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  He was accustomed to fighting. In fact he was itching for it right at this moment. There was this restlessness in him that demanded outlet and tonight could have been his opportunity. But whatever hapless reason brought forth this tableau in front of him, Jason was left flabbergasted. The Alpha and all of his pack were kneeling before him. His tongue was about to pull a sarcastic remark when he found his two companions, still in their wolf forms, were kneeling as well.

  What on earth had possessed them?

  With puzzled eyes, he once again surveyed the scene before him. There was no mistaken as to the meaning of it. Although they did not actually know who he was, they knew the power he held over them. Only if Jason himself knew what they saw in him. Jason shifted his gaze up at the dark sky. With his longing eyes, a troubled mind, and a nip of pang inside his heart, he howled.

  His beastly yawp pierced through the night, bringing commotion among the forest lurkers. Albeit eerie, the ordinary folks who lived nearby brushed it off as one coming from a lost wolf in the dark woods. But from somewhere far, something began to stir.

  Chapter 4

  Friendship and alliance sprang out of that fateful night at Cedar Forest. Alpha Diego, the Alpha who knelt before him, took him to his house and immediately vetoed his own adjudication against Jason and his companions’ encroachment of his territory. Jason knew little about werekin law to even begin to grasp the severity of his action and the gravity of the Alpha’s sudden obeisance to him. Diego explained that they submitted to him because he took the form that only a delta alpha could do. This confused Jason more, for he did not know that there were different types of alphas. It disappointed him too that this knowledge did not come from his very own father. However, it also excited him that this could be the answer he had longed to find—that this feeling of oddity stemmed from him being a different kind of alpha.

  A delta alpha.

  This they specifically called him. Well, he could get used to that idea. So when Diego announced that there was a delta alpha visiting Cedar Woods the next weekend, Jason found himself too anxious to meet him.

  And so the next weekend came and Jason met Alpha Delvin Kish.

  Yes, Jason sensed immense power emanating from Delvin. It was like an invisible force that could easily tip anyone not strong enough to resist it. Jason wondered whether Delvin was deliberately doing it to assess Jason’s resistance. He studied the man in front of him. Delvin had his brows knitted together, his eyes narrowed, and his arms crossed over his chest. It took a few breaths before Delvin started to slacken his defenses.

  “I knew all the delta alphas and there are only a handful of us. So I was really surprised to find one born out of scir kingdoms and who dressed like a vagabond.”

  Jason grinned. “In a way I am a vagabond.” Then in a more serious tone he said, “Tell me all about delta alpha and help me figure out whether I am, indeed, one.”

  Delvin smiled. “Oh, believe me you’re one of us.” He paused. “And more. But if I am to spend hours talking to you about it, then let’s do this properly and in my in-laws’ place where I’m more comfortable and where I can have easy access to wine and food. Yes food, because I’d like you to dine with us tomorrow evening time. I’ll send someone to pick you up. You can bring your friends with you if you want.”

  As usual, Aaron expressed his concern and reservation. What if it was a trap? What if they wanted something from Jason? What if they knew that Jason had access to his father’s finances and wanted a share off it? In other words—

  “Do not trust them. Don’t eat their food, don’t drink the wine offered or water.”

  “We were invited to dine with them. What do you want him to do reject it?” Hearst said.

  “No one eats or drinks until I test them first.”

  “Absolutely not!” Both Jason and Hearst said in unison.

  “You’re not taking food off my plate,” Jason added.

  “It’s crass and very unlike you, Mr. Good manners,” Hearst chimed in.

  Aaron glared at him.

  “You’re glaring at me but not at Jason?”

  Jason chuckled. “Alright, I’ll be careful. And besides you’re going to be with me. So there’s that.”

  The next day they found themselves awkwardly sitting in a couch while watching Delvin, the great delta alpha, chased down his exuberant four years old son, Avian. Only when he finally caught the boy and lifted him into his arms did he remember he had visitors to entertain. Delvin told them that his husband ran some errands, so Delvin was left babysitting his son. Jason thought he would rather fight a legion of enemies than babysit a little boy who looked like he had too much sugar in his system.

