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Eddie’s truck kicked up dirt on the long road to the Pack House. He clenched the wheel, alternating between tensing and releasing his fingers. Christopher was in the backseat, just like he was the last time Eddie checked two minutes ago.
Eddie knew it was going to be an adjustment for them. The pack in El Paso had been all he’d known, a place where wolves lived quietly among humans, burying their instincts under years of tradition and Bureau regulations. His pack was one of the few packs without land, choosing to live in neighborhoods alongside humans. They were more human than wolf. Their traditions focused on blending in as much as possible, rejecting any hint of their “uncivilized” nature. Any wolf instincts were pushed so far down, it’s like they wanted to forget they were wolves at all.
Eddie understood, and a small part of him agreed. His parents spent the first ten minutes of his shifting lesson teaching him the basics of shifting, and then the next hour drilling into his head all the ways the Bureau will ruin his life if he messes up. He didn’t shift much after that. In fact, Eddie often forgot he was a wolf growing up. Those moments were fleeting, lasting until he opened his wallet and saw his pack registration card from the Bureau. Marking him as a wolf. Dangerous. Something that needs to have every move tracked and documented.
That card in his wallet is the only reason he even called Bobby and Athena. Eddie would have rather moved into the city, lived in a small house, and worked a normal, human job. But he couldn’t. Every wolf had to be registered to a pack under the Bureau of Wolven Affairs. Eddie was seeking change by moving to LA, and the most change he could get was registering with a new pack.
The Bureau accepted Eddie’s paperwork to register with Pack 118 last week. Eddie talked to Bobby on the phone in El Paso when he first put in a transfer request. Growing up, all Eddie heard about was how desolate and backwards society was on Pack Lands.
Eddie was willing to give it a chance, desperate to leave El Paso behind. He knew he would have to work hard to build a space for him and Chris in the new pack, to make do with what he was given.
He didn’t expect Bobby to tell him that Pack 118 lived on a massive piece of land managed by the Bureau in Angeles National Forest. Eddie heard nothing but pride in Bobby’s voice as he spoke about the many families in the pack and how it was growing every year. Eddie learned that the Pack Lands had homes, a Pack House, a school, and medical services. It’s not like the Bureau posted this information online for everyone to see. Pack information available to the public was rudimentary. He had no reason to question what he was told growing up.
The conflicting mindsets still sat uncomfortably with him as he drove through the Pack 118 lands, taking in the trees and mountains.
The rest of his conversation with Bobby centered around Eddie. Bobby asked about his son, his family, his traditions. Eddie told him about Shannon, about Chrisopher, about his time in the wolf regiment of the Army. He received an offer within an hour of hanging up.
Pack 118 seemed strong. Steady. It was exactly what he and Christopher needed. He kept telling himself that over and over again as he approached the Pack House. It was large, wooden, and practically glowing with warm light from each window.
This had to be right. This was their chance to start over.
—
Eddie fiddled with the keys to his new home. It was at the end of a long row of cabins. The space was small but perfect. Christopher had his own room, which he had immediately begun working on filling up. Eddie already unpacked his things in his room. It didn’t take long. Eddie only brought a single duffle bag.
Eddie and Christopher found their way to the Pack House at 6:00 PM on the dot for Pack dinner. It’ll help you and Christopher feel at home , Bobby had assured him. Eddie wasn’t so sure.
When he knocked on the door to the Pack House, he heard rustling and a loud voice.
“I’ll get it!” The door almost immediately swung open. The man in the door frowned, looking Eddie up and down. The man’s stature filled the door frame: broad shoulders, huge arms, and thick thighs. Eddie averted his gaze, compelled to look down. Eddie didn’t know what the man was expecting from him. Was there some wolf greeting he already fucked up?
The man looked him up and down once again before calling for Bobby inside. Bobby had a friendly smile on his face and kind eyes, in stark contrast to the man who greeted him.
“Eddie! Christopher! I am so glad you’re here.” They were led into the living space, where pack members were strewn about. Bobby pointed out the other pups to Chris, and Eddie barely had a chance to say it was okay for him to meet them before Chris was gone.
Bobby clasped the man’s shoulder, “I see you have already met Buck. Buck, this is Eddie Diaz, a transfer from El Paso.”
