Chapter 11

When he finally pulls slightly free from Colt’s grip, the movement is hesitant rather than forceful, as though he doesn’t quite know where to put himself after being caught like that in front of everyone. His embarrassment only turns me on more. I want to take him back to our room and discover whether his small body can handle both of us. Call me a pervert to your heart’s content, but this attraction I feel toward him is completely irresistible, and honestly, I have no desire to resist it. I welcome it with open arms, as long as he wants it too of course. 

A faint smirk tugs at my lips before I even realize it, and I step a little closer to him. I lean down slightly, bringing my lips near his ear, “Are you alright? I saw you were a little unsteady on your feet getting off the bus. I know it was a long ride. Are your legs asleep from all that sitting?”

When I get closer, I catch a trace of his scent beneath the strong cologne he’s wearing—something sweeter underneath it. 

Fuck. He smells good. 

I shift slightly to readjust the slight boner that is making my pants uncomfortably tight. 

Damn, my dick is throbbing. 

I straightened again, forcing some distance between us, clearing my throat as I regained control of my expression.

He looks up at me and Colt, offering a small smile. Something about it feels off and strained. My chest tightens again, that same protective instinct from earlier returning stronger than before. He lets out a quiet chuckle, and his voice is soft when he speaks—polite, practiced, like he’s trying to downplay whatever just happened.

“I’m alright,” he says. “I’ve just been sitting for a while, and the sudden change in position makes me a little out of sorts. I’m sorry for such an embarrassing display.” His breathing is slightly uneven, and there’s a faint sheen of sweat on his pale skin.

Not unusual, given the conditions. It’s hot—around ninety-six degrees—and the humidity sits heavy in the air, making everything more suffocating. Even I can feel it, despite being accustomed to the heat, as my own shirt clings slightly to my skin while I stand here in nothing more than a T-shirt and cargo pants.

I notice his gaze drop to the ground, and I slowly release my hold on his shoulder. A faint crease forms between my brows, my expression tightening into a small frown. My shoulders lower slightly as uncertainty sets in. I don’t know what to do with this situation. He looks uncomfortable and uneasy in a way that doesn’t match something as simple as standing up too quickly. And the apology still doesn’t make sense to me. 

Why is this adorable cutie apologizing for that? He didn’t do anything wrong.

I glanced over at Colt, and could see he was thinking the same thing. Confused. Concerned. Trying to piece together what we’re missing. For a moment, neither of us speaks. I let out a quiet breath, tension easing slightly just from Colt breaking the silence first with an awkward attempt at reassurance. 

“Nonsense. Things happen, and the ride here is quite long and uncomfortable. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about or sorry for. We were just worried about your well-being and wanted to make sure you’re okay—which we’re glad you are. Let’s head over to the others in your group.”

The young man in front of us finally lifts his head and lets his gaze drift over our faces. His captivating, violet eyes met mine briefly before flicking away again, and I noticed something in his expression eased, like he was searching for something. Looking for a reaction.

I can’t tell what he was expecting from us, but it feels like more than just reassurance. 

Colt and I start walking back toward the others, but the unease doesn’t leave either of us. I can see it in him too. The same quiet tension, the same awareness that something about that interaction doesn’t fully add up.

After a moment, I connected a mental communication link with Colt.

[Hey, Colt. You felt that too, right? That feeling of unease… and that weird feeling when he apologized for something that had no business needing an apology?]

I keep my pace steady, though my attention keeps drifting back.

[I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t sit right with me. He seems a little too polite and overly submissive for an Alpha. He is also way smaller than any Alpha in his age group. Something just isn’t right, I can feel it.]

Whatever this is… I don’t want to overlook it. 

Colt glances back again at the young man before turning his attention to me, giving a weary smile.

[I get what you mean, bro. I feel it too. Whatever that is, it’s strong. But for now, let’s just observe. We don’t want to overwhelm him with questions right away.] He pauses briefly, still watching him out of the corner of his eye.  [He seems like the quiet type. It might take time before he trusts us enough to open up. Let’s just get through this part first.]

Another pause.

[Actually… I’d feel better if he was closer to us. Across the hall from our room would be ideal.]

I glance at him slightly as he continues. 

[We weren’t planning on using that extra room, but having him nearby would make it easier to keep an eye on things and step in if anything else feels off. I’ll message William and have the room prepared. I’ll also inform Draven so he’s aware of the situation.]

He gives me a slight nod, then turns his focus forward again. I cut the link after the exchange, exhaling slowly as we continued walking. Colt is already moving ahead with what he said, making adjustments on the fly. And I can’t shake the feeling that whatever this is… we’re only seeing the beginning of it.

I walk back to the group with Colt and watch as the young man slips to the back of the crowd. Quiet and detached, just like the first time I saw him.

I feel a little lost now that he's farther away from me, an emptiness settling in my chest. Part of me wants to go over and pull him back to my side, but the rational part of my brain stops me.

Fuck, I'm screwed.

I'm already so far gone it's not even funny.

A slight chuckle escapes me as I lazily scan over the rest of the crowd.

Let's wrap this up, so our little cutie can get some rest.

I casually glance at the other instructors, signaling for them to prepare for the next steps. They give me slight nods in acknowledgment.

Picking up my clipboard from the side, I position myself in front of the group of Nightshade trainees and speak in a loud, commanding voice.

“Alright, everyone! It’s time to collect your luggage and line up to head over to the trainee barracks so we can assign your rooms. Everyone’s luggage is tagged with your name and should be easy to identify. It shouldn’t take too long to sort everything out and get yourselves in order. No pushing or shoving. Act quickly, but maintain order.

“Once we’re over there and the rooms are assigned, Colt and I will give you our numbers so that if anything happens, or you need help, you’ll be able to reach us in a timely fashion.” I point to the side at the stack of luggage, and watch as the trainees begin collecting their bags from the pile off to the side and finally allow myself to relax for a moment.

Colt walks over and pats me on the back. "We're almost done. Once everyone gets their bags and finishes lining up, all we have to do is head to the barracks, sort out the room assignments, and then we can finally get some rest. It's been a long day, and we're already almost finished." 

His words of encouragement came at exactly the right time. My brothers can always tell when I'm running on fumes and completely exhausted. And damn, today has been mentally draining, to say the least. Between everything that has happened and the constant pressure of making sure everything is handled properly, I feel like I have been running on empty for hours. Still, hearing him say those few simple words gives me just enough boost to keep going.

I gave him an appreciative smile and turned my attention back to the trainees gathered around the luggage pile. The crowd is getting smaller, and the pile is steadily shrinking as each trainee retrieves their belongings and moves away from the bus. My gaze moves over the remaining people, searching through the group until it locks onto the one person I've been searching for. I notice that he looks a little lost and dejected, his body language making it obvious that something is bothering him even from a distance. I raise a brow and glance at Colt from the corner of my eye. His lips are pursed, and his arms are crossed tightly over his chest, his expression shifting into one of immediate concern.

That's when I realized something was up.

When I look back toward the luggage pile, the little cutie has disappeared behind the bus. One moment he was there, standing among the other trainees, and the next, he was gone. I felt uneasy and curious about where he was going and what had made him leave the group so suddenly. Making a subtle gesture with my hand toward the direction he'd gone, I signaled Colt and began following after him, already feeling the strange sense that something wasn’t right.