Part 15

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Because I had enough to worry about trying to stop Lex from murdering everyone around us," snapped Chris, hissing as pain shot through his damaged leg.

"I could have helped," growled Hunter. His concern and worry about his injured pack member all too audible in his voice.

"There wasn't time," sighed Chris wincing as his alpha helped him to lie on the sofa. Grunting as Hunter slid a cushion under his damaged knee, he added wearily, "Besides we were already coming home. Didn't seem any point disturbing you and..."

"Chris," growled Hunter crouching down beside the couch so he was at the same level as the younger wolf. "You may not work for my company but that doesn't mean I don't care what happens to you in the ring." He paused then reaching over he brushed a stray strand of hair away from Chris's face, soothing, "You may work for the so called enemy but you're still my boys. Both of you. I care what happens to you."

"I know," nodded Chris, his wolf sighing happily as his alpha stroked his hair, Hunter's touch gently soothing his stressed spirit. "And believe me we both know you care about us, you and Shawn but...Hunter...we...it would never work us working for you. We're too...I..." he stumbled over his words. They'd had the conversation so many times. He knew his alpha only wanted what was best for him and Lex and he knew if things were different they would both leap at the chance of working with the rest of the pack but things weren't different. Things were very set and they both knew if he and Lex started to work for Hunter it would only end in tears.

"Things will change," promised Hunter his hand trailing down Christ's front to rest on his good thigh, "I promise. When I take full control I'll make it work you guys. I'll..."

"We're too unorthodox," interrupted Chris hating the look that flashed in his alpha's eyes. With his wolf whimpering in distress at the thought of upsetting the large alpha he added quickly, "We'd drive you crazy. Hell we drive most people crazy. Ask any of the promotion we work for – we're bastards to employ."

"That's true," chuckled Hunter in agreement. He fell silent then sighing he stood up, regret and some other emotion Chris couldn't quite put his finger on flashing over the alpha's face. Giving a low growl of annoyance Hunter suddenly asked, "By the way – who was it that injured you?"

Chris didn't answer at once. He was actually scared to. He knew all too well Hunter didn't take kindly to people hurting his pack whether intentionally or not.

"Chris," growled Hunter, the alpha putting just a hint of power in the growl. It was enough to make Chris wince and look away the lesser wolf whimpering loudly at the power rolling over it.

"It was..." Chris suddenly stopped then asked abruptly, "Who the fuck is that?"

Hunter glanced over his shoulder and smirked. Alex had wondered into the room and was standing uncertainly in the doorway gazing at them both looking a little lost.

"You okay, A-Ry?" called Hunter.

"Yeah I'm looking Josh," replied Alex offering Hunter a vague smile.

"Try the back yard," replied Hunter, "I think he went out to sit with Justin."

Alex nodded and wandered away leaving Chris staring up at his alpha expectantly.

"Umm boss?" he prompted when Hunter didn't answer his previous question.

"Right sorry," chuckled Hunter, his gaze lingering on the disappearing form of Alex, his wolf chuffing wickedly at the thought of what was happening, "That was Alex he works for us and he's a shifter. He got thrown out by his partner when he revealed he was a shifter and..."

"And Hunter decided to bring the stray kitty home," finished Shawn padding into the lounge. He paused to brush a kiss over Hunter's cheek before handing Chris a cup of hot chocolate topped with cream, ordering, "Drink."

Chris took the treat greedily licking his lips as he stared at the mountain of cream on front of him. He took a sip and gave a little howl of delight calling, "You put brandy it."

"Of course I did," grinned Shawn, "You always need brandy for a shock and you had a shock."

"Two days ago," correct Chris grinning at the look the Alphamate threw him.

"Want me to take it away?" teased Shawn laughing out loud when Chris clutched the mug to his chest and shook his head, "then behave and drink up. Anyway as I was saying, Hunter took pity on the big cat and bought him home for a while."

"Wait, did you say cat?" asked Chris suddenly realising what Shawn had aid,

"Yep,"

"You mean cat as in feline?"

