twenty nine
Milton was quick to fall asleep yet again once the excitement wore away. The weight and heat of the wolf brought the soft feeling of safety and coziness, the perfect combination.
Aldric watched the two, smiling softly as his love laps gently at the sleeping boy's hair, body easily wrapping itself around the human.
"I'll go put the kettle on." The man murmurs, leaving the two to cuddle.
He all but shuffles into the kitchen, shoulders sinking as exhaustion floods his system.
He wipes a hand down his face, hoping that will help in some way, but it doesn't. So, he moves to the kettle, filling it with water and setting it back on its heat ring.
Fingers automatically flick the switch and open the cupboard to look for mugs, Aldric's mind switching off as the routine sets in.
He loves his mate. He loves Milton. But to carry both their burdens is enough to break the man. He likes being the rock Cal can lean on, but sometimes ... sometimes he needs to have a moment to himself.
So, he stays in the kitchen a little longer, leaning against the counter and watching the steam slowly tickle from the kettle's spout. He should take his own advice and shift. Let go of the human world for an evening and simply live.
Humming, Al pats the pockets of his pants looking for his phone, sending a text to Henry. The alpha is quick to respond, Aldric's phone buzzing with an incoming call.
He answers, but nothing but a grunt passes his lips in greeting.
"I'll come over and watch the two."
Aldric runs a hand through his hair with a sigh. "I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking," The man snorts. "I'm telling you. Go for a walk, Al. Hell, go chase down some rabbits. Cal's not going anywhere."
The temptation outweighs the instinct to keep watch, and for once he agrees without much of a fuss and hangs up.
He leaves the mugs beside the kettle, a teabag beside it all ready to go. The need to complete the mundane task is whisked away as soon as Henry enters the apartment, the two men nodding to each other as Aldric passes him and leaves.
He doesn't look back as he walks down the carpeted hall and trots down the stairs to the backyard. He ignores the guilt that tries to bubble its way up and quickly strips behind the bi-fold partition left out on the back deck, leaving his clothes in a lump as he changes skin.
The instant his paws touch the earth, the wolf huffs in relief. He shakes out his thick coat, the dark coloured fur attracting the afternoon sun as he stretches his long limbs and makes his way down the slight decline into the shrub.
It would have been nice to have his mate with him. To bathe in the afternoon sun together or meander through the bush.
The wolf shakes again as if to toss the thoughts from his mind.
He keeps his nose to the ground, sniffing at the sharp smell of pine and warm soil. He follows his nose further into the reserve, ears swivelling as another wolf passes, but neither stop to acknowledge one another.
He spends a good hour roaming through the lush undergrowth.
Marking territory and digging at scraps of fallen branches and decomposing underbrush for any scents of rabbit or fowl.
There are a few that run around, small prey that sneak through the fencing and make their home amongst the many sections of the wildlife reserve. No one really minds.
They make for a tasty snack.
It's not for another two hours that Aldric decides to head home with the taste of rabbit clinging to his teeth and his muscles burning nicely from a much-needed chase.
As the apartment block comes back into view, the smallest of thoughts passes across his mind. What if he just ... kept going?
He grumbles at himself, tongue lapping at his nose as he keeps his pace steady and climbs back up the slope to duck back behind the partition.
The change is swift, and Aldric finds himself staring at the clothes in his hands for a moment too long.
A frown makes its way onto his face as he shoves his feet through his pant leg holes.
He has responsibilities. He has people who rely on him and a pack that want him. Leaving it all to chase after rabbits is... stupid. Cowardly, even.
Aldric makes quick work of the stairs, entering the apartment with a little more force than necessary.
Henry looks up from his phone with a brow lifted in question, but Al ignores him. He heads to Milton's room instead, poking his head around the doorframe to see his mate now sprawled out across the bed, back in his human skin.
Milton is fast asleep, face pressed against the man's chest, unaware that his wolf friend is now a very naked Callum.
Quietly Al creeps into the room, taking a spare blanket from the sitting chair to drape over his love.
He watches the two for a moment. Watches how they breathe slowly in sleep, Cal's muscles twitching softly from overuse. He'd probably shifted back in his sleep, body not used to taking a different shape for long periods of time. It was something they would need to work on, but not now.
Now, Aldric just watches the two sleep, eyes following the gentle rise and fall of their breath. The apartment door opens and closes, Henry obviously deciding to take his leave now that Aldric's returned.
The wolf leaves the two to their sleep, moving back into the kitchen and flicking the now cold kettle back on with a flick of his wrist.