  “Where was I?’ Delvin said, sitting back in his couch across from them. He wrapped his arm around his son who was doing his best to get out of it. Delvin started tickling his son’s armpit. High-pitched laugh ensued.

  To get Delvin’s attention back to them, he answered the forgotten question. “You said that all delta alphas were sons of kings.”

  “Oh that. In addition to that, all delta alphas were trained together.” He stared at Jason. “Supposedly,” he added.

  “You smell funny,” the little boy Avian said, his green eyes squinting as though he was looking directly at the sun.

  Jason raised his brows at the question. This was strange considering Lares told him how he could not smell his wolf-kin. Or perhaps, the boy meant that Jason stank, which was admiringly brazen and annoyingly rude. Jason could hear the snicker from his two friends.

  The boy made a successful trek up his father’s shoulders. Delvin lifted the little guy off his shoulders and deposited him on the couch. He turned the boy to face him. “Avian, that’s rude and disrespectful. You don’t say that to our guest especially, this one here. He is a delta alpha like me. Now, apologize to Jason.”

  Avian turned his head to Jason with his big gray eyes and scrunched up his nose. “But he still smells funny.”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t shower, Jason,” Hearst said, his voice teasing.

  Jason elbowed his ribs. Hearts reacted with a chuckle.

  “The baby must have a very strong nose. I can barely smell anything off you,” Aaron said.

  He gave Jason a look that insinuated that Jason had sex before coming here. Jason narrowed his eyes on Aaron because it was not true. Otherwise, the little guy would have said the same thing to Hearst.

  “You, two, don’t smell funny. So kneel,” the little boy said.

  Both Hearst and Aaron had their mouth hanging open at Jason’s amusement.

  “Never mind him. He’s at this phase where he thinks he can order everybody around even his grandparents who spoil him rotten.” Delvin’s face turned serious. He held both of his son’s hands and hunched down to bring himself to his son’s eye level. “Avian, yes you’re an alpha. But you’re not the Alpha yet. An alpha with a capital A. You don’t get ordering anyone you think beneath you to kneel. Do you understand?”

  Jason grimaced a little at the tone of Delvin’s voice, which also affected his friends’ demeanor as they too looked uncomfortable. Avian merely pouted.

  “C’mon, apologize to them.”

  “Sorry,” Avian said in his small voice.

  Jason got up and knelt by the couch at the side where Delvin’s son was sitting.

  “Don’t!” Delvin said, alarmed.

  “It’s different. Trust me.”

  With one knee on the floor, Jason faced Avian. The boy pursed his lips, brows knitted together in a frown. He was looking at Jason with a wary gaze as though Jason was a snake who may bite him when his guard was down.

  “You didn’t order me to kneel. Why is that?’ he asked the boy.

  “Because you smell,” the boy answered.

  “Avian?”

  “No, wait,” Jason said. “How do I smell to you?”

  “Funny.”

  “Like father?” Delvin prompted.

  “No.”

  A look of sur
prise and confusion graced on Jason’s and Delvin’s faces.

  “Like papa?” Delvin prompted again.

  “No. Not like papa. But I smelled him before.” The boy sniffed the air, grinned and ran to the door screaming ‘papa, papa.’

  “Avian, they’re not here yet. Stay at the door.”

  “They’re coming!”

  “Oh, boy. I’ll tell you this that boy has a nose sharper than mine,” Delvin said, chuckling.

  “I’m sure he’ll present as a delta alpha like you,” Hearst said.

  Delvin’s face spread into a grin. “The nature of his birth was…shall we say…different and special. He didn’t need to wait for his wolf-kin to present. We already know.”

  “So he’s a delta alpha,” Jason said.

