Only Angel 2 [h.s] AU

Amongst wolves

Harry's POV
Seattle.

The smell of espresso hit me before consciousness did.

Sharp. Bitter. Unwelcome.

I peeled one eye open and groaned. My mouth tasted like ash and regret. My skull throbbed in protest. I didn't need a clock to know I'd overslept — the sun was already slicing through the penthouse windows, too loud for this kind of morning.

Somewhere in the kitchen, the espresso machine hissed violently. Steam coughed from the spout like it had something to say about the state of my life.

Elija.

Of course.

I dragged myself up, wincing at the weight in my limbs, the scent of last night still thick in the air — weed, whiskey, and something more dangerous just beneath the surface. I ran a hand through my hair and walked barefoot across the cold floor, each step a quiet act of punishment.

There he was. Shirtless. Grinning. Moving around my kitchen like it belonged to him. Eyes bloodshot, nostrils slightly raw. And yet, somehow, he looked fucking energized — like making espresso at nine in the morning after a night of debauchery was part of some new health regime.

"You look like shit," he said, sliding a tiny white cup toward me like he was doing me a favor.

"I feel like it," I muttered, wrapping my fingers around the cup but not drinking. Just letting it burn my palm like I deserved it.

He sat back down on the leather couch, the same one he was sprawled across hours ago, when Hotel California was bleeding through the speakers and we'd both pretended the past wasn't something we were running from.

I checked my phone.

Still nothing.

No messages. No missed calls. Not from her.

But that's on me, isn't it?

It's not like she owed me a text. She was probably better off without one. I had nothing to offer her but silence, and even that was starting to feel like a lie I was telling myself to stay in control.

"What you got for today?" Elija asked, stretching like a fucking cat. "Thought you said something about board stuff."

I took a sip of the espresso. It was too strong. I swallowed it anyway. "I'm expected," I said flatly.

He laughed. "Thrilling." I didn't answer. Just turned toward the windows, watching the city move without me.

The shower was quick. Hot. Too hot. I stood there longer than necessary, hoping steam would scrub last night off my skin. It didn't.

My head throbbed as I dressed — dark slacks, white shirt, no tie. I slipped on my watch, adjusted the cuffs. There it was again. That tight feeling in my chest. Like something was about to go wrong, or had already, and I was the last to know.

By the time I stepped out of my building and into the car, my mouth was dry again, the city far too loud. I didn't even notice if Elija said goodbye. Didn't matter. He'd be there when I got back. He always was.

The driver didn't say a word. Just nodded when I got in.

Fine by me.

Because whatever peace I'd tried to carve out for myself last night had long evaporated — and whatever silence I thought I needed, wasn't quiet anymore.

It was just empty.

And I was late.

____

The car pulled up in front of Fox Enterprises — a monolith of glass and steel that might as well have been carved from every expectation I'd never asked for.