Ezra's Winner

Fifteen

Ezra's POV

"Glad your back, Lucien was getting on everyone's ass." Tyler plopped down on the leather chair in my office and smiled. Damon was right behind him. "No offense," He quickly added.

"He had our lycans front for a few hours of the day, and said something about whipping them into shape," Damon said.

"Oh shit, yeah guys I'm sorry, he's been on edge recently, and I don't know why." I shrugged and sighed.

"So, you're here for how much longer?" Tyler asked as he swung his legs over the arm of the chair making himself comfortable.

"Five days,"

I hated how fast this week was going. It meant less and less time with Kenai. And now that I recognized that I had developed feelings for him in a way I never expected it was hard. It was hard because I was fighting an internal battle with myself. I told myself and Lucien that I would protect us and that meant being far away from anything that would give us pain.

Yet here I am falling for a straight guy. Our friend. Who is helping me out of the kindness of his heart? This was all kinds of fucked up.

It was also hard because no matter the fact I knew I should run away and not be near him, I couldn't. I liked his presence too much. I liked having him talk to me too much. 

Lucien wasn't helping either, it was making things worse actually. Ever since my admission, he just vanished. I thought it was because he had been tired from fronting for so long, longer than he'd ever done. But I could feel him in the back, lurking and watching. 

The past few days I was with Kenai. Our lessons had resumed and Lucien seemed a bit more intrigued with Kenai and how he behaved. I could see Lucien right on the edge and he growled every once in a while. Not at more or him, but at Kenai's Lycan--Armand.

I knew there was history there. Lucien wouldn't tell me and I can only assume Kenai didn't know either. Either way, it was getting bad. For me.

We fell into a routine. And I am a sucker for routines. Routines are the best thing this world has ever created. It's all my favorite things. Structure, stability, and consistency are all wrapped up in one thing. And fuck, Kenai and I had a damn routine.

In the morning we would meet and I would practice my speaking skills. Then Kenai and I would walk to our usual dining spot and Kenai would order me something new to try. We would smoke a cigar while we waited for food. Our conversation flowed effortlessly and we talked about everything under the sun. 

I had been spending most of my day with him. Only then coming to the office to work all night, go to sleep, then wake up to see him again.

My phone has been full of texts and missed calls from Liam, Milo, and Whitney. Asking about what happened with Ashton and why he disappeared. It only means that he hasn't left his house since our argument. 

There were times when I wanted to answer the phone and give them the answer they desperately desired...but I couldn't, not without feeling that pain rise within me again. I wasn't ready to talk about it to them. Not yet.

"So, what are we going to do about Donnie while you're gone?" Tyler asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"He's also been asking about you...a lot. Seems Alpha Lucien didn't inform Donnie of your...vacation." Damon said.

Lucien only shrugged as if what he did wasn't rude and disrespectful. I groaned and leaned back in my chair. I didn't know what to do about Donnie. I mean, our nuptials were still planned and yes, it was a dick move for me to take him out and then ghost him. Even if it wasn't intentional. I just...