  “Nah…more than that. I’m not sure whether I’m allowed to say this…” Delvin said thinking amid the growing commotion at the door. “I’ll be there sweetheart,” he said to nobody but he was directing it to where his son went. “Alright, I think they didn’t forbid this one information. But my son is not a delta alpha. He is a True Alpha. It’s above a delta alpha.”

  “Holy shit! If a true alpha is above delta alpha, then why is it that your son told Jason not to bow down to him?” Aaron said.

  “Probably because he’s used to me? I don’t bow down to my son. Or else I’ll tickle him,” Delvin answered grinning.

  ✽✽✽

  Delvin introduced his husband to them. Blond hair. Green eyes. Short and Apollo-built. He was handsome. Beautiful. But it was not on the physical level that made his heart skip a beat. It was far deeper. When Daniel stood closer to him upon their introduction, Jason felt a connection, a literal yet invisible thin cord between them.

  “The food is ready,” Daniel’s father told them.

  When they all started walking toward the dining room, Hearst pulled him aside.

  “He’s kind of not your usual type.”

  Jason stared at him, confused.

  “You’re staring at him like he’s your next meal.”

  “Can we dial down the staring too?” Aaron added. “We really don’t want to anger the host.”

  The seating arrangement placed Jason directly opposite Delvin. This also gave him a clear view of Daniel that complicated his ‘do not stare’ plan. If he would be honest to himself, he did not really know whether what he felt toward Daniel was attraction. He did not feel any constriction in his pants. He just liked to stare at him. Like there was something beneath the skin. Something Jason was longing to touch, to feel.

  “So how’s your few minutes training with Delvin,” Daniel asked, smiling.

  “More like an introduction,” Delvin answered for him. “Although Avie here made it difficult for me as he’s taking all my attention away from our guests.”

  “Father!” Avian said, pouting.

  “Oh, you think I’m not going to snitch you to your papa?”

  The boy was an image of perfection in his seat. He was seating straight in his chair. Eating without any help. Not uttering a single rude comment. An image of a well-behaved kid.

  “Avian, we had talked earlier about that,” Daniel said, looking disappointed.

  Avian’s pout became a full blown. Gone was the confident True Alpha. What remained was a boy who was using his innocence to plead consideration of his case. Kids. Jason did not understand them.

  “You said you’re looking for this club called Eclipse?” Delvin said, steering the attention away from Avian.

  Jason’s lifted in anticipation.

  “Do you know anything about it?”

  “Yes. It’s the place I hang out a lot when I’m in Northernia.”

  “Can you take me there?”

  “Of course,” Delvin answered.

  * * *

  Eclipse was located on top of the seven-story building, designed like a tall rectangular box made of gemstones. Its walls, doors and windows were mostly covered with rubies and sapphires. The building itself was standing in front of a huge lake that looked out of place in the city brimming with glittering roads and busy sidewalks. Jason gazed at the lake, and he was immediately assaulted with a sense of oddity. Both Aaron and Hearst grimaced when they neared the building.

  "What's in Hades' name is this?" Hearst grumbled.

  "That's what I meant by the club being exclusive. The whole building is protected by a really powerful spell. What you felt is just the warning ward. It's going to get painful if you come closer," Delvin explained, chuckling.

  "So how do we get in there?" Jason asked.

  "By this." Delvin showed a necklace with a white square-shaped pendant, "this is your pass. There is a camera pointing right at us at the moment, observing us as we do the ritual. You're going to use a knife." He took a knife out of his pocket. "And make a little cut on your finger. Then drop a little blood in this pendant." The pendant turned red when the blood came in contact with it. "And then you're good to go. Here are yours."

  Delvin handed over three necklaces similar to his. "You have to make sure this necklace is around your neck. Or else, you'll wake up in a hospital."

  "Wow, why such security?" Hearst said, grabbing one of the three necklaces dangling in Delvin's hand.

  "Non-registered humans are crawling in Midland. Fid has reasons to be cautious."

  Earlier Delvin explained to them there were magical humans who were non-registered. They were outlaws in the Realms.

