Page 32 of Star-crossed Betas

“I love you, even if you’re a bit ridiculous,” he tells me. I grin up at him because I never tire of hearing those three words.

“I’m going to just ignore that last bit. I love you too, babe.”

And then I squish him in my arms as hard as I can.

“Bitter-sweet, memories, that’s all I’m taking with me…” I sing into my plastic cup, pretending it’s a microphone. We’ve finished the champagne, and I’ve taken to serenading Cee with all the ballads he’s been adding to our joint playlist.

“How can you not even remotely sing in tune?” he asks, lying on the blanket and laughing hysterically. I’m not actually a terrible singer, but making Cee laugh so hard he snorts has become one of my favourite pastimes, so I do what needs to be done and singveryoff-key.

“I’ll have you know my mother says I have the voice of an angel,” I tell him.

“Then your mother is either tone-deaf or a liar,” he replies with the biggest smile on his face.

“How very dare you.” I chuck my empty cup to the side and dive on top of him, tickling his ribs until he’s begging me to stop with tears running down his cheeks.

We eventually curled up under a blanket, and I fucked him again—slowly. Laid on our sides, I took him from behind, and if I was the type of person to say things like ‘make love,’ that probably would have been it. Neither of us desperate to get off, just enjoying being close and connected with my arms wrapped around him, kissing every bit of skin I could reach.

It’s the early hours of the morning now, and Cee is fast asleep. He’s tucked up in my arms, breathing deeply. I’m totally exhausted and should probably try to sleep for a while, too, but I want to enjoy the moment. Sometimes, it feels as if our entire relationship is built on a foundation of stolen moments.I only hope they're strong enough to withstand our inevitably turbulent future.

I worry it’s not sustainable, though. How long can we keep this a secret from everyone? How long until someone finds out?

For now, though, I let the current take me. I press a soft kiss against his temple and tug him in closer, breathing in his scent—heather and lightning—until all the tension and worries fade into the background, and I’m just here with him warm and safe in my arms.

Twelve

August 2019 - Three Years Ago

Connor Kelly

When I arrive at Ingleton Falls, the sun is setting, lighting up the sky with a hundred shades of pink and orange. There’s a pool that’s shallow around the edges but deep enough to swim where the waterfall feeds into it at the centre. It was twenty-seven degrees today, so I’m looking forward to cooling down in the water.

I dump my rucksack in a small cave running along the pool’s edge. It’s early enough that someone could still wander by here, so I throw on some swimming shorts to avoid offending any human sensibilities.

The shallow water is warm from the sun bearing down on it all day, but it’s cooler and refreshing as I get deeper. Swimming under the spray of the waterfall, I let the cascading falls pounddown onto my shoulders; it feels good on my sore muscles from being in the workshop all day.

I finally finished my joinery apprenticeship last month, so at least I’m earning a proper wage from the long days. The workshop owner is a friend of my da’s, and he’s offered to keep me on, but I really want to go into building bespoke furniture. My cousin Mikey has been a joiner for the last five years, and we’ve discussed starting our own business once I have more money saved.

It’s Fee’s birthday in a few weeks, and I’ve been working after hours, making two wooden figurines that match us in our wolf forms. They aren’t very big, but getting the details perfectly right is taking me forever. I’m pretty sure he’ll love them, though, so it’ll be worth all the swearing and the splinters.

“Oi, why do you have clothes on?” Fee asks, rudely interrupting my waterfall shoulder massage. He walks towards me, buck naked, looking affronted by my swim shorts.

“It was just after nine when I got here; I didn’t fancy gettin' arrested for flashin’,” I answer, swimming closer to him. He makes a disgruntled 'hmph' noise and crosses his arms over his chest. It’s dark now, and I don’t think anyone will come by here, so I strip off under the surface and throw them at him. My sodden shorts make a slapping sound against his forearm as he catches them midair before chucking them to the side as though their existence offends him. A laugh bubbles out of me at his ridiculousness. He wades further in, closing the distance.

“Much better,” he says, smiling. Grabbing my waist, he pulls me the rest of the way into him. My foot slips on the slimy stones, and I stumble a little, but Fee’s firm hands keep me in place as he brings his lips down to mine.

Fee has the softest, pillowy lips I’ve ever kissed, and I can’t help but nibble them. He moans in response, digging his fingers into my hips as his tongue seeks out mine. I press my whole bodyinto him. Sometimes, I have this overwhelming feeling, like it’s impossible to get as close to him as I need to. I want to crawl inside him and never leave, but I keep those thoughts to myself; they’d sound kinda creepy voiced out loud.

We’re both hard, and our stiff cocks press together, seeking out any friction as we kiss and pant into each other’s mouths. We glide into the deeper part of the pool. Fee is still standing, but I wrap my legs around his waist, and he places his hands under my bum to hold me in place. He backs into the waterfall, and the heavy spray interrupts the kiss momentarily.

“I missed you,” I mumble against his lips.

Over two years of clandestine meetups after dark, once a week if we’re lucky, less than that when anyone starts to get suspicious. Before he has a chance to reply, he stiffens under my hands, his muscles coiled tight. When I look up at him, his eyes are wide, like he’s seen a ghost. It takes me a second to realise he’s looking behind me towards the water’s edge. He drops my legs but still holds me close—protectively.

I can’t easily break out of Fee’s grip, so I turn my head to see what he’s looking at. Bile rises in my throat as I start to panic. My heart is a steel drum pounding in my chest. Standing eerily still and silent by the edge of the water is a wolf—and not one I recognise. They’re average in size, with colouring similar to a husky, all white at the front with light grey dusting all along their back.

For a moment, I’m frozen in place, then suddenly, time speeds up, and too many thoughts are tumbling through my mind at once. Who is this, and what pack do they belong to? Could they be an omega? No, their scent is beta. I’m not on my territory. I’m not safe here! Fee isn’t safe here!

He finally drops his hold on me, and his shoulders sag. I don’t understand; we should be shifting. We need to be able to defend ourselves because this wolf looks angry. Nothing in their postureis submissive, and if a fight breaks out here, of all places, there will be too many questions I can’t answer. Fee and I will be outed, and we aren’t ready yet. Fee turns to look at me, and my stomach drops when we make eye contact.

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