6. Courting Axel

After our first magnificent date, I was unsure if there was anything Axel could do to better the experience. Apparently, I was wrong.

My date had been simple in its premise, yet it garnered results far beyond what I could have hoped for. Axel’s date was far more traditional as modern dating practices went.

The problem with trying to plan dates was we were limited to things we could do on the pack lands. No one wanted a vulnerable beta like Axel to be off pack lands without guards, and dates were difficult to have with an entourage.

Luckily, Axel knew the pack lands well and knew their secrets.

“First, we are going to go bowling,” Axel said enthusiastically.

“Bowling?”

“Here, watch this.” Axel showed me a video on his phone of a ball being rolled to knock down things.

“Those are the pins. There’s ten of them. The aim is to knock as many down as you can in one go. You get points for each one, then the person with the most at the end, wins. Simple, right?”

This was the most animated I had seen Axel since he had awoken. The joy that lit his face was infectious. I wanted to experience this game for myself if even the thought of playing it made Axel so happy.

“But the pack cannot have somewhere to play this bowling here, can it?”

If I had thought Axel was shining brightly before, he was incandescent then. “You’ve clearly not explored the community center!” He reached a hand out for mine. “Come on!”

I followed him through the pack lands from the main house where we had eaten dinner with the Alpha, Alpha Mate, and the rest of the pack.

“Because I’m a beta, this area is open to me. This is where all the unmated omegas live. We call it the omega compound. Since I don’t get the same urges as alphas do when they catch the scent of an omega in heat, I’m not a danger to them. Neither are you, but I got permission for us to be here just in case any were wary.”

Axel was so thoughtful. He had such a beautiful soul.

“What else is there? You mentioned a community center?”

“Well, it’s sad. A lot of the omegas have had run-ins with alphas in their past. They are understandably cautious. Here they get the help they need to overcome that trauma, as well as assistance with raising any pups, or just making it through the day.” A troubled look passed over his face. “There’s a school because some don’t trust humans much either and would prefer to educate their kids at home. Honestly, it’s safer for the pups not to leave the compound until they are older and can control their shifts better.”

“The school is where Jasper teaches?”

“That’s right. Well, it isn’t just a school, a daycare, a hub for them to eat as a community. There’s also a pool, a mini bowling alley, where we are going, a little theater so the kids can watch movies, which we can do after we play. They also have sports facilities. It was one of the things my uncle did right after my dad died. Couldn’t manage the factory correctly, but he did right by the omegas.”

Axel was usually reticent about his family outside of his brothers, so I took that nugget of information to discuss it with Dakota and Jasper at a later date. I wanted to know everything about Axel, just not at the expense of his happiness. His expression had soured at the brief mention of his uncle and father, so I knew there were issues there.

“I feel honored to be allowed into their sanctuary.”

He beamed at me. “It should be set up for us and we should get it to ourselves.” His smile turned sheepish. “Just be prepared for the kids to be nosy.”

I tried to reassure him with a squeeze of his hand. Axel’s need for touch was charming. “I will. Children are a joy. I don’t mind if they watch us.”

Following Axel, I entered the compound within a compound. It wasn’t an area I had much of a reason to visit before. Usually the omegas with beta children came to the clinic for treatment. I was sure as a mated male, the alpha doctor, Aldrin, had permission to enter this area frequently. However, it would be better for most to be seen at the clinic where the correct facilities were held.

The building was rather nondescript. Functional. Utilitarian at first glance, until, that was, you moved closer and could look inside. The interior was so colorful; it was an assault for the eyes. Every wall was a different color than the last, all of them covered in murals or art clearly drawn by children. It was so endearing. Every surface of an otherwise plain building showcased the love the shifters had for their young.

We passed many rooms, and though Axel explained the purpose of each, all I could focus on was his fine form. He was dressed in denim, showcasing his lean form. Tight black jeans wrapped around his long legs. He wore a black long-sleeved denim shirt over a band tee he had explained the name of, but I had forgotten.

Next to him, my forest green linen tunic and matching leggings were boring.

“Axel, would you assist me with buying more human-like clothing? I fear I stand out in a bad way, not just with the hair and ears, but the way I dress. Blending in more would be useful, would it not?”

His smile was wry. “It would. We don’t even have to leave the compound to update your wardrobe a little. If you come to my office tomorrow, me and Dalton, my assistant, can do some online shopping with you.”

“Thank you. I have gems and gold to pay,” I said softly, aware that these things could be costly and it was rumored the pack was not wealthy. They were just coming out of a time of hardship. Blake’s leadership had done much, not just for the morale of the pack, but for its finances.

