Into the Shadows MxM

Chapter 9

As usual, mostlt unedited

I didn't want to extend this chapter into the last  chapter. I wanted to highlight it as it's own and not feel restricted by the length.

Chapter 9

Over the next weeks, Emery drops Julian off at training every other day. Julian has quickly caught up. It really was like riding a bike for him. But looking back, he had grown up learning this stuff almost every day. And during his hostage, while he wasn't able to train, he still had found ways to keep up his mucscle tone and practice in the quiet of his shared room at night.

Xavier wasn't always at training. When he was, Julian could feel his eyes on him everywhere he went. It was unsettling at first. Julian felt like he couldn't make any mistakes. But, by the second week, Julian had grown used to it. In fact, he enjoyed catching his stare. Julian would catch his mate off guard, which meant that he was able to get glimpses of Xavier's unguarded emotions that would flite across his face. He's come to find that you have to be quick to notice them. But over the last month or so, Julian has learned the subtleness of Xavier's movements and emotions.

He had become good at reading people as a survival instinct. In any conversation, he's able to understand hidden words from others just by their body language. It's the reason Julian has come to concluded that Xavier does find him attractive.

He'll catch Xavier starring, and once he's realized his mate actually is attracted to him, he's been slyly teasing him. He's come to conclude that his mate doesn't like it when other people touch him or he to others. So occasionally, when Xavier is pissing him off, he'll put a gentle hand on Michael's shoulder, who has caught on to the game and plays along with an arm around Julian's shoulders.

Today is no different. He sits around the mat, watching the last pair spar. When the guy taps out and the lady wins, Michael calls for everyone to gather up.

"Great job everyone! For cool down today, we'll stretch for 10 and then you're free."

Everyone splits into their cliques. Julian starts to stretch by himself. While he had become acquainted with several people, he wouldn't say he has any friends apart from Charlotte and maybe Michael. But Charlotte was called out to a different pack with confidential information and Michael walks amongts the group helping people. He is left to sit secluded as he stretches.

He isn't left alone long when a male alpha and two betas make their way over to him and begin to stretch in the circle they created with him. The alpha sits next to him.

"So, you're the latest talk of the town,
" the alpha grins at Julian as he leans in towards him. "Haven't come to a training in a while and wanted to see what all the chatter was about."

One of the beta girls rolls her eyes and chucks her water bottle at the alpha. "Knock it off."

"What?" The alpha grins as he leans closer to Julian. "Is it bad to say when he meets expectations. I like what I see."

A shudder runs down his spin as he tries to lean away from the dude by starting a new stretch. He doesn't want to get up and draw attention to himself. He chuckles a little as he mutters a quick, "thanks. . . I guess."

The alpha doesn't catch a hint as he slides closer to Julian. He tenses a little as he moves his leg that the alpha had placed his own leg right up against. Hasn't this dude ever heard of personnel space? Apparently not, as he leans into Julian more. Next thing he knows, the creep is behind him.

"I can help you stretch," he practically whispers into Julian's neck. A cold shiver runs through him as his whole body stiffens.

"Dingus, he doesn't want you." The girl snaps as she watches the alpha and Julian with a grimace.