After

Dan couldn't believe what had just happened.

When had he ever lost his mind like this? Looking at the limp, shuddering wolf in his arms, Dan felt painfully aroused. Charlie had looked beautiful when he came, face wrecked with pleasure...

He felt disgusted with himself. Where had his restraint and self-control gone? And just what had happened to his pack earlier? He remembered Ronan talking about an omega's powers...

Suddenly he felt Charlie move and twist around in his lap. Those gorgeous eyes looked up at his, no longer glazed over - now they glinted mischievously again. Dan swallowed.

Charlie slid down until his nose was level with Dan's crotch. He nuzzled into the larger man's erection, his pink, wet tongue darting out to lick him though the rough fabric. Damn, if that simple action didn't feel far better than anything he remembered doing before. His mind threatened to go blank.

"Stop," he croaked, voice breaking. He blinked, trying to clear his head.

"Stop, Charlie," he said more firmly, pulling the young man upright. Now he was splayed across Dan's lap, and the older wolf wasn't entirely sure that was an improvement.

Charlie looked confused.

"You're... I mean, If you're feeling better, we should shift. Shape-shift, I mean. Uh, you want to catch the sunrise, right? I know a great spot."

The sunrise was still hours away.

Charlie watched him, head cocked to the side. Then he pulled away and morphed, forcing Dan to hurry to follow him.

In wolf-shape all his worries fell away. Everything focused down on the moonlit world around them, the rustle of leaves, the soft padding of paws on dirt.

Dan wanted to show Charlie around every inch of this beautiful place. He had often come here to explore and climb the smaller sandstone formations as a kid.

Just before sunrise, he climbed up onto a tilted sandstone ledge, claws scraping against the rough surface. They were both spent from running and a comfortable give and take, follow and lead atmosphere had formed between them.

The two wolves sat side by side as the sky turned pink and purple and pale yellow rays illuminated the huge orange sandstone formations scattered though the landscape around them. They were so bright and looked improbable - how could they be turned on their edges like that?

It was no wonder they had named this place the Garden of the Gods.

Finally, after the sun was hovering above the edge of the horizon and the sky had turned robin's egg blue, they headed back down to the car and shifted back.

"Come on. Let's get some breakfast. I know a good place that's almost on the way." Dan said, pulling on his damp clothes.

As they were driving Kit burnt to ask all the questions he should have asked earlier - had he not been so preoccupied.

"Look, what happened back there?" he started.

Why was Ronan acting like you planned it? How come you weren't affected?

"Well... the thing is, we think you might be an omega werewolf. Have you heard of it? Seems like they are rarer than beta or alpha werewolves, but can...affect them? At the full moon?"

"So why were you so unaffected?"

"I wouldn't say unaffected. But for one thing, I'm a beta."

"So's Morgan, and he still turned into a wolf and chased us."

"Good point. The truth is..." he stared silently at the road, jaw working. "You know I used to be in the Army? With Ronan?"

"Heard it mentioned."

"Right. Well, just before I was discharged, I got wounded. It was near the dark of the moon, my reflexes were too slow, and I got hit in the face with shrapnel from a landmine."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. Could have been a lot worse though. Nearly lost an eye, cracked my cheekbone, sinuses caved in. Plastic surgeons did a great job patching me up and now there are barely any scars.

"But what it did do was take out most of my nose and olfactory system. Werewolf healing can speed up formation of scar tissue. Not grow back lost tissue."

"So basically...you got no sense of smell?" As he said it, the implications dawned on Kit. Scent was one of the most important senses for a wolf.

"I can smell a bit. And I can taste. But yeah, basically, I can't smell, for better or worse. I've learnt to cope with it."

"But what does that have to do with - oh. You think my scent did that? Affected them like that?"

"I'm sure that your scent changed. That much I could tell. So yeah, that's what I think. We can ask Ronan about it. But for now... How about some pancakes? This is the place I was telling you about."

It turned out to be the diner beside Marvin's. It was called Marie's. Dan let the way towards the diner, pushing the door open for Kit and then steering him past a scattering of small plastic tables towards a counter and a large glass display-case.

"So - what are you in the mood for? Key-lime pie, toffee-pecan pie, their famous chocolate truffle pie, maybe a good old fashioned apple pie?"

