Chapter Seven

Friends.

Friends go on runs and find each other after a hard day. They shift together. Treat each other to yummy desserts and watch out when the other hasn't eaten or looks a bit down.

Friends.

Even I didn't believe it.

When the sweet alpha looked over with those big blue eyes, there was no way I could've said no to his offer. My hedgehog wiggled and squirmed at the chance to run with Zion as his bear.

Friends. That was all I could give him.

"Where?" I asked. I could run anywhere, but a bear was much larger. While there weren't many humans in Oliver Creek, the once-small town had more tourists and visitors of late, and a lot of them were human. We didn't want to become infamous for animal sightings.

"The woods are a bit out of town. We could walk, or I could drive us there. Whatever you prefer."

I thought it over. Being trapped in his truck with his scent overpowering me wasn't the best way to keep my word to myself. Then again, I was exhausted and, though my hedgehog wanted to run, a long walk in addition seemed daunting. "Would you mind driving?"

He chuckled, and the sound shot right through me, making direct contact with my cock. I was in trouble with this one. "I wouldn't have offered if I minded, Cicek. Meet me back here in about five minutes?"

"Sounds good."

We both changed into shorts and T-shirts easy to put on and off before and after the run. Along the way, we let the windows down, letting the cool night air refresh us on the drive. I watched the scenery as we passed through town slowly.

"Enjoying the ride?" Zion asked.

"I am. Never took myself for a taking-a-drive kind of person but on a night like this, it's perfect."

He smiled. "Wait until the fall. One of my favorite things to do is to take a long night drive when the cool weather rolls in."

I nodded, hearing that tone. Gods, this was leading him on. Driving out here with him. Running with his bear. Taking food and gifts from him. I was giving him hope where that well had long run dry.

"Sounds lovely."

We arrived at a piece of land with vast trees and as I got out of the truck and tuned into my shifter senses, I found that no one was around. No scents of humans—and only the lingering smells of shifters who had long gone.

I took off my shirt and readied for the shift. My other half was ready to go, not only to get some exercise but to see Zion in his bear form. But Zion wasn't moving. Hadn't even taken off his shoes.

"You aren't shifting?" I asked, confused. I thought that was the purpose in coming here.

"I am. I…thought I would wait until you shifted first."

My nose picked up some fear. Not fear of me, but it made the air a tad tangy. I could taste it in my mouth. "Is something wrong?" I asked and stepped toward him. He watched my every move, and I couldn't help but notice how his eyes dipped to my exposed torso and then lower. I really shouldn't love his eyes on me as much as I did.

Zion didn't belong to me.

"I'm…" He shrugged and made a gesture toward his body. "I'm probably not like other alphas you've seen."

This adorable man. He wasn't all abs and pecs like some alphas. He clearly didn't spend the hours in the gym Derek had, though I'd suspected for a long time that only a fraction of that time was actually spent on muscle building or even being at the gym.

Zion was different and, yet, it took nothing away from his sexiness. He had a dad bod. He wouldn't be the kind to try and limit his carbs or only make desserts on cheat day. I bet he gave incredible hugs and kept an omega warm at night. To think that anyone on this planet had made him feel like less than one of the most attractive men I'd ever met was a crime.

Now to tell him that without giving him the wrong idea.

"Zion, trust me when I say that there's nothing wrong with your body. You are sweet and kind and so giving and loving. And I bet you would be amazing to cuddle up with."

Yeah, that wasn't the thing to say. In fact, hearing those words come out of my mouth made the truth more evident. I wanted to snuggle up with him. I wanted to be in his arms on a cold night. I wanted to lie next to that big ol' teddy bear and snack and watch movies and talk until the wee hours.

He smiled softly. "Thank you."

Though I'd encouraged him, I went ahead and took off my shorts and shifted, giving him a bit of privacy. After all, this was a friendly run.

My hedgehog vibrated with the power shift once his bear was out. Any bear would've been big compared to my little animal, but Zion was huge. I gave chase, wondering if he would leave me in the dirt—bears are much faster than hedgehogs, after all. Even the shifter variety. But he matched me, staying just out of reach. We barreled through the woods for hours and after a while, he stopped and lay down, encouraging me with his nose and several huffs of hot air to get onto his back.

The real fun began at that point.

He moved so gracefully for such a majestic animal, and I never felt unsafe. Weaving through trees and under branches, he made sure that his back was steady so I didn't fall or lose my own balance.

This alpha cared for others so well.

It was a shame he had no one to care for him in the same way. Someone to shower him with all the love he poured into everyone else. Someone to fill his cup.

Once we shifted back, we dressed, and got in the car. We stopped along the way for a snack and had a really nice time, parting at the side-by-side staircases to our apartments.

When I reached my door and was pulling my keys out of my pocket, I realized that somewhere along the way, my animal had bonded to Zion. He did it without warning and certainly without my permission.

This couldn't continue.

I was stringing this man along with promises of friendship and probably stopping him from pursuing other omegas. Any omega would be lucky as hell to have Zion as an alpha.

They would be treated like a king.

I decided that night to stop accepting gifts from the hot neighbor alpha and put an end to this charade.

It wasn't fair to him.

And the more I let myself give in to these moments, the more I wanted him.

Being around this beautiful man crumbled my resolve to stay away from any alpha. No matter how much I wanted him.