Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
[RONAN]
Ronan’s pack was up to something. They liked to think they were clever, but they couldn’t hide their excitement, or the general sense of mischief that was coming across the pack bond.
It made him suspicious, and he hurried through getting ready for the day so he could get downstairs and deal with whatever insanity they’d come up with that morning.
It was always something. There was a reason he hadn’t brought Harlem to meet the pack yet.
He swore they were doing it on purpose sometimes just to mess with him.
Jogging down the stairs, focused on getting out the door, he came up short when a familiar scent of cherry blossoms and spring rain caught his attention.
His head whipped around and he followed the scent into his living room, where his pack waited.
And his boyfriend sat on the couch, hands clasped around a cup of tea, eyes wide and a little frightened.
“What the hell is this?” Ronan snarled.
The pack members who’d crowded his living room, too excited with the visitor, hadn’t noticed his approach until he stood behind them.
Several jumped and leaped away, while others turned obnoxiously slowly, giving him an innocent smile that he didn’t believe for a second.
Only one, Tasha, didn’t move away. She stood behind the back of the couch protectively, arms crossed and a scowl on her face that said she wasn’t happy about whatever was happening right now.
It was her that he directed his question since she was less likely to lie to him to get out of trouble.
“Why is he here?”
He faltered when he saw Harlem flinch and immediately moved to comfort him, scooping him carefully off the couch and into his arms. He didn't want Harlem to think he didn’t want him here. He just didn’t appreciate the pack’s involvement.
Tasha rolled her eyes. “Apparently, they’ve seen you two together and got curious. It’s a little bit your fault for hiding him for so long.”
Ronan scowled at her, hugging Harlem a little closer to his chest. “I wasn’t hiding him.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. There was a reason he was considering her for pack second. She wasn’t easily intimidated, even by him.
“I’m not required to share everything with my pack. He’s mine.”
He internally winced at the possessive growl.
He hadn’t meant to say that. He was off kilter with Harlem’s sudden appearance in his home.
He’d been waiting for the right time to introduce Harlem to the pack.
Namely, after his instincts settled enough that he wasn’t constantly fighting the urge to claim the beautiful man.
He didn’t feel stable lately, and he didn’t want anyone to get hurt because he couldn’t control himself.
Tasha’s lips quirked at the corners, amused by his response, but it was the rest of the pack who started talking all at once.
Ronan’s ears flattened at the noise level, and he wasn’t the only one.
Harlem grimaced too, leaning in a little closer without spilling his tea.
Ronan carefully set him on his feet, taking the cup and placing it on the coffee table before putting his hands on Harlem’s shoulders. He might as well get this over with.
“Pack,” he growled. He didn't need to raise his voice, the one word was enough. The room went silent, all looking at him with eager expectation on their faces. If it wasn’t entirely immature, he’d roll his eyes like Tasha had.
“This is Harlem. We’ve been seeing each other for a little more than a week now.
He’s in school, but hasn’t decided his degree focus yet.
Any other questions can wait until after the work day is done. Understood?”
Axel wrinkled his nose, opening his mouth to complain, but the dirty look Ronan shot him shut him up.
He knew Axel was involved in this stunt.
The troublemaker liked to pull pranks and drag others into his mischief.
And he’d been one of the pack members on duty who would’ve seen Ronan and Harlem during their walks home from Harlem’s school.
“Be ready to leave in twenty minutes. Dismissed.”
They grumbled about it, but did as they were told, shuffling out of the room to return to their homes to get ready for the day.
Tasha gave him a two finger salute on her way out, giving a polite nod to Harlem.
“It was nice to meet you. Hopefully next time we meet, it’ll be under different circumstances. ”
Harlem snickered and nodded, wiggling his fingers at her. “Hopefully. Bye!”
Once the room went quiet again, Ronan let out a heavy sigh, releasing Harlem’s shoulders and dropping into a nearby arm chair.
He scrubbed his hands over his face, exhaustion wearing on him.
He refused to give up staying with Harlem, especially after what happened with Harlem’s friend.
The terror in his voice had made Ronan’s protective instincts go haywire.
But sleeping away from his pack took its toll.
He’d been considering asking Harlem to come stay with him when all this happened. He just hadn’t gotten the chance.
“I’m sorry,” Harlem murmured. “I should’ve refused when they said they were going to kidnap me. I was confused and a little curious… I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Whipping his head up, Ronan frowned at him. “They said what?”
His pack was going to get it. No wonder Harlem looked frightened when Ronan came downstairs. Anyone would be if a bunch of mangy werewolves showed up and said they were going to kidnap them. Harlem was tiny compared to most of his pack. He couldn’t have fought them even if he wanted to.
The thought made Ronan growl and he reached for Harlem automatically, drawing the smaller man into his lap and wrapping his arms around him. Harlem buried his face in Ronan’s shoulder, fingers tightening in Ronan’s clothes like he was truly worried about Ronan’s reaction. Ronan sighed.
“You’ve got no reason to apologize, baby. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I should’ve known they would’ve tried something eventually if I kept avoiding them.”
Sitting up, Harlem asked, “Why did you?”
The anxiety was written all over his face, along with the same hurt Ronan had seen earlier when he was careless with his words.
