The Seasons

Chapter 8

“I’m sure you all heard them, off you pop,” Winter said, staring at the trio.

Wing stood up, jumping over the counter, much to Neo’s horror, as the other two went around and slipped in.

Winter wasn't sure how long they spent in there or what they were even talking about. That stupid room was soundproof, and did he feel slightly excluded? Sure, but he was a grown-ass man, and some things couldn’t involve him. But they involved the weakest of the bunch, humans? He tried to swallow down the feelings, the loneliness, as he poured himself a shot of moonshine and drank it before smiling as he walked over to a regular.

Half an hour later, they were still in that f*****g room, and Winter was about to go and yell at them, but when the door chimed open, he rolled his eyes. Someone forgot to take the charm off when they switched the tables around. But he stopped when he saw a handsome alpha walk in.

The blonde-haired man smiled at him as he sat on the counter; he shrugged his jacket off, placed it behind his chair, and waved Winter over. “Hi, what can I get you?”

“Could I get some moonshine neat?”

Winter nodded as he grabbed a neat glass and crouched down to grab the moonshine from under the counter. He poured the man his drink and smiled at him. The man took a sip and smiled at Winter. “You working the counter by yourself?”

“No. I’m filling in for Autumn and Summer. They’re in the back. It’s my day off. I plan to leave when they reappear.”

The man smiled as he finished off his drink and eyed Winter. Winter stared at the man and shrugged off the feeling of having seen him somewhere.“Do you have plans?”

Winter smiled. “I do not.”

“When they come back, do you want to get out of here?”

Winter nodded as he eyed the handsome man. “Absolutely.”

Gavin, a regular, called him away and smiled at the man before walking over to him. He talked with the customers at the counter, pouring drinks and going to tables. He groaned as he pounded on the door. He couldn’t do all of this by himself.

Summer finally opened the door, a scowl on his face. Autumn sighed as he walked out. Winter didn’t question any of it. “Bye,” he deadpanned as he grabbed his coat.

The blonde-haired alpha noticed and picked his coat up, finishing off the Moonshine in his glass before smiling politely at Autumn as he walked over to Winter, placing his hand on his back.

Neo came out of the back, and a frown was on his face. But before he could speak, Autumn did. “Winter? Who is that?”

Winter looked up at the man. ”I never did catch your name.”

“Jeremy.”

Winter turned to look at his friends. “This is Jeremy.”

Autumn ran a hand down his face. “Winter, I don't think this is a good idea, your heat is close, and well, he’s an alpha.”

“Yeah,” Neo deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest, a scowl on his face. “What Autumn said, don't be stupid, Winter.”

Anger flared through Winter's entire body. “What? So you get to f**k Maddox on the daily, and I can't sleep with someone?”

Standing beside Neo with a sleeping Azrail in his arms, Maddox turned bright red. Neo scowled as he stormed over, grabbed a protesting Winter's hand, and dragged him to the now-empty backroom. “Winter, what the hell?”

“It’s the truth,” he snapped, snatching his hand away.

“It’s not the same, and you know it isn’t.”

“It is the f*****g same,” Winter shot back. “You get to f**k Maddox, so if I want to sleep with someone, I will.”

“Winter, you will have your heat soon; it’s not safe.”

“My heat isn't for another week, and I have my collar. I’ll be fine.”

Neo groaned as he ran a hand through his lavender hair, he scratched his throat a little, and Winter saw the faint hickey on his neck. Why did Maddox even get Neo? Winter had seen him first. Winter had liked him first. How was any of this f*****g fair? Neo had kissed him first. Sure, they had both been drunk off their asses, but Neo had been wallowing in pity when Maddox had come in announcing he had found his mate earlier that stupid day, all those years ago. Still, they had kissed nonetheless, and they were both aware of Winter’s feelings for him and how no matter how hard he tried, they wouldn’t die, and none of this was f*****g fair.

“Winter-”

Winter didn’t listen to what Neo had to say as he walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. He ignored Maddox, who was staring at him. The blonde-haired alpha was still waiting for him. He smiled at the man as he left The Seasons with him. They went through the purple-lit alley and onto the main road.

The two went to the nearby hotel, and Jeremy booked them a room for three hours. In the room, Winter began stripping. His eyes landed on the dirty carpet and what appeared to be dried blood; he shivered but said nothing. He didn’t want to have any small talk. He wanted to f**k. Jeremy said he was going to the bathroom quickly, and while he did, Winter would prepare himself so there was no wasting time.

He was done almost ten minutes later, but Jeremy still hadn’t come out. He sighed in annoyance as he exited the uncomfortable bed and knocked on the door. “Are you good?”

“Yeah,” he yelled back. “Give me a second.”

Winter frowned but didn’t say anything as he shrugged and returned to bed, staring at the plastered ceiling before looking around the room. There wasn’t much there. A large uncomfortable bed and two nightstands on either side, peeling off pale yellow wallpaper, with a wooden door that led into the adjacent bathroom. A couple more minutes later, Jeremy did come out. Winter stared at his naked body in appreciation but froze at the belt in his hands and the handcuffs.

“Look, man, I’m not into that,” he said, frowning slowly.

“You are from today.” Winter’s throat tightened as unpleasant memories tried to escape from the mental box he had placed them in.

“No,” he said, moving away. “I’m not, and -”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence as alpha pheromones flooded the room, and he was struggling to breathe. Oh, f**k. Double f**k, Triple f**k. He was f****d.

~*~