  The inside of the building looked like a piece of Midland city life. There were garden restaurants, bars, and cafes. Eclipse was no more different than the other regular resto-bar club, but with magnificent wine.

  Fid was not in town according to the bartenders. He had been absent for a year. Jason gave his number and gave the bartender money and a promise of more if he called him as soon as Fid turned up in Eclipse. The bartender took the money with excitement and handed them a bottle of the Eclipse's most famous wine.

  Delvin and Daniel went back to Westernia the following week and promised Jason that he was going to contact him.

  Soon.

  Meanwhile Jason waited for the call.

  But it did not happen.

  ✽✽✽

  Lying on top of the crumpled sheets after a recently-ended copulation, Jason once again found himself mulling over the feeling that he grew accustomed to but troubled him nonetheless. How was it possible that right after coital bliss a pang of inexplicable yearning came hammering in unceasingly, just so to punch a hole of ice into his very core? His gaze fell on his lover who was sleeping soundly beside him.

  .Contentment was evident on Hearst’ face.

  Jason sighed and got up.

  “Finally,” Aaron greeted him the moment he walked in the dining room. He took the seat at the head of the table and marveled at the feast laid down in front of him.

  “Are we supposed to be celebrating something?”

  “Yes, your highness and where’s your queen?” Aaron’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

  “Sleeping.”

  Aaron huffed with that.

  “I’m sure from extraneous activity; he’s sleeping like a baby.”

  “So what are we celebrating?” Jason asked.

  Astonishment graced on Aaron’s face.

  “Seriously? You forgot? Jason, today is October 31st? Even when we’re no longer in our island, we should keep our tradition, and one of them is the observance of the Winter Arrival Festival.”

  Jason closed his eyes. The Winter Arrival Festival was his favorite holiday. His father always made sure that the folks celebrated this day in great abundance—food, wine, and laughter. While families gathered at the island’s park, his father and he would sneak out of the festivity to camp in the forest. They would at first build a tent, and then would hunt a deer for their food. This had become their ritual every year, and on October 31st. There was a significance of this ritual, but one--though not for lack of asking--was kept from him.

  “Right,” he finally said. He looked a
t Aaron, reached out to him to kiss his forehead. “Thank you,” he said, his voice barely disguised his emotion.

  “I miss it. We've been out of the island for more than a year now.” Aaron’s eyes were now moist with tears.

  “I miss him,” was Jason’s soft reply.

  Fueled by boredom and curiosity, Jason and Hearst explored the streets of Midland and stumbled upon a couple of bars where their patrons’ disreputable activities were hidden under the strong fortress of exclusivity. Jason fell into a pattern of going in these kinds of places and coming out inebriated and with a stranger —the would-be flavor of the night--in his arms, and then waking up to Aaron’s reproving gaze. Of these many mornings when Jason woke up in this pitiful condition, Aaron never voiced his censure; but instead he sat by the bed, patiently waiting for Jason to open his eyes so he could offer him the pills and water for an impending hang-over.

  He woke up one day, after one of those nights spent in debauchery, hearing his friends arguing. He sauntered toward them to intervene.

  “You selfish prick! Can’t you see he’s suffering from depression?”

  Jason halted his steps upon hearing Aaron’s clearly enraged voice.

  “Oh, stop it! You’re just jealous because you can’t fuck him!”

  “Oh, really? You think I’m jealous? Newsflash, not everyone thinks with their dick first. I don’t care what you think I want, but I only care about helping Jason. And clearly you’re not seeing what I’m seeing.”

  “And what are you seeing because really I thought he’s enjoying every minute of it!”

  “Because you don’t get to see him when he wakes up. You don’t get to see him when he thinks he’s by himself. You think you’re close to him and you know him because you slept with him? Guess what, Hearst, try to look closer and you’ll see that he lost the sparks that we normally see when his father was around. He’s with us, Hearst, but he looks lonely, the loneliest person I’ve ever known.”