An Alpha's Instinct

Chapter 8: Mr. Vic

A week has passed since Storm Landscaping was hired to work on the Lovelace ranch. The front yard has been completely cleaned – grass mowed, weeds pulled, rocks moved, and any left-over junk tossed in the trash.

Erin's walking the fence line now taking some progress photos on his camera for his – and the company's – portfolio. Thankfully sad clouds are blanketing the sky, so even though it's past 8 a.m., the sun isn't making him sweat his organs out. Vic walks beside him on top of the fence, his little claws hardly making a sound on the wood as he keeps pace with Erin. When Erin stops to snap a shot, Vic will stop too and sit with his front paws neatly together, head held high like a regal king in a throne room. It makes Erin snort every time he sees it, unable to stop himself from capturing the moment despite the numerous photos he already has of the same pose.

The spoiled little cat has Erin wrapped around his finger.

Erin rubs between Vic's ears as he looks through the photos he's taken so far this morning. “So, what do you think Mr. Vic? Is the lighting ok, or should I do lower angled shots?" Vic stays silent as he looks at the camera screen before bending backward to look up at Erin. His round eyes are wide open, gaze confused and questioning, causing Erin to giggle.

“Lower angled shots it is then," Erin states. He walks around the side of the house to stand in the houses' shadow casted by the house when he spies Victor sitting on the back fence, one earphone in while looking out at the fields. Erin gulps and raises his camera. With the sun peaking over the house, Victor looks like he's wearing a halo.

“Even the universe thinks he's perfect," Erin mutters as he looks at the photo. He looks up to take some more shots of Victor when he sees Victor's shoulders shaking and mouth spread in a wide grin. Erin tilts his head in confusion, 'there's no way Victor could hear me' he muses. He looks at Vic, wondering if he had just imagined the whole thing when he realizes Vic's already a few steps ahead on the fence.

“Hey," Erin calls, letting his camera drop to hang around his neck. Vic stops and turns around, an exasperated look on his face. His tail swishes in the wind before he meows once and continues on his walk, the cat equivalent of 'hurry up slowpoke, hot Vicky man is waiting for us.'

Erin pouts. 'Traitor,' he thinks as he raises his camera and faces the direction he came from. He snaps a few shots of the yard with the sun facing the house – the whole reason he walked over to this spot – before ambling to where Victor now sits patting Vic's head.

When he's in speaking distance, Victor turns his head to the side, a grin still stretched across his face. “Had some words with the universe this morning, did you?"

Erin feels his face tingle with warmth, an embarrassed laugh spilling out of his lungs. “Oh, um, I was talking about Vic." Victor raises one brow, smile somehow getting even larger, causing his eyes to squint in happiness.

“My cat, Vic," Erin clarifies as he points to Vic who is now sitting in Victor's lap. His head swivels toward Erin, eyes innocently asking, 'who me?'

Erin feels his heart pick up speed as Victor bursts into laughter. The sound is clear and bright, but also deep and rich. Erin tilts his camera from where it hangs around his neck, movements slow as to not alert Victor, and snaps a shot.

“You have a nice laugh," he blurts as Victor quiets down.

Now it's Victor's turn to look embarrassed. Erin stares as he sees red slowly creep across Victor's high cheekbones.

“Thank you," Victor replies, voice raspy from the laughter. He holds Vic as he hops down off the fence. Vic meows in retaliation before going limp in Victor's arms, letting himself be held.

“May I?" Erin raises his camera toward them. There's no way he'd risk taking a bad picture of Vic, he'd never meow at him again. Victor nods, posing with Vic for the camera. Erin takes a step back and looks into the lens – three blue eyes and one yellow eye gaze happily toward him.

“How'd it turn out?" Victor asks, walking over to stand slightly behind Erin, lowering his face to get a better look at the camera over Erin's shoulder. Erin blushes when he feels Victors' warm breath fan across the exposed skin at the base of his neck. He didn't realize Victor was so much taller than him. Usually, Erin is the tallest in the room.

