Page 5 of Dante's Circle Reborn

That didn’t mean he had to like it.

Of course, he hadn’t liked much of anything in far too long. The moment his wolf had done the unthinkable and told him that his best friend could be something more, he’d known things would never be the same.

He didn’t deserve a mate, that was something he’d known since before Liam had come back into his life. He’d done things—taken lives and drew the blood of those he’d never thought he’d be forced to shed. Liam deserved someone with cleaner hands and a lighter soul. Things had been better when they were friends versus whatever they were now. He couldn’t call them real friends, not anymore. They didn’t talk about the important things, and they spent more time in tense silence than working towards a future that could help their Pack.

It wasn’t lost on him that they were hurting those they were closest to because they couldn’t let go of their pasts. He wasn’t sure what held Liam back, but he knew it had to be something important to take down such a dominant man. If Hunter couldn’t choose a Tracker and a Beta soon, if he couldn’t rely on his friends, things would get worse before they got better.

How could he tell Hunter that he wasn’t meant to be Beta? Wasn’t meant to be trusted as Tracker?

Maybe it would have been better if he’d done what the others in his family had and turned lone wolf. It was a difficult and solitary existence. If he had, though, perhaps he wouldn’t have harmed his Pack.

Or maybe I can actually forgive myself and learn to be the man Hunter expects of me.

He let out a disgusted sigh and finished stuffing his clothes into his duffle bag. Maybe Hunter was right. Perhaps he needed time away from the den to get his head on straight. It wasn’t fair to anyone if he kept going along as he was.

Only he wasn’t sure the time away would help, especially since he wouldn’t be alone.

He’d be with Liam.

The one man who confused him even more than he confused himself.

Pounding at the door pulled Alec out of his thoughts. The knock hadn’t been necessary. He scented the man’s approach. His wolf always knew when Liam was around, and that’s what killed him every hellish time.

He grabbed his bag and centered himself for what would most likely be a grueling couple of weeks. Sadly, the fact that he was about to track a rogue wolf who had already spilled blood was only part of it. With a sigh, he made his way to the front door, opening it while keeping a neutral expression on his face.

There had been a time when Liam would have walked into Alec’s home without bothering to knock. That had been before their Pack had almost destroyed itself, though. Before Alec’s world had shattered, and he’d turned from Liam. Before Liam had drifted away as well, not saying a damn thing. Too many months and years where they hadn’t spoken to one another about the important things and had done their best not to touch each other, as if too scared to do anything about what was left unsaid.

Liam stood on Alec’s porch, his hands fisted at his sides, though he held his duffle in one. “We didn’t decide what car we’re taking.”

Alec shrugged, though there was nothing casual about it. “You’re here, so we might as well take mine.”

“Good.” The other man bit out the word, and Alec knew this trip was going to torture him every freaking moment.

As Liam stomped off without saying anything more, Alec finally let out the sigh he’d been holding and followed him, closing the door behind him. He hoped Hunter knew what the hell he was doing with this. Because if his Alpha didn’t, this trip might end up with two dead wolves and no Beta or Tracker for the Pack.

Alec gripped the steering wheel as soon as he sat in his seat, then let out a curse. Liam was as stiff as a board, his jaw set, and his wolf right at the surface.

“Why did you even bother getting into the passenger seat if you’re going to sit and growl like that?” he snapped. His wolf was on edge, and he barely kept his claws from sliding out of his fingertips and slashing the steering wheel.

Liam didn’t bother looking at him, and Alec wasn’t sure the other man could. He didnotlike giving up control. Ever. “It’s your car.”

“Then you should have driven over to pick me up for fuck’s sake.”

“I was being considerate.” Each word was bit out, and Alec had to move his hands from the steering wheel, or he’d break it in half.

“Just fucking drive. Because God forbid you don’t.”

“I’ll be fine,” Liam growled.

“No, you’ll just piss me off and backseat drive.”

“It’s not backseat driving if I’m in the passenger seat.”

Alec let out a loud growl this time and threw himself out of the car. He stomped to the other side and almost ripped the fucking door off. Liam opened it instead. “I’m not going to be able to drive and deal with tracking the fucking rogue if you’re going to be growly, moody, and bitchy from the passenger seat. Just drive, and let’s get this trip over with.”

Liam slid out of the car. Since he was doing his best not to meet Alec’s eyes, he must not have noticed how close Alec was to the vehicle. The other man crushed against Alec’s body, and they both froze.

That was when Liam met his gaze.

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