Ezra had no idea what he had expected, but the shoulder slaps and manly hugs from Buck hadn't been it. There had been no curious questions, no interrogation into his true nature. Not even Nathan had cornered him into showing him his winged form, or anything else.
Like multiple shifts.
Which Ezra could do.
He was proud of the fact that he could become whatever he needed to be within a second, going through animal shapes at a whim. It was how he had pulled off many impossible cons in his shady past, and it was how he had equally pulled off impossible stunts throughout his law enforcement career.
Even JD, who was radiating nervous energy like a bouncing ball about to hit the walls, held back.
It was… weird.
It confused him.
And by Chris' amused expression, it showed.
Ezra shot his alpha a dark look, but it had Chris only smile more.
X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX X
The whole pack shared dinner at Inez's that night.
One of the perks of being the regulators of Four Corners Territory was free meals, free board, and regular payments for other expenses. Chris normally lived at his cabin, Vin had a wagon he preferred to a room in a building, JD stayed in the tiny bachelor apartment above he sheriff station, just like Nathan had a room next to the clinic. Ezra had moved to Inez's saloon when she had added guest accommodations. His was the biggest, including an ensuite and a kitchenette, which he never used. He preferred to have his meals in the restaurant or the bar area. They never had to spend a lot, except on clothes, ammunition and whatever drew a fancy.
Ezra's pay was invested in his clothes; naturally. He couldn't compare what he received on a weekly basis with what he had made in his prior life. It was far, far below, but it was… enough. Strangely, it was enough.
JD loved acquiring new tech to test if it worked in a Territory environment, then fiddle with it long enough to actually make it work. Ezra actually joined him sometimes; well, often. He liked the challenge, he was always amused and strangely drawn to JD's enthusiasm, the way he wouldn't give up until something really worked to his satisfaction, and it had Ezra invest a lot of his free time in gadgeteering, as Buck good-naturedly called it, as well.
Vin's interest in weapons of all kinds had him spend some of his hard earned dollars on that. He had a regular magazine ordered through Potter's hardware, even bought rare or unique weaponry that cost a small fortune, and was a regular at the shooting range.
Buck, of course, wooed whoever caught his fancy. There had been a few more serious candidates, but somehow it never worked in a long shot. Significant others wouldn't become pack automatically. The pack was the Seven, the regulators, the law. It would never include anyone else.
Nathan gave up a lot of money to have new medical instruments or medications shipped that didn't make the official list on the required materials for a Territory clinic. Or things that weren't on the market since the cities required extensive testing and certificates before licensing a product. Nathan had a source, as he called it, never naming anyone, and Chris never asked.
Josiah had a standing account with Potter's hardware for materials needed for the chapel. Ezra knew some funds were given to people down on their luck, those who had tried to make a life out here and had been thwarted. Those waiting to either get a new foot down on the ground or who tried to scrounge up the money to go back home.
Right now, all seven were enjoying a good meal, exchanging information on how the town had fared, as well as the surrounding farms, whoever they had already heard of and who hadn't checked in. It was procedure and everyone was following it. Ezra had made sure to sit next to Josiah in a blatant declaration that he had no hard feelings, even if Sanchez looked like he expected to be on trial the moment he had sat down.
No one had mentioned the attack; no one treated Josiah any differently. Sanchez himself was a lot more quiet than usual, just nodding when it came to regulator matters.
Chris easily drew up a roster that had Ezra remain in town for the next two days and nights, coordinating matters from the sheriff's station.
Ezra's protest that he was good and could handle his share was silenced with a simple look. He turned back to his sandwich, radiating annoyance. Sure, he wasn't fully recovered and some movements did more than just twinge, but he wasn't an invalid!
"You're not useless," Chris said evenly. "I need someone I can depend on to handle the whole reconstruction. People will be asking for help, for supplies, for advice. We need to coordinate all of that. I've seen you pull some interesting stunts when it comes to acquiring what we need when we need it. I', counting on you doing that again."
Ezra felt part of him preen. Yes, he had channels and connections. He knew people. Some of them working a little bit left and right of the straight and narrow. Chris had never asked in the past, as long as it didn't come back to bite them.
