𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 || 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐊𝐰𝐚𝐧

Chapter 30

Seungkwan followed Vernon into the packhouse. He couldn’t decide how he felt about being there. When he’d left the day before, it had been with the certainty that he wouldn’t be back. And yet, there he was.

Duke was the first to greet them, a sheepish grin on his face.

“I hear I really put my foot in it,” he said, nodding to Vernon. “I’m sorry, Kwan. I know that wasn’t how Vernon wanted you to find out. I got a bit carried away.”

“That’s okay,” Seungkwan told him. “I get it.”

“Zane’s making the popcorn. He’s afraid if he lets Seungcheol do it, it’ll end up on fire like last time.”

Seungkwan laughed, but he was the only one. “Seriously?”

“What can we say?” Vernon threw in. “The guy likes fire.”

He followed the alpha to the living room, where they kicked off their shoes and went to sit down.

“Where are the kids?” Seungkwan was surprised not to see any.

“Yuna, Nathan, and Eunbi volunteered to take kid duty this evening,” Joshua said. “We’ll probably have a cub or two down here at some point.”

“We switch it around,” Seokmin added, pulling the curtains and throwing the room into darkness. “Sometimes we watch a kid-friendly film, and everyone joins in. Otherwise, we take turns with the kids depending on who’s interested in whatever film we’re watching.”

That sounded more positive. So it wasn’t just the betas and Joshua being left with all the childcare.

“What are we watching tonight?” he asked, settling onto the couch next to Vernon.

Joshua curled up on the second couch, leaving space for Seokmin.

“It’s Seungcheol’s choice. Some secret agent action thriller with a side helping of romance. Lots of explosions,” Joshua said.

“I like explosions.”

“Great,” Vernon said, giving him a look. “But we have backups if you’d prefer to watch something else. Maybe take a look?”

“I’m sure whatever Seungcheol chose will be fine.”

“What if you’ve already seen it?” Vernon pressed.

Seungkwan wasn’t sure what he was getting so twisted up in knots about until the alpha said, “Or what if you know someone in it?”

“You mean, what if I’ve had a bad experience with someone who’s in it?” he said flatly.

“We just don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” Joshua said.

“I’m not made of glass,” he grumbled. “If I don’t want to watch the movie, I’ll leave. I won’t make you change your plans because of me.”

“That kind of takes away from the whole point of you spending time with the pack,” Seokmin pointed out.

Seungkwan felt like he was dealing with a posse of first-time directors. So anxious about doing a good job that they tried to micromanage every moment.

“It would really help if you could all relax a bit. I’m not going to decide whether I join the pack or not based on Seungcheol’s taste in movies.”

There was a stunned silence as Zane and Duke carried in bowls of popcorn.

“I should certainly hope not,” Zane said. “Seungcheol has terrible taste in films.”

“Hey, I heard that,” Seungcheol groused, following them in with stacks of glasses and cans of beer and soda.

“Good to know you’re not going deaf,” Zane said. “Doesn’t make it any less true.”

He grinned at Seungkwan, and Seungkwan smiled back, relaxing a little. That was what he needed, people at ease, happy to joke and insult each other. Not walking on eggshells around him, afraid the wrong word might set him off.

The others grabbed seats around the room. Duke sat on the couch to Seungkwan’s right, next to Joshua. Zane and Seungcheol settled on the floor in front of Vernon and Seungkwan. They turned the lights down, passed around the drinks and popcorn, and sat back to watch. The first half-hour of the movie was engaging, full of excitement and explosions. And then it became a tense game of cat and mouse.

At some point, Seungkwan’s concentration broke, and he realized he was surrounded by virtual strangers, most of them alphas, all people with expectations of him. A panicky sensation started in his chest, like pins and needles. He glanced toward the door, but there were two people between him and the exit. His heart rate kicked up a notch. Next to him, Vernon shifted position, and Seungkwan could feel the alpha’s gaze on him.

Without Seungkwan saying anything, without Vernon uttering a word, the group around him moved. Seungcheol, who’d been sitting on the floor leaning back against the couch right next to Seungkwan, swapped places with Zane, and Duke moved to the other end of his couch, leaving Joshua next to Seungkwan. Their changing positions also left a clear path to the door. If he wanted to leave, there was no one in his way.

The anxiety in his chest eased, and Vernon leaned toward him, bumping his shoulder. Seungkwan noticed how the alpha didn’t put an arm around him, subtly ensuring that he didn’t feel trapped or confined. He slowly calmed down, seeing their reaction as more than proof of their sincerity. It was a clear sign of how close they all were with each other, and how in tune they were with him, that they hadn’t had to say a word. They knew instinctively what he needed, and they gave it to him.

Later, as he walked home with Vernon, the alpha’s arm around him, he brought it up. He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed that he’d panicked over watching a movie. But Vernon waved it off like it was no big deal.

“We’ve all had bad days,” he said. “Bad moments. Yours are no different.”

“You were in the army. You’ve seen war. I think that might be a little different.”

“Look at it this way,” Vernon said. “You’d do the same for me, right?”

“Of course.”

He felt better hearing it put like that, as if it was give and take. He didn’t want to be seen as the weak link, the one they had to tiptoe around for fear that he might break.

“Your pack is pretty awesome,” he told Vernon. He meant every word.

“Yeah, they are,” Vernon agreed with a grin. “And I’m glad you think so.”

Seungkwan woke alone in Vernon’s bed the next morning, finding a note from the alpha that he was at the packhouse, he’d be home soon, and that there was breakfast waiting for him in the kitchen. He sat up and stretched, welcoming the day.

He dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt and padded into the kitchen, smiling at the bowl of granola, milk, and honey set out on the table. He pulled out a chair, ready to sit down, when he heard the sound of a vehicle arriving. Vernon hadn’t said anything about a delivery, but maybe he’d forgotten. Breakfast would have to wait.

There was urgent knocking on the front door before he reached it.

“Coming,” he called, hurrying to open it. “Vernon’s not here—” He pulled the door open only to freeze halfway, spying a familiar and unwelcome face.

“Good,” Stewart said. “Wouldn’t want anyone interfering, would we, Thomas? You and I need to have a little talk.”