"Is this a pie place?"

"They also do a mean pancake stack. And hash browns. But yeah, most people come here for the pie. Don't say you're not tempted."

Kit was having a hard time tearing his eyes away from that glass case and all those colourful plump pies topped with whipped cream, puff pastry, and candied cherries.

"I'll have the Chocolate Truffle, then."

"And I'll have to go with the Apple," Dan said, handing the cashier a few bills. "And two pancake stacks. My treat, Charlie."

They took a seat in one of several retro-style booths lined up against one wall, Kit sinking into the worn faux leather.

Dan slid Kit's food over to him together with a fork and napkin. Just looking at it made his mouth water...and the scent...

Kit dug in, taking big bites and chewing slowly, licking his fork, eyes closed. Glancing up at Dan he saw the taller man trying to repress a smile, watching him with a piece of pie halfway to his own mouth. Kit swallowed.

Dan's brow creased. He looked solemn. Then he nodded to himself.

"Charlie..." he said quietly. "May I tell you about my pack?"

The boy nodded. He focused his senses on the tall man in front of him. Whatever this was...it was serious.

"Three years ago, I was still in the army, and Ronan was my Sergeant," Dan began.

"My grandfather was the Alpha of this pack, and my father was his Beta. Morgan's parents were members as well. After I got wounded, just as I was recovering in the hospital - they had flown me back to the states and Ronan was there too, on leave - Darren called my cell. It had been turned off for days while I was in surgery.

"He told me that a pack of rouges had come out of the mountains and challenged our grandfather. They killed him and then...then they killed everyone else. Everyone. All the werewolves in town except Morgan, who was only 15.

"This whole town was full of us, mostly relatives, and then in one day... In one single day, so many were just gone.

"Darren had been out hunting when they came and managed to hide out in the woods but there was nothing he could do against so many. Nothing but wait. Alone in the woods not knowing who was dead and what was happening, for days.

"He could only streak around, listening to them, smelling their scents together with Morgan's."

Dan's eyes closed briefly, the tiny muscles around his mouth tightening before he sighed and continued.

"When I finally picked up the phone, he didn't sound quite like the little brother I remembered. Our relationship had been strained for years, ever since I joined the army and left him here to take over our father's auto shop, but this was different. He told me what happened. I came as fast as I could, and Ronan came with me.

"Together we killed half of them, and the rest scattered. Morgan is still shaken up about it... I think Darren is too, to be honest. He won't talk about it. After that I became Ronan's Beta and we both stayed here."

Kit ate another forkful of pie, pondering what he had just heard. Later he would have to think about it properly - but right now, he felt like cheering Dan up. The way his face had looked telling this story made the omega's insides twist in a painful way.

He realised that Dan also knew what it was like to lose the most important people in his life.

Stop it. Don't think about that.

"You know, you're a bit like Apple Pie, Dan," he said, licking his lips and pointing his fork at him, teasing.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Good old-fashioned Apple Pie... warm, comfortable, all-american."

Dan snorted. "And gay and a werewolf. But in that case... you are a bit like that Chocolate Truffle Pie, Charlie."

"Go on. Tell me why."

"Smooth and seductive."

Kit choked. "Pfft! What're you on about?"

"Not as obvious as the other pies in the case, maybe. But when you get closer, get a hint of the scent, maybe take a bite...you realise why it's the pie this place is famous for."

Kit looked away, running a hand through the curls at the nape of his neck. He cleared his throat.

His desire for Dan kept growing stronger. He was definitely flirting there, right?

If I invited him to follow me to the bathroom right now, would he come?

No, Kit had to let go of that idea almost immediately. He was certain Dan was not the type of guy to agree to a quickie in the bathroom of a family diner. More was the pity.

It was a bad idea to get close to Dan, with his warm brown eyes... Kit could get into a lot of trouble over those eyes.

Fuck. It was difficult to remember why he had to stay away from the other man, when he looked at him with that soft expression. But he had to control himself - because Dan was like that Apple Pie, whatever he said. Wholesome, and...good. Kind. Not messed up and tainted like Kit.

Sleep with him, yes. Swoon over him, no. Dan was a cop. He would probably turn him in if he a tenth of the things Kit had done.