“That won’t be a problem.” Axel smiled easily. “The council is covering your expenses here. That includes a stipend for clothing. I think it is a payment for the services you are all providing by trying to find out what caused the beta sickness.”

“Ah, well, it would be… nice to fit in better. Perhaps I should cut my hair?”

“What?” Axel rounded on me. “Absolutely not!” he cried angrily. His objection was amusing as much as it flattered my vanity. I would have hated to cut my hair. He taught a tendril and gave it a playful yank. “I love your hair. It’s so silky.”

Goddess, I wanted to pull him close to me, to claim his mouth with another kiss. Since our last date, he was all I could think of, his taste, his touch, the feel of his skin under my fingers.

“Thank you.” I could feel a blush heating my cheeks.

He paused next to a door. “We’re here.”

The room we entered had slick wooden floors set up in lanes like the video Axel showed me. There were racks of brightly colored balls and stark white pins standing at the end waiting to be knocked down. Above each section was an electronic scoreboard.

“Come on, you’ve got to wear special shoes.”

With efficient movements that suggested he had done this many times before, Axel got me into the ridiculous shoes for the bowling alley and demonstrated how to hold then roll the ball down the lane. It was clear he was attempting to take it easy on me. He just forgot I was a being who had been alive for many hundreds of human years.

“You’re a natural!” he exclaimed after I managed another strike.

“We’re evenly matched.”

“Hmm, I’ve been taking it easy on you,” he admitted, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck as he surveyed the scoreboard. I couldn’t resist my smile. “It’s time the kid gloves come off!” I didn’t understand the saying. Human idioms were difficult to pick up, but I understood the implication.

“Shall we make a wager?” I suggested.

“A bet?”

“Yes. Should I win, I would like you in my bed for the night.”

Axel’s throat bobbed as he swallowed heavily. “And if I win…”

“What would you like, dear one?”

“I… I’m not sure yet.”

That did not appear to be the entire truth. Though I wanted to push, I decided to let Axel tell me when he was ready. He was suddenly skittish. Had I been too forward?

“Axel?” His eyes met mine. “Even if I win, I will not hold you to the terms of a bet if you aren’t ready.”

He took a deep breath and laughed as he exhaled it. “I was just wondering if I could fake losing without it being too obvious.”

A chuckle broke free. This man was too adorable for words.

“We could just call it quits now. Is that how the saying goes?”

“It is, and we could, but I have a movie planned for after. Call it edging.”

“Edging?”

Slowly, we gravitated towards each other. His breath washed over my face. We were so close. I wanted to lean in and capture a kiss.

“Axel!” a child’s cry broke the spell. We jumped apart.

My companion laughed. “Hey little dude. We have the bowling alley for a little longer, then you can play, okay?” Axel whispered to me. “He’s one of the kids who lives here. His mom is Cadence.”

I had not met that omega. Leaning down, I addressed the small child. Ages were difficult, particularly with shifters. Their babies grew quickly until they could walk in human form, then slowed to a more human-like rate.

“Would you like to watch us play?”

The child just stared at me open mouthed until he caught Axel laughing. “You’re an elf!”

It was my turn to laugh. “I am. We came here to help shifters. I won’t harm you. Are you a wolf shifter like Axel?”

“No, I’m a raccoon!”

“Oh, well, that is delightful. I’d like to see your alter one day.”

“I can shift now!” He began to peel himself out of his clothes.

“Riff, no!” Axel darted forward to stop the boy. “We are on a date. This is adult time. Teárlach would love to see your raccoon, but another time, okay?” Axel was adorable with the boy. Firm, but fair. I believed he would make a great parent.

“But…” Riff looked upset and needed soothing. Axel righted the boy’s clothes and smoothed his ruffled hair.

“No, Axel is quite right.” I squatted down to get on eye level with the sweet child. I hated to see him sad when he had been so excited. “We need someone to make sure there is no cheating on our game.”

Axel looked at me with fondness. Perhaps showing my parental side would demonstrate my ability to be a suitable partner for the wolf. What I wanted from Axel was no short-term fling. He was all I could think about.

“I’ll do it!” Riff immediately cheered, earning a smile from Axel.

“Okay, Riff. It’s important if you find the elf cheating, you say it out loud, okay?”

“And if you cheat, Axel,” Riff said in a very adult voice.

My laugh was loud, startling us all. “Yes, Riff,” I chuckled. “You tell me if Axel cheats.”

Was I imagining the heat behind Axel’s gaze as we played out the last few turns?

He brushed by me to collect his last ball. “Once I get a strike, I win.”

“And if you win?” I whispered, aware of the child watching us avidly.

“Then I’m taking you to my bed.”

Axel was smug as he hit the final strike to win the game.