***
Troy’s voice lacked emotion but Philip wasn’t fooled because he could feel exactly what his mate was feeling right then. And there was nothing pleasant about the feeling. “A lot of things are beginning to make sense now.” He muttered. The way he’d felt about Philip from the very first moment their eyes met, Philip’s shitty behaviour towards Paul, how Philip had taken charge and gotten him stuff to use when he’d been brought to Stanwood Pack…which he would have thought his mother or Jeremy would have handled and not Philip, and so many other instances. He recalled how Philip had gotten furious and challenged Jeremy on that day he’d nearly killed Ryan. And the most recent…the intense lust he’d felt for Philip after that bite. Everything made sense now. “All those wild thoughts I’ve been having about you…”
“Troy…” Philip groaned.
“It’s funny actually.” But Troy’s short laughter was devoid of humour. The emotions racing through him at that moment was anything but funny. “Think about it. I got married without knowing I’d gotten married. Weird.” Troy felt his heart pound as his entire body began to tingle. He knew he was upset and a little angry about what Philip had done but he honestly didn’t know why the feeling of anger within kept increasing by the second. “I know your Luna didn’t really give me any choice but…did you have to force it on me like that?”
“Troy, calm down,” Philip said low in his throat. He saw and felt how agitated Troy was getting. The fine shine of sweat on his forehead was telling enough.
“I’m calm.” Troy rasped as he pushed his hands, which were trembling so bad into his back pocket. “I’m just…” His breathing became labored as he stared at Philip. “Shit…” He gasped. It was obvious his body was getting ready to shift. Since he was a new wolf, it was going to take some time to be able to shift quickly and painlessly.
“Honey…” Gloria moved closer to her son. “Please…” They all turned when the elevator opened to reveal Ryan.
“Hey, what are you guys doing outside the dining…” Ryan trailed off when he got a better look at a literally shaking Troy. It was obvious Troy was angry and about to shift.
“Troy?” Ryan called out softly as he went to stand between Troy and Gloria. As he reached up to stroke Troy’s hair, he gave the book he was holding to Gloria. “Shhhh…”
Philip growled low in his throat as he watched Ryan stroking Troy. Although he knew that Ryan was only helping Troy, the beast inside him felt the need to throw out a warning.
“Settle down, alpha,” Gloria muttered, her eyes filled with worry. “You know he’s only trying to help.”
And like always, Ryan’s calming energy worked. Troy began to breathe normal again. He was still angry at Philip but it was no longer the blinding rage that made him want to shift and destroy.
“Are you okay?” Ryan asked when Troy took a step back.
“Yes, just hungry,” Troy responded just as his stomach let out a rumbling sound.
“Come on then.” Ryan laughed, starting for the dining room. At the door, Troy opened and held the door for his mother and Ryan to enter. Then he turned to look at Philip who still remained where he was. “Coming?”
“Yeah.” Philip croaked and then cleared his throat. “Yes. Troy?”
“Uh-huh?”
“Can we talk after…”
“Nothing to talk about.” Troy shrugged and then entered the dining room, leaving Philip staring after him.
***
Before they started eating, Troy apologized to everyone for his actions during the meeting before his premier shift. They all brushed his apologies aside graciously and assured him that they’d seen worse. Conversation flowed as everyone dug in and ate to their heart’s content. During the meal, they told Troy interesting stories about their runs and general werewolf life which fascinated and amused him.
As it always happened whenever it was time for their monthly run, the atmosphere crackled with excitement. Everyone in the room seemed to be in high spirits with the exception of the alpha himself. Philip’s heart was so heavy he just wanted to go to his room and lie down but he didn’t want to be rude to the others so he stayed. He didn’t even feel for a run. For once, his wolf was very quiet and withdrawn.
“Are you okay, son?” Joel asked at a point during the meal.
“Yes,” Philip responded but he could tell his father didn’t believe him. He contemplated giving an excuse and…
“Can we swap seats, Stan?” Philip heard Troy asking Stan who was seated beside him.
“Sure, Troy.” Stan grabbed his plate and glass as he stood. “Have something to discuss with the boss huh?” He grinned.
“I know he’s my mate, Stan,” Troy muttered, causing Stan’s eyes to go wide.
“O-okay…” Stan drawled as he gave Philip a curious look. ‘How the fuck did he know?’ He virtually screeched on his mind-link with Philip as he went to where Troy had been seated. ‘You said you were yet to tell…’
‘He overheard his mum and I talking.’ Philip responded.
‘Shit!’ Stan sat down on the seat Troy had vacated, between Paige and Ryan. ‘Any last wishes?’
‘Fuck off.’ Philip growled as he looked up at his mate who had remained standing.
Troy stared back at Philip for a moment before pushing his chair closer to Philip’s and taking his seat. He’d had a sudden urge to come and sit closer to Philip and give the silly man some comfort. Troy didn’t know where that feeling had come from or why. But he’d done it for his own sanity as it had been bugging him throughout dinner. He had a niggling feeling of dejection within him which he could tell was coming from Philip. Again he didn’t know how he knew but he just did. He was sure it was because of that mate thing. The idiot just had to bite him and cause all these chaotic feelings, Troy groaned silently as his eyes dropped to Philip’s virtually untouched plate.
“You’re not eating your food,” Troy murmured the obvious.
“Not hungry,” Philip mumbled. “Did you enjoy your meal?” He asked quietly.
“Yes.” Troy looked around the table. “Listen, I’ll be going with my mother after dinner.” He murmured.
“Troy…”
“What?”
Philip locked gazes with his mate, saw the defiance in the beautiful blue eyes, and knew Troy wouldn’t change his decision.
“Nothing.” Philip rasped. Then he switched to their mind-link. ‘It’s just that… I’d very much love to run with you tomorrow morning.’ He said quietly.
‘I’ll be running with my mother.’ Troy responded and then turned to look at Philip when he felt his agitation. ‘What?’
‘I want to run with you, Troy.’ Philip repeated.
‘Well, we all can’t get what we want, can we?’ Troy smirked over the link. ‘Say…some respect, disclosure, and a little heads-up…maybe? How about that?’ Troy got to his feet.
‘See you around.’ With that, he sauntered over to where Jeremy sat.