"As in he's a weretiger," clarified Hunter watching indulgently as his mate fussed and fretted over Chris. It always made him smile the way Shawn fussed over any member of the pack who was feeling unwell or got injured. And he knew with Chris being one of Shawn's favourites the younger man was in for a very intense time.

X x x x x x x x

Alex wandered out onto the back porch. Glancing around he was about to head back into the house when he caught sight of Josh sitting on the steps that lead down into the garden. His tiger gave a purr of delight, a purr strong enough that it actually echoed in Alex throat. As if hearing the purr Josh chose that moment to look round. He gave Alex a fleeting smile and called, "Is everything okay?"

Alex nodded and padding closer he replied, "Yeah got my bed made." As he drew closer he hesitated. His tiger was restless again but this time he no idea why. He looked out over the garden, chuckling when he realised what Josh was watching. A large black wolf was rolling around in the grass, giving off very puppyish yaps.

"He loves being outside," explained Josh smiling in secret delight as Alex sank down beside him.

"He looks like a big dog rolling around like that."

"Don't let him hear you say that," warned Josh, "None of us like being compared to dogs."

"Sorry, I'll remember that." He paused then biting his lower lip he hesitated a moment before asking, "Can I ask you question?"

"Sure," nodded Josh turning slightly so he could look at Alex properly, "What's up?"

"Nothing's up," sighed Alex, "I just...I just..." he gave another nervous sigh.

His tiger was starting to get restless again. The big spirit was pacing around snarling in annoyance at something but Alex had no idea what. He just knew ever since that spark had flashed between him and John his tiger half had been unsettled. He'd always liked John, he'd felt comfortable around the older man. Even at the height of his feud with Mike, John had never been anything other than friendly towards him. And now with the lingering memory of that spark between them Alex wondered if there might be something more than simple friendship behind John's actions.

Running a hand over his face he looked out over the darkening garden and watched as Justin padded back towards them, the black wolf chuffing to himself. Flopping down beside Josh, Justin rested his head on the smaller wolf's lap, intense eyes string up at Alex as if reading the tiger's inner most thoughts. Shifting uneasily, unnerved by the knowing look Justin's wolf was giving him; he looked away before asking softly, "Do you guys always feel sparks when you touch?"

"Sparks?" repeated Josh frowning intently at the strange question.

"Yeah," clarified Alex, "Sparks. Every time we've touched I've felt sparks and then just now with John, I..."

"You felt a spark with John?" asked Josh, his face draining of colour.

"Yeah," nodded Alex not noticing the way Josh was looking at him, "We were having an argument and then suddenly I touched him and it was like an eclectic shock between us I..."

"With John?" repeated Josh slowly, his hand absently caressing the back of Justin's neck, his own wolf needing the comforting touch of a packmate. Sensing Josh's growing upset, the spiky black wolf responded, shifting so he could lick at Josh's hand offering him silent comfort without disturbing the moment.

"Yeah," replied Alex, "It was really weird. I mean I felt it with you first but then with John...what does it mean?"

"Mean?" repeated Josh. He blinked a few times then looking down at the black wolf resting its head on his lap he murmured, "I don't know. I've only ever heard of sparks between mates but...but I don't see how you could feel it with two of us. I've never heard of anyone having two mates...I...I...maybe because you're a tiger its different but..." his voice faded into nothing.

Looking down at Justin and with his wolf howling in disappointment and misery as he realised that Justin must have been wrong. Alex and John weren't fighting over him, they were fighting their attraction towards each other and he just happened to be in the way. With his heart nearly breaking and not daring to look at Alex for fear of revealing just how much the idea of the tiger not wanting him hurt, he murmured, "Maybe it means nothing. If it happened with two of us maybe it was just static."

Alex stared at him, his tiger's spirit sinking as Josh's words sank in. Maybe the little wolf was right. Maybe the shocks he'd felt with the two wolves meant nothing. Maybe the fact he'd never felt better during each brief interaction meant nothing. Suddenly Mike's last hissed words flooded back into his mind, the pain almost physical as he remember the former champion screaming at him, telling him that he was nothing but a freak, a freak he deserved nothing. Closing his eyes he turned away and breathed miserably, "Yeah, you're right. It must have just been static."

TBC