“Perfect," Erin chuckles.

“I'm glad," Victor whispers. Erin turns around to look up at Victor, his shoulder bumping into his chest as he does. Erin opens his mouth to apologize when Vic starts squirming, tail swatting him in the face as he jumps out of Victor's hands.

“Ooft." Erin reaches up to his nose at the same time Victor reaches forward.

“Are you ok? I'm so sorry." Victor is touching Erin's nose, concern making his voice rise in pitch.

“Yeah, I'm fine," Erin grabs Victor's hands, lowering them from his face.

Victor relaxes, releasing a shaky breath. He stills, looking down at his hands being clasped together by Erin. Erin quickly drops Victor's hands while clearing his throat. Erin hesitates, arms swinging by his sides as he looks around. With how passive-aggressive Stella was toward him, he wouldn't be surprised if the whole Lovelace family was out to keep him and Victor apart.

Erin holds onto his camera again, careening back to the fence line with Victor following behind him. “So, what were you listening to before?"

“Murder," Victor replies in a deadpan voice. Erin freezes.

“A band called Murder," Victor clarifies. Mischief is laughing across his face when Erin looks up and glares at him.

“Haha, very funny," Erin says sarcastically.

“Do you have any siblings?" Victor questions.

Erin shakes his head. “Just me. I was adopted by my parents when I was a few months old. It was a closed adoption. None of us know anything about my birth parents."

Victor hums. His arms are clasped together behind his back as he walks beside Erin. “Does that bother you?"

Erin shrugs, snapping a photo of a bird sitting on one of the balconies with his free hand. “No, I grew up safe with a roof over my head, love in my belly, and two best friends always by my side. What more would I need?" Erin glances at Victor and sees a sad smile on his face.

“And you?" Erin changes the topic, voice taking on a light, airy tone. “What was it like growing up with a cousin so close in age? Did you guys fight a lot?" Erin nudges Victor's shoulder with his own. His heart grows warm when a deep chuckle slides past Victor's lips.

“Oh yes, all the time. Stella used to pull us apart during fistfights." Victor looks toward the house, voice quiet as nostalgia takes over his memories.

Erin notices the scent of Victor's cologne getting stronger – the smell of leather and sandalwood making his insides simultaneously tingle with butterflies and relax in warmth. 'Safe' something inside of him declares, the word popping off like sirens in his head.

“What brand of cologne do you use?" Erin asks. “It's a nice smell, I'm kinda jealous. I've used the same stuff since I was little – wolfsbane, I think it's called. It's some off-brand stuff; my parents love the smell and diffuse it into everything. They've never let me use anything else. I actually got in trouble once when I forgot to use it in high school."

Erin feels Victor's whole body tense beside him after he mentions wolfsbane. His hands unclasp and he stops walking. He's glaring at Erin with slight confusion in his eyes.

Erin frowns. His veins quickly filling with dread. “Sorry, I'm rambling nonsene-."

“No!" Victor grabs for Erin's hand to hold him in place. “Sorry, I just didn't realize you had on the same cologne. Right now, you smell like the rain, but at the party a couple of weeks ago you smelt woodsier, like a burnt forest." Victor squeezes Erin's hand, a tense smile on his face. “I tend to get quiet and glare when I'm confused."

Erin chuckles nervously as he looks at his hand clasped in Victor's when the sound of metal clanging together startles them apart. He closes the hand Victor was holding into a fist, trying to retain some of the leftover warmth.

“I should go make sure Vic hasn't gotten himself into any trouble," Erin starts walking backward. “See ya."

Victor nods, brows still slightly pinched together. Erin is halfway back to the side of the house when Victor's voice suddenly rings out, “Erin."

Erin pauses and turns around, eyes drifting to Victor's lips as he licks them in hesitation. “I don't wear any cologne."