So he grumbled a little, but he would do whatever it took.
X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX X
The sky had darkened quickly as evening approached. He called it an early night, the events of the day – had he really just returned this morning? – catching up to him. Not even playing a game of cards sounded appealing to him.
Part of Ezra was still reeling with the easy acceptance the other six men had shown. Well, five. No, four. Chris and Vin had known already. No one had looked at him like he was pond scum, the dirt on their boots, lower than bottom rung. No one had silently threatened him; or actively.
This was new for him.
Absolutely new.
It left him in a state of unbalance and he hated it.
Ezra was drawn between doubting this was real, that the pack wouldn't turn on him the moment he relaxed his guard, and just doing that: accepting it and relaxing his guard.
He sighed softly.
His whole life had been spent hiding. He would still have to hide, trust that the others wouldn't spill his secret to anyone in the Territory, but it was easier now.
The street lights in their ornate lamps had flickered on, a reassurance that the main electricity lines were indeed unaffected and even without the missing wind generators and the torn off solar panels the town had enough energy to run the basic amenities.
Somehow he shouldn't have been surprised to find he already had company at his place.
"Mr. Larabee." The blond brows lowered into a scowl that had the crossbreed chuckle. "Chris," he corrected himself. "I thought you would be out and about, haunting the streets, looking for miscreants."
"Buck and Vin are on patrol tonight. Nathan told me to take it easy for today, that they had it covered, and to keep an eye on you." He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not a child that needs watching!"
"Oh, really?" His eyes were crinkling with the amusement he felt.
Ezra slipped out of his jacket and kicked off his boots. Chris was already out of his clothes, gloriously naked and unashamedly on top of the covers. Ezra wondered if he would ever get enough of seeing the man like this, even if he had seen him repeatedly in the nude over the past months… year… and a lot of it just within the three days in the shelter station.
Shifters couldn't be shy about nudity because of their very nature. Clothes didn't shift with the body.
Still. This was Chris Larabee.
His mate.
The word was still new to him. He had to get used to thinking about them in these terms so openly. Away from the privacy of the ERSS.
The hazel eyes were suddenly ringed in gold and Ezra's breath caught. The proprietary thought must have someone been very easy to see or read.
He had no qualms about letting Chris pull him onto the bed and straddle him, kiss him with such hunger that it left the crossbreed tingling all over. He didn't really put up much of a struggle to give as good as he got. Hands raked over the slender, lithe form, leaving brief, reddish marks that had Chris growl in approval.
"Still think me staying with you is such a bad idea?" the Fenris murmured.
"Actually, no, not any more."
"Good."
X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX X
Chris looked at his mate, took in the relaxed features as Ezra slept. He had watched him sleep a lot lately, mostly in his first form, but also as a human, and it amazed him again and again. Larabee knew that Ezra was still off balance from the changes, from having his secret revealed, and he wasn't fully trusting what had happened yet.
But he would learn, he knew. They wouldn't let him hide anymore. Vin had been quite open in his assessment that Ezra would still be cautious, would have doubts, might even pull away.
Chris wouldn't let it happen.
The pack was Ezra's protection, his safety and his security net. It would need time to get that into the crossbreed's head, but Chris knew the moment it settled, sank in, Ezra would relax into it.
His fingers found the four red scars again, tracing over them like they were a secret code only Chris could decipher. He splayed his hand over the marks and enjoyed the warmth underneath his hand, the rise and fall of his ribs as Ezra breathed.
Alive.
His.
He smiled and closed his eyes, his hand still covering the scars as he let sleep take him, Ezra by his side.
X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX X
Buck had had morning patrol, had checked in at the sheriff station when he was back, exchanged a few words with JD, and had then headed over to the restaurant for an early lunch. He found Chris there, head bowed over what looked like a report, and he smirked. As much as Larabee projected the tough, no nonsense regulator, he took his duties seriously and his reports were always detailed and on time. He actually rode his team to finish theirs, wouldn't accept half-assed stories, and he personally kept track of whatever came in over the sheriff each evening.
Alpha.
Through and through.
The man knew what was happening in and around town, and not just by hearsay.
Buck took a seat at the back corner table and grinned at his best friend, unapologetic over disturbing the alpha.
