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“Forge,” he says. “Come on.”

“Nothing is wrong,” I say, but I feel his eyes on me, burning my skin like laser beams.

“Forge—”

“Fine,” I grunt. Because he’s right. He’s relentless and I’m stubborn. You can imagine how that goes. “I just have a bad feeling about today. That’s all.”

His frown deepens. “What kind of bad feeling?”

I sigh. “Like today is going to be a shit show.”

It’s the closest thing to an explanation I can give him, because the truth is, it’s just a feeling and I don’t put much into my feelings.

“Great,” he mutters. “The last time that happened, you—”

“Got shot. Yes. Thank you for the reminder.”

I absently rub at the spot on the right side of my chest that still burns the way it did that night a bullet entered it. I can never tell if it’s real or in my head, but I know I feel it. I almost lost my life that day, and Pierce never lets me forget it. He’s worries all the damn time and puts too much thought into things that don’t matter; like my feelings. Which is why I didn’t want him to tell him about this, but as usual… he’s too observant.

Pierce is my better half though, and I wouldn’t trade our life for anything. He’s warm where I’m cold. Patient where I’m reactive. The calm after the storm… which is usually just me having a bad day. I struggle to see the good in things most days.

He says I wasn’t always like this, but I don’t remember being any other way. I believe him though, because he knows me better than anyone, and he’s the only person in this world that I trust completely.

In high school, Pierce was the kid who got along with everyone, was always helping the teachers, and had straight A’s but didn’t throw it in your face. He did what he had to do without being told. He knew the rules and followed them without question.

I have a short fuse. Always have. It’s his kindness that made me realize it’s something I should work on. Before him, I didn’t care about anything. But then we met, and something in me changed. It settled. And that fuse became a little longer. I became a little patient.

I wish I could say that kept happening, that I’m the most patient man in the world now, but there was a cut off. I’m no angel, nor will I ever be. Despite bettering myself, I still consider myself the devil on someone’s shoulder. Pierce would be on the other side, not only steering them in the right direction, but keeping me in check too.

The day we became friends was the day I saved his ass because he put his nose where it didn’t belong. To be fair, he was right to step in when Frankie Thompson was being bullied. Problem is, the guy doing the bullying was twice their size. But so was I. I’m the reason Pierce didn’t end up in a full body cast.

After that, there was always a place for me at his dinner table. I didn’t miss being home because there wasn’t much there for me. Just a drunk father who couldn’t remember my name half the time. I don’t question why he ended up a single parent, but sometimes I wished my mother hadn’t left me behind to be raised by him.

I started spending all my time with Pierce and his family. I owe them for shaping me into the man I am today. He made me want to be a better person then, and he still has that same affect on me now, because I want to make him proud. He’s been disappointed in me on two occasions in our life, and I never want to see that look on his face ever again. They still haunt me on the rough days.

I can’t pinpoint the exact date we became what we are now—partners. A pack. It was a slow transition, turning into what we have today. It was so natural that it’s hard to remember anything else.

It was my idea to become a cop. It’s what seemed right for me after high school. Pierce’s response was to ask when we apply. I thought he was joking, but he was right there with me through the academy and during our career. We only work as partners. It’s both of us or neither of us. It’s the only way we work to our full potential. We’re two halves that don’t function as well on our own. Or maybe that’s just me, because I think Pierce would be fine on his own… or with anyone else. He’s just one of those people that get other people.

There was a time we tried to live our lives separately yet sort of still together, but it never worked out. We dated people over the years but nothing felt right. It’s only ever felt right together. We know, as alphas, there’s a possibility someone else could join us; that we may not stay as a pack of two forever. We’re both open and willing to deal with that when it comes our way. For now, we focus on our jobs as detectives who work high profile cases. There isn’t much time for anything else.

I’m not one of those guys who relies on gut feelings. I believe in facts. What I see, know, and can find. But every now and then, there’s something in the air telling me to pay extra attention to my surroundings. I just try to ignore it harder.

Unfortunately, Pierce is right. The last time I felt like this was three years ago, when I got shot and almost died. If it weren’t for Pierce, I would be dead. He’s the one who saved my life. Took the cleanest shot against the guy we were after, got him right between the eyes, then kept pressure on my wound while we waited for help.

I spent eight days in the hospital with a tube sticking out of my chest. Pierce was glued to the chair beside my bed, bitching at me every time I tried to move.

He's been there for every bad moment of my life.

There's no one I trust more in this world.

It’s hard to think we could add someone else to our pack, because the thought of trusting and caring about someone the way I care about him doesn’t make sense. I’m lucky enough to have him, how can there be someone else?

The elevator doors open and he steps out first, turning right to head to our office. We don’t pass anyone in the hallway because it’s early and we’re usually the first ones here. Others won’t be in for another hour or so, but that’s how we like it. We get here early so we can work in the quiet, before the bustle of the day starts.

Our office is your typical office, with my desk across from the door, and his to the left of it. This puts us diagonal from each other, but still close enough we can talk without yelling.

There are a few pieces of art on the walls that Pierce demanded me have. He said it felt like we weren’t settled otherwise. Once he even said it felt like a prison. I’m fine with what he chose. They’re black and white nature photos. Woods, waterfalls, that sort of thing. They aren’t distracting, and I admit… they do give the office a slightly warmer feeling than it had previously.