Page 20 of Watch Me

Somehow, I didn’t think Zac would thank us for making him a solo Alpha when it was his twin who died.

To be fair, we didn’t shoot him while he was already gravely injured from the neck wound. I wanted to kill him for taking Channing, but I’d yielded when he stopped fighting. Even though we could argue they acted first in kidnapping our omega, they would argue we drew first blood.

We were at war with the bears.

Fin went upstairs to check on Rowen and Cam, but returned when he found them asleep in a guest room. It was wild to have the house full of people again, and I wished it wasn’t for this situation. That Channing could be there to see it.

Finding me staring out the window, Fin insisted we needed to eat, and we sat in silence in the dimly lit kitchen. We weren’t going to talk about what happened before the fight, but I planned to bring it up when we found Channing.

After eating in the early morning light, the sound of an approaching engine had us racing to the door. King parked his bike beside Fin’s and Riley hopped off, the pink sunrise framing them like a picture.

Without removing his helmet or grabbing his bag, Riley rushed past us, “Where’s my mom?”

“Sleeping,” Fin replied, snagging Riley by the arm. “She’s safe. I promise.”

“Thank you,” he sighed and sank into a leather arm chair. Riley looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and considering their quick turn around to and from Mexico, that was likely the case. “How’s Merle?”

“He’s sleeping too,” Rel answered, jogging down the stairs. He had sweats and unlaced shoes on and was carrying a shirt in one hand. “Finally.”

“Any news?” King asked as he walked in to drop their duffle bag on the floor. We texted about the fight and not finding Channing on their property. King hadn’t replied, as he was likely still in the air.

“No,” I shook my head. “We should get back out there.”

King gripped my shoulder and squeezed, looking in my eyes before shaking his head. “You need rest.”

“No, I-” my protest stopped at the intense look in our Alpha's eyes. It had been over twenty-four hours since Iwoke up the day before, and I shifted multiple times since then. I was beat. “Yeah, I probably do.”

“You and Fin get a few hours and I’ll go on the hunt,” King commanded and I wanted to argue about him patrolling alone.

“I got a couple hours sleep since yesterday,” Rel piped up. “I’ll join you.”

“Good,” King nodded before striding to Riley and crouching to take hold of his hands. His omega met his gaze with a weak smile. “Get some sleep, mate. We’ll find Channing.”

“I know you will,” Riley replied with an assurance in his mate that made my stomach hurt. “I love you. Be safe.”

“Love you,” King told him before placing a sweet kiss to the blond man’s lips. They were soulmates in every sense of the word.

Looking toward Fin, he was staring at the couple as well. What did he think about the Alpha being queer? I didn’t think he was homophobic, since he was the one who convinced King’s dad to accept his trans son. Hell, Fin’s ownson was with a non-binary partner. No, this was something else.

There was a longing in his eyes I didn’t expect to see.

King followed Rel to the porch where he was lacing his boots, shirt now on for them to ride. I wanted to ask where they were going, but Rel knew where Fin and I had looked and the areas to look next.

“Let’s get you home to rest,” Fin spoke from beside me and my heart raced at his proximity.

“Not upstairs?” I asked, following him onto the porch. King and Rel were racing out of the driveway, and I could imagine the call from their neighbor, Pam, complaining.

“Everyone is about to wake up here. We won’t get any rest.”

“I could use a shower,” I said, thinking about the dried blood I washed off when I got to the house, and followed Fin to his bike. I hopped on behind him without being asked and rested my head between his shoulder blades. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I didn’t want tomove. “Don’t tell me to put on the helmet, it’s like three minutes to my place.”

Fin grunted but didn’t argue as we made our way down Wolf Creek Road to the dirt path leading to mine and Rel’s cabin. When he cut the engine, I was reluctant to let go. Standing, I found Fin looking at me with a similar longing to when I caught him gazing at King and Riley.

Holding my hand out, I swallowed hard before asking, “Come inside with me?”

He stared at my hand for a long moment, a muscle in his jaw ticking under the sexy salt and pepper stubble he had growing. Finally, Fin tossed his leg over the seat and stood.

“Alright.”