An Alpha's Instinct

Chapter 9: Falling for You

It's been two days, and Erin has officially given up on Layla's plan to avoid Victor. After realizing they couldn't mow the lawn in the backyard due to the abundance of giant rocks, Natalie had a great idea to arrange some into an artistic sculpture in the corner of the yard. “A great backdrop for family photos that can act like an entrance to the trails into the other paddocks," she had exclaimed before running off to the shops to bulk order flowers and ornaments.

So now, Erin is helping load the rocks into the bucket of the bobcat tractor while John drives them to the other side of the yard to dump them over the fence. It's late afternoon now, the sun shining down onto them like a beacon of warmth. It was nice at first – the heat on his skin making him sweat while the breath of the wind cools it down – but all it did was remind Erin of the heat he wanted from elsewhere.

Feeling the warmth of Victor's body through his hand. Having Victor's eyes constantly looking into his own. Smelling the scent of Victor's cologne as it seeps through the air.

It was natural.

It was obsession.

It was instinct.

Erin doesn't want to fight it anymore. He wants to give in, to see where this attraction will take them. He wants to know if this will be just a summer fling or something more. But he can't. With Stella's threat echoing in the back of his mind and the reputation of Storm Landscaping hanging by a thread, Erin knows he can't act on anything. No matter how loudly his heart screams.

Erin needs to tune it out. He needs to ignore it.

Even if his fingers itch to take a photo of Victor talking to Ben and Stella on the patio as the sun perfectly highlights Victor's dark hair and makes his skin glow like he's the God of Sunlight himself.

Even if he feels Stella's dark gaze sliding toward him every couple of minutes, her black polished nails clicking against the coffee cup she's holding. Stella smiles at Victor and Ben, patting Ben on the head before heading inside.

Even if he sees another woman walk outside and take her place. Her hair is the same dark shade of red as Stella's – they even have it styled in the same long, loose curls – but her eyes are a deep shade of brown. Erin stops walking, the wheelbarrow full of boulders still raised in his hands as he openly stares.

Victor is smiling. The kind of smile that's all teeth and no eyes. He's laughing too. Erin could recognize that laugh anywhere, he doesn't think he could ever forget it if he tried. A pain tears through his heart like someone has taken the bobcat tractor filled with rocks and dumped them all onto his heart.

Victor's happy. And Erin isn't the one who caused it. That woman is.

Erin smiles in disappointment as he quickly strides toward the bobcat to empty the remnants of rocks inside the wheelbarrow. He feels his throat clench up as the ground becomes blurry. He will not cry. There is no reason to cry because he's not surprised. Victor is handsome – very handsome – and he's funny, smells nice, has a good body, and an incredible laugh. Who wouldn't like that?

Of course, he has a stunning girlfriend.

“Careful, Erin!'

Erin looks up. He notices John standing in front of him next to the tractor, back turned as he drinks some water. Erin lurches to the side, stopping the wheelbarrow from colliding into John as all the heavy rocks fall out. The momentum causes Erin to trip and fall over the bucket on the bobcat, straight onto the jagged rocks.

“Ow," Erin hisses. He blinks as the world re-focuses. There're cuts all over his arms and legs and his back feels like it's on fire.

“Erin, oh Moon Goddess, are you ok? F*ck you're bleeding." Victor gently pulls Erin out, his hands holding onto Erin's waist and upper arms like he's made of glass and not 175lbs of fat and muscle.

Victor's eyes are blown wide, pupil blacking out his pale blue color. Erin watches as Victor runs a stressed hand through his hair. 'He's shaking,' Erin notices. There's at least 350 feet between the fence line and the house. 'Did he sprint all the way here?'

Nevertheless, Erin feels satisfaction and comfort wash over him in waves. Victor thinks Erin's important enough to be checked on, to worry for. That has to mean Victor likes Erin too – even if it's just a brief s****l hook-up.

Victor Lovelace has an actual interest in Erin.

That thought alone has Erin relaxing, his legs turning into jelly. He leans more into Victor, his scent getting stronger by the minute. 'Weird. He said he doesn't wear cologne, so how is his scent getting stronger?' Erin thinks. Victor notices what Erin is doing and takes more of his weight by lifting him bridal style.

“Son, what happened?" John drops his water bottle as he rushes over. The grass greedily drinks up the spilled liquid.

“We should get him inside and disinfect the wounds," Victor declares as he speed walks toward the house. The woman from before is gone, but Ben is still there. He's risen from his chair and is standing on the bottom step of the porch. Erin sees worry etched into his face that makes Ben look less like a fairy prince in the forest on a sunny day and more like an old moss-filled statue abandoned in a dark cave.

“We need to get him to the hospital!" John is jogging beside Victor in an attempt to keep close to Erin. “Look at all that blood, and what if he has a concussion, and Natalie – oh God – I need to tell Nat-"

“One of my distant relatives is a very skilled doctor. She'll meet us inside." Victor interrupts.

“I'm fine, really." Erin finally manages to say. He hardly feels any jostle when Victor walks up the steps. “And I can walk."

Victor grunts as Ben holds the door open so he doesn't have to let go of Erin yet.

“Victor seriously, put me down." Erin starts struggling when he sees people milling around the kitchen and dining areas. They're all staring at Erin as Victor carries him past. He hasn't seen Stella since she walked back inside, but who knows how many spies she has.

“I'll put you down when the doctor says you can be put down." Victor declares as he turns left past the dining room and toward the bathroom. He squeezes Erin closer to him. Erin can hear John's mummering as he follows close behind them, most likely trying to figure out how he'll tell Natalie that Erin's hurt himself and is now about to get them all fired when Stella hears about it.

Erin spots Ben over Victor's shoulder following behind John. His hands are clenched in his pockets, his lips pulled into a tight line. He says nothing when he catches Erin's eye. There's no facial twitch, no message flying across his dark eyes.

But Erin knows. He sees it for what it is, loud and clear.

“D*mn it," Erin mutters. He turns his head more into Victor's shoulder to hide his face. “This is embarrassing."