☽ Howl ☾ [ SOLBY AU ] ✔

☽ 32 ☾

"every wound will shape me
every scar will build me
THRONE"

☙☽🐺☾❧

"Come with us to the apartment complex, Jake," Colby folded his arms across his chest and peered down at his sick friend, watching as her chest rose softly and slowly in deep slumber. Despite the pale complexation on Tara's skin, she appeared so peaceful. Colby refused to look up into the eyes of his Beta, for he did not want to see the pain that was surely going to be there, "Get some air with us. Luna and Axelle will watch her and call me if anything changes."

Jake wrapped his arms tightly around Tara, eyes red and tired, and the thin trickling of a beard on his chin from the lack of his own personal self-care. His eyebrows furrowed together and Colby was glad to see that he actually tried to think about it.

"You need the break, Jake," Colby unfolded his arms, raising his gaze of Jake's, and extended his arm out to the Beta, "Please?"

Jake stared up at him with sad eyes, glazed and blood-shot. If Jake did come along and the relator asked questions about his physical state, Colby had already come up with a plan to say he had lost his pet dog or something died. Better than the alternative that Jake was on drugs or some other substance.

Suddenly, Jake stood up, grabbed Colby's arm and held it tightly. An action meant to show gratitude and strength.

"Yes, I think that would be good," his voice was rough and dull and mono-toned.

Colby smiled brightly in encouragement, "Let's go, then. The pack is outside in our cars."

☙☽🐺☾❧

They arrived at their possibly new apartment complex later that afternoon, meeting up with the realtor who smiled so brightly at them that it made Colby slightly unnerved. She folded her arms across her chest with her clipboard and phone and stared at Colby the most with bright hazel eyes. All Colby could think was that maybe she was trying to figure out where she had seen them before. He was pretty used to that look on people's faces: either they outright knew him or they had seen his face from possibly appearing on their suggested on YouTube. Yet, that smile, all teeth and tongue! Colby felt like prey underneath it.

"Mr. Brock, I assumed?" she raised her hand from her chest towards him.

He placed his "Colby Brock, YouTuber" face on and extended his hand, shaking it. The smell of flowers flooded his heightened werewolf senses and he listened closely to her heartbeat-- it was steady. Instead, he nodded with his own smile, "Yes."

"Here to check out apartments 689 through 693, correct?" she looked down at the clipboard in her hand.

"Yep!" he agreed quickly.

"Alright, follow me, gentlemen," she turned on the ball of her feet and made her way to the elevator, "We'll do a room tour first and then I can show you the rest of the amazing features we have to offer here."

"Sounds great," Colby nodded, before turning to his pack and motioning them forward.

Aaron and Jake (with his head bowed) walked forward behind the lady with Corey and Elton and, lastly, Colby and Sam brought up the rear. While Corey and Elton were handsy with each other, Colby kept a few inches between him and Sam. He had no idea who this lady was and he didn't want her to think anything about him and Sam, if she did know who they were. Neither Alpha or Omega were quite ready to let the world know... if they were even going to do that in the first place. They had agreed to continue to simply be Sam and Colby, the infamous best friend duo on YouTube.

Are you doing okay, Jake? Colby asked through their mental link as they entered the elevator, crowding near each other in the small car.

Jake was standing behind Colby and, slowly, leaned forward to place his forehead against Colby's shoulder blades for a few seconds before leaning backwards against the wall of elevator.