At those words, the man -Buck- deepened his frown. Clearly, he was not impressed. Great. Less than twelve hours here and Eddie is messing everything up. He could see the faces of his old pack laughing at him in the back of his mind.
Buck’s nostrils flared slightly, his gaze cutting back to Eddie. “Bobby, you didn’t mention he was an Alpha.”
The words hung in the air, sharp enough to make Eddie flinch. Buck was an Omega—Eddie could smell it now, the faint but distinct scent curling in the air. It had been so long since Eddie had scented another wolf properly, his old pack made suppressants mandatory for everyone. Now that he was off them, his senses were slowly reawakening, leaving him awkwardly out of sync. Eddie didn’t even know his scent was detectable, having only cycled off suppressants in the past week. On the phone, when Eddie asked, Bobby had informed him that they weren’t mandatory. Bobby's voice had been soft when he answered, like he felt pity for Eddie.
“I didn’t think I needed to,” Bobby replied lightly, though his tone carried a warning edge. “Come on, Buck. Eddie just had a long drive—don’t scare him off before he’s even had dinner.”
Buck’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he released Eddie’s hand with a too-firm grip that left his knuckles aching. Without another word, Buck turned and stalked back into the house.
Eddie let out a quiet breath, glancing down at his hand. Bobby chuckled, clapping him on the back. “Don’t mind him. Buck’s... protective of the pack. He’ll come around.”
Bobby led Eddie into the dining hall. Chris was sitting with other pups at a smaller table. He seemed relaxed. Happy. Eddie let out a small breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Eddie sat next to Hen, Bobby’s Second. Hen was an Alpha, and her wife, Karen, was an Omega who worked for the Bureau managing the region’s foster care system for pups.Across from Eddie sat Chimney and Maddie, both Betas. Chimney worked for the medical clinic as a paramedic, and Maddie worked for Pack 118 leadership, managing all the logistics for the pack. Buck sat next to Maddie, occasionally stealing glances over at Eddie before looking back down at his food.
Hen turned to Eddie with a grin. “So, Bobby told me you’ve got a military background. We could really use someone like you as a hunter and scout.” Eddie had no idea what a hunter and scout was, so he just smiled. He caught the sharp glance Buck shot him and sighed inwardly.
—
Eddie didn’t know smiling was a job acceptance, but when he opened the door the next morning, Hen was standing there, Buck a few feet back.
“Eddie! Just the man I wanted to see.” Eddie didn’t think it was worth mentioning that they had come to his door. “I am so happy that you agreed to be a hunter and scout last night. I know Buck would really appreciate the help.” Buck scoffed, and Hen elbowed him in the stomach.
“Buck will explain everything. Just put on clothes that are good for shifting!” With that, Hen stepped away and left Eddie standing in the door while Buck stared at him.
Eddie cleared his throat. “So—“
“I don’t need help from an Alpha.” Buck interrupted.
Eddie sighed and looked up. Nobody up there was going to save him from this painfully awkward interaction. “Okay…,” he trailed off, unsure what to even say back.
He tried again. “So, I’m going to go change. I’ll meet you out here in a few minutes.” He turned to go inside, but quickly added, ”for what it’s worth, I am — uh — sorry? About the Alpha thing?”
Buck’s lips parted, and Eddie swore he saw a retort forming, sharp and fast like the snap of a wolf’s jaws. But then Buck closed his mouth and folded his arms tightly across his chest, leaning against the porch railing as if it could prop him up against the weight of this interaction.
“For what it’s worth,” Buck said, his voice clipped, “I don’t need your pity, either.”
Eddie blinked, halfway through turning the door handle. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “It’s not pity. It’s… I don’t know. Me trying to make this less of a trainwreck?”
That earned him a soft snort from Buck, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Good luck with that.”
Eddie decided that was as close to neutral ground as they were going to get. He gave a quick nod and slipped inside, closing the door behind him. Leaning against it, he exhaled slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Great start,” he muttered to himself.
When Eddie stepped back outside ten minutes later, wearing an old pair of sweats and a T-shirt he didn’t mind ruining, Buck was still leaning against the railing, now scrolling through something on his phone.
