Alpha's Quest

2. New Year’s party

Sam walks over to Sebastian and Lorry’s new house. Or should he think of it as old? The Victorian is older than his, but Sebastian did great on the renovation and restoration of the place. Not to mention all the old Christmas decorations he unearthed. It’s a bit late to put it all up just for New Year’s, but so great to see all those houses out again. The small city is coming together nicely. He goes over to help light it all up.

“Let me help you light that up. I think I can figure out how to open the dollhouses,” Sam says and chuckles. Stalling is a good strategy when you have no idea where your life is going. He saw Magnus’ Jeep parked off to the side.

“Never thought we’d be playing with dollhouses, but look at us,” Sebastian laughs.

“It looks great, though,” Sam nods. His passion for miniature worlds gets a nice stroke with this opportunity.

“What brings you over here so early?” Sebastian inquires. “Troubles in paradise?”

“How did you figure that out? I have my phone filled with messages and pictures of girls. Everyone I know is trying to set me up with someone.” Sam sighs. It’s good to talk with Sebastian, he always understands his concerns. “How did I go from that guy that sits in the back and minds his own business, to the most eligible bachelor in the state?”

“You accepted the Alpha position. I think that is why everyone wants to be related to you, even by marriage.” Sebastian chuckles. “You don’t have to marry any of them. You know that? Right?”

“I know. How do I let them down?” Sam whispers. This has been haunting him ever since his father made the news public.

“The real question is do you even like the idea of marriage?” Sebastian asks.

“No. To be honest, it creeps me out.” Sam shakes his head. He never officially came out. The pack doesn’t know he’s gay.

“You don’t like girls.” Sebastian says. It’s not a question, either. His brother knows, but he never said anything.

“How long have you known?” Sam asks. He looks around to see if they are alone in the yard.

“Since your prom dance,” Sebastian shrugs.

“And you never said anything?” Sam wonders. He’s got the best brother ever, but even Sebastian teased him about pimples, lack of chest hair, and his shy stance. “Why?”

“Why should I? It’s none of my business who you date, or not,” Sebastian tells him.

“I hate this. I hate that half of my clients are trying to date me or grope me, but I can at least put them in their place. What should I do with this situation? Say no to every one of them?” Sam asks him. For some reason, his brother’s opinion is important to him.

“Yes. Tell them like it is. You don’t need to explain. You are the alpha,” Sebastian winks.

“Thanks. I needed that,” Sam smiles, sadly.

“What else is bothering you? I can see it,” Sebastian inquires.

“I like your friend…” Sam swallows hard. “Do you think he would even look at me?”

“Magnus? We never talked about it. I know he has a few ex girlfriends,” Sebastian shrugs. “I promised I won't meddle in his love life, so you are on your own there.”

“The Major is intimidating,” Sam tells him. “But that can be a good thing.”

“Em? Too much information. I don’t want to hear it,” Sebastian cuts Sam’s words short.

“You’ll be there to pick me up, if he turns me down cold?” Sam asks. He’ll need a strong shoulder to cry on and there really is nobody else. He can’t put more on their mother and nobody else in the pack is reliable enough.

“Are you planning on asking him?” Sebastian inquires.

“At the party. Do you think I should wait till tomorrow?” Sam looks over at Sebastian, horrified and worried that he might ruin something. “Would it ruin the party, if I get turned down? Should I just keep quiet?”

“You can ask him before. He’s inside, helping Lorry in the kitchen,” Sebastian winks. “He cooks.”

“Oh, be still my beating heart,” Sam blushes. It’s such a cliche, but he is terrible in the kitchen. Getting a housekeeper is a must that he’s been putting off for too long.

The kitchen looks like something out of a party planner’s catalogue. The stove and counters are full of what looks like delicious food. Magnus is carefully stirring something in one of the pots and Lorry is off to the side placing pastry on plates. He looks at his soon to be sister-in-law and she only nods. Lorry has picked up on the tension. She probably knows what is going on with Sam, but he can count on her to keep silent about it. It’s her job to listen and rarely give advice. People go to the Diner for food and attention, not for advice.

Sam inches closer to the stove when Lorry takes the plates to the dining room. He still doesn’t know what to say. As infatuated as he is with Magnus, the man scares the s**t out of him. Not a very Alpha thing to admit. But he’ll never know if he doesn’t man up and ask.

“Can we talk? Out on the back porch?” Sam whispers. He knows Lorry left the front door opened when she went out to Sebastian. His brother’s keen wolf ears can pick up on any conversation even with the radio and all the kitchen noises.

“Sure,” Magnus nods. “Is this about Sebastian? What are you up to?”

“It has nothing to do with my brother,” Sam chuckles. He gets the worry in the man’s voice. They have all noticed there is something wrong with Sebastian, but Sam has ulterior motives.

“Colour me intrigued then,” Magnus winks at him. He sets the spatula down and turns off the stove before they slip out to the back porch. Sam is happy to find blankets and a portable heater out there. It looks almost too cosy for a serious conversation.

“I don’t know how to say this. You scare me too much,” Sam blurts out. He cringes back from his own stupidity.

“That tells me absolutely nothing,” Magnus chuckles. “I’m not scary at all. Outside of work, that is. I don’t bite, so feel free to say what you have on your mind.”

“I like you…” Sam whispers. He feels like his heart is lodged in his throat. “A bit too much, I think. Sebastian is no help at all. He doesn’t want to interfere. He’s playing at his I’m an island, don’t drag me into your s**t game. And I’m blabbering when I get nervous.”

“Oh! That kind of like,” Magnus chuckles. “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just very new to me. I have never entertained a thought like this before. You surprised me, that’s all.”

“Would you think about it? I don’t have to have an answer right away. Enjoy the party. Take your time. Just,” Sam sighs. This is harder than he thought it would be, “don’t drag it out indefinitely.”

“You’re cute. I have to give you that. So, let’s talk tomorrow before I go back to Flint,” Magnus smiles at him. The guy is not storming away in disgust. He didn’t yell or straight out say no. There is a sliver of a chance for Sam.

The party takes an interesting twist when the others get here. A full house after so long is suffocating for Sam. He loves his family, but all things need some degree of moderation. He avoids all talk about mates and responsibility. It’s a party! Don’t they know how to have fun? He doesn’t want to think at all, but getting drunk is really hard when you’re a shifter. Sebastian and Lorry have bought half a liquor store, but Sam is really picky about what he drinks.

He smiles ruefully when Magnus gets occupied by their little cousin. He watches how Magnus interacts with the teen. The guy would be an amazing father. Sam can see the sparkles in Tia’s eyes. He knows the Major just got another fan in Tia. His own fate is a bit more delicate. Cougar alert everywhere. If the ladies don’t want him for themselves, they try to set him up with someone else. The only safe place tonight is the kitchen. So he makes himself useful there. Supply and demand for food is out of balance when there are shifters in the mix. Luckily, he doesn’t have to cook, just serve.

Tomorrow can’t come fast enough for him. Would Magnus ask him questions or expect explanations? How does he go about this? What does he tell? Sam is at a loss here. He never dated, not seriously. Meeting someone in a gay club and going out with him is easy. This is not. The waiting is killing him. Did he just shoot himself in the leg here? Is Magnus straight and he’ll let him know tomorrow? What will Sam do if he gets his heart broken?