"Hey, Dan... This - " he waved a hand slightly in the air between them, "This isn't a date, right? "

He articulated the words softly, looking down, then up again with a twisted half-smile.

"'Cause I don't do dates."

Dan raised one eyebrow. "You don't date? You've propositioned me - blatantly - at least twice in the two weeks I've known you."

"That was fine. That was - not dating."

Both of Dan's eyebrows shot up.

"Finished?" he asked, and Kit wasn't sure he was talking about the pie, but he nodded anyway.

Dan shook his head, trying to clear it. He had to sort out his own feelings. What did he know about Charlie? And what did he want from him?

He knew that he was brave and strong. He knew that he had come through a terrifying and painful experience smiling, jesting, and caring for others. Charlie had faced Ronan without fear, soothed Morgan when he was anxious, spoken unashamedly about his traumatic past.

Then he had taunted Darren, had drank like a man who's trying to drown his sorrows or his memories, and had kissed Dan desperately. His heartbeat sped up at the memory.

Charlie was trouble, that much was clear. A glorious train wreck, and Dan should stay away from him...but he didn't want to. He didn't intend to.

The Beta made up his mind. He knew enough. Dan knew that he had never felt like this before. At the end of the day, that was enough. Uncertainty fled - he felt sure of what he had to do.

On some level, he had realised it in the truck, after he decided to tell Charlie the truth about his pack and its past. Dan was falling for the younger man - hard and fast.

He hadn't planned it.

Nonetheless, Dan had felt drawn to him from the start. To his vulnerability and grit and devil-may-care attitude. Then to his raspy laugh and sharp banter and his face undone with pleasure. The small wolf lit some kind of fire in Dan, and he was tired of holding it back.

There was nothing else for it - he had to ask him out.

So when Charlie rounded on him as he stooped to unlock his car door, one hand against Dan's chest pushing him back until he felt the shiny metal press into his legs, he let go.

Dan kissed him. Charlie's lips lifted eagerly to meet his and Dan sank into them, groaning softly, moving across their velvety softness. He slid his tongue over Charlie's bottom lip and felt his answering moan vibrate though his own mouth. Dan swallowed it down, deepening the kiss.

He slammed Charlie against the side of the truck and lifted him up, fingers digging into the soft, smooth skin above his hips. Breathing through gritted teeth, his head bent, he tried to control his body and force his canines to retract.

Dan was going insane; his head was swimming and he was hard, erection pushing against the front of his jeans, and the cheeky pup had done nothing but kiss him. In a public parking lot.

Charlie laughed quietly in his ear, wrapping his strong slim legs around Dan to pull him closer, his deft fingers stroking the back of Dan's neck, underneath his hair. He kissed down the side of the older man's throat, teeth scraping across his Adam's apple, making him gasp.

One hand hooked a finger into the waistband of his jeans, teasing, while Charlie's lips came up to hover just above his.

"C'mon, Dan - fuck me," he whispered, hazel eyes serious.

Dan swallowed. Every fiber of his being wanted to rip off Charlie's pants and take him right there against the car, but why?

He wasn't an alpha werewolf drawn to an omega's pheromones... So how did this boy manage to drive him so crazy?

His hand dropped down on top of Charlie's, pulling the younger man's fingers out of his jeans. With his other hand he pushed against his narrow chest, looking straight into his eyes.

"When you say that you will date me - me, and only me - then I'll sleep with you. I'll fuck you within an inch of your life it you want me to, but only once you say you'll be mine. I don't mess around."

An astonished look crossed Charlie's face - followed by a microsecond expression of fear that he quickly masked by scoffing. But Dan could see it. He could see through the mask now, could spot a few of the I-don't-lie-I-just-don't-say-what-I-mean misdirections.

"...I don't date, Dan. I'm leaving."

"Then I won't take you to bed. I'm not for you to use, Charlie. But you should know - just know - that I would like to take you out. Should you ever change your mind."

And Dan knew, knew in his being, that the reason he couldn't keep his composure around him wasn't because he was an omega. It was just because he was Charlie.

Beautiful, charming, sharp, cheeky, strong... He was attractive in every way.

It would not be easy to make him change his mind about sticking around. But Dan knew he would have to give it his best shot. Because whether he'd planned it or not...his heart was already very much on the line.