He nods slowly, digesting my words. Then he flips his hand over, threading his fingers with mine and giving me a reassuring smile.
“Everyone has a past,” Cam comments, tipping his beer in our direction as he gives us a pointed look. “It’s the future that’s important.”
“Damn right,” Avery agrees.
There's an echo in the sentiment from the others around the table, a shared history and a fresh start, all wrapped into one. I’m surprised by the tears I have to blink back as a rush of gratitude overwhelms me.
The conversation shifts to lighter topics, more laughter and teasing, and little by little, I start to feel like less of an outsider. Matty’s arm remains steady around me, the easy rhythm of his breathing drawing mine into sync. We’ve gone from awkward and unsure to something so natural that I can hardly remember why I was so against this in the first place.
By the time the next round of drinks arrives, the tightness in my chest has loosened to something that lets me laugh along with the others. The little moments– Matty brushing his thumb against my shoulder, Avery's animated retelling of Cam's latest ‘new shifter’ mishap, the warm buzz of alcohol and acceptance– meld together into a night I never expected.
It's not the disaster I imagined. Far from it. As the hours slip by, so do my fears. They're replaced by Matty's closeness, the low thrum of conversation, and the realization that I'm not just part of the noise. I'm part of something bigger.
And maybe, finally, I'm starting to believe I deserve it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
the full moon
MATTY
The silence hangs heavy in the command center as I pack up my things, logging out of my computer and preparing to move to the IT hub across the hall for the next few hours. It’s not unusual for the command center to be empty at this hour, but the rest of the squad complex is deserted, too. The sudden desolation of an otherwise lively place is more than a little eerie, a chill creeping up my spine as I zip my backpack and sling it over a shoulder.
Gathering up the empty coffee cups from mine and Blair’s desks, I can’t help but notice that the rest of her workspace is uncharacteristically tidy. We’re slowly picking up on each other’s habits– I’m learning to be a little less regimented, her a little less messy. We’re gradually finding a happy medium somewhere between our two extremes, lives melding into a mosaic that’s all our own.
Dropping the empty cups into the trash, I shake my head to clear my thoughts and get back to the task at hand: moving from the command center to the IT hub across the hall. I’m the only human in the territory, which makes me the go-to guy for monitoring the security feeds during the full moon run. While everyone else is out doing their canine cardio, I’ll be hereplaying night watchman, making sure the borders stay safe and secure. It’s not the most exciting gig, but it makes me feel useful. Besides, what else would I be doing tonight? It’s not as if I can shift and run along with them.
The familiar sound of Blair’s footsteps in the corridor makes my heart skip a beat, head whipping toward the doorway just as she steps into the command center. She looks a little winded, cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink. My tongue darts out to wet my lips, wanting to taste that blush; to kiss it off her skin.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the run?” I ask, brows knitting together in confusion.
She tucks a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear, eyes on mine as she steps closer. “Yeah, I’m heading over there now,” she replies breathlessly. “I just wanted to do this first.” She pushes up on her toes, pulling me down by the front of my shirt and slamming her lips against mine.
It’s not a sweet, delicate kiss. It’s more of an assault on my mouth, and I’m fucking living for every second of it. I wind my arms around her waist, and my backpack sliding off my shoulder and thumping to the floor. She sinks a hand into my hair, pulling me impossibly closer as we lose ourselves in one another, the world around us fading away.
I grunt in frustration as she pulls back slightly, murmuring against my lips. “Try not to miss me too much while I’m gone.”
“I won’t,” I lie.
She pulls back and searches my eyes, but I just smile like an idiot and kiss her again before she has a chance to find it.
Blair melts against me, leaning into the kiss, then pushes me away with a light laugh. “You’re a terrible liar, Isaac Matthews.”
“I know,” I chuckle, stepping back and allowing her to slip from my grasp. “Guess it’s a good thing I work in IT rather than espionage.”
“No kidding,” she snorts, rolling her eyes as she turns on a heel to leave.
“Blair,” I call after her.
She pauses, glancing back at me over her shoulder.
“I’m glad you stopped by.”
Her lips curve into a smile, that pretty blush returning to her cheeks. “I’ll see you later.”
“How much later?” I ask hopefully.
“As soon as the run’s over,” she replies with a wink. Then she’s out the door, her voice carrying from the hallway as she rushes away. “Don’t count the minutes!”