“All right,” Eddie said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “What’s the plan?”
Buck pocketed his phone and eyed Eddie, clearly debating whether to be cooperative. After a beat, he sighed and pushed off the railing. “The plan is simple. We’re going to check the outer perimeter, make sure nothing’s out of place, and scout for any signs of trespassers. It’s routine. Nothing too exciting.”
Eddie nodded, falling into step beside Buck as they headed toward the edge of the pack’s territory. “How often do you do this?”
“Every morning and afternoon,” Buck replied, his tone brisk. “Sometimes in the evening, too, depending on the moon cycle or if the pack’s been feeling uneasy.”
“And you do it alone?” Eddie asked, genuinely surprised.
Buck shot him a sidelong glance, one brow raised. “I can do it alone. Don’t need an Alpha breathing down my neck, thanks.”
Eddie held up his hands in mock surrender. “Noted.”
Buck didn’t respond right away, his gaze fixed ahead as they walked through the trees. Finally, he muttered, “You’re not what I expected.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Buck shrugged, his shoulders stiff. “Most new Alphas I’ve met would just assume I’d fall in line because that’s what omegas are supposed to do, right?”
Eddie’s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Look, I don’t know what Alphas you’ve dealt with before, but I’m not them. I didn’t come here to step on anyone’s toes. I didn’t even know smiling would get me this job.”
That earned him another snort, this one lighter, almost amused. “Hen didn’t warn you about that, huh?”
“Not even a little,” Eddie said, his lips twitching into a faint smile despite himself.
For the first time, Buck’s stance softened. He still looked wary, but the tension in his shoulders eased a fraction. “Well, since you’re here, don’t screw it up.”
“I’ll do my best,” Eddie replied. “But maybe you can let me know if I’m about to?”
Buck rolled his eyes, but there was less heat behind it. “Fine. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Buck huffed, but he started walking again, and Eddie followed. It wasn’t exactly a truce, but it was a start.
Buck was at his door every morning.
—
Weeks passed, and Eddie settled into the routine. Morning checks with Buck, lunch with Chris, afternoon checks with Buck, dinner at the Pack House, sleep. They never shifted, choosing to ride on the 4-wheelers or walk. Most days were silent except when necessary for the job. Both males chose to avoid breaking the weak middle ground they built.
That morning, Eddie opened his door to find Buck leaning against the railing as usual, but something felt different. Buck’s stance was tense, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
“We’re shifting today,” Buck announced, not waiting for pleasantries.
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, we are?” Eddie hadn’t shifted in years. Pack 118 shifted often. He had seen everyone’s wolves except for Buck’s. The lessons had been drilled into him from his first shift came rushing back. Stay in control. Don’t draw attention. The Bureau will ruin your life if you make one wrong move. Eddie knew his scent soured from the wrinkle in Buck’s expression.
Buck nodded curtly, already turning to walk toward the tree line. “Hen says we need to check the southern edge, and the terrain’s better suited for four legs than two. You can keep up, right?”
Eddie huffed a laugh, locking the door behind him as he followed. “You’re about to find out.”
They reached the edge of the pack’s territory, where the forest grew denser, and Buck didn’t waste time. Eddie pulled off his shirt and dropped it onto a nearby log, glancing over his shoulder at Buck. “Try not to make it weird.”
Buck rolled his eyes, stripping off his own clothes and tossing them beside Eddie’s pile. “You’re the one making it weird by saying that.”
Buck’s body already started rippling as he began to shift. Eddie followed, feeling the unfamiliar rush of heat and power as his bones reshaped and fur replaced skin.
When the shift was complete, Eddie shook out his thick coat and stretched, his claws digging into the soft earth. His mind settled. It was—easier. As a wolf. Everything felt simpler.
He looked over to see Buck, a large, powerful wolf with a sandy coat and piercing blue eyes, already watching him.
Buck’s wolf gave a low growl, not threatening but more of a warning. The Omega was clearly not wanting Eddie any closer.
Eddie dipped his head slightly and exposed his neck, signaling his lack of interest in challenging Buck. It seemed to appease the Omega, who turned and began loping toward the trees.