With a grimace, he forced himself to explain. “If I’m being honest, the reason was entirely selfish. You’re special to me. I wasn’t ready to share you with them yet.”
Harlem melted, a sweet smile pulling at his lips that he tried to hide by ducking his chin.
Ronan used a knuckle to nudge his face back up, licking his way into Harlem’s mouth.
He couldn’t linger, he had to get to work, but Harlem had a fright that morning.
He deserved to be cared for. As much as Ronan could give him, he would.
Of course, his pack had other ideas. He’d just begun to consider being a little late so he could take care of Harlem’s needs when his front door flew open and a little wolf barely over five came skittering into the room. “They’re fighting again!”
That time, he gave into the childish urge to roll his eyes. He didn’t even need to ask who they were referring to. With a weary sigh, he helped Harlem to his feet. “I’ll be right back. I need to handle this.”
When he got back, he was going to ask Harlem to stay the night. Being away from his pack was taking its toll. They were acting like children. He needed to be here. And he refused to be apart from Harlem if he didn’t have to be.
By the time pack business was handled, he had to get to the office for a meeting, which meant his conversation with Harlem was delayed.
He had to get Tasha to bring Harlem back home because the meeting was with an important client who refused to speak to anyone but him, which irked a little.
He didn't like not being able to care for Harlem himself. He was hoping to talk to Harlem about staying the night when he walked him to school like usual, but the meeting ran late and Harlem wasn’t able to wait for him because he had an exam to get to.
Frustration was rolling off him in waves by the time he was done with his work.
He got a text from Harlem that he was visiting his friends and hadn’t been able to follow up until it was well past when he normally would see him.
Ronan felt a little like he was going to fly off the handle if he didn’t speak with Harlem soon.
Despite knowing he was with his friends, Ronan dialed Harlem’s number and put it to his ear, pacing his living room as he waited for Harlem to pick up.
He couldn’t explain why he felt so anxious.
Maybe it had something to do with Harlem visiting the friend he’d told him had nearly gone feral and protective instincts were to blame, or maybe it was because he hadn’t gotten to see Harlem all day aside from their quick makeout in his living room. Either way, he didn’t like it.
“Ronan! Hi!” Harlem greeted cheerfully when he picked up.
“Hey, baby. Sorry about today. It’s been a shit show.”
Giggling, Harlem was quick to soothe him. “It’s okay. I get it. You’re an alpha and you have your own company. You’re a busy man.”
“Not too busy for you,” he growled, still frustrated. He needed to get a grip on himself before he accidentally made Harlem think the frustration was directed at him.
“I know,” Harlem murmured, the smile in his voice settling Ronan a little.
“I promise, I’m not upset. Dorian made me dinner and I got to see Kian.
They’re both looking a lot better. Kian’s still a little pale, but he’s never been a feeder before, so it’s not totally surprising.
He’s being monitored by a druid during this crucial period, so I think he’ll be okay. ”
Ronan closed his eyes, listening to Harlem’s sweet voice as he shared everything about his day and his visit with his friends.
He felt his stress levels come down and his shoulders relaxed.
He was even smiling when Harlem finally switched tracks and turned the conversation to him.
“Enough about me, though. What about you? Have you eaten yet? You said today was rough, are you feeling any better?”
“I’ll feel better when I see you,” Ronan answered, smiling when he heard the nearly silent squeal Harlem had probably been trying to muffle on the other end of the line.
He must’ve forgotten how good Ronan’s hearing was.
“I want to pick you up when you’re done visiting with your friends. Can I do that?”
“Um, sure, if you want, but Dorian’s place is a little far from pack land. He lives in a brownstone downtown and parking is abysmal here.”
None of that mattered to Ronan. All that mattered was getting to see Harlem again.
“That’s fine. I’ll circle the block if I have to. Would you… Do you mind staying at my place for a little while? The pack starts acting out when I’m not around. I think their behavior this morning was part of that.”
“Oh…” Harlem’s voice turned worried and he could practically see the beautiful man chewing on his bottom lip like he always did when he was unsure. “Are you sure? I can go back to my place alone if you need time with the pack–”
“No!” He practically shouted it and winced, forcing his voice back to normal when he corrected himself. “Sorry. No, I don’t need you to stay by yourself. I want you with me. I was just wondering if we could stay at my place instead of yours, that’s all.”
“Oh, well, okay,” Harlem agreed and Ronan’s shoulders slumped with relief.
He was a little nervous about having Harlem stay with him at his place, interruptions like what had happened that morning weren’t a rare occurrence, but he needed to be here.
And he couldn’t stand the thought of sleeping apart.
Not when he knew how perfect it was sleeping with the gorgeous kitsune wrapped in his arms.
“Good. I’ll pick you up after you’re done visiting. Then, in the morning, I’ll properly introduce you to the pack. They’ll be much better behaved, I promise.”
Harlem’s laugh settled the ache in Ronan’s chest a little more, but he knew it wouldn’t fully go away until he had Harlem back in his arms. He was getting really attached to the little kitsune.
If he wasn’t careful, he’d fall hard for the gorgeous man.
Then it would be nearly impossible to let him go.