"Back in the saddle?" he teased, nodding at the report.
"Must be done. Missed a few days."
"Nothing we couldn't handle. And with the black-out there was hardly anything coming in or going out."
"All the more reason to double-check now."
Four Corners wasn't a big town, but it had grown in the past two years the regulators had taken care of the place. Its size was regulated by the Protection Act. A main street, two more streets running parallel to that, a few alleys. The buildings that made up the town that had been named after the Territory were a maximum of two storeys in height and close to fifty percent were businesses. People lived on outlying farms and ranches. There were two horse breeders, some sheep and cow farms, one even trying himself at deer. The farmers were plenty, though some of the new-arrivals had given up after experiencing first-hand how unforgiving this place was. A woolen mill had set up shop in town and was rather successful, as was the butcher and general store, all handling only local product.
The science expedition had left this morning, Horace as their guide, and no one expected them back for the next month. With winter approaching they would be back before snowfall, most likely, unless the bailed it out of the wilderness earlier.
Buck silently ate his potatoes and stew. It was a damn good stew.
"So, you finally told him, hm?"
Chris looked up again, eyes narrowing briefly.
"Ezra. You told him. I can tell."
"You make no sense, Buck. As always."
He grinned widely, chewing. "Hey, we all knew about the two of you, right? Pack knows. And whoever had instincts knows. You finally gave him the words, too. Congrats."
"Buck?"
"Yes, old dog?"
Chris glowered at the tease. "Get out."
"Having lunch here."
"Then have it somewhere else," was the low, annoyed growl.
Buck placed the cutlery on the table, demeanor suddenly serious, and he met the narrowed eyes calmly.
"Chris. I've been your best friend since ever. I know your past, I know what happened, I know how it hurt you. I know you and Ezra found something together, that he is good for you. I was glad you had someone that way. Not just for a quick romp. You can pick anyone for that, but it was Ezra. You had his trust and you trusted him. Finding your mate in that person is special."
Chris' face was unreadable, but his eyes spoke volumes. There was a brief flash of wolf, but he had himself under control.
"You going anywhere with this?" he asked neutrally.
"Sarah was special," Wilmington went on, ignoring the question. "She always will be. So is Ezra. He is something different and he is good for you, in so many ways. He is pack, feels comfortable with us, and he belongs."
It got him a tiny nod.
"And you told him in words, right? Full sentences? 'Cause as good as sex is, and I like it a lot, it's not how you tell your mate he's your mate."
The glower was back.
"Hey!" Wilmington laughed. "Valid question when it comes to the old Larabee charm."
"Fine line, Buck. Very fine line."
"Words are important," the other man insisted.
"I talked," Chris finally ground out, the glare intensifying.
"About everything that's important?"
"Why are you suddenly so invested in what Ezra and I talked about, or not?"
Buck smirked. "'Cause it's been hard watching the two of you, knowing you both know and you never told him. Ezra needs words. He's like that. He thrives on it. You can't go around assuming everyone's a mind-reader like Sarah was."
"Thin ice," was the warning.
"And he's one of us. He needed to know that, too, and we had to tell him to make it stick. Being mates was something else that had to be said in words."
Chris blew out a breath, clearly aware that Buck wasn't going to stop talking about it.
"He knows, okay? We talked. Not just one word. Several. He knows. Changes nothing about the pack dynamics," the alpha added, almost like a warning.
Buck grinned. "Sure. Not like Ezra would want to. And it's not like we're typical pack anyway, seeing what you collected." He leaned forward, a devilish glint in his eyes. "Seeing who you are anyway, alpha. Whoever would've thought a Fenris can run a pack."
"Out," was the last warning.
Wilmington's shit-eating grin was unrepentant and he took his plate over to the counter, chuckling to himself.
He loved riling up Chris sometimes. He wasn't as good at it as Ezra was, never would be, but he knew some buttons. It did his oldest friend a world of good. And knowing that those two hard-heads had finally gotten everything out in the open was a relief. Almost like a weight off the pack's shoulders.
With a spring in his step he left the establishment and headed over to the sheriff station to relief JD for his own lunch break.
tbc...