Eddie followed, and as soon as he did, the forest seemed to come alive. Every scent, every sound felt sharper, richer. The damp earth, the rustling leaves, the faint traces of other wolves who had passed through—all of it painted a vivid picture in his mind.
But what stood out most was Buck.
In wolf form, Buck’s usual guardedness seemed to fade. He moved with a fluid confidence, his tail high, his ears swiveling to catch every sound.
Eddie felt a strange pull toward him, a connection that made no sense but was impossible to ignore.
When Buck paused to sniff the air, Eddie instinctively slowed, falling into step beside him. Their wolves’ proximity felt natural, almost comforting.
Buck turned his head, his sharp blue eyes meeting Eddie’s. For a moment, neither moved. Eddie could feel the weight of the moment, the unspoken acknowledgment of something just beneath the surface.
Buck huffed softly and turned away, but his pace was slower now, less guarded. Eddie followed, his instincts buzzing with the undeniable sense that whatever connection he was feeling, Buck felt it too.
—
They continued on their trek until Buck suddenly stopped, pressing his nose into the earth. Eddie didn’t smell anything, but he had also discovered that years of suppressants had dampened his sense of smell.
Buck let out a low growl, and Eddie’s senses immediately flipped to high alert. Eddie froze, scanning their surroundings as his ears twitched, straining for any sound out of place. Buck’s growl deepened, his body stiff as his nose remained pressed to the ground. Eddie took a step closer, careful not to spook him.
What is it? Eddie’s wolf wanted to demand, but Buck’s next move made the question unnecessary.
Buck’s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto the dense underbrush ahead. A moment later, a faint rustle broke the silence, followed by the unmistakable metallic tang of blood. Eddie finally caught the scent, faint but sharp, and his hackles rose.
Buck surged forward without hesitation, slipping through the underbrush like a shadow. Eddie was right behind him, his larger frame breaking through the dense foliage with ease.
When they emerged into a small clearing, Eddie saw what had set Buck off: a pup, trembling and bloodied, crouched against a fallen tree. The wolf’s fur was matted with dirt and crimson, its breathing shallow and labored.
Buck shifted first, his human voice sharp and commanding as he crouched low, hands outstretched in a gesture of calm. “Hey, hey—it’s okay. You’re safe.”
Eddie shifted as well, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low and steady.
The pup flinched at the sound but didn’t answer. Buck glanced back at Eddie, his expression tight. “He’s just a pup,” he murmured. “Smells like one of ours. Might have gotten lost and fell. This is a tough area for young wolves.”
Eddie stepped closer, careful to keep his movements slow and nonthreatening. “Hey,” he said softly. “We’re not going to hurt you. Can you tell us what happened?”
The young wolf’s amber eyes darted between them, wary and distrustful. After a long moment, he whimpered, a pitiful sound that made Eddie’s chest tighten.
“He’s scared out of his mind,” Buck said, already pulling off his shirt to cover the wolf’s trembling frame. “We need to get him back to the medical center.”
Eddie nodded, his instincts kicking into overdrive. “You take him. I’ll follow from behind, make sure nothing follows us.” He knows logically that it was just an accident, but his wolf couldn’t handle anyone else getting hurt.
Buck didn’t argue, his focus entirely on the young wolf. “You’re going to be okay,” he said again, his voice gentler now. “We’ll keep you safe.”
Chimney was ready when they arrived. The pup looked even smaller when placed on the gurney and wheeled into the medical center. Eddie’s heart ached. His instincts were on fire. If he didn’t see Chris soon, he may lose his mind.
Eddie flinched when a hand landed on his shoulder. It was Buck. Eddie turned his head sharply, his body still humming with tension. Buck’s hand stayed steady on his shoulder. Eddie could feel Buck’s Omega scent dampening his panic.
“He’s okay,” Buck said softly, his voice unusually calm. “Chimney’s the best. If anyone can help the pup, it’s him.”
Eddie swallowed hard, his jaw tight. “I know. I just…” He trailed off, his eyes locked on the gurney disappearing into the medical center.
Buck’s grip shifted slightly, fingers squeezing just enough to pull Eddie’s focus. “Chris is fine too. Hen stayed with him. You did what you needed to do. You brought the pup back. That matters.”
