolves Lex suddenly found himself on his back pinned down by the snarling chocolate wolf. As Evan increased the pressure in the hold, pushing Lex down into the soft warm earth Lex felt the need to fight drain out of him. Turning his head he bared his neck showing a rare submission to another wolf that wasn't his mate.

As soon as Lex bared his neck Evan relaxed the hold. Not getting off the other wolf he leant forward lapping at Lex's muzzle, the two wolves sharing a private moment of connection. Lex growled happily, his wolf loving the rare moment of softness with a packmate, then without warning he shifted. Wrapping his arms around Evan's lupine form, he clung to him his face buried in the thick chocolate fur as he confessed bitterly, "I was so fucking scared. When I saw that bastard move and Chris smashed into the mat I...I fucking hate him."

Evan simply butted his muzzle against Lex's neck, offering soft comforting laps. Even in his lupine form Evan understood what Lex needed. He didn't need a human heart to heart, that wasn't Lex. Lex hated anything emotional and the little chocolate wolf know that. He knew if he shifted Lex would clam up, that the shutters would come down and that simply wouldn't do. He knew Lex needed the time and space to get the anger and frustration out of his system before they returned to the packhouse to take care of their respective mates. So he stayed furry, happy to provide his packmate with any comfort he could.

TBC