Eddie exhaled shakily, the words cutting through the haze of his spiraling thoughts. His instincts still screamed for him to do something, but Buck’s steady presence was impossible to ignore.
“Thanks,” Eddie muttered, his voice rough. He glanced at Buck, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. Buck’s hand dropped, and he stepped back, clearing his throat. “Come on. Let’s go find Chris before you drive yourself crazy.”
Eddie nodded, his legs already moving. He followed Buck out of the medical center, one instinct finally taking precedence over all the others: find his son.
—
Eddie barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the pup’s small, broken form on the gurney as Christopher instead. He spent hours pacing the cabin, his wolf clawing at his chest. Morning came sluggishly, and when the sun finally spilled over the horizon, Eddie headed straight for the medical center. Chris was safe at school for the morning, so Eddie felt a little less like he was abandoning his son as he approached the clinic. He barely noticed Buck trailing behind him.
Inside, Chimney met him with a tired but relieved expression. “The kid’s going to be okay,” he said, clapping Eddie on the shoulder. “A lot of bruises and a nasty infection, but nothing we can’t handle. You got him here in time.”
Eddie’s legs almost gave out from relief. His wolf quieted, settling down into a low, steady hum of satisfaction. “Thank you,” Eddie breathed, his voice hoarse.
Chimney grinned. “Thank you. You did good, Eddie.”
Buck and Eddie sat on the porch of his cabin. Buck stayed by his side, quiet for once, as if sensing Eddie needed the space to process. Finally, Eddie turned to him. “He wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for you,” he said, his voice low.
Buck blinked, clearly startled. “What are you talking about?”
“You found him,” Eddie said firmly. “You knew something was wrong when I didn’t. You trusted your instincts, and I didn’t. That’s... not nothing.”
Buck looked away, an deep flush rising in his cheeks. “It’s not a big deal,” he muttered.
“It is,” Eddie pressed, stepping closer. “You’re... good at this, Buck. Being part of the pack. Trusting yourself. I wish I was more like that.”
Buck’s eyes snapped back to Eddie, a mix of emotions flickering in his expression—surprise, disbelief, and something softer that Eddie couldn’t quite name.
“You’re doing fine,” Buck said after a moment, his voice gentler than Eddie had ever heard it. “You’re new to this, but you’re trying. And you care. That matters more than anything else.”
Eddie felt something shift between them, subtle but undeniable. He took a step closer, his heart pounding for a reason that had nothing to do with the pup. “You mean that?”
Buck’s lips quirked into the smallest of smiles. “Yeah, I do.” Eddie wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly, Buck was right there, closer than he’d ever been.
Buck’s hand found Eddie’s wrist, his thumb brushing lightly over the skin, his scent mixing with Eddie’s. Eddie felt his wolf stir again, but this time, it wasn’t out of panic or fear—it was something warmer, deeper.
“I—” Buck started, but Eddie cut him off, leaning in and pressing their foreheads together.
“Thank you,” Eddie whispered, and though the words seemed too small for everything he felt, they were all he had.
Buck let out a soft laugh, the tension easing from his frame. “You’re welcome.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, the rest of the world fading away. When they finally pulled apart, Eddie knew something had changed between them. The walls they’d both carefully built were cracking, and for the first time, Eddie felt like he could actually breathe.
—
Over the following months, Eddie found himself seeking out Buck’s company more often than not. It wasn’t a sudden thing, but a quiet, steady pull that neither of them could fight. For the first time, Eddie’s wolf was steady and calm. The voices from El Paso fading away with every shared meal at the Pack House and midnight run with Buck.
The night it finally happened, they were sitting in a clearing deep in the forest, watching the stars. Chris had gone to bed hours ago, and the silence between them was comfortable, easy.
“Buck,” Eddie said, his voice low.
Buck turned to him, his expression open and unguarded. “Yeah?”
Eddie didn’t hesitate this time. He leaned in, closing the space between them, and kissed him.
It was slow and warm, like the first rays of sunlight breaking through the trees. When they finally pulled apart, Buck’s smile was brighter than anything Eddie had ever seen. Eddie laughed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in years. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.